Visit to his Old Home. 35 



Charleston I consider as my home ; and unless its 

 inhabitants treat me with greater neglect than they 

 have heretofore done, they will have to keep me for 

 life. I am anxious to hear what progress you make 

 in building the new church. I hope you are all 

 united and walk hand in hand. I am pleased to 

 hear that yourself and brother are to do the brick 

 work. 



Give my best respects to Mr. Strohecker and 

 family. He presented me with a cane to take with 

 me as a present to my father. I thought highly of 

 it, and carried it safe to Rhinebeck. There, in the 

 hurry in putting my things on board of the boat, it 

 was thrown into the dock. The boat could not 

 wait, and I offered a dollar to the person who would 

 dive for it. I hope to obtain it again, as a gentle- 

 man w r ho resides there promised to attend to it. 

 My father speaks often of the present ; particularly 

 on account of the distance it has been sent, the 

 person who sent it, and the circumstance of its being 

 of Orange wood. 



Write me when it will be prudent for me to 

 return to your city, as I shall not stay longer than 

 is absolutely necessary. Yours, with esteem, 



J. B. 



The prudence exercised was in deference to the 

 wishes of his Vestry. 



Such was the zeal of the congregation of St. 

 John's that, notwithstanding the absence of their 

 pastor, the corner stone was laid on the 8th of 

 August, Bishop Dehon, of the Episcopal Church, 

 performing the ceremony.* 



*On the death of Bishop Dehon, June, 1817, a letter of 

 condolence was sent by the Vestry, and St. John's was 

 draped in mourning. 



