The same gentleman told me that he believed if a white man of any standing in society in New York were now to marry a coloured lady, however intelligent and accomplished, his life would be in danger,—­he would be lynched for having committed such an outrage upon “public opinion.”  And yet the boast is ever ringing in our ears, “This is a free country—­every one does as he pleases here!”

On the 24th of March I called upon Dr. Spring.  He is an Old School Presbyterian, and a supporter of the Colonization Society.  In the course of conversation reference was made to State Churches.

Myself.—­“You see, Doctor, State Churches are the curse of the British Empire, just as slavery is the curse of your country.”

The Doctor.—­“Ah! so it is; and yet we can do nothing to remove them.  Here is our slavery,—­we can’t touch it; and you cannot touch your Established Church.  Do you think you will ever get rid of it?”

Myself.—­“Oh!  Yes; I hope so.”

The Doctor.—­“But it will be a very long time before it comes to pass.”

Myself.—­“Perhaps not so very long.  We are rapidly hastening towards some great change.  The old principle of an Establishment is now being abandoned by all parties; and we shall soon come either to the pay-all or to the pay-none principle.  I am much afraid it will be the former.”

The Doctor.—­“But were it to come to that, and the State would pay you as well as all the rest, you would have no further ground of complaint.”

Myself.—­“Oh! but we should:  we dread that above all other evils.  It will be a dark day for evangelical religion in England, if ever that principle be adopted.”

The Doctor.—­“Why?  What harm can it do you to receive the money of the State, provided it does not infringe upon your liberties?”

Myself.—­“In the first place, it would be a departure from the law of Jesus Christ, and every departure from his law is sure to be productive of evil.”

The Doctor.—­“Very true.  That’s a sound principle—­that every departure from his law will be productive of evil; but then, it remains to be proved that it is a departure from his law.  However, I am glad to see you stick so firmly to your principles.”

He then went on to ask if I would preach for him next Sabbath.  Now, whether he was only trying me on those points, or whether he had not studied the subject, or whether he was anxious to keep me off from the subject of slavery, I cannot tell.  But I came away with my knowledge of Dr. Spring less than it was when I entered.  He seemed like a cold, stiff, formal State parson.