[189]. Conversing with his executor and friend, Mr. Swarr, in regard to his decease, a short time before it took place, he took occasion to say, in the way of dying testimony: “The principles of the Christian religion were instilled into my mind in my youth; and from all I have observed and experienced in the long life Providence has vouchsafed to me, I have only become more strengthened in the conviction of the Divine character of the Saviour, and the power of atonement through His redeeming grace and mercy.”

[190]. These pastoral conferences—horæ vespertinæ they might be called, held as they were mostly in the autumnal twilight, on what seemed to be for us the utmost verge of time—were peculiarly interesting and solemn to myself, as they were always most cordially welcomed also by Mr. Buchanan. There was no reserve or hesitation in his manner. His habitual diplomatic caution was gone. At the same time there was no excitement or agitation in his mind. He was perfectly calm, and had no fear of death whatever. Still it was full before him, and he had no disposition to hide from himself its awful presence. He wished to be talked with as a man who felt himself to be on the borders of the eternal world, and who was fully awake to the dread issues of the life to come. But with all this, his spirit abode in quiet confidence and peace, and the ground of his trust throughout was the mercy of God through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. There was nothing like enthusiasm, of course, in his experience; the general nature of the man made that impossible. His religion showed itself rather in the form of fixed trust in God, thankfulness for His past mercy, and general resignation to His holy will. In these twilight hours, thus circumstanced, it could not be but that central regard was had continually to the person of Jesus Christ, and the significance of the Christian redemption as comprehended in the idea of His coming in the flesh. This Christological way of looking at the gospel was in some measure new to Mr. Buchanan, or at least it had not taken hold of his mind, as he confessed, in the same manner before. Now, however, it gave him great satisfaction, and he considered it one special benefit of his sickness, that it had taught him to see in the simple exercise of “looking to Jesus” what he found to be, for himself, at least, the most consoling and the most strengthening practice of Christian faith.

Transcriber’s Note

On p. [395], the second footnote has no anchor in the text. It is presumed to have been intended to follow the closing paragraph.

The use of quotation marks is sometimes ambiguous, where opening or closing marks are missing. These have been rectified, where the voice or context clearly indicates the correct reading.

Errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and are noted here. Since a large portion of the text is quoted material, consideration was given to any apparent idiosyncrasies. The references are to the page and line in the original. Those references prefixed with ‘i’ refer to the page, column and line in the Index.

The following issues should be noted, along with the resolutions.

[5.3]transferred his household go[o]ds to WheatlandAdded.
[11.22][“]Wheatland, near LancasterAdded to balance closing quote.
[15.15]taken before the judge or commissionerRemoved.
[45.42]as well as others of a similar characterRemoved.
[52.18]his views on “secret or oath-bound societies.[’]”Removed.
[54.43]I admit a respecta[c/b]le politicalReplaced.
[61.7]This ‘American excellence’ never belonged to him.[”]Removed.
[123.1]the Se[c]retary of StateAdded.
[131.14]dominion over Nicara[ug/gu]aTransposed.
[145.1]would never hear of my taking such a journey[.]Added.
[254.5]and the procee[e]dings of the Covode CommitteeRemoved.
[256.14][“]The committee proceeded for monthsAdded.
[259.1]‘removal from office,[”/’]Replaced.
[276.17]derived from the incessant co[m/n]templation of one ideaReplaced.
[308.67.88]J. S. Black[”].Added.
[311.38]Fort Morgan, below Mobile, without a garr[r]isonRemoved.
[438.108.21]on an occasion so important.[”]Added.
[457.1][“]In the communicationAdded.
[460.26][‘/“]The character of this letter is suchReplaced.
[473.23]Defence, and not aggressionRemoved.
[493.38]in response to the resolution.[”]Removed.
[503.16]I know not [k]now what will become of it.Added.
[505.4]even Tennessee[e] and MissouriRemoved.
[506.38]Alca[n]traz Islandsic
[509.11]Mr. Buchanan, in reponding to this speechAdded.
[518.41][“]My Dear Sir:—Removed.
[521.36]which you sent me?[”]Added.
[576.6]his fund of amusing as well [as ]important anecdotes,Added.
[614.8]the immediate interests of the Democratic party[,/.]Replaced.
[676.4]in such a way as that it should be re[num/mun]erativeTransposed.
[683.5][“]Happily, the venerable sage of WheatlandRemoved.
[i701.1.29]Montgomery CommisionersAdded.
[i702.2.4]Paschkoff, MadameRemoved.
[i705.1.11]Stack[le/el]berg, BaronTransposed.