gahela House was grand and imposing. It is estimated that at least thirty thousand persons were present, filling the space in front on Water and Smithfield streets. The reception speech of Mr. Loomis, on that occasion was, as you well remark, "one of the finest oratorical efforts of his life."

In the evening of that day a brilliant party made by Mr. Loomis for Mr. Clay at his residence on Cliff Street, to which nearly all the prominent men in Pittsburgh were invited, embracing judges, lawyers, doctors, clergymen, professors, bankers, editors, &c. Col. Robinson, of course, was included in the party. After Mr. Clay, Colonel (afterwards Judge) McCandless, seemed to be the lion of the evening. He felt particularly happy and took special delight in telling the "Buffalo" story to ladies and gentlemen in all parts of the assembly, especially if Col. Robinson was near by. This became exceedingly annoying to Mr. Robinson, and in order to turn the laugh on Col. McCandless he went up to Mr. Clay, where he was surrounded by a large company of admirers, whom he was amusing with his "little stories," and said:

"Mr. Clay, did you ever read the Clarion Letter, written by my friend, Col. McCandless?"

"Oh, yes," said Mr. Clay, "that is a very familiar document to me. I quoted it in one of my speeches in the Senate."

Failing to get up a laugh at the first effort, Col. Robinson undertook to convince Mr. Clay that he might be mistaken and endeavored to explain the contents of the Clarion letter, which argued that Polk was a better tariff man than Clay. But this only made matters worse and Mr. McCandless readily taking advantage of the situation, called out "Buffalo." Col. Robinson still persisted in his efforts to tell all about the Clarion letter, to the great annoyance of Mr. Clay and the friends who were around him, making a slight pause between each word, so as to give greater emphasis to his utterance, said: "Now, my old friend, I again say to you 'Buffalo.'”

The shouts of laughter and the clapping of hands that followed him in which the ladies participated, surpassed anything I have ever witnessed in any place of amusement. LECKEY HARPER.

Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Feb. 28, 1878.

COLONEL JOHN GIBSON.

Colonel John Gibson who is buried in Allegheny Cemetery, is best known as a soldier in General Forbes' campaign against the French at Fort Duquesne, as an Indian trader at Fort Pitt, as the commander of the place in the Revolution and as the secretary of the territory of Indiana, and at one time its acting governor. Although a native of Pennsylvania, Colonel Gibson was an adherent of Virginia in the claims set up by it to the territory now included in Western Pennsylvania, and was colonel of a Virginia regiment in the Revolution. But it is not related by any of his biographers, that he was in Virginia in 1781 helping General von Steuben collect and organize troops for General Greene's army. The following roll of officers which so far as the editor knows, has never before been published, shows that at this time he was at Chesterfield, in Virginia, engaged in that service.

A List of the Officers that have attended at Chesterfield agreeable to the Honble. Major Genl. Steuben's Proclamation.

REMARKABLE CAREER OF REV. RICHARD LEA, S. T. D.*

When the Presbyterian Ministerial Associations of Western Pennsylvania, and Pittsburgh in particular, meet, there is one grand patriarch to whom they listen with great deference. He is not only a noted theologian, but he has spent over sixty-one years in the ministry. To have preached the gospel for over three-score years covers a field of labor performed by less than five per centum of the ministry, and yet, stranger still, this preacher has remained the pastor of one congregation and one church which he organized and preached in regularly for over half a century. Pittsburgh, so far as is known, is the only city in the world which has such a record and the venerable Rev. Richard Lea, S. T. D., now pastor emeritus of the Forty-third Street Presbyterian church, is the honored minister who has made such a record.

No man of his years has watched the religious as well as the educational and industrial growth of the great metropolis of the upper Ohio, be he clergy or layman, with keener interest than Rev. Dr. Lea. Born in Old Coventry, England, on April 23, 1810, at the age of ten he emigrated to Pittsburgh with his parents in 1821. His father was a noted ship carpenter, and helped to build the fleet which withstood several of Napoleon's fierce battles on the Mediterranean. He died while Richard was yet a boy, as did his two brothers and sister. His mother, Dr. Lea says, was a very pious woman, and desired to see her son enter the ministry. She died within a year after coming to Pittsburgh and left her son a poor, sickly boy. Forming the acquaintance of Rev. Doctors Herron and Patterson, he attended the First Presbyterian church of which he soon became an active member. Never absent from prayer meeting or Sunday school, he was elected assistant superintendent of the Pipetown Sabbath school. Rev. Joseph Stockton taught a high school in "Alleghenytown." Young Lea accepted an offer to join the Latin

*From the Pittsburgh Leader of July 18, 1897.

class. Failing health necessitated a temporary abandonment of his scholastic work. A few years later Samuel Campbell, a merchant, offered to educate the boy and leave it to his own option what creed he should accept and preach. The generous offer was declined, but the thought awakened within young Lea anew his ministerial ambition. "I felt that someone had faith in me; somebody was interested in my welfare" he said. Dr. Agnew, a noted physician, was consulted by the young man. After a thorough examination of Lea had been made the Doctor strongly advised against such a course, saying with strong emphasis, "You must not attempt to study; if you do it will kill you in a few years." After a deep silence young Lea replied: "I would as soon die as be anything else than a preacher, and if God has anything for me to do in the pulpit He will keep me alive." "Ah," Dr. Agnew replied, "that's your Calvinism, and that creed will help you, if nothing else will."

Young Lea's health was restored. He took a classical course at the Western University and entered the Allegheny Theological seminary graduating early in April, 1836. Thirty-six young ministers graduated in the same class, all of whom have since ended their ministerial labors. Dr. Lea is the oldest living graduate, and the only member of his class living, from both the university and seminary.

On April 15, 1836, immediately following his graduation, the young minister organized the Lawrenceville, now the Forty-third Street Presbyterian church. He was installed as its pastor on June 15th by the Presbytery of Ohio. Rev. Dr. Herron presided, Prof. Halsey, of the seminary, preached the sermon and the Rev. Dr. Swift delivered the charge. Such names as Malcolm Leech, the merchant; General Whitley, Mrs. Ewalt, daughter of John Harris, the founder of Harrisburg; Mrs. Thompson, Dr. Agnew and about thirty other families whose names are known to all old Pittsburgh residents composed the membership of the new church.

For many years Dr. Lea was the sole pastor. His salary at the beginning of his pastorate was four hundred dollars per annum. Gradually as the congregation grew larger the salary increased. Four additional Presbyterian churches have been organized and erected under Dr. Lea's pastoral supervision, though the founder retained his connection with the old congregation. One by one the old mem