route almost impassable at places, even in daylight. But our experienced and sure-footed nags bore us safely along.

Our friend, the Superintendent, seemed distressed at the thought of being absent when his aid and counsel might be of such vast practical account in saving wood worth $5,000 in gold, and so necessary for the continued successful operation of the Works. But the difficulties of our nocturnal journey afforded time and opportunity for meditation, and soon we were rejoiced to find him quite composed, and full of trust in the overruling care of a merciful Heavenly Father. At length we hear a friendly neigh in an adjoining thicket, apprising us of the whereabouts of the animals ridden by those in advance. We turn aside, dismount, tie up our horses, and then push forward on foot over brush, leaves, rocks and fallen tree tops up the mountain to the gallant fire-fighters. To our great gratification we found them almost masters of the field.

The hands from the Works, reinforced by numerous able-bodied volunteers from the adjacent settlement, had succeeded, after repeated efforts, in making a stand against the devouring flames. Time after time, driven by a strong wind, they had leaped the fire-line, and made sad havoc with many a fine rank of wood. But a kind Providence caused the wind to veer around so as to assist rather than frustrate the persevering labors of those faithful workers on the burning mountain. Over tremendous rocks and other almost insurmountable natural obstacles, a fire-line was at length cut, cleared and raked, that soon opposed an effectual barrier to the progress of the flames. The fight was fought and the battle won. The hardest workers were most ready to ascribe all the glory of their achievements to the good Lord, without whose Providential interposition all their heroic efforts had been vain. In face of fire and smoke they worked on in spite of repeated failures, until success crowned their persevering labors. This was a victory not less noble than many gained on blood stained fields of battle.

For several hours we walked around, helping to guard and strengthen the line of circumvallation. It was amusing to listen to the tales of toil and danger which many a lad gave while graphically narrating his part in subduing the fire. Not a few of them felt like heroes at the close of a hard-fought and victorious battle. There seemed to be but one opinion concerning the deserts of the wicked wretch, whoever he might be, that caused all this loss and trouble. He richly deserved a place in the middle of one of those blazing piles of cord wood, as a foretaste of a hotter locality, towards which he is evidently making his inglorious way.

About three hundred cords of half-burnt wood still lit up the darkness with a fitful glare, but by far the better part of the job had been saved. Thanks to the good Lord and the faithful services of these hardy men—a grateful acknowledgment that the Superintendent was not slow to make. When the heat of conflict was over a cool spring near by furnished delightful beverage to thirsty yeomen. Soon tired nature sought repose as best it could be found at such a time and place.

Squads of sleeping forgemen and mountaineers lay scattered along the fire-line, ready for duty at a moment's warning.

Here a thinly-clad, fair-haired youth stretches his weary limbs on mother earth, beside the generous warmth of a burning pile of cord-wood, and is soon in the land of dreams. There a sable son of Africa, weighing not

less than two hundred and fifty pounds, is locked in the fond embrace of Morpheus, dreaming about the land of Dixie, and snoring like a young steam engine. Sweetly sleeps Norman, with a pile of brush for a mattrass and an immense boulder for a pillow. Blessings on the man that invented sleep," quoth Sancho Panza. Grotesque figures and shadows flitted hither and thither.

66

A guard was set, lest the dying embers might be fanned into new life and swept across the line, and a worse conflagration ensue.

The eventful night wore away, and the wee hours of morning came on. A squad was despatched for commissary stores to feed the hungry watchers, who never left the ground until a refreshing shower of rain relieved them of further care about the fire.

Down the rugged mountain we threaded our way in the dim light of coming dawn, fearful at times that our pony might stumble and hurl us among the rocks, but she was used to such travel, and brought us through unharmed. We managed to get home before any of the denizens along the route were up to laugh at our sorry plight; for we were minus a considerable part of our coat, torn off by the unmerciful briars and bushes. After a morning nap we rose to find, that the fame of our last night's exploits had spread far and wide, and had increased our reputation not a little among the rustic population. This fire on the mountain, with its accompanying incidents, was the subject of conversation for many a day in the village of Alto Dale and regions round about.

J. J. ZUBLY, D. D.

BY "Z."

My attention has recently been called to an article in the April number of the GUARDIAN, written by Rev. J. H. Dubbs, in relation to Rev. John Joachim Zubly, D. D., and being a lineal descendant, in the third generation, and judging from the remarks of the writer, that any authentic account of this good man would not be uninteresting, even at this late period, I shall trouble the readers of the GUARDIAN with a short article; only premising that I would not have ventured to intrude upon the public any portion of our family history, had it not been called out by the article referred to.

From various uncontrollable circumstances our knowledge of this, our ancestor, is very meagre. First, the fact that in his own family circle he and his wife conversed almost entirely in German; consequently, his children, educated in English, understood very little of what was said in regard to antecedents, family connections in the Old World, reasons for emigrating, etc. Then, again, his papers having been mostly destroyed in Savannah during the Revolution, to which allusion has been made by the correspondent of the GUARDIAN, and the few which were preserved, and which have descended to the present generation, being almost entirely German, and withal very much obliterated by time.

The amount of information in possession of the present writer will perhaps best be imparted in the same order of item pursued by Mr. Dubbs, viz.: first

BIRTH AND EDUCATION.

John Joachim Zubly was born August 27th, 1724,* in the city of St. Galle, Canton St. Galle, Switzerland. The family record in our possession extends back to 1629. His father, David, died when this son was twentynine years of age. In regard to his primary education nothing is known. It may, perhaps, have been acquired in America; but we know that either his classical or theological course, probably both, were pursued in the ancient University of Halle. Nor is there any doubt in the minds of his descendants as to how this education was procured. This will be referred to hereafter.

EMIGRATION.

His father emigrated to Carolina in 1726, when the subject of this sketch was but two years old, which, according to the correspondent of the GUARDIAN, was fifteen years previous to the immigration of the Salzburgers.

ORDINATION.

He was ordained in the Swiss National Church, at Coire, Canton des Grisons, Switzerland, in 1744, being, as was remarked, not quite twenty After his ordination he returned to Carolina, accompanied by his father and brother; from which fact it is reduced almost to a demonstration, that his father took his two sons, J. J. and David, back to Fatherland to educate them.

DOMESTIC RELATIONS.

November 10th, 1746, he was united in marriage to Anna Tobler, von Rehtobel, Canton Appenzelle, Switzerland. Of five children three survived. Two daughters died in childhood, and are buried in the old cemetery in Savannah, where their father lies. Two sons became fathers of families. The remaining daughter was twice married, but buried her only child-a son bearing her father's name-in infancy. She lived to a good old age, beloved and venerated by all who knew her. Her life, for many years, was spent in St. M., Georgia, where she died, in the year year 1831, aged seventy-three.

One of his sons settled in Carolina. Of him little is known. The other selected his father's profession, for which the Revolution found him preparing at Princeton, N. J. His studies, however, being interrupted and his health failing, he relinquished his design. He died about the year 1790, leaving two daughters, who are probably the individuals referred to by Mr. D. as the "daughters" of Dr. Z., a very natural mistake, as they bore his name.

His descendants are not numerous; nor is there a single one to perpetuate his name.

MINISTERIAL LABORS.

Dr. Z.'s labors, before his removal to Savannah, were probably performed chiefly in S. Carolina, but this removal must have taken place at an earlier period than 1760, as the writer has frequently heard the old

* Most of the dates inserted were copied from the parish register in Rehtobel, Switzerland, in the year 1865.

relative above referred to speak of Savannah as her native place, and she was born in 1758.

Whether he established any churches, previously to this removal, is unknown; but the church now called the "Independent Church" of Savannah, was probably founded by him, and no doubt the old Presbyterian house of worship, which this society originally used, was built for him, as there is a tradition in the family that he was the "first to preach in it." This old building was replaced, about the year 1819, by that handsome structure now known as the "Independent Church," the pulpit of which is at present occupied by Rev. J. Š. K. Axron, D. D. This church was formerly Presbyterian, as has been stated, but seceded from the Presby tery many years after Dr. Z. had gone to his reward, while under the pas toral care of Rev. Heary Kollock, D. D. It has, however, I believe, been always supplied by Presbyterian ministers, though the church itself is, as its name indicates, entirely independent.

Others, it is true, have reaped the fruits of his labors: "but he has long been enjoying the glorious reward." "Paul plants, Apollos waters, but God (only) gives the increase," and to His name be all the praise.

It is true, not only that "he sometimes preached in German, French and English on a single Sabbath," but that it was his custom to do so. It is believed he had charge, likewise, of a congregation in the vicinity of Savannah. He also preached occasionally at Frederika, on the island of St. Simons, the first settlement made in Georgia, by General Oglethrope, who was a personal friend.

Of his

PERSONAL POPULARITY

It would, of course, be unbecoming in the writer to say anything; suffice it, that his descendents are quite satisfied with the testimony of tradition in regard to it.

POLITICAL SERVICES.

Of all the topics touched upon, this is the most difficult and delicate to be handled by one of his descendants; not because they are not perfectly satisfied of the rectitude of his course; but because, in politics, as in religion, it is difficult for the world to impute right motives to those of the opposite party, and especially in the estimation of such as hold the doctrine: "Vox populi, vox Dei." The minority are, of course, always in the wrong. Yet, could we search the heart, as only the Omniscient Eye can do it, we should doubtless frequently discover in those who are caluminated and often persecuted, and even sacrificed, on account of this difference of opinion, an integrity and uprightness of principle wholly unknown to those, who allow themselves to be blown along by the popular breeze, or else to feign an acquiescence they do not feel; and who, as soon as the wind sets in another direction, find it quite as fair a wind for them. Having no fixed destination, they trim their sails to suit the gale.

Dr. Z., although not an Englishman, was a staunch loyalist. He believed in the Divine Right of kings, and though strongly attached to the land of his adoption, he thought her only safety was in remaining under the British Government. In revolution he saw naught but anarchy, confusion and destruction; in short, suicide.

As the correspondent of the GUARDIAN remarks: "He strongly depre

cated the tyrannical measures of the British ministry," which is proven by his manly and fearless address to the Earl of Dartmouth. I could give long extracts from this document to show, that he was not actuated in his course by any feelings hostile to the interests of his adopted country; on the contrary, he sympathized deeply in her trials.

(

To use his own language in the preface to his "Answer to Common Sense,'" a political treatise "addressed to the inhabitants of America: ""The author looks upon an entire separation from Great Britain not as a last remedy, but as a new and more dangerous disease; and earnestly prayeth that America, in that connexion, may soon and forever enjoy that constitution and freedom which her representatives so justly claim. And as every man must expect his share in the troubles of the times, if he himself must meet with any, may it be because he holds a regard to conscience and public and private justice, essential to the character of a patriot; and the cause of America, too just and sacred to be promoted by any action which justice or Christianity must condemn; and, in the language of the Continental Congress, he most sincerely wisheth that the annals of America, or any of its provinces, may never be stained by the recital of any such actions." The writer could say much more on this subject, but must forbear lest the patience of the readers of the GUARDIAN be wearied. It is hoped sufficient has been said to remove any aspersions from the character of this good man, and to prove that, if he erred, the error lay in the judgment, not in the heart.

Hon. E. J. Harden, in "Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit," says: "When the occasions for that bitterness of feeling, which characterizes the conflict, had passed away, there is every reason to believe that his memory was cherished, even by those against whom he took part, as that of one who acted under strong convictions of the propriety of his course. That he was a man of great learning and unaffected piety is everywhere admitted; and that his conduct was not uncharitably judged seems apparent from the fact [already alluded to by the correspondent of the GUARDIAN], that two of the streets in Savannah, Joachim and Zubly; still bear his name, and that one of the hamlets of the town, St. Galle, yet records the name of his native place in Switzerland. In regard to

HIS FLIGHT FROM CONGRESS,

It was probably not as "unseemly" as the correspondent of the GUARDIAN supposes. It was only in keeping with the upright character of the rest of his conduct.

His principles underwent no change, but he could not conscientiously sustain the extreme measures which he saw would prevail; and became convinced, that to vote against them would be to disappoint his constituents. The fact of his returning to Savannah, whence he had been sent, proves that he did not consider his vacating his seat a desertion.

He was probably, however, afterwards obliged, by the force of public opinion, to leave his valued home in Savannah. In fact, his property was all confiscated, but his descendants are not certain where the few remaining years of his useful life were spent, nor where his death took place, though doubtless somewhere in South Carolina, in the year 1783. His remains were interred in the old cemetery in the city of Savannah.