HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 195

—which was a very able, earnest, and eloquent discourseÑis a fine tribute to the Heidelberg Catechism, and a plea for its faithful and regular exposition in our churches.” His health, somewhat impaired before his removal from Albany, now began to fail rapidly; and the loss of his wife, in March, 1803, undoubtedly contributed to hasten his own death. He died at the house of his brother-in-law, Peter Rosevelt, Esq., in Newtown, August 29th, 1803, leaving three children, two of whom still survive in the ministry of the Episcopal Church—one at Jamaica, L.I., and another as a professor in the Episcopal Theological Seminary in New York.

From a sketch of Mr. Johnson, from the pen of Hon. Teunis Van Vechten, for Rev. Dr. Sprague’s Annals of the American Pulpit, we learn that he was a man of unusually prepossessing personal appearance, and easy and graceful manners. “His countenance had an expression of great benignity, united with high intelligence. His manners were bland and courteous, and predisposed every one who saw him to be his friend; and his countenance and manners were a faithful index to his disposition. He was acknowledged, on all hands, to possess an uncommonly amiable and generous spirit. He had the reputation of an excellent pastor. He mingled freely, and to great acceptance, with all classes of people. He was particularly attentive to the young, and had the faculty of making himself exceedingly pleasant to them. This I know from personal experience.

“As a preacher he was undoubtedly one of the most popular in the Dutch Church at that day. Of his manner in the pulpit I retain a very distinct recollection. His voice was a melodious one, and though not of remarkable compass, yet loud enough to be heard with ease in a large church. His gesture was natural and effective, and sometimes he reached what I should think a high pitch of pulpit oratory.”

At the death of General Washington, the Legislature of the State, then in session, requested of the Consistory the use of this church (the Albany church) for the celebration of appropriate funeral services, and invited Mr. Johnson to deliver the eulogy on that occasion. The service was accordingly held, February 22d, 1800, and, as might be supposed, was one of universal interest and solem-