170 SAMUEL ROYAL THURSTON
difference of obeying through fear or hope of reward, and that of obeying through pure filial love. Nevertheless it was not wrong to hold out inducements of happiness and heavenly reward to urge along the Christian on his way. God had done this, and these grew brighter in proportion as the pilgrim had progressed on his journey.
After the sermon, he remarked that a collection would be taken up to aid Dickinson College in her efforts to educate the young men of the Church. I gave fifty cents, and the same amount to Br. Purcell to support our minister. Here goes a dollar, and I hope that the declaration, "Honor the Lord with thy substance, then shall thy barns be filled and thy press overflow with new wine," will be realized by me. After this I wrote a letter to 1 Col. Ford, one to J. Conser and one to Wes- ley Shannon. Sent some papers and read. I went to bed about half past ten.
December, Monday, 24, 1849 On this day I attended the session of the House, wrote &c.
24th and 25th was at Baltimore.
26th I attended the session of the House and wrote several letters in answer to some sent me inquiring about Oregon.
27th, the House adjourned till Monday, the last day of December.
December 28, 1849 This day, after breakfast, I went up to the office of the Secretary of the Navy to get copies or extracts from the contracts and correspondence concerning the mail route from Panama to Astoria. After getting this, I was sent for by Mr. Preston, Sec'y of the Navy, relative to giving notice to Aspinwall to run the mail steamers to Oregon. He said he had power to order them to touch at two points on the coast of Oregon, and asked me where the other place should be aside from Astoria. I told him Nesqually, in my judgment, but to be safe I would see Capt. Wilkes. So I went to see Capt. Wilkes and he recommended Nesqually. I then returned to my room and wrote the Secretary to order them to discharge and take mail at Astoria and Nesqually, which I supposed he
i Nathaniel Ford, of Rickreall.
