314 THE GRANITE MONTHLY.
kaleidoscope; the basis thereof remains ever the same. And always about us is the material which skilled hands can work into heroes and heroines.
While we have been writing the clouds have grown thicker, the impending storm has drawn nearer, and now the feathery flakes fall in rapid succession, veiling from sight all the objects that have assisted to form our pictures, save such as are in our immediate vicinity. So, good-by.
METHODISM IN PORTSMOUTH.
BY HON. THOMAS L. TULLOCK.
PART SECOND — Continued.
Rev. John Newland Maffitt — Concluded.
Though his religious brethren believed in him, and gave him their support, yet each succeeding week the attack was renewed, and at length, with the exclamation, "God pity my enemies!" Mr. Maffitt fell backward, and his earthly career was at an end. Dr. Nott conducted the post-mortem examination, and found the stomach and lungs in a healthy condition, but when he removed the heart, he wept, saying, "There can be no doubt as to the cause of his death, for the heart is literally burst." The verdict of the jury was that he died of a broken heart caused by excessive grief. His sister said that the evening before his death, as they were walking the room together, talking of the persecutions to which he was subjected, he said, "Oh, Ellen, your poor brother is dying; my heart strings are breaking; but I die an innocent man, a Christian, and a gentleman." A suspicion that he had been poisoned occasioned the inquest.
He was a remarkable man — amiable, gentle and kind, exceedingly polite, possessed of a forgiving spirit, a brilliant intellect, an eloquent tongue, and swayed vast assemblies as with irresistible magic. His clear and beautiful voice thrilled every heart; its touching tones and eloquent utterances fascinated and charmed. Had he been more favorably situated in marital relations, we can hardly estimate the influence for good of this extraordinary man, and the preciousness of his memory in the coming ages. No doubt unfortunate marriages, causeless slanders, the vindictiveness of a portion of the press, and the ill-timed action of a few Christian brethren, finally crushed his naturally buoyant spirit. Oppressed, distressed, and disheartened, he sought shelter among sympathizing friends, and died a persecuted man. Almost with his last breath he said: "My enemies have broken my heart."
My mother, who was a member of his church in Portsmouth, and my sister who boarded in the next house to the one where he died, at Toulmanville, were most kindly disposed toward him. There was a great revival interest during his ministry at Portsmouth, in 1828-9. The only complaint I have heard made, was the neglect of proper records during his administration. He excelled as an evangelist, that being doubtless his appropriate mission, rather than the regular pastorate. I remember him, his wife, son, and two daughters. The daughters, I believe married well. His son, John N. Maffitt, now residing at Wilmington, N. C, entered the United States Navy, Feb. 25, 1832, and the Confederate service May 2, 1861, and was in command of the Rebel cruiser Florida. The
