N 1808 Thomas Campbell's loving wife and seven children (three sons and four daughters) were still across the Atlantic Ocean in Ireland. That wife, if she had been in America, would have been a great source of comfort and aid to Mr. Campbell through the two and more stormy years that have been described. Even the oldest son, Alexander, who had been bearing up nobly as teacher in the seminary over which his father had installed him when he left for America, and as the head of the family, would have been able to temper the sorrow of his father while resting under the disapproval of his fellow ministers. Of course, there were exchanges of letters, but the eighty or ninety days required for the same, left long weeks of anxiety and uncertainty. In spite of his being more or less an object of dislike and suspicion on the part of the ministers in Chartiers Presbytery, Mr. Campbell never thought of returning to Ireland. He was even more determined to have his family join him in Washington, Pa., where he had established his headquarters. He had evidently expected that his loved ones might arrive in July or August of 1808, for that would seem to explain the two months' appointment which had been given to him in the Presbytery of Philadelphia-- [101] June and July of 1808. But smallpox had broken out at Rich Hill. Some, of the younger children of the Campbell family had become infected. Jane, the fourth child, suffered a very severe attack, and was left sorely disfigured. The other children had the disease in much milder form. Preparations for the journey to America thus interrupted, were resumed in August. Alexander went to Londonderry and booked passage for his mother, sisters and brothers on the ship "Hibernia." It seemed to be an unlucky vessel. It was slow in getting ready to sail; was undermanned; had a captain who was stubborn and bibulous; and some of the crew were young and inexperienced. The ship made a false start on September 28, and another on October 1. On October 2 it got into the Atlantic, but a stop was made for the sake of securing a supply of whisky not far from Innishowen. The next day saw another effort to get away, but a high and adverse, wind drove the vessel all night, and morning found it along the coast of Scotland near the island of Islay. The captain elected to stay in the rather dangerous place even though there was a better harbor near by. Near midnight of October 7, because of a severe gale, the ship dragged her anchors and hit on a sunken rock. Richardson [Memoirs, Vol. I., p. 100] relates that earlier in the evening while dozing, Alexander had a very vivid dream which anticipated the shipwreck. As a result, he remained dressed except for his shoes, and was ready for the emergency which arose. For the full [102] description of the wreck and the rescue, we refer the reader to the, work above cited.

      Only God knows what would have been the course of Alexander Campbell's life if the shipwreck had not occurred, or what would have been the results on Thomas Campbell's life if his brilliantly endowed son and the family had arrived in America in 1808 as had been planned. After he had given such aid as he could to all in rescuing life and property, the son on the deck of the wrecked vessel gave himself to meditation, and it issued in his giving himself to the same great work in which his father was engaged--the ministry of the gospel. The family lost rather severely in goods, but ever after felt that the wreck turned out to their advantage. It seemed best to all that they should go to Glasgow, and they lodged themselves in that great city of learning, where from Nov. 8, 1808, until the close of the session in May of 1809, Alexander was a student in the university. He did not need the presence of a father to prod him on. He allowed himself but six hours of sleep at night. French, New Testament Greek, Classical Greek, Latin, Logic, Belles Lettres, Experimental Philosophy were his studies. Two of his professors had been over his father more than twenty-five years before. By way of diversion, Alexander read very widely, attended special lectures and conversations, and heard the preaching of some of the great religious leaders of the day. He was not afraid to hear them, for his independence of mind held him back from counting any one [103] of them as his master in religion. The two brothers Haldane seemed to influence him more than others. The splendid liberality of the older Haldane moved the young man to adopt financial independence as a plan, with the, result that Alexander Campbell was a liberal man and preached the gospel without fee or reward as long as he lived. At the close of the university year, it was impossible to turn their faces again toward America. So the young student was persuaded to engage in some, tutoring for a couple of months on the north shore of the Clyde.

      On Aug. 5, 1809, we discover the Campbell family embarking to join the father in the New World. The ship soon sprung a leak, but the captain would not turn back. The crew and passengers nursed their craft along, but it was a stormy voyage. A high wind carried away a mast and its sail, and a later dreadful storm shredded the remaining sails. A passing vessel, westward bound, kindly furnished the almost bestilled ship with a sail. Good and bad weather continued and struggled for the mastery of the vessel, but finally, on September 29, the anchor was dropped in New York harbor. A few days were spent in the city of New York. On October 7 the family that had been so delayed by disease, and an unfriendly ocean arrived in Philadelphia. Within two days they were on the last lap of their journey in a conestoga wagon. Westward three hundred and fifty miles over the plains and mountains of Pennsylvania were the loving husband and father and [104] the new home they had been longing for. The way by which the heavenly Father had been leading them was hard and stormy and devious, but it came to a peaceful and happy end. [105]

[TCSCUA 101-105]