New Hampshire Statesman And Concord Register

Extract of a letter from Washington to the editor of the New-York Commercial Advertiser.

Among the wonders of this place is the appearance of a female preacher, Miss Harriet Livermore, from Massachusetts. She has been well educated, and is of a highly respectable family. After having preached in Georgetown and in some of the churches in this city, she, by the assistance of the Pennsylvania delegation, obtained from Mr. Speaker Taylor the liberty to "give her testimony," as she calls her sermon, in Congress Hall. The novelty attracted all the taste and fashion of the city, and the room was filled and crowded. At 11 o'clock on Sunday last, she entered the Hall, took the Speaker's chair, sung a hymn, assisted by a few of her friends, prayed, and began her discourse. The text was from 2d Sam. chap. xxii. v. 3 and 4 "He that ruleth over men, must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds: as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain." Her exposition of this beautiful text was not only bold, but felicitous and eloquent. Her voice was clear, her enunciation so distinct as to be heard by all on the floor of the house. She drew a fair and lovely character of the just ruler, and dwelt long upon the good such an one may do in this as well as in other countries. The sermon was more than an hour in length, and all were quiet and attentive. The President was there, and at one time, sat upon the steps which led to her pulpit, the crowd being so great that for a while it was the most convenient place he could find. The Secretary of War, and some others of the most distinguished members of Congress were among her auditors. After finishing her sermon, she sang alone a long hymn:—her voice was much admired by the best judges. The softest note of it filled the room. She is a woman of delicate form and an expressive face. She is now past thirty-five years of age, and retains much of the good looks of her youth. I remember her, when in the blooming charms of seventeen, she moved down the dance "with fairy step and laughing eye:" but little then did I anticipate the day when she would draw after her crowds of hearers as a preacher. I think she will do much good, for there is less fanaticism and more good sense in her discourses than in those sermons of Whitfield which have been printed in this country. The objections which have been made to female preachers have been nearly insurmountable in this country, except among the Friends: but Miss Livermore seems to unite the Quaker and the Methodist; and conducted herself in such a manner as to please both sects. You may smile to find me an advocate of female preaching ; but I can see no reason to exclude them from bearing the tidings of the Gospel, which is peculiarly engrafted on the best affections of the heart. And who understands the heart better than an enlightened woman?