In the afternoon I heard Dr. Beecher. Here, again, I found the blinds down. The Doctor's text was, "Let me first go and bury my father," &c. Without at all noticing the context,--an omission which I regretted,--he proceeded at once to state the doctrine of the text to be, that nothing can excuse the putting off of religion--that it is every man's duty to follow Christ immediately. This subject, notwithstanding the heaviness of the day, the infirmities of more than threescore years and ten (74), and the frequent necessity of adjusting his spectacles to consult his notes, he handled with much vigour and zeal. Some of his pronunciations were rather antiquated; but they were the elegant New England pronunciations of his youthful days. The sermon was marked by that close and faithful dealing with the conscience in which so many American ministers excel. Professor Allen called to take me up to Lane Seminary, where I was to address the students in the evening. The service was public, and held in the chapel of the institution; but the evening being wet, the congregation was small. I had, however, before me the future pastors of about fifty churches, and two of the professors. I was domiciled at Mr. Allen's. Both he and his intelligent wife are sound on the subject of slavery. They are also quite above the contemptible prejudice against colour. But I was sorry to hear Mrs. Allen say, that, in her domestic arrangements, she had often had a great deal of trouble with her _European_ servants, who would refuse to take their meals with black ones, though the latter were in every respect superior to the former! I have heard similar remarks in other parts of America. Mr. Allen's system of domestic training appeared excellent. His children, of whom he has as many as the patriarch Jacob, were among the loveliest I had ever seen. At 8 o'clock in the morning of the 8th of March I left Lane Seminary, with a heavy heart at the thought that in all probability I should never see it again. There was a sharp frost. Dr. Stowe accompanied me to the omnibus. "All right!"--"_Pax vobiscum!_"--the vehicle moved on, and directly the Doctor was at a distance of a hundred yards waving a farewell. It was the last look. At 11 A.M. myself, wife, baggage,--all were setting off from the "Queen City" for Pittsburgh, a distance of 496 miles, in the Clipper No. 2, a fine boat, and in good hands. LETTER XXII. Cincinnati--Its History and Progress--Its Trade and Commerce--Its Periodical Press--Its Church Accommodation--Its Future Prospects --Steaming up the Ohio--Contrast between Freedom and Slavery--An Indian Mound--Splendid Scenery--Coal Hills. Before proceeding with our trip to Pittsburg, I will bring together all the material points of information I have gathered relative to Cincinnati.