From the extensive correspondence of Mr. Badger, little at present can be introduced, as the interest of his published journal and things relating to his personal life and public labor have the paramount claim. Yet the freedom in which a large variety of minds addressed him evinces that he was _beloved_ confidingly, as well as respected and admired. As an example of the free expression of one class of correspondents, we may take the following lines, dated near 1824, from the pen of a gentleman of the medical profession, Troy, Pa.: "I think I informed you I was not a professor of religion, though I have a friendly regard for all such as appear to worship God in a rational and consistent manner, whose minds have not been circumscribed by undigested creeds and by uncharitable proscription. I have read some and thought much on the subject of religion, and after all I confess I am rather skeptical. I have endeavored to view it abstractedly by the lights of reason and philosophy; to consider what it is, its origin and design. To sum up in a few words, if I may be allowed the expression, I should consider it indispensably necessary to those who would not be good without it. Take this away, and what method would be left to bring the mere child of nature to the practice of virtue? You could not discover to him the excellency there is in goodness, and the reward which it brings. His imagination needs to be awed by the penalty annexed to vice. It may seem paradoxical to say that when men become good for _goodness' sake_, they have no need of religion." Bold thoughts were no alarm to Mr. Badger; and not many persons had his faculty for taking away effectually the objections which really stood in the path of the unbelieving, though in doing so his methods were his own, and he had no use for the logical phrases of those who have been styled apologists for religion or Christianity. In looking over lines like those first quoted, is it not impossible to repress the sentiment, that "he who becomes good _for goodness' sake_," instead of having no need of religion, already _has it_ in its highest possible form? It cannot be otherwise.