The Harry Watkins Diary, Volume 11 [July 22, 1853–June 12, 1854]

27 November 1853

Sund (Sunday) 27th Foggy—Reading & walking A.M. After dinner took a stroll into the suburbs of the removescity—visited the resorvoir [sic reservoir] from which water is supplied to the inhabitants. The resorvoir [sic reservoir] is elevated at a considerable height above the city, the water being pumped into it by means of machinery, from the Ohio river removeHaving taken the wrong road I was desirous of reaching the top of the hill, which is the highest point of land in the vicinity, but haviving [sic having] taken the wrong road, I only accomplished my object after a great deal of toil, and at the cost of well mudded [sic well-mudded] shoes and pants—But I was well repaid for my trouble by the fine view removethat is it afforded me of the city and adjacent country—Back home at dusk. I

had almost forgotten to write down that this morning I heard E H Chapin preach—to state the pleasure I removerecderived from hearing him would be impossible. He is a member of the universalist persuasion, and is considered to be one of the greatest pulpit orators of the day. He took his text from the first chapter ofexpand_less Ecclesiastics—removeand argueremoveding [sic arguing] from it that all things in life have a religious tendency, and most ably removedid wasexpand_less the argument maintained. The great beauty of Mr Chapin's discourses, and the effect produced by them, lies in the fact that he keeps his hearers down on terra-firma—talks to them of things that must be palpable to all—events that are transpiring every day in our midst—indeed, removehis he may be said to lecture rather than sermonise He takes his auditors, as it were, through allexpand_less the voyage of life unto eternity—the bible his compass—and heaven his haven—