College Commencement, yet after the vacation he renewed the same course of regimen and of application to study. But a short time had elapsed before these attacks were repeated with increased violence; and his friends, becoming seriously apprehensive of the consequences, informed his connections of his situation. His father, on his arrival at New Haven, found that his disorder had indeed made dreadful ravages in his constitution: his frame was emaciated, and his strength so far reduced, that it was with extreme difficulty he could be conveyed to Northampton. When he left New Haven, his friends and his pupils took leave of him as they supposed for the last time; and he had himself relinquished all hope of recovery. In the course of two months he had nineteen severe attacks of the disease. An eminent physician, whom he now consulted, after successfully administering to his immediate relief, recommended to him among other things a daily course of vigorous bodily exercise as the only means of restoring his constitution to its primitive vigour. He followed his advice; and, within a twelvemonth, walked upwards of two thousand miles, and rode on horseback upwards of three thousand. To his perseverance in this system, he was probably indebted for his recovery; as well as for the uninterrupted health and vigour of constitution, which he enjoyed for the ensuing forty

years.

In the year 1774, Mr. Dwight united himself to the College church. At this time, it was his expectation to pursue the practice of law; and, towards the close of his residence in College as a tutor, his studies were directed towards that object.

The first class, which he instructed, entered on the degree of Bachelors in September, 1775; the year before the Declaration of Independence. At that

time, he delivered them a "Valedictory Address," everywhere sparkling indeed with brilliant imagery; but everywhere fraught also with strong thoughts and noble conceptions. In two points of view it deserves notice. It unfolds to his pupils the duty of fixing on a very high standard of character as intelligent and as moral beings; in a manner which proves at once that this was literally the rule which governed his own conduct; and that he was admirably qualified to influence others to adopt it. It also communicates to them views of the growth and ultimate importance of this country, which were at once new, noble, and prophetic.

In March, 1777, he was married to Miss Mary Woolsey, the daughter of Benjamin Woolsey, Esquire, of Long-Island, the class-mate, room-mate, and intimate friend of his father. They had eight sons; of whom six survive their father. Mrs. Dwight is still living.

In May of the same year, College was broken up. The Students left New Haven at the commencement of the vacation; and pursued their studies during the summer, under their respective tutors, in places less exposed to the sudden incursions of the enemy. Mr. Dwight retired with his class to Weathersfield, and remained with them till September. Early in June he was licensed as a preacher, by a Committee of the Northern Association in his native county of Hampshire in the state of Massachusetts. Beside instructing his class, during the summer, he preached on the Sabbath at Kensington, a parish in Weathersfield.

The following fact is a striking proof of the respect and affection with which he was regarded by the students. It being well ascertained that the existing head of the College would relinquish his connection

with it: the students, as a body, drew up and signed a petition to the Corporation, that he might be elected to the Presidency. It was owing to his own interference, that the application was not formally made.

He left College early in September; and soon after was appointed Chaplain to General Parsons' Brigade, which was part of the Division of General Putnam, in the Army of the United States. In the British Army and Navy, this office is too often filled by men, who are distinguished only for their ignorance and profligacy. We are also compelled to admit, that, during our late war, this was most extensively true of those who held the same stations among our own forces. But in our War of the Revolution the very contrary was the fact. The generous enthusiasm, which then pervaded the country, not only prompted our young men of honour in civil life to take the field, but induced many of our clergy of the first reputation for piety and talents to attach themselves to the staff. The soldier of the Revolution need not be told how animating were their sermons and their prayers, nor how correct and exemplary were their lives.

Mr. Dwight joined the army at West Point, in October, 1777. Although the scene was entirely new to him, he was not idle nor inattentive to the business which now devolved upon him. He performed the appropriate duties of his office with strict punc> tuality and with uncommon reputation. The troops, who composed the brigade, were principally Connecticut farmers; men who had been soberly educated, and who were willing to listen to the truths of the Gospel, even in a camp. On the Sabbath, they heard him with profound attention. During the week, they beheld him exerting himself as far as lay in his

power to instruct them in morals and religion. Several of his discourses delivered to the whole army, owing partly to their intrinsic merit, and partly to the feelings of the times, gained him high reputation with the American public. He also wrote several patriotic songs, which were universally popular. They were favourite songs with the soldiers, and contributed not a little to kindle their enthusiasm in the cause of freedom. One of them, his "Columbia," will not soon be forgotten. It opened the eyes of his countrymen, on a prospect new, brilliant, and delightful; and exhibited in distinct vision the rising glories of our infant empire. His connection with the army enabled him to form an extensive acquaintance with many officers of distinction; and among them he had the satisfaction to rank the Commander in Chief. That great man honoured him with flattering attentions. Mr. Dwight ever remembered his kindness with lively gratitude; and entertained for his character and services, military and civil, the highest respect and veneration.

He remained in the army a little more than a year; when the news of his father's death, which reached him near the close of October, 1778, rendered it necessary for him to resign his office, in order to console his mother under that severe affliction, and to assist her in the support and education of her numerous family. On leaving the army, he received from his brother officers, particularly from Generals Putnam and Parsons, as well as from the soldiers of the Brigade, the most grateful testimonies of respect and kindness.

His father, in the midst of health and usefulness, had gone in the summer of 1776 to the Missisippi, for the purpose of providing a settlement in that country for two of his sons, by whom he was accom

panied. Himself, with his brother-in-law, General Lyman, had grants from the Crown of a large tract of land, in the S. W. angle of what is now the state of Missisippi, comprizing the present township of Natchez, and a considerable extent of adjacent country. Here he commenced a settlement under prosperous circumstances; but near the close of the following year fell a victim to the disease of the climate. He died at Natchez. His two sons, in company with the other adventurers, crossed the country through the wilderness in the dead of winter; and after innumerable dangers and hardships reached the seacoast of Georgia in safety. An account of this expedition will be found in the Travels of President Dwight. Rarely have we met with a more interesting or melancholy story. The original papers containing the grant were unhappily lost; and the family have never been able to substantiate their title to the land. Mr. Dwight's personal grant was a considerable part of the Township of Natchez. He left a widow and thirteen children; ten of whom were under twenty-one years of age. The subject of this Memoir was the eldest; and on him devolved the care of the family, at a period when the situation and circumstances of the country rendered the task peculiarly difficult and laborious. From the time of his entering on the Bachelor's Degree at College to his leaving the army, he had subjected his father to no expense for his own support. The intelligence of his death, in consequence of the peculiar circumstances of the country, did not reach the family until nearly a twelvemonth after the event had happened. Upon receiving the information, he, with, as little delay as possible, removed his own family to Northampton, and undertook the performance of the new duties, which providentially had devolved upon him,