minister to Spain, a post which he held till he was succeeded by Pinckney in 1802. He then returned to America, and engaged in the importation of merino sheep from Spain. He wrote a dissertation on the subject in prose, and employed its capabilities in verse, in his poem On the Industry of the United States of America, which was composed, he tells us, on the delightful banks of the Tagus, where his days were pleasantly passed in the enjoyment of health, happiness, and content." 66 Oh, might my guidance from the downs of Spain, His wish was gratified. He imported a hundred of the "white flock," a fact which the Massachusetts Agricultural Society records on a medal. When Madison, in 1809, took his oath of office as president, he was dressed in a full suit of American woollens, of which Colonel Humphreys's manufactory furnished the coat, and Chancellor Livingston's the waistcoat and smallclothes. He was also employed in agricultural improvements. The village of Humphreysville, situated on Naugatuc river, in Connecticut, the seat of a considerable manufacturing interest, was named after him. He was a native of the townhip. Death of General Washington, pronounced at the house of the American legation at Madrid, on the 4th July, 1800. He had already written a letter to Mrs. Washington, dated on the 22d February the day, says he, "signalized by his birth, and which was accustomed to be celebrated with heartfelt festivity throughout the United States;" and so may it ever be! In 1812 he was appointed to the command of two regiments of Connecticut soldiery, the "Veteran Volunteers." The rest of his life was passed in retirement. He died at New Haven, February 21, 1818. PUTNAM'S ADVENTURE WITH THE WOLF.-FROM THE LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. In the year 1739, he removed from Salem to Pomfret, an inland fertile town in Connecticut, forty miles east of Hartford. Having here purchased a considerable tract of land, he applied himself suecessfully to agriculture. The first years on a new farm are not, however, exempt from disasters and disappointments, which can only be remedied by stubborn and patient industry. Our farmer, sufficiently occupied in building an house and barn, felling woods, making fences, Sowing grain, planting orchards, and taking care of his stock, had to encounter, in turn, the calamities occasioned by drought in summer, blast in harvest, loss of cattle in winter, and the desolation of his sheep-fold by wolves. In one night he had seventy fine sheep and goats killed, besides many lambs and kids wounded. This havock was committed by a she-wolf, which, with her annual whelps, had for several years infested the vicinity. The young were commonly destroyed by the vigilance of the hunters, but the old one was too sagacious to come withia reach of gun-shot: upon being closely pursued, she would generally fly to the western woods, and return the next winter with another litter of whelps. This wolf, at length, became such an intolerable nuisance that Mr. Putnam entered into a combination with five of his neighbours to hunt alternately until they could destroy her. Two, by rotation, were to be constantly in pursuit. It was known, that, having lost the toes from one foot by a steeltrap, she made one track shorter than the other. By this vestige the pursuers recognised, in a light snow, the route of this pernicious animal. Having followed her to Connecticut river, and found she had turned back in a direct course towards Pomfret, they immediately returned, and by ten o'clock the next morning the blood-hounds had driven her into a den, about three miles distant from the house of Mr. Putnam. The people soon collected with dogs, guns, straw, fire, and sulphur, to attack the common enemy. With this apparatus, several unsuccessful efforts were made to force her from the den. The hounds came back badly wounded, and refused to return. The smoke of blazing straw had no effect. Nor did the fumes of burnt brimstone, with which the cavern was filled, compel her to quit the retirement. Wearied with such fruitless attempts, (which had brought the time to ten o'clock at night,) Mr. Putnam tried once more to make his deg enter, but in vain. He proposed to his negro man to go down into the cavern and shoot the wolf: the negro declined the hazardous service. Then it was that the master, angry at the disappointment, and declaring that he was ashamed to have a coward in his family, resolved himself to destroy the ferocious beast, lest she should escape through some unknown fissure of the rock. His neighbours strongly remonstrated against the perilous enterprise: but he, knowing that wild animals were intimidated by fire, and having provided several strips of birch-bark, the only combustible material which he could obtain that would afford light in this deep and darksome cave, prepared for his descent. Having, accordingly, divested himself of his coat and waistcoat, and having a long rope fastened round his legs, by which he might be pulled back, at a concerted signal, he entered head-foremost, with the blazing torch in his hand. The aperture of the den, on the east side of a very high ledge of rocks, is about two feet square; from thence it descends obliquely fifteen feet, then running horizontally about ten more, it ascends gradually sixteen feet towards its termination. The sides of this subterraneous cavity are composed of smooth and solid rocks, which seem to have been divided from each other by some former earthquake. The top and bottom are also of stone, and the entrance, in winter, being covered with ice, is exceedingly slippery. It is in no place high enough for a man to raise himself upright, nor in any part more than three feet in width. Having groped his passage to the horizontal part of the den, the most terrifying darkness appeared in front of the dim circle of light afforded by his torch. It was silent as the house of death. None but monsters of the desert had ever before explored this solitary mansion of horror. He, cautiously proceeding onward, came to the ascent, which he slowly mounted on his hands and knees, until he discovered the glaring eye-balls of the wolf, who was sitting at the extremity of the cavern. Startled at the sight of fire, she gnashed her teeth, and gave a sullen growl. As soon as he had made the necessary discovery, he kickel the rope as a sig al for pulling him out. The people at the mouth of the den, who had listened with painful anxiety, hearing the growling of the wolf, and supposing their friend to be in the most imminent danger, drew him forth with such celerity that his shirt was stripped over his head, and his skin severely lacerate l After he had adjusted his clothes, and loaded his gun with nine buck-shot, holding a torch in one hand, and the musket ir the other, he descended the second time. When he drew nearer than before, the wolf, assuming a still more fierce and terrible appearance, howling, rolling her eyes, snapping her teeth, and dropping her head between her legs, was evidently in the attitude, and on the point of springing at him. At the critical instant he levelled and fired at her head. Stunned with the shock, and suffocated with the smoke, he immediately found himself drawn out of the cave. But having refreshed himself, and permitted the smoke to dissipate, he went down the third time. Once more he came within sight of the wolf, who appearing very passive, he applied the torch to her nose, and perceiving her dead, he took hold of her ears, and then kicking the rope (still tied round his legs) the people above, with no small exultation, dragged them both out together. I have offered these facts in greater detail, because they contain a display of character; and because they have been erroneously related in several European publications, and very much mutilated in the history of Connecticut, a work as replete with falsehood as destitute of genius, lately printed in London. MOUNT VERNON: AN ODE." By broad Potowmack's azure tide, Where Vernon's mount, in sylvan pride, Displays its beauties far, Written at Mount Vernon, August, 1786. Great Washington, to peaceful shades, Or quench'd its spreading flame, "Twas mine, return'd from Europe's cou ts, To share his thoughts, partake his sports, And sooth his partial ear. To thee, my friend, these lays belong: With gay, perennial blooms, The plumy people sing; For thee new pleasures bring. No vulgar converse heroes hold, Or dwell on nature's charms. A rude and polish'd state! The storm is calm'd, seren'd the heav'n, Expands th' imperial day: To guide our doubtful way! What means to freedom such disgust; So spake his country's friend, with sighs, The legacy he gave And half he fear'd his toils were vain, A transient gloom o'ercast his mind: The patriot fond believ'd, Thus buoy'd with hope, with virtue blest, He meets the happier hours: THE SHEPHERD: A SONG. (Translated from the French.) It rains, it rains, my fair, Come drive your white sheep fast: To shelter quick repair, Haste, shepherdess, make haste. I hear the water pours, With patt'ring on the vines: See here! see here! it lours See there the lightning shines. The thunder dost thou hear? Loud roars the rushing storm: Take (while we run, my dear,) Protection from my arm. I see our cot, ah, hold! Mamma and sister Nance, Come in, sweet lambkins, come. Of all her pretty sheep; Her little lamb we'll spare More straw whereon to sleep. "Tis done-now let us haste To her;-you here, my fair! My mother, look you there. Come taste this cream so sweet, Alas! you do not eat: You feel e'en yet the storm. "Twas wrong-I press'd too much Your steps, when on the way; But here, see here, your couchThere sleep till dawn of day, With gold the mountain tips :Good-night, good-night, my dove! Now let me on your lips Imprint one kiss of love. Mamma and I will come, As soon as morn shall shine, To see my sweetheart home, And ask her hand for mine. THE MONKEY, Who shaved himself and his Friends. Addressed to the Hon. A man who own'd a barber's shop It chanc'd in shop, the dog and cat, While friseur din'd, demurely sat, Jacko found naught to play the knave in, So thought he'd try his hand at shaving. Around the shop in haste he rushes, And gets the razors, soap, and brushes; Now puss he fix'd (no muscle miss stirs) And lather'd well her beard and whiskers, Then gave a gash, as he beganThe cat cry'd waugh!" and off she ran. Next Towser's beard he tried his skill in, Though Towser seem'd somewhat unwilling: As badly here again succeeding, The dog runs howling round, and bleeding. Nor yet was tir'd our roguish elf; Then with left hand holds smooth his jaw,— Around he flourishes and slashes, Moral. Who cannot write, yet handle pens, Are apt to hurt themselves and friends. Though others use them well, yet fools Should never meddle with edge tools. JAMES THACHER, THE author of the American Medical Biography, was born at Barnstable, Mas-achusetts, in 1754, of a New England family, which figures conspicuously in the lists of Harvard College. The close of his medical education with Dr. Abner Hersey, a noted Massachusetts physician, brought him to the opening of the War of Independence. He eagerly stepped forward in the cause, and secured the post of surgeon's mate in the provincial hospital at Cambridge. He next became attached to one of the Eastern regiments, and was engaged in the hospital duties after the field at Saratoga. He was afterwards stationed at the Highlands of the Hudson, and was at West Point in 1780, at the time of the treason of Arnold, and witnessed the execution of André. He was also present at the surrender of Cornwallis. Of these and other incidents of the campaigns, he gave an interesting account, in his Military Journal during the American Revolutionary War, from 1775 to 1783, which was published in 1824. After the war he settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, where he remained engaged in the practice of his profession, and in the composition of his numerous writings, till his death, at the advanced age of ninety-one, in May, 1844. Besides the Military Journal already mentioned, he was the author of an American New Dispensatory, 1810; Observations on Hydrophobia, 1821; the Modern Practice of Physic, 1817; the American Orchardist, 1822; a Practical Treatise on the Management of Bees, 1829; an Essay on Demonology, Ghosts, Apparitions, and Popular Superstitions, 1831; a History of Plymouth, 1832; besides various contributions to the journals on medical and scientific topics. His American Medical Biography, or Memoirs of Eminent Physicians who have flourished in COLUMBIA COLLEGE. COLUMBIA COLLEGE. FROM an intimation in the records of Trinity Samuel Johnson. American Medical Biography: or Memoirs of Eminent Physicians, embracing principally those who have died since the publication of Dr. Thacher's work on the same subject. Svo., Greenfield, Mass. 1845. adopted, and invited his liberality to Yale. The University of Oxford had conferred on him the degree of doctor in divinity. Dr. Franklin was anxious that he should take charge of the University of Pennsylvania. With such honorable associations he arrived at New York in his fiftyeighth year. Bishop Berkeley, who was acquainted with the wishes of the friends of learning for a college in New York, wrote from his see of Cloyne to Johnson, in 1749. Anticipating the future speciality of the college, its attention to classical studies, he impressed upon the man marked out for its president, that "the Greek and Latin classics be well taught. Be this the first care as to learning!" To this he added an injunction for the principal care of "good life and morals;" recommends that the institution should start well, with the infusion of "a good taste into the society," by a handsome provision for its president and fellows, and suggested that "small premiums in books, or distinctions in habit, may prove useful encouragements to the students."* The college was organized in May, 1755, when Trinity church conveyed to its governors the land inclosed by Church, Barclay, and Murray streets to the Hudson river. The only conditions of the gift were that the president should always be a member of the Church of England, and that its liturgy should be used in the service of the college. Beyond this there was to be no exclusion for religious opinion. The college seal was adopted from a device prepared by the president. Application was made to England for funds. James Jay went over as applicant, and associated with Dr. Smith, provost of the college in Philadelphia. A large sum was collected for both institutions. On the 23d of August the first stone of the college building was laid by the governor, Sir Charles Hardy, who had favored the object at the outset, on his first arrival. The first Commencement was held in 1758. The original building, the central portion of the present edifice, was completed in 1760. The president, soon contemplating retirement from age, made application to Archbishop Secker, in England, for an assistant, who might succeed to his office. Myles Cooper, a young graduate of Oxford, a man of learning and of some taste in poetry, was selected. Dr. Johnson retired to Stratford, when Cooper became president, in 1763, and passed his days in age of his ministry, till his death in 1772 at the seventy-five. He wished at the close of his days that he might die like his friend Berkeley, to whom death came suddenly in the quiet of his home, and a similar end was vouchsafed him.t The poetical inscription on the monument over his remains at Stratford, was written by Dr. Cooper : If decent dignity, and modest mien, The cheerful heart, and countenance serene; If pure religion and unsullied truth, The letter is in the Appendix of Chandler's Life. + Chandler's Life, p. 124. If faith and virtue walking side by side; Johnson's life was written by his friend Dr. Chandler, the zealous advocate of episcopacy, but did not appear till 1805.* Besides a number of discourses and other writings on church topics, Dr. Johnson published, in 1746, a System of Morality and a Compendium of Logic and Metaphysics, treatises with which Benjamin Franklin was so pleased that he printed them together in a volume in 1752, which was reprinted in London, where also a third edition appeared in 1754, corrected by the author, with a preface by Dr. William Smith, afterwards provost of the College of Pennsylvania. An English and Hebrew Grammar, being the first short rudiments of the two languages taught together, to which is added a Synopsis of all the Parts of Learning, appeared from his pen in London, in 1757.t The name of the second president, Myles Cooper, being somewhat prominently connected with the Revolutionary era in New York, and his story furnishing several notable anecdotes, it may be of interest to state particularly what is known of his life and writings. Myles Cooper came over to America in 1762. He brought a letter from Archbishop Secker, who had chosen him, at the request of the college, as a competent assistant and successor to President Johnson. The amiable and useful friend to America, Dr. Fothergill, had a hand in this appointment. He was then but twenty-seven years of age; a youthful incumbent of so grave an office, in which he was fully installed the following year. Cooper was born in 1735. He took the degree of Master of Arts at the University of Oxford in 1760, and the next year published a volume of poems by subscription at that city. They are occasional verses, amatory and bacchanalian, full of the spirit of the old English gentleman who sang of Chloe, Delia, and Silvia; put old stories of cuckoldry into epigrams, and wrote heroic little poems on ladies' gaiters; at times subsiding into tranquillity in an ode to Contentment, or some touching lines to a Singing Bird in Confinement, and rising-if it be rising into dull stanzas on sacred subjects; for all of these things did Myles Cooper in his salad days at Oxford, before he came to America to confront "sons of liberty" on the Hudson. It is not likely that he brought many copies of his *Thomas Bradbury Chandler was born in Woodstock, Connecticut, and was a graduate of Yale. He was ordained in England in 1751, and became rector at Elizabethtown, New Jersey, on his return. He died at the age of sixty-four, in 1790. His chief writings were controversial, against Chauncy of Boston, in defence of Episcopacy. + An Historical Sketch of Columbia College, in the City of New York, 1846, by N. F. Moore, late President. A sinall volume compactly filled with important information. We have been greatly indebted to its faithful narrative throughout this notice. M'Vickar's Life of Bard, 29. Poems on Several Occasions, by Myles Cooper, M.A., of Queen's College, Oxford. Spes est animi nostra timore minor. -OVID. Oxford. Printed by W. Jackson. 8vo. Myler Corpen It was one of the doctor's notions in his book that power, bower, tower, should be printed when they made one syllable in poetry, powre, bowre, towre, and he modestly states in his unsettled, apologetic preface, that some of his poems were imitations, and others were written by his friends. In this old British period the young president's manners and convivial habits were much admired. He was a member of a literary club, which, "like those of modern days, mixed up a little literature with a great deal of conviviality."* On the breaking out of the Revolution, Myles Cooper, with Seabury and Auchmuty, were active on the Tory side in writing and scheming. Cooper is said to have had a hand in the tract, a publication of the times-A Friendly Address to all reasonable Americans, on the subject of our Political Confusions; in which the necessary conse‐ quences of violently opposing the King's troops, and of a general Non-Importation are fairly stated; which one of his pupils, the young Alexander Hamilton, who had matriculated at the college in 1774, answered with signal ability. He is twice mentioned in M'Fingal. Cooper became exceedingly obnoxious to the *M'Vickar's Life of Bard, 100. "Among its members were Dr. Samuel Bard, Kempe, attorney-general, Bache, Jones, Middleton, and Sherbrooke." |