Chapter 28

Observations upon the Clock.

h′″27th.☉ on meridian per clock115450☉’s app. time of passing meridian12233.5Clock slow of app. time0743.5July 2d.☉ on meridian per clock115450.5☉’s app. time of passing meridian12333Clock slow of app. time0842.5

A versification of “The Zephyrs”—from Gesner’s Idyls;—a fragment: copied from a loose scrap of paper, containing, in the hand-writing of the late Dr. Rittenhouse, all but the three last verses; which have been now added, by a lady.

First Zephyr.

Why, amidst these blooming roses,Idly fluttering, dost thou stay?Come with me to yonder valley,There we’ll spend the cheerful day.There, in purest crystal fountain,Sportive, bathe the am’rous maids;Where tall willows, on the margin,Form the closest deepest shades.

Why, amidst these blooming roses,Idly fluttering, dost thou stay?Come with me to yonder valley,There we’ll spend the cheerful day.

Why, amidst these blooming roses,

Idly fluttering, dost thou stay?

Come with me to yonder valley,

There we’ll spend the cheerful day.

There, in purest crystal fountain,Sportive, bathe the am’rous maids;Where tall willows, on the margin,Form the closest deepest shades.

There, in purest crystal fountain,

Sportive, bathe the am’rous maids;

Where tall willows, on the margin,

Form the closest deepest shades.

Second Zephyr.

No, with thee I will not wander;To the vale alone repair:Fan the nymphs you so admire;A sweeter task employs my care.Here, in the bosom of these roses,I cool my wings in pearly dew,As I lightly skim them over,Gath’ring all their fragrance too.

No, with thee I will not wander;To the vale alone repair:Fan the nymphs you so admire;A sweeter task employs my care.

No, with thee I will not wander;

To the vale alone repair:

Fan the nymphs you so admire;

A sweeter task employs my care.

Here, in the bosom of these roses,I cool my wings in pearly dew,As I lightly skim them over,Gath’ring all their fragrance too.

Here, in the bosom of these roses,

I cool my wings in pearly dew,

As I lightly skim them over,

Gath’ring all their fragrance too.

First Zephyr.

Your wings in dew of roses steep’dWith all their grateful fragrance stor’d;—Can you find employment sweeter,Than yonder cheerful nymphs afford?

Your wings in dew of roses steep’d

With all their grateful fragrance stor’d;—

Can you find employment sweeter,

Than yonder cheerful nymphs afford?

Second Zephyr.

Yes, in this path, along the mount,Each rosy morn a maid appears,To yon lonely cot advancing,A basket on her arm she bears.Two tender infants, and their mother,Are by her constant bounty fed:A helpless widow, there residing,From her receives her daily bread.See! where she comes,—of all the graces,The youngest and the fairest too;Her cheeks, with sweetest blushes glowing,Are moist’ned with the morning dew.I haste, with fragrant airs, so cooling,To fan her tender glowing cheek,—And kiss the pearly drops, while fallingFrom her blue eyes, so chaste and meek.[A49]

Yes, in this path, along the mount,Each rosy morn a maid appears,To yon lonely cot advancing,A basket on her arm she bears.

Yes, in this path, along the mount,

Each rosy morn a maid appears,

To yon lonely cot advancing,

A basket on her arm she bears.

Two tender infants, and their mother,Are by her constant bounty fed:A helpless widow, there residing,From her receives her daily bread.

Two tender infants, and their mother,

Are by her constant bounty fed:

A helpless widow, there residing,

From her receives her daily bread.

See! where she comes,—of all the graces,The youngest and the fairest too;Her cheeks, with sweetest blushes glowing,Are moist’ned with the morning dew.

See! where she comes,—of all the graces,

The youngest and the fairest too;

Her cheeks, with sweetest blushes glowing,

Are moist’ned with the morning dew.

I haste, with fragrant airs, so cooling,To fan her tender glowing cheek,—And kiss the pearly drops, while fallingFrom her blue eyes, so chaste and meek.[A49]

I haste, with fragrant airs, so cooling,

To fan her tender glowing cheek,—

And kiss the pearly drops, while falling

From her blue eyes, so chaste and meek.[A49]

First Zephyr.

Yes! much more pleasing is your task;I would imbrue my wings in dew,And bear the fragrance of these flow’rs,Melinda to refresh, like you.But see! she breaks through yonder grove,Refulgent as a summer’s morn;Her step is grace—her lip of roseThe smiles of modest worth adorn.Like you, transported, let me fan her;Like you, admire the bounteous maid:For, sure, a fairer face I neverSpread forth my cooling wings to aid.

Yes! much more pleasing is your task;I would imbrue my wings in dew,And bear the fragrance of these flow’rs,Melinda to refresh, like you.

Yes! much more pleasing is your task;

I would imbrue my wings in dew,

And bear the fragrance of these flow’rs,

Melinda to refresh, like you.

But see! she breaks through yonder grove,Refulgent as a summer’s morn;Her step is grace—her lip of roseThe smiles of modest worth adorn.

But see! she breaks through yonder grove,

Refulgent as a summer’s morn;

Her step is grace—her lip of rose

The smiles of modest worth adorn.

Like you, transported, let me fan her;Like you, admire the bounteous maid:For, sure, a fairer face I neverSpread forth my cooling wings to aid.

Like you, transported, let me fan her;

Like you, admire the bounteous maid:

For, sure, a fairer face I never

Spread forth my cooling wings to aid.

–—

Diploma.

Praeses et Professores Collegii, seu Universitatis,Gulielmi et Mariæ, omnibus at quos præsentes literæpervenerintpervenerint, Salutem.—Cum eum in finem gradus academici majoribusnostris prudenter instituti fuerint, ut viri optimé meriti, seu in gremio nostræ matris educati, seu aliundi bonarum artium disciplinis eruditi, istis insignibus a literatorum vulgo secernerentur; sciatis, quod nos, ea sola quæ possumus viâ, gradu Artium Magistri libenter studioséque concesso, testamur quanti facimusDavidem RittenhousePhilosophorum Principem, qui ingenio nativoMachinam celeberrimam, motus et phænomena cœlestium manifestius exhibentem, commentus est:—Idcirco, in solenni convocatione, tricessimo die decembris, Anno Domini millesimo septingentesimo octogesimo quarto, habito,conspirantibus omnium suffragiis, eundem virum egregium,Davidem Rittenhouse,Artium Magistrumcreavimus et constituimus.—In cujus rei testimonium, sigillum Universitatis, quo in hac parte utimur, præsentibus apponi fecimus. Datum in domo nostræ convocationis, anno domini, die et mense, prædictis.

J. Madison, Præses, et prof. Ma. and Nat. Phil.G. Wythe, Leg. et Polit. Prof.Robertus Andrews, Math. Prof.Carolus Bellini, Neot. Ling. Prof.

–—

Diploma.

Præses et Curatores Collegii Neo-Cæsariensis, omnibus has Literas lecturis, plurimam Satutem.

Quandoquidem æquum sit et ratione prorsus, consentaneum, ut ii qui labore et studio bonas didicerunt artes præmia suis meritis digna referant ut et ipsis benè sit, et aliorum provoceter industria.

Quando etiam huc potissimum spectant amplissima illa jura nostro Collegio publico Diplomate collata. Quumque clarissimus virDavid Rittenhousesit non tantum Moribus inculpatus et Ingenio insignis, sed et sibi tantam in Artibus liberalibus cognitionem Industria laudabili acquisivit, ut summos Honores Academicos probe mereatur.

Idcirco notum sit omnibus, quod nos, Senatus-consulto Academico nec non Facultatis Artium decreto, supradictumDavidem RittenhouseTitulo GraduqueDoctoris in Legibusadornandum, et dehinc pro Adepto et Doctore habendum volumus;cujus, hæc Membrana, Sigillo nostri Collegii rata et Chirographis nostris munita, Testimonio sit.

Datum Aulæ Nassovicæ, Pridie Calendas Octobris Anno MDCCLXXXIX.

Joannes Witherspoon, Præses. Joannes Rodgers, Joannes Bayard, Joannes Woodhull, Guls. Paterson, Isaacus Snowden, Jacobus Boyd, Joannes Beatty, Guliel. M. Tennent, Andreas Hunter, Curatores.

–—

An English Obituary Notice of Dr. Rittenhouse: Extracted from the European Magazine, for July, 1796.

In the sixty-fourth year of his age, diedDavid Rittenhouse, The American Philosopher. His history is curious, from the admiration in which his character was held.

Rittenhouse was a native of America; and, in the early part of his life, he mingled the pursuits of science with the active employments of a farmer and watch-maker.[A50]In 1769, he was invited by the American Philosophical Society to join a number of gentlemen who were then occupied in making some astronomical observations, when he particularly distinguished himself by the accuracy of his calculations and the comprehension of his mind. He afterwards constructed an observatory,[A51]which he superintended in person, and which was the source of many important discoveries, as well as greatly tending to the diffusion of knowledge in the western world. During the American war, he was an active assertor of the cause of independence. Since the establishment of the peace, he successively filled the offices of Treasurer of the State of Pennsylvaniaand Director of the National Mint; in both of which capacities, he was alike distinguished for strength of judgment and integrity of heart. He succeeded the illustrious Franklin in the office of President of the Philosophical Society; a situation which the bent of his mind and the course of his studies had rendered him eminently qualified to fill: and towards the close of his days, he retired from public life to the enjoyment of domestic happiness; when he formed a circle of private friends, who will continue to admire his Virtues as a Man, while the world will applaud his Talents as a Philosopher.

Letter from the Rev. Mr. Cathcart, to the Writer of these Memoirs.

York, 13th. Nov, 1812.Dear Sir,The following is a statement of the conversation which took place between Drs. Sproat and Rittenhouse, mentioned by me to Bishop White.At a time when Dr. Rittenhouse was confined by sickness to his room, or perhaps to his bed,[A52]he sent for the Rev. Dr. Sproat to visit him. The Doctor was somewhat surprised, on receiving the message: but as he had made it an uniform rule to visit all who sent for him, he expressed his surprise at being sent for; observing, that he could offer no comfort or consolation to any person, who was not a Believer in the Christian Religion. On hearing this declaration, Dr. Rittenhouse immediately asked, if Dr. Sproat considered him among the number of such? To which the Doctor answered; that the world had generally classed him with them. Dr. Rittenhouse on hearing this, with great mildness and a smile on his countenance, replied, that the opinion of the world was sometimes wrong; and, as it respected himself, he could with truth declare, that ever since he had examined Christianity and thought upon the subject, he was a firm believer in it; and, that he expected salvationonlyin the way and manner, as proposed in the Gospel.The above is thesubstanceof what Dr. Sproat mentioned to myself; and I might add, that when the good old man told it, his eyes overflowed with tears of joy. It gives me pleasure to be able to furnish you with this satisfactory proof of Dr. Rittenhouse’s faith; and which I once introduced into a sermon preached in the city, as justice due to the character of the deceased, and who had been triumphantly claimed by the Infidels. I am happy to find that you are engaged in the laudable businessofofwriting the Life of that worthy Man. Yours, respectfully,Robert Cathcart.William Barton, Esquire.

York, 13th. Nov, 1812.

Dear Sir,

The following is a statement of the conversation which took place between Drs. Sproat and Rittenhouse, mentioned by me to Bishop White.

At a time when Dr. Rittenhouse was confined by sickness to his room, or perhaps to his bed,[A52]he sent for the Rev. Dr. Sproat to visit him. The Doctor was somewhat surprised, on receiving the message: but as he had made it an uniform rule to visit all who sent for him, he expressed his surprise at being sent for; observing, that he could offer no comfort or consolation to any person, who was not a Believer in the Christian Religion. On hearing this declaration, Dr. Rittenhouse immediately asked, if Dr. Sproat considered him among the number of such? To which the Doctor answered; that the world had generally classed him with them. Dr. Rittenhouse on hearing this, with great mildness and a smile on his countenance, replied, that the opinion of the world was sometimes wrong; and, as it respected himself, he could with truth declare, that ever since he had examined Christianity and thought upon the subject, he was a firm believer in it; and, that he expected salvationonlyin the way and manner, as proposed in the Gospel.

The above is thesubstanceof what Dr. Sproat mentioned to myself; and I might add, that when the good old man told it, his eyes overflowed with tears of joy. It gives me pleasure to be able to furnish you with this satisfactory proof of Dr. Rittenhouse’s faith; and which I once introduced into a sermon preached in the city, as justice due to the character of the deceased, and who had been triumphantly claimed by the Infidels. I am happy to find that you are engaged in the laudable businessofofwriting the Life of that worthy Man. Yours, respectfully,

Robert Cathcart.

William Barton, Esquire.

——

Character of Dr. Rittenhouse:Communicated to the Author of the Memoirs of his Life, in a letter from Andrew Ellicott, Esq.

Character of Dr. Rittenhouse:

Communicated to the Author of the Memoirs of his Life, in a letter from Andrew Ellicott, Esq.

Lancaster, December 30th, 1812.

Dear Sir,

I felt no small degree of pleasure and satisfaction, on understanding that you are about publishing Memoirs of the Life of Dr. Rittenhouse; knowing, from your connexion, and intimacy with him for many years, you have it in your power to delineate, and transmit his true character and a knowledge of his rare virtues to posterity, with as much, if not more accuracy than any other person. As I also have had the pleasure and advantage of Dr. Rittenhouse’s acquaintance and friendship, I request you to accept of the following short sketch of his character, as a small testimony of my esteem for him when living, and of my veneration for his memory, now he is no more. I am, dear Sir, your sincere friend,

Andrew Ellicott.

William Barton, Esq.

I became acquainted with the late Dr. Rittenhouse, in the sixteenth year of my age, being first introduced to him, after he removed to the city of Philadelphia, by the late Joseph Galloway,Esq. and my Father; both of whom were sincerely attached to him, not only on account of his scientific talents and acquirements, but for his public and private virtues. From that period, to the end of his life, we enjoyed an uninterrupted friendship.

In my scientific pursuits, I was frequently aided by him; particularly, in that part which relates to Astronomy, with which he was better acquainted, both in theory and practice, than any other person in this country; and when he ceased to calculate the Almanacks for the middle states, at his request I continued them several years.

In the years 1784 and 1785, Dr. Rittenhouse and myself were engaged in determining the boundaries between this commonwealth and the state of Virginia; and in the year 1786, in determining the boundary between this commonwealth and the state of New-York. In those arduous employments, I had many opportunities of witnessing his address in overcoming the numerous difficulties we necessarily had to encounter, in the then wilderness, in which our operations were performed.

As a gentleman of general science, Dr. Rittenhouse would have held a respectable rank in any country; but as a Mechanist and Astronomer, he has had but few equals. It has been frequently asked,—why he has not left more evidences of his talents, for the use of posterity? In answer to this question, it is to be observed, that almost from his childhood, he had a complaint in his breast; which increased so much with his age, that for the last fifteen years of his life,—and in which he had the most leisure for composition,—it was painful for him to support the position a person must occupy, when writing. This circumstance I have frequently heard him lament, in a feeling manner; as it prevented him from answering letters with promptitude, and writing to his friends as often as he wished.

Though Dr. Rittenhouse had not the advantage of a liberal education, he wrote not only correctly but with ease: he made himself master of the German language, to which he was partial: and of the French, so far as to read the scientific works in that tongue, with facility.

As an Husband, and a Father, he might be taken as an example and a pattern, in the most virtuous community that ever existed. He was a good Citizen,—and warm and sincere in hisfriendships; and though reserved in large mixed companies, he was cheerful and communicative, when in a small circle of his friends. His mind appeared formed for contemplation, and therefore not calculated for the noisy and busy scenes of this world: from this placid turn of mind, he had a singular antipathy to all mobs and riots; and I recollect to have heard him speak of the riots of the Paxton-boys, (as they were called,) with greater acrimony than on any other occasion,—more than twenty years after they happened. Being a philanthropist by nature, he wished the happiness and welfare of the whole human race; and viewed slavery, in all its forms, with feelings of horrour: from this attachment to the happiness, the rights, and the liberty of his fellow-creatures, he was led to take an active and useful part in favour of our revolution, which separated the colonies (now the United States,) from the mother-country.

His contemplative mind naturally carried him to piety; but his liberality was so great, that he did not appear to give a very decided preference to any one of the sects into which Christianity is divided: he practised the morality of a sincere Christian, without troubling himself about the dogmas of the different churches.

His manners were plain and unassuming, though not without a sufficient share of dignity; and, from a consciousness of his own talents, he did not envy those of others.

It has too frequently happened, for the honour of science and literature, that men of great and commanding talents, have been obstinately dogmatical, and impatient of contradiction;—of those blemishes, Dr. Rittenhouse had not the least tincture.

To conclude,—if Dr. Rittenhouse was not the greatest man, of the age, his character has fewer blemishes in it; and, if his talents were not of that kind which are usually considered the mostbrilliant, they were—like those ofWashington—of the mostsolidandusefulorder.

Some particulars concerning the Residence, the Tomb, &c. of Copernicus: communicated to the late Dr. Rittenhouse, Pres. A. P. S. by the Earl of Buchan.

“In the year 1777,” says his Lordship, “my learned friend John Bernouilli, of Berlin, on one of his tours having happened to meet with the Bishop of Warmia,[A53]in the Abbey of Oliva, near Dantzic, was informed by that prelate, that he had the pleasure to discover, in the Cathedral of Frauenburg, the Tomb of Copernicus, so long fruitlessly sought for.

“In the year 1778, Mr. Bernouilli having occasion to pass through Frauenburg, on his road to St. Petersburg, did not fail to visit the Cathedral, and explore the Monument of Copernicus. Acquainted with no one in the place, he was yet lucky enough to meet with a Canon, in the street, whose countenance invited him to accost him on this subject, and who proved very attentive to his researches. He informed him, that as for the Ashes of Copernicus, they were mingled in the charnel-house with the bones of the fraternity of the Canons; but that, for the Tombstone of the Philosopher, it was no more than a tablet of marble, simple, as the mode was of his days, and had no other inscription than these words—Nic. Copernicus, Thor:—-That this tablet had remained hidden for some time, in rubbish; and when recovered, was placed in the chapter-house, till a more suitable place should be destined for it. Mr. Bernouilli expresses his regret to me, that he had not urged the Canon to indulge him with a sight of this Stone; and to look for a further inscription, to support the assertion of Gassendi, who mentions (page 325), That the Bishop Martin Cromer, an eminent Polish historian, caused a mural marble monument to be inscribedand erected to the memory of Copernicus, with the following inscription:

D. O. M.R. D. NICOLAO COPERNICO,Torunensi, Artium etMedicinæ Doctori,Canonico Warmiensi,Præsenti Astrologo, etEjus DisciplinæInstauratori;Martinus Cromerus,Episcopus Warmiensis,Honoris, et ad PosteritatemMemoriæ, Causâ, posuit;M. D. L. X. X. X. I.

D. O. M.

R. D. NICOLAO COPERNICO,

Torunensi, Artium et

Medicinæ Doctori,

Canonico Warmiensi,

Præsenti Astrologo, et

Ejus Disciplinæ

Instauratori;

Martinus Cromerus,

Episcopus Warmiensis,

Honoris, et ad Posteritatem

Memoriæ, Causâ, posuit;

M. D. L. X. X. X. I.

“Gassendi adds, that this Monument was not erected until thirty-six years after the death of Copernicus, which does not agree with this date of 1581.

“The good Canon informed Bernouilli, that he was lodged in the apartment of Copernicus, of which he was very proud; and invited the Prussian Philosopher to visit him in that place, which he accordingly did; and was shewn by the Canon another place, above the Dormitories, which had been used by Copernicus as his study and observatory, in which the Canon had a portrait of that eminent man, concerning the original of which he would not say. This little Observatory had an extensive view; but when Copernicus had occasion for one more extensive, he was wont to observe on the gallery of the steeple, which communicates with this place.

“Charmed with these classic footsteps, Bernouilli forgot to look at the Monument on the chapter-house, above mentioned. In a repository adjoining to the Cathedral, the Canon shewed Bernouilli the remains of a hydraulic machine said to have been invented and used by Copernicus. The construction seemed interesting, but in great disrepair; and Bernouilli had not leisure to examine it particularly. The use of the machine was to force and convey water into the most elevated apartments of the house of the Canons, who are now under the necessity of having it fetched from a distance, from the lower Town.”

“I remember to have seen (says Bernouilli), in some old German Journal, that the Library of the ancient town of Konigsberg contained some books, chiefly mathematical, which were part of the Library of Copernicus; and also his Portrait, which had been purchased at Thorn, where the remains of his family still possessed the house in which he was born, as late as the year 1720. In P. Freher’sTheatrum Virorum eruditorum, there is a Chronostick on the year of Copernicus’s death, 1543. p. 1447.

eX hoC eXCessIt trIstI CopernICVs eVo,IngenIo astronVM et CognItIone potens.

eX hoC eXCessIt trIstI CopernICVs eVo,

IngenIo astronVM et CognItIone potens.

“In the above mentioned book, p. 1442, there is a neat little Print of Copernicus. In Hartknoch’sAlter und newes Preusen, here is a print of Copernicus, from a picture on wood which hangs in what they call his Cenotaph, at Thorn; and which represents him kneeling, in his canonicals, before a Crucifix;—and below this portrait are thesesapphicverses:

Non parem Pauli gratiam requiro,Veniam Petri neque posco; sed quamIn Crucis ligno dederas sationi,Sedulus oro.

Non parem Pauli gratiam requiro,

Veniam Petri neque posco; sed quam

In Crucis ligno dederas sationi,

Sedulus oro.

(a little lower)

Nicolao Copernico, Thoruniensi, absolutæ subtilitatis mathematico, ne tanti viri apud exteros celeb. in sua patria periret memoria, hoc monumentum positum.

Mort. Varmiæ, in suo Canonicatu, Anno 1543—die 4 + ætatis LXXIII.

Mort. Varmiæ, in suo Canonicatu, Anno 1543—

die 4 + ætatis LXXIII.

(lastly, lowest.)

Nicolaus Copernicus, Thoruniensis, Mathematicus celeberrimus.

“This Monument of Copernicus was erected by Melchior Pyrnesius, M. D., who died in 1589.

“On the same altar-piece, or picture, is represented the portrait of John D’Albert, with the following inscription.

Illustris Princeps Dn. Joh. Albertus, Polo. Rex, apoplexiâ hic Thoru. mortuus, Anno 1501, die 17 Maii, ætat. 41; cujus viscera hic sepulta, Corpore Craco translato; Reg. Ann. VIII.

“Upon the whole,” concludes Lord Buchan, “it appears the likeness I send, ofCopernicus, is most to be depended on; and, as such, I flatter myself it will be anHeir-loom to infant America! Concerning Napier, it is needless for me to enlarge; the learned Dr. Minto having enabled me to do justice to his memory.”

Although the following particulars respecting Dr. Rittenhouse were not communicated by the writer, Professor Barton, until it was too late to give them a place in the body of the work, the Author nevertheless is glad to have an opportunity of presenting to the public, even at the close of his book, the interesting circumstances this communication contains.

As Optics were one of his favourite studies, so he at one time contemplated a course of public, and I think popular, lectures on this beautiful and important branch of physics. On this subject he mentioned to me his intention in the winter of 1785-1786. The enthusiasm, indeed, with which he developed his design, and I may add the warmth of zeal with which his manner at the time inspired me, I can never forget. And, indeed, I cannot but regret, that our excellent friend never made his appearance in publick, as aLECTURER. As such, he would, unquestionably, have greatly advanced the love and the knowledge of natural philosophy in the United-States. He may, perhaps, have wanted some of the qualifications of a popular teacher. He would not have aspired to finished eloquence of style: to the eloquence of gesture and of manner, he was still more a stranger. But there is an eloquence of physiognomy, which Mr. Rittenhouse most eminently possessed. The modesty and amenity of his manner would have effected much, whether his audience had been a class of philosophers, or an assembly of ladies. Of his own discoveries, and opinions, and theories, he would have always spoken with that sweet and modest reserve, for which he was ever distinguished. He would have dwelt with the most generous and ample enthusiasm upon the great discoveries of Newton; and if, at any time, he could have forgotten that impartial conduct, which it is the duty of the historian of a science to observe, it would have been when he mighthave had occasion to defend the theories of that great man, against the objections of succeeding and minor philosophers.

In Physics, Newton was his favourite author. OfHIMhe ever spoke with a species of respect bordering upon veneration. He considered him as one of those few great leaders in science whose discoveries and services can never be forgotten: whose fame, instead of diminishing, is destined to be augmented, with the progress of time. I had many opportunities of being witness to the exalted opinion which he entertained of the immortal British philosopher. He read Dr. Bancroft’s objections to some parts of Sir Isaac’s theory of colours, with a firm conviction, that the Newtonian principles were still unshaken: and I well remember, that he once referred me to a paper which he had published, in one of our magazines, in answer to some objections which the late Dr. Witherspoon had urged against some of the theories of Newton.

It has been observed by a celebrated writer, that mathematicians in general read but little of each other’s works. This remark, if I mistake not, is very strongly illustrated in Mr. Rittenhouse. However it may have been in his earlier age, I am confident that during the last thirteen years of his life, when my intercourse with him was great, and indeed but little interrupted; I am confident, that at this matured and auspicious era of his life, our friend was not a laborious student. He looked into many books, and he often passed quickly from one kind of reading to another: from philosophy to poetry; from poetry perhaps to philosophy again. His reading may be said to have been desultory. I have little doubt that this rather irregular manner of reading was, in some measure, the result of his extreme delicacy of constitution, which rendered a more unvaried application to any one kind of reading, irksome and oppressive. Often have I seen him lay down his book or pen, to recline upon his sopha, the circumscribed flush upon his cheeks plainly indicating the physical state of his feelings. A short repose would enable him to return to his studies again.

Mr. Rittenhouse’s application to books, had, no doubt, been more regular and constant in the earlier part of his life; before I knew him well, or before I had accustomed myself to watch the progress of his mind. He was, certainly, profoundly, acquainted with the Principia and other writings of Newton,which he read partly in the original, and partly through the medium of translation. And although, within the period of my better acquaintance with him, his reading I have said, was not intense, he suffered no important discovery in philosophy to escape his notice. Although his own library was small, he had ample opportunities, through the medium of the valuable library belonging to the Philosophical Society, and other collections in Philadelphia, of observing the progress of his favourite studies in Europe. He took much interest in the discoveries of Mr. Herschel, whose papers he eagerly read as they arrived from Europe: and I well remember the time (in 1785) when he was engaged in reading Scheel’s work on Fire, which had recently appeared, in an English dress. He then assured me, that some of this great Swedish philosopher’s notions concerning the nature and the laws of heat, had long before suggested themselves to his mind.

The chemical discoveries of Crawford and Priestley solicited some of Mr. Rittenhouse’s attention, about the year 1785-1786, and for some time after. The brilliant discoveries of Priestley, in particular, were not unknown to him. Upon the arrival of this illustrious philosopher in Philadelphia, in 1794, Mr. Rittenhouse stood foremost among the members of the Philosophical Society in publicly welcoming the exiled philosopher to the country which he had chosen as the asylum of his declining years; and in expressing his high sense of his estimable character, and of the vast accessions which he had brought to science. I often met Dr. Priestley at the house of our friend. Their regard for each other was mutual. It is to be regretted that their immediate intercourse with each other could not be more frequent. Priestley had unfortunately chosen the wilderness, instead of the capital or its vicinity, as his place of residence: and Rittenhouse, alas! did not live two years after the arrival of Priestley in America.

On the death of Mr. Rittenhouse, Dr. Priestley wrote me a letter of condolence on the great loss which the publick had sustained; on the irreparable loss which I, in particular, had suffered. When the Doctor afterwards returned from Northumberland to Philadelphia, he discovered much solicitude to know from me Mr. Rittenhouse’s religious sentiments, and the manner and circumstances of his death; and he evinced no small satisfactionin receiving from me that relation which I have already given you, of the last hours, and of the last words, of one of the best of men.

Mr. Rittenhouse had not studied natural history as a science: but to some of the branches of this science he had paid particular attention; and upon some of them he was capable of conversing with the ablest, and the most experienced. In Botany, he was not acquainted with the scientific or classical names: but the habits, and in many instances, the properties of plants were known to him. I well recollect how great were his pleasure and satisfaction, in contemplating theFloraof the rich hills of Weeling, and other branches of the Ohio, when I accompanied him into those parts of our union, in the year 1785. In this wilderness, he first fostered my love and zeal for natural history. Upon his return from the woods, in the month of October, he brought with him, as ornaments to his garden, many of the transmontain plants of the state of Pennsylvania: and long before I knew that it grew wild in the vicinity of Philadelphia, upon the banks of his native Schuylkill, he had naturalized in his garden, the beautiful Silene virginica, which he designated with the name of “Weeling Star.”

It is a fact, that in the last months of his life he devoted a good deal of his time to an examination of the structure of the most important organs of plants. Acquainted with that doctrine which forms the basis of the sexual system, he was fond of examining plants during the period of their inflorescence: and I remember, with what apparent pleasure, he pointed out to me the tube in the styles of some of the plants which grew in his garden.

He had made many observations upon the buds of trees, some of which I think were new. I regret that the memorandums which he kept of these observations have not been found among his papers.

Not fifteen days before his death, he had finished the perusal of a German translation of Rousseau’s beautiful letters on Botany, which I had put into his hands.

Mr. Rittenhouse, like Newton and many other men of great talents, employed much of his time in the perusal of works on the subject of natural and revealed religion. This was, I think, more especially the case in the latter part of his life. Amongother books which I could mention, I well recollect that he read theThoughtsof the celebrated French philosopher Pascall: and he acknowledged, that he read them with pleasure. But that pleasure, he observed to me, was diminished, when he learned, what was often the state of Pascall’s mind:—a state of melancholy and gloom: and sometimes even of mental derangement. At the time of his death, the American Philosopher was engaged in the perusal of Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History: and he had just before finished the perusal of theMeditationsof the Emperor Marcus Antoninus; that excellent work, replete with the sublimest morality, and with much of a sublime religion.

About three weeks before his death, I had put into his hands the first volume of Dr. Ferguson’sElements of Moral and Political Science. I took the liberty of particularly directing his attention to the last chapter of the volume: the chapter on the future state. He read it with so much satisfaction, that he afterwards sent it to his elder daughter, with a request that she would peruse it.

The benevolent dispositions of our friend were well known to you. You have, doubtless, done justice to this portion of his character; yet permit me to mention a few detached facts, which have came under my own immediate notice, and the relation of which may serve to augment evenyourrespect and veneration for Mr. Rittenhouse.

The year 1793 is memorable in the history of Philadelphia. During the prevalence of the yellow fever, in the summer of that year, Mr. Rittenhouse wrote to me a note requesting me to visit a number of poor people, in his vicinity, labouring under the malignant fever; and making it a condition of my attendance upon them, that I should chargehimfor my services.

In the month of March of the same year, I had a good deal of conversation with Mr. Rittenhouse, on the subject of penal laws. He did not think that the late judge Bradford, whose essay on this subject he greatly admired, and recommended to my perusal, was too lenient in his views of the subject. He observed, that although he had often served on juries, he thanked God, that he never had in any case where life and death were immediately involved; observing, that his conscience wouldeverreproachhim, if he had, in any instance, given his verdict for death. “Of all murders (he added)legalmurders are the most horrid.” He did not think that death ought to be the punishment for any crime.

The union of sensibility with benevolence is frequently observed. The sensibility of Rittenhouse was exquisitely nice; perhaps, I might say, it was somewhat morbid. In a conversation which I had with him on the subject of the analogies between animals and vegetables, when I had observed to him, that the further we push our inquiries into this interesting subject, the more reason we have for supposing, that those two series of living beings constitute, as many eminent naturalists have supposed, but one vast family, he said it appeared so to him, but he hoped it would never be discovered that vegetables are endowed with sensibility. “There is, he observed, already too much of this in the world.”

His religion was sublime and pure. It had no tincture of superstition or credulity. Accustomed, from an early period of his life, to contemplate the largest and the smallest objects of Creation; and with respect to the former to view their arrangement and harmony in the construction of a system of immeasurable extent; in these objects and in these places, he beheld one of the revelations of our Creator. He could not be insensible of the ills, infirmities, and miseries of human life, and even of the life of inferior animals. But still he discovered, as he often observed to me, the existence and even the dominion of much benevolence through the world. He was wont to consider our benevolent dispositions, and our virtuous affections, as among the strongest proofs of the existence of a Creator. These dispositions, these affections, and our intellectual powers, are the genuine emanations of a God.

Benjamin Smith Barton.

Philadelphia, December, 1813.

Letter from Lady Juliana Penn to the Rev. Peter Miller, Ephrata.

Septr. 29th. 1774.Sir,Your very respectable character would make me ashamed to address you with words merely of form. I hope therefore you will not suspect me of using any such, when I assure you I received the favour of your letter with very great pleasure. And permit me, sir, to join the thanks I owe to those worthy women, the holy sisters at Ephrata, with those I now present to you, for the good opinion you, and they, are pleased to have of me. I claim only that of respecting merit, where I find it; and of wishing an increase in the world, of that piety to the Almighty, and peace to our fellow-creatures, that I am convinced is in your hearts: and, therefore, do me the justice to believe, you have my wishes of prosperity here, and happiness hereafter.I did not receive the precious stone, you were so goad to send me, till yesterday. I am most extremely obliged to you for it. It deserves to be particularly distinguished on its own, as well as the giver’s account. I shall keep it with a grateful remembrance of my obligations to you.Mr. Penn, as well as myself, were much obliged to you for remarking to us, that the paper you wrote on, was the manufacture of Ephrata: It had, on that account, great merit to us; and he has desired our friend, Mr. Barton, to send him some specimens of the occupation of some of your society. He bids me say, that he rejoices to hear of your and their welfare.It is I that should beg pardon for interrupting your quiet, and profitable moments, by an intercourse so little beneficial as mine; but trust your benevolence will indulge this satisfaction to one who wishes to assure you, sir, that she is, with sincere regard, your obliged and faithful well-wisher,Juliana Penn.Mr. Peter Miller, President of the Cloister at Ephrata.

Septr. 29th. 1774.

Sir,

Your very respectable character would make me ashamed to address you with words merely of form. I hope therefore you will not suspect me of using any such, when I assure you I received the favour of your letter with very great pleasure. And permit me, sir, to join the thanks I owe to those worthy women, the holy sisters at Ephrata, with those I now present to you, for the good opinion you, and they, are pleased to have of me. I claim only that of respecting merit, where I find it; and of wishing an increase in the world, of that piety to the Almighty, and peace to our fellow-creatures, that I am convinced is in your hearts: and, therefore, do me the justice to believe, you have my wishes of prosperity here, and happiness hereafter.

I did not receive the precious stone, you were so goad to send me, till yesterday. I am most extremely obliged to you for it. It deserves to be particularly distinguished on its own, as well as the giver’s account. I shall keep it with a grateful remembrance of my obligations to you.

Mr. Penn, as well as myself, were much obliged to you for remarking to us, that the paper you wrote on, was the manufacture of Ephrata: It had, on that account, great merit to us; and he has desired our friend, Mr. Barton, to send him some specimens of the occupation of some of your society. He bids me say, that he rejoices to hear of your and their welfare.

It is I that should beg pardon for interrupting your quiet, and profitable moments, by an intercourse so little beneficial as mine; but trust your benevolence will indulge this satisfaction to one who wishes to assure you, sir, that she is, with sincere regard, your obliged and faithful well-wisher,

Juliana Penn.

Mr. Peter Miller, President of the Cloister at Ephrata.

To the Memory of the Honourable Thomas Penn, Esq. who died March 21. 1775.

Peace, worthy shade! Peace to thy virtuous soul;Life’s contest past, thou now hast gain’d the goal,Destin’d for honest innate truth, like thine,Where moral goodness rises to divine.True to thy friendship, sacred to each trust,In every duty most exactly just:A princely wealth fill’d not thy heart with pride,Thou nobly cast the glitt’ring bait aside;Made it subservient to some useful aim,Some gen’rous purpose, or some proper claim:As bounteous streams in pleasing currents glide,It roll’d, refreshing, like some charming tide;Cheer’d the lone widow in her humble dome,And scatter’d comfort o’er her lonely home.Thy guardian angel snatch’d thee from below,E’er Pennsylvania was consign’d to woe:Thou now may’st view, without one kindred tear,What we deem harsh, oppressive and severe;—Life’s motley picture, at one view, may’st scan,—Unwind its tangled, complicated plan,—Where this great truth is clearly understood,That “partial evil’s universal good.”In broken parts, man the dark system spies,While all lies open to celestial eyes;The links, united, of our scatter’d chain,Shew whyPennsuffer’d tedious years of pain,—Shew why one patient virtuous mind doth mourn,And why sweet Peace is from a people torn.For, individuals of earth’s humble valeMount, in gradation, on a heav’nly scale:YetVirtue, only, has a charm in death;Wealth droops his plumes, as man resigns his breath;Its social merits can’t ascend the skies,Terrestrial substance can’t to heav’n arise;Too gross to enter the abodes divine,In earthly darkness it can only shine.

Peace, worthy shade! Peace to thy virtuous soul;

Life’s contest past, thou now hast gain’d the goal,

Destin’d for honest innate truth, like thine,

Where moral goodness rises to divine.

True to thy friendship, sacred to each trust,

In every duty most exactly just:

A princely wealth fill’d not thy heart with pride,

Thou nobly cast the glitt’ring bait aside;

Made it subservient to some useful aim,

Some gen’rous purpose, or some proper claim:

As bounteous streams in pleasing currents glide,

It roll’d, refreshing, like some charming tide;

Cheer’d the lone widow in her humble dome,

And scatter’d comfort o’er her lonely home.

Thy guardian angel snatch’d thee from below,

E’er Pennsylvania was consign’d to woe:

Thou now may’st view, without one kindred tear,

What we deem harsh, oppressive and severe;—

Life’s motley picture, at one view, may’st scan,—

Unwind its tangled, complicated plan,—

Where this great truth is clearly understood,

That “partial evil’s universal good.”

In broken parts, man the dark system spies,

While all lies open to celestial eyes;

The links, united, of our scatter’d chain,

Shew whyPennsuffer’d tedious years of pain,—

Shew why one patient virtuous mind doth mourn,

And why sweet Peace is from a people torn.

For, individuals of earth’s humble vale

Mount, in gradation, on a heav’nly scale:

YetVirtue, only, has a charm in death;

Wealth droops his plumes, as man resigns his breath;

Its social merits can’t ascend the skies,

Terrestrial substance can’t to heav’n arise;

Too gross to enter the abodes divine,

In earthly darkness it can only shine.

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