and Occurrences in the Life of Samuel L. Mitchill, of New York, from the year 1786 to 1827." It is a chronological enumeration of one hundred and ninety-two distinct items of the achievements and associations of his active career. We select a portion of the record.

1. Returns from Europe with the diploma of M.D. from Edinburgh, obtained in 1786-after having been initiated into the mysteries of Free Masonry, in the Latin Lodge of the Roman Eagle, by the famous Joannes Bruno-1787.

2. Visits Saratoga Springs while surrounded by the forest, and ascertains experimentally, that the gas extricated from the water was fixed air, with the power to extinguish flame, destroy the life of breathing animals, &c. 1787.

4. Walks with Josiah Ogden Hoffman, William Dunlap, Joseph Hunt and others, in the very grand procession for celebrating the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, under the guidance of Col. Richard Platt, directing the place for the Philological Society-1788.

5. Attends the Treaty at Fort Schuyler, by which the Mingos, or Five Nations of Indians, sold the great Western District to the people of New York, and subscribed the deed as a witness-1788. Receives personal names from the Oneidas and Onondagas.

11. Exerts himself to form a Library in the town upon Long Island, where he was born, under the name of the " North Hempstead Library Association;" which still subsists and improves-1791.

17. Exhibits at full length, in a printed Essay, the actual state of learning in Columbia College-1794.

19. Makes a detailed report to the Agricultural Society, of his geological and mineralogical observations during a tour performed at their request, to the banks of the Hudson for Coal, &c.-December, 1796-a performance respectfully quoted by Count Volney.

20. Member of the Assembly for the City and County of New-York, with Messrs. Fairlie, Hunt, Arcularius, Clinton, Burr, Swartwout, Storm, Robins, and Warner-April, 1797.

26. Makes the famous motion about the sixth Levitical commandment, in the House of Assembly at Albany, requiring citizens to labour six days, as well as refrain from it on the seventh-February, 1798. (See Journal of the House.)

29. Delivers the Anniversary Discourse to the assembled citizens on the National Festival, in the Presbyterian Church, Beekman-street-July 4, 1799. 31. Publishes a chart of Chymical Nomenclature with an explanatory memoir; in which he contends that metals in their ductile and malleable state are compounds of a base with hydrogen (phlogiston); as in their calciform state they consist of a base with oxygen: and that in several there is an intermediate condition, in which there is no union either with hydrogen or oxygen. He extended the same doctrine to the greater part of inflammable bodies1801.

34. Corresponds with Albert Gallatin, Secretary of the Treasury, on the project for illuminating the Light Houses of the United States with inflammable air-April 30, 1802. (5 Med. Rep. p. 463-465.)

56. Translates from the Latin Lancisi's book on the noxious exhalations of Marshes, at Washington, during the winter of 1806-27-afterwards printed in the Medical Repository.

59. Writes the introduction to the American Edition of Assalini's Observations on the Plague, Dysentery, and Ophthalmy of Egypt, published by T. & J. Swords, at New-York-1806.

71. Performs with Robert Fulton the first voyage in a Steam-Boat-August, 1808.

73. At the request of the College, delivers a public Eulogy upon Professor Rush, one of the most distinguished of Fredonian citizens, and his worthy friend.

76. Visits Upper Canada, and describes the Mineralogy of Niagara Falls-Summer, 1809.

87. Brings up for adoption, by the House of Representatives, a report favourable to the nascent nations of Spanish America, and full of good wishes towards them, in their exertions to become free and independent-December 11, 1811.

89. Visits West Point, and writes the History of memorable occurrences there, and of the Military Academy-May, 1812.

90. Visits his friend George Clinton, during his last illness, at the seat of government: and after his death, as Vice-President, acts as a member of the joint committee of the two Houses of Congress to superintend his funeral obsequies-1812.

91. Visits Harper's Ferry, and describes the Geology of the Scenery where the Potomac and Shenandoah have forced their passages through the Blue Mountain-July 4, 1812.

97. Acts as a Commissioner under the Navy Department of the United States, for constructing a Floating Battery, or heavy vessel of war, to defend the coasts and harbours of the United States: associated with Messrs. H. Rutgers, Th. Morris, Oliver Wolcott, and H. Dearborn, agents; with R. Fulton as engineer, and A. & N. Brown as constructors

1813-14.

102. Labours jointly with his patriotic neighbours, with mattock and shovel, in the trenches, for several days, to erect fortifications against the enemy

1814.

103. Acts with Hosack and Williamson in laying the foundation of a Literary and Philosophical Society in New-York-1815. Reads a detailed narrative of the Earthquakes in the United States, and in foreign parts, during 1811, '12, and '13. Offers to the same a description and classification of 166 species of Fish, chiefly found in the fresh and salt waters adjacent to the City of New York; upwards of 40 additional species were described in Bigelow and Holly's Magazine, and several more in the Journal of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences.

106. As a member of a Committee, joins his friends in petitioning the Common Council for a grant of the building in the North Park, for the purposes of Literature, Science, and Arts.

107. Pronounces a public Lecture in explanation of Somuium, or Dream, as a state different both from wakefulness and sleep-November, 1815.

117. Makes an excursion to the region watered by the Wallkill, with his friend Silvanus Miller, and at Chester they and their companions succeed in disinterring a mammoth-August, 1817.

118. Joins Captain Partridge, and other friends, in an excursion to the Neversink Hills, near Sandy Hook, and aids in correcting a dangerous mistake in their altitude, which is in reality not half so great (less than 300 feet) as had been commonly supposed (600 feet).

122. Brevet from his Excellency De Witt Clinton, LL.D., Governor of New-York, Captain General, &c. for the office of Surgeon General to the Militia of the Commonwealth-August 5, 1818.

128. Vice-President of the District Convention, which met at Philadelphia, for preparing a National Pharmacopoeia, whereof Thomas Parke was President, and Lyman Spaulding Secretary-June 1, 1819.

131. Acts with Samuel Wood and Garret K.

Lawrence, in recommending to the public the Willow-leaved Meadow-Sweet, or Spiraea Salicifolia of North America, as an admirable article for refreshment and health, and as a substitute for the tea of China-July, 1819.

147. Receives a splendid Diamond Ring from the Emperor of all the Russias, brought by Captain Josiah Barker, through Mr. Pinckney, the American Chargé d'Affaires at St. Petersburgh, pursuant to the request of the Minister, Count Nesselrode-May 23,

1821.

151. Delivers the Annual Oration to the PhiBeta-Kappa Society of Union College, Schenectady -July 24, 1821.

156. Gives the public introductory Lecture in the College of Physicians, &c. on the life and writings of their late President Samuel Bard, by appointment of the Trustees-November 5, 1821.

168. Pronounces a Philosophical Discourse in St. Stephen's Chapel, Bowery, to the class formed in that Congregation for cultivating the Natural and Physical Sciences; under the auspices of the Rector, Dr. Feltus-December 27, 1822.

170. Pronounces a Discourse on the Life and Writings of Sir Charles Linnæus, before the learned and fashionable collection of citizens who assembled at Prince's justly celebrated Botanical Garden in Flushing, on May 24, 1823, the anniversary of the illustrious Swede's birth-day.

172. On an invitation from Albany and a mission from New-York, performs, after the Venetian example, the ceremony of marrying the Lakes to the Ocean, at Albany, on the day of the unprecedented gathering of the people to witness the scene of connecting the Western and Northern Canals with the River Hudson-October 8, 1823.

175. Acts with William Bayard, Charles King, Charles Wilkes, and a most respectable body of other gentlemen, in a general Committee to receive for and remit to the Greeks of the Morea and elsewhere, the money contributed voluntarily by the Citizens of the United States, to aid them in their efforts to free themselves from the dominion of the Turks and to establish an independence of their own-a season of particular excitement among all ranks Feb. 7, 1824.

184. Acts with Richard Riker, Jacob Morton, R. E. Mount, and others, on a central committee for celebrating the completion of the Western Canal; and in the vicinity of Sandy Hook, pronounces an address on the introduction of the Lady of the Lake to the estate of her spouse the Lord of the Ocean-Nov. 4,

1825.

186. August 29th, delivers the Anniversary Discourse to the Horticultural Society, which was published by request.

187. September 3, publishes by desire of the Lyceum, a Catalogue of the Geological Articles and Organic Remains which he presented to their Museum, in a pamphlet of forty pages.

189. October 11th, pronounces before the Lyceum, a funeral discourse, by appointment, on Thomas Jefferson, one of its honorary members; which was printed.

Dr. Mitchill died at his residence in the city of New York, September 7, 1831. A beautiful monument was placed over his remains, removed several years after his death to Greenwood Cemetery, by his widow. The chief portion of his extensive cabinet of minerals, valued at $10,000, was presented by the same lady to the Lyceum of Natural History. His biography was commenced and nearly completed by his brother-in

law Dr. Akerly;* but still remains in manuscript. a circumstance to be regretted, as its completion and publication would have reflected honor on its author as well as subject.

SPEECH OF TAMMANY.

As the economical and political system of our legislator, were thus progressing to perfection, news was brought by the young hunters, that a body of strangers was approaching; that their dress, manners, and language, differed from every thing seen in those parts before; and that with tokens of peace and friendship, they waited respectfully at a distance, until they should be invited to advance. They had, it was said, presents of great number and value to offer, and intelligence of an important nature, to communicate to the chief of the Tammanites.

They were instantly conducted in a plain, but hospitable manner to the castle: enough of food, and drink, was set before them; and the best dressed skins and the cleanest mats were offered them to repose upon.

They then related the errand on which they were sent saying, they were the messengers of MANCO CAPAC, the great INCA of PERU, and the descendant of the Sun; that their Chief in deep admiration and love for the character of Tammany, had dispatched them, in order to testify the same, and intreat the favor of an interview; that their prince ardently wished to consult him on a form of government he was about to establish for the Peruvian nation; that the ornaments of gold and silver, the suits of fine and costly clothing, and various other natural and artificial productions of their country, were brought along as a friendly donation; which they prayed he would vouchsafe to accept ; -and concluded with informing, that if he could accommodate their anxious prince in this particular, MEXICO, a castle, nearly equi-distant from both was pitched upon, on their part, as the place of meeting.

Tammany was deeply affected with this extraordinary message, but before concluding upon the journey to the south, he called a general meeting of his people, and informed them of the honor done him, by the Inca. He expressed some desire, at first, to accept the invitation; but the concern for the nation, to which he belonged, quickly extinguished every idea of carrying it into effect, "for as I live, not for myself," said he, "but for my people, I must not sacrifice their welfare, to the gratification of my individual curiosity."

The Embassy of MANCO CAPAC was about to depart, without succeeding in their business, when upon the suggestion of the considerate old men, and prudent matrons, that his journey might be attended with great benefit to mankind, Tammany with their consent and approbation, which was at length. though reluctantly sanctioned, by all the tribes of the nation, determined with an accompanyment, of twenty chosen young men, to undertake the journey, and have a talk with the illustrious Sachem of the Andes. Previous to his departure, however, he invited all his people to come together, and range themselves by tribes, before him. And as he did not, like the equivocating Lycurgus, intend to make them promise to observe his instructions, until his return, and then go into voluntary exile, and die in a foreign land; he delivered a few sententious precepts to each. They were as true and practical as

Dr. Samuel Akerly died at Staten Island July 6, 1845, in the sixtieth year of his age. He wrote much on scientific and medical topies in the journals, and took an active part in the humanitarian efforts of his day.

ever ATHENS heard; and were the result of his wisdom, and experience, in drawing useful lessons from the animals who tenanted the forests. The tribes rose one by one, as he addressed them. Old NESTOR himself, from whose lips, words of liquid sweetness fell trickling, was not heard with more attention and silence, than our AMERICAN SAGE; nor did SOLOMON, in all his glory, when he directed sluggards to learn the ways of the ant, and be wise, interpret nature in a more happy manner:

CHILDREN of the first tribe !*

The eagle should be your model. He soars above the clouds, loves the mountain tops, takes a broad survey of the country round, and his watchfulness in the day time lets nothing escape him. From him learn to direct your thoughts to elevated objects, to rise superior to the fogs of prejudice and passion, to behold in the clear atmosphere of reason all things in their true light and posture; and never expose yourselves to be surprized, while the sun shines in a fit of drowsiness or slumber.

CHILDREN of the second tribe!

The tyger affords a useful lesson for you. The exceeding agility of this creature, the extraordinary quickness of his sight, and above all, his discriminating power in the dark, teach you to be stirring and active in your respective callings, to look sharp to every engagement you enter into; and to let neither misty days, nor gloomy nights, make you lose sight of the worthy object of your pursuit.

CHILDREN of the third tribe!

You are to pay attention to the good qualities of the deer. He possesses uncommon readiness of hearing, can judge of sounds at a great distance, and where danger threatens, and a retreat is advisable, can force his passage surprizingly through the thickets, or even make his escape across the lakes and rivers by swimming.

In like manner, open ye your ears to whatever is passing; collect the substance of distant rumors; and learn before danger surrounds your corn-fields and wigwams, what is going on at a distance. Thus shall you be forewarned, and prepared against calamity from abroad; and if it thickens and threatens you with irresistible force, you will know how to avoid, with prudence, what you could not oppose with success.

CHILDREN of the fourth tribe!

There is one quality of the wolf, to which I request your attention. His wide extent of nostrils, catches the atoms floating in the air, and gives him notice of the approach of his prey, or his foe. Thus, when power grows rank, and like a contagion, sends abroad its pestilent steams, I see the wolf-like myrmidons of Tammany, the first to rouse, turn round their heads, and snuff oppression in every tainted

breeze.

CHILDREN of the fifth tribe!

You, my children, are to take useful hints from the buffaloe. He is one of the strongest animals of the wilderness; but strong as he is, he loves the company of his kind, and is not fond of venturing alone, upon distant excursions. This is wise in the buffaloe, and wise will it be in you to imitate him.

It will, indeed, be your duty to acquire, by hunting, swimming, running, and all other manly exercises, great bodily vigor, and personal strength. But it will be ridiculous to value yourselves highly on these; a fall, a cramp, or a sprain, but too frequently disables an individual; and then, if he is

The Tammany Society is divided into thirteen tribes; corresponding to the number of states in the Union, when the society was instituted; and each tribe bears the name of an animal according to the Indian method.

alone in the woods, he may perish for want of help. Operate in concert, stand together, support each other, and you will be a mountain, that nobody can move; fritter down your strength in divisions, become the sport of parties, let wigwam be divided against wigwam, you will be an ant-hill, which a baby can kick over.

Tammany told them, that disharmony would terminate in their ruin; and in union consisted their salvation; and impressed his people with the truth of it, as forcibly as ever Esop inculcated the same doctrine, by his celebrated fable of the sticks.

CHILDREN of the sixth tribe!

Oh!

That social and valuable creature, the dog, affords something for you to profit by. The warmth of his attachment, the disinterestedness of his friendship, and the unchangeableness of his fidelity, mark him as the object of your kindness and imitation. my children, I weep for the faithlessness, the falsehood, and the deceit of man! Do but love each other with half the warmth, sincerity, and steadi ness, with which these your constant hunting companions love you all; and happiness, comfort, and joy will make your land their dwelling-place, and ye shall experience all the pleasure, that human nature can bear.

His

CHILDREN of the seventh tribe! You are to take a pattern from the beaver. industry merits your observance. His perseverance claims your regard. His judgment, in the choice of a place for him to live in, demands your consideration. Like him, you are to avail yourselves of natural advantages, and opportunities in all cases; and to superadd to these your manual improvements, and works of art. In the pursuit of your industrious project, no difficulty should deter, no obstacle discourage you. Forests must be cleared, hills leveled, rivers turned, to accomplish your plans; and land and water be made to afford their joint aid, in promoting your undertaking; labour and perseverance overcome every thing;-for I have heard the old people say, their ancestors assisted in making the sun light, and immense as he appears, by collecting into a heap, all the fire-flies, and glow-worms they could find; and the moon, whose light is fainter, and size smaller, was in like manner formed, by their gathering into a pile all the fox-fire, or phosphoric rotten wood, they could procure.

CHILDREN of the eighth tribe!

The squirrel, my children, offers somewhat profitable to you. It is his practice, as he has a foresight of winter, to collect acorns, chestnuts, and walnuts, and carry them in large quantities to his hole; and these thus treasured up, supply him with nourishment during the stormy season, when after the fall of the leaf, it would be dangerous to venture far abroad. In like manner it becomes you to look forward to old age, the winter of life, and have some provision ready to help yourselves with, at that needy time. You cannot labour to equal advantage every day; it is therefore your duty to collect something ahead, and lay it by in store against the pinching severity of an unproductive season. may enjoy by your fire-sides, while all around you the frost rends the trees asunder, and the white powder lies so thick upon the ground, that you cannot venture out without your snow-shoes.

CHILDREN of the ninth tribe!

This you

You are to learn a lesson of caution from the fox. He looks well before him as he travels, examines carefully the ground he treads upon, and takes good care that his enemies come not on him by surprize. By reason of his wariness, he is not easily led into a stratagem, and when entangled, by his contrivance, is very successful in making his escape. Thus may

you proceed in your business with circumspection, examine all things around you with prudence, and never suffer the artifices of the deceiver to entrap you unawares. Such keen examination will guard you from difficulties, and if in the course of nature, you should be, in spite of all this, beset by them, nothing will more effectually enable you to extricate yourselves.

CHILDREN of the tenth tribe!

The TORTOISE, who supports on his back the world we inhabit, offers a world of instruction to you. Was it not for his benevolence in keeping afloat on the immense ocean in which he swims, this land we inhabit would soon go to the bottom. And the displeasure he feels when men lead lives of idleness and vice, when they quarrel and injure their neighbours, or neglect their families, has induced him more than once to dip a part of his shell under the waters, and drown a set of wretches no longer fit to live. In other cases, where he wished rather to terrify than to extirpate, the angry movements of his body have caused distressful earthquakes, which have made our vallies to tremble, and have rocked our mountains from their foundations. Let the winds blow from what quarter they list, let the storm and the tempest howl, he withdraws from their fury, and wraps himself up securely in his impenetrable coat. Ilis moderation, for he possesses none of that feverish fretfulness, which shortens life, secures to him great length of days. His temperance, for he does not waste his vital energy in frolicks and carousing, gives him an animation so quick and inherent in every joint and member, that it is difficult to kill him. If then you wish to attain to long life, and possess sensibility and comfort while it lasts, imitate the virtues of the tortoise, for so shall you be protected with armour less vulnerable than his shell, or your our own shields of bark and hides, and arrive to good old age without danger of earthquakes or inundations.

CHILDREN of the eleventh tribe!

I recommend to your attention the wholesome counsel derived to man from the EEL. He was never known to make a noise or disturbance in the world, nor speak an ungentle sentence to any living creature. Slander never proceeded from his mouth, nor does guile rest under his tongue. He forms his plans in silence, carries them into effect without tumult, and glides and slips along through life in a most easy and gentle course. Are you desirous, my children, of modest stillness and quiet? Do you wish for the unenvied condition of retirement and humility? Would you like to live peaceably among men in the uninterrupted pursuit of your business, without attracting the broad stare of the surrounding crowd? If such are your desires, learn a lesson of wisdom from the Eel; who although he knows neither his birth nor parentage, but is cast an orphan upon creation, yet shows by his strength and his numbers, the excellence of the mode of life he has chosen.

CHILDREN of the twelfth tribe!

I shall point out for your improvement some excellent traits of character in the BEAR. He is distinguished for his patient endurance of those inconveniences which he finds it impossible to ward off. When frost and snow, with all their chilling horrors, surround him in winter, he learns to live with a

smaller degree of heat than he did before; and by aid of his furry-skin protects himself as well as he can from the rigor of the season. When from these causes his supplies of nourishment are cut off, and little or nothing is to be obtained to satisfy the cravings of hunger, he endures with resolution the calamities which await him, until the foodful season shall arrive. Thus, when scarcity threatens your

country with famine-when diseases among the beasts strew your hunting grounds with carcases— when insects destroy the stalks of your beans, and worms corrode the roots of your corn-when the streams refuse their accustomed supplies of fish— when hurricanes and hail lay waste your plantations -or when the clouds withhold their stores of rainwhat is to be done? Why certainly, when every effort has been tried in vain, and discouraged and spiritless you lay you down, lay not yourselves down to die; but bear with patience and resignation whatever necessity imposes upon you, make the allowance of your meal correspond to your stock of provision; and if you have but little, contrive with all your skill to make that little do. Show yourselves men, for it is adversity that gives scope to great talents, by enabling you to endure with fortitude what your best directed efforts have failed to surmount.

CHILDREN of the thirteenth tribe!

I call your attention to the order and economy of the BEE. You observe among these creatures a discipline not surpassed by anything the woods afford. The community is like yourselves, divided into tribes, and each has its allotted employment. Hours of labor, of refreshment, and of rest are assigned, and each member is obedient to the summons of duty. Idlers, vagrants, and embezzlers of the public property have no toleration there; and it seems to be a pretty well established maxim, with but few exceptions, among them, that he who works not shall have nothing to eat. Regularity and method pervades every department of a government, whose unwearied inhabitants in their flights to distant places, possess the singular secret of extracting honey from nauseous and fetid blossoms, and of collecting, without injury to any one, the whole sweets of the surrounding country, in their own inimitable commonwealth.

Borrow from the Bees an idea of arrangement in business; of the importance of system to make matters go on aright, of the advantage accruing from an accurate division and distribution of labor; of the equity causing every one to contribute his share to the support of the general weal, or be precluded from participating its benefits and blessings. And above all, derive from their instructive example, that alchemy of mind, which by an operation somewhat analogous to the production of nectar from venom, converts private failings into public advantages, and makes even crimes and vices ultimately conducive to good.

BROWN UNIVERSITY.

THE College of Rhode Island had its origin in the conception and personal exertions of the Rev. James Manning, a clergyman of the Baptist faith, a native of New Jersey, and graduate of Princeton, who visited Newport in 1763, for the purpose of securing to his brethren the influence of the Baptists, then in the government, for the establishment of a learned institution in the interests of their denomination. A meeting of friends of the undertaking assembled at the house of Colonel Gardiner, the Deputy Governor; a plan was proposed, and the work set in pro

gress.

A charter was obtained from the General Assembly, in 1764, for the college or university, in the English colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America, with a provision that the Trustees and Fellows should at any time after be at liberty to give it a more particular name, "in honor of the

greatest and most distinguished benefactor." It bore the title of the College of Rhode Island till 1804, when it became designated Brown University. The provisions of the charter gave a predominance to the Baptist interest in the number of trustees, and the president is to be of that denomination, with an unrestricted choice for the remaining officers; but other religious interestof Quakers, Congregationalists, and Episcopalians -are represented in a minority of the trustees: and it was further specially enacted "that into this liberal and Catholic institution shall never be admitted any religious tests, but, on the contrary, all the members shall for ever enjoy full, free, absolute, and uninterrupted liberty of conscience." In 1765, Manning was chosen the first president, and instructed a few pupils at his residence at Warren, where the first Commencement was held in 1769. A local contest for the seat of the college was terminated the next year by the selection of Providence. The work of instruction went on with regularity till the Revolution, when a gap occurs in the catalogue of Commencements from 1777 to 1782. The college was occupied at this time by the State militia, and as a French hospital for the troops of Rochambeau. In 1786, the president was elected to Congress, where he gave his influence to the establishment of the Constitution, still retaining his college office. His death occurred in 1791, in his fiftythird year. His personal character, says Allen, was "of a kind and benevolent disposition, social and communicative, fitted rather for active life than for retirement. Though he possessed good abilities, he was prevented from intense study by the peculiarity of his constitution. With a dignified and majestic appearance, his address was manly, familiar, and engaging."

In 1792 he was succeeded in the presidency by the Rev. Jonathan Maxcy, who, the year before, upon the death of Manning, had been chosen Professor of Divinity. He was a native of Attleborough, Mass., born in 1768, and is memorable in the annals of American education for having been president of three colleges, succeeding Edwards at Union, when he left the Rhode Island institution in 1802, and becoming the first president of the college of South Carolina, at Columbia, where he died in 1820. He must have possessed peculiar qualifications for the office. Judge Pitman, a graduate of the college in the year 1799, during his administration, in an Alumni Address,† speaks of him as "a man of great dignity and grace in his manner and deportment, with a countenance full of intellectual beauty," and recalls his "musical voice, graceful action, and harmonious periods," accomplishments never thrown away on a position of this kind.

The Rev. Asa Messer occupied the presidency for twenty-four years-from 1802 till 1826. He was a graduate of the college, and had been long employed in its service as Tutor and Professor of the Languages and Mathematics. He survived his final retirement from the college ten years, when he died at the age of sixty-seven. The

Allen's Biog. Dict., Art. Jas. Manning.

+ Address to the Alumni Association of Brown University, delivered in Providence on their first anniversary, Sept. 5, 1843, by John Pitman.

Nicholas Brown, from whom the institution then took its present name. This gentleman, descended from a pious ancestor, who came with Roger Williams, was born in Providence, April 4, 1769. He was a graduate of the college under President Manning. He became a member of the Corporation in 1791, and was punctilious in attention to its interests. His mercantile life, in the partnership of Brown and Ives, brought him great wealth. In 1804, having previously given a law library, he founded a Professorship of Oratory and Belles Lettres by a gift of five thousand dollars. In 1823, he erected, at his sole expense, a second college building, which was called after the Christian name of his sister, Hope College. He presented the college with astronomical apparatus. By his liberality, in 1837, that excellent and well furnished library institution, the Providence Athenæum, was placed on its present footing of usefulness to that community.

For the library of the university and the erection of Manning Hall, the building in which it is now advantageously placed, situated between University Hall and Hope College, Mr. Brown gave the sum of nearly thirty thousand dollars. He also gave the land for a third college building, and for the president's house. His donations by will, and altogether, amounted to at least one hundred thousand dollars. This worthy benefactor, who richly earned the honor of the college name, died at Providence in the seventy-third year of his age, Sept. 27, 1841.*

Dr. Wayland succeeded Messer in the presidency in 1827. His administration has been distinguished by an important reform in the distribution of the college studies, which he has advocated in several publications with ability.

Francis Wayland was born in 1796, in the city of New York, of English parentage. In 1811 he entered the Junior Class of Union College, and received his degree in course. He then pursued

A Discourse in Commemoration of the Life and Character of the Hon. Nicholas Brown, delivered in the Chapel of Brown University, Nov. 3, 1841, by Francis Wayland, President.