scribed the vegetables of his vicinity in Ulster county,. and transmitted them to Linnæus, was a physician. So were Mr. Clayton, the late Governor of the State of Delaware, and Mr. Bartlett, who not long since was Governor of New Hampshire. The like is true in respect to Mr. M'Henry, the late Secretary at War; and General Wilkinson, now Commander in Chief of the army of the United States.

The name of Dr. Rush, the Professor of the Practice of Medicine in Philadelphia, is to be seen in the list of those intrepid patriots who subscribed the declaration of independence. And Dr. Ramsay, the Historian of the American Revolution, acted as a member of the Continental Congress during the stormy scenes of the Revolution. Dr. Williamson, the writer of the History of North Carolina, has served in the Congress both under the old confedcration and the new; and the names of Tucker, White, Holten, Jones, and Williams, are familiar to the readers of the debates and journals of the American Congress. Indeed, it is at this moment remarkable, that three of the most important places in America send physicians to represent them in Congress; for the city of New York, the first in commercial consequence in the western world, has elected Dr. Mitchill; the town of Boston, Dr. Eustis ; and the county of Philadelphia, Dr. Leib. One of the districts of Maryland has also chosen Dr. Archer. In short, two physicians are among the Directors of the Bank of the United States, viz. Dr. Charlton of New York, and Dr. McLurg of Richmond. The

political.

political talents of Dr. Jarvis in Massachusetts, and of Dr. Foushee in Virginia, have been often celebrated in their own country.

Mr. Mitchill had witnessed many forerunners of the Revolution which afterwards happened in France while he resided there. Some of these were, the disrespect into which the monastic orders had fallen; the disregard of the rites and ceremonies of the Catholic Religion; open discontent expressed against the Farmers-General, and the manner of assessing and collecting taxes; and the acquisition of wealth and talents among the Tiers Etats; circumstances highly unfavourable to the usurpations and arrogance of the privileged orders. Although at that time, neither he, nor probably any mortal else, foresaw the subversion of the ancient regime, and the prostration of the influence of the Bourbons,

On leaving Europe he was entrusted with public dispatches from Mr. Adams, Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States, at the Court of St. James's, to some of the heads of departments in the American Government, and received many civilities from that gentleman. He arrived in America just in season to witness the progress of another Revolution in the national government of his native commonwealth, from the loosely-coherent and ill-compacted confederation of States hastily conceived during the war, to the more efficient and better-planned system called the New Federal Constitution.

The parties which existed during the revolution, had been denominated Whigs and Tories. The former Dd 3

of

of these triumphed over the latter; but after the invaders had withdrawn, the Whigs divided among themselves. The denominations of the great parties into which they split, were federalists and anti-federalists. To the first of these belonged that portion of the Whigs who felt some predilection for monarchy, or a consolidated government; and all the old Tories whom the lenity of the laws permitted to remain or to return among them. In the second was included that part of the Whigs who adhered to the original principles of the revolution; such as were friends of a more exact representative and popular government. In the conflict the Federalists prevailed, the new Constitution was adopted, and both parties agreed to support it. Federalism predominated in the councils of the nation, and anti-federalism no where existed any longer.

Under this new arrangement, they who were called to offices in the government proceeded to the performances of their respective duties. It is however vain to expect that in free states all men will be of one mind. Citizens equally wise, equally virtuous, and equally zealous for the public good, often differ materially as to measures, and the management of public affairs. Hence arise the present parties in America, called the Administration and the Opposition. During a period of twelve years, the aristocratical or monarchical party have possessed the sway. Eight of these passed under the presidency of Washington, and the remaining four under that of Adams. At the last election, the democratic or republican party at

length

length prevailed, and Thomas Jefferson was chosen President for four years, from the 4th of March 1801. By this change of parties, the Democrats have resuined the ascendency in American politics, and the Aristocrats form the Opposition. Dr. Mitchill was elected by the republicans of New York, and of course is numbered with the friends of the new Administration.

His attention has been a good deal directed to philosophical objects; in the prosecution of which, besides a large share of original remark and experiment, he has carried on a very extensive correspondence. The subjects which he has investigated with most labour, are the Production, Composition, and Operation of Pestilential Fluids, or the History of those gases or vapours which infect the atmosphere, and excite febrile distempers. The doctrine of SEPTON, offered to the world by him and his pupils, in consequence of these investigations, forms a memorable era in modern science. Additional and brighter light has been shed thereby upon all the branches of experimental physicks which are connected with it, such as the putrefactive process, the formation of the atmosphere, the fertilization of land, the treatment of fevers, improvement of the police of cities, the promotion of household economy, &c. These, indeed, constitute so respectable and extensive a portion of the investigations of the present day, that it is deemed reproachful to be unacquainted with them.

Of Dr. M.'s talent for poctry we have been informed; but his versification of his Doctrine of SeyDd4

ton,

ton, in the first volume of the Medical Repository, and his translation of the song in honour of Harmodius and Aristagiton into English, are the only pieces we have seen in print. Many more of his poetical ef fusions have been perused in manuscript among the circles of his acquaintance.

COLONEL TATHAM,

Formerly a Field Officer in the Service of the American Republic, and lately Supervisor of the London Docks.

THE events of human life, and the good or ill fortune of individuals, often depend on a variety of trivial and minute circumstances. That there is

"A tide in the affairs of men'

was admirably observed by our great poet, and few have experienced the truth of this observation oftener than the subject of the present memoir.

Colonel William Tatham is descended from an ancient and respectable family * in the north of England; the late William Tatham, of Askham Hall, in the county of Westmoreland, Esq. was his uncle, and he is nearly related to the family of Lowther, of which the Earl of Lonsdale is the head. He was born at Hutton in the Forest, in the county of Cumberland, in the year 1752, of which parish his father, the Rev.

* See Burn's History of Cumberland and Westmoreland, vol.i. p. 424; also title De Lancaster, Crermen, &c. ibid. The Editor has seen a pedigree in which the Colonel's descent is traced from Lord Morville.

Sandford