The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1775-09-04 00:00:00, page 2

Mr. HOWE was born atKillingly, Jan. 14, 1747.
His parents were Mrs. Damaris and Mr. Perly Howe,
a clergyman of distinguished learning and piety ; in
whole death he received an irreparable loss when he
was but fix years old. At the age of fourteen, he
was sent by his grand-father who feperinteaded his
education, to Yale College. He consumed his aca
demical life in a round of improvements of every
kind, &at his admission to the Baccalaureate, was ac
knowledged to be indifyutably the best scholar in a
large class, which abounded with persons of genius
and merit. Accordingly he was appointed to pro
nounce the falutatery oration.
At his difmiffion from college,the great and learn
ed Ur. Clap, whose thorough acquaintance with
the human mind was unquestionable, without a sin
gle follicitation, or the most distant connection, am
ply recommended him to the several gentlemen con
cerned, to inftrud the best school in the colony.
While he was in this situation, his fidelity and dis
cernment as a preceptor,as well as his amiable conduct
as a man,will be best imagined from the pressing invi
tations given him by the inhabitants of Hartford, to
succeed the Rev. Mr. Dorr; from the eulogies of
him to be heard even from the mouths of children ;
and from the tears which the writer of this account
has seen shed to his memory, by perfoms of all cha
rariers and conditions. While he was here alf@, in
the best of all profeffions, he devoted the morning of
his life to the service of his Maker.
When he commenced Master of Arts, he deliver
ed a fecoud oration. How he pronounced both this
and the other,let those who hear'd^him declare.
The next year he was invited by the corporation
^f Yale-College, to fill the office of tutor in that fe
• minary. He found its literary circumstances flour
ifhing & agreable ; but his precepts & examplegave
new life to learning & virtue,& every species ofexcel
lehce brightened at his presence. Eloquence and
the fine arts, which till that time had been gene
rally neglected, rose to their just flation in the scale
ofefteem, and claimed universal attention. To de
scribe the manner in which he difeharged this office,
I need only obferve,that it is esteemed by the youths
of that seminary, as the highest commendation they
can give a tutor, to fay he is like Mr. HOWE.
After he had continued in this station almost three
years, in May he made a tour as far as Boston for
his healths Here he was desired by the New South
Church, which at that time was destitute of a clergy
man, to officiate for the day. After they had heard
but two fermans from him, the church and congre
gation immediate y convened, and invited him to
Succeed Mr. Bowen. It is remarkable, that a princi
pal reason, given by the society, for the fuddewnefs
cf thi: d^ermination, is the character Mr. HOWE
hii received from the voice of mankind. It is also
remarkable, taat, at the time he was deliberating
con renting the prudence of complying with this in
vitation, which he afterwards did, he received simi
lar applications from three es the most refpedable
societies in Conneaicut, Hartford, Wethersfield and
Norwich. Over this church he presided till the dif
p?rfion of the inhabitants from Boston, when he re
tired with a number of his friends to Norwich. In
July he rode as far as New-Haven for his health,
II A R TF 0 R D.
A our lap the public were informed of the death of Mr.
HOWE ; it is hoped that the foortnefs of time which
dafed between bis death, and the publication of the pa
per next ensuing, will be an excuse for the delay of his
cbarafler till this week, as it could not poffibl, he printed
without an omission of the latef articles of intelligence.
CHARACTER ofthe toe Mr. H 0 W E.
A S all mankind, who had the happiness even of
a flight acquaintance with this great and ex
cellent man, must be deeply interested in every cir
cumstance, however minute, that relates to him, the
following particulars cannot be thought unfeafona
bie or impertinent. The writer is perfectly sensible
that penegyrics on the deceased are, in peace and
tranquility, little noticed, and rarely read. Less
can be expected in their favour, when the critical
iituation of America engrosses every thought, and
monopolifes all the powers of attention. But he
cannot be difeearaged by these reflections, from pay
ing the last tribute to his friend---a friend, for the
advancement of whose happiness, when alive, every
facrifice would have been trifling. He is sure that
not one who has ever heard ofMr. HOWE, a dif
cription that difignates almost all the inhabitants es
New-England, and not a few of other countries, can
be inattentive to an account, tho' but an imperfect
one, of his excellencies. It is not wonderful that
we should flight characters, of whom our firft know
ledge is, that they are dead ; and of whom the only
praise the open mouth of penegyric can give, is, that
the, lived greatly beloved, and died greatly lamented. But
when the Lights of the World are extinguish
ed, when the benefactors of mankind are number'd
with the great congregation, it is at least pardonable
to mingle their commendations with the tears of
friendfhip. This account is given of him by one
who had the happiness ofhis intimate acquaintance,
bat who need not mention that circumstance to pro
cure belief, for its truth is evidenced by the oon
feiences of thousands of his countrymen.
and upon his return he was seized by a complicati
on of diseases, formidable to the mod vigorous con
stitution, but more than fufficient to extinguish a
vital flame, which before could hardly be said to
burn. Thus, after a confinement of three weeks,
finifhed the career ©fa life which deferred and ob
tained more affection from mankind, and exhibited
more beauty to the eye of, Omniscience, than the
conquerer of millions, or the ruler of empires. Such
characters are rarely given to the world ; this only
appeared, to leave a gloom in the horizon, where it
shone a moment with so much splendor.
His country saw the light afeend on high.
Nor knew the glory brightened but to die.
As we are fond of even minute particulars which
relate to those with whom we are peculiarly delight
ed, a flight picture of the person of this excellent
man may not be difagreable. He was tall and
well made, but rather slender; his head was a very
little inclined, mere by that natural habit of calling
down his eyes, when engaged in his usual employ
ment of contemplation, than by any deferi in his
person. His complexion was very fair ; the fea
tures ofhis face in a degree irregular, and not sin
gularly agreable ; though it mull by no means be
forgotten, that his countenance, in which goodness
" Jmiled celtfial," was a ftreng copy of his unrival'd
understanding and benevolence.
But the beauty ofhis mind was without a parallel.
His genius was great and universal, and enabled
him to Ihisie in every endowment, and to excel in
every science. His imagination was uncommonly
lively and vigorous ; equally endued with that clear
ness and activity, which is necessary for the ready
invention of argument, and with that high, roman
tic elevation, which is the parent of poetic excel
lence. Hisjudgment was formed for his imagina
tion by a hand which designed the whole foul
should be of apiece. With the utmost ease and per
spicuity, it difeerned the truth, er probability cf all
those assertions, which form the limits of human
knowledge, and weighed, with the exarinefs of a
ballanee, thejuft influence of every argument, in
support of both sides of every question.
With a mind like this, bold, vigorous and inde
pendent, we cannot admire that he made the most
rapid and extensive improvements in every field of
knowledge. He was a complete and most accurate
linguist, thoroughly versed in the genius and ele
gancies of the languages of Greece and Rome, as
well as that of his own country. His rhetorical
accomplishments are best known by those who have
heard him pronounce hr own writings. In gcogr@z
phical knowledge, he had few equals. To become
a master bf the various branches of the mathematics,
is as impeffible as to comprehend immensity. A
mind like his, enthusiastically fond of truth, and
singularly capableof difeerning it, could not but be
enraptured with the certainty of demonstration
Accordingly he made the most extensive improve
ments in arithmetic, algebra, geometry ; and ac
quired a con fiderable acquaintance with the New
tonian feience of fluxation. In the application of
these feiences to natural philefophy, and a clear
difeernment of the force and influence of experi
ments, he was equally happy ; and it was a capital
ingredient in his felicity, and literary character, to
walk in the sublime paths of agronomy, and con
template the glories of Omnipotence. His life was
a treatise of ethics and theology, and recommended
the whole duty of man more powerfully than libra
ries of moralists and divines ; while his conversation
and sermons more clearly displayed his acquaintance
with this, the consummation of human knowledge,
than a volume of panegyric.
What has been already said fully evinces his com
prehensive acquaintance with logical and metaphysi
cal improvements. Suffice it to add, that his most
intimate friends could never determine the science
in which he made the least or greatest advances.
All this learning he polished and brightened by a
thorough knowledge of the Fine Arts, and a most
happy application of their beauties to his writings
both in prose and verse.
Enlarged and complete as his underhanding was,
his disposition was his diftinguifliing excellence.
Mr. HOWE, was another name for candor, bene
volence and humanity. Nor was his medefty less
remarkable. Surrounded with admirers, he alone
seemed ignorant or regardless of his accomplish
ments. Long accustomed to universal applause, he
aided under it with that refin'd and graceful inat
tention, which made him Bill more amiable and
deserving. If I may be allowed a vulgar phrase,
he was that, perhaps the most singular of all cha
racters, upon whom ,raise fat easily.
It may be thought furprizing that so feeble a frame
should contain a foul remarkable for its fortitude.
But his magnanimity was of a piece with all his
qualities. This gave him that firmnefs and con
sistency of character, without which human dignity
cannot exist.
His sincerity, his patience, and his piety rose be
yond applause, and left men to cry out,
" 'Twas Grange
" 'Twas paffiug strange" and smile
“ That heaven had made them such a man."
He had that happy talent at communicating his
ideas, and that lostness as well as dignity of manners,
which complete the inftruaor; and enabled him to
shine in that character without a rival.
In the desk he appeared with no less luftre. In
prayer indeed he was excelled. His sentiments
were always pertinent, his expressions well chosen,
and his devotion from the heart ; yet hewas not pos
sessed of that ease & volubility which give a peculiar
agreeableness to that part of worship. But the art
of sermonizing was all his own. To point out the
particular excellencies would lengthen a description,
already too long for the reader's patience. '1 hey
were exhibited by himfelf in the deft more &rikingly
than can be easily imagined. His voice was indeed
too weak for a large house ; but the sweetness, the
propriety, the elegance and the solemnity of his man
ner, after he had finifhed, in the ears of an audience
---So charming left hi^ voice, that they a while
Thought him still freaking.
Those who were under his inftrh&ion, and those
who have heard him preach, will be furprized to be
told, that his appearance in these employments could
be excelled by the figure he made in any other ref
peris ; but his friends need not be informed, that he
fhene with the most peculiar glory as a man. All
the excellencies mentioned above were drawn out
into his life, adorned, and completed by the finish
ing elegance of good breeding. Many perfors thir L
well. Few know, and fewer with to aft well. He
knew, and wilhed it. Indeed he could not a€ 10-
therwife. He was born a gentleman, and his native
politeness was improved aid confuramated by a tho
rough acquaintance witll good company. But that
be, who fpe ke, who wrote, who thought, should also
afl elegance, is as little furprizing, as that a feut
great, good, and exalted as his, should rife beyond
the forties of this world, and impatient of a confine
ment in the narrow, crazy, miserable dwelling allot
ted it, should spring from the bonds of clay to seek
its native ikies, while it left to the fperiators sur
rounding the bed of death, and through them to
mankind, a shining example es that,eace, with which
a chrifian can die.
CAMBRIDGE, Augufl 31.
Las Saturday Night about zooo Troops of the united
Colonies entrenched on a Hill in Ch&rlefiown, known by
the Name of Plow'd Hill, within point blank foot of the
Enemy ; and notwilhfianding a continued Fire from them
almost all the Da, following, we bad only two killed and
two wounded, Diz. Adjutant Mumford of Rhode-Jfand
and a Private killed, and Mr. William Simpson, a ,0-
lunteer of Pennflvania, loft a Leg, and another Man
wounded. While cur Entrenchments were carrying on
upon the Hill, Parties of Rife- Men were employed in fir
ing upon the advanced Guards on Charlefown Neck ; but
how many of the Enemy were killed,we have net been able
to learn ; one of their Officers andfederal Mtn were fem
tofall. —Two of the Enemy's floating Batteries attempt
ing to anno, our People at Work upon the Hill,were silenced
in Miftick River, and one of them partly funk, by feme of
our Cannon placed at Temple's Farm.
Bunker Hill, Plow'd Mill and Winter Hill are situate
in a Range from daft to Weft, each of them on or near
Miftick River ; Plow'd Hill is in the Middle, and is the
lowefl of the three, the Summit of which is about half a
Mile from the Enemy's Works on Bunker Hill.
The Enemy, finding hut little EffeA from their firing
last Sabbath, began to relax on Monday ; they, however,
at Times,fill continue their Fires.---Our Men are now
well secured in their new Pof, and are compleating their
Works with great Expedition.
The Enemies to Libert, and America, headed I, Tom
Gage, lately gave a notable Specimen cf their Hatred to
the ver, Name cf Liberty. A Part, of them, of whom
one fob Williams was the Ringleader, a few Days face,
repaired to a Tree at the South End cf Befon, known b,
the Name of Liberty Tree, and, armed with Axes, &c.
made a Jurious Attack open it. After a beng Spell cf
laughing and grinning,fweating,fwearing and foaming,
with Malice diabolical, they cut down a Tree, because
it bore the Name ^'Liberty. But, be it known to this
infamous Rand of b raisers, that the GRABD AMLRI
CAN TREE OF LIBEREr, planted in the Center cf
the United Colonies of Not th-America, n wfeurifas with
unrivalled, increefog Beauty, and bids fair, in a fort
Time, to afford, under its wide spreading Branches, a
fufe and happy Retreat for all the Sons cf Liberty, howe
ver numerous and dispersed.
It is said the Port of Boson is open on tie fame Footing
as the other Governments, Trade being allowed to be car
ried on to Great -Britain, Ireland, and the British Ifands
in the Weft-Indies.
The Honourable Continental Congrtf has appointed the
Hen. fames Warren, Esq; Paymaf^ General of th. Uni
ted Forces ofT? 1 A- A, r ~cr
Lis the Lt cf humanity to be tinged with cr
ier. Ashe was of the race cf Adem, doubtlcfs he
uas the fuljicl of many. Yet notwithflanding the
uncommon ojennefs of his temper and condutl, I
believe thousands of his acquaintance would be at a
less to tell what they were. Perhap he had as few
as any of mankind. His friends were of opinion,
that his complaisance and indulgence to the faults
of others was sometimes too extensive : a necessary
attendant, in this world, of benevolence that knew,
and wilhed no bounds.