Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-09-07
DIED.

DIED,
Tn this town, on Wednesday morning last Mrs
Sarah 1o6in, reict of Mr.. Thomas Tobn, in the
s9d year of her age.
Departed this life, at Princeton, IN. J) on
Saturday the q inst in the 70h year of his age.
the Reverend Doctor SAMUEL STANHoPE SMITH,
late President of the College of New-Jersev This
distinguished servant of the church, and of SCIENCE
had been in declining health since the resignation
of his office in the year 1912; and at last sunk
into the arms of death, without struggle, in the
midst of all afectionate family, and sympathizing
friends, who witnessed the gradual decay of his
strength with those respectful and tender regrets,
which recollection Of his high character, and long
and eminent services, could not fail TO inspire.
DR.. SMITH native of Peqnea, in Lancaster
county. Pennsylvania, where his venerable Father,
the Rev. Doctor Robert Smith; resided for many
years, as the Pastor of the Presbyterian church in
that town.. Here he was born in the year 1850.
He received his academical education under the
care of his father and took his FIRST degree in the
arts in the College of New-Jersey, in 1859. Not
long afterwards, having studied Theology under
the direction of the Reverend DIR Witherspoon,
| aud having been licensed by the Presbytery Of
New Castle to preach the Gospel, he paid a visit
to Virginia, where hepreached to great acceptance,
and was eminently useful Indeed so great was his
popularity and the weight ofhis character, that he
became, though youth, the founder of Hampton
Sidney College In Prince Edward county, in that
state, and was its President for several years
About this time he formed matrimonial eonnec-
ton with daughter of the Rev. DR. Wtherspoon,
his ilustrous teacher, and his predecessor in the
presidency of Nassau-Hall
About the close of the revolutionary war DR..
Smith left Virginia, and accepted the Office of
Vice President and Professor of Moral Philoso-
ply in the College of New-Jersey. From this
time until the year 1894, the public duties and sub
sequent infrmities of DIR Witherspoon devoiyed
on him the chief care both Of superintendency and
instruction in the college. He was abundantly
equal to the task and discharged it in manner at
once honorable to himself, and highly beneficial to
the institution In I794. DIR. Witherspoon
moved by death and in short time afterwards
DIR. Smith made formally, what he had long
been in reality, the President of the College; in
which Office he remained until 1879, when the
state of his health constrained him to resign it.
The ability with which he discharged the duties
of his Office has been universally acknowledged.
His taents--his accuracy as scholar-his dill
gence-the variety and elegance OF his accomplish
ments-the dignity of his manners-hs happy art
| of conveying acknowledgement the commanding in-
huence over the minds of his pupils, which these
| qualities enabled him to acquire, and to maintain,
are too well known to need particular notice here
| Many of the most distinguished men in our coun-
try to his able instruction, than can easily
| be estimated Long, very long will they recollect
his services, and gratefully cherish his memory.
DIR. Smiths chaaacter Preacher is gene
rally known to have stood very high. Perhaps it
is not TOO much to say that, in the meridian of his
life, and especially in addressing polished audi
| ence, no clergyman in the United States exceeded
him in popularity. The expectation OF seeing him
in the pulpit, was, every where, the signal for a
crowded assembly In the affairs of the Church to
which he belonged, he took, for many years, an
active and leading part. He was member OF all
the Committees appointed for maturing and COM
pleting her present public standards And IN the
debates of her ecclesiastical courts, few speakers
were listened to with more instruction and delight.
AS 1vriter, DIR. Smiths reputation is too well
known, in many parts of Europe, as well as in bis
| own country to require the language of eulogium
| His Essay on the Causes of the Variety ofCom-
| 81 plexion and Figure in the Human Species, was
not only we'll received when originally delivered
| before ssthe American Philosophical Society, but
has passed through a number OF editions IN Eu-
rope. and been translated into several foreign Ian
puages To this publication succeeded his volume
| Of . Sermons his Lectures on the Evidences
| Of the Christian Religion his IS Lectures on
| Moral and Political Philosophy" his : Compre-
! hensiye View of the Principles of Natural and
Revealed Religion together with variety of
smaller occasional works. The writings of few
American diyines indicate so much intellectual Gull
tiyation, or so greata variety and amount of ac-
ouirement. as these volumes.-in every list of
those who have done honor to their country by
rendering essential services to her literature and
science. the name of President SMITH must have
| a conspicuous place.
Accordingly number Of literary and other In
sttutions concurred in bestowing upon him their
bigbest honors. The degrees of Doctor of Divini-
~. and Doctor of Laws, and an early election to
membership in the American Philosophical Socie-
", were among the numerous tributes Of public
respect with which his life was marked.