Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-09-08


We copy from the Georgia Statesman, the
following very brief, yet interesting memoranda
oftho histories ofthe Signers ofthe Declaration
of ofIndependence, which we recommend all our
patrons, as it will afford them some valuable d.
ia. We did intend to make the sketches more
full, by adding to them some facts which The
original writer has omitted, but as the disorders
Of Commencement week, have put US in the
back ground, We must deprive ourselves of that
pleasure; though perhaps the omission will
not displease our readers, who we arc satisfied,
would not place any particular value on the
remarks we might offer.
Memo, anda Of the Signers Of the Declare
tion CT Independence
Chancellor Wythe, Of Virginia-a lawyer, a
Judge OF the purest morals and deepest learn
ing; idle and dissipated until thirty years of
| age when he first applied himself TO tire law
the preceptor Of Jefferson.
George Read. OF Delaware; an eminent
lawyer. His biography is simple, interesting
| and authentic.
William Williams, Of Come c.icut; originally
| a town clerk, but literally educated; then an
upright, benevolent merchant; sacrificed
greater part Of his gains 10 the public service.
Samuel Huntington, of Connecticut; u mere
| ploughman until his twenty-second year; at
terwards an eminent lawyer; president Of
! Congress; chief Justice Of his state, and gov.
ernor. His biography highly curious.
William Floyd, of New York; a farmer; n
general; enjoyed large share Of state honors
George Walton, Of Georgia; originally an
| apprentice TO a carpenter in Virginia; self ed
ucated to the law; a colonel; wounded in bat
| tie; twice governor OF Georgia; chief justice /;
| Senator of the United States.
George Clymer, of Pennsylvania; a mer-
chant; fond Of literature; a terse, sententious
writer; an efficient and honorable patriot.
His biography full and interesting, but difuse
| "Gocdne., his dthg,.
wsdom Lis wealth and gor, his reward"
! Benjamin Rush, as a physician and an au-
thor, nuffdade cumufatus, the most celcbrat-
ed Of the American faculty; distinguished foi
his political connexions and labours
Matthew Thornton, Of New Hampshire
q successful pra ctitioner Of medicine; army
! surgeon before the revolution; a president o
! the provincial conventions; a Judge Of the Su-
preme Court; man of wit and humouy, con.
( tinued TO practice ohysic while Judge; wrote
political essays for newspapers, and prepared
a metaphysical work for publication. after he
was eighty years of age; died rs his seth
year.
William Whipplc. of New Hampshire; orig
inally cabin boy and sailor; captain at the
| age oftwenty-one: then merchant; gen
| eral, who fought with Gates, and elsewhere;
arranged the captulation of BWgoyne; Judge
| oftiIe superior court; as sailoH,' says the
biography. "he speedily attained the highest
rank in his profession; as a merchant he was
circulnspcct and INDUSTRIOUS as a Congressman
he was frm and fearless; az legislator, he
| was honest and able; commander, he was
cool and courageous; as Judge, he was Dig
nifed and impartial; and as a member OF many
subordinate public Offices, he was alert and
persevering. lie bcre all his honors with mod
csty and proprio;y."
! DR.. John Witherspoon, Of New S.rscy. An
| eminent and profound divine; president uf
Nassau Hall College;a political writer oftorcc
and talent; statesman Of great influence and
energy. His biography is ample aHd insirGc-
tive.
Robert Morris, ofPonrsy yl,ania, merchant (;
the unrivallcd fDancier of the revolution; the
| pecunary soul of the cause. His biography,
like that Of others, needs compression, but IS
| interesting and correct
| Abraham Clark, of New Jersey; surveyor,
| a lawyer, and gave gratuitous counsel.
| Francis Lewis, of New York; merchant,
| and soldier, before the Revolution; very useful
ss rebel; his fine estate on Long Island des-
troyed by the British, and his wife carried oft
prisoner; she died soon after. tiom the III
treatment which was experienced. He wasrn-
ined by the pa,t which he took on the Ameri-
can side; died IN he goth year of his age.
John Penn, of North Caroline, unoducated
in early life; became lawyer, and eminent by
opsmathy.
James Wilson. Of Pennsylvania; lawyer Of
capacity and of surprising faculties asa speak
or md writer, an efficient political essays;; the
principal adv ocatc ofthc Constitution Of 1857.
IN the PENNSYLVANIA Conventions; professor of
law; one of the Judges of the Supreme Court Of
the United States. Ills biography is reple'e
with valuable information and political anec-
dotc.
Carter B.axton, of Virginia; a planter. be-
came merchant; lost all, and died OF a brok-
en- heart.
John Morton, Of Pennsylvania, surveyor;
speaker Of the General Assembly Of Pcnnsyl-
vania; Judge of the Supreme Court OF the
Common wealth; gave the casting vote OF tho
Pennsylvania delegation, for the declaration
Of independence; originally rlonchbo".
Stephen Hopkins, Of Rhode.Island. PLAN
farmer; surveyor; became speaker OF he AS {
sembly; chief justice; then governor of Rhode,
Island, a man Of superior sense, ana eooo
and successful writer; a distinguished matne-
maticinn, and natural philosopher though his
education was slight; and member OF The
American Philosophical Society. h's slgna-
ture OF the declaration is the only crooked and
feeble one. As y irdica,es,' slys h.s h'cr-