Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-11-18
MIS0MLL ANWe
INrEaHsrrNe BIOGRAPHY.
WILLIAM LEyMlRT, THE MATHEMATICIAN.


which under favorable circumstances, might
have illustrated the name of his country
throughout the scientific world. The seed
which produces the most luxurant harvest
requires proper cultivation to make it minister
to henecessities of man. The marble which
is taken from the quarry has no attractions
for the eye until the chsel of the sculptor dis
plays its torruous veins, and gives the beauty
Of proportion. So, genius of the highest Or
dcr-wilhout the fostering care OF patrons,
and suitable field for its display-olten lies
buried with the unknown possessor; and
mankind are little sensible how a brilliant sun
has gone down in darkness, which, under
more favorable circumstances, would have fer
tilted and adorned society. tits with view
to make my humble contribution to the mem
DRY of highly gifted man, who was, at one
portion ofhs life, citizen of Baltimore, that
| write this article. Had Lord Clivenot been
employed as q clerk in India, he would proba-
bly, never have displayed that brilliant genius
which gave him rank with the nobility of
England, and astonshed the world If LEN
HART had not, during the greater portion of
his life, been the victim of severe disease, he
would not have required the aid of .iy unpre-
tending pen. For the facts on which this ar
I ticle is based, am indebted to the July num-
WILLIAM LENHART was the son of a res
pcctable silversmith, of Y ork, Pennsylvania,
where he was born in 17S7. His education
received but little attention, until when he was
about fourteen years old. DIR. Adrain,-then
obscure, but since so extensively known as Il
mathematician opened school in Y DIRK,
and young LENHART became one of his pu-
pills. Owing perhaps TO the scanty means of
his father, he did not remain at school more
than eighteen months yet III that short peri
cd the rock was smilten and the waters of
genius flowed out in an abundant stream
Adran soon discovered the great mathemati
cal talents of his pupil; and assumed towards
him much of the relation of companion in
study. At this time he evinced the disposition
of his mind by making in miniature, with
great perfection, various machines which he
bad seen-ire-engines, water mills, SC. Be
fore he left the school of Mr.. Adrain he be-
came contributor to the "Mathematical Cor
respondent" a periodical published i'll New
York.
When he was about seventeen, he bcsmc a
clerk in store in Baltimore. have no
means of ascertaining the house in which he
was placed. At that time he was remarkable
for the beauty of his person and the agreeable
ness of his manners. Having become tired
charge of some duties in the Office of Sheriff.
In both these situations he was--as he con-
Ax'nue1 through lile-unequalled as penman.
While he remained in Baltimore he occupied
his leisure hours with reading and ma,hema-
tcal studies and also made contribution to
the 'sMathematcai Correspondent" and the
''Analyst," published by DR.. Adrain in Phila-
delphia. When only seventeen, he obtained
a medal for the solution of mathematical
prize question.
After remaining in Baltimore about four
years, LENHART undertook the care of The
books i'll the commercial house of Mcssrs.
Iiassinger and Reese, of Philadelphia. On
account of his abilities, his employers doub-
Jed his salary at the end of the first year. His
books were models of bookkeeping, and the
accounts he made out for foreign merchants
were long kept by them as forms. As a clerk
and book-keeper he was unrivalled. Such
was the estimation in which he was held by
the house, that after three years they offered
him partnership, by the terms of which
they were to supply the capital, as his emf
nent personal services were considered by
them as equivalent. During this period he
cultivated mathematical science.
Young LENHART was now about twenty
four years old; and thus far his carcer-con-
SlQerlng the GIlllculllcS Win Which he had to
contend-had been one of great prosperity
and promise. As to the remainder, "shad-
ows, clouds and darkness rest upon it.n Ii
gives me pain to record the events of his sub
sequent life When the pride of the forest is
preyed upon by the worm, we not panied
by Its gradual decay. The rude tempest pass
es by audit falls in the beauty of its foliage
The majestic oak, as it stands upon the noun
tain top, may be splntered by the lightning
but our feelings of regret, as we survey the
PROSTATE trunk, are absorbed by the contem-
platlon of the power of the Almighty. We
have different emotions when it has been
scathed, and withers, ard every wind of IIea-
ven blows through its leafless branches
Deep must have been the anguish of LENHARr
as he contemplated his situation, and felt that
the bright prospects of his life were overcast
almost as soon as the morning sun had arisen
But he calmly bowed his head 10 the stroke
and his noble spirit enabled him to endure
with a martyrs patience, that which In the
amount of suffering surpassed the torture and
the flame.
Before Mr.. LESHART entered upon his dli-
les as partner in the house of Nessrs. Has
singer and Reese, he made visit to- his father
ut ork. While taking drive in the coun-
try, his horse ran away, breaking the carriage
and his leg was fractured. After his recovery
he returned to Philadelphia. While pitching
quoits he was attacked with excruciating pain
III the back, and partial paralysis of the lower
extremities. He was under the care of Drs
Physick and Parish for eighteen months; and