Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-04-04
III i S o y u u A II Y O
(From tb; South ,rn Literary Nj SIS .ngero
Il L | II U BURRITT.
ny REV. n. w. BAILEY.


There is very natural curiosity. puhiclv
and often exp. essed, To know The hi. tory OF
this extraordinary man. He is commonly
known by the cognomen .he learned black
| smith" The public attention has OCCASION
ally been arrested by productions from his
pen of thrilling interest aud power Several
literary periodicals have been enriched with
TRANSACTIONS made by him from the learned
and most difficult languages of the presen,
and past times and recently he has attracted
attention as public lecturer on subjects of
science, literature and practical duty. IL is
the object of this article To CRAFTY the reason
able curiosity of the public on This subject
t" correct some erroneous impressions, and
do justice To personal friend.
t.lIhu Burriit was born i'm New Britain
Conn, Dec. IL, 1911. His father, by trade a
shoemaker, was "A native Of Bridgeport, and
his mother was Elizabeth TIins,lale of New
Britain. Both branches of the family were
originally from England. The subject of this
notlce was the youngest of FIVE brothers, who
WI, five sisters, comprised his fathers family.
vi tins family, the mother, one brother, and
Tour sisters are still living
The parents were religious persons. and
educated their children in strictly RELATIONS
manner Properly speaking. they educated
'helr children. They kept famyzy school,
Although they were neither in afflnent cir.
cumstances, nor occupied the high places OF
society, yet they comprehended fully their
own dignity in the common birihright of the
race, and taught their children TO feel and ACT
, upon II too. They cultivated in their chill
dren The moral principle, which. taught then,
rightly To estimate and respect themselves ;
The religious principle, which bound them To
all mankind, and all mankind To the throne o!
God; The republican principle. which nlen-
Tined their patriotism with The religion of the
Gospel. This home education prepared them
10 feel that they were men, immortal men
and TO attempt, and do, and claim every thing
mat belonged to men. The result made men
ol them, suited To- render the state some SER
wee, and To do common honor To their race
| Thus much it is due to say Of these honored
parents, one Of whom has lived To see her
children, especially the subject Of this notice,
honored and respected.
Mr.. BurrItt, in common with his brothers
and sisters, enjoyed the New-Eugan privi-
lege of attending the ..District Srhool'' for
three months every winter until he was six
teen years old, when, by the custom of the
country, the prescribed course of common
education is finished. But the death Of his
iather, which occurred in his sixteenth year,
made 1t necessary for him To devote his at
tention to the care Of the family, and deprived
MN ol his last quarter at school. About this
,lme, he apprentced himself To the trade of a
blacksmith, and continued 10 serve urder these
,nuentures with very little change of pariicu-
,ar interest IN his history until the time Of his
segai majority. The period Of his literary eC-
iof's may be said then TO have commenced