The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-02-20

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two We find him exploring the frigi
zone; and all the while that his persor
al experiences had the character of rc
mantle adventure, he is pushing them
the spirit of science and philanthropi
enterprise.
As boy, his instructive bent impell
ed him to the indulgence and enjoymen
of such adventures as were best fitted t
: train him for the work before him. HI
collegiate studies suffered some post
ponement while his physical qualitie
pressed for their necessary training ant
discipline. It was almost. in the spiri
of truancy that he explored the Blu,
Mountains of Virginia, as student o
geology, under the guidance of Profes
sor Rodgers, and cultivated. at once,
his har dihood of vital energy and those
elements of natural science which were
to qualify him for his after services in
the field of physical geography. But
in due time he returned to the pursuit
of literature, and achieved the usual
honors, as well as though his college
| studies had suffered no diversion-his
muscles and nerves we're educated, and
his brain lost nothing by the Indirect
ness of its developments. but was rather
corroborate6 for all the uses which it
has served since He graduated at the
University of ennsylvania-frst, in its
collegiate, and afterwards, in its medi-
cal department.. His special relishes in
study indicated his natural drift; chem
istry and surgery, natural science in its
most ir innate converse with substance,
and the remedial art in its most heroic
function. He went out from his dina
Mater good classical scholar, good
chemist, minerologist, astronomer, and
surgeon. But he lacked, or he thought
he lacked, Robustness of frame and
soundness of health. He solicited an
appointment in the navy, and upon his
admission, demanded active service
He was appointed upon the diplomatic
staff as surgeon to the first American
Embassy to China. This position gave
him an opportunity to explere the Philip
pine Islands, which he effected mainly
on foot. He was the FIRST man who de-
scended into the crater of Tael; lower
ed more than hundred fest By bam--=
boo rope fron the oEerhanging cliff, and
clambering down some seven hundred
more through the scoriae, he made to-
biographical sketch of the interior of this
great volcano, collected bottle of sur
purous acid from the very mouth of the
crater; and although be was drawn up
almost senseloss, he brought with him
his portrait of this hideeus cavern, and
the specimens which it afforded.
Before he returned from this trip, he
had ascended the Himalayas, and trian-
gulated Greece, on foot; he had visited
Ceylon, the Upper Nile, and all the my
thologic region of Egypt; traversing
the route, and making the acquaintance
of the learned Lepsius, who was then
prosecuting his archaeological researches
At home again, when the Mexican
war broke out, he asked to be removed
from the Philadelphia Navy Yard to
the field of a more eongeniai service
but the government sent him to the
Coast of Africa. Hero he visited the
slave factories, from Cape Mount to the
river Bonny, and through the infamous
Da Souza, got access to the baracoons of
Dahomey, and contracted, besides, the
Coast Fever, from the effects of which
he has never entirely recovered.
From Africa he returned before the
close of the Mexican war, and believing
that his constitution was broken. and
his health rapidly going, he called upon
President Polk, and demanded an op-
portunity for service that might crowd
the little remnant of his life with achieve
ments in keeping with his ambition the
President, just then embarrassed by a
temporary non intercourse with General
Scott, charged the Doctor with despatch
es to the General, of great moment and
urgency, which must be carried through
a region occupied by the enemy. This
embassy was marked by an adventure
so romantic, and so illustrative of the
character of the man, that We are tempt
ed to detail it.
On his way to the Gulf be secured a
horse in Kentucky, such as knight err
rant would have chosen for the cempan-
ion and sharer for his adventures
Landed at Vera Cruz, he asked for an
escort to convey him to the capitol, but
the officer in command had no troops to
spare-he must wait, or he must accept
instead, band of rufian Mexicans, call
ed the Spy Company, who had taken to
the business of treason and trickery for
. livelihood. He accepted them, and
went forward. Near Puebla his troops
encountered a body of Mexieans escort
ing number Of distinguished officers to
oriznba, among whom were Major Gen.
ernl Gaona, Governor of Puebla his
son, Macmillan, and General Torejon,
who commanded the brilliant charge of
horse at Buena Vista. The surprise
was mutual, but the Spy Company had
the advantage of the ground. At the
first instant Of. the discovery, and before
the rascals fully comprebended,thsir in.