Distinguished by strength of intellect and upright intentions, he was wise in the contrivance, and enterprising and persevering in the execution of plans of public utility. In private life he was dignified, but courteous, a pleasing and instructive companion, affectionate in his domestic relations, and just in all his dealings.

TRUMBULL, JOHN, LL. D. a distinguished poet, was born at Watertown, Connecticut, April 24, 1750. At the age of thirteen, he entered Yale college, and graduated in 1767. Being now master of his own time, he devoted himself chiefly to polite literature; reading all the Greek and Latin classics, especially the poets and orators. At this period he commenced an acquaintance with Barlow, Dwight, and Humphreys, an intimacy which terminated only in death.

In 1769, they began the publication of a series of essays in the manner of the Spectator, in the Gazette, printed at Boston, and afterwards in the newspapers printed at New-Haven.

In 1772, he published the first part of a poem, which he entitled, the Progress of Dullness, designed to expose the absurd methods of education, which then prevailed: he added a second and third part in the course of the next year.

In 1773, he went to Boston and commenced the study of the law in the office of John Adams, Esq. since president of the United States. The contest between Great Britain and the colonies approached rapidly towards a crisis. With all the ardour in favour of liberty which characterizes a youthful politician, he entered the arena with the leaders of the revolution, and occasionally contributed political essays to the public gazettes.

The year 1775 was a period of terror and dismay. The war had commenced by the battle at Lexington. Unconditional submission, or a total rejection of the authority of the crown, presented the only alternative. Every exertion was therefore made by the friends of American liberty, to inspire confidence in our cause, to crush the efforts of the

tory party, and to prepare the public mind for the declaration of independence. With these views at the solicitation of some of his friends in congress, he wrote the first part of the poem of McFingal, which was immediately published at Philadelphia, where congress was then assembled.

It was not, however, until the close of the year 1782, that he found time to complete this poem, and to publish it entire as it now appears.

After the adoption of the federal constitution, Mr. Trumbull was first called forth to act in a public capacity. From that period he continued to be employed in public life, till the year 1801, when he was appointed judge of the superior court of Connecticut.

In 1808, he received from the legislature the additional appointment of a judge of the supreme court of errors.

His poetical works have been published in two volumes octavo, 1820.

TAPPAN, DAVID, DD. professor of divinity in Cambridge university, was born at Manchester, Massachusetts, April 21, 1752. In the year 1771, he received the honours of the university. After pursuing the study of divinity for three years, he commenced preaching, and was ordained minister of the third church in Newbury, in April, 1774.

In this place he continued about eighteen years. In June, 1792, he was elected professor of divinity in Cambridge university. When he was introduced into this office, the students of the university were uncommonly dissolute. For some time they had received no regular instruction in theology, and the tide of opinion began to run in the channel of infidelity. But the lectures of Dr. Tappan, which combined entertainment with information;

which were profound and yet prophetic; elegant in style and conclusive in argument, and which came warm from a pious heart, soon checked the progress of profanity, and put open irreligion to shame.

After a short sickness, he died August 27, 1803,. and was succeeded in the professorship by the Rev. Dr. Ware.

Dr. Tappan possessed much activity and vigour of mind, fertility of invention, and force of imagination. His readiness of conception and command of language enabled him both in speaking and writing to express what he thought and felt with propriety, perspicuity, and force.

Since his death two volumes have been published from his manuscripts, the one of sermons, and the other entitled Lectures on Jewish Antiquities, 8vo, 1807.

TRUMBULL, JONATHAN, a distinguished patriot and governor of Connecticut, was born at Lebanon in 1710, and was graduated at Harvard college in 1727. He early discovered fine talents, and for some time studied divinity. He afterwards turned his attention to jurisprudence, and soon became an eminent civilian. He was chosen governor in 1769, and was annually elected till 1783, when he resigned, having been occupied for fifty years, without interruption, in public employments, and having rendered during eight years war the most important services to his country. No man ever loved his country more. He showed himself the honest and unshaken patriot, the wise and able magistrate. Having seen the termination of the contest in the establishment of the independence of America, he withdrew from public labours, that he might devote himself to the concerns

of religion, and to a better preparation for his future existence. He died August 17, 1785, in the seventy-fifth year of his age.

General Washington, in a letter of condolence on his death, to one of his sons, wrote thus: "Under this loss, however, great as your pangs may have been at the first shock, you have every thing to console you. A long and well-spent life in the service of his country placed governor Trumbull among the first of patriots; in the social duties he yielded to none; and his lamp from the common course of nature being nearly extinguished, worn down with age and cares, but retaining his mental faculties in perfection, are blessings which attend rarely his advanced life All these combining, have secured to his memory universal respect here, and no doubt, increasing happiness hereafter."

Governor Trumbull made a great collection of historical papers, manuscripts, &c. which have been presented to the Massachusetts Historical Society.

THORNTON, MATTHEW, one of the signers of the declaration of independence, was born in Ireland, about the year 1714.

Two or three years subsequent to his birth, his father emigrated to this country with his family, and settled in the district of Maine. In a few years he removed to Massachusetts, where he conferred the benefits of an academical education upon his son, whom he designed for one of the learned professions. He accordingly commenced and prosecuted his medical studies at Leicester, Massachusetts, and after the usual preparatory course, embarked in the practice of medicine in Londonderry, New-Hampshire. Here he soon acquired considerable reputation as a physician and sur