berties perpetual, by promoting literary establishments. He was one of the foremost on laying the foundation of the American academy of arts and sciences, and was chosen its first vice-president in the year 1780. /

For a number of years he was a fellow of Harvard college, and in 1774, was chosen its president. His diploma of Doctor in Divinity was presented by the university of Edinburgh. After a ministry of near thirty-seven years, he died December 29, 1783. In his last illness he expressed his great satisfaction in seeing his country in peace, and in the possession of freedom and independence, and his hopes, that the virtue and public spirit of his countrymen, would prove to the world, that they were not unworthy of these inestimable blessings.)

COTTON, JOHN, an eminent divine, was born in Derby, England, December 4, 1585. At the age of thirteen, he was admitted a member of Trinity college, Cambridge, and afterwards removed to Emanuel college, where he obtained a fellowship. He soon acquired a high reputation for scholarship, and was appointed head lecturer in the college. In 1612, he was appointed a minister of Boston, in Lincolnshire.

Mr. Cotton, following the steps of many worthies, left his own country, anxious to secure to himself the peaceable enjoyment of the rights of conscience, though in a wilderness. He arrived in this country in company with Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone, September 4, 1633; and settled himself in Boston as teacher of the church, in connexion with Rev. Mr. Wilson, and acquired great celebrity; and so extensive was his usefulness, that he has been called the patriarch of New-England. Mr. Cotton began the Sabbath on Saturday even

ing. He gave religious instruction, read the scriptures, and then retired into his study. The Sabbath he spent either in his study, or in the pulpit. He was a very accomplished preacher, and sustained a high reputation for learning. He was a critic in Greek, and with Hebrew he was so well, acquainted, that he could discourse in it; the Latin he wrote with great elegance. Uniting to conspicuous talents, and a profound judgment, the candour and mildness enjoined in the gospel, and the warmth of pious feeling, his instructions fell with the gentleness of the dew, and insinuated themselves imperceptibly into the mind. His library was large, and he had well studied the fathers and schoolmen, but he preferred Calvin to them all.

In 1652, he was invited to England with Mr. Hooker and Mr. Davenport, to assist in the assembly of divines at Westminster; and was on the point of accepting, when he was seized with an inflammation of the lungs, which terminated his valuable life, December 23, 1652.

Mr. Cotton's publications were numerous. The most celebrated are the works, which he published in the controversy with Roger Williams; the pouring out of the seven vials; an exposition of Ecclesiastes, 1654; sermons on the first epistle of John, folio; an exposition of the Canticles, &c.

. CUSHING, THOMAS, LL. D. a distinguished patriot, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, about the year 1725, and was graduated at Harvard college, in 1744. In early life he was called to respectable public offices. Having been chosen representative of Boston, in the general court, his patriotism and talents soon procured him the appointment of speaker, a place, which his father, who

died in 1746, had occupied with great reputation. He continued to fill this station, till he was chosen one of the members of the first congress, which convened at Philadelphia, in September, 1774.

In 1779, he declined a re-election to congress, and after the adoption of the state constitution, was appointed lieutenant-governor, in which office he remained until his death, which happened in February, 1788.)

He was from youth a professor of religion; the motives of the gospel governed him through life; and at the hour of his departure from the world, its sublime doctrines and its promises gave him support. He was a man of abilities; a distinguished patriot; a friend of learning; and scrupulously devoted his time to the public good.

There was a time, when he was considered in Great Britain as the leader of the whigs in this country. The reason of his being known so much in that country was, that his name was signed to all the public papers, as speaker of the house. He had, however, less political zeal than Otis, Adams, or Hancock.

CRAWFORD, WILLIAM H. a distinguished statesman, was born in Virginia, about the year 1770. At the age of fourteen, he emigrated with his parents to Georgia. For several years, Mr. Crawford was engaged in agricultural pursuits, during which time, his towering genius made a gradual advancement to the temple of science and of knowledge, under the private tuition of Mr. Waddell, who now presides over the university of Georgia. On completing his academic course, Mr. Crawford took charge of the academy in Augusta; and employed the time not required in the seminary, in prosecuting a course of legal study,

which, by the time he had arrived to the age of thirty, had fitted him for the practice of the law.

Soon after his admission to the bar, he was one of the three gentlemen appointed to prepare a digest of the laws of the state, the labour of which was principally borne by him: and the work, completed in a masterly manner, was received and published by authority of the legislature. His professional career now opened to him a wider field of emolument and reputation. The excellence of his understanding, and the superiority of his intellect, soon brought him into public life, where he displayed to advantage, those powers with which nature had so eminently gifted him.

He was now called to a seat in the legislature of his state, which he continued to fill for four successive years, with advantage to himself and his constituents.

In 1807, he was elected to the senate of the United States; and took his seat in that body, unknown to every member in it, and equally new to all the executive officers, having been in no way before connected with the administration of the federal government.

Pursuing an undeviating course in his politics, and attached to the democratic party; the unbending integrity of his character, and his powerful talents, soon marked him out as one of the most popular and prominent members of either house. He now became a common centre of attraction, and by his frankness and conciliatory manners, attached to him friends from both parties.

In the session of 1811 and '12, his zeal and talents in the debates of that interesting period, often brought him into conspicuous notice, and by his firm and manly conduct was considered the main stay of the administration in the senate.

On the resignation of Mr. Eustis, in 1812, he was invited to take charge of that office, but declined the honour.

In 1813, on the death of Mr. Barlow, he was appointed to succeed him as minister plenipotentiary to the court of France, to which he repaired without delay.

The catastrophe of the great campaign of 1813, in Europe, and the glorious termination of our war with England, superseded the investigations contemplated in the mission to France, and afforded Mr. Crawford an early opportunity to return home, in compliance with his own arrangements and stipulations at the time of his departure from Washington. He came home in the same vessel with his past friend, the lamented Bayard, and on his arrival took charge of the war department, to which he had been appointed in anticipation of his return. On the resignation of Mr. Dallas, he was transferred by president Madison to the treasury department, and has there continued to the present time.

In all these various situations, he has never failed to discover the same powers and energies of mind, and the same acuteness and depth of penetration.