So far refreshed him as to enable him to walk. He then endeavoured to return by the route in which the army had advanced. Incredible as it may appear, he reached Fort Cumberland, on the Potomac, a distance of more than a hundred miles, through a trackless wild, with no other nutriment than a rattlesnake, which he adventitiously killed and threw over his shoulder. After the peace of 1763, the doctor settled and married in America, but in what year we are not informed. In him were united in a very uncommon manner the qualities of the gentleman, the scholar, the soldier, the statesman, the husband, the father, and the friend. His worth was so generally known and admired, that at the commencement of the American revolution, he was honoured with a brigadier-general's commission, and thus he exchanged the peaceful scenes of private life for the tumultuous field of slaughter and carnage. His brigade formed a part of the left column of Washington's army, at the capture of the Hessians in Trenton, New-Jersey, in December, 1776. In this adventure of brilliant achievement, he accompanied the commander-in-chief, who conducted the left wing in person. Finding the hazardous situation of his army in its position, and the advance of the British, to save Philadelphia, Washington determined to throw himself in the rear of the enemy and withdraw his attention to other objects. To deceive the enemy, who meditated an attack the next morning, he left his fires burning, and withdrew his forces towards Princeton, before day-light on the morning of the 2d of January, 1777. The enemy did not discover that the Americans had decamped, till they had prepared to execute the contemplated attack.

On the morning of the 3d was the memorable engagement, which terminated General Mercer's life in a few days thereafter. He commenced the engagement with his column, consisting of not more than three hundred and fifty men, near Stony-brook. On hearing the firing, General Washington led on the Pennsylvania militia to the support of Mercer, with two pieces of artillery. The force engaged against him was the British 17th regiment, commanded by Colonel Mawhood. After the third fire,

in consequence of a charge made by the British, Mercer's corps fled in disorder. He was dismounted, and exerted himself in endeavouring to rally them, but while he was thus engaged, he was thrown into the rear, and being unable to escape, he turned about and surrendered. He was, however, forthwith knocked down by the sanguinary foe, and received thirteen thrusts of the bayonet. Feigning himself dead, the enemy left him, the fortune of the day being against them. He was then borne off to a neighbouring house, where he expired on the 12th. His body was conveyed to Philadelphia and interred with military honours. The American loss, in this action, did not exceed thirty, fourteen of whom were buried on the field of battle.

In the year 1793, the Congress of the United States made a provision for the education of Hugh Mercer, his youngest son.

General Wilkinson, his companion in arms on that and the preceding exploit at Trenton, in his memoirs, which sheds more light on the biography of General Mercer, than any work we have seen, thus notices the worth of that gallant officer: "But in General Mercer we lost a chief, who for education, experience, talents, disposition, integrity, and patriotism, was second to no man but the commander-in-chief, and was qualified to fill the highest trusts of the country."

General Wilkinson, in the same work, observes, that "the evening of January 1, was spent with General St. Clair, by several officers, of whom Mercer was one, who in conversation made some remarks disapproving the appointment of Captain William Washington to a majority in the horse, which was not relished by the company; he thus explained himself:

"We are not engaged in a war of ambition; if it had been so I should never have accepted a commission under a man (Patrick Henry) who had never seen a day's service; we serve not for ourselves, but for our country: and every man should be content to fill the place in which he can be most useful. I know Washington to be a good captain of infantry, but I know not what sort of a major

of horse he may make; and I have seen good captains make indifferent majors: for my own part, my views in this contest are confined to a single object, that is, the success of the cause, and God can witness how cheerfully I would lay down my life to secure it."

Little did he then expect that a few fleeting moments would have sealed the compact.

His death was universally regretted, and was a most serious loss to his country, his family, and friends.

CHARLES MORRIS.

THE memoirs of this gentleman, who has passed with unspotted honour from the station of midshipman to that of Post-Captain-who is now one of the navy commissioners-the brief narrative of whose actions exhibit traits well worthy of preservation-will not be given in this work. It had been prepared for the press, with some few exceptions, to supply which, a letter of request had been written to the post-master at Providence, R. I. Information was given by that gentleman, that the letter was forwarded to Captain Morris. The latter gentleman forwarded a letter to the editor, from which the following is an extract, and it is offered as an apology for omitting the memoir. The omission of the sketch already prepared, is much to be regretted, but the request of Captain Morris is of paramount obligation.

"Washington, 7th October, 1833 “ Having always been averse to the publication of any thing in the shape of a memoir, of my own acts, during my life, I have always declined giving any aid, and whenever reference has been made to me, have requested that it should not be attempted.-I beg leave to make the same request of you, and am, Sir, your obedient servant,

"C. MORRIS."

In closing these biographical sketches, the editor takes liberty to remark, that the priority of place has in no instance been the consequence of a supposed priority of claim on the score of merit. The work was already in the hands of the printer, ere a fourth part of it had passed under the hand of the editor, or the whole of the materials from which it has been gathered were within his reach. Circumscribed in time, and labouring under embarrassments which few can duly appreciate, he has at length produced a book, inferior indeed to his ambition, but perhaps worthy all the patronage which may fall to its share.

That the deeds of other heroes, whose names are inscribed on the roll of fame, are here omitted, is but to say, that though a large book has been produced, a larger still is needed. In this, matter sufficient to fill several volumes, has been condensed into one. If other editors, aiming at fame or pelf, be so disposed, other volumes may follow, and the series be completed by another hand. Perfectly indifferent as to the name which may be obtained by this species of writing, I resign the pen in this department of literature, to those who shall be abler, or more disposed to wield it.

With one general remark, I now take leave of the reader. If all who have acted the part of heroes, could be brought to the front ground, and their deeds of "noble daring" recorded on the historic page, the officers under whose command they have acted would not wholly engross the pen, the press, and the public attention.