Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, and German languages. In the latter he particularly took delight in perusing works of taste, criticism, and theology. His works are published in four volumes octavo.

LAURENS, HENRY, president of congress, and a distinguished patriot, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in the year 1724. The superintendence of his education was first given to Mr. Howe, and afterwards to Mr. Corbett; but of the nature of his studies, or the extent of his acquirements, we are not told. He was regularly bred to mercantile pursuits, and was remarkable through life for his peculiar observance of business. In whatever he was engaged, he was distinguished for his extraordinary punctuality. He rose early, and devoting the morning to the counting-house, he not unfrequently finished his concerns before others had left their beds. Industrious almost to an extreme himself, he demanded a corresponding attention and labour on the part of those in his employ.

In the year 1771, on the death of his amiable wife, he relinquished business, and visited Europe, principally for the purpose of superintending the education of his sons.

He took an early part in opposing the arbitrary claims of Great Britain, and was one of the thirtynine native Americans, who endeavoured by their petition to prevent the British parliament from passing the Boston port bill.

Every exertion on the part of the colonies proving fruitless, he hastened home, with a determination to take part with his countrymen against Great Britain. The circumstance of his leaving England at this important crisis, expressly to defend the cause of independence, served to confirm in the highest degree that unbounded confidence in his fidelity and patriotism, for which his friends, through the whole course of his career, had such an ample

cause to entertain.

On his arrival in this country, no attentions were withheld which it was possible to bestow.

When the provincial congress of Carolina met in June, 1775, he was appointed its president, in which capacity, he drew up a form of association, to be signed by all the friends of liberty, which indicated a most determined spirit.

On the establishment of a regular constitution in South Carolina, in 1776, he was elected a member of congress. On the resignation of president Hancock, he was appointed the president of that august body.

In 1780, he was appointed a minister plenipotentiary to Holland to solicit a loan, and to negotiate a treaty. On his passage to that country, he was captured by a British vessel, and sent to England. He was there imprisoned in the tower of London, on the 6th October, as a state prisoner, upon a charge of high treason. He was confined more than a year, and treated with great severity; being denied for the most part all intercourse with his friends, and forbidden the use of pen and ink.

Towards the close of the year 1781, his sufferings, which had by that time become well known, excited the utmost sympathy for himself, but kindled the warmest indignation against the authors of his cruel confinement. Every exertion to draw concessions from this inflexible patriot having proved more than useless, the ministry resolved upon his releasement. As soon as his discharge was known, he received from congress a commission, appointing him one of their ministers for negotiating a peace with Great-Britain.

In conjunction with Dr. Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams, he signed the preliminaries of peace on the 30th November, 1782, and a short time after he returned to South Carolina. Although he could have commanded any office in the gift of his state, he declined every honour which was urged upon him by his countrymen, preferring to spend the re

mainder of his days in rural retirement and domestic enjoyment.

He expired on the 8th December, 1792. He directed his son to burn his body on the third day, as the sole condition of inheriting an estate of £60,000 sterling.

LINN, JOHN BLAIR, DD. a poet, and an eminent divine, was born in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1777. He early evinced a strong attachment to books. At the age of thirteen he entered Columbia college, and graduated at the age of eighteen. During the four years which he passed at college, the fine writers of the age, particularly the poets, became his darling study.

On leaving college, he commenced the study of the law under the direction of general Alexander Hamilton, but he did not apply himself with much assiduity to his new pursuit.

The splendid visions of Shakspeare and Tasso were more attractive. He regarded the legal science every day with new indifference, and at the close of the first year relinquished the profession altogether. After much deliberation, he determinIed to devote his future life to the service of the church.

He now retired to Schenectady, and put himself under the care of Dr. Romeyn, a professor of theology.

In the year 1798, he was licensed to preach by the classis of Albany. Amidst some exuberances of style and sentiment, the excellence of his performances excited lively expectations of his future distinction.

In the year 1799, he accepted a call from the first Presbyterian church at Philadelphia, and was ordained as colleague with the Rev. John Ewing.

His health, which had always been delicate, from this period began to decline; and his death, not a little accelerated by excessive application to study, and the duties of his office, happened on the 30th August, 1804.

As a preacher, few persons ever attained so great a popularity as he acquired before his twenty-third year. As a poet, he possesses consider

able merit.

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He published in 1801, "The Powers of Genius." In 1802, "A Controversy with Dr. Priestley," Miscellanies in prose and verse," and "Valerian.”

LEWIS, MERIWETHER, governor of Louisiana, was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, August 18, 1774, and from infancy was always distinguished for boldness and enterprise.

At the age of twenty-three he received the appointment of captain in the regular army, and in the year 1792, he was selected by president Jefferson, in conjunction with Mr. Michaux, to explore the country of the Missouri; unfortunately, however, the expedition was abandoned by the recall of Mr. Michaux.

In 1803, congress, at the recommendation of president Jefferson, voted a sum of money for exploring the Missouri to its source, to cross the highlands, and follow the best water communication which offered itself from thence to the Pacific

ocean.

Captain Lewis, who was at this time intimately known to president Jefferson, for courage and perseverance in whatever he undertook, for an honest, liberal, and sound understanding, and an intimate knowledge of the Indian character, their customs, and principles, and for a fidelity to truth so scrupulous, that whatever he should report would be as