CHAPTER XIII.

Resources of the United States - Ogilvie's Orations - Stimulus Portrait - Lewis and Clarke's Expedition-Cheeves - SlaveEuropean Books - Missions - Introductions-Meridian-Mathematical Prodigy-Chronic Complaints-Maternal Advice-Monument for Washington - History of Georgia — Cunningham Correspondence-Libeda - Natural History-Seal-Death of Buckminster-Remarks on S. Adams, J. Otis and J. HancockMitchell's Account of Fishes-Lights for the Enemy-Athenæums in Philadelphia and Portland.

July 18. From Samuel Ewing of Philadelphia. "My friend, Robert Hare, (late Professor of Chemistry,) has just published a pamphlet on the power and resources of the United States. He has not given his name to the public. Whatever may be the opinion generally adopted of the merits of this production, the perusal of it will satisfy you, that it is written by a man who thinks for himself and borrows little from others."

July 26. From James Ogilvie at Portsmouth. "I seize, my dear sir, the earliest opportunity to inform you that the oration I propose to deliver on the Athenæum is finished. It occupies about fifty pages, and will require from an hour and fifteen to an hour and twenty minutes in the delivery. have devoted twelve days to the composition of it, with assiduity and ardor. The subject is so rich

I

and diversified, that the principal difficulty I have encountered, has been in the judicious choice and striking disposition of the materials which persevering reflection has supplied. I have never attempted to prepare myself for any rhetorical exhibition with a deeper interest, or with so genuine and unflagging an enthusiasm. The oration is unquestionably the best I am able to write, and unless my elocution is enfeebled by one of those unaccountable and most afflicting visitations of morbid depression to which I am unhappily liable, will produce a more powerful impression than any effusion of this sort I have ever pronounced.

"I did not even attempt to reflect, much less to commit my reflections to paper upon this subject, until I began to feel an entire renovation of physical and intellectual energy. The abrupt disuse of a stimulus (confessedly the most potent, which the the materia medica can furnish) incapacitated me for several weeks for intense thinking or energetic exertion. At this time, although my health is languid, the tone of my nerve, the activity and vigor of my faculties, are perfectly restored.

"Some considerable time will probably elapse before I can revisit Boston. The interval will be devoted almost exclusively to the revision and enlargement of the oration I have previously delivered, and to the composition of others on subjects far more interesting. I have already printed a second oration on duelling, in which I have endeavored to deduce from the admitted and fundamental principles of religion and morality a conclusive answer

to every plausible argument that has been urged in vindication of this most barbarous and hateful custom.

"It is not improbable, that previous to my departure from this place and during my visit to Salem, I may deliver the principal part of my oration on the Atheneum, under the designation of a discourse on the Utility of Public Libraries,' in order that I may be better prepared to pronounce the oration in Boston with effect. Have the goodness to present my kind regards to Mr. Buckminster, and to accept assurance of my sincere esteem."

August 15. From William Crafts of Charleston, S. C. "I enclose you the oration delivered by Mr. Cheeves, attorney general of the State and candidate for a seat in the next Congress. He stands at the head of the democrats in this country, and is regarded as the dernier resort of their desponding forces. He has raised himself to his present station entirely by his own exertions, having been wholly unassisted by education in his younger years."

October. From Mr. Shaw's mother. "I shall be in town on Monday to attend Mr. Stuart. I feel an anxiety respecting the price. Your affection for me may exceed the bounds of your circumstances. Mr. Stuart was very polite, appeared sensible and entertaining. I have no ambition but that it [portrait] should be expressive of my benevolence to creation and my affection for my dear children. These are sentiments which ever glow in my bosom and I hope illumine my countenance. But I felt so disagreeably to sit down to be looked at, and to

look up to a stranger's face, that I fear little of my true lineaments will be seen."

Oct. 25. Committed to Mr. Shaw, apparently for information, is a letter from Nicholas Biddle of Philadelphia to Col. George Gibbs, the mineralogist, of Boston. "The busiest man in this part of the country is myself. About five or six months ago, I consented very reluctantly to write the history of Lewis and Clarke's expedition to the Pacific. The work will be executed jointly by Doctor Barton and myself. As the chief labor falls on myself, I have been occupied most unremittingly with volumes of manuscript journals and Indian names of immeasurable length, till I am almost as dull and wild as the veriest savage on the Missouri. I begin to see the end of my journey; but the prospect is still distant, and I am almost frighted at what even now remains of the composition, correction and publication of two octavo volumes. My part, however, will be finished before the maps, etc. will be completed, though I am unable to say when the whole will be published. This occupation of author, added to my usual profession, has received a still further increase; for my discerning fellow-citizens have lately made me a legislator, so that I shall pass the greater part of the winter at Lancaster, engaged in taking care of the commonwealth, and quarreling with the Germans about turnpike roads and other grave matters. On the subject of legislating, by the way, I should like some information." He then proceeds to inquire about our militia and schools.

He adds, "While I was in Virginia, I saw

Mr. Munroe, who is calmly sitting down to the cultivation of tobacco, near Charlottesville. His estate is very good, but had been out of order during his absence. However, he has received another handsome estate, left to him by an uncle."

Nov. 4. Mr. Shaw is chosen a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Nov. 5. John Lathrop, Jr., writes to Mr. Shaw to assist and encourage his plan to procure "an apparatus for experiments in a course of lectures on natural philosophy" in Boston.

Nov. 10. From Hugh McCall of Savannah, Ga. "I send you the Life of General James Jackson of Georgia." He mentions that the planters on the sea coast had lost three-fourths of their crops by a gale in September. He desires that a female slave, who had left his family when he was on a visit to Boston, might be restored to them.

Nov. 13. William S. Shaw to Rev. Thaddeus M. Harris. "In order to lessen your labor and facilitate your inquiries as much as possible, relative to books on America, for the Boston Athenæum, I have taken the trouble to look over Lackington's catalogue for 1808-9, and Priestly's for 1810, and now do myself the honor to transmit to you a list of every book which I could find, with the numbers affixed in the respective catalogues, relative to this great object; one copy of each book I hope you will be able to procure. The same books are sometimes repeated in the same catalogue, and may be often found in both, but I chose to copy them as they were found in the catalogues, so that out of