ple, and make the acquaintance of every species of musty, forgotten newspaper or pamphlet, if he can thereby secure a picturesque page for his narrative. The life of General Jackson, as indeed the lives of many others of our worthies whose names are better known than their acts, requires precisely this kind of loving toil. There is no lack of patient workers in our historical field; but the man of facts is not always the man of quickness and sagacity, and of lively perceptions. He is too apt to present his facts in a very dry manner. Mr. Parton has tact as well as industry.

be overrated, and Mr. Moore presents the case against Lee in undoubtedly a very strong form, clothed in language of elegance and dignity, free from all that rhetorical ornament so often employed to cover the weak points of a system of attack or defence. The question of Lee's treachery, we will not say treason, is now presented, and must be met. If we miss any thing in the case, it is evidence of the authenticity and history of the manuscript, or an array of circumstances to justify the presumption of authenticity. Admitting this, what is the amount of Lee's advice? Can it be supposed a plan to divert Howe from Philadelphia and send him to the On the completion of his Life of Jackson, of Chesapeake, so as to weaken the English influ- which we have here the first instalment, it will ence in southern New York, and so enfeeble the be time enough to speak of his judgment of charmoral influence of Burgoyne's invasion? If he acter. The besetting sin of easy or fast writing contributed to send the English commander off, is apt to be partisan or indiscriminate eulogy. and thus did ruin Burgoyne, surely Lee's friends Yet we have known overcharged biographies, -if any he have-may claim the plan as a mas-like "Wirt's Patrick Henry," keep their ground, terpiece of skill, and the French alliance as due to when more sober, perhaps more truthful, works Lee. The question will, we trust, not be allowed were forgotten. The public, it must be confessed, to rest, and that all that can be said in behalf of demand zeal; they relish a strong picture; they Lee be as well and ingeniously pleaded, as the like a biographer to be in earnest. Such admirers charge against him, and especially that his cor- will have no fault to find with Mr. Parton. His respondence be collected, as far as possible, and book on Jackson-it is something more than a given to the public. Mr. Moore announces fur- mere life-is eminently picturesque and readable ther papers like the present; and also the "Me- throughout. He surrounds his figures with moirs and Correspondence of Lee." From his pleasing accessories, and draws upon every colunhonored grave the strange soldier of fortune lateral source of interest. The result is a most seems to ask a suspension of judgment from the complete account of the rough and cruel westpublic, till his case is presented; and to implore ern scenes of Jackson's early career, the narrathat the spot where the tenement of his restless tive in the present volume reaching to the eve of mind moulders, though never marked with a the battle of New Orleans. The story runs on slab to bear even his name without a word of in popular style, without interruption from footeulogy, be not now made an object of public de- notes; but there is a very valuable "List of Pubtestation as the grave of a traitor. lications containing information respecting Andrew Jackson, his Times and Contemporaries," prefixed, which is the catalogue of no inconsiderable library. To each title there is added a brief comment explanatory of the work and its value —a service to American historical literature for which Mr. Parton is to be cordially thanked.

In view of all this we commend Mr. Moore's work as the most valuable contribution to our Revolutionary history that has appeared for many a day, and assure our readers that the perusal of its elegant and eloquent pages cannot but repay the few hours that it will require.

The Life of Andrew Jackson; in three volumes.
By James Parton. Vol. i. New York: Ma-
son and Brothers. 8vo., 636 pp.
MR. PARTON, known in these historical pur-
suits by his "Life of Aaron Burr," and a contem-
porary biography, full of research and interesting
inatter, of Horace Greeley, brings to his books
the practised skill of an accomplished writer, and
much of that literary zeal which characterizes
the labors of the historian Carlyle. No amount
of investigation appears to him too great where
a good anecdote or a bit of choice description
may be obtained by the search. He will travel
far dig deep, seek the society of all sorts of peo-

Annals of Luzerne County (Pennsylvania); a record of interesting events, traditions, and anecdotes. From the first settlement of Wyoming to 1860. By Stewart Pearce. Illustrated with a map and engravings. Philadelphia: Lippincott. 1860. 8vo., 554 pp.

ALTHOUGH the history of Wyoming has been given in various shapes, this is a most useful volume of local history. The arrangement is good, and the compilation of facts apparently accurate. Some points in the Indian history seem to us doubtful, but these are here unimportant and incidental. One feature in the book pleases us, and that is the portion devoted to the litera

this he has been unexpectedly successful, and the results of his labor will greatly enrich the volume. This work will give a just position to one connected with some of the most important events in the history of our country, and will be a valuable contribution to this department of literature. Before closing up his work, Mr. Stone is anxious to obtain such incidents as may be treasured in the memory of the aged, or have come down as authentic traditions. Persons in possession of such, or having letters or other manuscripts from the pen of Dr. C., will render a service by sending them to him. The manuscripts, after exainination, will be safely returned to their owners.

W. NOEL SAINSBURY, Esq., of the British State Paper Office, London, and editor of "Original Papers relating to Rubens," is now engaged in preparing for publication a Calendar of all the papers in that office relating to the early history of America and the British colonies, to be styled the "Colonial Series" of State Paper Calendars. Each volume is to have an elaborate index. The work will be of great service to students of American history, if properly prepared; and, from what we know of Mr. Sainsbury, we think it will be.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.- "The citizens of Marlborough, Mass.," says the Boston Transcript, "have made arrangements for celebrating the 200th anniversary of the incorporation of the town in June next. An historical address will be delivered by Hon. Charles Hudson, of Lexington, Vice-President of the New England HistoricGenealogical Society. The town was incorporated by the Massachusetts General Court, May 31, 1660, old style-which, reduced to new style, is June 10. As the latter date falls on Sunday this year, the celebration will take place on Monday, June 11th."

which the ancient Rehoboth has been the nursing mother, should hold a friendly, religious, and patriotic gathering at the original Congregational Church thereof, at Seekonk, on July 4, 1860, at 10 o'clock, A. M., for the purpose of commemorating the origin and historic scenes of the ancient Rehoboth (now Seekonk), and of passing in review the life and character of its original founder, and of paying respect to the ever-memorable birthday of our common country.

An edition of Irvingiana on large paper, to correspond with the large paper copies of Irving's Washington, is in press. Only one hundred and five copies will be printed, and early application will be necessary to secure one.

"THE Pulpit of the Revolution; or, the Political Sermons of the Era of 1776, with an Introduction, Biographical Sketches of the Preachers, and Historical Notes," and a similar work, entitled "The Patriot Preachers," edited by Frank Moore, are in an advanced state of preparation, and will soon be published. They will be an important addition to American historical literature.

THE geography of this continent continues to interest explorers and readers in Europe. Messrs. Longman announce in their list of novelties, two books on the subject—"Narrative of the Assiniboine and Saskatchewan Exploring Expedition," by Henry J. Hind, M. A., with colored maps and plates; and "Seven years' Residence on the Great Deserts of North America," by the Abbé Domenec, with a map and sixty illustrations.

THE interest in Numismatics continues unabated. At the sale of Mr. W. L. Bramhall's collection in March, a flying eagle dollar sold for $8; Cents of 1793, $5 25; 1799, $11 25; 1804, $3 50; 1809, $1 50, and 1813, $1 25; a Massachusetts Pine Tree Threepence of date A VERY commendable activity in historical pur- 1652, one of the first of the American Colonial suits is now manifesting itself in Vermont. A coinage, brought $6 75; a Silver Proof RepubliHistory of Salisbury, by John M. Weeks, has just can Medalet sold for $2 25; a dime of 1822, sold been published. A history of the Missisco Valley, for $2 90; a quarter-dollar, 1796-the first year's by Samuel Sumner, is now in press, under the au- coinage of this denomination-$1 62; a proof spices of the Orleans County Historical Society. flying-eagle dollar, 1836, $9; cents of 1793, the vaRev. Bernice D. Ames has nearly ready for pub-rious types, $1 87 to $4 50 each; and 1803, 1817, lication a history of Charlotte. A history of Bradford, by the Rev. Silas McKean, is in active preparation. The town of Burlington voted, at its annual meeting, in March, that measures be taken for having a history of the town prepared, at an expense not exceeding five hundred dollars. P. H. W.

It has been proposed that the religious societies and citizens of Seekonk, and the seven towns of

1818, and 1819, $2 to $3 each; I. Chalmers Annapolis shilling of 1788, $7 50; the erroneously styled Louisiana coppers, 1722 and 1767, $4 50.

DURING the present month Messrs. Bangs, Merwin & Co. will sell, in New York, the library of the late W. W. Turner, especially rich in works in and upon the languages of America and Asia, including in the latter, Hebrew, Sanscrit, Persian, Hindostanee, Chinese, and Japanese.

THE

HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.

VOL. IV.]

General Department.

JUNE, 1860.

DAVID HOSACK, M. D., LL. D., F. R. S.,

FOURTH PRESIDENT OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF
NEW YORK.

BY DR. FRANCIS.

[No. 6.

Philadelphia, whose school had already acquired distinction from the talents and skill of Shippen, Rush, and Kuhn, and here he received the degree of doctor of medicine, 1791, having defended his inaugural thesis on Cholera Morbus, in which he had adopted the theoretical opinions of Dr. Kuhn. At the particular recommendation of Dr. Rush, Dr. Hosack commenced the practice of physic in Alexandria, Virginia; and, though his success was sufficiently flattering, from the countenance he received from many influential individuals, after somewhat more than a year's

THIS distinguished American physician and author, was a native of the city of New York, and born on the 31st of August, 1769. His father, Alexander Hosack, was by birth a Scotch-trial he returned to his native New York. Many man, born at Elgin, in Murrayshire, and came to this country with Lord Jeffery Amherst, upon the siege of Louisburg, on the 29th of August, 1756; his mother was Jane, a daughter of Thomas Arden, and was born on the 2d of March, 1743. David, their first child, after receiving his preliminary instruction in the city of his birth, was sent to the grammar-school of the late Dr. McWhorter, of Newark, New Jersey, where, after pursuing for some time, the study of the Latin and Greek languages, he was removed to the academy of the late Dr. Peter Wilson, at Hackensack, by whom he was entered at Columbia College, New York, in 1786. Here he remained somewhat over two years, when he proceeded to Princeton College, then under the government of the renowned Witherspoon, and here he received his baccalaureate honor in 1789.

circumstances favorable to his professional advancement now presented themselves. The associates of his former studies were here; he knew personally many of the inhabitants, and in all respects a wider field of active labor was open to him. He early connected himself with the benevolent and humane societies, and printed a popular tract on the subject of Suspended Animation. He, however, found himself surrounded by medical worthies, who had enlarged their stores of scientific medicine at the schools abroad, and reluctant even to conjecture that others of his calling were fortified with ampler wisdom than himself to prosecute the healing art, he again determined upon another movement, and solicited of his parents permission to visit the institutions of Europe, for still more enlarged opportunities in professional knowledge. His reasonable demands were grantWhile in attendance in the freshman and soph-ed; he set out for Edinburgh, as the great seat of omore classes in Columbia College, he was also medical, philosophical, and chirurgical science. engaged in the study of medicine and surgery The glory of the school of Edinburgh was now at with the distinguished Dr. Richard Bayley, so its height; it had indeed, lost Cullen, by death, well remembered for his efforts to organize the but the renown of that mighty teacher still shed quarantine establishment for the port of New its influence, and an efficient substitute had been York At Princeton his medical studies were found in his successor, James Gregory: to Gregnecessarily suspended; but he promptly resumed ory were added Black, Duncan, Hope, Monro, them upon his graduation in the school of arts, secundus, and Hamilton. The devotion of the and profiting of the means which the place of his young American, we have the strongest proofs to birth afforded, he attended the lectures of Ro-believe was kindled anew by the opportunities he inayne, Post, Bayley, and Bard, and the clinical now had at hand; and for improvement in eleknowledge imparted at the Old Alms-House by gant literature his letters of introduction made Moore, Kissam, and others. The medical faculty him acquainted with Dugald Stewart, Beattie, of Columbia College having been broken up by Henry McKenzie, and Principal Robertson. These the war of the Revolution, and no collegiate gratifying circumstances had their customary inorganization then existing to confer medical hon-fluences. He listened to the prelections of Stewors on its students, young Hosack repaired to art on Moral Philosophy and found easy access

to Beattie and Campbell of Mareschal College; and by these authorities he was introduced to that philosophical association so eminent for men of note in that day, and to an acquaintance with the poet Burns and Dr. Hugh Blair. He was wont to express the most favorable estimate of the benefits he derived through life, from his Scotch professors and the literary coterie of Edinburgh, and has written in Dennie's Port Folio an account of his delight with the amiable Dr. Beattie.

Sir Gilbert Blane, and Sir Joseph Banks. His acquisitions in natural history led to his admission as a fellow of the Linnean Society. He returned to New York in 1794, and resumed the practice of physic with increased zeal and confidence, and continued to occupy this field of practical action almost uninterruptedly until the close of his laborious life. In 1795 he was appointed professor of botany in Columbia College, and soon after published an instructive Syllabus of his lectures. Shortly after, he organized a plan of study We next find Dr. Hosack in London, about the and examinations for the benefit of private pnclose of 1793, a pupil in the study of anatomy pils, and at a subsequent period in his career still under that acute dissector and teacher, Dr. An- further enlarged his system, in conjunction with drew Marshall; in devotion to the practice of his partner in business; and he may be deemed physic and clinical medicine with Dr. George the first in New York who adopted an elaborate Pearson; with Curtis and James Edward Smith, and systematic arrangement for the benefit of on botany; with Abernethy and Sir James Earle, youth in preliminary knowledge, who contemon surgery; and with Schmeisser, a pupil of plated the profession of medicine as their vocaWerner, on inineralogy. Schmeisser's course of in- tion. The following year the learned Dr. Samuel struction was the first ever delivered in London on Bard, who had exercised the medical art nearly that subject. From this last-named teacher he half a century, desirous of retiring to his country obtained a cabinet of minerals, which he brought seat at Hyde Park, Dutchess County, on the home upon his return to his native land, as the Hudson, tendered to the rising physician certain first collection of that nature introduced in Amer-conditions of partnership, which being agreed ica; and to this cabinet of natural science he had upon, Dr. Hosack found his professional occupaadded a collection of the duplicate specimens of tion greatly enlarged and with commensurate plants from the herbarium of the president of the success: this connection lasted until 1800, when Linnæan Society of London. This interesting Dr. Bard withdrew entirely from the city. On collection of dried plants, gathered by Linnæus the death, by yellow fever, of Dr. William Pitt himself, now constitutes a part of the museum of Smith, the professorship of materia medica bethe Lyceum of Natural History of New York. coming vacant, the chair was assigned to Dr. While in London, Dr. Hosack wrote, for the Hosack, who held it, with that of botany, in ColumAnnals of Medicine, a paper on the communica-bia College, until 1807, when he accepted the detion of the virus of small-pox to the foetus in utero, partment of materia medica and of surgery in and an essay of a more eminently philosophical the newly created school established by the Recharacter on Vision, in which he was the advo-gents, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, uncate of the theory that the eye adapts itself to the der the presidency of Nicholas Romayne. In his view of objects, at different distances, by means letter to Dr. Stringham, he has recorded, at some of its external muscles. It obtained the approba-length, his reasons for this transfer of his feelings in tion of the Royal Society of London, and was his professorial career. This new school being reprinted in their "Transactions" in 1794, and re-modelled in 1811, under the presidency of Dr. printed in Hutton, Shaw, and Pearson's "Abridg- Samuel Bard, Dr. Hosack was appointed, by the ment," vol. 17. Young, about that time, had Regents, professor of the theory and practice of attributed that power of accommodation to the physic and clinical medicine; to which was aftermuscularity of the crystalline lens, and the wards added the chair of obstetrics and the disvexed question gave origin to several other papers eases of women and children. He demonstrated in the "Transactions." Ramsden soon after his earnestness in the fulfilment of these new and constructed his artificial eye, the better to illus- responsible trusts as teacher, by delivering uptrate the correctness of the doctrine advanced on wards of one hundred lectures on the practice, optics by Dr. Hosack. I have, more than once, during the winter term, exclusive of his course of heard Sir Joseph Banks state the high considera-obstetrics; and the same ardor characterized him tion in which this essay of Dr. Hosack was held as professor through his long career of collegiate by the writers on vision of that day. instruction, after the union of the two rival medIn London Dr. Hosack greatly enlarged his ac-ical faculties of Columbia College and the College quaintance with the philosophical world; besides his teachers, he increased the circle of his friends with the venerable Dr. Martyn, the author of the Language of Botany," with Dr. Matthew Bailie,

66

of Physicians and Surgeons, in September, 1813. He shared largely in the renown which this union of the two institutions secured to the instructors and to the Regents, for many years.