his memory for the mere attempt; for the service he has rendered to philosophy is immense. He has prepared immortal glory to medical philosophy, in indicating the nature of the study which ought to be pursued to give intellectual physio. logy all the development of which it is capable; and moral philosophy itself is much indebted to him, for having diverted it from speculations foreign to its true end, and in which the most trifling prejudice is an incalculable loss of time. Gall was attended in his lectures by the most distinguished persons in Paris, illustrious as well for their learning, as for the eminent dignities they bore in society. The examination of his body took place 40 hours after his death, in presence of several members of the faculty. The exterior appearance of the body presented a considerable falling away, particularly in the face. The skull was sawed off with the greatest precaution. The substance of the brain was consis. tent, and this organ was firm and perfectly regular. No trace of ossification was remarked in the cerebral arteries, notwithstanding the advanced age of the defunct. The cerebral ventricles were not opened, the brain being expressly or dered to be preserved. JOHN TAYLOR GILMAN. September, 1828. At Exeter, John Taylor Gilman, in the 75th year of his age. John Taylor Gilman was the first son of Nicholas Gilman, and of Ann Taylor, daughter of the Rev. John Taylor, of Milton, Massachusetts: born at Exeter, N. H. December 19th, 1753. Nicholas Gilman, his father, one of the dele gates in forming the constitution of the United States, and a member of the senate of the United States at the time of his death, in 1814, was the second of five sons. Nicholas Gilman was engaged in ship-building and navigation. He brought up his sons to business, and gave them the usual preparatory education, which the condition of the province afforded to those who were not designed for the learned professions. The eldest son, inheriting a strong and capacious understanding, was made thoroughly acquainted with accounts, and became early conversant with the concerns and interests of the province. At the commencement of the revolutionary contest with Great Britain, New-Hampshire engaged in concert with her sister colonies, in a series of local and popular move. ments, which were conducted with great spirit, prudence, and promptitude. These measures were rendered more difficult by the personal presence and influence of Lieut. Governor Wentworth, who was highly esteemed for his virtues, although circumstances rendered it necessary for him to withdraw from the government of the province. This event took place in the year 1775. On the removal of the public offices, which ensued, for safe keeping, from Portsmouth to Exeter, in the course of the same year, Nicholas Gilman was elected Treasurer by the provincial convention. On the morning after the news was received of the action at Lexington, Mr. John T. Gilman marched as a volunteer in a company hastily formed, of more than a hundred, from Exeter, which slept the same night at Andover, and en camped the next day at noon on Cambridge Common. But the alarm which continued to prevail upon the seaboard, with the absence of so great a portion of the active population, who had carried away all the arms that were of use, occasioned an application for their return. He was, soon after his return home, employed in several affairs of importance in the service of the state; taking charge of a large quantity of arms received from France for delivery to the New-Hampshire regiments; and procured large quantities of clothing, so much wanted, for the army. Mr. Gilman was also employed some time to assist his father as treasurer. In the outset, they adopt. ed the same method in New-Hampshire which prevailed in Massachusetts, where the treasurer was accustomed to give his orders on the collectors; but Mr. Gilman's father refused to follow it, and determined to pursue a different course. It is recorded as a singu, lar fact, that New-Hampshire lost nothing, in the administration of its finances, during the course of the revolution. Although this was, in some measure, to be attributed to after causes, in the administration of the same department by his son and successor, it is entitled, also, to a particular mention in this place, as laying that foundation of a judicious and well-ordered sys. tem observed in managing the state finances, which contributed towards the final result. In 1779, Mr. Gilman was chosen a member of the legislature of the state, and thence elected one of the committee of safety. This committee, consisting of from seven to nine, was composed of persons chosen from the legislature; and, by not being re-elected to that body, they vacated their seats at the board. Several were chosen delegates to congress. The committee was in constant session du. ring the whole revolution. In October, 1780, a delegation from the New-England states and New-York convened first at Hartford, to consult on the public emergencies, and provide for the necessary means of common defence. The rest of the states, except New. Hampshire, were represented by several delegates. Mr. Gilman was the only delegate appointed from that state, and was very averse to undertaking the duty alone; but his objections were overcome by the urgency of President Weare and General Folsom, with the advice of Mr. John Langdon and others. There was not, at the time, money enough in the treasury to bear his expenses. "Things looked dark," Mr. Gilman observed, "in the fall of 1780;" and he long after recalled a conversation he had at that period with JoHN SLOSS HOBART, one of the delegates from New-York, who was considerably his senior in years, (afterwards senator in congress, and judge of the United States district court,) and which, on Mr. Gilman's part, probably, betokened some solici tude, at that critical season of the revolution. "Don't give yourself any concern," said Mr. Hobart, raising his finger upward, "it is written there, we shall be free!" The only person living of this convention, since Mr. Gilman, is believed to be Judge Benson, another delegate from New-York. In March, 1781, Mr. Gilman was appointed a delegate to congress, but did not take his seat. In January, 1782, he was reappointed a delegate and NewHampshire being left without any representative in congress after April, he took his seat at Philadel. phia on the 20th of June. He was, at that time, the youngest member of that body, and continued, without any colleague, until the termination of the congressional year, in No. vember. The negotiations for peace were pending, and the preliminary articles signed during the period Mr. Gilman was in congress. He was, of course, familiar with the springs and the progress of those princi. ples and proceedings by which the councils of congress on that question were influenced or controlled; and which were kept inviolably secret, except from the French Legation at Philadelphia. 'The private political history of that affair, in its connexion with the interior discussions of congress on the subject, made a strong impression on his mind; and he retained a faithful and abiding recollection of the policy, both foreign and do. mestic, which marked the details of those extraordinary diplomatic measures, upon which subsequent developments have cast so broad and clear a light. Mr. Gilman joined, as the sole representative of New-Hampshire, in the solemn and memorable declaration of congress, which marked the close of the eventful political year 1782, that they would "conclude neither a separate peace nor truce with Great Britain; but that they would prosecute the war with vigour, until, by the blessing of God on the united arms, a peace should be happily accomplished, by which the full and absolute sovereignty and independence of these United States having been fully assured, their rights and interests, as well as those of their allies, should be effectually provided for and secured.' At the same time he was among those who were opposed to that control. ling direction which was sought to be given by the form of instructions to our envoys at Paris, in conducting the negotiations for peace, in avowed deference to the court of France, and in conformity with the political views of M. de Vergennes. Not merely as the most nothern and castern delegate in congress, but on principles of paramount fidelity to the whole Union, he realized the vital interest and importance to the objects set forth in the declaration of October, 1782, of maințaining our rightful boundaries and fisheries to the farthest verge of their legitimate limits. It was probably under a profound conviction of this character, that the sentiment was long cherished by Mr. Gilman, and uttered with emphatic carnestness at the closing period of his life, that "to John Adams and John Jay, AMERICA was more indebted than to any two men living.” Besides the interesting question of peace, the affairs of Vermont, then known by the name of NewHampshire Grants, formed a subject of serious concernment. The preliminary articles of peace were received before Mr. Gilman left congress, which was in April, 1783. The resignation of his seat was occasioned by the sudden de. cease of his father, who was then in the office of treasurer of the state, which required his return, and which was soon followed by the death of his excellent mother. It devolved upon him to adjust his father's accounts, and having closed these concerns, to the satisfaction of the state, he was chosen successor to the same trust in June, 1783. In this situation he continued, by successive re-elections, until he was appointed, under the authority of the confederation, one of the commissioners, three in number, to settle the accounts of the revolution between the different states. His colleagues were General Irvine, of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Kean, of South Carolina, in the room of Mr. Baldwin, of Georgia, who resigned on being chosen senator. This commission con. tinued in force, without interruption of its business by the adoption of the federal constitution, and was sitting in New-York, where Mr. Gilman attended in January, at the organization of the new go. vernment; after which, a re-appointment took place under President Washington. The declining health of his wife, whose death took place in 1791, occasioned his resignation. Pre. vious thereto, a report of this committee was made by Mr. Gilman (in the absence of General Irvine) and Mr. Kean, April 29th, 1790, in compliance with an order of the house of representatives. On relinquishing this appointment, he was re-chosen to the office of treasurer of N. Hampshire, which he continued to discharge until the new constitution of the state went into operation, and he was elected chief magistrate. The prudence with which the finances of the state were conducted, during the difficult season of the revolution, under the original administration of his father, has been already referred to as one of the causes why that state was saved from any loss in consequence of the revolution. But this result is finally and mainly at. tributable to the able, honourable, judicious, and disinterested manage. ment of the state funds, during the operation of the funding system, by which the state was enriched, while he took all the risk and responsibility on himself, with the acknow. ledgment of the most scrupulous integrity. The character and services of Mr. Gilman, rendered him, at this period, a conspicuous object of public consideration in New-Hampshire. His opinions were exhibited, and their decision tested, in the primary stages of forming and administering the federal constitution. Public faith, virtue, and justice, had, with him, the authority of first principles. Their purity and sanctity were, in his view, inviolable; and he was distinguished as a foremost and fast friend of the important political scheme for redeeming the obligations of the revolution, establishing the efficacy of self-government, and insuring the safety and respectability of the Union. The demands for confidence and support required, in the outset of this great experiment, it may be more difficult, at the present time, fully to appreciate, since they have acquired the slow, but perfect sanction of experience; and the merits of those principles, which have now became axioms in public sentiment, have been almost lost in the splendid success which the original system has achieved. It may here be observed, that Mr. Gilman was always open and explicit in the expressions which were required of him, concerning public measures. Concealment or equivocation of any kind were entirely foreign to his character; and the general im pression which was established in his own state, in this respect, may be quoted from a reply of one of the branches of the legislature, several years after he had been in the of fice of governor. "We have long beheld," said the senate, in 1802, "with approbation, the decision and frankness with which your excellency has publicly advocated those political sentiments which, it is our belief, naturally result from an informed mind and an upright heart." Moral and political firmness constituted a remarkable trait in his character; and ample evidence of it was exhibited in the course of his public life. When the present constitution of New-Hampshire, establishing the office and title of governor, which had been laid aside in the revolution, went into operation, in 1793, Mr. Gilman was nominated, and solicited to become the first candidate; but he was averse to the office; and, having publicly and positively declined, President Bartlett was accordingly elected the first year; but the latter ha. ving served one term, and feeling his constitution to be failing, was unwilling to continue in the office, and, with many other respectable persons, urged Mr. Gilman to consent to serve as his successor. Many considerations were employ. ed to overcome Mr. Gilman's re. luctance to undertake the duties of the station, which arose, in a great degree, from diffidence of his abili. ties to discharge them in a manner honourable to the state; and, yielding to the opinions of others, rather than the inclination of his own, he was chosen governor in 1794, by nearly four fifths of the votes. The new constitution of New. Hampshire had given to the gover nor a negative on the acts of the legislature. This power had not been applied by Governor Bartlett. Governor Gilman, in the course of the first session after he was chosen, which continued but seventeen days, returned three bils. The question being taken on one of these, which he returned as repugnant to a provision in the constitu. tion, whether it should pass not. withstanding, there was but a single vote in the affirmative; and that, as stated by the individual who gave it, in the common expression, "to take off the curse." At the ensuing election for governor in 1795, out of between nine and ten thousand votes, Governor Gilman received all but a hundred. In the winter session of that year he returned with objections a bill in relation to non-residents. This circumstance gave occasion to the most pointed marks of dissatisfaction from many of the members; and pains were taken, without success, to diminish the votes in his favour at the next election. The following year a fresh bill was of fered on the same subject, free from the objections of the governor. This was admitted to be improved, and adopted. On several other occasions also, he exercised this constitutional faculty, viz.: to check the facility of granting new trials prac. tised by the legislature; to protect the rights of property against empirical or improvident legislation; to preserve the fundamental and established principles of law; to prevent the infringemeut of public engagements, or measures impairing the obligation of contracts; and to secure an equal freedom of reli gious rights and liberties. |