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once told us that they look as if they fame of those nations which were disowed their origin to the flood, yet he tinguished for the cultivation of letters seems to think that rather a pleasant and the arts, and of which nothing but conjecture than a well-established theo- their memory remains, he saysry, and proceeds to detail his system in the words following, viz.

'Not so allow'd the all controling laws, Impos'd on matter by the great First Cause. Ere silent Time outspread his downy wings, Ere all this beauteous harmony of things, Creation's shapeles frame lay floating o'er The mighty void, a sea without a shore. Jehovah's awful fiat thunder'd round, Confusion fled, all Nature felt the sound: Ethereal fires pour'd forth their solar blaze, And Heaven's vast concave gleam'd with steller rays:

To concrete masses scatter'd atoms hurl'd Combin'd the craggy wonders of the world, Form'd the vast heights which now around me rise,

Yon Hills sublime, which greet the sailor's eyes,

As, far from home, he seeks his native land, And longs to moor against the well known strand:

Whilst hope elates or apprehension chills, As clouds they seem or look like distant hills, "Till, as the buoyant vessel onward rides, He marks with surer view their whitening sides.'

The author then goes on in a trotting kind of style, which always indicates a considerable share of self-complacency, and is very well calculated for a long journey, to give the history of the Indians who once dwelt in that part of the country, and after telling us that the warriors of Pequawkett,' (Phoebus, what a name!') got their living by hunting and trapping; and methinking that he was present at an aboriginal battle, and could see the hurtling of the arrows in the air, and after anathematizing all the native tribes for their ferocity, concludes this part of the poem with the vision of a Sachem rising from the grave, who sings a tolerable song, to we know not what tune, and is followed by the author himself with some of the best lines in the book. Contrasting the silence in which the savage tribes passed from the earth, and the stillness in which they rest, with the never dying

'Not such the end of proud Palmyra's name, Not such the downfall of the Grecian fame; Remnants of Art their monuments arise, B. Genius thus inscrib'd; "Here Greatness lies."

The solemn dirge the mournful Muses raise, And weeping Science swells the hymn of praise.

When falls the hero or expires the sage, His death is Fame, his mourners are the Age, His life's his eulogy, and History rears A splendid cenotaph to future years: But for the thousands who inglorious die, 'Tis only private sorrow breathes a sigh. Thus when the seat of Trojan greatness fell, All Asia echoed the funereal knell, And still in verse the brilliant honours flame, Which beam'd around her early orb of fame; But where these Tribes in barbarous rudeness dwelt,

Not one regret has Art or Science felt, Though melting Pity kindly saw and wept, As prey'd Decay or swifter Ruin swept. Around their graves has desolation scowl'd, And prowling wolves the doleful requiem howl'd,

The shroud of darkness mantled all the wild, And Nature mourn'd her rough, untutor'd child:

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Soon we come to the description of a passionate little river called Saco, and relating what havoc it makes among the saw-logs, and spar-timber, and rail-fences, &c. particularly in the spring of the year when its choler rises highest, he gives us a lesson upon lumbering and clearing, in the course of which he notices the impartiality of the axes in that part of the country, which cut down not only the pine trees, but the beeches, and birches and hemlocks. He claims immunity, however, for the maple on account of its sap, and pronounces it worthy of greater homage than the vine, or the myrtle, or the olive, and threatens to

Martin Luther in the following animated lines.

trample on the laurel, provided he can obtain a maple chaplet. As, however, we have not room to be minute on the Kind Heaven relenting look'd on human grief, whole work, we will pass on to the And pitying sent, in Luther's form, relief. By virtue led, his mind with wisdom fraught, consideration of the Village in its pres-Good will to man and peace on earth" he taught,

ent civilized condition. And here the author has exhibited himself to most advantage. When he comes among civilized people, he pays his respects first, as is meet, to the ladies. In treating this part of the subject, he makes some very judicious remarks on the character most proper for women to sustain, and after a passing compliment to his fair towns-women, calling them household deities, he manifests a very correct judgment in the description he gives of a good wife; and then throws together, with some discrimination, those qualities which constitute a bad wife, and mar all the enjoyments of home.

He next reviews the profession of the law, in the course of which he draws two portraits, one of a cunning, selfish, hard-hearted, designing lawyer, and the other of a stupid, ignorant and corrupt justice of the peace, the vindictive tyrant of the neighbourhood, and which, if they be not executed in the first style, are yet very correct likenesses. He takes a survey also of the clergy and the faculty, and in what he says in connexion with the former, he seems to have felt more roused and energetic than in any part of the poem. After a succinct account of the extravagance and tyranny of the Romish superstition, he introduces

Reason delighted, on his accents hung;
His warning voice through groaning nations rung;
Resplendent Truth, flash'd through the awful gloom,
And Freedom rose majestic from the tomb.'

In a strain of good sense and good feeling, he speaks to the following effect on the style of preaching most calculated to benefit society, and purify the heart.

'Ye holy Pastors, wherefore then contend?
Your creeds to spread and dogmas to defend?

Are ye not all commission'd from above,
Heralds of peace and ministers of love?"
One God ye worship and one Saviour trust,
And all alike are children of the dust.
The faithless hearer, listening as you preach,
And wondering at the mysteries you teach,
strain'd to doubt, and thence advancing fast,
Becomes a perfect infidel at last.
Why to vain tenets strive recruits to win,
Rather than save immortal souls from sin?
See, while ye waste in vain disputes your time,

How the vast earth is overrun by Crime.
Arm'd in his cause, or following in his train,

To spread his conquests and confirm his reign,
What myriad victims fall beneath his hand.
Behold what hosts acknowledge his command,
Skill'd in the art the grand campaign to plan,
See Dissipation lead the powerful van,
War, like the Indian, by deceit and stealth,
Then ope an easy and a certain way,
And sap the works of innocence and health,
Through which Diseases rush to seize their prey.

We have thus endeavoured to give about equal portions of the better and the poorer parts of the poem before us, and shall only remark, further, that there is, throughout, evidence of considerable facility in composing, though it appears like the facility of a mind of moderate powers employed on easy subjects, and not that resistless movement which characterizes genius when excited to put forth its strength.

ART. 6. TRANSACTIONS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES.

UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF

NEW-YORK.

COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS.

CIRCULAR.

NQUIRIES being frequently made, by persons resident at a distance, relative to the course of studies, and requisites for graduation, in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the University of New-York, as also concerning other matters interesting to the Students who resort to this School of Medicine, the Trustees of the College, with a view of removing the inconvenience of answering so many individual applications, and of gratifying those whom it may concern, have ordered the present Circular to be published for general information.

The College opens, annually, on the first Monday in November, and the several courses begin, successively, that week, after the Introductory Lectures of the respective Professors. The Session closes the last day of February.

LECTURES IN THE FORENOON. Theory and Practice of Physic, by Dr. Hosack, from nine to ten o'clock, daily. Principles and Practice of Surgery, by Dr. Mott, from ten to eleven, daily.

Anatomy, Physiology, and Surgery, by Dr. Post, from eleven to twelve, daily.

The Clinical Practice of Medicine, by Dr. Hamersley, and attendance at the NewYork Hospital, from twelve to one, daily.

LECTURES IN THE AFTERNOON. Natural History, including Mineralogy, Botany, and Zoology, by Dr. Mitchill, from one to two, daily.

Chemistry and Materia Medica, by Dr. M'Neven, from five to six, daily.

Obstetrics, and the Diseases of Women and Children, by Dr. Hosack, from four to five, on Mondays and Thursdays.

Clinical Lectures, by Dr. Hamersley, from four to five, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Institutes of Medicine, by Dr. Francis, from four to five, on Tuesdays and Fridays. Legal Medicine, by Dr. Stringham, from seven to eight, on Mondays and Thursdays. GRADUATION.

It is expected that a candidate for graduation shall have attained the age of twentyone years.

On or before the first day of February, the candidate shall make known his name and intention to one of the Professors, by whom he will be informed of the time and place of examination. This first examination is by the board of Professors only: it is private and conâdential.

A second examination is held before the board of Trustees, to whom, on this occasion, an appeal lies, and before whom there is offered an opportunity of redress, if a candidate thinks himself in any wise aggrieved.

The names of those who have been approved by the Trustees are forwarded to the Regents of the University, who return an equal number of Diplomas, under the signature of the Chancellor. They are afterwards signed by the Professors.

By the 20th of March, the candidate shall deliver to one of the Professors a Dissertation on some Medical Subject. He is publicly examined on the same, in the College Hall, the first Monday in April, and may publish, with the approbation of one of the Professors, either in the English, French, or Latin Languages. The Degrees are conferred by the President, the next day, at a public Commencement.

From the provision thus made, it will be seen, that the various Courses of Lectures, delivered in the College, are so arranged, as to constitute a complete system of Medical Education. The Board of Trustees, however, think it incumbent on them to state, that it has been their unremitted endeavour to increase, as far as practicable, the means of instruction, and to render the advantages enjoyed by the College, at least equal to those of any other similar establishment in the United States. The Anatomical Museum, of large extent, has been augmented by some rare and valuable preparations, and very important additions have been made to the Chemical Apparatus and Laboratory. The Cabinet of Natural History has also been greatly enriched by numerous specimens, native and foreign; and in the illus trations of the Geology and Mineralogy of the American States, is peculiarly rich.

It is proper further to state, that although the most liberal and extensive system of Medical and Philosophical instruction has thus been provided the expense of educa tion to the candidate for Medical honours is not increased beyond that of any other College in the Union; as the courses are not made indispensably necessary for graduation, and the student is at liberty to attend any course or courses he may think expedient: the Professors insist upon the attainments of the candidate, and not upon the number of courses nor the number of years he may have attended at the University.-The Trustees believe their plan of education satisfactory, and they indulge the hope that nothing will be wanting to fulfil the just expectations and liberal views of their patrons, the Honourable the Legislature, and the Regents of the University of New-York.

By order.

SAMUEL BARD, M. D. President. JOHN W. FRANCIS, M. D. Registrar. N. B. The Student of Medicine has abundant opportunities of prosecuting private dissections, under the immediate direction of the Professors of Anatomy and Surgery, as Q

the College enjoys the peculiar advantage of being able to procure subjects from the State Prison, under the sanction of an act of the Legislature.

City of New-York, Jan. 28th, 1817.

Annual Medical Commencement in the University of New-York.-Agreeable to a resolution of the honourable the regents of the University of the state of New-York, the annual commencement, for the purpose of conferring the degree of doctor of medicine, in the college of physicians and surgeons of this city, was held on Tuesday, the 8th day of April, 1817. The exercises took place in the hall of the college, and were honoured with the presence of a numerous and respectable audience, besides the trustees, professors, and other officers of the institution. The degree of doctor of Medicine was granted to the following forty gentlemen, who had been students of the University, had undergone the several examinations required by its laws, and publicly defended their respective inaugural dissertations. After the candidates were vested with their academic honours, the venerable and learned president, Samuel Bard, M. D. L. L. D. delivered an interesting address to the graduates.

Nathaniel Allen, A. B. of Connecticut, on the vis medicatrix naturæ.

John B. Beck, A. M. of Schenectady, N. Y. on infanticide.

Lewis D. Bevier, A. B. of New-York, on bydrophobia.

Thomas W. Blatchford, of New-York, on feigned diseases.

Isaac Motte Campbell, A. M. of SouthCarolina, on amputation.

John Colvill, junr. of New-York, on phthisis pulmonalis.

Alexander Chisholm, of South-Carolina,

on tetanus.

John Julius Conturier, of South-Carolina, on pneumonia typhodes.

William N. Clarkson, of South-Carolina, on arthritis.

Samuel P. Dunbar, of New-York, on urinary calculi.

Nicoll H. Dering, of New-York, on bydrocephalus internus.

Charles Doughty, of South-Carolina, on fungus hemodotes.

Henry M. Dueachet, of South-Carolina, on the action of poisous.

Harvey Elliot, A. M. of Connecticut, on the asclepias tuberosa of Linnæus.

Benjamin Rodolphus Greenland, of SouthCarolina, on the medical properties of the prenanthes virgata.

James A. Gray, of Virginia, on cynanche trachealis.

Thomas J. Gibbons, of New-York, on hemorrhage.

Stephen Hasbrouck, A. B. of New-York, on insensible perspiration.

James L. Hannah, of St. Martins, WestIndies, on digestion.

John Hill, A. B. of North-Carolina, on angina pectoris.

Jesse Hamor, of Pennsylvania, on dysentery.

Ezekiel Hall, of North-Carolina, on hydrothorax.

Asa Hillyer, junr. A. M. of New-Jersey, on the passions.

Ellis C. Harlan, of Pennsylvania, on cephalitis.

Cornelius P. Heermans, of Ontario county, N. Y. on the medical topography of Ontario county.

John J. Ingersoll, A. B. of Connecticut, on animal heat.

Reuben King, of Massachusetts, on hereditary predisposition to disease.

Roderick Murchison, of South-Carolina, on the absorbent system.

J. B. Ricord Madiana, of France, on insanity.

William L. Mitchell, of New-York, on concussion of the brain.

Michael O'Brian, of South-Carolina, on the anterior operation for cataract.

James Roane, of Tennessee, on pneumo nia typhodes, as it appeared in Nashville. Stephen C. Roe, of New-York, on ammo

nia.

Zabina Smith, of Massachusetts, on the chemical effects of light.

James Seaman, of New-York, on ergot. Abraham Van Gelder, of New-York, on the nature and constitution of the atmosphere.

James S. Watkins, A. B. of New-York, on the agency of electricity and galvanism. Egerton L. Winthrop, A. B. of New-York, on indigestion, and its influence on certain diseases.

Thomas Waties, junr. A. M. of SouthCarolina, on the operation of cold.

W. Williamson, A. M. of New-York, on stone in the bladder.

The degree of doctor of medicine was also conferred on John D. Jaques, of NewYork, a trustee of the college.

MEDICAL SOCIETY

OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK. Agreeable to Statute, this Society met at the Čapitol in the city of Albany on the 4th day of February last

The annual address was delivered by the President, Joseph White, M. D. being an ingenious discourse on the subject of White Swellings of the Joints; which has been published at the request of the Society. The Society then proceeded to the Election_of Officers for the present year-when the following gentlemen were chosen; John Stearns, M. D. President, Henry Mitchill, M. D. Vice Pesident, James Low, M. D. Secretary, Charles D. Townsend, M. D. Treasurer,

Drs. Theoderick R. Beck, James Low, taneous or originating within itself, and not
Charles D. Townsend, David Hosack and derived from currents of water or air. Be-
William Patrick, junior, Censors. Drs. David ing now convinced it was an animal, they
Hosack, John Miller, Stephen Reynolds, discovered his course to be directly across
Samuel L. Mitchill, Amasa Trowbridge,
Joshua Lee, and Joseph Gilbert-Committee
of Correspondence.

After disposing of the various subjects which came under their consideration, the Society adjourned on the 6th.

NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Sitting of May 6th.

DR. MITCHILL communicated, with some specimens of Zoology, &c. contributed by Capt. Edmund Fanning of this city, the following observations, which, on account of their importance, we have copied verbatim from the journal of the sitting."But, in addition to these articles, Capt. Fanning has given us more information concerning that enormous inhabitant of the ocean, which appears to surpass in magnitude, all the living creatures belonging to the terraqueous globe."

"On a former occasion I endeavoured to collect and state the evidence which NewYork afforded concerning such huge productions of nature. It then appeared from the testimony of seven independent and respectable witnesses, that the existence of creatures larger than whales, and different from whales, could not be doubted. By comparing this mass of intelligence with that collected, from all sources within his reach, by Dennis Montfort, in his elaborate history of Molluscas, I was led to believe this prodigious animal was the sepia octopus, or eight armed cuttle fish. These particulars were arranged in the form of a Memoir, and printed in the 16th vol. of the Medical Repository, page 396-406.

"Afterwards, the declarations of other persons, unexceptionable in point of credibility and character, were taken. They corroborated the former conclusion, by a forther mass of powerful evidence. All these matters were recorded in the before-mentioned work, vol. 17. p. 382-390.

"After all this, as if to make assurance as certain as possible, Capt. Fanning has entered on the Journal of the ship Volunteer, commanded by him, bound to the Sonth Seas, that being in about the Latitude of 36° south, on the Atlantic Ocean, sailing towards Terry del Fuego, he saw one of these monsters of the deep. It was in the month of August, when the ocean was calm, and the vessel proceeding at the rate of four miles the hour. During the brightness of a fair day, while the captain and officers were taking their food below, the boatswain alarmed them by stating that he descried a rock at some distance a-head of the ship. They all proceeded to the deck, and soon satisfied themselves that the supposed rock was a moving body, and that its impulse was spon

the ships direction. They continued straight forward with the expectation of passing ahead of him. But his progress was such that there was a necessity of running foul of him, or of keeping away to go behind him. The ship was first kept away to clear him, and immediately after passing his wake, brought round a little to reconnoitre him. He was mostly under water; but a part apparently of the size of a ship's boat upside-down was above the waves. His visible magnitude was estimated at one hundred and ten feet, or more, from side to side. This surface was uneven, as if covered with moss, weeds, and barnacles or shells. He paid no regard whatever to the ship, and the billows rolled over him as over a shoal or rock. It was supposed that his eyes were discovered, as also, something like fins or a tail in action. But no determinate judgment of his bulk, figure, or manner of swimming could be formed, partly by reason of his vastness, and partly because of his concealment under water. On the whole, the crew were glad to leave him unmolested; and some of the seamen, for several days, retained the terror of the impression so strongly that they were constantly on the watch for krakens, and feared that they might all be lost, by encountering such an enormous creature in the night."

Dr. Mitchell also stated that, in conse. quence of a request from Professor Bigelow of the University of Cambridge, Massachusetts, he had noted the flowering of the fol lowing trees, shrubs and plants in this city and its vicinity, this season, which are arranged in their chronological order.

April 11th. Red naple, dandelion, and common elm.-15th. Currant and gooseberry; yellow narcissus or daffodil ; dogs-toothviolet, (erythronium lanceolatum.) 16th.Marsh marygold, (caltha palestris.) 19th. Wood anemone, (A nemorosa,) and claytonia virginica. 20th. White narcissus. 21st. Peach tree flowered; 25th. in full bloom.25th. Cherry tree flowered; May 2, in full bloom. 26. blood-root plant, (sang canad,) June-berry or bilberry, (Pyr. botryapium.) May 1. Apple tree dwarf, (Pyr. malus paradisaica,) Plum tree. May 2. Pear tree, (P. com.) 4. Apple tree orchard common. Lilac, (syring. vulg.) dwari almond.

5.

Dr. Mitchill made soine remarks on a specimen of Lumachella marble, which he deposited in the cabinet of the Society, being a slab large enough for a hearth, received from Roger Strong, Esq. of this city, who had obtained it from the quarry in the town of Coeymans, in the county of Albany. It is filled with the calcareous remains of Molluscas. Traces of six kinds of shells and creatures

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