8, 1856. In early life she enjoyed the advantages of high intellectual and moral culture in her father's family, in the circle of her friends, and in the church of Christ. And she became distinguished for intellectual and moral excellence, whether contemplated as a daughter, or a sister, or a wife, or the mother of her husband's children by a former wife. She manifested the same good sense, the same high breeding, the same gentleness, the same conscientious regard to duty for which her brothers were distinguished.

WILLIAM WALTON WOOLSEY, the husband of Sarah Chauncy, an eminent merchant of New York, was born at Dosoris, Long Island, 1760, and married in his first nuptials to ELIZABETH, sister of the late President Dwight, and mother of President Woolsey. Two years after the death of his first wife he married Miss Chauncy, in 1815, and lived with her in the greatest harmony and domestic happiness until his death in September, 1839. She had no children, but she formed the centre of a happy household, and was a true mother to the children of a previous marriage. Mr. Woolsey was one of the wisest and most upright merchants of his time. For a number of years he acted, (gratuitously,) as Treasurer of the American Bible Society, and was connected with a number of other important institutions.

IV. ABIGAIL, the second daughter of Charles and Abigail Chauncy of New Haven, was born June 27, 1785; died June 11, 1814.

V. NATHANIEL, to be mentioned again.

CHARLES CHAUNCY OF PHILADELPHIA.

CHARLES CHAUNCY, LL. D., the eldest son of Charles Chauncy and Abigail Chauncy of New Haven, was born in New Haven, August 17, 1777. He died August 30, 1849.

"Mr. Chauncy was graduated at Yale College in 1792, at the very remarkably early age of 15; it is believed that no other person, or not more than one at least, ever received the honors of the College at so early a time of life. He then spent five years with his father in the study of law. At the close of this period he delivered an oration, of which the following is the title-page: 'An Oration delivered before the Society of the P. B. K.;

at their Anniversary Meeting in the City of New Haven, on the Evening preceding Commencement, Anno Domini 1797. By CHARLES CHAUNCY, Jun. On the Hypothetical Perfectibility of our Race. Published at the request of the Society. Printed by T. & J. Green, New Haven.'

"After his long apprenticeship he removed to Philadelphia, at the advice of his father's friend, Chief Justice Ellsworth, to try his fortunes at that bar. Here his initiation was full of perplexity and disappointment. He found that no account would be made of his long study in Connecticut. He had hoped to enter the office of Mr. Edward Tilghman, a very eminent lawyer, but ascertained that he took no scholars. He placed himself under a distinguished Quaker lawyer, but to his great consternation his master committed forgery in a few months and left the State. At length, being admitted to the New Jersey bar, and in that way finding an earlier access than would otherwise have been allowed. to the Philadelphia bar, he entered in 1798 upon the profession to which he devoted the energies of his life, and in which he rose in due course of time to the highest rank. A few years since he appeared in court for the last time, and two years ago he gave up chamber counsel, as far as was in his power.

"Mr. Chauncy's success as a lawyer was dependent on an unshaken conviction of his probity-with regard to which, opinion has probably been entirely unanimous-on untiring diligence and devotion to the interests of his clients, on comprehensive knowledge of the law, and on admirable judgment. Something too must be attributed to his great courtesy and perpetual serenity of temper, which threw a charm around him also in private life. The writer of this sketch, having studied in his office nearly thirty years since, and having often met him in later years, does not recollect an instance where his evenness of temper was disturbed, or where he departed from the highest standard of gentlemanly intercourse. He was a gentleman indeed, because his courtesy was based on principle and kindness. He might in truth be considered a model to the members of the gentlemanly profession to which he belonged; and owing to his traits of character probably had more of the regard and affection of the bar than fell to others who were his compeers.

"Mr. Chauncy's political principles placed him among the old federal party, and to these principles he adhered through life, without, however, animosity or asperity. He early formed a purpose from which he never swerved, not to enter into political life; nor did he ever consent to belong to any public deliberative body, except the convention for altering the constitution of Pennsylvania, of which he allowed himself to be chosen a member, in the hope of preserving the former tenure of the judicial office.

"Of Mr. Chauncy's intellectual qualities it is sufficient to say that without that brilliancy of mind which gives birth to high efforts of eloquence, he had a strong comprehensive mind, in which all the powers were in the right proportion, and where a sound practical judgment presided. To some of his qualities of heart we have already had occasion to refer. We will add here that his kindness of character was put to the proof by numberless professional acts; that his domestic traits-if to these we may allude-secured to him the highest degree of affection; and that his courtesy was such that he never gave provocation to others. While his manners were conciliating to all, the person who had rendered himself unworthy of confidence was made to feel that there was a distance within which he could not approach.

"Mr. Chauncy was on a footing of friendly acquaintance with most of the eminent lawyers, and many of the statesmen of the day; and although he lived somewhat retired, his house was ever the abode of elegant hospitality. His success in his profession gave him the means of gratifying every reasonable desire, and a course of worldly prosperity and honor might have closed his mind, as it usually does, to man's destiny hereafter. But here a merciful but severe Providence interposed; and by successive afflictions-cutting off his lovely wife, the daughter of Col. Chester of Wethersfield, Conn., in 1821, and his only son, Charles, who was graduated at Yale College in 1828, and was preparing for the legal profession; and finally, not long after, a daughter, to whom he was tenderly attached-weaned him from exclusive devotion to this world, and prepared him for the impressions of religion. He was, for a number of years before his

death, a communicant in the Presbyterian church; and seemed to be influenced in his daily life by the truths and precepts of the gospel. Though his painless and sudden death by congestion of the brain took away from him the power of manifesting his faith in his last moments, yet he is believed to have been habitually mindful of the end of life and prepared for its arrival."-PRESIDENT WOOLSEY, 1849.

PROF. FOWLER,

GRANVILLE, Mass., Sept. 30, 1856.

Dear Friend and Brother

I cheerfully comply with your request to give you some reminiscences of my estimable friend and classmate, Charles Chauncy, Esq., late of Philadelphia.

Our acquaintance commenced at Yale College in the year 1788, with the commencement of our college life. I shall doubtless fail of giving you an adequate view of his virtues. Great amiability marked his whole course, and, although he was the youngest in the class, I must mention, as a test of his scholarship, that he was selected as a member of the P. B. K. Society, where only one third, according to talent and proficiency, are admissible as members. At his graduation, when one half only of the class received appointments, Chauncy was selected as one of the Greek Dialogists. After separating at College, and the lapse of more than twenty years, I was an invited guest at his table, in Philadelphia, where I found he had gained a high standing as a Counsellor at the Bar, in that city. In his time there were at the Bar, as his coevals, such men as Horace Binney, John and Thomas Sargeant, and others who adorned their profession. With such men, the rank of Mr. Chauncy was equal and preeminent. In him there was a blending of all excellences—a delicate sense of honor in his profession—a high and gentlemanly bearing-amiable and winning manners-unblemished integrity-bright and exemplary morality and virtue.

A Rev. and estimable brother, in a Sermon addressed to the Legal Profession, quotes and affirms what may with truth and singular appropriateness be written as an epitaph on his tombstone: "When the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when

the eye saw me, it gave witness to me. Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness and it clothed me; my judgment was a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a Father to the poor, and the cause which I knew not, I searched out."

I may add, in the language of Shakspeare:

You scarce will look upon his like again."

The following letter, from his own hand, is a brief specimen of his Autobiography:

"I was born at New Haven, Con., on the 17th day of August, A. D. 1777, and am the eldest son of Charles and Abigail Chauncy. My preparation for College was made in New Haven, at the Grammar School, under the care of Col. Jared Mansfield, afterwards a Professor at West Point, and a very distinguished Classical and Mathematical scholar. I was examined for admission to Yale College in 1787," [aged ten years and one month] "and admitted, but my father thinking that I was too young to profit by studies in College, kept me back till the following year, when I joined the Freshman class. I received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in September, 1792, after having spent four years in great harmony with my classmates.

"I commenced the study of law in my father's office, in the year 1793, and in 1795 offered myself for examination for admission to the Bar. My examiners recommended that I should be admitted when I should attain the lawful age; and the Court made an order to that effect. I was afterwards admitted to the Bar. In 1798 I removed to Philadelphia, and attended in an office to become acquainted with the local law and practice of Pennsylvania. In 1798 and 1799 I was admitted to the Courts in Pennsylvania, in which I continued to practice for nearly forty years, my practice being confined, almost wholly, to the Courts in Philadelphia.

"I have never held civil offices except in two instances. I was a member of the Common Council in the city, in early life,