>#; ,&?• w>t M "^:$M UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WASHINGTON, D. C GPO 16—67244-1 A N EULOGIUM, INTENDED TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF DAVID RITTENHOUSE, late president of the American Philosophical Society, Delivered before the Society in the Firft Prefbyterian Church, in High-ftreet, Philadelphia, on the 17th Dec. 1796. AGREEABLY TO APPOINTMENT, _________ y* By Benjamin Rujh, A MEMBER OF THE 5 0 C I E T r. PHILADELPHIA: Printed for J. ORMROD, No. 41, Chesnut-strcet, By Ormrod & Conrad. COPY-RIGMT SECURED. Philofophical Hall, December 17, 1796. In Meeting of the American Philofophical Society, RESOLVED, unanimoufly, That the thanks of this Society be prefented to Dr. Benjamin Rufh, for the eloquent, learned, comprehenfive, and juft Eulogium, which he has this day pro- nounced upon the character of our late refpecV ed Prefident, Dr. David Rittenhoufe, Refolved, unanimoufly, That Dr. Rufh be re- quefted to furnilh the Society with a copy of the Eulogium, to be publifhed under their direction. An Extraclfrom the Minutes, SAMUEL MAG AW, ROBERT PATTERSON, W. BARTON, JOHN BLEAKLEY, AS a reafon for introducing feveral fenti- ments into the following Eulogium, apparently foreign to its defign, it is neceflary to inform the reader, that the Prefident, Senate and Houfe of Reprefentatives of the United States, the Senate and Houfe of Reprefentatives of Penn- fylvania, foreign Minifters, Confuls, Secretaries of the General Government, the Judges of the Courts of the United States and of Pennfylvania, the Corporation and Clergy of the City of Phi- ladelphia, the College of Phyficians, the Truf- tees, Faculty and Students of Philofophy and Medicine in the Univerfity, the Corporation of the Firft Prefbyterian Church, and a number of Ladies and Gentlemen attended the delivery of the Eulogium, by an invitation from the Philo- fophical Society. EULOGIUM. Gentlemen of the Philofophical Society. Friends and Colleagues, E are aflembled this day upon a mournful occafion. Death has made an in- road upon our Society. Our illuftrious and beloved President, is no more. Ritten- HOUSE, the ingenious, the modeft, and the wife—Rittenkouse, the friend of God and man, is now no more!------For this, the temple of Science is hung in mourning,—for this, our eyes now drop a tributary tear. Nor do we weep alone.—The United States of America fympathize in our grief, for his name gave a fplendor to the American character and the friends of humanity in diftant parts of the world, unite with us in lamenting our com- mon lofs,—for he belonged to the whole human race. By your vote to perpetuate the memory of this great and good man, you have made a laud- W ( 6 ) able attempt to refcue philofophcrs from their humble rank in the hiftory of mankind. It is to them we owe our knowledge and pofTefTion of moft of the neceffaries and conveniences of life. To procure thefe bleffings for us, " they trim their midnight lamp, and hang o'er the fickly taper." For us, they traverfe diftant regions, expofe themfelves to the inclemencies of the weather, mingle with favages and beafts of prey, and in fome inftances, evince their love of fcience and humanity by the facrifice of their lives. The amiable philofopher whofe talents and virtues are to be the fubjett of the following eulogium, is entitled to an uncommon portion of our gratitude and praife. He acquired his knowledge at the expence of uncommon exer- tions, he performed fervices of uncommon dif- ficulty, and finally he impaired his health, and probably fhortened his life, by the ardor of his ftudies and labors for the benefit of mankind. In attempting to difcharge the difficult and painful duty you have affigned me, it will be neceffary to give a fhort account of the life of Mr. Rittenhoufe, inafmuch as feveral of the moft interefting parts of his character are inti- mately connected with it. ( 7 ) The village of Germantown in the neigh- bourhood of this city, had the honor of giving birth to this diftinguifhed philofopher on the 8th day of April, in the year 1732. His an- ceftors migrated from Holland about the be- ginning of the piefent century. They were diftinguifhed, together with his parents, for pro- bity, induftry, and fimple manners. It is from fources thus pure and retired, that thofe talents and virtues have been chiefly derived, which have in all ages enlightened the world. They prove by their humble origin, that the Supreme Being has not furrendered up the direction of human affairs to the advantages acquired by accident or vice, and they bear a conftant and faithful teftimony of his impartial goodnefs, by their neceffary and regular influence in equaliz- ing the condition of mankind. This is the divine order of things, and every attempt to invert it, is a weak and unavailing effort to wreft the govern- ment of the world from the hands of God. The early part of the life of Mr. Rittenhoufe was fpent in agricultural employments under the eye of his father, in the county of Montgomery, twenty miles from Philadelphia, to which place he removed during the childhobd of his Son. It was at this place his peculiar genius firft dif- ( » ) covered itfelf. His plough, the fences, and even the ftones of the field in which he worked, were frequently marked with figures which denoted a talent for mathematical ftudies. Upon find- ing that the native delicacy of his conftitution unfitted him for the labors of hufbandry, his parents confentod to his learning the trade of a clock and mathematical inftrument maker. In acquiring the knowledge of thefe ufeful arts, he was his own inftructor.—They afforded him great delight, inafmuch as they favoured his difpofition to inquire into the principles of natural philofophy.—Conftant employment of any kind, even in the practice of the me- chanical arts, has been found, in many inftances, to adminifter vigor to human genius. Franklin ftudied the laws of nature, while he handled his printing types. The father of RoufTeau, a jew- eller at Geneva, became acquainted with the principles of national jurisprudence, by liftening to his fon while he read to him in his fhop, the works of Grotius and Puflfendorf; and Herfchel conceived the great idea of a new planet, while he exerciicd the humble office of a mufician to a marching regiment. It was durfng the refidence of our ingenious philofopher with his father in the country, that ( 9 ) he made iiimfelf mafter of Sir Ifaac Newton*^ -Principia, which he read in the Englifh tranfla- tion of Mr. Mott. It was here likewife he be- came acquainted with the fcience of Fluxions, of which fublimc invention he believed himfelf for a while to be the author, nor did he know for fome years afterwards, that a conteft had been carried on between Sir Ifaac Newton and Leibnitz, for the honor of that great and ufeful difcovery. What a mind was here !------- Without literary friends or ibeiety, and with but two or three books, he became, before he had reached his four and twentieth year, the rival of the two greateft mathematicians in Eu- rope ! It was in this retired fituatioh, and while employed in working at his trade, that he plan- ned and executed an orrery, in which he repre- fented the revolutions of the heavenly bodies: in a manner more extenfive and complete, than had been done by any former aftronomers. A correct defcription of this orrery drawn up by the Rev. Dr. Smith, is publifhed in the firft vo- lume of our Transactions. This mafter-piece of ingenious mechanifm was purchafed by the col- lege of New-Jerfey. A fecond was made by him, after the fame model, for the ufe of the college R • ( xo ) ef Philadelphia. It now forms pan of the ph'- lofophical apparatus of the Univerfity of Penn- fylvania, where it has for many years command- ed the admiration of the ingenious and the learned, from every part of the world. The reputation he derived from the con- ftruction of this orrery, as well as his general character for mathematical knowledge, attracted the notice of his fellow-citizens in Pennfylva- nia, and in feveral of the neighbouring ftates, but the difcovery of his uncommon merit belonged chiefly to his brother-in-law, the Rev. Mr. Bar- ton, Dr. Smith, and the late Mr. John Lukens, an ingenious mathematician of this city. Thefe gentlemen fully appreciated his talents, and uni- ted in urging him to remove to Philadelphia, in order to enlarge his opportunities of im- provement and ufefulnefs. He yielded with reluctance to their advice, and exchanged his be- loved retirement in the country for this city, in the year 1770. Here he continued for feveral years, to follow his occupation of a clock and mathematical inftrument maker. He excelled in both branches of that bufinefs. His mathe- matical inftruments have been efteemed by good judges to be fuperior in accuracy and workman- fhip to any of the fame kind that have been im- ported from Europe. ( » ) About the time he fettled in Philadelphia he became a member of our Society. His firft communication to the Society was a calculation of the tranfit of Venus as it was to happen on the 3d of June, 1769, in 400 north latitude, and 5 hours weft longitude from Greenwich. He was one of a committee appointed by the So- ciety to obfcrve in the townfhip of Norriton, this rare occurrence in the revolution of that planet, and bore an active part in the preparations which were made for that purpofe. Of this Dr. Smith who was likewife of the committee, has left an honourable record in the hiftory of that event which is pubfifhed in the firft volume of the tranfactions of our Society. " As Mr. Ritten- houfe's dwelling (fays the Doctor) is about twen- ty miles north-weft from Philadelphia; our other engagements did not permit Mr. Lukens or my- felf to pay much attention to the neceffary pre- parations ; but we knew that we had intrufted them to a gentleman on the fpot [meaning Mr. Rittenhoufe] who had, joined to a complete fkill in mechanics, fo extenfive an aftronomical, and mathematical knowledge, that the ufe, manage- ment and even conftruction of the apparatus, were'perfectly familiar to him. The laudable pains he had taken in thefe material articles will (. » ) beft appear from the work itfelf, which he hrth committed into my hands, with a modeft intro- duction, giving me a liberty with them, which his own accuracy, tafte and abilities leave no room to exercife." We are naturally led here to take a view of our philofopher with his aflb'ciates in their pre- parations to obferve a phenomenon which had never been feen but twice before by any in- habitant of our earth, which would never be feen again by any perfon then living, and on which depended very important aftronomical confluences. The night before the long ex- pected day, was probably patted in a degree of folicitude which precluded fleep. How great muft have been their joy when they be- held the morning fun, " and the whole horizon without a cloud ;" for fuch is the defcription of the day given by Mr. Rltlenhoufe in the report referred to by Dr. Smith. In penfive filence, and trembling anxiety, they waited for the pre- dicted moment of obfervation; it came, and brought with it all that had been wifhed for and expeded by thofe who faw it. In our philofo- pher, it excited in the inftant of one of the con- tacts of the planet with the fun, an emotion of delight fo exquifite and powerful, as to induce ( *3 ) fainting. This will readily be believed by thofe who have known the extent of that plerfure which attends the difcovery, or firft perception of truth. Soon after this event, we find him acting as one of a committee appointed to ob- ferve the tranfit of-Mercury on the 9th of No- vember in the fame year. This was Hkewife done at Norriton. An account of it was drawn up, and publifhed at the requeft of the committee by Dr. Smith. A minute hiftory of the whole of tide events, in which Mr. Hi tcrhoufe con- tinued to aft a diftinguifhed part, is given in our tranfactions. It was received with great fatis- fadtion by the aftronomers of Europe, and con- tributed much to raife the character of our then infant country for aftronomical knowledge. In the year 1775, he was appointed to ccm- pofe and d -liver the annual oration before our fociety. The-fubject of it, was the hiftory of aftronomy. The language of this craticn is hmple, but the fentiments contained in it are ingenious, origin <1, and in fome inftances fu- blime. It was delivered in a feeble voice, and without any of the advanta^co of oratory, but it commanded notwithftandin^, the moft pro- found attention, and was followed by univeiCii admiration "and applaufe from a croud ed and refpectalle audience. ( '4 ) From the contents of this oration, it appears that Aftronomy was the favourite object of his ftudies." Attempts have been made to depreciate this branch of natural philofophy, by denying its utility, and application to human affairs.— The opinion is an unjuft one, and as it tends to convey a limited idea of the talents of Mr. Rittenhoufe, I hope I fhall be excufed in faying a few words in favour of this fcience. It is to aftronomy we are indebted for our knowledge of navigation, by which means the different parts of our globe have been difcover- ed, and afterwards cemented together by the mutual wants and obligations of commerce. It was aftronomy that taught mankind the nrt of predicting and explaining eclipfes of the Sun and Moon, and thereby delivered them from the fuperftition which in the early ages of the world, was connected with thofe phenomena of nature. We are taught by aftronomy to correct our ideas of the vifible heavens, and thus by difcov- ering the fallacy of the fimple evidence of our femes, to call to their aid, theufe of ourreafon, in deciding upon all the material objects of hu- man knowledge. Aftronomy delivers the mind from a gro- veling attachment to the purfuits and pleafures ( »s ) of this world. " Take the mifer (fays ourphi- lofopher in his oration) from the earth, if it be poffible to difengage him—he whofe nightly reft has been long broken by the lofs of a fin- gle foot of it, ufelefs perhaps to him; and re- move him to the planet Mars, one of the leaft diftant from us—Perfuade the ambitious mo- narch to accompany him, who has facrificcd the lives of thoufands of his fubjects to an imagi- nary property in certain fmall portions of the earth, and point out this earth to them, with all its kingdoms and wealth, a glittering ftar, clofe by the moon, the latter fcarce vifible, and the former, lefs bright than our evening ftar.__ They would turn away their difgufted fight from it, not thinking it worth their fmalleft attention, and feek for confolation, in the gloomy regions of Mars." Once more—the ftudv of aftronomy has the moft friendly influence upon morals, and re- ligion. " Yes, (fays our philofopher in ano- ther part of his oration) the direct tendency of this fcience is to dilate the heart with univerfal benevolence, and to enlarge its views. It flat- ters no princely vice, nor national depravity. It encourages not the libertine by relaxing any of the precepts of morality, nor does it attempt ;c ( 16 ) undermine tne foundations of religion. It de- nies none of thofe attributes, which the wifeft, and beft of mankind have in ail ages afcribed to the Deity. Nor does it degrade the human mind from that dignity which is ever neceffary to make it contemplate itfelf with complacency. None oLthefe things does aftronomy pretend to, and if thefe things merit the name of philofophy, and the encouragement of a people, then let fcepticifm fiourifh, and aftronomy lie neglected. —Let the names of Berkley and Hume become immortal, ^nd that of Newton be loft in obli- vion."— The following is a lift of fuch of Mr. Rit- tenhoufe's other publications as are contained in the three volumes of our tranfactions. Obfervations of the comet which appeared in June and July 1770, with the elements of its motion and the trajectory of its path, in a letter to Dr. William Smith. An eafy method of deducing the true time of the fun's paffing the meridian, by means of a clock, from a comparifon of four equal atti- tudes, obferved on two fucceeding days, with- out the help of the equation tables, communi- cated by Dr. Wm. Smith. An explanation of an optical deception, namely,that the furfaces of bodies viewed through ( *7 ) the double microfcope, fometimes appear to be reverfed, that is, thofe parts which are elevated feem deprefTed, and the contrary. An account of a remarkable meteor obferv- ed at Philadelphia on the 3 ill of October, 1775, with fome conjectures relative to the theory of of meteors, in anfwer to a letter from John Page, Efq. giving an account of the fame me- teor feen in many diftant places in Virginia. Conjectures, corroborated by experiments, relative to a new theory of magnetifm; in a let- ter to John Page, Efq. of Virginia. A new method of placing a meridian mark for a tranfit inftrument within a few feet of the obfervatory, fo as to have all the advantages of one placed at a great diftance; in a letter to the Rev. Dr. John Ewing. Obfervations on a comet difcovered in the month of January 1784. An explanation of a curious optical pheno- menon, namely, if a candle or other luminous body be viewed through a filk umbrella, hand- kerchief or the like, the luminous body will appear to be doubled ; in a letter to Francis Hopkinfon, Efq. A feries of obfervations made at fundry times in the years 1784, 85, and 86 on the c ( I* ) new planet, or Georgium Sidus, alfo an obfer- vation of the tranfit of Mercury over the Sun's difk on the 12th of November 1782. An account of three houfes in Philadelphia ftruck with lightning on the 7th of June 1789. An account of the effects of a ftroke of lightning upon a houfe furnifhed with two me- tallic conductors on the 17th of Auguft, 1789*; in a letter to Mr. Robert Patterfon. Aftronomical obfervations made at Philadel- phia, containing an account of the eclipfe of the Moon on the 2nd of November 1789. An account of the tranfit of Mercury over the Sun's difk, on the 5th of November 1789. An account of the eclipfe of the Sun, on the 6th of November 1790, with an account of correfponding obfervations, made at the uni- verfity of William and Mary, in Virginia, by Dr. J. Madifon, and at Wafhington college, in Maryland, by the Rev. Dr. Smith. Short, and elegant theorems for finding the fum of the feveral powers of the lines, either to a radius of unity, or any other; in a letter to Mr. Robert Patterfon. An account of a comet difcovered in the month of January 1793 ; in a letter to Mr. Ro- bert Patterfon. ( *9 ) Befides thefe publications, our fociety is in poffeffion of the following communications from Mr. Rittenhoufe, which are now in the prefs, and will be fpeedily publifhed in the fourth vo- lume of our tranfactions. A method of determining the true plane of a planet in an eliptical form, by converging fe- ries, directly from the mean anomaly. Anew and eafy method of calculating loga- rithms ;—in a letter to Mr. Robert Patterfon. A defcription of an improvement on pendu- lum clocks, by which the error arifing from the different denfity, or refiftance of the medium in which the pendulum vibrates, is effectually obviated. Laftly, experiments on the expanfion of wood by heat. Talents fo fplendid, an,d knowledge fb prac- tical in mathematicks, are like mines of precious metals. They become public property by uni- verfal confent. The State of Pennfylvania was not infenfible of the wealth fhe poffeffed in the mind of Mr. Rittenhoufe. She claimed him as her own, and employed him in bufinefs of the m©ft important nature. In the year 1779 he was appointed by the legiflature of Pennfylvania, one of the commif- ( *> ) fioners for adjufting a territorial difpute between Pennfylvania and Virginia, and to his talents, moderation and firmnefs, were afcribed in a great degree, the fatisfactory termination, of that once alarming controverfy in the year 1785. In 1784 he aflifted in dercrmining the length of five degrees of longitude from a point on the. Delaware, in order to fix the weftern limits of Pennfylvania. In 1786, he was employed in fixing the northern line which divides Pennfylvania from New-York. But the application of his talents and know- ledge to the fettlement of territorial difputes, was not confined to his native ftate. In the year 1769, he was employed in fettling the limits between New Jerfey and New York, and in 1787 he was called upon to affift in fixing the boundary line between the States of Maffachu- fetts and New York. This laft bufinefs which was executed with his ufual precifion and inte- grity, was his farewel peace offering to the union and happinefs of his country. In his excurfions through the wildernefs, he carried with him his habits of inquiry and ob- fervation. Nothing in our mountains, foils, ri- vers, and fprings efcaped his notice. It is to ( 2I ) be lamented that his private letters, and the me- mories of his friends, are the only records of what he collected upon thefe occafions. Philo- fopher,ornaturalift,whofoever thouart! that fhalt hereafter traverfe the unfrequented woods of our ftate, forget not to refpect the paths, firft mark- ed by the feet of this ingenious, and faithful fer- vant of the public. Honour the fountains con- fecrated to fcience by his fkilful hand, and in- hale with double pleafure the pure atmofphere of the mountains, on which he renewed his ac- quaintance with the canopy of heaven, after paffing whole weeks in forefts fo fhady, as to conceal from him the rays of the fun. And ci- tizens of Pennfylvania, friends and patrons of literature, be grateful for his fervices. Let the remembrance of them be dear to the prefent generation, and let a part of the ftate, diftinguifh- ed in a more efpecial manner for its rcfources in natural knowledge, bear his name with honor to the lateft pofterity. In the year 1791 he was chofen fucceiTor to Dr. Franklin in the chair of our fociety. In this elevated ftation, the higheft that philofophy can confer in our country, his conduct was marked by its ufual line of propriety and dig- nity. Never did the artificial pomp of ftation ( " ) command half the refped, which followed hk unafluming manners in the difcharge of the public duties of this office. You will often re- collect, gentlemen, with a mixture of pleafure and pain, the delightful evenings you paffed in the fociety, every time he prefided in your meet- ings. They were uniformly characterized by ardor in the purfuits of fcience, urbanity and brotherly kindnefs. His attachment to the in- terefts of the fociety was evinced foon after he accepted of the Preiident's chair, by a donation of three hundred pounds. But his talents and knowledge were not limited to mathematical or material fubjects; his mind was a repofitory of the knowledge of all ages and countries. He had early and deeply ftudied moft of the different fyftems of theology. He was well acquainted with practical metaphyficks. In reading travels he took great delight. From them, he drew a iarp-e fund of his knowledge of the natural hif- tory of our globe. He poffeffed talents for mufic and poetry, but the more ferious and necef- fary purfuits of his life, prevented his devoting much time to the cultivation of them. He read the Englifh poets with great pleafure. The mufe of Thomfon charmed him moft. He ( 23 ) admired his elegant combination of philofophy 3ind poetry. However oppofed thefe ftudies may appear, they alike derive their perfection from extenfive and accurate obfervations of the works of nature. He was intimately acquainted with the French, German, and Dutch languages, the two former of which he acquired without the affiftance of a mafter. They ferved the va- luable purpofe of conveying to him the difco- veries of foreign nations, and thereby enabled him to profecute his ftudies with more advan- tage, in his native language. In fpeaking of Mr. Rittenhoufe, it has been common to lament his want of what is called a liberal education.—Were education what it fhould be, in our public feminaries, this would have been a misfortune, but conducted as it is at prefent, agreeably to the fyftems adopted in Europe in the fifteenth century, I am difpofed to believe that his extenfive knowledge, and fplendid character are to be afcribed chiefly to his having efcaped the pernicious influence of monkifh learning upon his mind in early life. Had the ufual forms of a public education in the United States been impofed upon him ; in- ftead of revolving through life in a planetary orbit, he would probably have confumed the ( H ) force of his genius by fluttering around the blaze of an evening taper. Rittenhoufe the Philofo- pher, and one of the luminaries of the eighteenth century, might have fpent his hours of ftudy in compofing fyllogifms, or in meafuring the feet of Greek and Latin poetry. It will be honourable to the citizens of the United States, to add, that they were not infen- fible of the merit of our philofopher. Inven- tions and improvements in every art and fcience, were frequently fubmitted to his examination, and were afterwards patronifed by the public, according as they were approved of by him. Wherever he went, he met with public refpect, and private attentions. But his reputation was not confined to his native country. His name was known and admired in every region of the earth, where fcience and genius are cultivated and refpected.* Such were the talents and knowledge, and fuch the fame, of our departed Prefident ! His * The degree of Matter of Arts was conferred upon him by the College of Philadelphia, in 1768. The fame degree was con- ferred upon him by the College of William and Mary, in Vir- ginia, in 1784. In the year 1789, he received the degree of Doctor of Laws from the College of New-Jerfey. He was elefted a Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences at Bolton in 1782, and of the Royal Society in London in 1795. ( *5 ) virtues now demand our tribute of praife.—And here, I am lefs at a lofs to know what to fay, than what to leave unfaid. We have hitherto beheld him as a philofopher, foaring like the eagle, until our eyes have been dazzled by his near approaches to the fun. We fhall now contemplate him at a lefs diftance, and behold him in the familiar character of a man, fulfilling his various duties, in their utmoft extent. If any thing has been faid of his talents and know- ledge that has excited attention, or kindled de- fires in the younger members of our fociety, to purfue him in his path of honor, let me requeft them not to forfake me here. Come, and learn by his example, to be good, as well as great.----- His virtues furnifh the moft fhining models for your imitation, for they were never obfcured in any fituation or ftage of his life, by a frngle cloud of weaknefs or vice. As the fource of thefe virtues, whether of a public or private na- ture, I fhall firft mention his exalted fenfe of moral obligation founded upon the revelation of the perfections of the Supreme Being. This appears from many paffages in his oration, and from his private letters to his friends. In his oration we find the following pious fentiment. "Should it pleafe that Almighty Power who hath D ( 26 ) placed us in a world in which we are only per- mitted " to look about us and to die," to indulge us with exiftence throughout that half of eternity which ftill remains unfpent, and to conduct us through the feveral ftages of his works, here [meaning in the ftudy of aftronomy] is ample provifion made for employing every faculty of the mind, even allowing its powers to be enlarg- ed through an endlefs repetition of ages. Let us not complain of the vanity of this world, and that there is nothing in it capable of fatisfying us. Happy in thofe wants,—happy in thofe defires, forever in fucceffion to be gratified,—happy in a continual approach to the Deity." " I muft confefs that I am not one of thofe fanguine fpirits who feem to think that when the withered hand of death has drawn up the curtain of eternity, all diftance between the creature and the Creator, and between finite and infinite, will be annihilated. Every enlarge- ment of our faculties,—every new happinefs conferred upon us, every ftep we advance to- wards the Divinity, will very probably render us more and more fenfible of his inexhauftible ftores of communicable blifs, and of his inac- ceffible perfections." These appears to be a natural connection between akpowledge of the works of nature and ( *7 ) juft ideas of the divine perfections ; and if phi- lofophers have not in all ages been equally de- vout with our Prefident, it becomes us to en- quire how far the beneficial influence of philo- fophy upon religion, may have been prevented by their minds being pre-occupied in early life with the fictions of ancient poets, and the vices of the heathen gods. It remains yet to be de- termined, whether all the moral as well as natu- ral attributes of the Deity may not be difcovered in the form, and ceconomv of the material world, and whether that righteoufnefs which defcended from heaven near eighteen hundred years ago, may not wait for philofophical truth to fpring up from the earth, in order by uniting with it, to command univerfal belief and obedi- dience. This opinion, as far as it relates to one of the moral attributes of the Deity, feems to have been admitted by our philofopher in the following elegant and pious extract from a let- ter to one of his friends, " give me leave (fays he) to mention two or three proofs of infinite goodnefs in the works of creation. The firft is, poffeffing goodnefs in ourfelves. Now it is inconfiftent with all juft reafoning to fuppofe, that there is any thing good, lovely or praife- worthy in us, which is not poffeffed in an in- ( 28 ) finitely higher degree by that Being who firft called us into exiftence. In the next place, I reckon the exquifite and innocent delight that many things around us are calculated to afford us. In this light the beauty and fragrance of a fmgle rofe is a better argument for divine good- nefs than a luxuriant field of wheat. For if wc can fuppofe that we were created by a malevo- lent Being v\ ith a defign to torment us for his amufement, he muft have furnifhed us with the means of fubfiftence, and either have made our condition tolerable, or not have left the means of quitting it at pleafure, in our own power. Such being my opinions, you will not wonder at my fondnefs for what Mr. Addifon calls the pleafures of the imagination. They are all to me, fo many dcmonftrations of infinite goodnefs." If inch be the pious fruits of an attentive examination of the works of the Creator, ceafe ye minifters of the gofpel to defeat the defign of your benevolent labors, by interpofing the common ftudies of the fchools, between our globe, and the minds of young people. Let their firft ideas be thofe which are obtruded up- on their fenfes, by the hand of nature. Permit the firmament of heaven, and the animal, ve- getable, and mineral productions of the earth, ( 29 ) to inftruct them in the wifdom and goodnefs of the Creator, and let the effects of phyfical evil upon general happinefs, vindicate the divine go- vernment, in permitting the exiftence of moral evil in our world. Thus the perverfe paffions of man, may be made to unite with ftorms and tempefts, in furnifhing proofs of the goodnefs of the Creator of the univerfe. But the religion of Mr. Rittenhoufe, was not derived wholly from his knowledge and ad- miration of the material world. He believed in the Chriftian revelation. Of this, he gave many proofs, not only in the conformity of his life, to the precepts of the gofpel, but in his letters and converfation. I well recollect in fpeaking to me of the truth and excellency of the Chriftian religion, he mentioned as a proof of its divine origin, that the miracles of our Saviour differed from all other miracles, in being entirely of a kind and benevolent nature. It is no fmall triumph to the friends of Revelation to obferve, in this age of infidelity, that our religion has been admitted and even defended by men of the moft exalted underftanding, and of the ftrongeft reafoning powers. The fingle tef- timony of David Rittenhoufe in its favor, out- weighs the declamations of whole nations againft it. ( 3° ) As the natural effect of his belief in the re- lation of the whole human race to each other in a common Father and Redeemer, he embrac- ed the whole family of mankind in the arms of his benevolence. The force and extent of this virtue in his heart, will appear from my reading one more extract from his oration. I am aware how much I fuffer by introducing quotations from that eloquent performance, for they will caft a fhade upon all I have faid, or fhall fay upon this occafion. " How far, (fays our philofopher) the inha- bitants of the other planets may referable man, we cannot pretend to fay. If like them they were cre- ated liable to fall, yet fome, if not all of them may ftill retain their original rectitude. We will hope they do ; The thought is comfortable.— Ceafe then Gallileo to improve thy optic tube, and thou great Newton, forbear thy ardent fearch into the myfteries of nature, left ye make unwelcome difcoveries. Deprive us not of the pleafure of believing that yonder orbs, traverfing in filent majefty the etherial regions, are the peaceful feats of innocence and blifs, where nei- ther natural or moral evil has ever intruded, and where to enjoy with gratitude and adoration the Creator's bounty, is the bufinefs of exift- ( 3< ) ence. If their inhabitants refemble man in their faculties and affections, let us fuppofe that they are wife enough to govern themfelves accord- ing to the dictates of that rcafon God has given in fuch a manner, as to confult their own, and each other's happinefs upon all occafions. But if on the contrary, they have found it neceffary to erect artificial fabrics of government, let us not fuppofe they have done it with fo little fkill, and at fuch an enormous expenfe, as to render them a misfortune, inftead of a bleffing.—We will hope that their ftatefmen are patriots, and that their kings (if that order of beings has found admittance there) have the feelings of humanity. Happy people !—and perhaps more happy ftill, that all communication with us is denied. We have neither corrupted you with our vices, nor injured you by violence. None of your fons and daughters have been degraded from their native dignity, and doomed to end- lefs flavery in America, merely becaufe their bodies may be difpofed to reflect, or abforb the rays of light different from ours. Even you, inhabitants of the Moon, fituated in our very neighbourhood, are effectually fecured from the rapacious hands of the oppreffors of our globe. And the utmoft efforts of the mighty Frede- ( 3'- ) rick, the tyrant of the North, and fcourge of mankind, if aimed to difturb your peace, be- comes inconceivably ridiculous and impotent." " Pardon thefe reflections. They arife not from the gloomy fpirit of mifanthropy. That Being, before whofe piercing eye all the intri* cate foldings of the human heart, become expanded, and illuminated, is my witnefs with what fincerity, with what ardor—I wifh for the happinefs of the whole race of mankind. -—how much I admire that difpofition of lands and feas which affords a communication between diftant regions, and a mutual exchange of be- nefits—how fincerely I approve of thofe focial refinements, which add to our happinefs, and induce us with gratitude to acknowledge our Creators goodnefs, and how much I delight in a participation of the difcoveries made from time to time in nature's works, by our phi- lofophical brethren in Europe. But (adds our philofopher) when I confider that luxury, and her conftant follower tyranny, which have long fince laid the glories of Afia in the duft, are now advancing like a torrent irrefiftible, and have nearly completed their conqueft over Europe,__ I am ready to wifh-----vain with ! that nature would raife her everlafting bars between the new ( 33 ) and the old world, and make a voyage to Eu- rope as impracticable as one to the moon." As when a traveller in paffing through a wildernefs, flackens his pace to prolong the plea- fure of a hidden and unexpected profpect of a majeftic river pouring its waters down the de- clivity of a cloud-cap't mountain, and fpreading fertility and verdure throughout the adjacent vallies, fo we feel difpofed to paufe, and feaft upon the fublime fentiments contained in the paffage which I have read. Citizens of the United States, receive and cherifh them as a legacy from a friend, or a brother. Be juft, and loofe the bands of the African Have. Be wife, and render war odious in our country. Be free, by affuming a national character and name, and be greatly happy, by erecting a barrier againft the corruptions in morals, government, and religion, which now pervade all the nations of Europe.* * Mr. William Barton, nephew to Mr. Rittenhoufe, has favoured me with the following extraft of a letter dated in Sep- tember, 1755, to his brother-in-law, the Rev. Mr. Barton, who was the friend and correfpondent of his youth, which fhews how early and deeply the principles of univerfal benevolence were fixed in his mind. « I would fooner give up my intereft in a future ftate, than be -livefted of humanity ;—I mean that good wiU I hav* to the fpe- E ( 3+ ) But the philanthropy of Mr. Rittenhoufe did not confift^fimply in wifhcs for the happi- nefs of mankind. He reduced this divine prin- ciple to practice by a feries of faithful and difin- terefted fervices to that part of his fellow crea- tures, to which the ufefulnefs of good men is chiefly confined. His country, his beloved country, was the object of the ftrongeft affec- tions of his heart. For her, he thought,—for her, he laboured,—and for her, in the hours of her difficulties and danger, he wept,—in every ftage of the American revolution. Patriots of i Jj6y you will acquit me of exaggeration here, for you feel in the recollection of what paffed in your own bofoms, a witnefs of the truth of each of thefe affertions. The year of the declara- tion of Independance, which changed our royal governments into Republics, produced no change in his political principles, for he had been edu- cies, although one half of them are faii to be fools, and almoft the other half knaves. Indeed I am firmly perfuadcd, that we are not at the difpofal of a Being who has the leaft tincture of ill- nature, or requires any in us.—You will laugh at this grave phi- lofophy, or my writing to you on a fubjeel which you have thought of a thoufand times : but, can any thing that is ferious, be ridiculous ?—Shall we fuppofe Gabriel fmiling at Newton, for labouring to demonftrate whether the earth be at reft or not, be- caufe the former plainly fees it move ? ( 35 ) cated a Republican by his father. I can never forget the pleafure with which he avowed his early but fecret attachment to an elective and reprefentative form of government. Often have I heard him above twenty years ago, predict the immenfe encreafe of talents and knowledge which has been produced by the ftrength and activity that have been infufed into the American mind, by our republican conftitutions. Often, likewife, at the fame remote period of time, have I heard him anticipate with delight, the effects of our revolution in fowing the feeds of a new order of things in other parts of the world. He believed political, as well as moral evil to be in- truders into the fociety of men,—that general happinefs was the original defign, and ultimate end of the divine government, and that a time would come, when every part of our globe, would echo back the heavenly proclamation of unwer- fal peace on earth, and good will to man. Let it not be faid, that he departed from the duties of a Philofopher, by devoting a part of his time and talents to the fafety and happi- nefs of his country. It belongs to monarchies, to limit the bufinefs of government to a privi- ledged order of men, and it is from the remains of a monarchical fpirit in our country, that we ( 3* ) complain when clergymen, phyficians, philofo- phers and mechanics, take an active part in civil affairs. The obligations of patriotifm are as univerfal and binding, as thofe of juftice and be- nevolence, and the virtuous propenfities of the human heart are as much refilled by every indi- vidual who neglects thehuftnefs of his country, as thev are bv the extinction of the domeftic affections in a cell. Man was made for a re- public, and a republic was made for man, other- wife Divine Power and goodnefs have been wafted, in the creation and gift of his public affec- tions.—Our philofopher adopted this truth from the evidence of his feelings, in common with the reft of mankind, but it was ftrongly rein- forced in his mind by numerous analogies of na- ture. How was it poffible for him to contemplate light and air as the common and equal portions of every man, and not acknowledge that hea- ven intended liberty lo be diliributed in the fame manner among the whole human race ! Or how could he behold the beauty and harmony of the univerfe, as the refult of univerfal and mutual dependance, and not admit that heaven intend- ed rulers to be dependant upon thofe, for whofe benefit alone, all government fhould exift. To ( 37 ) luppofc the contrary, would be to deny unity and fyftem in the plans of the great creator of all things. I fhall make no apology for thefe fentiments. They are not foreign to the folemnity of this difcourfe. Had I faid lefs of the political prin- ciples and conduct of our enlightened Prefident, hundreds and thoufands of my fellow-citizens would have accufed me, of an act of treachery to his memory. May the time never come, in which the praifes of our republican govern- ments, fhall not be acceptable to the ears of an American audience! In the more limited circles of private life, Mr. Rittenhoufe commanded efteem and affec- tion. As a neighbour he was kind and charita- ble. His fympathy extended in a certain de- gree to diftrefs of every kind, but it was excited with the moft force, and the kindeft effects, to the weaknefs, pain and poverty of old age.— As a friend he was fincere, ardent, and difinte- refted. As a companion, he inftructed upon all fubjects. To his happy communicative dif- pofition, I beg leave to exprefs my obligations in this public manner. I can truly fay, after an acquaintance with him for fix-and-twenty years, ( 3* ) that I never went into his company, without learning fomething. With pleafure have I locked beyond my prefent labors to a time, when his fociety fhould conftitute one of the principal enjoyments of the evening of my life.—But alas ! that time, fo often anticipated, and fo delightful in profpect—will never— come ! I hope it will not be thought that I tread too clofely upon his footftcps, when I prefume to lift the latch of his door, and to exhibit him in the domeftic relations of a hufband and father. It was the practice of /the pfiilofophcrs of former ages, to pafs their lives in their clofets, and to maintain a formal and diftant intercourfe with their families; but our philofopher was a ftran- ger to pride and impofture in every tiling. Flis family conftituted his chief fociety, and the moft intimate circle of his friends. When the de- clining ftate of his health, rendered the foli- tude of his ftudy, lefs agreeable than in former years, he paffed whole evenings in reading or converting, with his wife and daughters. Hap- py family ! fo much and fo long bleffcd with ihch a head ! and happier ftill, to have poffeffed difpofitions and knowledge to difcern and love his exalted character, and to enjoy his inftruct- ( 39 ) ing converfation '.—Thus fir Thomas Moore lived with his accomplifhed wife and daughters; —Thus Cicero educated his beloved Tullia ; and in this way only, can the female fex be el- evated to that dignity, and ufefulnefs in focie- ty, for which they were formed, and by which, from their influence upon manners, a new sera would be created in the hiftory of mankind. The houfe, and manner of living, of our prefident, exhibited the tafte of a philofopher, the fimplicity of a republican, and the temper cf a Chriftian. He was independent, and content- ed with an eftate, fmall in the eftimation of am- bition and avarice, but amply fuited to all his wants and defires. He held the office of trea- furer of Pennfylvania, by an annual and unani- mous vote of the legiflature, between the years 1777, and 1789. During this period, he de- clined purchafing the fmalleft portion of the public debt of the ftate, thereby manifefting a delicacy of integrity, which is known and felt only by pure and elevated minds. In the year 1792, he was perfuaded to ac- cept of the office of Director of the mint of the United States. Kis want of health, obliged him to refign it in 1795. Here his conduct was like wife above fufpicion, for I have been inform- ( 40 ) ed by his colleague in office,* that in feveral in- ftances, he paid for work done at the mint out of his falary, where he thought the charges for it, would be deemed extravagant by the United States. His ceconomv extended to a wife and profitable ufe of his time. No man ever found him unemployed. As an apology for detaining a friend a few minutes, while he arranged fome papers he had been examining, he faid, " that he had once thought health, the greateft bleffing in the world, but that he now thought there was one thing of much greater value, and that was time." The propriety of this remark will appear when we confider, that Providence, fo liberal in other gifts, beftows this, in a fpar- ing manner. He never gives a fecond moment, until he has withdrawn the firft, and ftill referves the third in his own hand. The countenance of Mr. Rittenhoufe, was too remarkable to be unnoticed upon this occa- fion. It difplayed fuch a mixture of contempla- tion, benignity, and innocence, that it was ca- fy to diftinguifh his perfon in the largeft com- pany, by a previous knowledge of his character. Flis manners were civil, and engaging to fuch a • Dr. Way. f 41 ) degree, that he feldom paffed an hour, even in a public houfe, in travelling through our coun- try, without being followed by the good wifhes of all who attended upon him. There was no affectation of Angularity, in any thing he faid, or did. Even his hand writing, in which this weaknefs fo frequently difcovers itfelf, was fim- ple and intelligible at firft fight, to all who faw it. Here I expected to have finifhed the detail of his virtues, but in the neighbourhood of that galaxy created by their conneded luftre, I be- hold a virtue of ineftimable value, twinkling like a rare, and folitary ftar. It is his fuperlative modefty. This heaven born virtue was fo con- fpicuous in every part of his conduct, that he appeared not fo much to conceal, as to be igno- rant of his fuperiority as a philofopher and a man, over the greateft part of his fellow-crea- tures. In reviewing the intellectual endowments and moral excellency of Mr. Rittenhoufe, and our late intimate connection with him, we are led to rejoice in being men. We proceed now to the clofing fcenes of his life. His conftitution was naturally feeble, but it was rendered ftill more fo, by fedentary la- F I 42 ) bour, and midnight ftudies. Fie was afflicted for many years with a weak breaft, which, upon unufual exertions of body or mind, or hidden changes in the weather, became the feat of a painful and harraffing diforder. This conftitu- tional infirmity was not without its ufes. It con- tributed much to the perfection of his virtue, by producing habitual patience and refignation to the will of heaven, and a conftant eye to the hour of his diffolution. It was a window through which he often looked with pleafure towards a place of exiftence, where from the encreafe and perfection of his intuitive faculties, he would probably acquire more knowledge in an hour, than he had acquired in his whole life, by the flow operations of reafon ; and where, from the greater magnitude and extent of the objects of his contemplation, his native globe, would appear like his cradle, and all the events of time, like the amufements of his infant years. On the 26th of June, of the prefent year, the long expected meilenger of death, difclofed his commiffion. In his laft illnefs, which was acute, and fhort, he retained the ufual patience and benevolence of his temper. Upon being told that fome of his friends had called at his door to inquire how he was; he ( 43 ) afked why they were not invited into his cham- ber to fee him. " Becaufe (faid his wife) you are too weak to fpeak to them." " Yes (faid he) that is true, but I could ftill have fqueezed their hands."—Thus with a heart overflowing with love to his family, friends, country, and to the whole world, he peacefully refigned his fpirit into the hands of his God. Let the day of his death be recorded in the annals of our fo- ciety, and let its annual return be marked by fome public act, which fhall characterife his fervices and our grief, and thereby animate us and our fucceffors, to imitate his illuftrious ex- ample ! It has been the fafhion of late years, to fay of perfons who had been diftinguifhed in life, when they left the world in a ftate of indiffer- ence to every thing, and believing, and hoping in nothing, that they died like philofophers. Very different was the latter end of our excel- lent prefident. He died like a chriftian, inte- refted in the welfare of all around him—believ- ing in the refurrection, and the life to come, and hoping for happinefs from every attribute of the Deity. Agreeably to his requeft, his body was in- terred in his obfervatory near his dwelling ( 44 ) houfe, in the prefence of a numerous concourfc of his fellow-citizens. It was natural for him in the near profpect of appearing in the pre- fence of his Maker, to feel an attachment to that fpot in which he had cultivated a know- ledge of his perfections, and held communion with him through the medium of his works. Hereafter it fhall become one of the objects of curiofity in our city. Thither fhall the plilofo- phers of future ages refort to do homage to his tomb, and children yet unborn, fhall point to the dome which covers it, and exultlngly fay, 44 there lies our Rittenhoufe." Let us my refpecled colleagues, repair for a few minutes to that awful fpot.—In entering it, —we behold the telefcope, dear inftrument of his difcoveries, turned upon its axis, and point- ed to the earth, which has clofed its mailer's eyes.—How artlefs—the infcription upon his tombftone !—It contains nothing but his name, and the Ample record of the days and years of his birth and death.—Very different would have been the monument of his worth and fame, had not the gratitude and affection of his friends been controuled by his dying requcft. His head would have reclined in marble, upon the lap of religion. At his feet, fcience would have fat— ( 45 ) bathed in tears; while the genius of republican liberty, in the figure of a venerable hermit, bending over his grave, would have deplored the lofs of his favorite fon.—Alas!—too—too foon has our beloved prefident been torn from the chair of our fociety !—Too foon has he laid a fide his robes of office, and ceafed to minifter for us day and night at the altar of fcience !— Ah !—who now will elevate his telefcope, and again direct it towards yonder heavens ? Who now will obferve the tranfit of the planets ? Who now will awaken our nation to view the tracklefs and ftupendous comet ? Who now will meafure the courfes of our rivers, in order to convey their ftreams into our city, for the purpofes of health and commerce ?----Na- ture is dumb;----for the voice of her chief interpreter is huflied in death.—In this hour of our bereavement, to whom fhall we look?—but to thee, father of life and light:—thou author of great and good gifts to man. O ! let not thy Sun, thy Moon, and thy Stars now fl\ine unobferved among us ! may the genius of our departed prefident, like the mantle of thy prophet of old, defcend upon fome mem- ( 46 ) ber of our fociety, who fhall, as he did, ex- plain to us the myfteries of thy works, and lead us ftep by ftep, to thyself, the great over- flowing fountain of wifdom, goodnefs and mer- cy, to the children of men ! Mcri. Hist- UIZ. c. i niP'iiP Slijfl] iSBk >>• J f*0i*0\'*.' £■,■ ■ %ys5*W