tensively engaged in trade and navigation, and also concerned in manufactures and agriculture. He was a decided advocate, and a zealous supporter, both of civil and religious liberty; a firm patriot, a friend to his country, and a patron of useful public institutions. He possessed a sound and discriminating mind, and a clear and comprehensive understanding; was alike distinguished for his public and private virtues, being an able and faithful public officer, and an eminently useful private citizen.

Governor Hopkins finished his long, honourable and useful life, on the 20th July, 1785, in the seventy-ninth year of his age.

HUMPHREY, DAVID, was born in Derby, Connecticut, in July, 1752. In 1767, he entered Yale college, and receiv ed his first degree in 1771. Whilst in college. he cultivated an attachment to the muses, and disclosed early evidences of poetical talent. During the revolutionary war, he entered the army as a captain; but at what time is not known.

In 1778, however, he was aid to general Putnam, with the rank of major. Two years after this, he was appointed aid to the commander in chief; having been the successful candidate of four who solicited the office. His competitors were colonel Talmadge, general William Hull, and Roger Alden. He continued in this situation during the war, having the rank of a colonel, and was particularly distinguished at the memorable siege of York; and congress, as a respectful testimony of their high estimation of his valour, fidelity, and signal services on this occasion, voted him an elegant sword. At the close of the war, he accompanied general Washington to Virginia. In 1784, he embarked for France, in company with the brave but unfortunate Kosciusko; having, on the appointment of Mr. Jefferson as ambassador to France, been nominated as his secretary. In 1786, he returned to America, and revisited the scenes of his youth in his native town. after his return, he was elected by his fellow citizens to be their representative in the legislature of the state, and continued to be elected for two years; when he was appointed to the command of a regiment raised for the western service.— During the period that he held this office, he remained most of the time in Hartford; and, with Hopkins, Barlow and Trumbull, assisted in the publication of the Anarchiad. On the reduction of his regiment, he repaired to Mount Vernon, and continued with general Washington until 1790, when he received an apointment to the court of Portugal. In 1794, he visited America, but soon returned to Lisbon. Soon after this, he received an appointment to the court of Spain, where he continued until 1802, when he again returned to his native

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country. This was the end of his public life. After his return to America, he was, until his death, extensively engag. ed in various objects of public utility, particularly manufactures and agriculture. He is well known to have been one of the first who introduced merino sheep into this country, which has greatly improved the quality of wool, and given a strong impetus to domestic manufactures. He established an extensive woolen and cotton factory in his native town, which gave employment to a number of persons. He also did much for the promotion of agriculture, and just previously to his death was making exertions to form a society, for the purpose of procuring a farm for agricultural experiments.

General Humphrey possessed considerable literary acquirements, although he published no work of magnitude; his writings consist principally of various poetical productions. Of these, the most important are, an address to the armies of the United States; a poem on the happiness of America; a poem on the future glory of the United States; a poem on the industry of the United States; a poem on the love of country; and a poem on the death of Washington. He wrote also a memoir of general Putnam, various political tracts, &c.

He died in New-Haven, 21st February, 1818, aged sixtysix years.

HUNTINGTON, SAMUEL, governor of Connecticut, was born in Windham, in 1732, and descended from an ancient family. In his youth he gave indications of an excellent understanding. Without the advantages of a collegial education he acquired a competent knowledge of the law, and was early admitted to the bar; soon after which he settled in Norwich, and in a few years became eminent in his profession.

"In 1764, Mr. Huntington commenced his political labours as a representative of the town of Norwich in the general assembly; and in the following year received the office of king's attorney, which he sustained with reputation, until more important services induced him to relinquish it. In 1774, he was appointed an associate judge in the superior court, and in the following year, a member of the council of Connecticut.

"Being decided in his opposition to the claims and oppressions of the British parliament, and active in his exertions in favour of the colonies, the general assembly of Connecticut, properly appreciating his talents and patriotism, appointed him a delegate to congress, on the second Tuesday of October, 1775, in conjunction with Roger Sherman. Oliver Wolcott, Titus Hosmer, and William Williams, Esquires. On the 16th of January, 1776. he took his seat in that venerable assembly, and in the subsequent month of July, affixed his

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signature to an instrument which has excited the admiration of all contemporary nations, and will continue to be cherished and maintained so long as free principles and free institutions are permitted to exist. In this high station, he devoted his talents and time to the public service, during several successive years. His stern integrity, and inflexible patriotism, rendered him a prominent member, and attracted a large share of the current business of the house; as a member of numerous important committees, he acted with judgment and deliberation, and cheerfully and perseveringly dedicated his moments of leisure to the general benefit of the country. He zealously performed the duties of this office during the years 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, and 1780; when he returned to Connecticut, and resumed his station upon the bench, and seat in the council; which had been continued vacant until his return.

"The estimation in which Mr. Huntington was held by his fellow members, may be properly appreciated from his appointment, on the 28th of September, 1779, to the highest civil dignity of the country. On the resignation of the honorable John Jay, who had been appointed minister plenipotentiary to negotiate a treaty of amity and commerce, and of alliance, between the United States of America, and his Catholic majesty, Mr. Huntington was elected president of congress: in 1780, he was re-elected to the same honorable office, which he continued to fill, with dignity and impartiality, until the following year, when, worn out by the constant cares of public life, and his unremitting application to his official duties, he desired leave of absence, and intimated to the house the necessity of his returning home for the re-establishment of his health. The nomination of his successor was, however, postponed by congress, which appeared unwilling to dispense with the services of a president, whose practical worth had been so long and amply displayed. After the expiration of two months, Mr. Huntington, on the sixth of July, 1781, more explicitly declared that his ill state of health would not permit him to continue longer in the exercise of the duties of that office, and renewed his application for leave of absence. His resignation was then accepted, and Samuel Johnson, Esq. of North Carolina, declining the appointment, the honorable Thomas M'Kean was elevated to the presidency. A few days after his retirement, the thanks of congress were presented to Mr. Huntington, "in testimony of their approbation of his conduct in the chair, and in the execution of public business."

"After having thus pursued his congressional career with distinguished success, rising by the energy of his own mind, and the perseverance of self-instruction, from the plough to

the presidency, Mr. Huntington, in August, 1781, resumed his judicial functions in the superior court of Connecticut, aud his station in the council of that state. His rapid exaltation had not proved prejudicial to his mind or manners, but he returned to his constituents in the same plain and unassuming character, which had first attracted their confidence and admiration.

"In May, 1782, he was again elected a delegate to congress, but it does not appear that he joined his colleagues in that body during the year for which he was then appointed. The injury which his health had previously sustained, and his duties as a judge, and a counsellor, probably prevented him from becoming an active member of the delegation. But his desire to engage in scenes of more general usefulness, overcame these objections at the ensuing election; having been re-appointed in 1783, he resumed his seat in congress in the following July. He continued, without intermission, to perform his duties in congress until its adjournment to Annapolis, on the 4th of November, 1783, when he finally retired from the great council of the nation, of which he had so long been an influential member.

"In 1784, soon after his return from Congress, he was appointed chief justice of the superior court of Connecticut, and after discharging the duties of that office for one year, was elected lieutenant governor of the state. Having at all times a perfect command over his passions, he presided on the bench with great ability, and impartiality: no judge in Connecticut was more dignified in his deportment, more courteous and polite to the gentlemen of the bar, nor more respected by the particular parties interested in the proceedings of the court, as well as the public in general. His name and his virtues are frequently mentioned by those who remember him in his judicial capacity, with respect and veneration.

"In 1786, he succeeded governor Griswold, as chief magistrate of the state, and continued to be annually re-elected, with singular unanimity, until his death.

"This excellent man and undeviating patriot, died in Norwich, on the fifth day of January, 1796, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. Although afflicted with a complication of disorders, particularly the dropsy in the chest, his death was tranquil and exemplary, and previous to the singular debility both of mind and body under which he laboured a few days before that event, his religious confidence continued firm and unwavering. In his person, Mr. Huntington was of the common stature; his complexion dark, and his eye bright and penetrating; his manners where somewhat formal, and he possessed a peculiar faculty of repressing impertinence, repelling

unpleasant advances, and keeping aloof from the criticising observations of the multitude. But in the social circle of relatives and friends, he was a pleasing and entertaining companion.

Few men, possessing all the faculties of education, have attained a greater share of civil honours than the self-taught Huntington. He was a man of profound thought and penetration, of great prudence and practical wisdom, of patient investigation and singular perseverance, and of distinguished moderation and equanimity; he was cool and deliberate, moderate and circumspect in all his actions, and possessed of a clear and sound mind.

His deportment in domestic life was excellent; his temper serene; and his disposition benevolent. He was the friend of order and of religion, a member of the christian church, and punctual in the devotions of the family.

Such was Samuel Huntington, the friend of man; loaded with honours, he attained a good old age.

In the 4th volume of Sanderson's "Biography of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence," a neat and valuable work, published in Philadelphia, from which we select the greatest portion of the foregoing sketch; the following just remarks precede the sketch:

"Among the phalanx of patriots which fearlessly and unbroken, resisted the menaces and efforts of the British government to prevent the declaration of independence, it is remarkable to observe the great proportion that arose from the humble walks of life, and by the vigour of their intellect, and unwearied perseverance, compensated the deficiencies of early education, and enrolled themselves with honour and capacity, among the champions of colonial freedom. When we look upon the plough-boy, or the mechanic, self-taught masters in the school of policy, elevated to the dignity of legislation, which, at that period, was conferred upon talents and integrity alone; when we see them seated among the first ranks of that great deliberative body which sealed with solemn pledges its devotion to independence; we are penetrated with deep emotions of admiration, not only at the powerful perseverance which rescued them from oblivion, but at the strength of mind and stability of purpose, which influenced and incited humble individuals to aspire to and attain a rank among the fathers and founders of the republic. But it is in times of public commotion, when the minds of men are powerfully agitated in the pursuit of favourite and important objects, that talents and genius attain their proper level. In seasons of public prosperity, when the vessel of the state pursues its course with favourable gales, and no adverse winds impede