Williamson; yet the known purity of his intentions, his inflexible devotedness to the interests of his country, and the unblemished tenor of his private life, awakened an attention which was well supported by the pertinency of his observations, the soundness of his reasoning, and the information he possessed upon every subject to which he directed his attention.

While in congress, his duties as a legislator were his exclusive study, and this advantage seldom failed of a success which was denied to the lengthened debate and declamation of his opponents.

In his answer to a letter enclosing the thanks of the general assembly of North Carolina, for his long and faithful services, referring to his own conduct, he observes, "On this repeated testimony of the approbation of my fellow citizens, I cannot promise that I shall be more diligent or more attentive to their interests; for ever since I have had the honour to serve them in congress, their particular interest, and the honour and prosperity of the nation, have been the sole objects of my care; to them I have devoted every hour of my time."

In January, 1789, doctor Williamson was married to Miss Maria Apthorpe, daughter of the late Charles Ward Apthorpe, formerly a member of his majesty's council, for the province of New York: by that lady he had two sons: she died when the youngest was but a few days old.

After the loss he had sustained by the death of Mrs. Williamson, he resolved to retire from public employment, to settle his private affairs; to prepare for publication his work on Climate, and his more elaborate performance, his History of North Carolina: but the object of attention which lay still nearer his heart, and which especially induced him to withdraw from the very honourable station he had held, was the education of his children: to them he devoted, with great solicitude, a large portion of his time and attention. His eldest son, who died in 1811, in the 22d year of his age, gave evidence of the parental care that had been exercised in the superintendence of his education, and of the success with which it had been conducted.

The younger son, whose constitutional infirmities gave little promise, by his death soon after, filled up the measure of his father's afflictions. Although the doctor was never heard to lament the loss

of his children, yet no fortitude of mind that he possessed could prevent him from feeling, that in the death of his elder son in particular, he had lost his companion, the staff and solace of his old age. But his mind did not require that repose which his feelings otherwise solicited. From this period, the pursuits of philosophy became the more exclusive objects of his regard.

In 1811, his "Observations on the climate in different parts of America, compared with the climate in corresponding parts of the other continent," were published, in one volume 8vo. It is in vain to attempt any thing like an analysis of this performance, at this time: a few remarks, however, on this interesting subject, may not be irrelevant. Actuated by patriotism and the love of truth, Dr Williamson indignantly exposes the sophistry of those writers who have asserted, that America is a country in which the frigid temperature and vice of the climate, prevent the growth and expansion of animal and vegetable nature, and cause man and beast to degenerate. He altogether discards the notion, that a new or inferior race of men had been created for the American continent. A firm believer in the Mosaic writings, he labours with the learned bishop of Clogher, to prove the conformity of things to biblical history. He believes our country, in her rivers, mountains, lakes, and vegetable productions, to be formed on a scale of more magnificence than those of the old world, and thinks that the winters are more temperate on the western than on the eastern coast of North America; although in some parts of this continent they are colder than in corresponding latitudes of Europe: he maintains a gradual amelioration of our climate. He considers the opinion that the Indian is of a new race, to be altogether untenable; that every part of America was inhabited when discovered by Columbus, and that North America was settled from Tartary or Japan, and from Norway; that South America was peopled from India. In the following year, 1812, appeared his History of North Carolina, in two volumes 8vo.

The author commences his undertaking with a short account of the discoveries made in America by adventurers from the different parts of Europe. He next relates the attempts of Sir Walter Raleigh to settle a colony in North Carolina, and from that time the history of that colony is continued down to the beginning of the

American revolution: the work closes with a view of the soil, produce, and general state of health in different parts of that country. In the proofs and explanations annexed to each volume, are inserted many valuable documents, selected with care, illustrative of matters contained in the body of the text.

There are other writings by the same author, of a minor nature, which merit notice. He was at no time an indifferent spectator of passing events, and even after he had actually withdrawn from public life, was repeatedly engaged, exclusively of his works on Climate and on North Carolina, in various publications relating to natural history, medicine, and other branches of a philosophical character. In 1797, Dr. Williamson wrote a short but important paper* on the fevers of North Carolina, as they had prevailed in 1792, in Martin county, near the river Roanoke, and as they had appeared in 1794, upon the river Neus, pointing out the treatment that had been found most successful, and the fatal effects of bloodletting in fevers of that type: these remarks were afterwards extended, and compose a chapter in his History of North Carolina,t highly interesting both to the pupil and practitioner of medicine.

In the American Museum, by Mathew Carey, he published several fugitive pieces on language and politics.

In his communication on the Fascination of Serpents, published in the Medical Repository, he offers some new and ingenious opinions on that still inexplicable phenomenon in natural history.

He enriched the American Medical and Philosophical Register with several valuable papers. The first entitled, "Remarks upon the incorrect manner in which Iron Rods are sometimes set up for defending houses from Lightning," &c. conveys some important practical instruction upon that subject. His other papers were, "Conjectures respecting the Native Climate of Pestilence;" Observations on Navigable Canals;” « Observations on the means of preserving the Commerce of New York," and "Additional Observations on Navigable Canals;" all printed in the same periodical journal, under the signatures of Observer, or Mercator. Doctor Williamson was among the first of our citizens who enter

* See Medical Repository, vol. 2. p. 156. See vol. 2. Vol. 10. p. 341, &c.

tained correct views as to the practicability of forming a canal to connect the waters of Lake Erie with the Hudson river; and the importance of this great work so engaged his feelings, that besides the papers already mentioned, on canal navigation, he published a series on the same subject, under the title of Atticus. These papers were so well received, that many thousand copies have been circulated through the medium of newspapers, and the pamphlet itself has been several times reprinted.

In the year 1810, Dr. Williamson was appointed by the New York Historical Society, to deliver the anniversary discourse, illustrative of the objects of that institution: he readily complied with their request, and upon that occasion selected for his subject, "the benefits of Civil History." That discourse is evidently the result of much reading and reflection.

In 1814, associated with the present governor* of this state, and some other gentlemen friendly to the interests of science, and desirous to promote the literary reputation of the state of New York, Dr. Williamson took an active part in the formation and establishment of the Literary and Philosophical Society of this city; and contributed to its advancement by the publication of a valuable paper in the first volume of its transactions.

The life of this excellent man was now drawing to its close. Hitherto, by means of the uniform temperance and regularity of his habits, he had, with very few exceptions, been protected from any return of those pulmonary complaints with which he had been affected in his youth. His intellectual faculties remained to the last period of his life unbroken, and in their full vigor.

He died on the 22d day of May, 1819, in the 85th year of his age.

It remains for me to detain you, while I offer a few observations illustrative of such parts of Dr. Williamson's character as are not embraced in the details that have already occupied our attention.

In his conversation, Dr. Williamson was pleasant facetious, and animated; occasionally indulging in wit and satire; alway remarkable for the strength of his expressions, and an emphatic manner of utterance, accompanied with a peculiarity of gesticulation,

* His excellency De Witt Clinton.

originally in part ascribable to the impulse of an active mind, but which early in life had become an established habit.

As was to be expected from the education of Dr. Williamson, and from his long and extensive intercourse with the world, his manners, though in some respects eccentric, were generally those of a polite, well bred gentleman. Occasionally, however, when he met with persons who either displayed great ignorance, want of moral character, or a disregard for religious truth, he expressed his feelings and opinions in such manner, as distinctly to show them they possessed no claim to his respect. To such, both his language and manner might be considered as abrupt, if not possessing a degree of what might be denominated Johnsonian rudeness.

His style, both in conversation and in writing, was simple, concise, perspicuous, and remarkable for its strength; always displaying correctness of thought, and logical precision. In the order too and disposal of his discourse, whether real or written, such was the close connexion of its parts, and the dependence of one proposition upon that which preceded it, that it became easy to discern the influence of his early predilection for mathematical investigation. The same habit of analysis, arising from "the purifying influence of geometrical demonstration," led him to avoid that profusion of language, with which it has become customary with some writers to dilute their thoughts: in like manner, he carefully abstained from that embroidery of words which a modern and vitiated taste has rendered too prevalent.

Under the impressions and precepts he had very early received, no circumstances could ever induce him to depart from that line of conduct which his understanding had informed him was correct. His constancy of character, the obstinacy I may say of his integrity, whether in the minor concerns of private life, or in the performance of his public duties, became proverbial with all who knew him. Nothing could ever induce him

"To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind.”