tional gratification and evidence of his country's confidence in his talents, his integrity, and his patriotism, by being chosen a member of the State Convention for the adoption of the Federal Constitution.

These great events being accomplished, Dr. Rush gradually retired from political life, resolved to dedicate the remainder of his days to the practice of his profession, the performance of his collegiate duties, and the publication of those doctrines and principles in medicine which he considered calculated to advance the interests of his favourite science, or to diminish the evils of human life. In a letter which I received from him as early as the year 1794, he expresses this determination, adding, "I have lately become a mere spectator of all public events." And in a conversation on this subject, during the last two years of his life, he expressed to me the high gratification which he enjoyed in his medical studies and pursuits, and his regret that he had not at a much earlier period withdrawn his attention from all other subjects, and bestowed it exclusively upon his profession.

Such was the attachment of Dr. Rush to his profession, that, speaking of his approaching dissolution, he remarks, when that time shall come, I shall relinquish many attractions to life, and among them a pleasure which to me has no equal in human pursuits; I mean that which I derive from studying, teaching, and practising medicine." But he loved it as a science; principles in medicine were the great objects

of all his inquiries. He has well observed, that medicine without principles is a humble art and a degrading occupation: but, directed by principles,-the only sure guide to a safe and successful practice,―it imparts the highest elevation to the intellectual and moral character of man.

But the high professional character and attainments of Dr. Rush did not alone display themselves in his skill as a physician, or his abilities as a teacher; he was equally distinguished as a writer and an author.

The present occasion does not allow me to recite even the numerous subjects of his medical publications; much less does it afford an opportunity to review the opinions they contain. I must however, observe generally, that the numerous facts and principles which the writings of Dr. Rush contain, the doctrines they inculcate relative to the nature and causes of disease, and the improvements they have introduced into the practice of medicine, recommend them to an attentive perusal and study, while the perspicuity and elegance of the style in which they are written give them an additional claim to attention as among the finest models of composition. The same remarks are equally applicable to the epistolary style of Dr. Rush, and that of bis conversation; in both of which he eminently excelled.

Mr. Fox declared in the British House of Commons that he had learned more from Mr. Burke's conversation than from all the books he had ever read. It may also be observed of the conversa tion of Dr. Rush, that such were

the

the riches of his mind; such was the active employment of all his faculties; so constant was his habit of giving expression to his thoughts in an extensive correspondence, in the preparation of his public discourses, and in his daily intercourse with the world, that few persons ever left his society without receiving instruction, and expressing their astonishment at the perpetual stream of eloquence in which his thoughts were communicated.

It has frequently been the subject of surprise that amidst the numerous avocations of Dr. Rush, as a practitioner and a teacher of medicine, that he found leisure for the composition and the publication of the numerous medical and literary works which have been the production of his pen.

Although Dr. Rush possessed by nature an active and discriminating mind, in which were blended great quickness of perception, and a retentive memory; although he enjoyed the benefits of an excellent preliminary and professional education, it was only by habits of uncommon industry, punctuality in the performance of all his engagements, the strictest temperance and regularity in his mode of life, that enabled him to accomplish so much in his profession, and to contribute so largely to the medical literature of his country. Dr. Rush, like most men who have extended the boundaries of any department of human knowledge; who have contributed to the improvement of any art or science, was in habits of early rising, by which he always secured what Gibbon has well denominated "the sacred portion of the day."

The great moralist* justly observes, that "to temperance every day is bright, and every hour is propitious to diligence." The extreme temperance of Dr. Rush in like manner enabled him to keep his mind in continual employment, thereby "setting at defiance the morning mist and the evening damp-the blasts of the east, and the clouds of the south.Ӡ He knew not that "lethargy of indolence" that follows the inordinate gratifications of the table. His ciesto did not consist in indulgence upon the bed or in the armed chair, to recover those powers which had been paralysed or suspended by an excessive meal, or the intemperate use of vinous or spirituous drinks.

Dr. Johnson, during his tour to the Hebrides, when fatigued by his journey, retired to his chamher, and wrote his celebrated Latin ode addressed to Mrs. Thrale. Dr. Rush, in like manner, after the fatigues of professional duty, refreshed his mind by the perusal of some favourite poet, some work of taste, some volume of travels, biography, or history. These were the pillows on which he sought repose.

But the virtues of the heart, like the faculties of his mind, were also in continued exercise for the benefit of his fellow men; while the numerous humane, charitable, and religious associations, which do honour to the city of Philadelphia, bear testimony to the philanthropy and piety which animated the bosom of their departed benefactor, let it also be remembered that, as with the good Sa

Dr. Johnson. + Boswell. Boswell.

maritan,

maritan, the poor were the objects of his peculiar care; and that in the latter and more prosperous years of his life, oneseventh of his income was expended upon the children of affliction and want. Dr. Boerhaave said of the poor, that they were his best patients, because God was their paymaster.

Let it also be recorded, that the last act of Dr. Rush was an act of charity, and that the last expression which fell from his lips was an injunction to his son, "Be indulgent to the poor."

"Vale egregium academiæ decus! tuum nomen mecum semper durabit; et laudes et honores tui in æternum manebunt."

These words were addressed by Dr. Rush, upon his taking leave of the University of Edinburgh, to his particular friend and preceptor, Dr. Cullen.

The King of the Sandwich Islands; from Campbell's Voyage round the World.

The sudden revolution produced in the customs of the natives of the Sandwich islands, from their intercourse with the Europeans, gives a peculiar interest to any recent accounts of them, from which we may be enabled to trace the progress of society in one of its earliest stages. These islands, from their situation, midway between the continents of Asia and America, the fertility of their soil, and the natural talents and industry of the natives, are rendered by far the most interesting of the recent discoveries in the

Pacific ocean, and so were considered by Captain Cook.

When Captain Cook, in 1778, discovered the Sandwich islands, Tereoboo was king of Owhyhee ; Teteree, of Moratai; and Pedeoranne of Waoho, and the islands to the leeward. Tamaahmaah, the present king, is known in Cook's voyage under the name of Maiha-maiha, and was present at the death of that illustrious navigator: he was only brother to Tereoboo.

From the departure of the Resolution till the year 1787, no ship visited these islands. In 1788, Captain Douglas, in the Iphiginia, touched at Owhyhee. Tamaahmaah at this time having obtained the assistance of Boyd, a ship carpenter, built a small tender, and it was at this period that Young and Davis, the persons subsequently noticed, became resident at Owhyhee. After the arrival of Captain Vancouver, the king, with the assistance of the ships carpenters, constructed this first decked vessel; and in order to ensure the good-will of the English, a formal surrender of the sovereignty of these islands was made by the king, reserving, however, freedom in all matters of religion, internal government, and domestic economy. Tamaahmaah, after various successes, had in 1810 reduced all the islands in this group under his dominions, except Atooi and Onehooi.

Scarcely 30 years have elapsed since the period of the discovery of these islands; and we already find a chief who has made rapid progress towards civilization, and who on all occasions has availed himself of every opportunity of

intercourse

intercourse with the Europeans, surrounded by artificers, with guards regularly trained to the use of fire-arms, and a navy of 60 sail of decked vessels, built on the island; almost every vessel that navigates the Pacific, finds shelter, provisions, or trade in his harbour. Much is to be ascribed to the natural ingenuity and unwearied industry of the inhabitants; but added to this, they have received all the benefits which are conferred on rising communities, by the appearance of their chief, Tamaahmaah, "one of those great men who go before their age.'

The death of Captain Cook, and the frequent murders by the natives of the subsequent navigators, gave such ideas of the savage nature of the inhabitants, that for many years few ships ventured to touch there.

But

since the present chief has established his power, his conduct has been marked with such justice, that strangers are as safe in his ports as in those of any other nation. He is known in this country from the accounts of Turnbull, Lisianski, and Langsdorf, and much interest has been excited respecting him; but none of these navigators ever saw him. From a volume recently published, A Voyage round the World, by Archibald Campbell," we have some further account of Tamaahmaah, and from one who, by residing with him, had every opportunity of personal observation. Campbell was a native of a village near Glasgow, and hav-. ing escaped from an English man of war, entered himself on board an Indiaman. Whilst at

Canton, he was enticed from his ship by the commander of an American vessel, bound to the north-west coast of America, on which coast the vessel was afterwards wrecked. Before they reached Kodiak, his feet becoming mortified from the extreme cold, were both amputated at Kodiak, by a Russian surgeon; here he remained some time, employed to teach the children of the natives English. In the hope, however, of meeting with American vessels at the Sandwich islands, in which he might return home, he was induced to leave Kodiak, in the Neva (the ship commanded by Captain Lisianski, in Captain Krusenstern's expedition.) From Kodiak they proceeded to the island of Wahoo, being the one of the Sandwich islands now chosen by Tamaahmaah for his residence. Campbell's appearance having excited the compassion of the queen, he was invited to reside in her house, and being recommended by the Russian captain to the king, was employed as a sail-maker in the royal arsenal. After remaining in the king's establishment for several months, he removed to the house of Isaac Davis, a Welchman, who had been on the island about twenty years. Soon afterwards a tract of land of about sixty acres, on which fifteen families resided, was granted to him by the king. After having overhauled all the sails of the fleet, he managed to construct a loom, and began to weave sail cloth; and being by trade a weaver, he succeeded in making some before he quitted the island. But in July 1810, a South-Sea

whaler,