er of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, and subsequently Governor of that State. In so critical a period and with such associates, his interest naturally became strongly excited in the political state of the country, and he acquired a knowledge with the prominent characters of the day, which enabled him the better to deal his satiric blows in his celebrated poem of McFingal.

He became acquainted with the views and feelings of many intelligent and influential men about the Courts of London and Paris; and forming the same opinions as those around him, he endeavored by anonymous publications to second their exertions in encouraging a spirit of resistance to the oppression of the British Ministry. In the month of November, 1774, Mr Trumbull having returned to New Haven, entered upon the practice of his profession. Before he left Boston, however, his poem entitled an Elegy on the Times, was published, without the author's name.

In the year 1775, among the means resorted to, to keep up the hopes and courage of persons likely to despond amidst the losses, disappointments, and dangers, which befel the country, it was proposed to Mr Trumbull to write a satirical poem: and being prevailed upon by some of his friends, members of Congress, at Philadelphia, he composed the first Canto of McFingal, which was soon transmitted to that city and there published.

This poem was the most popular of his works for the brilliancy of its wit, and the pungency of its satire, rather than for the superior excellence of its poetry, in which respect it is rivalled by other of his own productions.

The object of the tory party was to daunt the people by representations of the mighty power of Britain, and the dreadful effects which would follow to this country from a separation - the efforts of wise patriots were directed to counteract this impression -- more injurious to our cause than an armed host of enemies; and few men so materially assisted in this as Trumbull, by his publication of McFingal, which was a more valuable present to the revolution, than would have been a regiment of cavalry fully armed and mounted.

Mr Trumbull was married in November, 1776, to Miss Sarah Hubbard, daughter of Col. Leveret Hubbard of New-Haven. In May, 1777, at the time when that place was exposed to invasion, he removed to his native town, where he spent the four following years, devoting himself to his business and his favorite classical and belles-lettres studies. His health, in consequence of the labor and fatigue he underwent during this period, suffered severely and a principal cause of its decline, was his exertions and .exposure in travelling from Court to Court in the severe winter of 1780.His disease was of a nervous nature, and partly with the hope that Hartford might prove a more healthful residence, partly because it offered better encouragement in his profession and contained more society congenial to his taste, he removed to that place in 1781.

Here he soon formed a literary club which held weekly meetings, for the discussion of questions previously selected, on political, philosophical or legal subjects. This was the year which termin

ated the revolutionary war; and those who had taken an active part in the important struggle in different ways were naturally disposed to continue their exertions with their pens, when the restoration of peace had put the use of other weapons out of the question.

The confusion, that then prevailed throughout the country, demanded great exertion on the side of the cool and clear sighted, to allay the feelings of discontent. Trumbull was active and unceasing in his efforts, and his powers of ridicule were skilfully employed in a series of essays, under the signature of Lycurgus.

There was another series of poetic essays afterwards published by Trumbull, in connexion with Messrs Humphreys, Barlow, and Hopkins, which had an extended influence over public opinion.

Trumbull was the oldest of the club, and it is believed that it was during the active operations of this society, that he and Barlow lived several years under the same roof, their families occupying different parts of the mansion.

In 1789, he was appointed State's Attorney for Hartford County, and the year following distinguished himself in the State Legislature.

Impaired health soon obliged him to resign his public employments until 1801, when he was appointed Judge of the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut, and not till then did he drop his pen.

The character of Judge Trumbull in private life was as truly excellent, as his literary career was brilliant, and his public life able. His spirits were as anima

ted and buoyant, as those of a young man of thirty. He was the life of the social circle, which was never wearied with his edifying and brilliant conversation. His familiarity with the ancient and modern classics was surprising. High above all others of English Bards, in his estimation, daring Milton sat sublime,' to borrow the words of Pope but of Pope himself, the American Bard did not entertain so exalted an opinion, and rather inclined to the views of Dr Bowles, as given in the controversy with Lord Byron, upon the writings of the Bard of Twickenham.

In 1825, Judge Trumbull removed to Detroit, to spend his remaining years with a favorite daughter. In passing through New-York, he was honored with a public dinner, given to him by his admirers in that city.

HON. OLIVER PEABODY. August 3, 1831. — In Exeter, N. H. Oliver Peabody, aged 79. He was a native of Andover, Massachusetts, and was born August 22, 1752. He graduated at Harvard College in 1773, being in the first class after the aristocratical arrangement of the graduates according to the rank and station of their parents, which had prevailed from the foundation of that institution, was abolished. He studied the profession of the law, and settled in practice in Exeter, before the year 1778. In that town he was soon brought into public life, being appointed Judge of Probate for the county of Rockingham, 7th July, 1790, which office he held until June, 1793. In 1793 and 1794, he was clected senator of the second district, under the revised consti

tution of the State, and in the latter year, was chosen President of the Senate. On the 17th June, 1794, he was elected State Treasurer, upon which he resigned his office of Senator. The office of Treasurer he sustained the same number of years that his friend and townsman, John Taylor Gilman, sustained the office of governor. Both came into office together, and both retired at the same time. In December, 1795, he was appointed Justice of the Peace and Quorum through the State, and at the time of his death was the oldest magistrate of that rank in New Hampshire. He was appointed Sheriff of the county of Rockingham, 2d May, 1805, and filled that office for five years. In 1813, he was again elected Senator in the Legislature, and the same year, when a new arrangement of the judicial courts was made, he was appointed associate justice of the Eastern Circuit of the Court of Common Pleas, and remained in office until 1816. He was three times, viz. 1796, 1800 and 1804, chosen one of the Electors of President and Vice President of the United States. In all these stations, Judge Peabody acquitted himself with dignity, integrity and impartiality.

com

'tered into the service of the country, as military secretary to General Schuyler, who then manded the Northern Army; he was subsequently appointed Deputy Commissary General, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He remained with that_army until after the capture of Burgoyne, in October, 1777. Afterwards he was stationed at West Point, and acted as Inspector General, until the discovery of Arnold's meditated treason, and the desertion of that officer. Having been in Arnold's family as aid-de-camp, a court of inquiry was ordered which acquitted him of all participation in Arnold's treachery. He then became a member of Washington's military family, and acted as recording Secretary, until nearly the close of the war. After the evacuation of the city by the British troops on the 25th November, 1783, and the restoration of the civil government of the State, Col. Varick was appointed Recorder of the city of New-York, and subsequently Mayor, and held the latter office for many years. He was elected President of the New York State Society of the Cincinnati, 4th July, 1806, and held the office until his death-having been re-elected annually.

For many years he was out of all public employment, both in civil and political life; and devoted much of his time to the promotion, by all the means in his power, of the various objects of moral and religious improvement, for which the period has been greatly distinguished.

He was one of the founders of that great national institution the American Bible Society; was appointed its first treasurer; afterwards, a Vice President; and, upon the resignation of the Hon.

John Jay, he was unanimously elected its President. He always maintained, through life, a distinguished character for the strictest integrity in all his intercourse with men, and for unaffected piety among Christians. He left a widow, with whom he lived in the enjoyment of domestic happiness for nearly half a century; but had no children.

GEN. WILLIAM BARTON.

October 22, 1831. — In Providence, R. Island, William Barton, aged 84. General Barton was a native of Rhode Island, and early in the struggle for independence, he embarked in the cause with an enthusiastic ardor highly honorable to his character as a patriot; and during the long period of his service as an officer, he exhibited the valuable qualities of prudence, decision and valor. The capture of General Prescott, at his quarters on Rhode Island, which was planned and executed by General Barton (then a Colonel in the American army) aided by a small detachment of trusty men, was one of the most hazardous achievements of those times. The services of General Barton were highly appreciated and duly honored by Congress in presenting him a sword, and also by a grant of land in Vermont, in the transfer of which, however, he unfortunately became entangled in the toils of the law, was subjected to numerous and heavy expenses, which eventuated in his imprisonment there, most unjustly, as was thought by himself and friends. He was deprived of his liberty for many years, away from his family, with scarce a hope for enlargement, until Lafayette visited

this country, who learning the situation of his brave fellow soldier, paid the debt and opened the prison doors.

STEPHEN GIRARD.

December 26th, 1831. — In Philadelphia, Penn. Stephen Girard, aged 84. He was born at Bordeaux, in 1746, which place he left at about twelve years of age, in the capacity of cabin boy, in a vessel bound for the West Indies. He arrived in New-York about the year 1775, and settled in Philadelphia in 1779. He was then a very poor man, dealing in old iron and rigging, in the city, and trading on the Delaware as a pedlar, supplying the inhabitants with groceries, ready made clothing, &c. The foundation of his fortune is to be found in his great industry and frugality, but the particular transaction by which he first realized great wealth, and was enabled to engage in mercantile operations, cannot now be known. He became distinguished for his active philanthropic exertions during the ravages of the yellow fever, which nearly depopulated the city, in 1793. In 1812, he established his private bank, into which he put about two millions of dollars. Since that time his wealth has increased with unheard of expedition. During the last war he took the government loan of five millions, at a period of general despondency, and when the credit of the government was almost entirely exhausted. At the time of his death his property was estimated to be worth ten millions of dollars, and he was the most wealthy man in the new world. He was buried with public honors. By his will he distrib.