while she continues in her profession. Three children are the fruits of her marriage, of whom two were born in England, and the third in France. We understand that Dr. William Meade, honorary member of the royal physical society at Edinburgh, has ready for the press, a chymical analysis of the principal waters of Ballston and Saratoga; with an account of their medicinal properties, and practical observations on the most judicious mode of using them in the various diseases to which they are applicable. To this will be added an appendix, containing a chymical analysis of Lebanon waters, with some remarks on the nature and qualities of this spring. From Dr. Mead's character as a mineralogist and chymist, we have a right to presume that this will prove a very useful and interesting publication. Judge Marshal's Life of Washington has been translated into French by P. F. Henry. OBITUARY. WILLIAM D. ROBINSON, Esq. eldest son of the late captain James Robinson, of this city, was slain in the attack of fort Guazalcos, in South America, in the month of October last. An unlimited spirit of enterprise, with an extensive knowledge of the Spanish main, the language, &c. induced him to take an active, and as it has proved, a fatal interest in the concerns of that country. His superior talents, his eccentricities, and his unexampled vicissitudes in life, are well known to many of our citizens, and to a considerable portion of the commercial world in general, to whom this information will not be uninteresting. New-Orleans, Nov. 6. Died, last night, after a severe illness of four weeks, major Daniel Carmick, of the United States marine corps. He was a Pennsylvanian by birth, noble, generous and brave, has been in the marine corps ever since its formation, always respected for his correct conduct, as an officer and a gentleman. He has left an amiable wife with her infant child to mourn her irreparable loss. The United States in him has lost one of its best officers; socie ty, both civil and military, a social friend and a gallant soldier. A variety of articles are necessarily postponed to make room for the foreign reviews which are introduced in this number. Such is the zeal of our young poets, that we really cannot gratify all. The chief part of what is received scarcely reaches mediocrity; and the editor must repeat that his duty to the readers of this Journal will not permit him to insert articles for no other ostensible reason than to please "a very young writer," or "a constant subscriber." The memoir of a distinguished advocate of civil liberty, from the pen of R. arrived too late for insertion in this number. It shall appear in our next. The editor will thank his correspondent to make further researches among the papers of his deceased friend. The engravings to illustrate an account of Mr. Perkins' Ship Pump, could not be prepared in time for this number. A memoir of the late Dr. Dwight, from authentic sources, will shortly enrich our pages; and also an eloge on Dr. Eusebe Valli, who recently fell a martyr to his ardent thirst after knowledge. CYNTHIO should not despond; the great poet administers consolation in one of his imperishable comedies, when he tells us that "scorn at first makes after-love the more." He is now in the very spring of love, and must not mar his autumn by querulous sonnets. We fear that the MSS. respecting the literature of Russia, cannot be reduced to the narrow limits of this Journal, but by an abridgment which would be injurious to the fame of the author, and disappoint the laudable views of the gentleman who has been so polite as to translate them for us. Our thanks are due to the author of some observations on the manners and customs of the Chinese. We have not yet been able to give that attention to his communication which the subject requires. A POET is a misnomer; we cannot bid him ascend the hills of Helicon. A portrait of Count Rumford is in the hands of a skilful engraver. The Biographical sketch of a distinguished officer in the army cannot appear. We respect the merits of the individual, but it is impossible to enter into a discussion of them without reviewing the conduct of the administration, in which we should violate that neutrality which we have prescribed to ourselves. Living biography can seldom be just. Praise is generally laid on with a trowel, and thus the object of that species of writing is defeated. Many of our military commanders have already achieved a great name, which the historian will preserve. THE PORT FOLIO. FOURTH SERIES. CONDUCTED BY OLIVER OLDSCHOOL, ESQ. Various; that the mind Of desultory man, studious of change And pleased with novelty, may be indulged.-Cowper. OUR writings are as so many dishes, our readers guests, our books like beauty, that which one admires, another rejects; so are we approved as men's fancies are inclined. That which is most pleasing to one is most harsh to another. So many men, so many minds: that which thou condemnest he commends. The following brief sketch of some prominent features in the biography of the late Mr. Dallas, is formed from authentic materials. A more full account of his life is expected at some future day to be given to the world, with a selection from his various literary and professional productions. ALEXANDER JAMES DALLAS was born on the 21st of June 1759, in the island of Jamaica. When quite young he was sent by his father to school at Edinburgh. He was afterwards at Westminster school, and was for some time a pupil of Elphinstone, who is known as the translator of Dr. Johnson's mottoes to his periodical essays. His father, Robert Dallas, was a native of Scotland, and a very eminent physician in the island of Jamaica. He was wealthy, and his son lived in the expectation of inheriting from him an ample estate. In 1780 the latter married a lady of Devonshire, England. In 1781, after the death of his father, he left England, for Ja maica, accompanied by his wife. Instead, however, of his expectation being fulfilled, it was found that the whole of Dr. Dallas's large property was left at the mercy of his widow, who afterwards married again, and no part of the property ever came to the rest of the family. He left Jamaica in the month of April 1783, and arrived at New York on the 7th of June, in the same year, and at Philadelphia a week after. This voyage was undertaken simply with a view to a temporary residence of a month or two, for the benefit of the health of Mrs. Dallas, and not from any political feeling or motive, as has been erroneously stated in some of our newspapers. His political opinions were formed here: nor is it to be wondered that strong republican sentiments should take root in a young and ardent mind, just arrived on a soil which had so lately been the scene of so many heroic exploits and splendid efforts in the cause of liberty. His determination however to remain, and to take a share in the destiny of a young and growing country, seems to have been al most instantaneously formed: and accordingly on the 17th of June, three days after, he took the oath of allegiance to the state of Pennsylvania before Plunket Fleeson, Esq. He has ever since resided in Philadelphia, except while acting at Washington as secretary of the treasury. Besides his talents and his singular industry, he brought with him to Philadelphia (with the exception of two introductory letters, one to Robert Morris, the other to Mr. Bingham,) only some commissions which had been presented to him in his native island and in England. These were, that of lieutenant in a regiment of mitia forces of the county of Cornwall, in August 1778-that of captain in the same in June 1779-and a commission of master in chancery, presented to him in October 1781 by the governor of Jamaica, which latter was considered as complimentary to a young man of talents, and given to induce him to remain in the island, with the prospect of early professional business and emolument. For some time after his arrival in Philadelphia he was engaged in preparing himself for admission to the bar, which required in a case like his, a study of two years in the state. This he ac |