nefs, and with an attention to the concerns of his friends, which invited their confidence. The friends of Dr. Belknap were numerous. His ac quaintance was much increased by his becoming a member of fo many literary and benevolent focieties; and he was active in promoting the good of every affociation, to which he belonged: wherever he could be of any fervice, he freely devoted his time and talents. The Hiftorical Society have loft their most laborious and diligent member, and the founder of their inftitution. No man had ever collected a greater number of facts, circumftances, and anecdotes, or a more valuable compilation of manuscripts, which might give information and entertainment to all thofe, who wish to know the hiftory of their own country. In his purfuits of this kind, he frequently met with difappointment from the lofs of valuable papers; and he often mentioned to his friends in New-Hampshire and Bofton, that it was neceffary to preferve them by multiplying copies, and making it the principal duty and intereft of an affociation to collect them, and to ftudy their value. The propofals of Dr. Belknap met with the approbation and encouragement of feveral gentlemen in this town and its environs, and the Society was incorporated in 1794. As an author, Dr. Belknap appears with great reputation, whether we confider his fugitive performances, which often appeared without a name, or his larger works, which have been celebrated in America and Europe. He wrote much in the cause of freedom and his country before our revolu tion; and his patriotic ardour was as ftrong and fincere of late, as in former years. He was attached to the Federal Conftitution of thefe States, which he thought to be the bulwark of Freedom and good Government; he was fully perfuaded that it had been wifely and purely administered; and in his converfation, as well as in feveral of his public performances, manifefted a conviction, that a firm and uniform fupport of it was effentially neceffary to the Liberty and Profperity of our country. The firft volume of the American Biography excited a ftrong defire in the minds of the readers to have the work continued. A fecond volume is now in the prefs; and the tears of genius are fhed, that a work of fo much entertain ment ment and information could not be finished by the fame hand. His mind was richly furnished with this kind of knowledge, and he wrote for the public benefit. The love of fame was only a fecondary confideration; his mind feemed to glow with a defire of being useful. The frequent returns of ill health, to which this worthy man was fubject, gave an anxiety to his friends, and led him to think that his days could not be long upon the earth. This ftimulated his exertions, that he might do the more fervice while the day lafted. But he was feized fuddenly with a paralytic diforder at 4 o'clock, and died before 11, on Wednesday at His remains were entombed on Friday laft, with every teftimony of refpect from the inhabitants of the town. The Rev. Mr. Kirkland preached an affectionate difcourfe from John ix. 4. The whole affembly expreffed their forrow for the * Dr. Belknap's anticipations and humble indications of his choice, relative to the manner of his death, may be perceived in the following lines, which were found among his papers, after his decease, and which were compofed by him, probably at the time noted at the bottom, upon the fudden death of one of his acquaintance. When faith and patience, hope and love, Snatch'd in a moment to the skies! Such be my lot, Lord, if thou please, When thou doft know that I'm prepared, But if thy wifdom fees it beft, the lofs of one fo near and dear to them, as a brother ar friend fo amiable in the more tender relations of domest life, fo exemplary as a chriftian, fo ufeful as a minifter, refpectable in all the public offices he fuftained. Who do not readily acknowledge the worth and excellence of fuch character PARED character domestic Lift of Dr. Belknap's Publications. A Sermon upon Military Duty, preached at Dover, 177 A Serious Addrefs to a Parishioner upon the Neglect Public Worship. A Sermon, on Jefus Chrift the only Foundation, preache before an Affociation of Minifters in New-Hampshire. Election Sermon, preached at Portfmouth, 1784. A Sermon at the Ordination of the Rev. Jedidiah Morf 1789. A Difcourfe, delivered at the request of the Hiftoric Society, October, 1792; being the completion of the Century from Columbus's Dilcovery of America. Differtations upon the Character and Refurrection Chrift; one vol. 12mo. Collection of Pfalms and Hymns; one vol. 12mo. A Sermon on the Day of the National Faft, May 9t 1798. Dr. Belknap's Hiftorical Works are, History of New-Hampshire; 3 vols. 8vo. The Foresters; an American Tale: being a Sequel to th History of John Bull, the Clothier; one vol. 12mo. American Biography; 2 vols. 8vo. He published also feveral Effays upon the African Trade upon Civil and Religious Liberty; upon the ftate and fe tlement of this country, in periodical papers; in the Colur bian Magazine, printed in Philadelphia; in the Boft Magazine, 1784; in the Hiftorical Collections, and Newspapers. Extri Extract from the Rev. Mr. KIRKLAND's Sermon, at the interment of the Rev. Dr. BELKNAP. IN an eminent manner did the perfon we lament, ap pear to confider himself, with all his endowments and oppor tunities, as placed in the world by the Great Moral Governor, and bound by the strongest obligations and motives to be faithful, active, and perfevering in the duties of his ftation. In few inftances have time and talents been fo diligently, confcientiously, and usefully employed. A genius active and original, a judgment diftinguishing and correct, and a retentive memory, improved by a learned education, and habitual and clofe industry; and united to christian faith and temper, could not fail to make a character of eminent usefulness and honour. We have reafon to bless the great Head of the Church that he devoted himself to the chriftian miniftry, and entered into the fpirit of his office. With what diligence and zeal he ftrove to acquire and communicate chriftian knowledge, none prefent can be ignorant. Seizing the early hours of the day, fuperior to the enticements ments of indolence, abhorring idlenefs, finishing whatever ftudy or inquiry he had begun, and ufing recreations and vifits, as preparations for ferious purfuits, his mind became enriched with a large ftore of theological and evangelical learning. But his ardent curiofity did not confine itself to the mere ftudies of his profeffion. Not by flighting any of the public or private duties of his office, but by fuperior economy of time and industry, he redeemed leisure to carry his researches into other fields of literature, fuited to gratify his tafte, and increase his usefulness. How well he joined to theology and general literature, the knowledge of human nature and the characters of men, was evinced by his dif courfes, adapted to real life, and unfolding the fecret springs of action; and by his conversation and behaviour, fuited to perfons, times and places. Such intellectual and moral attainments could not but tender him an important character to the world, to his country, and to the religious, literary and domeftic focieties, with which he was connected. The world has reaped the fruits of his labours and researches, not only in his profef fional and fupport, which, as far as health permitted, they derived from one, whose predominant defire was to do good, whofe folid mind was fuperior to the vanity of applaufe, and valued every thing in proportion to its utility. As a fon, a husband, a father, a brother, a friend, and neighbour, what he was, their bleeding hearts can tell, who were connected with him in these interesting relations; who knew his kind and cheerful temper, his fincere and guileless difpofition, his difinterefted benevolence, and his activity in every good work." |