THE

POLYANTHOS.

FEBRUARY, 1807.,

BIOGRAPHICAL OUTLINE OF

COLONEL DAVID HUMPHREYS, Late Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of Spain.

While Freedom's cause his patriot bosom warm's,
In lore of nations skilled, and brave in arms,
See Humphreys glorious from the field retire,
Sheathe the glad sword, and string the sounding.
lyre-

That lyre, which erst, in hours of dark despair,
Roused the sad realms to urge th' unfinished war.
O'er fallen friends, with all the strength of woe,
His heartfelt sighs in moving numbers flow.
His country's wrongs, her duties, dangers, praise,
Fire his full soul, and animate bis lays...
Immortal Washington with joy shall own
So fond a favourite, and so great a son..

T

Barlow's Vision of Columbus:

O gratify that laudable curiosity, predom inating in the human mind, to know every thing relative to those who have con

N... VOL. 4.

tributed to our prosperity, happiness or amusement, was one of the principal objects for which this work was first intended When we have become acquainted with a man's publick character and conduct, we are solicitous to know what are his private pursuits, studies and~humours. We would follow him to his closet, observe his domestick conduct, and learn his habits and manners when in the circle of his mest intimate friends. The editor has to regret that difficulties almost insurmountable have frequently obstructed his progress, and prevented the attainment of this object. the present case particularly he laments that more ample materials are not in his possession.*

In

"Whoever has been conversant with the history of literature cannot fail to have observed an uniform tendency in men of genius to associate and link themselves together in some strong community of study and of life. Point out to me a man distinguished in any of the walks of science, and I habitually inquire who are his companions. Authors will have persons of some congeniality of character or views, with whom to consult; and generally they will seek at least one or two on whose

*For those parts of this sketch marked as quotations, we are indebted to an unknown writer. The facts stated are however believed to be correct. They were first published in an English Magazine, and supposed to have been written by a native A merican....Polyanthos

judgment they dare rely, even if they envy his or their genius.

The peculiar talents of Mr. Trumbull and Mr. Dwight, and the enthusiasm with which they cultivated the politer studies, attracted many elevated and amiable minds to their society. Among these, some were incited to similar pursuits; and among the first was the subject of the present article.

DAVID HUMPHREYS was born at Derby, state of Connecticnt, about the year 1752, was admitted into Yale College in 1767, and graduated 1771. Of the circumstances of his early education I am ignorant; nor is my information relative to his collegiate life sufficiently minute to render it interesting. That he form ed his acquaintance, at this time, with the Muses, and with his friends Dwight and Trumbull, is certain; for, having entered the family of Col. Phillips, state of New-York, on leaving college, he addressed a poetical letter to the former, in which he displays, with great ease of narrative and minuteness of circumstance, his situations, plans, prospects and wishes. This epistle was never published, and perhaps is not now in existence. How long Mr. Humphreys continued in this situation, and at what time, and with what rank he entered the American army, my recollection does not now enable me to determine. But, as early as 1778 he was Aid-de-camp to General Putnam, with the rank of Major; and in 1780 he was