ford, Connecticut, where he continued to work at his trade for some time.

Several years after this, he applied himself to the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1754. The next year, he was appointed a justice of the peace, and soon after, a representative in the general assembly. In 1761, he removed to New Haven. From this time his reputa tion was rapidly rising, and he soon ranked among the first men in the state.

His knowledge of the human character, his sagacious and penetrating mind, his general political views, and his accurate and just observation of passing events, enabled him on the first appearance of serious difficulties between the colonies and the parent country, to perceive the consequences that would follow; and the probable result of a contest arising from a resistance to the exercise of unjust, oppressive, and unconstitutional acts of authority, over a free people, having sufficient intelligence to know their rights, and sufficient spirit to defend them. Accordingly, at the commencement of the contest, he took an active and decided part in favour of the colonies, and subsequently in support of the revolution and their separation from Great Britain. In 1774, he was chosen a member of the first continental congress, and continued to be a member, except when excluded by the law of rotation. He was a member of the illustrious congress of 1776, and was one of the committee that drew up the declaration of independence, which was penned by the venerable Thomas Jefferson, who was also one of the committee. After the peace, Roger Sherman was a member of the convention which formed the constitution of the United States; and he was chosen a representative from this state to the first congress under® this constitution. He was removed to the senate in 1791, and remained in this situation until his death, July 23, 1793, in the seventy-third year of his age. The life of Mr. Sherman is one among the many examples of the triumph of industry over all the obstacles arising from the want of what is generally considered as a regular and systematic education. Yet it deserves consideration, whether a vigorous mind, stimulated by an ardent thirst of knowledge, left to its own exertions, unrestrained and

unembarrassed by rules of art, and unshackled by systematic regulations, is not capable of pursuing the object of acquiring knowledge more intensely, and with more success; of taking a more wide and comprehensive survey; of exploring with more penetration the fields of science, and of forming more just and solid views. Mr. Sherman possessed a powerful mind, and habits of industry, which no difficulties could discourage, and no toil impair. In early life, he began to apply himself with inextinguishable zeal to the acquisition of knowledge. In this pursuit, although he was always actively engaged in business, he spent more hours than most of those who are professedly students. In his progress, he became extensively acquainted with mathematical science, natural philosophy, moral and metaphysical philosophy, history, logic, and theology. As a lawyer and statesman, he was very eminent, having a clear, penetrating, and vigorous mind; and as a patriot, no greater respect can be paid to his memory, than the fact which has already been noticed, that he was a member of the patriotic congress of 1776, which declared these colonies to be free and independent.

STARK, JOHN, was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire, 28th of August, (old style,) 1728. John removed with his father to Derryfield, (now Manchester,) about the year 1736, and settled a mile north of Amoskeig Falls, where he was employed occasionally in hunting and husbandry, until the 28th day of April, 1752, when he and three others, while hunting beaver on Baker's river, were surprised by ten St. Francois Indians. He had separated from his companions, in order to collect the traps. In the act of taking the last trap, he was seized by the Indians, who interrogated him about his companions; but he pointed out a contrary route. He led them nearly two miles from the right place, and was proceeding, when they heard guns fired, which his comrades had commenced, on presumption that he had lost his

way. The Indians then changed their course, got ahead of the boat, and lay in ambush. His comrades having fallen into the ambush, the Indians directed Stark to call for them; he did so, but advised them to escape to the opposite shore, on which four of the Indians fired. In this situation he had the temerity to snatch away two of their guns, and on the others preparing to fire, he did the same. One of his comrades, however, was killed. The savages beat Stark most severely. He and one of his comrades remained prisoners with the Indians six weeks, when two gentlemen were sent by Massachusetts to redeem prisoners, and they were accordingly redeemed, and returned by way of Albany, and arrived at Derryfield in August following. Stark paid one hundred and three dollars, and his comrade sixty, for their freedom. In the following winter the general court of New Hampshire concluded to send a party to explore the Coos country. A company was enlisted to perform this duty. On their arrival at Concord, they applied to Mr. Stark to act as their pilot, who agreed to accompany them. They returned on the thirteenth day to Concord. In the year 1754, it was understood that the French were making a fort at the upper Coos. Captain Powers was sent by the governor of New Hampshire, with thirty men, bearing a flag of truce, to demand the reason of making a fort there. On his arrival at Concord, he had no pilot, and applied to Mr. Stark; who, ever ready to embark in the most hazardous enterprises, readily ac companied them. He conducted the party to the upper Coos, and on the same route that the Indians had led him captive two years before. They found no garrison, and the scout returned after exploring for the first time, (by any English adventurer,) the Coos intervals, the now healthful and flourishing towns of Haverhill and Newburg.

On the commencement of the seven years war, in 1755, Stark had acquired so much celebrity by these several expeditions, that the governor appointed him a lieute nant in captain Rogers's company, in colonel Blanchard's regiment. Rogers possessing the same bold and entérprising spirit, the rugged sons of the forest soon ranged themselves under their banners, and were ordered to

proceed to Coos, and burn the intervals, preparatory to building a fort, and forming an establishment there: but before they reached Coos, a new order commanded them to join the regiment at fort Edward, by way of Charlestown, No. 4, and Housack, and arrived about the time that sir William Johnson was attacked by the French and Indians near Bloody Pond, between fort Edward and Lake George. This campaign passed over without any occurrence worthy of remark. In the autumn, the regiment was discharged, and lieutenant Stark returned home.

In the winter of 1756, a project was formed by the British commander at fort Edward, to establish a corps of rangers, to counteract the French scouts of Canadians and Indians that constantly harassed the frontiers, and hung on the wings of the army. Rogers was appointed captain, and he immediately repaired to New Hampshire to engage Stark to be his lieutenant, and raise the soldiers. They soon completed their quota, and in April following, began their march for fort Edward. This campaign nothing of importance was done, except that this company was almost constantly on foot, watching the motions of the enemy at Tie and Crown Point, and preparing themselves for more important services. In the autumn of this year, the corps was joined by two companies, commanded by Hobs and Spickman, from Halifax. At this time the three companies contained nearly three hundred men, and began to be esteemed of considerable consequence. In January, 1757, a plan was formed for this corps to march to the lake, and intercept the supplies from Crown Point to Ticonderoga. turned Tie, seized a few sleighs, and were returning to fort George, when the party was attacked about three miles from Tie, by the combined force of French and Indians from the garrison, when a most bloody and desperate action ensued. Perhaps, according to numbers engaged, a more sanguinary battle was not fought during the war. In this instance, great prudence and coolness, joined with the most obstinate bravery, marked the conduct of the young officer. Captain Spickman being killed, and Rogers wounded, the command of the retreat devolved on lieutenant Stark, who, by his industry and

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firmness, in the face of the garrison, secured the wounded, and drew off the detachment with such order and address, as to keep the enemy at bay. At eight in the morning, they arrived at lake George. The wounded,who, during the night march, had kept up their spirits, now stiff with cold, fatigue, and loss of blood, could march no farther. It became necessary to send notice to fort George, that sleighs might be sent for them: he undertook the task, and by fatigue more easily imagined than described, arrived at the fort about eight o'clock in the evening; and the day following his companions returned in sleighs. In the new organization of the corps, lieutenant Stark was appointed to supply the vacancy caused by the death of captain Spickman.

The garrison had been quiet for some time, when on the evening of the sixteenth of March he made his rounds, and heard the rangers planning a celebration of the Irish St. Patrick's. By one of those eccentricities for which he was always remarkable, he commanded the suttler to deliver no, rum to the rangers without a written order. He then pretended to be unwell, and lame in his right hand, and could make no order. By this cir cumstance the rangers were kept sober; but the Irish regiment did not forget their ancient practice, and the day following, took large libations in honour of Shelah, that saint's good lady. The French at Tie, knowing the laudable custom of the Hibernians on that festival, had planned an attack on the garrison that night, and would probably have carried the fort without much difficulty, if these sober sentinels and troops had not repulsed them, while the others were coming to their senses. The fate of the attack belongs to history. The British commander in chief, sensible of the services of Stark, held him in high estimation ever after. From this time to the autumn following, no military movement of any consequence took place, when lord Loudon, the then commander, ordered the rangers to march to New York, to be employed on the Halifax station. When the order came, captain Stark was on a scout, and did not join them till their arrival at New York, at which place he was seized with the small-pox of the most malignant kind, and of course did not embark. Indeed, he hardly