A BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF THE LATE REV. JOHN ANDREWS, D. D. PROVOST OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

THE extravagance of posthumous panegyric has been for ages proverbial. When the heart is softened and the sensibility excited by the last sad ceremony of closing the grave over the mortal remains of a man long loved and venerated, it would be a violation of the affections implanted by nature, if surviving friends did not indulge in the recollection of the virtues and talents which had attracted their love and excited their admiration; or if, in portraying his character, they did not throw his imperfections into shadow, and give to his excellencies the boldest relief and the brightest colouring. Possibly this natural and apparently instinctive disposition of our species, (which immortalizes virtue, while it fixes the seal of mortality to error and vice even in this world) is wisely intended to withdraw bad example from the view of mankind; and to fortify virtue by the continual accumulation of that which is good. Were the faults and the errors even of good men handed down by tradition, they might, it is to be feared, present a mass of evil, which, with the sanction of their names, would endanger the religion and impair

the morality of society. By recording and remembering their virtues only, models are presented, even the imperfect imitation of which will evince no inconsiderable degree of excellence. And with respect to the individual who is panegyrized, let it be remembered, that whatever may have been his merits, whether they be real or imaginary, the praise is still given to virtue; so that he who is ambitious of the reward, will endeavour, in some degree, to qualify himself as a candidate for it. Nor indeed shall we find much reason to apprehend that the fame of an individual, whose life has been occupied in the less conspicuous walks of life, will much transcend his real deserts. The splendid achievements of the soldier, and the glittering services of a statesman, may dazzle the multitude; but the character of a virtuous citizen, occu. pied in the performance of the mere relative and social duties, is surrounded by a milder lustre, which conceals nothing, yet imparts little brilliancy to his most meritorious exertions! The world too is sufficiently incredulous of perfection which rests upon the evidence afforded by the partiality of friendship, or the fondness of natural affection.

The writer of this rapid narrative, imperfect no less from the feebleness of his pen, than the haste in which circumstances require it to be composed, has more reason to fear that he will fall short, than that he will pass beyond the limits of just eulo gium, if indeed any thing he may say can deserve that name. Callous and ungrateful would he be, however, were he to withhold his poor efforts to commemorate a man, to whom he is proud to acknowledge a weight of obligation, and to have been united by ties of the most sacred and endearing nature.

Dr. Andrews was born in Cecil county, Maryland, about six miles from the head of Elk, on the 4th of April, 1746. His father was a man of singular piety, and to the influence of his examples and precepts may be attributed the serious impressions which stamped the character and fixed the profession of his son. Although not wealthy, it is believed that his circumstances were sufficiently independent; and, wisely appreciating the value of a good education, he placed his child at the age of seven years, at the Elk school, then under the direction of the Newcastle presbytery, where he was instructed in the rudiments of a classical educa

tion. At the age of seventeen he was removed to the college and academy of Philadelphia, where, in 1764, he completed his classical and philosophical studies with distinguished reputation. In consequence of the absence of Dr. Smith, the provost, no commencement was held in the college for this year; but in May, 1765, he graduated Bachelor of Arts, having previously entered as a tutor in the grammar school, then under the direction of Mr. Beveridge. The eminent attainments of this gentleman in scholarship, and his skill and fidelity as an instructor, had acquired the highest reputation. Some of his pupils are yet living, and it will not be thought too great a compliment to them or to him to remark, that as Latin and Greek scholars they are not excelled, and have rarely been equalled by the alumni of any institution in this country.

In this situation Dr. Andrews continued about one year, when, on the warm recommendation of Dr. William Smith, provost of the college, he was induced by Dr. Kuhn and George Ross, esq. to take charge of a classical school at Lancaster. Having formed an early intention of devoting himself to the christian ministry in the episcopal church, he pursued his theological studies there with the advice and assistance of the Rev. Mr. Barton for a little more than twelve months. He then embarked in company with the late Dr. Magaw, for London, for the purpose of receiving holy orders. In February, 1767, he was ordained a deacon by Dr. Terrick, bishop of London, and was admitted into priest's orders a few days afterwards. Being appointed by the society for propagating the gospel in foreign parts, a missionary to Lewistown, in Delaware, he soon took on himself the duties of that station. After remaining there about three years, finding that the climate was injurious to his health, he removed to Yorktown, in this state, where he succeeded the Rev. Mr. Thom

*After the examination of Dr. Andrews and Dr. Magaw for orders, the bishop of London happening to meet at court, the proprietary, Mr. Thomas Penn, expressed to him the satisfaction which he had received from the examination of those two gentlemen, from the province of Pennsylvania.

While he was in England, the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by his alma mater; and he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the Washington college, in Maryland, a short time before he removed to Philadelphia.

son as missionary to York and Carlisle. Here, in 1772, he married a daughter of captain Robert Callender, a woman of great domestic worth, and a faithful and affectionate wife. The salary which Dr. Andrews received as missionary to this place, proving inadequate to the support of his family, he accepted an invitation to Queen Anne's county, Maryland, and carried with him thither the affectionate regret of his parishioners and neighbours, to whom he had endeared himself by a faithful discharge of his pastoral duties, and by the urbanity and benevolence which characterized his intercourse with the world. He was appointed by the governor of the then province of Maryland rector of St. John's parish, Queen Anne's, and resided there in that capacity until some time after the declaration of independence. At the beginning of the important contest which led to this measure, Dr. Andrews was among those who thought and declared that the right of taxation assumed by Great Britain could not be defended on constitutional principles, and this opinion he uniformly maintained. A conscientious abhorrence of civil war, however, and a distrust of the ability of this country to engage in hostili. ties, on such apparently unequal terms, with a reasonable prospect of success, induced Dr. Andrews, with some of the best men of those times, to endeavour to confine opposition within the limits of constitutional allegiance. In this they erred, perhaps, but it was on the side of prudénce, and consistently with their views of the welfare and happiness of their country, however, in this instance they may have been mistaken. Dr. Andrews always set his face against faction and turbulence, and was at all times opposed to political persecution; but no man was a warmer friend to genuine liberty, or a more strenuous supporter and asserter of the independence of his country and her just rights, against the encroachments of every nation.t

Mrs. Andrews died on the 22d. of February, 1798. Her death was occasioned by the shock which her affection suffered in the death of a son, caused by fire, and her consequent grief. Dr. Andrews suffered much from the recollection of this sad event. He often spoke of it, and never without

tears.

In his lectures on politics, he has recommended and illustrated with great force and ability, the Federal Constitution, of which, and the administration of it by general Washington, he was a sincere and ardent admirer.