SONG. Thou hast an eye, of mildest hue, Thou hast a breast, and, oh! how fair! Thou hast a lip whose burning kiss Thou hast a heart both warm and kind, But, ah! that heart has beat too free, And ne'er can beat with love for me. ALEXIS. OBITUARY. AMIDST the reiterated "triumphs of the tomb," we are now called upon, by the strongest impulse of affection and grief, to weep over the grave of another worthy, in the person of colonel JEREMIAH OLNEY, late collector of the customs of the port and district of Providence, and "president of the society of Cincinnati of the state of Rhodeisland and Providence plantations," who departed this life with great serenity, and a Christian hope of a blessed immortality, on Tuesday morning November 10, 1812, in the sixty-third year of his age. The life of this amiable and highly revered gentleman was distinguished by the most undeviating honour and integrity, from which no interest could swerve him, no danger appal him. To his innate love and ardent practice of truth and justice, were united a disposition the most social and endearing, a philanthropy the most exalted, and a hospitality the most unostentatious and interesting to the finer feelings of the heart. To every branch of his numerous and respectable family, to all his associates and neighbours, he was ever attentive and affectionate, and to those whom he knew were oppressed with sickness, sorrow, and misfortune, he was a liberal, active comforter-a friend indeed! Even his servants he humanely considered his "humble friends," and treated them accordingly. Indeed, all who were connected or associated with him, by affinity, friendship, or patronage, will long remember him with the most lively gratitude and regard, mingled with sentiments of the tenderest regret. His private virtues were numerous and exemplary, as he wisely regulated his conduct by his revered monitor, Conscience-the incorruptible vicegerent of the most high God. As a citizen, he was public spirited; as a patriot soldier, ardent, judicious, and intrepid. He commenced his military career at the earliest period of the defensive revolutionary war, and became the companion in arms of the immortal Washington, under whose auspicious command (frequently as the chief officer of the Rhodeisland forces) he nobly persevered, through all the trying, changing scenes of the revolution, till a glorious independence emancipated his beloved country, and, in "peace, liberty, and safety," ranked her amongst the nations of the earth. His deeds of valour were too numerous and splendid to be recorded in an obituary; but his heroism at Red Bank, Springfield, Monmouth, Yorktown, and other places where "men's souls were tried," will be honourably registered by the pen of the faithful historian in the annals of his country, and will embalm his memory to all posterity. When his friend and patron, the illustrious Washington, became the first president of the United States, he remembered the signal services of colonel Olney, and honoured him with the important and responsible office of collector, in which he officiated many years, amidst “ a choice of difficulties," with a dignity the most exalted, and a fidelity the most unshaken, until, by the pressure of the embargo law, his patriotic elevation of soul urged him to resign a lucrative office, which he could no longer exercise, without contributing to the burthens of his fellow citizens. This imperfect sketch is a tribute of affection and respect towards "a long-loved, long-tried friend," by one who well knew his intrinsic worth, and in whose remembrance he will live, while the power of recollection exists. On Friday afternoon (after the delivery of an evangelical and most affectionate prayer, by the Rev. Mr. Gano) the remains of this excellent man were deposited in the silent tomb in the North Burying-ground, with military honours, and other solemn, impressive, and dignified testimonials of respect from every class of this community. During the day, emblematical demonstrations of mourning were, with great propriety, displayed. Prov. Gaz. Nov. 14. TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. THE portrait of Fisher Ames, which adorns the front of this number, belongs more appropriately to the Port Folio for January, to which it can easily be transferred by the binder. The amiable invalid, whose gratitude to his accomplished physician was so poetically and warmly expressed in our journal for November, would do equal injustice to our taste and our feelings, by imputing to us any inattention to his productions. It will, on the contrary, yield us great satisfaction to bestow on them a marked and cordial distinction, whenever he has leisure to furnish us with an opportunity. The correspondent who has favoured us with his initial letter on Portugal, will gratify us by forwarding his second number, to enable us to judge of the natural and probable length of . his communication. THE annexed View on the East River is taken from the heights of Indinberg about four miles from the city of Newyork, and includes several interesting objects. On the heights of Bedford, which bound the distance, was fought the battle of Longisland, and in Kips bay immediately at the feet of the spectator, the British army landed soon after that disastrous affair. The large building in the centre of the picture was erected by Messrs. A. and N. Brown, for the purpose of sheltering ships while on the stocks from the weather. The first vessel built beneath it was a ship of five hundred tons, called the America. Immediately beyond it are seen the gunboat fleet in the Wallabout, and one of the large frigates. AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.-FOR THE PORT FOLIO. LIFE OF JOHN EWING, D. D. LATE PROVOST OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. THE following life is an eminent example of the beneficial results of persevering industry, and the object of recording it will have been attained, if it shall teach the timid, a proper confidence in his own efforts, and the presumptuous, an humble confidence in his God. Dr. JOHN EWING was born on the twenty-second day of June, 1732, in the township of Nottingham, in Cecil county, Maryland, near to the line which separates that state from Pennsylvania. Of his ancestors little is known. They emigrated from Scotland at an early period of the settlement of our country, and fixed themselves on the banks of the Susquehanna, near to the spot where he was born. They were farmers, who, if they did not extend their names beyond their immediate neighbourhood, yet maintained within it that degree of reputation which their descendants can speak of without a blush. His father was enabled by his industry to support his family* from the produce of his farm, and to give to his children that degree of education which country schools at that time had to offer. This indeed was little, but it was all that was necessary to such a mind as Dr. Ewing's. It was sufficient to furnish the rudiments of science, which, however early they are lost by ordinary minds in the distractions of a life of business, only serve to fan the fire of ambition in stronger intellects, and to direct and guide their possessors to fame. The school-house at which Dr. Ewing was taught the elements of his native language and the first rules in arithmetic, was at a considerable distance from his father's residence. The daily exercise of walking thither in his youth, tended to invigorate a constitution naturally strong, and enabled him to acquire a stock of health which carried him through sixty years without sickness. At this school it cannot be supposed that he learned much, but he was soon removed from it and placed under the There were five brothers: William, George, Alexander, John, and his twin brother, James, who is the only one now living. |