respects an eminent man; a sketch of his life may be seen in Dr. Alexander's "Log College." The family is of the Scotch-Irish Presbyterian stock. Gen. Finley was named after, and educated by his uncle. He was a major of the Virginia line in the time of the Revolution, and commanded a regiment of riflemen in the last war. He died in 1828, in Philadelphia, and was buried in the ground of the Scots' church in Spruce street. His wife was Mary Brown, a cousin of Rev. Dr. Matthew Brown, (with whom we are more nearly connected in another line, as will be shown;) she was born in Cumberland, Pa., and died in 1838, at the house of her son James, with whom she was living.

Dr. James Finley was born in Cumberland county, Pa., and educated at Dickinson college. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar; afterwards took up the study of medicine, and practised that profession a number of years in Circleville, Ohio. His first wife was Maria Theresa Brown, by whom he had children. In 1838 he removed to South Bend, in northern Indiana, where his wife died the same year.

The children of Dr. F. and his present wife are, 1. Amey. 2. Theresa. 3. Anna, deceased. 4. Charles Beatty.

Dr. F. and wife are members of the Presbyterian church.

5. MATILDA Harris, was born July 11, 1807, and died in her twenty-fourth year, April 1, 1831.

Reviewing what has been said of Emily and Lydia, and considering what is to be said of Matilda, the writer feels the necessity of clearing himself of the suspicion of mere obituary exaggeration, and bespeaking the confidence of the reader afresh. If, in nothing else, these parents were distinguished, it was first in the possession, then in the loss, of three such daughters.

She began early to manifest a fondness for reading; a pleasant sign, even though the taste is liable to misapplication. But with it there was a balancing power, not very observable in children,— a disposition to attend to religious instruction, whether in the Sunday-school or at home. No yearning heart of a parent could desire a happier union of developments. She was not less intelligent than any of her sisters; but probably more seriously inclined, up to the memorable awakening of 1822. That was a deciding time for her, along with many others. In the circle of very young girls who privately met in her father's barn to pray,

she was present and active; and when a large group presented themselves, in July, for the communion of the church, there were among them four sisters, of whom Matilda, just fifteen years old, was the most youthful.

It is hard to estimate, how much good was secured, and how much evil barred out, by this early and whole-hearted consecration. A Christian at fifteen, a thorough convert, thenceforth lives in a happy ignorance of the vulgar pleasures of a life of gaiety; exempt from the dressing, and dancing, and absorption in novel-reading, which by an unaccountable spell, seem even to allure sensible minds.*

From that time, religion was the ruling principle. Sabbathschool teaching was her favourite field of usefulness, but a selfsacrificing spirit led her out in other modes of benevolence, in one of which, as will be seen, she lost her life. The most conspicuous traits of Matilda's character, both before and after conversion, were her gentleness of temper, and correctness of deportment; insomuch that it is said, her parents never had occasion for the reproving inquiry, "why do you do so." Her personal appearance was prepossessing, and a fit introduction to a better acquaintance.

While we do not yield to a common opinion, or superstition, that the world is most apt to lose those whom it can least spare, we find here an instance in favour of that sentiment. Yet there was no likelihood of Matilda's early death, when, in the bloom of health, she went to spend a night in nursing a neighbour's child ill with scarlet fever. But the benevolent office imparted the infection of that fearful disorder, and soon Matilda needed the same attentions she had been bestowing. For a few days the physician apprehended no fatal consequences; but the disorder suddenly assumed a malignant form. A wandering and incoherent mind afforded nothing but anguish to those who stood around the sick bed; there was not even a transient verbal assurance of a soul prepared for eternity; but the better evidence prepared in a day of health, was a light behind the cloud. Thus went the third of three daugh

* I partly borrow this from her obituary." Though habitually cheerful, the gay circle and the giddy dance had no allurements for a mind like hers. Domestic employments, benevolent offices, the house of prayer, the Bibleclass, and the Sabbath-school, were the circle familiar to her feet."

G

Matilda's

ters, whose lives and death impart an interest and dignity to our history, and whose memory it is gratifying to cherish. remains lie in the church-yard at Doylestown.

6. ELIZABETH Seeley, born February 24, 1812, was married in June, 1832, to Dr. Clement Alexander Finley, younger brother of Dr. James, above mentioned, and now a surgeon of advanced rank in the U. S. Army. She has consequently partaken of the vicissitudes of military life, having already resided, by turns, at Green Bay; at Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis; at Buffalo; at Carlisle; and now at Fortress Monroe, Virginia. The life and adventures of her husband would make an interesting episode in our book; but in the hope that they are yet a good way from being completed, and that amongst his children there will one be found to do them justice, as well as to arrange for a memoir other materials of the Finley family, we enter into no detail. But for the convenience of that future chronicler, we may as well preserve a rapid outline which is at hand.

Dr. Finley was born in Cumberland, Pa. in 1797; graduated at Washington, Pa.; received a medical education and degree; and joined the army in 1818. Baton Rouge, Forts Claiborne and Seldon, (these last near Natchitoches,) were his first stations. In 1819, he was sent with an expedition to remove squatters from the country intended for the Cherokees; and falling short of provisions, they were glad to shoot alligators for food. Returning from this excursion, he was stationed on the Sabine until 1822, when he was removed to the Sulphur Fork, on the Red river, just above the Raft. Fort Smith on the Arkansas, Fort Gibson, Pensacola, Tampa Bay, were successively the next sojourning places. From the latter place he marched through Florida; and after this critical tour of service, he was allowed, for the first time in eight years, a furlough of six months. Jefferson Barracks and Chicago, brought him to 1831, and another furlough; during which he visited Philadelphia, and left it with the promise of a wife. In June of the next year, he returned from Green Bay, and was married. His wife, and her sister Mary, in the rapid whirl of military movements, presently found themselves left on Mackinaw Island, while the doctor was ordered off to the Black Hawk war.

The expedition which he attended, saw no fighting, but the cholera broke out among the troops, and raged fearfully. The other surgeon died of it, and Dr.

Finley had to attend upon the sick day and night, himself bent down with the premonitory symptoms. Almost dead, from mere want of rest, he was directed by the commanding officer to go into his tent and sleep, while a sentry at the door excluded all applications for medical service. This sleep probably saved his life.

In October he returned to his post and his family at Green Bay, but with such shattered health, that he was allowed to repair to Philadelphia on furlough, in July following. Whilst here, in the ensuing winter, he made a profession of religion in the Scots' Presbyterian church, of which his wife was already a member. In March, 1834, he accompanied the dragoons under Col. Dodge to the western prairies; in the autumn was ordered to Jefferson Barracks, and there continued until the spring of 1836, when he parted from his wife to go to the Sabine, and she returned to Philadelphia. In the spring of 1837, he was sent to the Florida war, and was there the medical director, about two years. From thence he was transferred to Fortress Monroe, Buffalo, Carlisle, and back again to the fortress; there his family have since continued, while he has been, most of the time, in the Mexican campaign; being at the last accounts at Vera Cruz.

The children of Dr. Clement Finley are the following:-1. Mary M'Calla, born January 27, 1834. 2. Matilda Harris, August 3, 1836. 3. Lydia Moore, May 18, 1839. 4. Samuel Moore, December 22, 1841. 5. Clement Brown, May 14, 1844. 6. William Harris, October 8, 1846.

III. MARTHA, third child of Robert and Amy Patterson, became a Du Bois, and is reserved for that branch of our history.

IV. WILLIAM Ewing, the first son, was born March 29, 1782. A life of forty-seven years, which might have reached to seventy; eventful, sorrowful, and instructive. We shall be brief. Endowed with an active spirit, and a healthy constitution, industrious, yet fond of sport and company, inclined to read, but reluctant to study, wayward and open-hearted, it is not easy to tell what course of training such various traits required. If there were any mistakes in the measure of paternal rigour, or maternal allowance, it is not for us to speculate upon them. Growing to manhood, he showed a decided inclination towards mechanical pursuits; for carpenter's and printer's work, there was intuitive readiness; for dead languages, and a college degree, there was a settled antipathy.

His father therefore set him up in a printing-office; the adventure was every way unprofitable; among the workmen were some, whose society did no good to young William. This abandoned, he asked to be put to the study of medicine; the study pleased him, and good progress was made. Coming of age, and having attended two courses of medical lectures, he commenced practice at Wheeling, in the summer of 1803. His stay at that new settlement was of no sort of benefit. Returning home, he earnestly requested to be sent upon a voyage as surgeon; which was permitted. Sailing to St. Domingo, in 1805, at a time when a revolution in the government, the triumphs of negro monarchy, and the neglect of the plantations, had thrown commerce out of course, the vessel was detained in Haytien ports some eighteen months. In the incursions of yellow fever, as well as ordinary sickness, the young doctor had exercise for his skill, and gave proof of it; but there was far too much leisure upon his hands; temptation was abundant, restraint was distant; and upon his return, the family were startled by some tokens of dissipation. But they were occasional, and not flagrant; he was young and open to admonition; clever, obliging, and affectionate as ever; in another employment, in a country place, he would be likely to do well. The selection was store-keeping, and the place was Durham, in Bucks county; far enough from the city, too far from home. But it was a store of the old fashion,-contained the very article it should not; there came very bad news; and the establishment had to be broken up.

An indispensable, and most urgent appeal, from one of his sisters, proved that there was penitence, and a wish to reform. In fact, a reformation did take place, and inspired new confidence. His father, ever anxious to do what might be for his benefit, at whatever cost, gave him a new start, in the fall of 1810, in a cotton factory at Bridge-Point. For a year or more, things went on well; until a business trip to New York betrayed him into a relapse, and from that time all was over. Mismanagement and disaster made it imperative upon his father to wind up the concern; and although William was barely thirty years of age, this was his last undertaking. The war of 1812 took him to camp Dupont, as a member of a rifle corps; on his return, he boarded at our house (Doylestown), and there lived the remainder of his days. There was never another determined effort at reform, at any rate,