course of education. By special favour, he was allowed to begin, even with the alphabet, at the preparatory school of the University; where was prosecuted his English education. Early attention was given to Latin and Greek; but there was a decided preference manifested for mathematical studies. The development of this hereditary taste, accompanied by an amiable and affectionate temper, and free from a disposition to boyish mischief, had the effect to secure to him the favour, and indeed the companionship, of his father. At the age of 17 (1804), Robert took his first degree in the Arts, at the University of Pennsylvania.* Making choice of medicine as a profession, he pursued that study under the instruction of the eminent Dr. Benjamin S. Barton; and after attending the usual routine of lectures, was advanced to the degree of M. D. in April, 1808.

In the summer of 1809, his father having consented to the further prosecution of medical and scientific study in foreign parts, he sailed for Europe. Two years were spent in Paris, in attendance upon the lectures in medicine, chemistry, natural philosophy and natural history, at the celebrated schools of that city. This was during the height of Napoleon's power and grandeur, and Dr. P. had some opportunity of observing a course of events, which was destined to furnish an inexhaustible fund for history and memoir. His own letters of that date, written to friends at home, are preserved, and will afford materials for another day. To enliven this barren sketch, one anecdote may be introduced, and one letter copied.

On the departure of Gen. Armstrong, the American Envoy at Paris, Dr. P. was nominated to act as Consul-General of the

*

*

* Dr. S. Jackson, upon an occasion hereafter to be named, spoke to this effect::-"Dr. Patterson is associated in my earliest recollections; schoolfellows and class-mates, I witnessed the commencement of his career in life. He was never known as the leader of the tumultuous frolic or the athletic game, but he was ever foremost in the classical exercise of the school, and bore away the palm in the themes of his class. Yet his success inspired no envy, for it was unaccompanied with arrogance," &c.

Just after graduating, he spent some weeks as an amateur instructor in the school at Doylestown, to relieve my father, then busy with the erection of an academy, and dwelling-house.

United States. The name struck the Emperor's ear; his brother Jerome had, seven years before, married a lady of the name of Patterson, and from the United States. Further inquiry was unnecessary. The exequatur was refused. The Emperor could not consent that a Patterson should condescend to the office of Consul-General. The decision, arbitrary and absurd as it was, was the word of Napoleon; and Dr. Patterson had no resource, but silently to execute the office, and receive the emoluments, without troubling his imperial majesty any farther.

The following lively and familiar letter, written about this time, was recently found amongst the papers of his brother William, to whom it was written.

"Paris, November 15, 1809.

My dear Brother, I think we parted last at Amsterdam. I was detained there a month, and had nothing to do but to see the place, and yet I cannot tell you much about it. It is certainly a very beautiful city. The principal streets have canals running through them, and a spacious one surrounds the city walls. I have strolled more than a mile about the town, and then, when tired, have jumped into a boat, and had a bouncing, jolly Dutch girl, to row me home to my door. They have hackney-coaches, too, for this convenience; but, would you believe it, they have no wheels, they go on runners; the coachman walking along side, with a bundle of greased rags, which he throws under the runners occasionally, to make them slip on smoother. Even the burdens are drawn on sleds without wheels.

While speaking of Dutch absurdities, another occurs to me which is astonishing. They build the fronts of their houses, which are immensely high, not perpendicular, but leaning forward to the street. This fashion is almost universal. I never could learn the reason of it. Some say, it is to gain room; others, for the convenience of hoisting fuel, &c. into the garret, as they have no cellars. I believe they don't know why they do it; but their fathers built so before them, and they will build so, as long as they are Dutchmen. [Here follows some account of the palace; said to be the most beautiful in Europe.']

But a thousand curious things in Amsterdam now occur to me, which I cannot possibly describe till I see you. I had the honour to see his majesty, Louis Napoleon. He is quite a good looking man; the Dutch like him pretty well.

Gonda, Antwerp, Bruxelles, Valenciennes, Cambray, &c. some

other time.

Napoleon is now at Paris, and five kings; some others are coming. Every thing is to be magnificent this winter. I intend, from curiosity, to see their several majesties; but I do not expect

they will excite in me more interest than Haüy, &c. among the philosophers. They are not, Napoleon himself excepted, greater men. Haüy has discovered the secret laws which govern the ultimate molecules of inanimate matter; Napoleon, the more noble secret of those hidden motives that always control the human heart; and knows how to direct their motives. I have seen him, but not very satisfactorily. He is to show himself soon, on several public occasions. I am

* * * *

I wish you to write me very long letters. determined to spare no labour or pains, to become acquainted with chemistry and natural philosophy.

Mr. R. writes me that Dr. Moore continues his improvements at Bridgepoint. You say he intends beginning a cotton factory. I wish indeed that you would be concerned in it. Our country possesses every advantage; no one knows it, that has not left it. I have frequently described, in England particularly, the character of an American farmer. I did not exaggerate, but I was not believed. Why, sir, you would persuade us that they are lords!' • Pardon me, sir, they are kings.'

6

Farewell! It makes the warm blood hasten through my veins with redoubled ardour, to write to my friends, and about my country. Farewell.

Your brother and friend,

R. M. PATTERSON.”

Leaving Paris in 1811, Dr. P. spent a year in London, and heard the last course of chemical lectures delivered by the distinguished Sir Humphry Davy. The completion of his plans enabled him to turn homewards, in 1812; and the news of the outbreak of war, which the vessel received on her way, proved that he had embraced a final opportunity. It was now his intention to enter upon the practice of medicine; but an entirely different direction to his whole subsequent life, was given by the appointment, in 1813, to a professorship (of Natural Philosophy) in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania; and a subsequent election (March, 1814,) to the chair of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts; in which he was successor to his father. A month later, he was also elected Vice

Provost.

But we must not omit to mention, that within the period just noticed, that is, in 1813, while the invading army of the British was in possession of Baltimore, and threatening an attack upon Philadelphia, Dr. P. was actively employed in his country's

cause. The Committee of Safety, in the latter city, having determined upon throwing up fortifications, to protect the approaches to the city by the south and west, appointed Dr. P. to the chief superintendence of this work;* and on its accomplishment, awarded him a vote of thanks for his services.

In the next year (April 20, 1814), he was married to Helen Hamilton Leiper; a lady of whom we may be permitted to say, that she was then remarkable for personal attractions, and always for kindness, hospitality, and active energy. She was born in Philadelphia, April 20, 1792, and was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth C. Leiper. Mr. Leiper was an emigrant from Scotland; first to Virginia, thence to Philadelphia, where he accumulated a fortune in the manufacture of tobacco. He was one

of our most eminent townsmen, both in the walks of business, and in political life; presided some years in Common Council, and was often called to the chair in town meetings, especially those of the party with which he acted.

Dr. Patterson was now permanently settled, and fully at work. During fourteen years of college instruction, and more public lectures in natural philosophy, he acquired a reputation, which, as he is living, must be passed without remark, while it is open to inferencé. Ours is only a rapid syllabus of facts.

Within the term just mentioned (1814-28), we find him connected with various other institutions, chiefly scientific. The application of science to the mechanic arts, being a subject in which, like his father, he always took especial interest, he was one of the originators, and has constantly (while in Philadelphia) been an active member and officer of the Franklin Institute. This society, which was founded in 1823, now enrols a very large and most intelligent membership, and has acquired a reputation commensurate with its great industry and usefulness.

A part of this period, he was president of the Pennsylvania Life

* A friend, who was then a boy, but did his share with the spade, gives me a lively representation of the scene of labour. Citizens of all ranks turned out, by thousands, to dig ditches and cast up embankments. One of the earthen forts, erected at Fairmount to command the Schuylkill, was chiefly the work of ministers and school-teachers.

Annuity Company, a respectable post, to which some emolument was attached.

In 1820, Dr. Patterson took part in the organization of the Musical Fund Society,* a permanent institution, which was the first of its kind in this country, and has made Philadelphia preeminent, in musical skill and taste. Of this society he is the President.

But the institution with which Dr. Patterson is most thoroughly identified, is the American Philosophical Society. His membership in this, began in 1809, at the unusually early age of twentytwo. He was subsequently elected one of the Secretaries; then a Vice-President; and in 1845, the previous occupant of the chair (Mr. Du Ponceau) being deceased, he was chosen President; which office, under all the circumstances, he saw fit to decline. The meetings of the society occur every two weeks; and Dr. P. is scarcely ever absent.

In 1826, he was appointed by Gov. Shulze upon a commission for ascertaining the most practicable route for the State canal; a tour of duty which gave him a little experience of frontier, or rather pioneer, hardships.

Before proceeding to his removal from Philadelphia, we must be indulged in a paragraph, which, if it descends from public to private affairs, is nevertheless in keeping with the intention of this book. When my father died, in September, 1821, we were a family of children, illy able to do without such a protector and provider as we had lost. Two, especially, were lads just in the forming and critical period, on which the pursuits and capabilities of after-life usually depend. It was an act of generosity in the grandfather, to take and educate the elder; it was surely not less for the uncle to send for the other, and for five years, to do all for him that he did for his own children, even to the completion of a college education. But the circumstance will be referred to in another place.

In 1828, Dr. Patterson was elected to the Professorship of Natural Philosophy, in the University of Virginia. As soon as it

* "Dr. Patterson's favourite child," said Mr. Du Ponceau, in his dinner speech. See farther on.