Yes! much more pleasing is your task;
I would imbrue my wings in dew,
And bear the fragrance of these flow’rs,
Melinda to refresh, like you.
But see! she breaks through yonder grove,
Refulgent as a summer’s morn;
Her step is grace—her lip of rose
The smiles of modest worth adorn.
Like you, transported, let me fan her;
Like you, admire the bounteous maid:
For, sure, a fairer face I never
Spread forth my cooling wings to aid.
---
_Diploma._
Praeses et Professores Collegii, seu Universitatis, GULIELMI ET MARIÆ,
omnibus at quos præsentes literæ pervenerint, Salutem.—Cum eum in finem
gradus academici majoribus nostris prudenter instituti fuerint, ut viri
optimé meriti, seu in gremio nostræ matris educati, seu aliundi bonarum
artium disciplinis eruditi, istis insignibus a literatorum vulgo
secernerentur; sciatis, quod nos, ea sola quæ possumus viâ, gradu Artium
Magistri libenter studioséque concesso, testamur quanti facimus DAVIDEM
RITTENHOUSE _Philosophorum Principem_, qui ingenio nativo _Machinam
celeberrimam_, motus et phænomena cœlestium manifestius exhibentem,
commentus est:—Idcirco, in solenni convocatione, tricessimo die
decembris, Anno Domini millesimo septingentesimo octogesimo quarto,
habito, _conspirantibus omnium suffragiis_, eundem virum egregium,
DAVIDEM RITTENHOUSE, _Artium Magistrum_ creavimus et constituimus.—In
cujus rei testimonium, sigillum Universitatis, quo in hac parte utimur,
præsentibus apponi fecimus. Datum in domo nostræ convocationis, anno
domini, die et mense, prædictis.
J. MADISON, Præses, et prof. Ma. and Nat. Phil. G. WYTHE, Leg. et Polit.
Prof. ROBERTUS ANDREWS, Math. Prof. CAROLUS BELLINI, Neot. Ling. Prof.
---
_Diploma._
Præses et Curatores Collegii Neo-Cæsariensis, omnibus has Literas
lecturis, plurimam Satutem.
Quandoquidem æquum sit et ratione prorsus, consentaneum, ut ii qui
labore et studio bonas didicerunt artes præmia suis meritis digna
referant ut et ipsis benè sit, et aliorum provoceter industria.
Quando etiam huc potissimum spectant amplissima illa jura nostro
Collegio publico Diplomate collata. Quumque clarissimus vir DAVID
RITTENHOUSE sit non tantum Moribus inculpatus et Ingenio insignis, sed
et sibi tantam in Artibus liberalibus cognitionem Industria laudabili
acquisivit, ut summos Honores Academicos probe mereatur.
Idcirco notum sit omnibus, quod nos, Senatus-consulto Academico nec non
Facultatis Artium decreto, supradictum DAVIDEM RITTENHOUSE Titulo
Graduque DOCTORIS IN LEGIBUS adornandum, et dehinc pro Adepto et Doctore
habendum volumus; cujus, hæc Membrana, Sigillo nostri Collegii rata et
Chirographis nostris munita, Testimonio sit.
Datum Aulæ Nassovicæ, Pridie Calendas Octobris Anno MDCCLXXXIX.
JOANNES WITHERSPOON, Præses. Joannes Rodgers, Joannes Bayard, Joannes
Woodhull, Guls. Paterson, Isaacus Snowden, Jacobus Boyd, Joannes Beatty,
Guliel. M. Tennent, Andreas Hunter, Curatores.
---
_An English Obituary Notice of Dr. Rittenhouse: Extracted from the
European Magazine, for July, 1796._
In the sixty-fourth year of his age, died DAVID RITTENHOUSE, The
American Philosopher. His history is curious, from the admiration in
which his character was held.
Rittenhouse was a native of America; and, in the early part of his life,
he mingled the pursuits of science with the active employments of a
farmer and watch-maker.[A50] In 1769, he was invited by the American
Philosophical Society to join a number of gentlemen who were then
occupied in making some astronomical observations, when he particularly
distinguished himself by the accuracy of his calculations and the
comprehension of his mind. He afterwards constructed an
observatory,[A51] which he superintended in person, and which was the
source of many important discoveries, as well as greatly tending to the
diffusion of knowledge in the western world. During the American war, he
was an active assertor of the cause of independence. Since the
establishment of the peace, he successively filled the offices of
Treasurer of the State of Pennsylvania and Director of the National
Mint; in both of which capacities, he was alike distinguished for
strength of judgment and integrity of heart. He succeeded the
illustrious Franklin in the office of President of the Philosophical
Society; a situation which the bent of his mind and the course of his
studies had rendered him eminently qualified to fill: and towards the
close of his days, he retired from public life to the enjoyment of
domestic happiness; when he formed a circle of private friends, who will
continue to admire his Virtues as a Man, while the world will applaud
his Talents as a Philosopher.
-----
Footnote A50:
He never professed the business of making watches: the first
mechanical occupation he assumed was that of a clock maker, an
employment he pursued many years, in the earlier part of his life. W.
B.
Footnote A51:
Having, in the preceding note, adverted to the unimportant error in
the text, wherein our Philosopher is stated to have pursued the
employment of a watch-maker, instead of that of a clock-maker; it
becomes necessary to notice, in this place, another mistake, though
likewise an inconsiderable one, into which the liberal and candid
writer of the article, above quoted, has been led. Dr. Rittenhouse’s
Observatory, at Norriton—the place of his original residence and the
seat of his farm-house—was erected _prior_ to the celebrated
“Astronomical Observations” made by him, in the year 1769; which were
those relating to the Transit of Venus over the Sun’s disk, on the 3d
of June in that year. W. B.
-----
_Letter from the Rev. Mr. Cathcart, to the Writer of these Memoirs._
_York, 13th. Nov, 1812._
Dear Sir,
The following is a statement of the conversation which took place
between Drs. Sproat and Rittenhouse, mentioned by me to Bishop White.
At a time when Dr. Rittenhouse was confined by sickness to his room,
or perhaps to his bed,[A52] he sent for the Rev. Dr. Sproat to visit
him. The Doctor was somewhat surprised, on receiving the message: but
as he had made it an uniform rule to visit all who sent for him, he
expressed his surprise at being sent for; observing, that he could
offer no comfort or consolation to any person, who was not a Believer
in the Christian Religion. On hearing this declaration, Dr.
Rittenhouse immediately asked, if Dr. Sproat considered him among the
number of such? To which the Doctor answered; that the world had
generally classed him with them. Dr. Rittenhouse on hearing this, with
great mildness and a smile on his countenance, replied, that the
opinion of the world was sometimes wrong; and, as it respected
himself, he could with truth declare, that ever since he had examined
Christianity and thought upon the subject, he was a firm believer in
it; and, that he expected salvation _only_ in the way and manner, as
proposed in the Gospel.
The above is the _substance_ of what Dr. Sproat mentioned to myself;
and I might add, that when the good old man told it, his eyes
overflowed with tears of joy. It gives me pleasure to be able to
furnish you with this satisfactory proof of Dr. Rittenhouse’s faith;
and which I once introduced into a sermon preached in the city, as
justice due to the character of the deceased, and who had been
triumphantly claimed by the Infidels. I am happy to find that you are
engaged in the laudable business of writing the Life of that worthy
Man. Yours, respectfully,