BACKUS, ISAAC, a learned divine and historian, was born in Norwich, Connecticut, January 20, 1724; was ordained over a congregational church in Middleborough, Massachusetts, 1748; and afterwards became a convert to the sentiments of the an

tepedobaptists, 1756. A baptist church was formed January 16, 1756, and he was installed its pastor June 23, of the same year, by ministers from Boston and Rehoboth: he was continued its pastor until his death, in the year 1806.

The town of Middleborough chose him one of their delegates in the convention, which adopted the federal constitution; on which occasion he made a speech in its favour.

The baptist church of America owe not a little of their present flourishing condition to his exertions.

In 1796, he completed his church history of NewEngland, in three volumes, which he afterwards abridged, and brought it down to 1804. This work contains many facts, and much important information. His other works consist of sermons, essays, and controversial pieces. He also wrote a history of Middleborough, which is published in a third volume of the collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society.

BELLAMY, JOSEPH, DD. a learned divine, was born at New-Cheshire, Connecticut, about the year 1719, and was graduated at Yale college in 1735.

He soon after commenced the study of divinity, and became a preacher at the age of eighteen. In 1740, he was ordained pastor of a church at Bethlehem, in the town of Woodbury.

About the year 1750, he published an excellent treatise, entitled, True Religion Delineated; and from this time he became very conspicuous in preparing young men for the gospel ministry. In this

branch of his work he was eminently useful till the decline of life, when he relinquished it.

In 1786, he was seized with a paralytic affection, from which he never recovered. He died March 6, 1790, in the fiftieth year of his ministry, and seventy second year of his age.)

(As a preacher, he had perhaps no superior; and in a variety of respects he shone with distinguished lustre. Extensive science, and ease of communicating his ideas, rendered him one of the best instructers. His writings procured him the esteem of the pious and learned, at home and abroad, with many of whom he maintained an epistolary correspondence. In his preaching, a mind rich in thought, a great command of language, and a powerful voice, rendered his extemporary discourses peculiarly acceptable. He was one of the ablest divines of this country. In his sentiments he accorded with president Edwards, with whom he was intimately acquainted. His writings are published in three volumes octavo,

BELKNAP, JEREMY, DD. eminent as a divine and historian, was born in Boston, June 4, 1744. He was graduated at Harvard college in 1762. He early exhibited marks of genius and talents, which predicted his future celebrity. In 1767, he was ordained pastor of the church in Dover, New-Hampshire, over which he presided near twenty years of his life, with the esteem and affection of his flock, and respected by the first characters of the state.

In 1787, he removed to Boston, and was installed pastor of the church in Federal-street. Here he passed the remainder of his days, discharging the duties of his pastoral office, exploring various fields of literature, and giving efficient support to every useful and benevolent institution. He was one of the

founders of the Massachusetts Historical Society, the design of which was to collect and preserve manuscripts, and bring together the materials for illustrating the history of our country. He was also a member of several humane and literary societies. He ably advocated our republican forms of government, and wrote much in favour of freedom and his country.)

As an author, no one has been more justly celebrated on this side the Atlantic. He published a history of New-Hampshire, in three volumes, written in a very handsome style. The Foresters, a work which mingles wit and humour, with a representation of the manners of the American people. The American Biography, in two volumes, a monument of his talents, industry, and knowledge. It is much to be regretted he did not live to complete this work, for which the public voice pronounced him peculiarly qualified. He also published sermons, and a number of essays upon the African trade; civil and religious liberty; upon the state and settlement of this country; and a discourse delivered at the request of the Historical Society of Massachusetts, He died suddenly, June 20, 1798.)

BARTRAM, JOHN, a celebrated botanist, was born near the town of Darby, Pennsylvania, about the year 1701.

This self-taught genius early discovered an ardent desire for the acquisition of knowledge, especially of natural history and botany. In this latter science he made so much proficiency, that Linnæus pronounced him "the greatest natural botanist in the world."

His attainments in natural history attracted the esteem of the most distinguished men in America.

and Europe, and he corresponded with many of them.

He was the first American who conceived and carried into effect the design of a botanic garden, for the cultivation of American plants, as well as exotics. For this purpose he purchased a fine situation on the banks of the Schuylkill, about five miles from the city of Philadelphia, where he laid out a large garden, and filled it with a variety of the most curious and beautiful vegetables, collected in his excursions from Canada to Florida.

His ardour in these pursuits was such, that at the age of seventy he made a journey into East Florida, to explore its natural productions. By his means the gardens of Europe were enriched with elegant flowering shrubs, with plants and trees, collected in different parts of our country, from the shore of lake Ontario, to the source of the river St. Juan.

He was elected a member of several of the most eminent societies and academies in Europe, and was at length appointed American botanist to his Britannic majesty, George III. which appointment he held till his death, which happened September 3d, 1777, in the seventy-sixth year of his age.

Several of Mr. Bartram's communications in zoology were published in the Philosophical Transactions, between the years 1743 and 1749. He published observations on the inhabitants, climate, soil, &c. made in his travels from Pennsylvania to Onondago-London, 1751: description of East Florida, 4to. 1774.

BARTRAM, WILLIAM, F. R. S. an eminent botanist, and son of the preceding, was born near the city of Philadelphia, April 20, 1739. From his childhood he had a taste for observing and collecting

plants, and when only eleven years of age, volunteered to accompany his father in one of his tours through the uninhabited parts of the southern states, in search of non-descript vegetable productions and fossils.

After his return to Pennsylvania, he was sent to the college of Philadelphia, where he diligently pursued his studies until his sixteenth year, at which time he was placed with a merchant. He soon however abandoned mercantile pursuits for others more congenial to his mind. Botany and natural history were his favourite studies, and in these he soon made great proficiency, insomuch, that in a few years his fame had reached the continent, and spread throughout Europe./

The important discoveries he made had no sooner reached England, than he was employed by Dr. Fothergill, and several other eminent naturalists, to make a tour of discovery through the Carolinas, Georgia, and the Floridas, and to communicate to them whatever was new and interesting in natural science. The result of these travels, so creditable to his eminent acquirements, he afterwards published in a thick octavo volume.

Mr. Bartram now retired to the enchanting spot, and took charge of the celebrated gardens commenced by his father on the Schuylkill, near Philadelphia. To these he devoted the whole of his attention, and year after year enriched it with valuable plants from both hemispheres. Here he also pursued his researches into nature, and formed, for future celebrity, the mind of the celebrated author of the American Ornithology.

In 1792, after the junction of the two rival faculties of medicine in Philadelphia, Mr. Bartram was unanimously elected to the chair of Botany and Natural History in the university of Pennsylvania. This honour, however, he declined, and it was afterwards conferred on the late eminent naturalist Dr. B. S. Barton.