92 



Sternly moral, and devoutly religious; animated, moreover, by an 

 indomitable spirit of enterprise, and endowed with a keen perception, 

 and thorough appreciation, of the inalienable rights of man, they 

 were singularly fitted for their destined mission: — namely, the re- 

 pudiation of tyranny, and the founding of a great democratic repub- 

 lic in this western hemisphere. All their undertakings were signal- 

 ized by a rare combination of the most fervent piety and the shrewdest 

 worldly wisdom. They practically illustrated the significant maxim 

 — derived from the fatherland, in the stirring times of "The Common- 

 wealth" — to trust in the Lord^ and keep their poicder dry. 



From this remarkable and hopeful stock, sprang our lamented 

 fellow-member, the course and incidents of whose life it is here pro- 

 posed very briefly to sketch ; and whose sterling worth we are all 

 fain to commemorate. The limits, deemed appropriate to this occa- 

 sion, will admit of little more than a chronological list of dates, events, 

 and employments. 



William H. Dillingham, son of Nathan and Rebecca [Fessenden] 

 Dillingham, was born in the town of Lee, in Western Massachusetts, 

 on the 3d of August, 1791. His education, preparatory to a colle- 

 giate course, was acquired at Lenox Academy, in the vicinity of his 

 birth-place. At the age of 1 5 years, he entered the Sophomore Class 

 in Williams College, where he continued a year and a half. The 

 circumstances of his family, however, rendered it expedient to with- 

 draw him from college before his course was completed : but his alma 

 mater subsequently — viz. in 1815 — conferred on him the honorary 

 degree of A. M. 



In the year 1808, he came to Philadelphia, and commenced the 

 study of law under the auspices of the late Charles Chauncey, Esq., 

 a gentleman who was ever his generous friend and faithful counsellor; 

 and for whom, to his latest hour, he cherished the most profound 

 veneration, and grateful regard. 



In 1811, Mr. Dillingham was admitted to the bar; and thereupon 

 settled himself, for some time, in this city of Pcnn, as a practitioner 

 of the law. 



With a taste finely cultivated, and a decided predilection for lite- 

 rary and scientific pursuits, he was always ready to aid in establish- 

 ing and fostering institutions which promised to enhance tlie intel- 

 lectual and moral character of the community. Accordingly, we 

 learn that in 1813, he was one of" half a dozen young men of Phila- 

 delphia," who "came together and arranged a plan for the establish- 

 ment of reading rooms." From this slender beginning — and the con- 



