101 



Mr. Ord, pursuant to appointment at a former meeting, read 

 an obituary notice of William M'llvaine, a deceased member 

 of the Society. 



William M'llvaine, son of Dr. William M'llvaine, a respectable 

 physician of Bristol, Pennsylvania, was born in the said town on the 

 2d of May, 1786. His maternal grandfather was Chief Justice Ship- 

 pen, a name conspicious in the annals of our commonwealth. 



Mr. M'llvaine's predilection tor learning was manifested at an early 

 age; his parents therefore determined to have him prepared for a col- 

 legiate education. To this end he was placed under the care of the 

 Reverend Dr. Staughton, in the Burlington Academy, New Jersey. 

 On his matriculation in the college of Princeton, it was ascertained 

 that extraordinary exertions, on his part, were necessary, in order to 

 keep pace with students, of the same class, older than himself. Hence 

 his unremitted perseverance enabled him to reach the desirable period 

 of graduation, and to obtain the bachelorship, at the age of sixteen: 

 an unequivocal evidence of industry and mental powers but rarely 

 exhibited, even in our most favoured seminaries. 



On quitting his alma mater, the choice of a calling became the sub- 

 ject of deliberation ; and it was finally resolved, that, of the liberal 

 professions, jurisprudence was the most eligible, as presenting the 

 widest field for social distinction, and as best adapted to the bias of 

 his mind. An arrangement was accordingly m.ade with a distin- 

 guished jurist of Philadelphia, for supervision in his preliminary 

 studies. But the result of his emulous incitement at college became 

 manifest in a weakness of his visual organs, which tended to a de- 

 privation of sight. Hence, under medical advisement, he was re- 

 stricted, for several months, to a darkened chamber; where, deprived 

 of intercommunication with society abroad, his chief solace was de- 

 rived from the assiduities of his sisters ; who had the satisfaction of 

 beholding him at length restored to his wonted health and vigour. 



It was now deemed expedient to relinquish the study of the law; 

 and the pursuits of commerce being resolved upon, Mr. M'llvaine, in 

 1806, was admitted into the counting house of a merchant of Phila- 

 delphia. 



After a novitiate of some twelve months, a voyage to Canton in 

 China was projected; and Mr. M'llvaine, conjointly with an ac- 

 quaintance, embarked, at the port of Philadelphia, in the capacity of 

 supercargo. On the fulfilment of this eastern adventure, he pro- 

 ceeded to the north of Europe, where, for six years, he was occupied 



VOL. VI. — P 



