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Britain; and, having a predilection for a military life, he accepted a 

 commission, as Captain of Dragoons, from President Jefferson; and 

 was stationed with his regiment at New Orleans. The excitement 

 was, however, temporarily lulled, and Mr. Biddle resigned his com- 

 mission. But when war was declared against Great Britain, in 1812, 

 he originated, in his native city, the company of volunteers, known 

 as the State Fencibles, of which company he was elected Captain, in 

 July, 1812. Although just married, and in circumstances by no 

 means opulent, he gave his whole time and abilities, during the con- 

 tinuance of the war, to the service of his country. On the organiza- 

 tion of the First Regiment of Volunteer Light Infantry, of the Penn- 

 sylvania Line, he was elected Colonel. In the autumn of 1814, his 

 regiment was stationed at Camp Dupont, in the State of Delaware; 

 but, owing to the retreat of the enemy from Baltimore, it was never 

 actively engaged. 



Upon the restoration of peace, Mr. Biddle returned to Philadelphia, 

 and was appointed, by the Governor, a Notary Public; which office 

 he exercised for several years. Although his early education had 

 not been regular, and his varied and desultory mode of life had inter- 

 rupted the pursuit of letters, still a thirst for knowledge stimulated his 

 naturally vigorous intellect to active exertions. The duties of his 

 office not requiring his whole attention, he employed his leisure in 

 study, and soon made considerable advances in Ethical and Metaphy- 

 sical investigations; and in the science of Political Economy, for 

 which he evinced a decided bias. An American edition of the Trea- 

 tise on Political Economy, by Jean-Baptiste Say, translated into En- 

 glish by Prinsep, being projected, Mr. Biddle became the editor of it; 

 and, by the addition of notes, and a translation of the Introductory 

 Essay, which latter had been omitted by the English editor, the Trea- 

 tise has been so favourably received by the public that it has passed 

 through many editions. An autograph letter from Dugald Stewart, 

 in February, 1824, and another from J. B. Say, in August of the 

 same year, niTord evidence of their approbation of the services of the 

 American editor. 



Upon the assembling of the Free Trade Convention, in Philadel- 

 phia, in September, 18.31, Mr. Biddle took an active part in their de- 

 liberations ; and, though not prominent as a debater, for which his 

 previous training had not qualified him, he was recognised as one of 

 the best informed members of that enlightened body. Entertaining 

 decided opinions upon the great political questions of the day, he en- 



