ADVERTISEMENT. XIU 



defire to fee knowledge i'o diffeminated through the mafs of 

 mankind, that it may at length reach even the extremes of 

 fociety, beggars and kings. 1 pray you, gentlemen, to 

 tcftlty for me to our body, my fenfe of their favor, and 

 my difpolitioiis to fupply by zeal what I may be deficient in 

 the other qualifications proper for their fervice, and to be 

 aflfured that your teftimony cannot go beycnd my feelings, 

 i'ermit me to avail myfelf of this opportunity of ex- 

 prefilng the fincere grief 1 feel for the lofs of our beloved 

 Rittenhoufe. Genius, fcience, modefty, purity of morals, 

 fimplicity of manners, marked him as one of nature's 

 bcft famples of the perfection flie can cover under the hu- 

 m.an form. Surely no fociety, till ours, within the fame 

 compals of time, ever had to deplore the lofs of two fuch 

 members as Franklin and Rittenhoufe: Franklin, our 

 Patriarch, the ornament of our age and country, whom 

 Philofophy and Philanthropy announced the firft of men, 

 and whofe name will be as a fiar of the firfl magnitude 

 in the firmament of heaven, when the memory of his 

 companions of the way will be loft in the abyfs of time 

 and fpace. With the moft affedtionate attachment to 

 their memory, and with fentiments of the higheft refpedl 

 to the Society, and to yourfelves perfonally, I have the 

 honor to be, Gentlemen, 



Your moil: obedient. 



And moft humble Servant, 



TH. JEFFERSON. 



MefTrs. Samufl Mag aw, ~| 



Jonathan Williams, I Secretaries of the American 



William Barton, [ Phiiofophicai Society. 



John Bleakley, J 



