240 Naliojis lalehj become Literarij. [Cil. XXVI. 



Rittenliouse*, the rev. Dr. Smith, Dr. Hugh Wil- 

 liamson, and several others, of Pennsylvania; by 

 Mr. Benjamin West, of Rhode Island; by profes- 

 sor Winthropf, of Massachusetts; and b}^ some 



D. D.-; a comprehensive and eloquent eulogium, -which does 

 honour to the author, as well as to the object of his panegyric. 



* David Rittenhouse, LL. D., F. R. S., was born at Germantowu, 

 near Philadelphia, April 8, 1732. He was not favoured with a 

 regular academic education, but he was endued with a genius 

 which rose above all difficulties, and which soon entitled him to a 

 place among' the most distinguished ornaments of his country. 

 He early discovered a fondness for mathematical and astrono- 

 mical inquiries, and, was indulged by his parents in learning the 

 trade of a clock and mathematical-instrument maker, in which he 

 was his own instructor. While he resided with his father, in the 

 country, he made himself master of Ne ivton's Principia, which he 

 read in the translation of Mr. Mott. Here, likewise, he became 

 acquainted with the science o^ Jhtxions, of which sublime inven- 

 tion he believed himself for a time to be the author. The first 

 occasion on Which his knowledge of mathematics and astronomy 

 was signally displayed, was in observing the Transit of Venus in 

 1769, when he discovered a mind familiar with the most abstruse 

 and complicated investigations. It was in this retirement, also, 

 that he planned and executed his far-famed Orreri/, in which he 

 represented the revolutions of the heavenly bodies in a manner 

 more complete and comprehensive than any former astronomer. 

 After this, his talents were displayed on various public occasions, 

 and were admired and celebrated, not only throughout his own 

 country, but among the philosophers of Europe. Dr. Ritten- 

 house, on account of that modesty for which he was always re- 

 jnnarkable, published but little. An Oration delivered before the 

 Philosophical Society in 1775, and a few Memoirs on Mathema- 

 tical and Astrortomical subjects, contained in the first three vo- 

 lumes of the Transactions of that body, form the whole list of his 

 publications. He was loaded with honours, both by the state 

 and by literary and scientific institutions. He was chosen pre- 

 sident oT the Philosophical Society in 1791; and was annually 

 reelected to this office till his death in 1796. See Dr. Rush's 

 Eulogiim. 

 'I JohnWinthrop, LL. D., F. R.S., was bora in Boston, in 17 14* 



