( 322) 
It is a mark of Dr. Hosack’s magnanimity of character, 
that though like Hamilton’s other friends he probably re- 
garded Col. Burr as little better than Hamilton’s murderer, he 
nevertheless, four years afterward, when Burr, acquitted of 
treason, was in hiding in New York, seeking shelter from 
universal and overwhelming obloquy, supplied him with 
necessary passage money to effect his escape to Europe.* 
osack was one of the leaders in establishing the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1807, where he was 
professor of botany from 1807 to 1808, when he resigned. 
He was one of the organizers of the New York Historical 
Society, and for eight years its president, and for several 
years president of the New York Horticultural Society. 
Bellevue Hospital and the Humane Society were established 
‘*mainly by his persevering exertions.” { He was a fellow 
of the American Literary and Philosophical Society, and of 
the Edinburgh and London Royal Societies. 
He was large and robust of frame, of commanding pres- 
ence and a piercing eye. His ideas and his views were also 
large and broad. He had a facile and elegant pen. From 
1814 to 1824 he edited, with Dr. Mitchill, The American 
Medical and Philosophical Register (4 vols.), and his writings 
were numerous — medical, literary and biographical, includ- 
ing memoirs of Dr. Hugh Williamson and Gov. De Witt 
Clinton. 
‘‘ His ardent temperament,” says Dr. Dalton,§ ‘and un- 
doubting self-reliance led him to the front in many contro- 
versial discussions, and his views were always maintained 
with force and ability. His sonorous voice, impressive man- 
ner and changing expression of face, gestures and utterance 
held attention.’ 
‘‘Hosack was a man of profuse expenditure,” says Dr. 
Francis; ‘* had he the wealth of Astor he might have died 
poor. ... It was his general rule to terminate his spring 
*Lamb’s Hist. of N. V., 2: 540. 
+ Hist. Columbia Un., 316. 1904; Gross’ Amer. Med. Biog., 316. 1860. 
} Lossing’s Hist. New York City, 1: 115. 1884 
2 Dalton’s Hist. Col. Phys. and S., 39, 40. 1888. 
