the city of New York. While in the army he had become the subject of permanent religious impressions, which rendered him afterwards, in a spiritual sense, "the beloved physician." He joined the Congregational church in Yorktown, and in 1787, was appointed to the office of deacon. He soon after removed his residence to the northwest part of the town of Somers, and in 1790, formed, in conjunction with several others, a church in Carmel, opposite Somers, the members of which were gathered from several contiguous towns. This was called the Red Mills society, or the church at Red Mills.

The medical practice of doctor Cornelius extended, for many years, over a large district, comprehending portions of Somers, Yorktown, Carmel, Phillipstown, and Fredericktown. Though he had not enjoyed the advantages of an early education, yet by industry and love of study, he had acquired much general, as well as professional knowledge. To all his duties he brought a large portion of energy and firmness. His exertions in building a meeting-house, and in procuring and maintaining a preacher, were of the most prompt and liberal character. His first wife was a daughter of Dr. Brewer, by whom he had several children, all of whom died at an early age. Mrs. Cornelius soon followed her children to the grave. By his second marriage, doctor Cornelius had one son, and four daughters. The widow, and three of the daughters, are still living.

In the early history of young Cornelius, nothing of special interest occurs. "I was very intimate in the family," says a venerable clergyman, who then officiated at the Red Mills church, "and was conversant with the history of the education of that only son. He was a very frank, active, and pleasant boy, full of vivacity, fond of the social circle and conversation; but easily governed.

His turn of mind exposed him sometimes to acts of juvenile indiscretion; but he was readily corrected, and brought to a sense of his faults. We foresaw that his social disposition might expose him to the influence of crafty and vicious company; and this circumstance sometimes discouraged his father. He was apprehensive that an education would only qualify him to do extensive mischief. But it was strongly represented to him, that these traits of character would prepare him for eminent usefulness, if they could be turned into the right channel." As both his parents were pious, he was early and faithfully instructed in his duties to his Lord and Redeemer. Of the prayers and labors which were expended in his behalf, no marked fruits appeared for several years. He sometimes, however, manifested a warm interest in the intelligent and serious conversation of his superiors in age. His conscience, enlightened by perusal of the Bible, and by the living example of his friends, did not allow him to remain in quiet, while alienated from his Maker. At one time, in his early boyhood, his feelings were deeply interested in reading Lindley Murray's "Power of Religion," a book which records the happy experience of many dying believers in Jesus.

It was a signal favor of Providence to the church, that Mr. Cornelius had such a father, uniting, as he did, in his character, most of those qualities which could control the high spirits of his son, and at the same time implant in the bosom of that son the principles of the most affectionate and endearing filial attachment. He could have adopted no measures more intelligent and judicious, than those by which he was governed, in providing for him an elementary and academical education.

His preparatory studies for college were committed, in part, to the care of the Rev. Herman Daggett, afterwards principal of the Foreign Mission School, at Cornwall, Ct.,

To the instructions of this gentleman, Mr. Cornelius was greatly indebted for his skill in penmanship, and for the order, accuracy, and fine tact, which he ever exhibited in his pecuniary and business engagements. Mr. Daggett might be called an instructor of the "old school; possessing much of that manual dexterity, as well as thorough enthusiasm in his pursuits, which have rendered the names of Corbet, Ezekiel Cheever, and master Moody so famous in the records of elementary education. To a well-trained mind, and to a perfect acquaintance with all the minutiae of his duties, Mr. Daggett united gentle affections, warm sensibilities, and winning manners. Mr. Cornelius ever looked back to this period in his life, with deep interest, associating the acquisition of habits of great importance to himself, with the faithful services and affectionate heart of his revered instructor. Mr. Daggett has within a few months been summoned to join his beloved pupil, as we doubt not, in that great assembly of the wise and good in heaven, who have been redeemed from among men.

In September, 1810, when a little more than sixteen years of age, Mr. Cornelius entered the sophomore class in Yale college. His father had preferred Columbia college, in the city of New York, as a place for the education of his son; but he wisely listened to the suggestions of a mutual friend, who thought it to be not judicious to expose a young man of so ardent temperament to the dangers of a great metropolis.

Of the history of his mind at college, or of his literary course, our notices must necessarily be brief. Having passed his life in the country, amidst interesting natural scenery, and possessing habits of great physical activity, which led him frequently into the woods and fields, he early developed a strong predilection for mineralogy and the kindred sciences. This tendency was probably

strengthened by those habits of orderly arrangement, which so strikingly characterize some of the departments of natural history. He saw in these studies much which could gratify the taste which he had early formed for beauty of proportion, and skilful arrangement. He rambled many miles in the country around New Haven, with his steel, mineral tests, and stone-hammer, and returned with heavy loads of stone and ore. He was accustomed to mark all his specimens in mineralogy, many of which were valuable, with great care; and on a particular shelf he had written, in prominent letters, "Handle not." Some years before Mr. Cornelius united with the seminary, colonel Gibbs, a very liberal benefactor to science, had established a small fund for premiums in natural history. From the avails of this fund, valuable mineralogical specimens were awarded to the two members in a class who were most distinguished for their researches in mineralogy. “Mr. Cornelius," remarks a class-mate, "received the first premium during junior year, and I the second. In senior year, we again received the premiums in a reversed order. There was on neither occasion any feeling of rivalship between us; least of all, in senior year. On the last occasion, Cornelius coming directly from the mineralogical lecture to my room, observed, 'Well, well, I hope we have both got a better part, which shall never be taken away from us.'”

In reference to his intellectual character and pursuits, another class-mate makes the following observations. "I was not aware of Mr. Cornelius's extreme youth while in college; at least so important a fact in his history, if known, made no permanent impression on my mind. I am induced to believe that to this circumstance must be attributed, principally, his character as a student while in the seminary. I do not recollect that he was deficient in any branch; but while he was distinguished in those studies

which relate to natural history, he appeared not to have the same attachment to other pursuits. The native ardor of his mind, which was so early developed, previous to maturity of intellect and the stability of years, led him almost as a necessary consequence to the course which he pursued, especially while not influenced by the principles of religion. In our estimates of character, I think we do not always bring into view sufficiently the original structure of the mind. It would not, perhaps, be correct to state that the faculties of Mr. Cornelius's mind ripened late; in some respects the reverse was true, yet certain traits which early appeared, wanted the balance of opposite qualities. This circumstance incidentally turned his attention from those branches which demanded the severest mental discipline to those which presented a more ample field for action and experiment, in which he ever delighted. And this, I conceive to be perfectly consistent with the fact, that he subsequently applied himself to other branches of study, and became conversant with literature to the extent which his other avocations would admit. Very few persons of his age are prepared, whatever may be their previous powers of mind, to make the highest attainments in the studies of college, unless piety has given stability of character, or some favorable circumstances have existed with respect to associates. It is my impression, that the studies to which he attached himself with special interest, gave a fixedness of character to his mind, and prepared him afterwards to pursue other branches with greater benefit. I am partly inclined to believe, that it is not so important by what branch of study the mind is, in its earliest years, disciplined, as that the energies should be directed to some one useful and interesting object of attention.”

We are not inclined to dissent from these intelligent observations. We should fail, however, to do complete