EDITORIAL ADDRESS. "The wide, th' unbounded prospect lies before me, WHO is not agitated with fears and hopes, in commencing a new publication? The cold contempt of a censorious world, or the listless gaze of indifference, strikes terrour But when he con into an author's mind. templates the vice and ignorance of men, he is inspired with the hope of prompting the. negligent to acts of benevolence, and reclaim ing the devious from paths of iniquity. Many literary plants have germinated, and though nurtured with care, most of them have soon withered; and those that survive yield a scanty reward to their culti vators. We do not pretend to powers, or resources, superiour even to the least of our predecessors. Conscious of inability, we dare not say, the flowers of the Polyanthos shall be all indigenous. We aim to please the learned, and enlighten the ignorant; to allure the idle from folly, and confirm the timid in virtue. Is there a gem that sparkles yet unknown, ours shall be the task to place it where its radiance may illumine. and adorn society. We will transplant the rose that has hitherto blushed unseen in the field of science, and select flowers of the noblest kind from the variegated carpet of nature. While we strive to render this publication useful and acceptable, by combining pleasure and instruction, we respectfully solicit the assistance of the classical and refined scholar, the entertaining biographer, and the instructive historian." The religious and moral remarks of the divine, the curious contemplations of the philosopher, the wisdom of the politician, the sportive effusions of the humorist, and the enthusiasm of the poet, may here find a welcome repository. From the liberality and refinement of Columbia, we hope for that patronage, without which "the genial current of the soul" must freeze, and learning bid. adieu to earth. THE POLYANTHOS. DECEMBER, 1805. SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS B OF THE REV. J. BELKNAP, D. D. WITH A PORTRAIT. IOGRAPHICAL sketches, or memoirs of persons who have adorned their own characters by their virtues, or improved others by their writings, are useful in every form they are given to the publick. They are peculiarly calculated for periodical publications, by affording an agreeable variety, and making a few pages very interesting to those who know the characters; and instructive to many who read only to pass away a few leisure hours. Men who have been celebrated for great achievements excite admiration, and are most likely to arrest the attention of readers; but literary men are not to be forgotten; nor will they be placed in an inferiour class, by those who value true wisdom and worth, or consider the good which such men do upon earth. Among the literary men of this country, Dr. Belknap holds a distinguished place. His publications are as much read, and as likely to attract further notice, as any books of the kind. They have certainly excited a grateful esteem for the author. He was born in Boston, June 4, 1744, and had the rudiments of his education under the care of the celebrated Lovel, who has been styled the Busby of New-England. He early discovered the marks of genius, and entered Harvard College in 1758. His mind was there cultivated with care, he made considerable progress in classical literature, and was master of a great variety of knowledge, before he took his first degree. At the commencement, A. D. 1762, he received the honours of the college. From this time till he became a preacher of the gospel, he applied himself closely to his studies, and discovered such talents for composition, so much taste and sentiment, that several of the best scholars among the clergy predicted his future excellence. Some part of this time he employed in instructing youth; and amidst other pursuits, he wrote several fugitive pieces, which were not known to be his, but were read with pleasure, as effusions of a fertile fancy, or the labours of a student, who had more than common parts and learning. Whilst Mr. Belknap indulged himself in philological enquiries, and studied various branches of science, he had very serious im pressions of divine truth; and the more he turned his thoughts to theology, the more he was captivated with the beauties of relig ion. He no sooner became a preacher than his praise was in the churches. His sermons were excellent; and his grave manner, just emphasis, and distinct articulation, were more striking to well-informed hearers, than those graces of elocution, which render some preachers popular, or which make the fanatical multitude admire. He was ordained at Dover, New-Hampshire, when he was a young man. There he passed several years. of his valuable life, with the esteem and affection of his flock; in habits of intimacy with ministers and other gentlemen of the neighbouring places, all of whom regretted his departure from the state. He received marks of attention and respect from the first characters of the community, who persuaded and encouraged him to compile a history, which does much honour to our country, and which has given the author a name and distinction among the first literary characters of the age. The only publications which appear with the name of Dr. Belknap, while he was a minister in New-Hampshire, beside the first volume of his History, are-A Sermon upon Military Duty, dedicated to Sir John Wentworth, then governour of the province, -A Sermon preached before an Association of Ministers, which has since been reprinted by the Society for propagating the Gospel, |