Early in the spring of 1782, Dr. Williamson took his seat as a representative of Edenton, in the House of Commons of North Carolina. In that assembly, he fortunately met with several members, whose brothers, sons, or other connections, he had served in the army, or while they were prisoners. Those services were not forgotten. It was to be expected that a gentleman who had seen much of the world, and whose education had been so extensive, could hardly fail, with the aid of moderate oratorical abilities, to become an influential member in a deliberative body. Such in fact he proved. Among other bills which he introduced with success, we find one for erecting a court of chancery, which had often been attempted, in vain, in that state. It may be presumed, that old members, who had been accustomed to conduct the business of that house, were not gratified with being left in the minority by a gentleman who was, at that time, comparatively a stranger in their state. Yet when the election came on for members of congress, those very gentlemen added their influence to that of the friends he had acquired in the army, and he immediately was sent to the general congress without opposition. He continued at the head of the delegation for three years, the longest time that any member was then permitted to serve.

During the three years in which he was not eligible to hold a seat in that body, he served the state occasionally in its legislature, or in some other capacity. In the year 1786, he was one of the few members who were sent to Annapolis, to revise and amend the constitution of the United States; and who, finding that they had not sufficient powers to do any thing effectual, recommended to the several states to make another choice of delegates, and to invest them with the requisite powers. In that year Dr. Williamson published a series of essays, deprecating paper currency, and recommending an excise to be imposed. In the year 1787, he was one of the delegates from North Carolina, in the general convention at Philadelphia, who formed and signed the present constitution of the United States. As the state of North Carolina had at that time in circulation, two large emissions of paper money, which were a legal tender, and which had depreciated to less than half of its nominal value, we are not surprised that a majority of its citizens should have looked on the federal constitution with an evil eye; for debtors, as we presume, in most countries form the majority. It followed that the Doctor, who advocated the new constitution with great zeal as well as

ability, lost a portion of his popularity in the state he had represented: he was, nevertheless, again chosen in December, 1787, by the general assembly, to take his seat in congress the succeeding spring, when he would be again eligible, having been three years absent from that body. The assembly at the same time passed a law for a general state convention, to be held at Hillsborough, in July, 1788, for the purpose of determining upon the constitution that had been proposed. The convention, after much debate, adjourned on the 2d of August, having refused to adopt the proposed constitution, by a majority of more than two to one, viz. one hundred and eighty-four to eighty-four.

The next general assembly, in December, 1788, passed a law, calling another convention, to meet in the following year. It may be recollected, that eleven of the states having adopted the new constitution, it was immediately after carried into operation, and the first congress met in NewYork, in the year 1789. It happened a short time after that congress met, of which Dr. Williamson was a member, several small vessels, laden with naval stores, arrived from North Carolina at the port of New-York. The collector of the customs refused them entrance, unless they should pay the alien duty, which was six to one of the domestic. Dr. Williamson, who continued in New-York, after the dissolution of the old congress, as a commissioner to settle the accounts of North Carolina with the United States, drew up and presented to congress a spirited protest against the decision of the collector; at the same time urging the fact, that North Carolina had not by any act forfeited her claim to be considered as one of the United States. This protest, in twenty-four hours, produced a law, by which the Carolina vessels were allowed to enter, upon paying the domestic tonnage. By that interposition and attention to the interests of North Carolina, the Doctor more than regained his former popularity. When the first convention sat, he was attending in congress; but he was chosen, and attended as a member of the second convention in 1789, by which the constitution was adopted by a majority of two to one. The Doctor's congressional career was now to terminate. He had been chosen a representative from North Carolina, in the first and second congress; but, desirous of retiring from political life, he, at a new election, declined being a candidate.

Before I pass on to other circumstances connected with the career of Dr. Williamson, I beg to be indulged in one

or two remarks on the character and influence of his political life. We have seen, that as a representative of the people in the legislature of North Carolina, and in the supreme council of the nation, he was occupied many years. No man, I believe, ever enjoyed in a larger degree the confidence of his constituents, for integrity of conduct; and the influence of his character will be readily appreciated, when we advert to the many important services he effected during the most eventful period of our political history. He was anxious to prove himself worthy of the high trust reposed in him, nor did he ever permit any private or selfish views to interfere with considerations of public interest. As chairman of numerous committees,-as the mover of important resolutions,-as the framer of new propositions, and new laws, he devoted the best energies of an active mind, and was ever prominent in the business of the house. In debate, his elocution was striking, but somewhat peculiar. The graces of oratory did not belong to Dr. Williamson; yet the known purity of his intentions, his inflexible devotedness to the interests of his country, and the unblemished tenour of his private life, awakened an attention which was well supported by the pertinency of his observations, the soundness of his reasoning, and the information he possessed upon every subject to which he directed his attention. While in congress, his duties as a legislator were his exclusive study, and this advantage seldom failed of a success which was denied to the lengthened debate and declamation of his opponents. In his answer to a letter enclosing the thanks of the general assembly of North Carolina for his long and faithful services, referring to his own conduct, he observes, "On this repeated testimony of the approbation of my fellow-citizens, I cannot promise that I shall be more diligent or more attentive to their interests; for ever since I have had the honour to serve them in congress, their particular interest, and the honour and prosperity of the nation, have been the sole objects of my care; to them I have devoted every hour of my time." Although Dr. Williamson might not captivate by the graces of elocution, he possessed a remarkable quickness in perceiving and comprehending the several bearings of a question; and if eloquence be correctly defined by Dr. Johnson, "the power of overthrowing an adversary's argument, and putting your own in its place," then Dr. Williamson may, indeed, be pronounced an orator; for in detecting the weak and defenceless points of the adversary's citadel, he discovered

no less adroitness, than in the force and strength with which he followed up the combat. He rarely occupied the house with what is called a set speech; but in his desultory observations frequently appeared a knowledge of the principles of legislation, which could only be furnished by a mind enriched by experience, and deeply versed in the history of man. How well his services were appreciated, is evinced by the repeated vote of thanks with which he was honoured by the Legislatures of Pennsylvania and North Carolina. I shall add to their approbation of the public part of Dr. Williamson's character, the opinion of Mr. Jefferson, with which I have been lately favoured: "We served together in congress, at Annapolis, during the winter of 1783 and 1784: there I found him a very useful member, of an acute mind, attentive to business, and of an high degree of erudition."

In January, 1789, Doctor Williamson was married to Miss Maria Apthorpe, daughter of the late Honourable Charles Ward Apthorpe, formerly a member of his Majesty's Council for the province of New-York: by that lady he had two sons: she died when the youngest was but a few days old. After the loss he had sustained by the death of Mrs. Williamson, he resolved to retire from public employment; to settle his private affairs; to prepare for publication his work on Climate, and his more elaborate performance, his History of North Carolina: but the object of attention which lay still nearer his heart, and which especially induced him to withdraw from the very honourable station he had held, was the education of his children: to them he devoted, with great solicitude, a large portion of his time and attention. His eldest son, who died in 1811, in the 22d year of his age, gave evidence of the parental care that had been exercised in the superintendence of his education, and of the success with which it had been conducted. He was a good classical scholar; was well versed in astronomical and philosophical knowledge; and still more remarked for his correct deportment, his benevolence of character, and his sincere piety. He was an Alumnus of Columbia College, and reflected credit upon that institution, which holds so distinguished a place among the literary establishments of this country. The younger son, whose constitutional infirmities gave little promise, by his death, soon after, filled up the measure of his father's afflictions. Although the Doctor was never heard to lament the loss of his children, yet no fortitude of mind that he possessed

could prevent him from feeling, that in the death of his elder son, in particular, he had lost his companion, the staff and solace of his old age. But his mind did not require that repose which his feelings otherwise solicited. From this period, the pursuits of philosophy became the more exclusive objects of his regard.

In 1811, his "Observations on the Climate in different parts of America, compared with the Climate in corresponding parts of the other Continent," were published, in one volume, 8vo. It is in vain to attempt any thing like an analysis of this performance, at this time: a few remarks, however, on this interesting subject, may not be irrelevant. Actuated by patriotism and the love of truth, Dr. Williamson indignantly exposes the sophistry of those writers who have asserted, that America is a country in which the frigid temperature and vice of the climate prevent the growth and expansion of animal and vegetable nature, and cause man and beast to degenerate. He altogether discards the notion, that a new or inferior race of men had been created for the American continent. A firm believer in the Mosaic writings, he labours with the learned Bishop of Clogher,* to prove the conformity of things to biblical history. He believes our country, in her rivers, mountains, lakes, and vegetable productions, to be formed on a scale of more magnificence than those of the old world, and thinks that the winters are more temperate on the western than on the eastern coast of North America; although on some parts of this continent they are colder than in corresponding latitudes of Europe: he maintains a gradual amelioration of our climate. He considers the opinion that the Indian is of a new race, to be altogether untenable; that every part of America was inhabited when discovered by Columbus, and that North America was settled from Tartary or Japan, and from Norway; that South America was peopled from India. While he admits the great antiquity of the globe, he, nevertheless, is the advocate of the comparatively recent origin of man: he concludes that the inhabitants of America, in the progress of time, may be expected to give proofs of genius, at least equal to those of the other continent. Mr. Jefferson, many years since, had successfully refuted the hypotheses of Buffon, with respect to the comparative size and number of animals, and the degeneration which was imputed to animal life in the new world. Dr. Williamson occupies more extensive ground, and, like his illustrious predecessor, armed with truth and philosophy, not only fully vindicates * Dr. Clayton.-EDIT.