wo HAMILTON. sitting, and mortally wounding Mrs. Waller, threatened to burn the house and destroy all i t s inhabitants, unless Dr. Hamilton was instantly delivered into their hands. In the terror and distraction of s o dreadful a scene, this was forcibly effected b y the servants; Dr. H . was thrust out o f the house, and immediately dispatched, and the assailants made their retreat unmolested. Thus miserably perished, i n the full vigour and exercise o f his talents, one o f the most active o f the defenders o f his distracted country. By his death the literary world was deprived o f many observations and discoveries i n natural philosophy, o f which h e had not had leisure t o prepare a regular account, his parishioners o f a faithful friend and pastor, and his country o f a support and orna ment. He i s supposed t o have fallen a victim t o his exer tions for suppressing that spirit o f insurrection which had just manifested itself i n his district; b y his vigilance and activity a s a magistrate, h e had apprehended some o f the ringleaders, and driven others out o f his neighbourhood; these are supposed t o have been lurking i n the woods about Sharon, and thus t o have taken a fell and deadly revenge f o r their disappointed expectations. A t the following assizes a servant o f Dr. Waller's, who had taken a share i n delivering u p Dr. Hamilton t o the assassins, was tried a s a n accomplice i n the murder, but was acquitted. On his death h e left a widow and nine children, who have since been liberally provided f o r b y the British Government; “In consequence,” says the resolution o f the Irish House o f Commons, March 28, 1797, “ o f his meritorious exertions a s a magistrate.” A posthumous paper b y Dr. Hamilton, “on the Climate o f Ireland,” was printed i n the Transactions o f the Royal Irish Academy for 1797. CHARLES HAMILTON, I s a name which reflects honour o n his race and country; —one who, a t sixteen, entered the word without a guide, and i n the midst o f a camp, whether exposed t o danger,
