Her principal works are, 1. On the Influence of the Passions upon Individuals and Nations.' 2. 'On the Influence of Literature upon Society.' 3. 'Delphine,' a novel. 4. ' Corinne, or Italy,' a novel. 4. Germany, or Observations on that Country.

ANECDOTE.

LALANDE dined one day at the house of Recanier, the banker; he was seated between the celebrated beauty, Madame Recanier, and Madame de Stael, equally distinguished for her wit.

Wishing to say something agreeable to the ladies, the astronomer exclaimed, 'How happy I am to be thus placed between wit and beauty.' 'Yes, Lalande,' sarcastically replied Madame de Stael, and without possessing either.'

THOMAS JEFFERSON,

THIRD president of the United States, was born in Chesterfield county, Virginia, April 2, 1743.

He received the honours of the college of William and Mary at an early age, and was distinguished for great scholarship. He then commenced the study of the law with the late George Wythe, chancellor of Virginia, and in a few years made great proficiency, and was admitted to practice. His uncommon qualifications soon brought him into notice, and before he had reached his twenty-fifth year, he was a conspicious member of the Virginia legislature, and had subsequently a large share in all those determined measures of that body, with regard to Great Britain, which finally led to the call of a general congress.

In 1775, when the propositions of lord North were laid before the assembly by the governor for their consideration, he was unanimously appointed to answer them. His reply on this occasion was not only eloquent, but exhibits a

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mind of liberal and enlarged views. A few days after, he was elected a delegate to the general congress, which had convened at Philadelphia. In this enlightened assembly, he had scarcely appeared before he became conspicuous among those the most distinguished by their abilities and patriotism. And while he pursued a bold and undeviating course towards the great object of independence, was enabled by his example, as well as by his arguments, to encourage and confirm others.

The declaration of independence is justly attributed to his pen, the merits of which it is unnecessary to canvass: not only America, but all Europe too, has long since decided on its claims to excellence. The only alterations the original draft of this celebrated production received in the committee, were from Dr Franklin and John Adams, each of whom suggested a single verbal variation.

From the commencement of the year 1777, to the middle of 1779, he was engaged with Pendleton and Wythe, in making a general revisal of the laws of Virginia; in which he bore a considerable share, and to whom Virginia is indebted for the most important and beneficial changes in her code.

The laws, forbidding the future importation of slaves; converting estates tail into fee simple; annulling the rights of primogeniture, establishing schools for general education, sanctioning the right of expatriation; confirming the rights of freedom of religious opinions: and for proportioning crime and punishment.

In 1779, he succeeded Patrick Henry as governor of Virginia, and was re-appointed in the following year.

During the tumult and confusion of the year 1781, he composed his celebrated work, 'Notes on Virginia.' It was written in reply to the queries proposed to him by Monsieur de Marbois, at the suggestion of the French

court.

About the close of the year 1782, he was appointed minister plenipotentiary, to join those in Europe, who were to determine on the conditions of a treaty of peace, which it was expected would soon be entered into. But before he embarked, intelligence was received that preliminaries of peace between the United States and Great Britain had been signed: accordingly, congress dispensed with his leaving America.

In the summer of 1782, he was in congress,

at the time the Virginia convention were establishing their form of government. He had been for some time engaged on this subject, and had prepared a constitution for the state, formed on the purest principles of republicanism, and which was probably the first draft of a fundamental constitution made by any man in America.

This he transmitted to the convention, but it did not reach them until the day when the one that had been prepared by the house was to have received its final vote. It was therefore set aside, adopting only the preamble.

On the establishment of peace, and the consequent opening of a general commercial intercourse, plenipotentiary commissions for the concluding treaties of commerce were given to Thomas Jefferson, Dr. Franklin, and John Adams, addressed to the several powers of Europe, and he sailed from the United States in July, 1784. A commercial treaty with Prussia, was the only result of these general commissions, immediately after the signing of which, Dr Franklin returned to America, and Mr Jefferson was appointed his successor as minister to France.

During his residence in France, he, at the

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