He was what was termed a tory; was licensed to say and do what he pleased, at which no one could take umbrage. He one day entered the old coffee-house corner of Market and Front Streets, with merchants all assembled. On seeing the Doctor, they surrounded him, inquiring what news he had in that letter, which he stated he had just received by a king's ship arrived at New York. In reply to the inquiry, he said that the letter contained information of the death of an old cobbler in London, who had his stall in one of the by-streets, and asked the gentlemen what they supposed the cobbler had died worth? One said £5000, and another £10,000, and another £20,000 sterling. "No, gentlemen; no, you are all mistaken. Not one farthing, gentlemen," running out, laughing at the joke at the expense of the collected mercantile wisdom of the city. Another time, having been sent for by the Spanish Minister, Don Juan, who resided in old Mr. Chew's house in Third between Walnut and Spruce Streets, the weather being rather unpleasant, the ambassador ordered his carriage to the door to convey the Doctor home; the Doctor, full of fun and joke, directed the coachman to drive by the coffee-house, which, as he approached, was perceived by the merchants, who immediately drew up in order, hats off, to pay their respects to the Don, as minister from a friendly power. The Doctor kept himself close back in the carriage until directly opposite the coffee-house, the gentlemen all bowing and scraping, when he pops out his head,-"Good morning, gentlemen, good morning; I hope you are all well; thank you, in the name of his majesty King George;" and drove off, laughing heartily at having again joked with the Philadelphia whigs.

Dr. Chovet is said to have cured some of the first cases of yellow fever in Philadelphia, in 1793. We have no account of the time of his birth or death, and must be satisfied with the foregoing particulars of his eccentric life.

LOUIS CLAPIER.

LOUIS CLAPIER, an eminent shipping merchant of Philadelphia, was born in Marseilles, France, about the year 1765. When he became of age he emigrated to the West Indies, where he remained several years; and, about the year 1796, he arrived in his adopted country, and settled in Philadelphia, where he remained the balance of his useful life, and died in the year 1838, in the seventy-third year of his age.

Mr. Clapier was a gentleman of great enterprise and perseverance. He was, for a long time, engaged in the China trade, and until it became a worthless one. He at one time was largely concerned in the Mexican commerce, from which he soon withdrew, owing to its proving unprofitable.

Mr. Clapier was remarkable for his good memory, and unimpaired faculties, until his last illness. He was a benevolent, kind, and hospitable citizen, with an uncommon degree of humor and good nature; indeed, he was remarkable for his gaiety and evenness of temper. A widow and three daughters survive him.

He owned a large farm, or country-seat, in the neighborhood of Germantown, where he used to graze fine cattle, to the rearing of which he devoted much time and attention. His public spirit was liberal and laudable, and his integrity and uprightness, in all the transactions of life, honorable and exemplary. His sincere friendship and attachment to his adopted country, and the principles of its government, were truly patriotic.

The descendants of the last generation, who remember Louis Clapier, will recollect his amiable countenance and pleasing manners, his dry jokes and charitable actions. He was always the friend of the poor and distressed, and he left no neighbor possessing an unkind feeling towards him; he visited silently, and without ostentation, many a poor family, to administer and afford it relief and comfort.

Such is the brief outline of the character of Louis Clapier, a man and a merchant, who had few, if any enemies, but many good and true-hearted friends.

WILLIS GAYLORD CLARK.

WILLIS GAYLORD CLARK was a twin brother of Lewis Gaylord Clark, and was born at Otisco, Onondago County, New York, in the year 1810. Their father had served in the Revolutionary War, and was a man of reading and observation. Willis, on the completion of his education, under the care of his parent and the Rev. George Colton, a relative on his mother's side, went to Philadelphia, where he commenced a weekly periodical similar in plan to the "New York Mirror." It was unsuccessful, and soon discontinued. He next became an assistant of the Rev. Dr. Brantley, a Baptist clergyman (afterwards President of the College of South Carolina), in the editorship of the "Columbian Star," a religious newspaper. He retired from this position to take charge of the "Philadelphia Gazette," the oldest daily journal of that city. He became its proprietor, and continued his connection with it until his death.

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One of the most successful of Clark's literary productions was the “Ollapodiana,” a series of brief essays, anecdotes, and observations, continued from month to month in the "Knickerbocker Magazine," of which his brother Lewis had become the editor.

Mr. Clark was married, in 1836, to Anne Poyntell Caldcleugh, the daughter of Robert A. Caldcleugh, a wealthy gentleman of Philadelphia. She was attacked by consumption, and died not long after her marriage. Her husband soon followed her, falling a victim to a lingering disease, in June, 1841, in the thirty-first year of his age.

The humors and sensibility of the essayist and poet alike witness to his warm, amiable sympathies. His mirth was rollicking, exuberant in animal spirits, but always innocent; while his muse dwelt fondly on the various moods of nature, and portrayed domestic

tenderness in the consolations of its darker hours of suffering and death.

"Unto the moodiest mind

Their own pure joy impart,

Their sunshine leaves a glow behind,
That lightens o'er the heart."

GERARDUS CLARKSON, M.D.

DR. CLARKSON was an eminent physician of Philadelphia, and was the son of Matthew C. Clarkson, a merchant of New York, who died in 1770, and a descendant of David C. Clarkson, an English non-conforming minister of distinction, who died in 1686. Dr. Clarkson was a popular practitioner as early as 1774, and died September 19th, 1790, aged fifty-three years. The Rev. Dr. Finley married his sister in 1761. John Swanwick wrote a poem on his death.

DAVID C. CLAYPOOLE.

DAVID C. CLAYPOOLE, an editor and publisher, died at Philadelphia in 1849, aged ninety-two years. He was, at one time, one of the proprietors of the "Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser," the first daily newspaper set up in the year 1775. The firm was Dunlap & Co.; the paper afterwards went into the hands of Z. Poulson. The debates in Congress from the year 1783 to 1799, will be found recorded in his paper.

Mr. Claypoole with truth be said, of the days of Washington. The Claypoole,

was a gentleman of the old school, and, it might

or Claypole, family

I are said to be descendants of Oliver Cromwell,

whose daughter married Lord General Claypole. William Penn, in a letter dated' in 1684, to his steward, thus speaks of James Claypole, who was a merchant, a partner in the Free Traders' Company, and a public character in Friends' meeting. Mrs. Logan

said it was well understood that her husband, George Claypole, was descended from the Protector, Oliver Cromwell.

Mr. Claypoole, the subject of our memoir, was the printer who published the first edition from the original manuscript of Washington's celebrated Farewell Address, dated 17th September, 1796. He was universally beloved for his urbanity and generosity, and respected for his integrity, honor, and patriotism.

WILLIAM CLIFTON.

MR. CLIFTON, an author of fine poetical powers among the early writers of the country, was a native of Philadelphia, born in 1772. He was of a Quaker family, and his father was a wealthy mechanic. The constitution of the son was delicate, with a tendency to consumption, which excited the early exercise of his faculties. At the age of nineteen, the rupture of a blood-vessel led to his abandonment of any notions he may have entertained for active life; when he found consolation and employment in literature. His tastes soon led him to relinquish the Quaker dress, and he became a proficient in the accomplishments of music and drawing. He was also especially fond of field-sports. When Jay's Treaty brought out much unworthy opposition to the government, Clifton exercised his pen in support of the administration in satires, published in the newspapers, in prose and verse, on the demagogues. The longest of these satirical productions was entitled "The Group," in which various mechanics and tradesmen, Solon Verges, a carpenter, Nat Futtock, a shipwright, Gobbo Finis, a coffin-maker, John Stripe, a schoolmaster, with others, are represented as meeting for discussion on topics beyond their reach, respecting politics and the State. The coarse and vulgar material of low Jacobinism, which is not at all disguised in the poem, is occasionally elevated by the polish of the author's verses.

His death occurred in December, 1799, in the twenty-seventh year of his age. His poems were collected in a volume published in New York the following year.