lumes, quarto, 1792, 1794; also "Remarks on a Report concerning Western Indians."

He was the father of Samuel Hazard and Erskine Hazard, who still (1859) survive him.

WILLIAM HEMBEL.

MR. HEMBEL was born in Philadelphia, September 24th, 1764. He studied medicine, and served as a volunteer in the medical department of the army, in Virginia, during a portion of the Revolution; but, owing to a deafness, which, he believed, would incapacitate him for duty as a practitioner, refused to apply for the diploma, which he was fully qualified to receive. He, however, practised for many years gratuitously among the poor of the city, and was, in other respects, conspicuous for benevolence. His favorite branch of study was chemistry. He was President of "The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia" until a short time previous to his death; he resigned, in consequence of advancing infirmity, in December, 1849. He was, also, for many years, an active member of "The Humane Society for the Recovery of Drowned Persons." He died on the 12th of June, 1851, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. Mr. Hembel never married.

ALEXANDER HENRY.

BY S. AUSTIN ALLIBONE.

ALEXANDER HENRY was born in the north of Ireland, 1763, and died in Philadelphia 1847.

The record of the lives of those who have attained eminence by usefulness in the private walks of life is of peculiar value to society. An example of philanthropic zeal, steadily pursuing its

benevolent designs amidst the prevailing selfishness of business competition, and languor of slothful indulgence, will be productive of incalculable benefit to the community. The old and the middleaged will be incited to at least occasional deeds of beneficence, and the young will earnestly covet the benedictions which follow the steps of him who proves himself a lover of his kind. The indolent will be shamed from his slothful indifference to the woes of his race, and the hard-hearted creditor find a strange pleasure in the unwonted exercise of mercy.

Such was the beneficial, we may say, the holy, influence exerted by the example of the merchant and philanthropist who forms the subject of this brief memoir. Of him it may be truly said that, "when the ear heard him, it blessed him; and, when the eye saw him, it gave witness to him. Because he delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him, and he caused the widow's heart to sing for joy."

Deprived by death, at the early age of two years, of paternal guidance and example, the care of his education devolved upon a brother (Alexander was the youngest of five children), who sent him to school, and directed his studies with a view to his entering the University, designing him for a professional life. The death of his tutor caused an interruption of his studies, and reflection upon his future course of life determined him to devote his attention to mercantile pursuits. But difficulties here presented themselves of no trifling character.

In a long-settled neighborhood, in a community where the natural increase of population is more than counterbalanced by emigration to the New World, no considerable augmentation of trade can be expected; and, that which is already established, generally flows in hereditary channels. The merchant transmits his capital and custom to his son or kinsman; or, if vacancies occur in proprietorship, they are usually filled by those who can command capital and custom for themselves. Under such circumstances, it is extremely difficult for a young man without means to purchase an interest in an old business, or successfully establish a new one. It is to the operation of these causes that we are indebted for many of the most valuable of our adopted citizens.

The youth of enterprising disposition, impatient for the profitable exercise of his industry, thus straitened at home by the want of capital, lends a willing ear to the narrations of successful thrift in a New World, where the channels of business are never full, and where industry and perseverance may calculate upon a sure reward. The connections of Alexander Henry were in circumstances of comfort and respectability; but the estate inherited by his mother and her children from his father, was insufficient for the support of so large a family. Peace had now been declared between Great Britain and the United States, and unwonted activity in trade might be safely anticipated, and Alexander and his second brother determined to try their fortune in the land of promise.

Their passages were engaged, and the earnest-money paid, when the subject of our memoir experienced one of those severe disappointments which are more keenly felt in early days than at a later stage of existence, when we have learned from experience that neither sorrow nor joy are as bright or as dark as they appear to the youthful pilgrim in the great journey of life. Whilst fondly relying, in his uncertain prospects in a strange land, upon the counsel and guidance of an elder brother, this brother distressed him by the information that he had resolved to stay at home, and that if he ventured upon their intended enterprise, it must be alone. This change of determination will appear the more excusable, when we consider the moving cause. Love was too strong for the young man. It was a sore trial to see his brother, his younger brother, too, venture upon a career of doubtful enterprise in a land of strangers; but young Henry had given his affections to another, and could he leave her,-perhaps forever? Mournfully, then, he said to Alexander, "I cannot go with you." He remained at home, and married her to whom he had plighted his troth. This discouragement would have sufficed to dampen the courage of most youths, surrounded, too, by all the attractions of home, which must be exchanged for the face of strangers, and contact with those who felt no interest in the weal or woe of the young adventurer; but Alexander was not so easily disheartened.

He bade adieu to his native land, and sailed for America. Arrived in Philadelphia (this was in 1783, and in his twentieth year), his first care was the profitable disposal of some dry-goods which

he had brought from Ireland, and employment in some respectable mercantile house, which would fit him for usefulness in the walks of active life. By the medium of letters of introduction to a business firm in Philadelphia, he soon procured a small clerkship in a dry-goods establishment, at a salary of $250 per annum. Now permanently settled, as he had reason to believe, in the city of his adoption (which continued to be his residence until the day of his death), with the prospect of gaining a respectable livelihood by his own exertions, without application for home relief, the young clerk did not, as is too often the case with business assistants, seek his own ease and consult self-indulgence, careless of the interests of his employers, so long as his own stipend was promptly provided for.

On the contrary, his diligence, tact, and energetic zeal in the duties of his post, so conspicuously challenged the attention of his employers, that in two months from his entrance into the store, he was made superintendent of a branch of the house, established purposely for the exercise of his industry and talents, and his salary advanced to $1300 per annum. After laboring for some time in this subordinate capacity, he announced to a number of his friends in England and Ireland, his intention of commencing the commission business on his own account. The responses which his letters elicited were of the most gratifying and substantial character. Merchants are sufficiently alive to their own interests, to ascertain carefully the moral and business character of those to whom they propose to intrust their affairs. The character of the young merchant was already well known to his correspondents, and "manifest" after "manifest" exhibited the name of Alexander Henry appended to long invoices of desirable consignments. The confidence thus generously reposed was not abused. Those who tried the faithful agent once, were encouraged to make new ventures; and as successful agencies are naturally productive of increased correspondence, Mr. Henry found himself, within seven years from the commencement of business on his own account, absolutely crowded with consignments from the British mart.

The details of a mercantile career present but little interest to the general reader; yet there are principles involved in the "walk and conversation" of the conscientious merchant, which are essentially connected with the proper government of every department

of life. That noble integrity which scorns concealment and abhors deceit; that liberality which relieves distress, and by the golden alchemy transmutes despair into hope; that continual recognition of the All-seeing Eye, which marks what is left undone, or what is done amiss: these principles of life cannot be safely forgotten by any who seek for happiness in this world, or would find mercy in a judgment to come.

In 1807, Mr. Henry had acquired a large fortune by the proceeds of his commission business, and importations of British and India goods on his own account, and "though the annual profits of his business at that time were very large, and the business itself of the safest and most permanent character, he voluntarily relinquished it, on the principle that he had acquired a competency, and should be content to retire and give room for the enterprise and activity of others.... After the war of 1812, Mr. Henry was compelled to enter again into some of the details of commercial life. With the exception of this and one or two specific and very successful negotiations, he declined active business; and in 1818 addressed a circular to all his correspondents, apprising them of this determination."

The name of Alexander Henry was still a familiar and esteemed one among these numerous correspondents, and is now equally honored by their children; for Mr. Henry, senior, observing the business tact and intelligence of his nephew and namesake (whom, as a lad, he had sent for and brought up), enabled him to embark upon what has proved to be a mercantile career of great profit and reputation. Alexander Henry, of Manchester, is now the head of one of the largest dry-goods establishments in the world; the possessor of vast wealth, and recently represented a portion of the English constituency in the House of Commons.

And this is a proper occasion to speak of the subject of this memoir, as a merchant of affectionate heart and liberal hand. Every man of wealth and influence, in a mercantile community especially, has abundant opportunities of using a portion of that wealth and influence for the relief of distress and the diffusion of happiness. If he be a man favored with the blessed gift of consideration, he will not consider his duty discharged by the mere bestowal of alms or liberal contributions to charitable associations.