ix A number of words and phrases in the volume, which are not pure English, or against which some objection lies, are printed in italic characters. It is difficult to describe some subjects, introduced into this memoir, in phraseology which is entirely correct. Boston, December, 1833. MEMOIR. CHAPTER I. BIRTH-PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE-ADMISSION TO YALE COLLEGE-STUDIES-CONVERSION. ELIAS CORNELIUS, the subject of the following sketch, was born at Somers, Westchester county, New York, on the 30th of July, 1794. His paternal ancestors came originally from Holland, and settled on Long Island. His father had commenced the study of medicine, under the superintendence of Dr. Samuel Latham, a physician of New York city, when the war with Great Britain commenced. In entire opposition to the wishes of all his relatives, he entered the service of his country, at the age of twenty years, in the capacity of surgeon's mate, in the second regiment of Rhode Island troops, then under the command of colonel Angell. He was soon after taken prisoner, and thrown into the old Provost prison, in New York, where he was confined for several years, and where he suffered almost incredible hardships. In March, 1778, he escaped, rejoined the army, and remained in the service of his country till 1781. He then commenced his professional business in Yorktown, about fifty miles from |