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For the Literary Magazine.

john churchman.

THIS singular man is a native of
America, and few of his country-
men deserve a biographical memo-
rial more than he. He is one of
those examples of self-instructed
genius, with which America abounds
more than any other part of the
world. His family were farmers,
and the intimations and suggestions
of his own mind, as he guided the
plough or loaded the stack, led him
to the study of arithmetic and as-
tronomy.

He has been distinguished, all his
life, by an enterprising and indefa-
tigable zeal. Without any external
grace or liberal accomplishment,
without the least acquaintance with
any branch of knowledge but ma-
thematics, with a most obscure and
imperfect elocution, ungainly per-
son, and rustic manners, he has
made vigorous efforts, both in Eu-
rope and America, to set himself at
the head of maritime expeditions of
great national expence and impor-

tance. He has made himself known
to all the philosophers of Europe.
Like Columbus, disappointment has
never abated his zeal, and the la-
bours of fifteen years may now be
approaching to a successful close…..
The last intelligence concerning him
is, that he was on the eve of em-
barking, on a voyage round the
world, at Petersburg, in vessels fit-
ted out by the emperor Alexander.
The departure of these ships was
fixed for July last year.

Some particulars concerning him,
furnished by his friends and rela-
tions in America, would be ex-
tremely acceptable.