much exposed in attending the hall of the Legislature, was uncommonly cold. When he was crossing the Hudson, to return to his house and family, the river was very full of ice, which occasioned his being several hours on the water, in a very severe day. Mr. Fulton had not a constitution to encounter such exposure, and upon his return he found himself much indisposed from the effects of it. He had at that time great anxiety about the steam frigate; and, after confining himself for a few days, when he was convalescent, he went to give his superintendence to the artificers employed about her he forgot his debilitated state of health in the interest he took in what was doing on the frigate, and was a long time, in a bad day, exposed to the weather on her decks. He soon found the effects of this imprudence. His indisposition returned upon him with such violence as to confine him to his bed his disorder increased, and on the 24th of February, 1815, terminated his valuable life.

It was not known that Mr. Fulton's illness was dangerous till a very short time before his death, which was unexpected by his friends, and still less so by the community. As soon as it was known, all means were taken to testify publicly the universal regret at his loss, and respect for his me

mory. The newspapers that announced the event had those marks of mourning which are used in our country when they notice the death of public characters. The corporation of the city, the different literary institutions, and other societies, assembled and passed resolutions expressing their estimation of his worth and regret at his loss. They also determined to attend his funeral, and that the members should wear badges of mourning for a certain time.

As soon as the Legislature, which was then in session at Albany, heard of the death of Mr. Fulton, they expressed their participation in the general sentiment by resolving that the members of both Houses should wear mourning for some weeks.

This is the only instance, we believe, of such public testimonials of regret, esteem, and respect, being offered on the death of a private citizen, who never held any office, and was only distinguished by his virtues, genius, and the employment of his talents.

He was buried on the 25th day of February, 1815. His corpse was attended from his last residence No. 1 State street-by all the officers of the National and State Governments then in the city, by the magistracy, the common council, a number of societies, and a greater number of citi

zens than had been collected on any similar occasion. From the time the procession began to move till it arrived at Trinity Church, minute-guns were fired from the steam frigate and the West Battery. His body, in a leaden coffin, covered with plain mahogany, on which is a metal plate engraved with his name and age, was deposited in a vault belonging to the Livingston family.

Mr. Colden, in his address before the Historical and Scientific Society of New York, said:

"We have all witnessed with what zeal Mr. Fulton bestowed his time, his talents, and his purse, for the promotion of the useful and the fine arts. One of the last acts of his life manifested this disposition. By his will, which was made but a few days before his death, he devised that, in certain events, his pictures, and one-half of his property not otherwise disposed of, should go to an academy of fine arts, when such an academy should be established at the place which may be the seat of the National Government.

"In 1816, a principal street, which is the great thoroughfare across the city of New York, from the Fulton. Boat-Ferry on the one river to a similar ferry on the other, was opened. This the corporation of the city, always the patrons of science and the friends of its votaries, have called Fulton street."

In the year 1806, Mr. Fulton married Miss Harriet Livingston, a daughter of Walter Livingston, Esq., a relative of his enterprising associate, Chancellor Livingston. His widow and four children, one son and three daughters, were left to mourn

his loss. The widow did not long survive him. His son, Robert Barlow Fulton, died in 1841. One of his daughters, Julia, wife of Charles Blythe, Esq., of Philadelphia city, died in 1848. The two surviving daughters, Mrs. Mary L. Ludlow and Mrs. Cornelia L. Creary, reside at present in New York city.

Mr. Fulton was about six feet high. His person was slender, but well-proportioned and well-formed. Nature had made him a gentleman, and bestowed upon him ease and gracefulness. He had too much good sense for the least affectation, and a modest confidence in his own worth and talents gave him an unembarrassed deportment in all companies. His features were strong, and of a manly beauty : he had large dark eyes, and a projecting brow, expressive of intelligence and thought: his temper was mild, and his disposition lively: he was fond of society, which he always enlivened by cheerful, cordial manners, and instructed or pleased by his sensible conversation. He expressed himself with energy, fluency, and correctness; and as he owed more to his experience and reflections than to books, his sentiments were often interesting from their originality.

In all his domestic and social relations, he was zealous, kind, generous, liberal, and affectionate.