A short Biographical sketch of Captain Symmes; with some observations on the treatment which he has met with in the advancement of his Theory.

John Cleves Symmes, the author of the Theory of Concentric Spheres, is the son of Timothy Symmes, of the state of New-Jersey, whose father's name was also Timothy, and who was the son of the Rev. Thomas Symmes, of Bradford, who graduated at Harvard college, in 1698. Mr. Elliot, publisher of the New-England Biographical Dictionary, at Boston, in the year 1809, makes honourable mention of his name. Timothy Symmes, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, had but two sons; the one, John Cleves Symmes, well known as the father and founder of the first settlements in the Miami country; and the other, Timothy, the father of our Theorist, and from whom the present family of Symmes, in the Miami country, are descended.

Captain Symmes is now about forty-six years of age. He is of middle stature, and tolerably proportioned; with scarcely any thing in his exterior to characterize the secret operations of his mind, except an abstraction, which, from attentive inspection, is found seated on a slightly contracted brow; and the glances of a bright blue eye, that often seems fixed on something beyond immediate surrounding objects. His head is round, and his face rather small and oval. His voice is somewhat nasal, and he speaks hesitatingly and with apparent labour. His manners are plain, and remarkable for native simplicity. He is a native of the state of New-Jersey. During the early part of his life, he received, what was then considered, a common English education, which in after life he improved by having access to tolerably well selected libraries; and being endued, by nature, with an insatiable desire for knowledge of all kinds, he thus had, during the greater part of his life, ample opportunities to indulge it.

In the year 1802, and at the age of about twenty-two years, Mr. Symmes entered the army of the United States, in the office of ensign; from which he afterwards rose to that of captain. He continued in service until after the close of the late war with Great-Britain. While attached to the army he was universally esteemed a brave soldier, and a zealous and faithful officer. He was in the memorable battle of Bridgewater; and was senior Captain in the regiment to which he belonged. The company under his immediate command, that day, discharged seventy rounds of cartridges, and repelled three desperate charges of the bayonet.

Afterwards, in the sortie from Fort Erie, Captain Symmes, with his command, captured the enemy's battery number two; and with his own hand spiked the cannon it contained: yet, owing to the want of correct information, or from some other cause, the honour and the reward of this achievement, were alike bestowed upon others. And, it is a fact not less to be regretted, that the official report of the battle of Bridgewater, has represented the regiment, to which Captain Symmes was attached, as almost the only one that retreated at Lunday's lane; when, in truth, it was nearly the only one which uniformly maintained the positions it was ordered to maintain, throughout the action. Captain Symmes, has since, however, substantiated the correctness of its conduct, by obtaining the necessary acknowledgments; some of the particulars of which were communicated to the Historical Society of New-York, and published, in the newspapers of the day. The truth of this statement, has also been confirmed to me, by a respectable Officer, who was in the action, and witnessed the occurrence.

During the period of about three years, immediately after the close of the war, and after Captain Symmes had left the army, he was engaged in the difficult and laborious task of furnishing supplies to the troops stationed on the upper Mississippi. How he succeeded in this business I am not informed; but, I conclude from his present circumstances, that he could not have realized any very considerable pecuniary advantage from the enterprise. Since that time he has resided at Newport, Kentucky; devoting, almost exclusively, the whole of his time and attention to the investigation and perfection of his favourite Theory of Concentric Spheres.

In a short circular, dated at St. Louis, in 1818, Captain Symmes first promulgated the fundamental principles of his theory to the world. He addressed a copy to every learned institution, and to every considerable town and village, as well as distinguished individuals, of which he could gain any intelligence, throughout the United States, and to several learned societies in Europe.

The reception this circular met with, was that of ridicule; it being looked upon as the production of a distempered imagination, or the ravings of partial insanity. Indeed, it became a fruitful source of jest and levity, to publishers of the public prints of the day generally, all over the Union. The Academy of Sciences in Paris, before which it was laid by Count Volney, decided that it was unworthy of their consideration; and the editor of the London Morning Chronicle, could not be induced to credit the statements of respectable men, who declared that Symmes was not a madman. But in this, his fate is not peculiar. The experience of the world has taught us, that the authors of new doctrines, have mostly shared a similar lot. An excellent contemporary writer has remarked, that, "the fate of many projectors have been so melancholy, that it requires, at this day, the daring spirit, and the enthusiasm which are naturally allied to genius, in any man to announce himself as the inventor of any thing new and extraordinary. The patience and perseverance of a Galileo, and the adventurous spirit of a Fulton, are necessary to him who would benefit his species by the results of original plans and forms, or that of new combinations of old and tried ones. Hence we cannot but respect and admire the man, who, regardless of the hard fate of so many who have trod before him, in the thorny path of improvement, still has the fortitude and philosophy of mind to spend years in toil and study—to labour by day with persevering industry—and trim the midnight lamp with the vigilance ascribed to the ancient vestals, in bringing to perfection an idea, from which he hopes to reap fame and benefit to himself, and to reflect credit, at the same time, on the genius of his country."

Captain Symmes published two other numbers at St. Louis, in the year 1818; the one went to prove, by geometrical principles, that matter must necessarily form itself into concentric spheres, and the other treated of geological principles. His two next numbers, marked four and five, (the one treating of the original formation of the Allegheny mountains, and the other claiming the discovery of open poles,) I have never had an opportunity of seeing. His sixth number appeared, dated at Cincinnati, in January, 1819, which contains a number of items and principles that he proposes treating of in subsequent numbers. His seventh number, entitled "Arctic Memoir," is dated at Cincinnati, in February, 1819; and another number, entitled "Light between the Spheres," dated at Cincinnati, in August, 1819, was published in the National Intelligencer. From that time to the present, numerous pieces from the pen of Captain Symmes have appeared in different newspapers; but the most prominent and grand doctrines, on which his theory is based, are contained in the papers above enumerated. Independent of his written publications, he has delivered a number of lectures on the theory,—first at Cincinnati, in 1820, and afterwards at Lexington and Frankfort, in Kentucky, and at Hamilton and Zanesville, in the state of Ohio. Several of these lectures I had the pleasure of hearing; and the respectable number of auditors, and the profound stillness that reigned, evinced in the strongest manner the interest felt by all present in the subject. In addition to the various facts and phenomena, to which he adverts in support of his positions, he delineates in his lectures, upon a wooden sphere, constructed on the principles of his theory, the cause of the winding meridians, the icy hoop or verge, and the course which ought to be pursued to reach the interior regions, with the confidence of mathematical certainty.

Captain Symmes's want of a classical education, and philosophic attainments, perhaps, unfits him for the office of a lecturer. But, his arguments being presented in confused array, and clothed in homely phraseology, can furnish no objection to the soundness of his doctrines. The imperfection of his style, and the inelegance of his manner, may be deplored; but, certainly, constitute no proof of the inadequacy of his reasoning, or the absurdity of his deductions. There is scarcely a single individual, with whom I have conversed, who does not confess that, if the facts which he adduces, and the arguments he uses, were handled by an able orator, they would produce a powerful effect. In short, those who attend to his lectures, without regarding his peculiarities of style and manner; who reflect alone on their substantial parts, without regarding the want of eloquence in the lecturer; who presume to think for themselves, and are able to comprehend the naked facts, and unadorned arguments, which he advances, will not fail to discover in them many particulars well worthy of their consideration; and many arguments calculated to stagger their faith in pre-conceived opinions.

In the year 1822, Captain Symmes petitioned the Congress of the United States, setting forth, in the first place, his belief of the existence of a habitable and accessible concave to this globe; his desire to embark on a voyage of discovery to one or other of the polar regions; his belief in the great profit and honour his country would derive from such discovery;—and prayed that Congress would equip and fit out for the expedition, two vessels of two hundred and fifty, or three hundred, tons burthen; and grant such other aid as government might deem necessary to promote the object. This petition was presented in the Senate by Col. Richard M. Johnston, a member from Kentucky, on the 7th day of March, 1822; when, (a motion to refer it to the committee of Foreign Relations having failed,) after a few remarks it was laid on the table.—Ayes, 25.

In December, 1823, he forwarded similar petitions to both houses of Congress, which met with a similar fate.

In January, 1824, he petitioned the General Assembly of the state of Ohio, praying that body to pass a resolution approbatory of his theory; and to recommend him to Congress for an outfit suitable to the enterprise. This memorial was presented by Micajah T. Williams; and, on motion, the further consideration thereof was indefinitely postponed.[48]

That Captain Symmes is a highminded, honorable man, is attested by all who know him. He has devised a theory whereby to account for various singular and interesting phenomena; and more satisfactorily to explain a great variety of acknowledged facts.

He argues from the effect to the cause, in many of his positions, with great perspicuity. And the circumstance that few of the learned have yet attempted to show that his principles are founded in absurdity, should at least entitle him to the respect, and his theory to the attention, of every candid man. Notwithstanding he has been buffeted by the ridicule and sarcasm of an opposing world for seven years, under great pecuniary embarrassments; he still labours with unshaken faith, and unbroken perseverance; with a willingness at any time to test the truth of his speculations amid the icy mountains of the polar seas.

Already has he passed the meridian of life; and should he be called from time, without establishing his theory by actual discovery; the science he has embodied, and the facts he has collected and arranged in support of it, together with his undeviating and indefatigable industry, in the face of

will bear a testimonial to his talents and worth, that the best of his species will ever delight to acknowledge. And though he may not have accounted for every particular, or brought forward every argument that might possibly be advanced in support of his positions; he has, nevertheless, collected a greater number of peculiarly interesting facts, and embodied a stronger phalanx of proof, than could well have been expected on a subject so new, and in the hands of the original discoverer.

If, hereafter, it should be ascertained that Symmes's Theory of the Earth is true, impartial posterity will not withhold the honour and fame due to the name of the discoverer.

It is hoped, however, that the present age will not so far forfeit to posterity the high character it now sustains in scientific discovery, as to remain deaf to his solicitations; but, that the citizens of our own country in particular, if not the whole world, will unite in testing the truth of his principles; and in doing justice to the merits of this extraordinary man.

FINIS.