An eulogium, intended to perpetuate the memory of David Rittenhouse, late president of the American Philosphical Society : delivered before the Society in the First Presbyterian Church, in High-Street, Philadelphia, on the 17th Dec. 1796 ; agreeably to appointment / by Benjamin Rush, a member of the Society.

Benjamin Rush

Date:: [1797]

Credit: An eulogium, intended to perpetuate the memory of David Rittenhouse, late president of the American Philosphical Society : delivered before the Society in the First Presbyterian Church, in High-Street, Philadelphia, on the 17th Dec. 1796 ; agreeably to appointment / by Benjamin Rush, a member of the Society. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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( «« ) About the time he fettled in Philadelphia he became a member of our Society. His firft communication to the Society was a calculation of the tranfit of Venus as it was to happen on the 3d of June, 1769, in 400 north latitude, and 5 hours weft longitude from Greenwich. He was one of a committee appointed by the So- ciety to pbfcrve in the townmip of Norriton, this rare occurrence in the revolution of that planet, and bore an active part in the preparations which were made for that purpofe. Of this Dr. Smith who was likewife of the committee, has left an honourable record in the hiftory of that event which is publifhcd in the firft volume of the tranfaclions of our Society. As Mr. Ritten- houfe's dwelling (fays the Doctor) is about twen- ty miles north-weft from Philadelphia; our other engagements did not permit Mr. Lukens or my- felf to pay much attention to the neceffary pre- parations ; but we knew that we had intrufted them to a gentleman on the fpot [meaning Mr. Rittenhoufe] who had, joined to a complete (kill in mechanics, fo extenfive an aftronomical, and mathematical knowledge, that the ufe, manage- ment and even conftruction of the apparatus, were perfectly familiar to him. The laudable pains he had taken in thefe material articles will

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