Anna_Maria_Thorntons_Life_of_William_Thornton (ca. 1828)

We raised the patent office to respectability and profit to the government

Genl. W. --at his recommendation also appointed his friend Rivardy a Captain, in the U.S. Army, where he rose to be a Major, and after being in the service, some of the most valuable years of his life, with credit to himself and the Government, he was dismissed (deranged as it was called) by Genl. Dearborn, then Sec. of the War; who, as well as some other of the American officers, disliked foreigners of talents and education. He then being thrown, upon the world with a family, settled in Phila, where his wife established a young Ladies Academy on an extensive Scale, he adjusted and was pretty well satisfied, till a visit from Genl. Moreau revived all his military ardor, made him discontented, injured his health, and he went to the W. ladies as prescribed by his physicians and there ended a life of care and troublee leaving a wife and three children to lament his untimely fate. --He was a member of the philosophical Society in phila- who honored him with a gold Medal *for his learned Treatise on Language called "Cadmus", a work of great labor and research, and which has been highly eulogized by Men of learning and deep thought. He intended to revise and * now in the possession of his Widow.-

reprint it, as the first edition had been nearly all presented to his friends and acquaintances. He was one of the active founders of the Columbian Institute in Washington, in conjunction with a few other Scientific men. This Society has borne testimony to his Worth at his Decease, by resolving to wear Crape and have a {Desconise} read to his memory (see the Resolution). He designed the Plan of the Capitol, for which he received the premium, and had Genl. Washington lived, he would have had the satisfaction to see his plan, rigidly adhered to, but Mr Jefferson used him very ill by allowing W Latrobe to make what alterations he pleased, without consulting him, because L flatters his Vanity and pleased him by planning a roof to the Representatives Chamber like his favorite Hal-au-bled in ParisEven of this hour they wish to deprive him, by attributing the plan to { ?}--Latrobe--Bulfinch--any body but him! He was a friend to the oppressed of all Nations and colors and zealouly forwarded to the utmost of his ability (and as far as his allegiance to this Government would allow)

the emancipation of the States of South America, from the thraldom of Spain, and even there never received the public thanks that were due to him, and which he highly merited, while WClay who only made a speech in Congress, and Col. Duane, had public testimony given by the People of Columbia to their Zeal and good will, in the Cause. He corresponded with most of the leading men in Columbia, and received many letters of thanks and compliments (see letters in the Box) from many estimable Characters, for the many services rendered them He also had the privilege of navigating the river Magdalana with steam boats conferred on him by Don Pedro Gual, but like all connected with that Scheme, he never derived any benefit from it.

He likewise interested himself warmly in the fate of the suffering Greeks, and wrote an address, to excite the general attention of this nation to their distress and wants which did honor to his talents and feeling, and was one of the first among the many who produced the desired effects of inducing the Citizens throughout the Union, to make large subscriptions and donations of cloaths, provisions to this unhappy people.

Goldsmith says that "every wish which leads to expect happiness somewhere else than where we are, only lays a foundation for uneasiness" I too truly proved so in his case. He had a great desire to be appointed on a Mission to S. America, in which he again met disappointment, tho' he presented the highest testimonials of his worth and fitness for such a Situation from numbers of his friends and members of the Senate and House of Represents, but electionary politics rule in this Country, each State must be favored with appointments, and the plea for not gratifiying him, was "his being too much identified with the S. Americans" his not being an American (tho' he took the oath of allegiance before the framing of the Constitution, in the State of Delaware (see the Certificate in Box)--married and settled in the Country and this residing in the Dist of Columbia (which I have heard said, is an insufferable objection to getting an appointment of consequence, the Citizens of the Dist having no votes, all operated against him, and he was again doomed to be disappointed in a favorite project. But his buoyant and cheerful disposition and unyielding spirit induced him to adopt, on some occasions, as a motto---