AUGUSTUS LUCAS HILLHOUSE, the younger son of the Hon. James Hillhouse (Yale 1773), of New Haven, was born in New Haven on December 9, 1791. He was prepared for College by Henry Davis (Yale 1796), and at first entered the Class of 1807. His elder brother was graduated in 1808.
He was distinguished as a student for scholarship and poetical genius, and seemed to be entering on life with the fairest hopes.
After graduation he became a victim of severe chronic dyspepsia, and fell into a state of physical and mental depression. He was elected to a tutorship in College in 1812, and would have succeeded to the office in 1814, had he not declined. In the hope that Change of scene and of climate and the excitement of foreign travel might benefit him, his father consented to his going abroad, in 1816.
He landed at Bordeaux, traveled through the south of France, tarried a short time in Geneva, and by early fall was settled in Paris, in or near which was his home for the rest of his life.
In his first years there he interested himself actively in efforts for the diffusion of evangelical influences among the French people. A little later, he gave considerable time to the translation of a new work on the forest trees of North America, and in that connection tried to promote the cultivation of the olive in the Southern part of the United States.
About 1823 he set about the composition of a philosophical work, to be entitled. "A Demonstration of the Natural Method in Politics, or, the Political Experience of the United States, applied to Europe," which occupied him for the rest of his life. He withdrew from society, and postponed his return to his family home until his great work should be completed.
In July, 1853, he made an arrangement by which his unimproved real estate in New Haven was transferred to Yale College, in return for an annuity of $1,200; the property was held for many years, but ultimately realized much more than the amount paid to Mr. Hillhouse.
In his lonely life he found his chief pleasure in beneficence to the poor; and when he died on March 14, 1859, in his 68th year, he was sincerely mourned by the peasants of the little village of Eragny, where the event occurred, on the left bank of the Oise, about fifteen miles northwest of Paris. He was never married. His body was brought to America for burial, in accordance with his own expressed wish.
He left behind him a large collection of manuscripts, but not in condition to be printed.
He printed:
1. Description of the European Olive Tree. [Paris, 1818.] Large 8°, pp. 43 + Pl. [ B. Publ. Harv. Y. C. This article was written for the North American Sylva, by F. A. Michaux, and appears in Mr. Hillhouse's translation of that work, volume 2, PP 156-204.
Another edition is:-
An Essay on the History and Cultivation of the European Olive Tree. Paris, 1820. 8°, pp. 54 + pl. [ B. Publ. M. H. S.
2. A Hymn. In the Christian Spectator, vol. 4, pp. 195-196. New Haven, April, 1822. 8°.
Seven stanzas, of four lines, signed with initials only. See the biographical article on the author, by the Rev. Dr. Bacon, in the New Englander.
3. The Natural Method in Politics, being the abstract of an unpublished work. Paris, 1826.
Said to have been privately printed, in a very small edition.
He was also the author of the following anonymous translation from the French:-
4. The North American Sylva, or a description of the forest trees, of the United States, Canada and Nova Scotia. Considered particularly with respect to their use in the Arts and their introduction into Commerce; to which is added a description of the most useful of the European forest trees. .. By F. Andrew Michaux. Philadelphia and Paris, 1817-1819. 3 vols. 8°.
About the same date he translated and adapted from the English into French, numerous tracts by Hannah More.
From: Franklin B. Dexter, Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College, Vol. VI, 1805-1815 (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1912), pp. 331-333.
He was distinguished as a student for scholarship and poetical genius, and seemed to be entering on life with the fairest hopes.
After graduation he became a victim of severe chronic dyspepsia, and fell into a state of physical and mental depression. He was elected to a tutorship in College in 1812, and would have succeeded to the office in 1814, had he not declined. In the hope that Change of scene and of climate and the excitement of foreign travel might benefit him, his father consented to his going abroad, in 1816.
He landed at Bordeaux, traveled through the south of France, tarried a short time in Geneva, and by early fall was settled in Paris, in or near which was his home for the rest of his life.
In his first years there he interested himself actively in efforts for the diffusion of evangelical influences among the French people. A little later, he gave considerable time to the translation of a new work on the forest trees of North America, and in that connection tried to promote the cultivation of the olive in the Southern part of the United States.
About 1823 he set about the composition of a philosophical work, to be entitled. "A Demonstration of the Natural Method in Politics, or, the Political Experience of the United States, applied to Europe," which occupied him for the rest of his life. He withdrew from society, and postponed his return to his family home until his great work should be completed.
In July, 1853, he made an arrangement by which his unimproved real estate in New Haven was transferred to Yale College, in return for an annuity of $1,200; the property was held for many years, but ultimately realized much more than the amount paid to Mr. Hillhouse.
In his lonely life he found his chief pleasure in beneficence to the poor; and when he died on March 14, 1859, in his 68th year, he was sincerely mourned by the peasants of the little village of Eragny, where the event occurred, on the left bank of the Oise, about fifteen miles northwest of Paris. He was never married. His body was brought to America for burial, in accordance with his own expressed wish.
He left behind him a large collection of manuscripts, but not in condition to be printed.
He printed:
1. Description of the European Olive Tree. [Paris, 1818.] Large 8°, pp. 43 + Pl. [ B. Publ. Harv. Y. C. This article was written for the North American Sylva, by F. A. Michaux, and appears in Mr. Hillhouse's translation of that work, volume 2, PP 156-204.
Another edition is:-
An Essay on the History and Cultivation of the European Olive Tree. Paris, 1820. 8°, pp. 54 + pl. [ B. Publ. M. H. S.
2. A Hymn. In the Christian Spectator, vol. 4, pp. 195-196. New Haven, April, 1822. 8°.
Seven stanzas, of four lines, signed with initials only. See the biographical article on the author, by the Rev. Dr. Bacon, in the New Englander.
3. The Natural Method in Politics, being the abstract of an unpublished work. Paris, 1826.
Said to have been privately printed, in a very small edition.
He was also the author of the following anonymous translation from the French:-
4. The North American Sylva, or a description of the forest trees, of the United States, Canada and Nova Scotia. Considered particularly with respect to their use in the Arts and their introduction into Commerce; to which is added a description of the most useful of the European forest trees. .. By F. Andrew Michaux. Philadelphia and Paris, 1817-1819. 3 vols. 8°.
About the same date he translated and adapted from the English into French, numerous tracts by Hannah More.
From: Franklin B. Dexter, Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College, Vol. VI, 1805-1815 (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1912), pp. 331-333.
AUGUSTUS LUCAS HILLHOUSE, the younger son of the Hon. James Hillhouse (Yale 1773), of New Haven, was born in New Haven on December 9, 1791. He was prepared for College by Henry Davis (Yale 1796), and at first entered the Class of 1807. His elder brother was graduated in 1808.
He was distinguished as a student for scholarship and poetical genius, and seemed to be entering on life with the fairest hopes.
After graduation he became a victim of severe chronic dyspepsia, and fell into a state of physical and mental depression. He was elected to a tutorship in College in 1812, and would have succeeded to the office in 1814, had he not declined. In the hope that Change of scene and of climate and the excitement of foreign travel might benefit him, his father consented to his going abroad, in 1816.
He landed at Bordeaux, traveled through the south of France, tarried a short time in Geneva, and by early fall was settled in Paris, in or near which was his home for the rest of his life.
In his first years there he interested himself actively in efforts for the diffusion of evangelical influences among the French people. A little later, he gave considerable time to the translation of a new work on the forest trees of North America, and in that connection tried to promote the cultivation of the olive in the Southern part of the United States.
About 1823 he set about the composition of a philosophical work, to be entitled. "A Demonstration of the Natural Method in Politics, or, the Political Experience of the United States, applied to Europe," which occupied him for the rest of his life. He withdrew from society, and postponed his return to his family home until his great work should be completed.
In July, 1853, he made an arrangement by which his unimproved real estate in New Haven was transferred to Yale College, in return for an annuity of $1,200; the property was held for many years, but ultimately realized much more than the amount paid to Mr. Hillhouse.
In his lonely life he found his chief pleasure in beneficence to the poor; and when he died on March 14, 1859, in his 68th year, he was sincerely mourned by the peasants of the little village of Eragny, where the event occurred, on the left bank of the Oise, about fifteen miles northwest of Paris. He was never married. His body was brought to America for burial, in accordance with his own expressed wish.
He left behind him a large collection of manuscripts, but not in condition to be printed.
He printed:
1. Description of the European Olive Tree. [Paris, 1818.] Large 8°, pp. 43 + Pl. [ B. Publ. Harv. Y. C. This article was written for the North American Sylva, by F. A. Michaux, and appears in Mr. Hillhouse's translation of that work, volume 2, PP 156-204.
Another edition is:-
An Essay on the History and Cultivation of the European Olive Tree. Paris, 1820. 8°, pp. 54 + pl. [ B. Publ. M. H. S.
2. A Hymn. In the Christian Spectator, vol. 4, pp. 195-196. New Haven, April, 1822. 8°.
Seven stanzas, of four lines, signed with initials only. See the biographical article on the author, by the Rev. Dr. Bacon, in the New Englander.
3. The Natural Method in Politics, being the abstract of an unpublished work. Paris, 1826.
Said to have been privately printed, in a very small edition.
He was also the author of the following anonymous translation from the French:-
4. The North American Sylva, or a description of the forest trees, of the United States, Canada and Nova Scotia. Considered particularly with respect to their use in the Arts and their introduction into Commerce; to which is added a description of the most useful of the European forest trees. .. By F. Andrew Michaux. Philadelphia and Paris, 1817-1819. 3 vols. 8°.
About the same date he translated and adapted from the English into French, numerous tracts by Hannah More.
From: Franklin B. Dexter, Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College, Vol. VI, 1805-1815 (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1912), pp. 331-333.
He was distinguished as a student for scholarship and poetical genius, and seemed to be entering on life with the fairest hopes.
After graduation he became a victim of severe chronic dyspepsia, and fell into a state of physical and mental depression. He was elected to a tutorship in College in 1812, and would have succeeded to the office in 1814, had he not declined. In the hope that Change of scene and of climate and the excitement of foreign travel might benefit him, his father consented to his going abroad, in 1816.
He landed at Bordeaux, traveled through the south of France, tarried a short time in Geneva, and by early fall was settled in Paris, in or near which was his home for the rest of his life.
In his first years there he interested himself actively in efforts for the diffusion of evangelical influences among the French people. A little later, he gave considerable time to the translation of a new work on the forest trees of North America, and in that connection tried to promote the cultivation of the olive in the Southern part of the United States.
About 1823 he set about the composition of a philosophical work, to be entitled. "A Demonstration of the Natural Method in Politics, or, the Political Experience of the United States, applied to Europe," which occupied him for the rest of his life. He withdrew from society, and postponed his return to his family home until his great work should be completed.
In July, 1853, he made an arrangement by which his unimproved real estate in New Haven was transferred to Yale College, in return for an annuity of $1,200; the property was held for many years, but ultimately realized much more than the amount paid to Mr. Hillhouse.
In his lonely life he found his chief pleasure in beneficence to the poor; and when he died on March 14, 1859, in his 68th year, he was sincerely mourned by the peasants of the little village of Eragny, where the event occurred, on the left bank of the Oise, about fifteen miles northwest of Paris. He was never married. His body was brought to America for burial, in accordance with his own expressed wish.
He left behind him a large collection of manuscripts, but not in condition to be printed.
He printed:
1. Description of the European Olive Tree. [Paris, 1818.] Large 8°, pp. 43 + Pl. [ B. Publ. Harv. Y. C. This article was written for the North American Sylva, by F. A. Michaux, and appears in Mr. Hillhouse's translation of that work, volume 2, PP 156-204.
Another edition is:-
An Essay on the History and Cultivation of the European Olive Tree. Paris, 1820. 8°, pp. 54 + pl. [ B. Publ. M. H. S.
2. A Hymn. In the Christian Spectator, vol. 4, pp. 195-196. New Haven, April, 1822. 8°.
Seven stanzas, of four lines, signed with initials only. See the biographical article on the author, by the Rev. Dr. Bacon, in the New Englander.
3. The Natural Method in Politics, being the abstract of an unpublished work. Paris, 1826.
Said to have been privately printed, in a very small edition.
He was also the author of the following anonymous translation from the French:-
4. The North American Sylva, or a description of the forest trees, of the United States, Canada and Nova Scotia. Considered particularly with respect to their use in the Arts and their introduction into Commerce; to which is added a description of the most useful of the European forest trees. .. By F. Andrew Michaux. Philadelphia and Paris, 1817-1819. 3 vols. 8°.
About the same date he translated and adapted from the English into French, numerous tracts by Hannah More.
From: Franklin B. Dexter, Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College, Vol. VI, 1805-1815 (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1912), pp. 331-333.
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