BROWN, CHARLES BROCEDEN, a celebrated American novelist, was b. at Philadel phia, Jan. 17, 1771. His early education was carried on under the care of Mr. Robert Proud, author of the History of Pennsylvania. Afterwards he studied for the law, but the license which he had already givep to his imagination induced an unconquerable aversion to legal pursuits, and be consequently betook himself to literature. Tile French revolution exercised on him, as on many other ardent spirits, a considerable influence; several of his writings at this period being penetrated with the new thoughts and senti ments which sprung out of that great convulsion. In 1798, he published Wieland, the first of his remarkable fictions; and in 1799, Ormond, or the Secret Witness. His next production was Arthur Mervyn, or Memoirs of the Year 1793—the fatal year of yellow fever in Philadelphia. In 1801, appeared Edgar Huntly, or the Adventures of a Sleep Walker, romance presenting a greater variety of wild and picturesque adventure, with more copious delineations of natural scenery, than is to be found in his other works."—Prescott. This was followed in the same year by Clara Howard, and in 1804
by Jane Talbot, first printed in England. He died of consumption in 1810.
Besides the writings which have been enumerated, B. composed a number of political pamphlets, eontri fed to various literary magazines, and founded three or four period icals himself. Th4ruthor who exercised the greatest influence on the development of his genius was Godwin, whom lie occasionally imitated, while Godwin himself, on the other hand, acknowledged his obligations to 'B., and warmly admired him. The most striking quality of his mind is its ingenuity, both imaginative and psychological. He invents incidents and analyzes feelings with remarkable subtlety, but his success is somewhat marred by his extravagant departure from the realities of every-day life.
BROWN, 1'1:J1Nets, D.D., 1718-1820; a native of New Hampshire, and graduate of Dartmouth college, of which he became president in 1815. Some of his sermons and pamphlets have been published.