uthor was evidently a straight Democrat.

Seven years ago I copied this oration with the intention of reprinting
it, with a brief historical introduction, supposing I could readily
find the few facts I needed. But in this I was disappointed. Who was
Dr. George Buchanan? That he was a member of the American
Philosophical Society at Philadelphia was apparent on the title page;
but that was all I could learn of him from books or inquiry. I then
wrote to a historical friend in Baltimore to make inquiry for me
there, and I received letters from the author's son, McKean Buchanan,
senior paymaster in the United Stares navy, since deceased, and from
two grandsons, Mr. George B. Coale and Dr. Wm. Edw. Coale, giving
full particulars, which I will condense:

Dr. George Buchanan was born on an estate, five miles from Baltimore,
September 19, 1763, and for many years was a practicing physician in
Baltimore. He was a son of Andrew Buchanan, who was also born in
Maryland, and was General in the Continental troops of Maryland during
the Revolution, and was one of the Commissioners who located the city
of Baltimore. Dr. George Buchanan studied medicine and took a degree
at Philadelphia. He then went to Europe and studied medicine at
Edinburgh, and later at Paris, taking degrees at both places.
Returning to Baltimore, he married Letitia, daughter of the Hon.
Thomas McKean, an eminent jurist, who was a member of the Continental
Congress, one of the Signers the Declaration of Independence, and was
Governor of Pennsylvania from 1799 to 1806. In 1806, Dr. Buchanan
removed to Philadelphia, and died the next year of yellow fever, in
the discharge of his official duties as Lazaretto physician. His
eldest son was Paymaster McKean Buchanan, before mentioned. His
youngest son was Franklin Buchanan, captain in the United States navy
till he resigned, April 19, 1861, and went into the so-called
Confederate navy. He was, with the rank of Admiral, in command of the
iron-clad "Merrimac," and was wounded in the conflict of that vessel
with the monitor "Ericsson," at Hampton Roads, March 9, 1862, and was
later captured by Admiral Farragut in Mobile harbor.

"My brother," writes one of the grandsons, "told me that the last time
he saw Henry Clay, Mr. Clay took his hand in both of his and said,
with great emphasis: 'It is to your grandfather that I owe my present
position with regard to slavery. It was he who first pointed out to me
the curse it entaile