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Jersey. In 1817 his leg was crushed between a ferry-boat and the wharf, necessitating amputa- tion. Notwithstanding the loss of his leg, he be- came proficient in athletic exercises. He entered Columbia, but left before graduation, studied law with Harmanus Bleecker in Albany, at the same time contributing articles to the news- papers, and was ad- mitted to the bar at the age of twenty- one. After three years of practice he resolved to adopt literature as his pro- fession, and joined Charles King in the editorship of the New York " Ameri- can," to which he had previously been a contributor. In

1833 he established

the "Knickerbocker Magazine," which he transferred to Timothy Flint after issuing a few numbers. He then became proprietor of the " American Monthly Magazine," and was its chief editor for many years. For twelve months he edited also the " New York Mirror." In 1846 he became editor of the " Literary World," and conducted it for a year and a half. After relinquishing the edi- torship he contributed to that journal a series of " Sketches of Society," which was closed in Decem- ber, 1848. Of these papers the most popular were fanciful sketches entitled " The Man in the Reser- voir " and " The Man in the Boiler." He received an appointment in the civil service at Washington, but in 1849 was attacked with a mental disorder, from which he never entirely recovered, spending the last thirty-five years of his life in the Harris- burg insane asylum. His first published book was "A Winter in the West" (New York and London, 1835), containing spirited descriptions of nature and sketches of frontier life, originally printed in the " American," composed after a long journey in the saddle, undertaken for his health, in the western country in 1833. It was followed by " Wild Scenes in Forest and Prairie" (London, 1837), which was republished with additions (New York, 1843). A novel entitled " Vanderlyn " was published in the "American Monthly" in 1837. Next appeared " Greyslaer, a Romance of the Mohawk " (New York, 1840), founded on the trial of Beauchamp for the murder of Col. Sharpe. He wrote another romance called " The Red Spur of Ramapo," but the manu- script was destroyed by a careless servant. Hoff- man was also the author of many poems and of songs that were set to music and attained great popularity. Among the latter are " Sparkling and Bright," " Rosalie Clare," and " Monterey," a great favorite with Gen. Grant. The first collection of his poetry was " The Vigil of Faith, a Le- fend of the Adirondack Mountains, and other 'oems " (New York, 1842). of which several edi- tions were published in the United States and England. A larger collection is "The Echo, or Borrowed Notes for Home Circulation" (Phila- delphia, 1844), the title of which was suggested by a criticism in the " Foreign Quarterly Review," charging Hoffman with plagiarizing from Thomas Moore. " Lays of the Hudson, and other Poems " (New York, 1846) contained additional lyrics. "Love's Calendar, and other Poems" (1848)' is a fuller collection than "The Echo." He was the author of "The Administration of Jacob Leisler" (1848) in Sparks's " American Biography." In 1847 he delivered before the St. Nicholas society a discourse on " The Pioneers of New York," which was published (New York, 1848). A new edition of his poems was prepared by his nephew, Edward F. Hoffman (New York, 1874). It contains a criti- cal sketch of the author by his friend, William Cullen Bryant. — Their grandmother, Sarah, philanthropist, b. in Newark, N. J., 8 Sept., 1742, was a daughter of David Ogden, and married Nicholas Hoffman in 1762. She was one of the founders of the Society for the relief of poor widows with small children, which was established in New York city in 1797, and was accustomed to visit the poor quarters of the city to administer to the wants of the sick and destitute. Washington Irving was engaged to her grand-daughter, Matilda Hotiman. who died before the time appointed for their mar- riage. — Murray's son, Wickiiam, diplomatist, b. in New York city, 2 April, 1821, was graduated at Harvard in 1841. He served during the civil war in the adjutant-general's department, being ap- pointed a captain on 6 March, 1862, and promoted major on 26 Aug., 1863. He was commissioned secretary of legation at London on 15 Dec, 1874, and on 27 Feb., 1883, minister to Denmark, which post he held until his successor was appointed on 2 April, 1885.

HOFFMAN, Richard H., musician, b. in Man- chester, England, 24 May, 1831. He received his early musical instruction from his father. Later he studied successively under distinguished Euro- pean masters, among them Moscheles, Thalberg, and Liszt. He came to New York in 1847, and in 1848 made with the violinist Burke an extended con- cert tour in the United States and Canada. He was the solo piano-player of the first series of the Jenny Lind concerts. In 1854 he was elected an hono- rary member of the Philharmonic society. He then settled in New York as a teacher and concert- player. In the latter capacity he now appears but rarely, except at the concerts of the Philharmonic society. He has composed several gracefully conceived pieces for the piano-forte.

HOFFMAN, William, soldier, b. in New York city, 2 Dec, 1807 ; d. in Rock Island, 111., 12 Aug., 1884. His father, of the same name, was a lieutenant-colonel in the U. S. army. The son was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1829, entered the army as a lieutenant of infantry, served in Kansas and in the Black Hawk war in 1832, and was promoted 1st lieutenant on 16 Nov., 1836, and captain on 1 Feb., 1838. In the war with Mexico he was engaged in the march through Chihuahua, the siege of Vera Cruz, and the battle of Cerro Gordo, was brevetted for services at Contreras and Churubusco, and again for bravery in the battle of Molino del Rey, and was present at the storming of Chapultepec and at the capture of the city of Mexico. He was promoted major on 15 April, 1851, served in the Sioux expedition of 1855, and in 1858 in the Utah expedition and the march to California. He became a lieutenant-colonel on 17 Oct., 1860, and was engaged in frontier duty at San Antonio, Tex., when he was made a prisoner of war by the Confederates, and not exchanged till 27 Aug., 1862. He was made a colonel on 25 April, 1862, served during the war as commissary-general of prisoners at Washington, and was brevetted brigadier-general and major-general. At the close of the war he took command of his regiment in Kansas, and in 1870 was retired at his own request.

HOFFORD, Martin Lowrie, clergyman and educator, b. near Doylestown, Bucks co., Pa., 27