ume of poems entitled " Life and Time — A Birth- day ^Memorial of Seventy Years " (New York, 1H65).
iPETERS, Christian Henry Froderich, astronomer, b. in Coldenblittel, Schleswif^, 19 Sept., 1813 ; (i. in Clinton, N. Y., 18 July, 1890. lie was educated at the University of Berlin, where in 18o6 he received the degree of Ph. D.,and then continued
his professional studies in Copenhagen. In 1838 he
accompanied Baron Sartorius von Walthershausen
to Sicily, where, until 1843, he was engaged on the
survey of Mount Etna. The published results of
this work are said to afford the most exhaustive de-
scription that has been given of any mountain. On
the completion of this survey, Dr. Peters was en-
gaged in Naples, for several years, in the geodetic
survey of that kingdom, but at the close of the
revolution of 1848 he left Italy and went to Tur-
key, devoting himself to the pursuit of his chosen
science. In 1853, on the recommendation of George
P. Marsh, he came to the United States with let-
ters from eminent scientists, which procured for
him a place on the U. S. coast survey. At first he
was stationed at the Cambridge observatory, and
later at the Dudley observatory in Albany. In
1858 he was called to Hamilton college as the first
director of the Litchfield observatory, and in 1867
he was made professor of astronomy in addition
to his directorship. His scientific work included
observations on comets and solar spots, many of
which are as yet unpublished. In his study of
the sky for the mapping of the stars he had been
the first discoverer of forty-seven asteroids. Under
the auspices of the regents of the University of
the state of New York he determined the longi-
tude of several places in the state of New York, in-
cluding the western boundary-line. He had charge
of one of the parties sent out to Des Moines. Iowa,
to observe the solar eclipse of 7 Aug., 1869. and
also led the government expedition that was sent
to New Zealand to observe the transit of Venus, 9
Dec, 1874, and on that occasion he was the most
successful of all the observers at that station, se-
curing 237 photographs of the transit. Dr. Pe-
ters was a member of scientific societies, and in
1876 was elected to the National academy of
sciences. In 1887 he received the decoration of
the cross of the Legion of honor from the French
government. Besides articles in various scientific
journals, he published in 1882 a first series, twenty
in number, of his " Celestial Charts," which give
an accurate picture of the parts of the sky that
they depict, and which will serve hereafter as a
sure basis for studying changes in the heavens.
A second series was completed in 1888, but was
unpublished when he died.
PETERS, Edward Dyer, metallurgist, b. in
Dorchester, Mass., 1 June,'l849. He was educated
at the Freiberg mining-school, Saxony, in 1869,
and has since devoted himself to copper-smelting.
In 1870 he was appointed territorial assayer of
Colorado, which office he held for two years, and
after filling various other places he returned to
Massachusetts, and in 1877 was graduated at Har-
vard medical school. Continuing his metallurgical
practice, he held the superintendency of the Orford
sulphur and copper company in 188{)-'2, and of the
Parrot silver and copper company in 1884-'5. Mr.
Peters is a member of the American institute of
mining engineers and of other scientific societies.
In addition to various professional papers, he has
published " Modern American Methods of Copper
Smelting " (New York. 1887).
PETERS, George Nathaniel Henry, clergy-
man, b. in New Berlin, Union co.. Pa., 30 Nov.,
1825. He was graduated at Wittenberg college.
Springfield. Ohio, in 1850, and was pastor of Lu-
theran churches in Woodbury, Springfield, Xenia,
and Plymouth, Ohio, but has been retired for many
years. He is a conservative preniillenarian.and, in
addition to numerous articles, has published "The
Theocratic Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ," the
result of thirty years' labor (3 vols.. New York, 1884).
PETERS. Hugh, clergyman, b. in P'owey, Corn-
wall, Kngland, in 1598 ; d. in London, England,
1() Oct., 16(iO. After graduation at Cambridge in
1022 he took orders and preached for some time at
the Church of St. Sepiilchre. London, but was com-
mitted to prison by Archbishop Laud for nf)n-con-
formity. Obtaining his release, he removed to
Rotterdam, where he was pastor of an independent
congregation with Dr. William Ames for several
years, and in 1635 he came to New England with
his brothers William and Thomas. On 21 Dec,
1636, he became pastor of the 1st church in Salem,
Mass., succeeding Roger Williams, whose doctrines
he disclaimed and whose adherents he excommuni-
cated. In 1637 he was appointed an overseer of
Harvard. He took an active part in mercantile
and civil affairs, and suggested coasting and foreign
voyages, and the plan of the fisheries. In March,
1638, he was appointed by the general court to
assist in collecting and revising the colonial laws.
In 1640 he associated Edward Norris with him in
the pastorate of his church. He received from his
church 200 acres of land in what is now Northfield
as a reward for his services, and his farm was known
as Peters Neck. On 3 Aug., 1641, he was sent to
England with Rev. Thomas Welde and William
Hibbins to procure an alteration in the laws of
excise and trade, and, probably owing to their in-
fluence, an act of parliament was passed in 1643
relieving all commodities that were carried between
England and New England from the payment of
"any custom, subsidy, taxation, imposition, or any
other duty " till the further order of the house of
commons." In England he joined the Parliament-
ary party and became a preacher in the army. He
had interviews with Charles I. in regard to his
" New England business," in which, said Peters,
" he used me civilly, and I offered my poor thoughts
three times for his safety." In 1651 he was ap-
pointed by parliament a commissioner to amend
the laws, an office for which he was eminently un-
qualified. He said that he " went there to pray
rather than to mend laws." In 1654 he was made
one of the " fryers " of ministers, and in 1658
preached to the English garrison in Dunkirk. In
1660 he accompanied Gen. Monk from Scotland to
London, preached before him on a fast-day. and it
is said " troubled the general with a long sermon."
After the restoration of Charles II., Peters was
committed to the Tower, and indicted for high
treason as having been concerned in the death of
Charles I. It was alleged that he was one of those
that stood masked on the scaffold wiien the king
was beheaded, and, to render him more odions, it
was reported that he was the executioner. During
his imprisonment in Newgate he wrote several let-
ters of advice to his daughter, which were pub-
lished uniler the title of " A Dying Fatiier's Legacy
to an Onlv Child" (London. 1660), of which his
great-nephew, Samuel, said : "It was printed and
published in Old and New England, and myriads
of experienced Christians have read his legacy with
ecstasy and health to their souls." Notwithstand-
ing this prediction, the work is now very rare and
almost forgotten. Alter exeoition his head was
stuck on a pole and ])laccd on London bridge. His
preaching was popular with the multitude, owing
to his coarse but striking iuuiges. His private