Symmes's Theory of Concentric Spheres / Demonstrating that the Earth is hollow, habitable within, and widely open about the poles

by James McBride; John Cleves Symmes

CHAPTER X.

A short Biographical sketch of Captain Symmes; with some observations on the treatment which he has met with in the advancement of his Theory.

John Cleves Symmes, the author of the Theory of Concentric Spheres, is the son of Timothy Symmes, of the state of New-Jersey, whose father's name was also Timothy, and who was the son of the Rev. Thomas Symmes, of Bradford, who graduated at Harvard college, in 1698. Mr. Elliot, publisher of the New-England Biographical Dictionary, at Boston, in the year 1809, makes honourable mention of his name. Timothy Symmes, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, had but two sons; the one, John Cleves Symmes, well known as the father and founder of the first settlements in the Miami country; and the other, Timothy, the father of our Theorist, and from whom the present family of Symmes, in the Miami country, are descended.

Captain Symmes is now about forty-six years of age. He is of middle stature, and tolerably proportioned; with scarcely any thing in his exterior to characterize the secret operations of his mind, except an abstraction, which, from attentive inspection, is found seated on a slightly contracted brow; and the glances of a bright blue eye, that often seems fixed on something beyond immediate surrounding objects. His head is round, and his face rather small and oval. His voice is somewhat nasal, and he speaks hesitatingly and with apparent labour. His manners are plain, and remarkable for native simplicity. He is a native of the state of New-Jersey. During the early part of his life, he received, what was then considered, a common English education, which in after life he improved by having access to tolerably well selected libraries; and being endued, by nature, with an insatiable desire for knowledge of all kinds, he thus had, during the greater part of his life, ample opportunities to indulge it.

In the year 1802, and at the age of about twenty-two years, Mr. Symmes entered the army of the United States, in the office of ensign; from which he afterwards rose to that of captain. He continued in service until after the close of the late war with Great-Britain. While attached to the army he was universally esteemed a brave soldier, and a zealous and faithful officer. He was in the memorable battle of Bridgewater; and was senior Captain in the regiment to which he belonged. The company under his immediate command, that day, discharged seventy rounds of cartridges, and repelled three desperate charges of the bayonet.

Afterwards, in the sortie from Fort Erie, Captain Symmes, with his command, captured the enemy's battery number two; and with his own hand spiked the cannon it contained: yet, owing to the want of correct information, or from some other cause, the honour and the reward of this achievement, were alike bestowed upon others. And, it is a fact not less to be regretted, that the official report of the battle of Bridgewater, has represented the regiment, to which Captain Symmes was attached, as almost the only one that retreated at Lunday's lane; when, in truth, it was nearly the only one which uniformly maintained the positions it was ordered to maintain, throughout the action. Captain Symmes, has since, however, substantiated the correctness of its conduct, by obtaining the necessary acknowledgments; some of the particulars of which were communicated to the Historical Society of New-York, and published, in the newspapers of the day. The truth of this statement, has also been confirmed to me, by a respectable Officer, who was in the action, and witnessed the occurrence.

During the period of about three years, immediately after the close of the war, and after Captain Symmes had left the army, he was engaged in the difficult and laborious task of furnishing supplies to the troops stationed on the upper Mississippi. How he succeeded in this business I am not informed; but, I conclude from his present circumstances, that he could not have realized any very considerable pecuniary advantage from the enterprise. Since that time he has resided at Newport, Kentucky; devoting, almost exclusively, the whole of his time and attention to the investigation and perfection of his favourite Theory of Concentric Spheres.

In a short circular, dated at St. Louis, in 1818, Captain Symmes first promulgated the fundamental principles of his theory to the world. He addressed a copy to every learned institution, and to every considerable town and village, as well as distinguished individuals, of which he could gain any intelligence, throughout the United States, and to several learned societies in Europe.