Joseph Dennie, Born at Lexington, Massachusetts, August 30, 1768; Died at Philadelphia, January 7, 1812; Endowed with talents and qualified by education To adorn the senate and the bar; But following the impulse of a genius Formed for converse with the muses He devoted his life to the literature of his country. As author of "The Lay Preacher," And as first editor of the _Port Folio_, He contributed to chasten the morals, and to Refine the taste of this nation. To an imagination lively, not licentious, A wit sportive, not wanton, And a heart without guile, he United a deep sensibility, which endeared Him to his friends, and an ardent piety, Which we humbly trust recommended him to his God. Those friends have erected this tribute of their Affection to his memory; To the mercies of that God is their resort For themselves and for him. MDCCCXIX.
John Quincy Adams, who wrote the lines upon the monument, was an old and valued friend of Dennie's, and one of the earliest contributors to the _Port Folio_.
His "Tour Through Silesia," afterward reprinted in London in two octavo volumes, first appeared in the _Port Folio_ in 1801. He also contributed to the first number of the magazine a version of the thirteenth satire of Juvenal, and intended to continue the translation of Juvenal, but abandoned the project when Gifford's work was announced. A brother of John Quincy Adams, who was a resident of Philadelphia, had been a fellow-student with Dennie at Harvard.
The obituary notice of Dennie in the _Port Folio_ of February, 1812, did not satisfy his friends. His life was related at greater length, accompanied by a silhouette, in May, 1816 (_Port Folio_, page 361). This time the affection and admiration for the man found right expression. It was said that Dennie had "erected the first temple to the muses on his natal shore;" and "when the Muse of History shall hereafter narrate the story of our rapid progress from ignorance, poverty and feebleness, to knowledge, splendor and strength, the name of Dennie will be inscribed among the most worthy of those who laboured to procure these invaluable blessings" (page 170).
A complete list of the contributors to the _Port Folio_ would be the history of literature in Philadelphia for the first quarter of this century. The articles were almost never signed, and while the thin disguises of assumed names are in most cases easily penetrable, some that occur infrequently are only identified with much difficulty.