160 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
The love of flowers and of gems was a feature of Dr. Leidy’s 
character. His knowledge of them often served to correct errors 
that had crept into collections as well as to entertain his friends. 
No one loved social intercourse better than he, and his conver- 
sation was always instructive and charming. 
He died in his native city on April 30, 1891. 
(From Perstror FRAZER, “ Joseph Leidy, M. D., LL. D.,” in the American 
Geologist, January, 1892. See also WiLt1aM Hunt, “ An Address Upon the 
Late Joseph Leidy, M. D., LL. D.,” Philadelphia, 1892; and ‘“‘ In Memoriam, 
Dr. Joseph Leidy, Personal History,” read before the Academy of Natural 
Sciences, Philadelphia, May 12, 1891; Henry F. Osgorn, “ Joseph Leidy,” in 
Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 7, p. 335-) 
J. PETER LESLEY 
Born, September 17, 1819; died June 1, 1903 
Peter Lesley, the fourth of that name, was born at Phila- 
delphia on September 17, 1819. The first Peter Lesley was 
remembered as the “ Miller of Fifeshire,’ and his descendants 
were of mingled Scotch and German blood and were noted for 
their practical traits and thorough education. It appears to 
have been Lesley’s father’s intention to prepare him for the 
church, but his health was so precarious while he was in college 
that an out-of-door life was imperative. Through the inter- 
position of Professor Bache, he obtained appointment in 1838 as 
an assistant on the first Geological Survey of Pennsylvania. The 
personal knowledge of the poor and ignorant German settlers, 
which he obtained during two seasons spent in the field, turned 
Lesley’s ‘thoughts toward missionary work, and in 1841 he 
entered the Princeton Theological School. After studying three 
years and obtaining his license, he determined on a trip to 
Europe, largely to perfect his knowledge of German. He 
travelled on foot through England and France and afterwards 
through Switzerland, where the geological features of the 
country aroused his strongest interest. He then settled at Halle 
to study German, and also attended the lectures of Tholuck and 
other theologians. 
