834 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



than in the peaceful nations of eastern Asia, essentially, no doubt, 

 through the influence of Christianity, but largely through the 

 development of the intellect, the disappearance of local prejudices, 

 and the extension of human sympathy arising from the formation 

 of great nations. 



War still exists, but it has largely lost its function as a civilizer 

 so far as enlightened nations are concerned. New and superior 

 agencies are at work, and the injury done by war now looms far 

 above any good it is likely to accomplish. Yet its active power 

 in the spread of ideas continues, as in the notable instance I have 

 already named that of the rapid growth of abolition sentiment 

 in the North during the American civil war. Possibly future 

 useful effects in the same direction are still reserved for war, 

 though it is to be hoped that man may henceforward rest content 

 with the more desirable, if slower, results of peace. 







SKETCH OF DAVID HOSACK. 



IN the early part of the nineteenth century no citizen of New 

 York was held in higher honor than was De Witt Clinton. 

 Closely associated with Clinton in the leadership of the civic life 

 of the day, but holding rigidly aloof from politics, was Dr. 

 Hosack. "It was not infrequently remarked by our citizens," 

 said his pupil and associate, John W. Francis, "that Clinton, 

 Hosack, and Hobart were the tripod on which our city stood/' 

 Dr. Hosack was one of the founders of the New York Historical 

 Society and its president from 1820 to 1828. He was also in- 

 strumental in founding an art society, was prominent in various 

 scientific, literary, and humane undertakings, and, if his lead had 

 been followed, New York would have to-day a botanic garden 

 equal to any in a European metropolis. 



David Hosack was the eldest of seven children, and was born 

 August 31, 1769, in the house of his maternal grandfather, No. 44 

 Frankfort Street, New York. His father, Alexander Hosack, was 

 a native of Morayshire (Elgin), Scotland. Having entered the 

 British army, he was, at the age of twenty-one, serving as an 

 officer in the artillery. He came to America in the force under 

 General Sir Jeffrey Amherst, and was at the retaking of Louis- 

 burg. April 1, 1768, he married in New York Jane, daughter of 

 Francis Arden. Her father's family came from England, while 

 that of her mother belonged to that valuable contingent of 

 Huguenot citizens which America received as a consequence of 

 the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. 



Young David, after receiving the ordinary elements of educa- 



