1895.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 453 



for political reasons. The pupil declared more than half a century 

 later that his teacher's hitter denunciation of English injustice had 

 permanently influenced his political opinions. Other particulars of 

 his earlv life are wanting:. 



He was appointed to the United States navy from the State of 

 New Jersey, August 10, 1826, when not quite nineteen years of age. 

 He entered the service as surgeon's mate, his first cruise heing on 

 the U. S. S. Brandy wine of the Pacific Squadron. His fitness secured 

 for him the position of commodore's secretary, in which capacity he 

 served under Commodore Jacob Jones during 1828 and 1829. He 

 had, in the mean time, matriculated in the Medical Department of 

 the University of Pennsylvania from which institution he received 

 his degree of Doctor of Medicine. March 24, 1830. 



He was commissioned as Surgeon in the Navy, April 4, 1831, . 

 and was assigned to the sloop Falmouth, also of the Pacific 

 Squadron, on which he served from June, 1831 to February, 1834. 

 As a result of this voyage he published in Silliman's Journal for 

 1831 and 1833 a translation of a paper by Dr. C. Bertero entitled, 

 "A List of the Plants of Chili." This appears to have been his 

 earliest contribution to science. 



On his return home he published in 1834 his first important work 

 under the title, " Three Years iu the Pacific." In the prefatory note 

 the author states that he has "avoided obtruding himself upon the 

 attention of the reader and has indulged in but few reflections, 

 beiug content to present naked facts and allow each one to dress 

 them for himself and draw his own conclusions. " This statement 

 characterizes the work with a fair degree of accuracy. The social 

 and political life of Brazil, Chili, Bolivia and Peru are described 

 with animation, the style, especially in the earlier chapters, being 

 diffusive and somewhat florid, rather sharply coutrasting with the 

 somewhat sententious diction of his later work. There is a youthful 

 sparkle and sense of humor in his descriptions of persons and 

 incidents, which, in spite of the fidelity with which he adheres to the 

 promise of his preface, make the book a charming narrative of 

 adventure. The young surgeon, moreover, evidently regarded it as 

 his duty to convey as much solid information as possible, and 

 geographical, political and sociological notes, bearing the stamp of 

 accuracy, are not wanting. A characteristic abhorrence of sham 

 and pretence is manifest throughout the book, while the religious 



