WILLIAM EIPLEY NICHOLS. 529 



advancemeut of science, and to the improvement of methods for teach- 

 ing science. 



While yet a student at the Institute, Mr. Nichols served as an 

 assistant in the chemical laboratories and to the teacher of modern 

 languages. At this period were published his first chemical papers, 

 the most important of which was a study of certain oxalates. By the 

 application of modern methods of research he was enabled to rectify in 

 some particulars the work of earlier investigators. 



Immediately after his graduation, in 1869, heavier duties were put 

 upon him in his capacity of laboratory assistant, and he was at the 

 same time employed by our lamented associate, Dr. George Derby, 

 then Secretai-y of the Massachusetts State Board of Health, to investi- 

 gate a variety of sanitary problems. lu addition to these labors, Mr. 

 Nichols did much work for the Rumford Committee of the Academy 

 in collating matters relating to its edition of the complete works of 

 Count Rumford, then in process of publication. He translated anew 

 whatever of Rumford's writings had been published in German or 

 French, and acquitted himself admirably of this by no means easy 

 task. Mr. Nichols's services finally became so important to the com- 

 mittee, that he was authorized to prepare for the press the copy of 

 the last three volumes of Rumford's works, and to take charge of the 

 revision of the proofs. During a visit to Europe he ransacked the 

 libraries of London, Paris, and Munich in the committee's behalf, and 

 was rewarded by the discovery of some inedited writings of Rumford, 

 which were published by the Academy in due course. All the work 

 of this period, as well as that which followed, was thoroughly well 

 done, and gave full satisfaction to every one connected with it. 



As a worker, Nichols was distinguished for patience, accuracy, thor- 

 oughness, intelligence, and good judgment. Though painstaking to a 

 degree, no trace of pedantry contaminated him. He was never slow 

 or sluggish, and seldom seemed to be in haste. To all appearance, 

 there was plenty of time in each day for the affairs he had to attend 

 to, and, indeed, time to spare. Even when most heavily weighted 

 with the burden of his own multifarious occupations, he would cheer- 

 fully read proof .for his friends or revise their works ; and he was 

 accustomed methodically to answer his share of that innumerable host 

 of letters of inquiry, which in this country pour in like locusts to con- 

 sume the time and strength of every scientific man who works upon 

 matters of general or public interest. He wrote easily, clearly, and 

 courteously, and his thorough mastery of whatever subject he might 

 present enforced attention and disarmed criticism. 



VOL. XXII. (N. S. XIV.) 34 



