158 TROCEEDINQS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



" His wit was indeed ever ready and inexhaustible, and be was 

 keenly perceptive of tbe ridiculous in every form. But his playful 

 raillery was never tinged with any unkindness, — more often turning 

 upon himself than upon others, or reaching others only through him- 

 self; while producing often uncontrollable merriment, it ever ended in 

 increased love and admiration of the genuine simplicity and nobleness 



of his nature. 



" It would be to me, Mr. President, a delightful theme to dAvell fur- 

 ther upon the noble and beautiful elements composing the character of 

 our friend, — the remembrance of Avhich, to those who knew him inti- 

 mately, is far more precious than that of his literary renown, great and 

 world-wide as that is ; — to delineate that marvellous combination of 

 manly strength with feminine delicacy and child-like simplicity ; that 

 ever sensitive conscientiousness regarding his own duty, united -with 

 such gentle charity for others ; that instinctive love of truth, combined 

 with such brilliant imagination, by Avhose light it was ever so beauti- 

 fully illustrated, but never distorted ; that wit and habitual merriness, 

 so exquisite and yet so harmless ; and that loyalty to friendship and 

 affection, in the fond remembrance of which so many heai-ts are bleed- 

 ing. But I must forbea:*, and leave the theme to a fitter place and 

 abler hands. 



" I have, therefore, only to add, that, in seconding the motion for the 

 adoption of the resolutions, I do it in the conviction that the Academy 

 has never lost a member more worthy of an honored memorial upon 

 its records." 



The resolutions were also supported by Professor Theophi- 

 lus Parsons, as follows: — 



" When you intimated to me, Mr. President, your wish that I should 

 say a few words on the topic Avhich will occupy us this evening, it was 

 difficult to assent, but impossible to refuse. I know not in what words 

 to speak of Prescott. He was my oldest friend, — the last friend of 

 my boyhood. Our fathers were intimate friends, and their intimacy 

 fell to us as an inheritance. His genial face, and that cordial manner, 

 which was but the transparent vesture of his constant kindness, I shall 

 meet no more. But this is not the place to speak of my personal rela- 

 tions to him. Nor need I add my testimony to the universal recogni- 

 tion of the ability, the industry, the accurate learning, the admirable 



