314 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



engagement he formed with Miss Fowler, the daughter of an old and 

 highly respected citizen of Newport. The scanty pay of a Lieutenant 

 of Engineers, charged with the support of his mother and the younger 

 members of her family, forbade all init the remote prospect of marriage ; 

 when, fortunately as unexpectedly, he w'as invited to take the chair of 

 Natural Philosophy and Chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania, 

 at Philadelphia. This, while it opened to him his scientific career, 

 enabled him at once to gratify the warmest wish of his heart, and to 

 secure the companion and helpmate, who, devoting all her thoughts 

 and powers to encourage and assist him, contributed most efficiently to 

 his distinguished usefulness throughout his active life. 



Important as was the offered position to his hopes and necessities, 

 and congenial to his tastes, the young officer so far distrusted his 

 ability to fill it, that he prudently retained his connection with the 

 army while the trial was made, — taking a year's leave of absence 

 without pay. But before the year elapsed his fitness for the vocation 

 was assured, and the entire confidence of the authoi'ities. and pupils of 

 the University secured. He could now undertake to do something for 

 the advancement of science by researches of his own. He became a 

 member, and soon an active officer of the Franklin Institute, then 

 newly established for the promotion of the mechanic arts, and was 

 thus brought into intimate association with the principal manufacturers, 

 engineers, and artisans of the city, as well as with persons more 

 directly engaged in scientific pursuits; workshops and laboi'atories 

 were throvA'n open to him, and other facilities supplied which he could 

 not otherwise have commanded ; and skilful men on every side ofJered 

 ready assistance in realizing the conceptions of his suggestive mind. 

 No doubt his descent from the illustrious philosopher and statesman, 

 whose name the Institute bears, added somewhat to the command- 

 ing influence which he acquired, mainly and worthily, however, by his 

 own industry, ability, courtesy, and rare powers of administration. 

 The volumes of the Journal of the Franklin Institute, from 1828 to 

 1835 inclusive, abundantly testify to his scientific activity. 



The most important of these investigations was that upon the causes 

 of the explosion of steam-boilers, carried on by the Institute under bis 

 direction, and soon recognized by the General Government by an ap- 

 propriation to cover the expense. The results of these elaborate 

 researches and experiments, executed with skill and interpreted with 

 logical discrimination, were embodied in a series of propositions which, 



