OF ARTS AND SCIENCES : JUNE 8, 1869. 131 



order, and the total absence of pretence and show, may recall to those 

 who knew him well somewhat of the traits of the man, — his great 

 modesty, singleness and tenacity of purpose, and disinterested devotion 

 to science for its own sake. Looking back over the very few years 

 which were allotted to him, we wonder at the amount of work he was 

 able to accomplish, as represented in these publications. They are the 

 fruits, apparently not so much of youthful enthusiasm, which was 

 not lacking, as of conscientious, unremitting, and well-directed labor. 

 Moreover, they were brought forth under delicate health, and, at 

 length, under the ravages of an insidious disease, and amid other on- 

 erous if congenial duties. He was for several years, and until the end, 

 Curator of Botany to the Natural History Society ; for the last two 

 years Curator to the Herbarium of Harvard University, and assistant 

 to the Professor ; and last autumn, under an appointment as College 

 Tutor, he took the whole charge of the Botanical department, and the 

 superintendence of the Botanic Garden, in the absence of the Profes- 

 sor. But his powers soon failed under the rapid development of pul- 

 monary disease ; he was called away from his chosen work just when 

 he had given proof of rare capacity for performing it, and from this 

 Society almost at the moment when we had numbered him as our own. 



William Mitchell was born at Nantucket, Mass., on the 20th of 

 December, 1791, and died at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., on the 19th of 

 April, 1869. His opportunities for education were no better than those 

 which the Island at that time afforded. The remembrance of his early 

 school-days was associated with the severe discipline common at that 

 period, so that the recollection of his school experiences gave him little 

 pleasure. He said, in a brief sketch of his life, written for his oldest 

 granddaughter, that no teacher inspired him with any love of learning. 



Although his father was in comfortable circumstances, he followed 

 the custom of the lads of the town, and learned the cooper's trade at the 

 age of fifteen ; giving it up, however, almost immediately, and entering 

 a school, as Assistant, at eighteen, and as Principal soon after. 



Mr. Mitchell married, on the 10th of December, 1812, Lydia Cole- 

 man, whom he had known from his boyhood. This union lasted forty- 

 eight years. Ten children were born to them, of whom nine survive. 

 In a memoir, written by himself, he says : " All that my children are, 

 physically and morally, is attributable, under Divine Providence, to 

 that talented and excellent woman. Never were the duties of wife and 

 mother more conscientiously performed." 



