OF ARTS AND SCIENCES : JUNE 4, 1872. 477 



sonality made itself felt by even the most turbulent spirits in bis 

 classes. His effect in this way, even upon those who were not quali- 

 fied to directly appreciate his instruction, made no small part of his 

 influence as a professor in our Military Academy. 



But Mahan's influence and the value of his life are not confined to 

 the immediate scene of his labors. By his occasional writings, and 

 by those of his published works which are less distinctly professional, 

 he has stimulated the public mind in a much wider sphere. His work 

 on civil engineering, which has gone through several editions, and 

 been several times revised and almost rewritten by its author since its 

 first publication, is still one of the best compendiums on the subject. 

 His edition of Moseley's " Mechanics of Engineering," with its valuable 

 additions and annotations, has brought to the notice of the American 

 public one of the very best English works. Duinng our late war, his 

 work on field fortifications — the best work on that subject in any 

 language — and his minor work on outpost duty were in the hands 

 of all of our militia officers who sought instruction in their duties. 

 Science and education owe much to the labors of his long life, and the 

 memory of that life will be preserved in the many works which he has 

 left behind him. Brown and Princeton conferred upon him the 

 honorary degree of A. M. in 1837, and he subsequently received that 

 of LL. D. from William and Mary, Brown, and Dartmouth. In 1828, 

 he was elected a member of the Geographical Society of France. He 

 was a member of several scientific societies in this country, and 

 one of the original fifty corporators of the National Academy of 

 Science. 



To the interests of the Military Academy Mahan devoted the best 

 energies of his life. Regarding it not merely as a school of military 

 science, but as it really was, for a long period, the only scientific school 

 worthy of the name in our country, his whole thoughts were given to 

 the advancement of its prosperity ; and, as one of its Faculty, he jeal- 

 ously watched every change in its educational system which tended 

 to lower its high standard. Especially, in all the assaults which are 

 periodically made upon it, was he found ever ready, by voice and pen, 

 to repel those assaults, and vindicate the fair reputation of his Alma 

 Mater. No one could do this better than he. With a thorough con- 

 viction of the honesty of his cause, and a mind well stored with his- 

 torical knowledge, he combined a ready command of language and a 

 trenchant satire never exceeding proper bounds, which made every 



