348 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



engage at some time or other his inquisitive mind. But among the 

 many objects to which he has turned his attention, there is one topic 

 which particularly deserves to be noticed on an occasion like this, 

 when the members of the Academy must feel that they have sustained 

 a severe loss by his departure. Taking, as was his habit in every- 

 thing else, a broad view also of the events of the day, he had satisfied 

 himself that there is no field in which young men of ability could 

 seek for a better opportunity of doing good service to their country, 

 than in the pursuit of science, literature, and the arts. And this sub- 

 ject was one to which he returned constantly in conversation for the 

 whole past year. Early in 1856, he was invited by the Regents of 

 the University of the State of New York to deliver an address in 

 Albany, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Geological Hall. 

 His sickness unfortunately prevented him from attending the celebra- 

 tion. The subject he had selected for the occasion was that of his 

 constant thoughts. He hoped to make an impression upon the com- 

 munity by an earnest appeal to the rising generation in favor of a deeper 

 and more thorough cultivation of the learned vocations, and espe- 

 cially of science. No one among us was better prepared than he to 

 set forth the great importance and the true dignity of such pursuits. 

 He never tired of repeating that he considered intellectual and moral 

 culture as the object worthiest of the highest ambition. It was not, 

 he used to say, by prowess of arms, or by wealth, that nations could 

 in future take a high standing among civilized communities, but by 

 their devotion to, and their appreciation of, the higher interests of 

 science, literature, and the arts. I need not say, that with him these 

 were not idle words. I deem it my duty, as it is my pleasure, to refer 

 to the great exertions he made, for a number of montlis in succession, 

 to render possible the publication of my Contributions to the Natural 

 History of the United States, and I truly lament that he did not live 

 to see at least the first volume completed. But his great heart had 

 higher aims than the personal success of a friend. He had conceived 

 the plan of a great institution, devoted chiefly to the study of Natural 

 History, in its widest ramifications, which should in course of time 

 be for this country what the British Museum and the Jardin des 

 Plantes are for England and France. He spoke repeatedly of the 

 part he would take himself in fostering such a plan, and his will 

 bears testimony to the importance which he attached to the establish- 

 ment of such an institution. When he felt his strength failing him, 



