448 GEORGE PERKINS MARSH. 



to many whom his generous heart embraced in those intimate relations. 

 How dear he must have been to those who stood within the circle of 

 his family, they alone can know. We feel that their loss is unspeaka- 

 ble, and we can only draw near to their sacred sorrow with our best 

 offerings of earnest sympathy for them, and of profound reverence and 

 admiration for him. 



Such is the mnn whose name death has struck from our roll. We 

 look with desire for a full account of his life from some hand compe- 

 tent to the grateful task. In such a memoir we shall hope to find a 

 just estimate of Mr. Marsh's public services to his native State and to 

 the Republic, both at home and abroad, and also of his scientific and 

 literary work. In the mean while a short outline of his life may fitly 

 be put on record here, together with a brief account of his published 

 writings. 



George Perkins Marsh was graduated a Bachelor of Arts by Dart- 

 mouth College in the class of 1820. He also received from his College 

 the Master's degree in course. Harvard College and Delaware Col- 

 lege honored him with the degree of Doctor of Laws in 1859, and 

 Dartmouth College did the same in 1860. He was, at the time of his 

 death, a member of this Academy, of the Massachusetts Historical 

 Society, and of the American Philosophical Society, not to speak of 

 others in this country, and of many foreign societies. 



Having taken his first college degree, Mr. Marsh established him- 

 self at Burlington, Vermont, where he read and practised law. In 

 1835 he served in the legislature of Vermont, and he represented that 

 State in Congress from 1842 to 1849. In the latter year he was com- 

 missioned by President Taylor as Minister Resident of the United 

 States at Constantinople. He remained at that post until 1853. In 

 1852 the United States intrusted him with a special mission of pecu- 

 liar delicacy to the King of Greece, " to adjust the difficulties that had 

 sprung up between the Greek government and the Rev. Jonas King, 

 acting Vice-Consul of the United St ;tes." The profound knowledge of 

 the principles of international law, as well as of the Greek constitu- 

 tional law, which Mr. Marsh displayed in his masterly conduct of these 

 negotiations, appears to have made a strong impression of his learning 

 and skill among European statesmen. At the close of his residence at 

 Constantinople, Mr. Marsh returned to America, where his executive 

 ability and scientific acquirements were at once enlisted in various 

 public services by his native State. The years between 1853 and 

 1801 were spent by Mr. Marsh in these services, and in preparing and 

 publishing several philological and scientific works, and in delivering 



