CHARLES HENRY DAVIS. 319 



" Notwithstanding the active and prominent hfe wliich Admiral 

 Davis led, and his energy and dash as a naval commander," siiys one 

 w^hose words have been already cited, "his tastes, especially in his 

 later years, were much more those of the reiined gentleman of literary 

 leisure than of the active man of the world. He was little inclined to 

 mingle in general society, but rather sought that of the cultivated few 

 whose tastes were congenial with his own. His relations with the men 

 of science who were liis olHcial subordinates were singularly free from 

 those complaints, jealousies, and distrusts which so often arise when 

 military men are placed iu charge of works of a purely scientific 

 character. This arose from an entire absence of every trace of jeal- 

 ousy in his nature, combined with an admiration of intellectual supe- 

 riority in others, which led him to concede every thing to it. He 

 combined independence of cliaracter with Christian courtesy, in a way 

 that made him a model to the young men by whom lie was surrounded. 

 No human being who ever came into his presence was too lowly to be 

 addressed with the most kindly courtes}' ; and, when arroganct- or im- 

 pertinence became insufferable, no respect for position or influence 

 gloved the hand which dealt the blow." 



" His conversation was forcible, full of good sense, and most amus- 

 ing," says another writer. " He brought to bear on any subject he 

 took up a host of argument, illustration, and elucidation ; and he liked 

 to brighten up the dryest discussion of professional and scientiflc mat- 

 ters \\ith his original and vivid turns of expression, or with some apt 

 and unhackneyed quotation. . . . He was an admirable officer. He 

 had the true spirit of command, — strong, dignified, and quiet ; and one 

 that, not needing artificial support, was accom[)anied by a thoroughly 

 friendly relation to liis officers and mt^n. . . . But that which is felt 

 most det'ply now by those who knew Admiral Davis well is the loss of 

 a man of rare and noble character. He was a charming companion, 

 abounding to the last in a natural freshness and gayety of spirit ; and 

 he hud one of the most honorable, upright, true, generous, and gentle 

 hearts that ever beat. He was a man of marked cournge, and had, 

 eminently, the courage of his convictions. At the same time, he was 

 distinguislied by perfect courtesy, having but one standard of manners 

 — and that a finished, but unaffected standard — for all classes of 

 men. . . . He bore good-will to every one, and was always in a cor- 

 dial vein. Meanness, trickery, and malice, indeed, roused his bitter 

 contempt. But a salient characteristic of at least his later years was 

 his profound trust in human nature, his complete freedom from cyni- 



