572 EZEKIEL GILMAN ROBI^'SON. 



mathematics, it is a key to external nature." Twenty years later, in 

 the ninth edition of the same work, in referring to this formula, he 

 says : " That formula was no other than the simple analytical expi-es- 

 sion of what is now generally called the law of the conservation of 

 energy, which has since revolutionized 2:)hysical science in nearly all 

 its branches, and which at that time was but little developed or 

 accepted. It is believed that this not only was the first, but that it 

 even still is the only treatise on Analytical Mechanics in which all the 

 phenomena are presented as mere consequences of that single law." 



His report of an inspection of the European Observatories, made in 

 1840, gave an impulse to astronomical work which resulted in the 

 establishment of observatories in all parts of the country. 



1895. W. R. LlVERMORE. 



EZEKIEL GILMAN ROBINSON. 



EzEKiEL Oilman Robinson, an Associate Fellow of our Academy 

 since 1885, was born at Attleborough, Massachusetts, on March 23, 

 1815. It was not his good fortune to begin his life in a literary 

 atmosphere, or to spend any of his earlier days in tumbling about in 

 a library. His early instruction was poor, and what was bad in itself 

 was made worse by reason of frequent changes. 



Entering Brown University in 1831, he was during his first year 

 interrupted in his work by sickness, and, discouraged by his manifest 

 inferiority to classmates who had been more thoroughly prepared, he 

 seemed to lose ambition. Later, however, the student's enthusiasm 

 was awakened under Professor H. B. Hackett in Latin, and under 

 President Wayland in ethics. But in addition to the inspiration 

 received from his teachers, he found a strong educational stimulus in 

 the debating society of which he was an enthusiastic and prominent 

 member. In his enthusiastic and successful work in this debating 

 society we discover the prophecy of the Socratic teacher and the great 

 pulpit orator of later days ; while in his choice of theme for Com- 

 mencement, "The Value of Metaphysical Speculations," we detect the 

 mental bias which was followed through scores of years of philosophic 

 study. 



After a year spent in post-graduate work he determined to study 

 theology, and entered the Theological Institution at Newton Centre, 

 Massachusetts. Then, according to his own testimony, he " went to 

 work in earnest with a will and a purpose, giving his days to prescribed 

 work, reserving an hour or two for Oerman and associated readings 



