xiv MEMOIR. 



after his own family, to make the Boston Society 

 of Natural History and the Boston Athenseum 

 the objects of his solicitude and bounty. But 

 alas ! his long-cherished anticipations were not to 

 be realized. His health soon began to decline. 

 Intermittent headache of a severe and unmanage- 

 able character, had already robbed him of half the 

 enjoyment of life ; and other difficulties now su- 

 pervened. He retired for relief to the country, 

 hoping that quiet would restore him. Finding 

 this unavailing, he resolved to try what had once 

 before proved so salutary to him, — the effect of a 

 sea voyage, and a visit to Europe, which he had 

 many years designed, for the purpose of becoming 

 acquainted with the scientific men and scientific 

 collections of the old world, and of purchasing a 

 well-appointed scientific library, — all of which 

 was to be subservient to the cause of science in 

 general, in America, rather than to his individual 

 gratification. With these ends in view, and with 

 every facility for accomplishing his scientific 

 designs, he sailed from New York for Havre in 

 October, 1846. He obtained no relief during the 

 voyage ; and after stopping a few days at Rouen 

 and a short time in Paris, during which his bodily 

 sufferings and his nervous irritability increased, 



