198 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



The summer of 1872 he passed at Eastport with the United States Fish Commission, 

 studying and preparing specimens for the Society, and in a subsequent year he worked 

 with this Commission at Noank, with Professor Hyatt. 



In 1873 he was able to return to school, where he rapidly and thoroughly mastered the 

 necessaiy studies and entered Harvard College with honor in the Freshman class of 1874, 

 in which he passed one year with great credit, taking high rank as a scholar and gaining 

 the respect and affection of his associates and instructors. But early in his second year his 

 health suddenly gave way and he was obliged to leave home. Passing part of one winter 

 at Nassau, he sent valuable specimens and information to the Society, his association with 

 which was always one of his greatest pleasures. In this association he exhibited such 

 kindly and lovable traits of character as served to endear him to all the working members, 

 and they sadly deplored the necessity of his leaving home for his health, and still more 

 sadly learned of his early decease. 



He died at Pau in France on the 21st of May, 1878, beloved by all who knew him, and 

 happy in the assurance of immortal life. 



At a meeting of the Society held Oct. 2d, Mr. Scudder, being in the Chair, alluded feel- 

 ingly to the death of Prof. Henry, a distinguished Honorary Member, which had recently 

 occurred, and at the close of his remarks introduced Dr. Asa Gray, who addressed the 

 Society upon the life and character of " that eminent man whose death, full of years and 

 honors, had been so sensibly felt throughout the country and the scientific world." 



Leaving to others the duty of portraying his great scientific services and researches, 

 Dr. Gray gave a brief sketch of Prof. Henry's life, mentioning his birth at Albany, N. Y., 

 near the close of the last century, his restricted oj)portunities for early education, his 

 becoming a pupil at the Albany Academy, and afterwards receiving an appointment as 

 Professor of Natural Philosophy at that institution. He then spoke of his brilliant dis- 

 coveries in electricity and magnetism, which made his name prominent throughout the 

 scientific world, and his acceptance in 1846, of the office of Secretary of the Smithsonian 

 Institution. Referring to this, Dr. Gray remarked, that to the simple sense of duty which 

 impelled Prof. Henry to interrupt a career of research of almost unequalled brilliancy, by 

 an undertaking which was sure to absorb his best years in administrative and perplexing 

 cares, was to be attributed the result that the noble bequest of Sniithson " for the 

 increase and diffusion of knowledge among men" was rescued from waste and misappro- 

 priation. Dr. Gray insisted that the great benefits which the scientific world at large, and 

 science in America especially, are receiving from the Institution, were mainly owing to 

 the practical wisdom, the catholic spirit, and the just conception of the founder's intent, 

 and the indomitable perseverance of its first Secretary and Manager. In concluding his 

 remarks, of which this notice gives but a brief abstract, Dr. Gray spoke of " the serene 

 simplicity and loftiness, as well as kindliness of spirit, shown by Prof. Henry, of his devo- 

 tion to what he deemed his duty, often exhibited in the extreme patience with which he 

 attended to the applications of projectors and crotchety discoverers who sought his 

 advice." Much of the prominent influence which he wielded at Washington, was attrib- 

 uted '• to his transparent and spotless character, the complete subjection of all consider- 

 ations of personal advantage, or even of personal ambition, and the atmosphere of purity 

 in which his official as well as ])rivate life ever moved, and upon which never fell even the 

 shadow of a shade." 



