544 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



science than the almost boyish eagerness with which he would rush 

 into the fray." 



From a sketch by a member of his own family, published in the 

 Unitarian paper of London, we learn that he was well versed in litera- 

 ture ; that he had a keen relish for political memoirs of his own time ; 

 that he took a high view of a citizen's obligations ; that he was sur- 

 prised when in Italy by evincing to himself a susceptibility to the 

 enjoyment of art ; that he found unfailing recreation in music ; that 

 Nature was to him full of charm and delight ; that various qualities 

 made him a genial and ever-welcome companion, trusted for his fidel- 

 ity ; that the dominant conception of his life was that of duty ; and 

 that he was rich in family affections. 



He was a member of the principal learned societies of his own and 

 other countries ; he received the Royal medal of the Royal Society in 

 1861 and the degree of LL. D. at Edinburgh in 1871, and was elected 

 a corresponding member of the Institute of France in 18T3. An illus- 

 tration of the popularizing tendency of his efforts is given in the fact 

 that the Society of Arts opened one of its life-memberships to him in 

 consideration of the valuable assistance he had afforded it when medals 

 were awarded by it for microscopes to be sold to the public at a cheap 

 rate. 



Dr. Carpenter's death, which took place on the 10th of November, 

 1885, was in consequence of injuries received from an accident which 

 occurred while he was taking a vapor-bath. The lamp of the appara- 

 tus being out of order, he used instead a gallipot containing alcohol. 

 In his movements while changing position, he overturned the vessel, 

 and was in consequence severely burned about the body, legs, and 

 face, so that he died about four hours afterward. 



T 



SKETCH OF JAMES B. EADS. 



IHE man who devised and furnished our Government with its first 

 -J- and most useful armored steamboats ; who built the St. Louis 

 Bridge ; who made one of the shallowest mouths of the Mississippi 

 River permanently navigable for the use of ocean-steamers, and who 

 entertains other practical conceptions as grand as these which, by his 

 logical presentation, have won the unqualified indorsement of the ablest 

 of his professional brethren, has a most evident title to recognition in 

 scientific biography. 



James BrcnAXAX Eads was born in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, May 

 23, 1820. *' He very early," says Dr. Boynton, in the " History of the 

 Navy during the Rebellion," " evinced such a love of machinery as 

 attracted special notice." When only eight years old, he watched with 

 the greatest interest all the machinery to which he had access. When 



