Goodwin.] 444: [November 



dared to send out after it a list of errors more numerous than that of 

 the previous year. And so the controversy went on, till the editor, 

 discovering his mistake, changed his tone, and one Edward Hitch- 

 cock became first Mr. Edward Hitchcock, and at length due ac- 

 knowledgment was made in the preface, of the editor's obligations to 

 'Edward Hitchcock, Esq., to whom much credit is due for the 

 industry and talent bestowed on the work.' During the four years 

 of his connection with Deerfield Academy, he went through every 

 year all the calculations for the Farmer's Almanac, not excepting 

 those for the weather, to which his imagination was as competent as 

 his science was to calculate the eclipses and conjunctions." 



"While in charge of his parish at Conway, he found exercise and 

 recreation in making a scientific survey of the western counties of 

 Massachusetts. This was the beginning of that life among the rocks 

 and mountains, which was ever after a delight and almost a passion. 

 Like the giant in clas.sical mythology, whenever he could plant his 

 feet on the bosom of his mother earth, he was in his element; it was 

 his strength, his health, his life. This was also the origin of the 

 geological survey of the entire State, which was afterwards made by 

 the Government at his suggestion, and which has the honor of 

 originating that rapid succession of scientific surveys in the several 

 States, which has since done so much to develop the mineral and 

 agricultural resources of our country." 



" Thus the way was prepared for his appointment as the first Pro- 

 fessor in the chair of Chemistry and Natural History in Amherst 

 College. When he entered upon the duties of his office, the College 

 was yet in its infancy. The chemical apparatus was then not worth 

 ten dollars. Cabinet there was none. Not even a beginning had 

 been made of those magnificent scientific collections which now adorn 

 the College halls. For many years he was sole professor in all the 

 departments of Natural History. He lectured and instructed in 

 Chemistry, Botany, Mineralogy, Geology, Zoology, Anatomy and 

 Physiology, Natural Theology, and sometimes — to fill a temporary 

 vacancy — he was the mo.st suitable person the College could depute 

 to teach also Natural Philosophy and Astronomy. Like Solomon, he 

 spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon to the hyssop 

 that groweth out of the wall ; he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, 

 and of creeping things, and of fishes. He spake also of rocks and 

 soils, of which, so far as appears, Solomon did not speak. He dealt 

 also in songs and proverbs, to say nothing of playing the Ecclesiastes 

 in making sermons. He lived to see the departments of his original 



