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bear witness. When occupying one of the Philadelphia pul- 

 pits for a year or more, he drew crowds, which filled not only 

 the church but the vestibule. In his manner there was 

 nothing of what are considered the graces of oratory. He 

 usually read his sermons closely, without action, and in a 

 rapid monotonous tone ; but the copiousness of thought, the 

 affluence of language, and the richness and vividness of his 

 imac^ination, charmed every one. It was as if one were 

 listening to a Macaulay, discoursing from the pulpit on the 

 sublimest of themes. 



Almost the entire life of Dr. Alexander was occupied in 

 study. He was a recluse in his habits, and characterized by 

 remarkable diffidence. This latter quality made him shrink 

 from society, and left the impression very generally that he 

 was deficient in the social element. But those who had 

 access to him in private, well know that there was no more 

 genial companion. He was full of the most entertaining con- 

 versation, and much as he kept himself aloof from the world, 

 seemed always thoroughly familiar with current events, and 

 with the actors in them. 



In his method of writing he was at times almost whimsical, 

 or at any rate altogether unique. He seemed to weary with 

 following any one form in preparing his manuscripts, and 

 would Avrite on sheets of paper of various shapes and dimen- 

 sions, and with the lines taking every conceivable direction. 

 I remember once to have seen specimens of his manuscripts, 

 which had the lines running around the large sheet, so as to 

 form a complete circle. 



In these cursory statements we are aware that but a most 

 inadequate view has been given of this extraordinary man. 

 Volumes rather than a short obituary paper, would be required 

 to portray, in anything like their amplitude and proper pro- 

 portions, his gifts and attainments. His death at the age of 

 little over fifty, when only yet in the midst of his prime, is a 

 loss to American learning, and especially to biblical literature, 

 which can with difficulty, if ever, be supplied. His sedentary 

 habits undoubtedly undermined his constitution and shortened 

 his life. For the last two or three years he had lost his former 



