1882.1 ^J« [Rothroek. 



"Member and sometime Officer of the American Philosophical Society, 



"Treasurer of the American Pomological Society for 27 years, 



' ' Officer of the American Pharmaceutical Society, and also of the Phila- 

 delphia Drug Exchange, 



"Professor of Botany to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, 



' ' Member of the Boston Society of Natural History, 



"Honorary Member of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 



"And of other kindred Associations." 



During one of the absences of an honored member of this Society in 

 Europe Mr. James was his substitute as librarian. There are those still 

 living who re:nember how very acceptable his services were in that ca- 

 pacity. 



This would be a one-sided and very imperfect sketch of Mr. James if it 

 made no allusion to his public spirit as a citizen. Whatever was in the 

 interest of education or of philanthropy interested him. During the late 

 war he was thoroughly "Union " in his sympathies, and did duty with 

 the First Regiment of the National Guard. He was also a member of the 

 Union League, and an active associate of those who upheld the Govern- 

 ment under all circumstances. His loyalty nevered wavered. 



In December 1851, he married Isabella Batchelder. This most fortunate 

 union was the result of an acquaintance which began but fifteen months 

 before, and which grew out of a correspondence between Dr. Darlington, 

 Miss Batchelder, Mr. James, and Dr. Gray, relative to the publication of 

 the letters of John Bartram. For more than thirty years Mr. James found 

 in his wife a sympathy in all his work, and a cultured mind capable of ap- 

 preciating and aiding in his own literary labor. 



Such marriages are blessings to both the contracting parties. Mrs. 

 James and four children survive, and now reside in Cambridge, Massa- 

 chusetts, whither he removed from here in 1867. 



We mourn over the loss of Mr. James not only because he was dear to 

 a large circle of friends, or because he was an active promoter of science, 

 but also because his death leaves his ftxvorite study with but one prominent 

 representative in this land, a representative full of years and of honor. 



But there is no younger botanist on whom the mantle has fallen ; none 

 appear to take up the work as these veterans cease from their labors, and 

 in this event the world is made poorer from the loss of our former asso- 

 ciate. 



Gentle, genial man, though we realize how serious a loss your depart- 

 ure has been to science here, we do not mourn for you as for those over 

 whom we have no hope ; neither may we question the wisdom of the de- 

 cree which opened your eyes to the full glory of the celestial splendor you 

 had so long, patiently, trustingly waited to see. 



