161 



forced them temperately, but without reserve, through the public jour- 

 nals, and in an extensive correspondence; but chiefly in conversa- 

 tional discussion, in which he was particularly happy. Though 

 never in public office, it may be affirmed that he probably contributed 

 as much as any individual to the establishment of the policy which 

 has been finally adopted by the national government, in regard to the 

 subjects of currency, and our commercial intercourse with foreign 

 countries. 



In the year 1821, Mr. Biddle was elected a member of this Socie- 

 ty; which, at an early day, had availed itself of the services of his 

 father, and uncle, Owen Biddle, the latter of whom was appointed, in 

 1769, in conjunction with Joel Bailey, to observe, near Cape Henlo- 

 pen, the transit of Venus over the sun's disk. He was also connected 

 with some of the principal literary and benevolent associations of our 

 city. 



In the year 1834, Mr. Biddle was elected President of the Phila- 

 delphia Saving Fund Society, an institution which he had been in- 

 strumental in establishing, and over which he continued to preside 

 until the time of his death. 



In the spring of 1838, after an interval of more than thirty years, 

 he revisited Europe, accompanied with his valued friend, the late 

 M^illiam M'llvaine; and renewed his acquaintance with scenes and 

 objects of which he still retained a vivid impression. Of this journey, 

 which lasted about six months, he preserved a circumstantial record, 

 which will long be cherished by those for whose sake it was especially 

 intended. 



Mr. Biddle's fine constitution continued unimpaired (with the ex- 

 ception of a lameness in one of his limbs), the result of an accident, 

 after his return from Europe, until May, 1854, when he was attacked 

 by that disease which ultimately proved fatal. He rallied, however, 

 from the first blow; and persevered in discharging his official duties 

 until the summer of the present year, when he retired to a rural re- 

 treat, in a neighbouring county, which he had been in the habit of 

 visiting for several years. Finding his end approaching, he returned 

 to his city residence; where, on the 21st of August, in less than 

 twenty-four hours after his arrival, he breathed his last. 



It has been intimated that Mr. Biddle's academical education was 

 limited ; it was, consequently, imperfect; and a sense of his deficien- 

 cies was a stimulus to self-exertion. In the pursuit of knowledge the 

 pleasure of acquisition increases with exercise; and that which is at- 



