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in Philndelphia, and duly fiilfilled his duties in that position to the end 

 of the time. He soon after occupied a very responsible station in 

 one of the largest mercantile establishments in the city; and became 

 subsequently a partner in the firm, in which he continued to the time 

 of his decease. In this concern, which wields a large business and a 

 large capital, Mr. Davis found scope for his talents as a man of busi- 

 ness, and for his usefulness as a wise and good citizen. He will not 

 be forgotten in either capacity by those who were brought into close 

 relation with him: and especially will he be remembered by those 

 who were capable of comprehending a character so finely balanced, 

 and a mind so well endowed. 



Mr. Davis was eminently a man of business. No one in the com- 

 munity stood higher as such. He exemplified the truth, that moral 

 and intellectual qualities and powers of a high order are not wasted, 

 nor their value diminished, by being united in a merchant or manu- 

 facturer. It may be true that such occ;ipations are not so well fitted 

 to excite and improve the higher powers of the mind, but if so, it is 

 because the conceptions ordinarily formed of the purpose and conduct 

 of business falls below the proper standard. There is not a business, 

 not a station of life, which may not be enobled by a man of high 

 honour and great abilities. Mr. Davis was precisely of the mould to 

 become an example in that respect. His mind was of that clear, dis- 

 criminating cast, which enabled him to comprehend his position in 

 business, in society, and in the body politic, to perceive and distinguish 

 between the claims thus made upon him. His intellect was well 

 balanced and his character and conduct equally so. His mind sunk 

 into no mere channel of routine, it did not become inactive for want 

 of stimulus. His powers of observation, strong and pervading, suf- 

 fered no subject or process to lose its interest by familiarity, and thus 

 escape fresh and constant investigation. His views of business, of 

 the claims of society, and of the working of the social system around 

 him, were therefore even enlarging. His physical were far below 

 his mental capacities, yet until struck down by paralysis, he never 

 faltered nor luj.sitatcd to exact from his body whatever his mind re- 

 quired. 



The points of contact between a man of his order of mind and a 

 mind of similar power, devoted chiefly to science or philosophy, are 

 not few. The progr(;ss of knowledge and science is such, that every 

 department of business has its interests in and its relations with this 

 progress; the mind that has any philosophic tendencies is now con- 

 st;'.ntly invited to exert and apply them. Mr. Davis belonged to a 



