]S(iS.] ^gj^ [Lesley. 



social punishment and reformation he made his life study. It was 

 not easy to suggest a practical inquiry that had not engaged his 

 thoughts to answer. Persons, therefore, whose views extended 

 no further than the actual condition of prisoners, and whose 

 exertions were prompted mainly bj- S3'mpathy with their snffer- 

 ings, found it sometimes difficult to follow him into considera- 

 tions also for the public welfare, based npon the necessary effi- 

 ciency of a legislative and judicial government. His endeavor 

 was to reconcile the highest interests of the Commonwealth witli 

 the utmost exhibition of humanity towards ofiendcrs. He had 

 no sympathy for extremists, whether the^^ took the side of sever- 

 ity or the side of lenit}'. Penal discipline being assumed need- 

 ful, the only problem for him was to adapt it to the [)hysical 

 and moral nature of its subjects; that the}- should suffer no 

 hardship not necessarily involved with the execution of the sen- 

 tence of the judge, no diminution of health or intellect, and no 

 further degradation of their character, but if possible its rein- 

 forcement, to meet temptation again when they reenter free 

 societ}'. These were the just demands of a Christian philan- 

 thropy. I5ut beyond these first demands, he advocated as little 

 interference as possible with the law and its official apparatus. 

 This practical, judicious, moderate, candid, and 3-et earnest zeal, 

 was in all other things, also, eminently characteristic of the 

 man.* 



The literary and scientific life of Mr. Fonlke showed the same 

 ardent temperament under complete control of an enlightened 

 and disciplined judgment, the same breadth of views giving due 

 value to the most insignificant details, the same elegant tastes 

 inspired hy a natural force of character which precluded petti- 

 ness and special pleading, and the same generous sympathy 

 with the labors and i)rogress of society, whicli distinguished 

 the career of his philanthropy. He has left no name in politics, 

 because he comprehended from too high a point of view the fun- 

 damental questions of the day and nation ; for the same reason 

 he left no name in science, because while he took a most unsel- 

 fish and s^'mpathetic interest in every investigation and disco- 

 very made by his friends at the Academy, he could not devote 

 his time to an}- special branch of natural history. In spite of 



* Many of the material facts narrated above and some of the expressions 

 tlienisulves. wvvv furnished by the memoranda of the late Mr. Fred. W. Pack- 

 ard, of I'hlladelpl.ia. 



