466 THE CANADIAN NATUEALIST. [Dec. 



demonstrated in the galvanic battery the transfer of particles of 

 carbon from one charcoal-point to the other ; he made scientific 

 examinations of various localities interesting in their geological or 

 mineralogical aspects. But he was too much needed elsewhere to 

 be allowed to remain a close student in the laboratory, or to 

 engage with constancy as an explorer in the field of geological 

 research. He has probably been a more useful man in the wider 

 spheres of influence to which he was called, than he could have 

 been in a life devoted to scientific investigation. 



During a considerable part of his life, he was one of the few 

 men in the country who could hold a popular audience with a 

 lecture on science. The public early knew of his capabilities; and 

 for many years he yielded to invitations from various parts of the 

 country to deliver lectures on Geology and on Chemistry. In 1833 

 he gave his first popular course on Geology at New Haven, which 

 was repeated in 1834 at Hartford and Lowell, and in 1835 at 

 Boston and Salem. At Boston, the audience desiring to attend 

 was so much larger than the largest hall would hold, that each 

 lecture was given twice, for the accommodation of the public. 

 From 1840 to 1843 inclusive, he gave four successive courses 

 of the Lowell Lectures in Boston. Besides various other en- 

 gagements in the Northern and Eastern States, he went in 1847 

 by invitation to New Orleans, and on his way appeared before 

 crowded audiences in other cities of the South ; and five years 

 after the resignation of his professorship in college, when he had 

 passed his 75th year, he made the long journey to St. Louis, in 

 obedience to a call for a course of lectures from the citizens of . 

 that place. 



In lecturing, his language was simple; his flow of words easy, 

 generous and appropriate ; his style animated, abounding- in life- 

 like and well-adorned description, often eloquent, and sometimes 

 varied with anecdote running occasionally into wide digressions. 

 His manner was natural, and every feature spoke as well as his 

 mouth. His noble countenance and commanding figure (he was 

 Dearly six feet in height, with a well-built frame) often called 

 forth, as he entered the lecture-hall, the involuntary applause of 

 his audience. 



In his popular courses he often lectured on the subject of 

 Geology and Genesis ; and as he was widely known not only as 

 a man of science, but also as a sincere believer in the sacred 

 Scriptures, he greatly aided in removing from the religious world 



