1867.] 281 [Waterston. 



ings of the Society, and intercourse with the many gifted and learned 

 men with whom he thus became associated. 



His mind balanced for a time between science and literature. 

 There was that in both which awakened his admiration, and ex- 

 erted an attractive power. At length, literature gained the ascend- 

 ency, though science always continued 1 3 possess a peculiar charm. 



We are all, to a certain extent, ci> satures of circumstance. He 

 was not an exception to that rule. In 1850, King's Chapel (to 

 which he was strongly attached) desired a revised edition of their lit- 

 urgy, and Mr. Bulfinch was appointed to a participation in the work. 

 In this connection he became deeply interested in the translation of 

 the Psalms. This led to a continued stuily of Hebrew literature, some 

 of the fruits of which he presented to the public in the first volume 

 which he published, entitled "Hebrew Lyrical History," or select 

 Psalms, arranged in the order of the events to which they relate, with 

 introduction and notes. 



Thus did he enter upon the career of authorship when about fifty 

 years of age. The reception extended to this volume was .so en- 

 couraging, that with his acquirements and highly cultivated tastes, 

 he continued to use the pen which had proved its capability of doing 

 such acceptable work. In 1855 he published " The Age of Fable," in 

 which he relates the stories of Mythology, Greek and Roman, in a 

 way to render them attractive to the lover of general literature, who, 

 if not thoroughly acquainted with the classics, might thus be put in 

 possession of valuable knowledge, in harmony, as far as was possible, 

 with the charm of the original narrative. 



This was followed, in 1858, by a volume on "The Age of Chivalry, 

 or the Legends of King Arthur," presenting, in the same spirit, 

 graphic pictures of a later age; oijening to the reader treasures of 

 poetic thought, and offering a golden key by which many of the 

 allusions in modern literature, to ancient manners and cvistoms, may 

 be better understood. This work was followed, in 1863, by "The 

 Legends of Charlemagne, or the Romance of the Middle Ages." 



These productions appealed chiefly to the imagination, though they 

 were the result of accurate study and laborious research. In addi- 

 tion to these, he entered upon the domarin of history, in a volume en- 

 titled "Oregon and Eldorado," in which he gives an authentic account 

 of remarkable expeditions and daring adventures, connected both 

 with South and North America. 



There were several works of less importance, all of which were the 

 fruit of thought and care, written in hours rescued from the pressure 

 of active business. Never was author more modest in regard to the mer- 

 its of his own productions. Unpretending in his whole nature, he 

 made no claim to any special gift of genius ; but in harmony with a 



