"Waterston.] 282 [June 19, 



refined taste, and as the result of much quiet investigation, he wrote as 

 a recreation to himself, what proved a source of pleasure and instruc- 

 tion to a large circle of readers. Now that he has gone, they remain 

 a lasting witness to his industry, bearing testimony, not only to 

 his general erudition, but to most beautiful traits of personal charac- 

 ter. Not often, commencing at the age of fifty, has an author achieved 

 so much, especially when the usual working hours of each day were 

 conscientiously given to the demands of a most responsible business 

 position. , 



But aside from this, Mr. Bulfinch devoted much time to social inter- 

 course among a circle of friends who greatly appreciated his worth. 

 Modest he was, but never morose, for a, more genial or generous na- 

 ture could not be found. Keenly sensitive to the gentler sympathies 

 of life, he truly lived in his affections, and never was he weary of 

 extending kindness, not only to companions and friends who valued 

 his fi'iendship, but to the needy and tried, young or old, wherever they 

 might be. 



Many instances have come to knowledge since his departure, of 

 benefactions bestowed by him, and of service rendered, where self- 

 denial and sacrifice were cheerfully met to accomplish the end. 



One evidence, among many, of this feature of his character, was 

 his interest in a young lad named Matthew Edwards, who came to this 

 country poor, and almost without a friend, in the spring of 1853. 

 Many young persons it had been Mr. Bulfinch's delight to encourage 

 and assist in their efforts to obtain an education, and the same gener- 

 ous thoughtfulness led him to render service to this lad, at that time 

 but fourteen years of age. The boy stated that, as an effectual way 

 of disciplining his mind, and also to obtain the knowledge of an impor- 

 tant language, he was very desirous of studying Latin. Mr. Bulfinch 

 offered to devote one evening of every week to his instruction. To 

 Latin was afterwards added algebra, and when these studies were 

 finished, the remainder of each evening was devoted to reading. Had 

 this continued but a few months, it would have been a noticeable fact, 

 but through three successive years did Mr. Bulfinch voluntarily and 

 gratuitously set apart these evenings for this purpose, yielding social 

 privileges, and whatever might present itself, to the instruction of a 

 poor and almost friendless lad. But this was not looked upon in 

 the light of a sacrifice. His desire of doing good was so great, that 

 the very act of doing it brought its reward; and his judgment was so 

 accurate that he selected objects for his efforts which prevented dis- 

 appointment. Matthew Edwards proved to be a youth of extraordi- 

 nary ability, with mental powers only too active for his pliysical 

 strength, an energy and perseverance which worked themselves to ex- 

 haustion; and possessing, in connection with this, a beauty of charac- 



