354 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN THOMAS. 



Mr. Merrick's published contributions to chemistry have been in the 

 form of short notes on working processes, rather than the results of any 

 extended investigations. His extended investigations, the most prom- 

 inent of which are on the nature of aniline black, on nickel-plating, 

 and on bronzing articles of iron by coating them with linseed-oil and 

 then subjecting them to a high temperature, have never been published, 

 except in the records of the United States Courts. It was largely 

 through his exertions that the optical method of testing the value of 

 sugar has been introduced into commercial use in this city. 



Besides his contributions to chemistry, he wrote many articles for 

 the daily papers on matters of passing interest. 



He was an active member of the Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Society, and wrote and published a valuable essay on the cultivation 

 of the strawberry. He also made a number of experiments on the 

 production of wine from our common American grapes. 



In 1875 he was elected a member of the American Pharmaceutical 

 Association. 



In 1874 he published, under the title of " Nugas Inutiles," a col- 

 lection of translations into Latin of many of the popular songs of 

 the day. 



Quiet and reticent in his manners, few were admitted to his intimate 

 friendship, and it was only after long acquaintance that his worth was 

 appreciated. Ambitious to do thoroughly good scientific work, he was 

 hampered by the necessity of struggling for a living, and he had just 

 commenced to see his way clear before him, when a promising career 

 was cut short by his sudden death. He died at Walpole on the 25th 

 day of February, 1879, of pneumonia, after a short illness, having been 

 previously worn out by watching at the bedside of one of his children. 



He was married in August, 1863, to Fannie, daughter of Smith 

 Gray, of Walpole, who, with three children, survives him. He was 

 the last surviving member of his immediate family, an only brother, 

 his father, and his mother all having died within a few years. 



BENJAMIN FRANKLIN THOMAS. 



Benjamin Franklin Thomas was born in Boston, on Feb. 12, 

 1813, and, entering Brown University at the age of thirteen, graduated 

 there in 1830. He studied his profession at the Law School of Har- 

 vard College, remaining there until 1832. Choosing Worcester as his 

 residence, he was long distinguished as a member of the bar of that 

 county, and he!d various local offices of honor and trust. In 1842 he 



