EULOGY ON PROFESSOR ALEXANDER DALLAS BACHE. 107 



from such i^iirsuits, I doubt not but that lie would liave still more liigbly 

 distinguished himself in the line of experimental research. Again, the 

 change in the circumstances and relations of his life produced by his 

 election to the i)residency of Girard College introduced him to a famil- 

 iarity with an entirely new class of ideas, which served to exercise and 

 expand another faculty of his mind, that, namely, which observes and 

 appreciates moral truths, though without impairing his aptitude for 

 physical research. In like manner, his foreign mission with reference 

 to popular education, by bringing him into intimate and friendly associa- 

 tion with minds of the first order in the principal cities of Europe, afforded 

 him an opportunity for enlarging the sphere of his symj)athies, as well 

 as of studying men under a great variety of social and mental peculiar- 

 ities. 



Again, his long residence and high social position at the seat of Gov- 

 ernment, his intimate acquaintance and friendly intercourse with states- 

 men and politicians, imbued him with a thorough knowledge of the work- 

 ing of the Government, such as few have ever possessed, while his ex- 

 ertions to sustain the Coast Survey and improve its condition served to 

 call into active operation his power to appreciate character, to discern 

 motives, aud, therefore, to convince, persuade, and control men. His 

 ability in this latter respect was remarkable; a personal interview with 

 an opponent of the survey scarcely ever failed to convert perhaps an 

 active euemy into an influential friend. His success in this respect 

 often astonished those who frequently harassed Congress with propositions 

 covertly designed to promote their own interest at the expense of public 

 utility; hence the exclamation was not unfrequently heard, "Baclie is 

 certainly a wonderful manager." If that which is unusual constitutes, 

 an element of wonder, then the exclamation was not without truth, 

 though not in the sense of those by whom it was uttered, for he never 

 advocated any measure that was not just, expedient, and proper, either 

 as concerned the interests of the country or the welfare of his species. 



On the whole, if we would seek the real secret of his influence over 

 his fellow-men, it would be found, no doubt, to have consisted in the 

 singular abnegation of self which pervaded his whole conduct ; his 

 great practical wisdom, his honesty of purpose, and his genial though quiet 

 aud unobtrusive manner. In the exercise of these characteristics, he 

 was so far from the least appearance of dissimulation, that no one ever 

 approached him without feeling that it was equally impossible to doubt 

 the purity of his intentions as it was to elude the penetration of his 

 quiet but thorough scrutiny. His calmness served as a shield from 

 within and without; and as a guard against himself as well as a pro- 

 tection against others. It enabled him to weigh the motives and observe 

 the character of those who consulted him with the view of securing his 

 influence or gaining his patronage. His genial nature enabled him to 

 descend gracefully from the heights of science and to enter fully and 

 fraiikly into the feelings of any company with which he might be 



