PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGENTS. 115 



of his way of thinking in religion and politics, and men of various 

 opinions and. convictions sought his companionship, and partook of 

 his regards. Few men have had more friends or fewer enemies, and 

 yet he never shrunk from avowing his own principles. He enjoyed 

 society, of which, by his pleasantries and other colloquial powers he 

 was made to be the life. "He was generous," says his friend Pro- 

 fessor Peabody, "to the last degree; no income could have made him 

 rich, while there were the needy around him ; and of time, more 

 precious than gold, and of the wealth of intellect, he was no less lavish 

 than of the inferior goods, which he prized only as the means of 

 making others happy. The labor of hand and brain, which might 

 have been employed in building up his own fame, was freely given to 

 all who sought it. Many have been the literary works and enterprises 

 with which his name was never connected, which owed a large portion 

 of their merit and success to materials which he furnished, or to his 

 advice, revision, or criticism." And the same friend bears witness 

 to his sympathy with "every noble and generous work for human 

 progress and well being." 



If the stranger, after an evening's acquaintance, may have been led 

 by Mr. Felton's companionableness and flow of mirth to regard him 

 as wanting in moral earnestness, such a judgment would be pro- 

 nounced hasty and superficial -by the many grave and good men who 

 gave him their friendship and respect. He by no means lacked any 

 of those qualities which constitute the man of an earnest and dignified 

 life. As has been beautifully said of him, "his force of character, 

 hidden on ordinary occasions by his gentle and sunny temperament, 

 appeared impregnable whenever it was put to the test." He had firm 

 settled convictions and well digested rules of action; he had purposes 

 which could not be shaken by other considerations than those ad- 

 dressed to the reason and conscience; he had a noble, manly courage 

 which could carry him onward in the face of opposition. These quali- 

 ties, with fidelity, uprightness, and simplicity of character, as displayed 

 in his college duties, and in other relations of life, secured for him the 

 esteem and respect of all. 



The union of kindness and firmness with sound judgment and per- 

 spicacity made him an excellent college officer. But for his character 

 as a ruler over students we will appeal again to what Dr. Peabody says 

 of him : ' 'I well remember the early years of his official connexion with 

 the college; his fraternal sympathy with the students; his gentle dis- 

 cipline when forbearance was safe and right; bis reluctant, yet uniform 

 consent to sterner measures, when the cause of order and virtue de- 

 manded them ; his tender consideration for those who were struggling 

 as he had struggled, bravely and honorably against adverse circum- 

 stances; his readiness to sacrifice his own ease in aid of those who 

 sought to transcend the required measure of study, to furnish facil- 

 ities for their researches, and to contribute from the funds of his own 

 thought and learning for their growth in knowledge. Such was his 

 course during his entire life as a teacher; and could we number up the 

 youth who have been animated by his example, stimulated by 

 the genial fervor of his enthusiasm, encouraged by his patient and 



