Jac son ) 4 



crystal uncovered of rock, and considered it as in his cabinet and one 

 ot" liis specimens. 



His zeal, instead of coollnji off, seemed constantly to be inflamed, 

 and I never knew the time when his eyes woukl not sparkle at the 

 sight of a new or beautiful mineral. This undying love for minerals 

 was as strongly manifested but a few weeks anterior to his death as I 

 ever knew it, and on Ris previous trip to Washington he bought some 

 rare specimens which he had kept in view many years, and at last was 

 able to obtain from the original owner. He knew all the fine speci- 

 mens existing in most of the private cabinets of the United States, and 

 was always ready to purchase them when they were for sale, in order 

 to enrich his own collection. For years he was in correspondence 

 with Ileuland, the great mineral dealer of London, who sent out boxes 

 of specimens to Mr. Alger to select what he wanted, and to sell here 

 or return to him the rest. Thus he went on, always adding valuable 

 specimens of minerals to his cabinet. In New York he met a young 

 man who had a guard-chain made up of fine crystals of gold, every 

 one of them far better than could be found in the cabinets of Europe. 

 He at once bought the chain at a high price, had the crystals care- 

 fully removed and added them to his cabinet. He also employed a 

 friend to search all the gold sold in San Francisco for crystals and to 

 purchase them for him. 



Thus he formed that valuable cabinet, which remains as a monu- 

 ment of his labors and a rich inheritance to his children. Had he 

 lived I doubt not he would have ultimately given a considerable por- 

 tion of his collection to this Society — enough at least to fill up the 

 gaps in our series of minerals, for he had an abundance of duplicate 

 specimens, many of which Avere very fine and would have proved val- 

 uable to our collection. 



In 1849, Mr. Alger received the honorary degree of A. M. from 

 Harvard University. 



Of i\Ir. Alger's personal character we know that he was a kind- 

 liearted man, a firm friend and a worthy Christian. He was always 

 disposed to apologize for the shortcomings and faults of others, and he 

 never spoke a hard word except of those whom he consiclered irre- 

 claimably vicious, and such men he loathed, and did not like even to 

 name. Francis Alger's career in this world is now ended. He died 

 in the field of his public duty. He was engaged in the city of Wash- 

 ington in j)erfecting shrapnel to be employed in restoring the union 

 of our divided States. Exposure to cold and wet weather, Avith fa- 

 tigue and neglect of proper personal care of himself, brought on a 

 sudden attack of congestion of the lungs, Avhich terminated in typhoid 

 pneumonia, of Avhich he died in Washington on the 27th of Novem- 

 ber, 18G3, in the OGth year of his age. 



