206 DAVEXPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, 



entitic knowledge, being totally free from that false delicacy which 

 could make such distinctions. He was decided, but never bigoted 

 or dogmatic in his opinions, and was concise and rather epigram- 

 matic, but often manifesting some diffidence, in the expression of 

 them. While possessing good powers of generalization, and of 

 tracing the causal relations of the various phenomena and conditions 

 observed, he was not much given to theorizing; always open to con- 

 viction, he suspended judgment until the evidence seemed to him 

 to warrant a conclusion, and when his opinion was fully formed, he 

 invariably listened, patiently and cheerfully, to those who doubted 

 or disputed where his own convictions were strong; indeed, he rather 

 invited objections and criticisms. He was not fond of controversy^, 

 and while ever ready to explain his views, if requested, and to give 

 information, he would not devote time and strength to the defense 

 of mere opinions, or to bring others to his way of thinking. He fa- 

 vored all true reforms, but could never make a hobby of an}-. 



In early childhood, as Ave have seen, his future character and pos- 

 sible career were plainly foreshadowed, indeed it would seem that 

 his cJiaracter was already formed. As fast as his strength and fac- 

 ulties were developed, their direction was found to \w predetermined. 

 He passed through no j-ears of thoughtless, purposeless life, but 

 was occupied throughout, as if he had been aware that the Avork of 

 a life time must be accomplished within the short span of twenty- 

 six years. 



That life was a short one only as measured by our little calendar; 

 estimated by his work and by his own development, and in the light 

 of a broad view of universal progress, and of his part in it, it was a 

 comparatively long one. Surely the true measure of ///V is not the 

 swing of the pendulum, or the revolution of a wheel, or a planet, 

 but the impress made on human destiny and human happiness, the 

 steps taken in the march of human progress, the light cast upon the 

 dark places of ignorance, the encouragement given to earnest effort, 

 the moral lessons taught, the atoms added to the sum of human 

 knowledge. 



Our departed friend's religion was of the highest character, both 

 too simple and too broad to be defined by, or contained in any form- 

 ulated creed; it consisted — as I understood him — in no speculations 

 ujjon Divine attributes or 'intentions, and no attempted interpreta- 

 tions of them, but in an absolute and steadfast faith in the wisdom 

 and beneficence of the Supreme; a perfect loyalty to truth; a 



