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Providence, in bestowing his rare philosophical and literary abil- 

 ities, destined him for the purest intellectual pursuits. Spirits far 

 less " finely touched " might, for that very reason, better succeed 

 in the ordinary conflicts of the forum ; conflicts, in which fine pow- 

 ers and finer feelings, like his, must be quite out of place. In- 

 struments of exquisite metal and polish are not suited to work 

 upon rude and rough materials. 



When, therefore, upon the resignation of Dr. Eliphalet Pearson, 

 Mr. Pickering was appointed, in June, 1806, Hancock Professor 

 of Hebrew and other Oriental Languages in Harvard College, 

 many of his friends, as well as friends of the University, were very 

 desirous that he should accept the office, regarding it as a sphere 

 in which his extraordinary learning and accomplishments would be 

 most productive of benefit to the country and of honor to himself. 

 The late Dr. Bowditch, was, at the same moment, appointed to 

 succeed President Webber as Hollis Professor of Mathematics 

 and Natural Philosophy. A remarkable coincidence ! These 

 eminent men, near neighbours and intimate friends, were doubt- 

 less better qualified for the offices to which they were respectively 

 appointed than any other two individuals in the whole country. 

 They were also admirably suited to cooperate in giving a spring 

 to the University in all excellence, intellectual and moral. Both 

 were liberal, elevated, and disinterested in their views of educa- 

 tion and learning; both had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, 

 and a supreme love of truth and goodness ; the one was devoted to 

 science, the other chiefly to literature ; both were exalted and spot- 

 less in reputation, alike raised above all suspicion of moral failing, 

 yet vnth some striking points of contrast; the one, quick and 

 ardent, would leap to a logical conclusion at a single step ; while 

 the other, cautious and patient, like Lord Eldon, could never weigh 



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