372 Ohitiiarij. 



The character of Prof. Fisher is thus drawn by the au- 

 thor of the Eulogy. 



" The character of Professor Fisher, such as it appeared 

 to ine from familiar acquaintance and long observation, I 

 should fear to delineate in any other place than this, — where 

 there are so many who can testify to the justness of the de- 

 scription, and shield me from the charge of fanciful and ex- 

 travagant panegyric. But here I do not hesitate to exhibit 

 it as it was, — in perfect confidence, that what I say will re- 

 ceive the fullest attestation from those who hear me. 



" I have already alluded to the quickness with which he 

 apprehended the most remote truths : but rapid and almost 

 intuitive as were his perceptions, no one could be more free 

 from the fault of precipitate judgment. Caution, no less 

 than activity, constituted a prominent feature of his mind ; 

 and on whatever subject he had formed an opinion, seldom 

 could a difficulty be suggested, which he had not foreseen, 

 or an objection which he was not prepared to remove. To 

 this union of a cautious and quick judgment, of ready de- 

 cision and prudent wariness, no doubt the scheme of study. 

 which he early adopted, and to which he constantly adhered, 

 very greatly contributed. Whatever book he read, it was » 



the subject of which it treated, that received his first and 

 principal attention. He examined the statements and rea- 

 sonings of an author, less to know his peculiar views and 

 manner of unfolding them, than to aid his own investigations 

 and obtain materials for thought and reflection. Hence, 

 while he was familiar with books within the range of his 

 studies, and minutely acquainted with the opinions and rea- 

 sonings of others, he preserved his independence of mind. 

 The operations of his understanding were very little liable 

 to be embarrassed with conflicting opinions, adopted at dit- 

 ferent times, with equal confidence. He was enslaved to 

 no system, was facinated with no w^ork on account of its an- 

 tiquity or its novelty, — he brought the merits of a writer to 

 the standard of his own intellect, — and his judgment, thougU 

 soon formed, be seldom found reason to vary. 



'' With a mind so unshackled, he was in a high degree 

 prepared for original investigation : and here perhaps was 

 to be found his most distinguishing characteristic. What- 

 ever subject he examined, he was almost certain to find 



3 



I 



