138 MEMOIR OF THE LATE DR. HENRY. 
Though, moreover, the science of chemistry 
undoubtedly held the highest place in Dr. 
Henry’s sphere of knowledge and interest, any 
measure of the strength and compass of his 
mind, which should rest simply on his chemical 
acquirements and discoveries, would be emi- 
nently inadequate. In forming such estimate, 
it is essential to his just intellectual station, that 
regard should be had to the soundness and ex- 
tent of his knowledge in various branches of 
physical and natural science, in the advance- 
ment of which he had no design of actively par- 
ticipating, and to which he was attracted by no 
other motive, than the delight he experienced in 
the varied exercise of his faculties, and in the 
perception of new truths. Nor would it be just 
to overlook his rare endowments as a philoso- 
phical thinker and writer, the clearness and 
fidelity with which he assembled and methodized 
the scattered fruits of discovery, and the sim- 
plicity and vigour which characterize his ex- 
position of general doctrines. It would appear, 
indeed, from some slight notices of his early 
occupations, which are still preserved, that, at 
the very outset of his career, he had projected 
a scheme of study remarkable for its compre- 
hensiveness; having probably, eventhen, arrived 
at the conviction, that an equable development 
