Memoir of Rev. John Prince, LL. D. 219 
the following sentence to be inscribed, over his signature, upon the 
back of the catalogue of the books thus bequeathed. 
“¢ Sensible of the kindness of my people through my long ministry 
and life, I peapepth these books as a lasting memorial of my affec- 
tionate gratitude.” 
These words were dictated, - inscribed by the direction of Dr. 
Prince, on the morning of the 4th of June, in the presence of the 
writer of this notice. It was i last transaction in which he was 
ever engaged on earth, as he became speechless immediately after- 
wards. ' 
During his whole sickness he exhibited that delightful serenity, 
which a purely philosophical spirit, resting on the faith, and filled 
with the hope of the gospel, will always enjoy and express. In his 
most excruciating pains, he never wavered for a moment in his re- 
signation and acquiescence to the will of providence. The whole 
outward world, as well as the volume of scripture, had ever been 
radiant with divine wisdom and love, as he had spent his life in ex- 
ploring them, and in death he lost not for a moment the blissful sight 
of his heavenly father’s countenance. In his waking hours, his 
mind was warm with benevolent interest in his friends, and exalted 
into the highest exercises of pious faith and hope, and in his dreams 
the same trains of association seemed to occupy his spirit. During 
the last week of his life, he awoke from one of the few quiet slum- 
bers vouchsafed to his suffering frame, and told the watcher by his 
bedside, that he had had a most delightful dream. ‘I dreamed,” 
"said he, “that I was in the New Jerusalem, and my church with 
me 
Such was the life and such the death of a christian philosopher, of 
whom America has reason to be proud, and to whom science owes 
a debt of gratitude, which she will ever be ready to acknowledge. 
When we consider the obscurity of his early life, and then reflect 
upon the amount of his contributions to the cause of science, and 
upon the pure and elevated reputation secured to his name, through 
all coming ages, we cannot but recognize the stimulating encourage- 
ment held out to genius by his example ; and in the serenity of tem- 
perament, the cheerful benignity of soul, the fortitude in trial, the 
resignation in suffering, the length of days, the happiness in old age, 
and the peace and joy on the bed of death, displayed by this vene- 
rable and devout philosopher, we see a specimen of the rewards be- 
stowed upon all who are devoted to their cause, and imbued with 
their spirit, by screNcE and RELIGION. 
