Life and Character of Nathaniel 
of Ferdinand and Isabella,* the last book he ay Saaneagh and 
ee . which he expressed the highest admiration, he remarked 
many of the incidents in it were quite familiar to him, he 
having once read the great work of Mariana on the History of 
Spain, in the original language, in the course of one of his voya-— 
ges. The ‘French mathematician, Lacroix, acknowledged to 
ican, that he was indebted to Mr. Bowditch for com- 
ting many errors in his aecaes which he had discovered — 
in these same Tong Tn ndia voy: 
extraordin Sitcoms) iinet of tos young 
sailor soon became known, and secured to him the notice.of our. 
most distinguished men,—among others that of the late Chief 
Justice Parsons, himself an eminent mathematician,—and_ like- 
wise the deserved, yet wholly unexpected, honors of the first lit- 
erary institutiomin the land. In the summer of 1802, at the age 
of twenty-nine, his ship lying wind-bound in Boston harbor, he 
went out'to Cambridge to attend the exercises of Commence- 
ment Day; and whilst standing in one of the aisles of the 
church, as the President was announcing the honorary degrees 
‘that day, his attention was aroused by hearing his own 
name calle out as a Master of Arts.» The annunciation came 
upon him like a peak of thunder; it took him wholly by sur- 
prise. He has been heard to say that that was the proudest day 
of his life ; and that of all the distinctions which he subsequently 
received from numerous learned and scientific bodies, at home 
and ener (among which may be mentioned his election, in 
* By Wittiam H. Prescorr, Esq. of Boston. This noble contributioa” to the. 
youthful literature of our country is, at the same time, one of the most remarkable 
instances, in literary history, of the triumph of sali over difficulties and dis- 
couragements. Je sperenebatat increditile,. that so extensive a work, 
€ _ of so many authorities, could 
have been composed without atthe fall and free use of theeyes. And yet it es 
ough he wrote the book through with his 
ng them. His work is a noble evi- 
nee as well as of his rection andhgood taste, and refleets 
well as upon his country 
s elected a Fellow of the ‘Acaectiandiiedan y of Arts <a 
onnecticut Acad y of 4 s and Sciences; of the Literary 
eileces of New ra + Conesponding member of the Royal 
