22 Life and Character of Nathaniel Bowditch. 
The publication of the book proved, as he anticipated, and as I~ 
have already mentioned, a very expensive undertaking, it being — 
one of the largest works and most difficult of execution ever 
printed in this country, and at the same time one of the most 
beautiful specimens of typography. ; 
Though it met with more purchasers than the athe ever €X> 
pected, still the cost was a heavy draught upon his income, and — 
an encroachment on his little property. Yet it was cheerfully — 
paid ; and besides that, he gladly devoted his time, his talents, — 
and may I not add, his health and his life, to the cause of science — 
and the honor of his native land. That work is his monument. 
Si. monumentum queris, aspice librum.* He needs no other 
monument ; and at the same time it is the most precious and hon- 
orable egaay that he could bequeath to his children. 
Among the numerous services which Dr. Bowditch rendered — 
to the cause of good learning and the diffusion of useful knowl 
edge, after he came to Boston, was the deep and active interest — 
which he took in the Boston Atheneum. When, in 1826, the 
Perkins family, in that liberal spirit which has ever characterized — 
them, gave to the Athenzeum sixteen thousand dollars, on condi- — 
tion that an equal sum should be raised from other sources, Dr. — 
Bowditch exerted himself to the utmost to accomplish the object. _ 
Many of the best friends of the institution thought the enterprise — 
a hopeless one, and were indisposed even to make an attempt to 
raise the amount. But Dr. Bowditch said, “It is a good thing, — 
let us try it; if we fail, we fail in a good cause.” He called per- 
sonally on many individuals to solicit subscriptions, and chiefly 
in consequence of his exertions, the additional sum of twenty- 
seven thousand dollars was raised. 
The permitting the books to be taken out of the library was — 
another measure proposed and effected by him. Strenuous oppo — 
sition was made to it ; but he believed and said that the circular’ 
tion of the books wonbd make the library ten times more useful; — 
and he persevered till he accomplished the measure. It was — 
always a favorite object with Dr. Bowditch to render books easily — 
accessible to those who wanted them, and could make a good us? — 
of them. He doubtless remembered the difficulties under which 
usiiecatia 
Ce alter a little and apply to Dr. Bowditch, the well- vi 
— on Sir Sir Christopher Wren, beneath the dome o f St. Paul's Cat 
—H hh woxonesrow: QUARIS, CIRCUMSPICE.” ~ 
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