Life and Character of Nathaniel Bowditch. 35 
- science of departed sages and philosophers, who seem to look 
down upon him benignantly from their quiet places, and sponta- 
neously and silently to give forth to him their instructions. On 
entering this, the noblest repository of scientific works in the coun- 
try, E almost fancy I hear him saying with Heinsius, the keeper 
of the library at Leyden, ‘ “T ho sooner come into my library, 
umbition, avarice, and all 
such vices; and, in the very ‘laps ernity, amidst so many di- 
vine souls, . 7 take my seat with so. lofty a spirit and such sweet 
content, that I pity mt the great and rich who know not this sat 
piness.” 
It may be here remarked, that althoujti“a mathematics was his 
chief and favorite pursuit, Dr. Bowditch still had a taste and love 
for general literature. He was fond of Shakspeare and Milton, 
and remembered and could repeat whole passages from their 
works. - He loved, too, the poetry of Burns and our own Bryant 
and Sprague. Many of his favorite pieces he not only had by 
heart, but also.had them written down, for convenience’ sake, on 
the covers of his mathematical common-place book. L recollect, 
among others, thus copied off, “ The Cotter’s Saturday Night,” 
a selection which evinced at the same time his good feeling and 
his good taste. Talso recollect observing on the covers and blank 
-Jeaves of his copy of Newton’s Principia many commendatory 
verses on Newton, selected from Voltaire and other French poets. 
But I must hasten on to speak, as briefly and comprehensively 
as I can, of what is the most important part of every man—name- 
ly, his moral and religious character—the qualities of his heart, 
and his principles of action. 
_ Dr. Bowditch was a man of unsullied jnisisy, af rigid scan 
and uncompromising ‘principle. - Through life, truth seems to 
principle of action. “ForLow Trorn,”’ might have been the 
motto on his escutcheon. “Truth!-Truth! Truth!” were among 
his last words to one whom he dearly loved. He was himself 
perfectly transparent. A child could see through him: ‘There 
Was, no_opaqueness in his heart, any more than in his intellect. 
It was as clear as crystal, and the rays of moral truth were trans- 
mitted through it without being refracted or tinged. In all his 
intercourse and transactions he was remarkably frank and candid. 
He revealed himself entirely. He had no secrets. He kept noth- 
