LIFE OF JAMES DWIGHT DANA 



or two of the few cases which have come under my notice. 

 But let me urge you to give up your recitations in geol- 

 ogy. You may be very sure that no one of your col- 

 leagues will think that you do it for any insufficient 

 reason and even if they did, your own conviction that 

 the restoration of your health requires it ought, in my 

 judgment, to give you perfect quietness in passing the 

 class over to Professor Marsh. I rejoice that you are so 

 cheerful while the outworks of your citadel appear to be 

 so seriously threatened. But the interior defences are 

 impregnable. Indeed, I think that if you will resolutely 

 deny yourself all head-work, so far as that is possible to 

 you, and keep your brain cool in the open air, in spite of 

 all temptations to the false ideas of being faithful to the 

 college, the enemy may yet retire and leave you intact. 

 I wish, my dear friend, that I could contribute to so good 

 and useful a result." 



Here ends the story of a consecrated life, a life con- 

 secrated to the study of nature and the discovery of her 

 laws. The closest scrutiny of every period has revealed 

 no traces of selfishness, no neglect of opportunities, no 

 unworthy motives. From beginning to end, the man of 

 science has been devoted to the search for exact know- 

 ledge, the recognition of laws, and the promulgation of 

 the truths thus ascertained. This all, on a broad field. 

 From first to last, this life has exemplified the words of 

 the Psalmist, 



THE WORKS OF THE LORD ARE GREAT : 



SOUGHT OUT OF ALL THEM THAT HAVE PLEASURE 



THEREIN. 



290 



