VI PREFACE. 



extended sketch of the character and military services 

 of his father ; a manuscript volume pertaining to the 

 family of the second Governor Trumbull, whose 

 daughter he married, and to society in Lebanon, 

 where they resided ; another similar volume con- 

 taining his Recollections of Colonel Trumbull, and 

 remarks upon his paintings ; and various other writ- 

 ings having a biographic value, besides a volumin- 

 ous mass of correspondence. 



In undertaking, by the invitation of his family, to 

 prepare a Memoir of my venerated friend, it appeared 

 to me that the work should be, as far as practicable, 

 in his own words ; that extracts from the Reminis- 

 cences, and, when they terminate, from the Diary, 

 should furnish the basis of it ; that letters and other 

 contemporary papers should be interlaced at the 

 fitting points, breaking, however, as little as possi- 

 ble, the continuity of his own narrative ; that his 

 friends and scientific contemporaries should be called 

 upon to communicate their personal recollections, 

 and their estimate of his character and influence ; 

 and that these various materials should be cemented 

 and illustrated by such additional statements as 

 might be found requisite for this end. 



In carrying out this plan, it has been an important 

 part of my duty to select from the copious auto- 

 biographical manuscripts named above, the matter 

 which might properly be inserted in these volumes. 

 While performing this delicate and responsible task, 



