and a glad submission to the true in science, it was in the 

 sacred circle of private friendship, that he shone most ; for 

 there, he was ever ready to impart that which he had collect- 

 ed by his research, or matured by his reflection. Such sir, 

 is the estimate I have formed of one who was the friend of 

 my boyhood and my riper years. As boyhood comes but 

 once, when such friends die, a vacant niche is left in the 

 affections which it were idle to attempt to fill : and while I 

 mourn the necessity which has imposed upon me the task I 

 have here performed, I feel that I have but met the sacred 

 duties created by a friendship, uninterrupted for years by a 

 single disagreement, in thus rendering my humble tribute to 

 the memory of a man whom I loved. 



I am sir, very respectfully, 



Your friend and ob'dt. serv't. 



FRANCIS L. HAWKS. 

 DR. JOHN TORREY. 



I conclude this biographical notice by the 

 following extract from the minutes of the New- 

 York Lyceum of Natural History, which ex- 

 presses the sentiments entertained by that 

 learned body towards their late associate. 



JOHN TORREY. 



NEW-YORK, Nov. 2, 1837. 



" The melancholy catastrophe which cut off in the prime 

 of life H. B. CROOM, Esq. with his whole family, having 

 been communicated to the Lyceum, 



