ADDRESS OF HOX. S. S. cox. 109 



genitor of chemistry. Was uot astrology a theory, a poem, a dream? 

 Yet it led up a ladder of stars to the sublimest of sciences. It was 

 said by one of my predecessors, (the Hon. Mr. Withers,) who 

 spoke this evening, that Professor Hexry was not a genius. In 

 the sense of a poetaster of a small coterie ami of little fancy, he 

 was mi genius. It was said his illumination came slowly and 

 through labor. Ah! so it did, perhaps, until he found the volumi 

 that awoke and started his peculiar tendency and talent. He //"</ 

 genius; hut he hail the masterly ixenius to curb and control it, to 

 direct and glorify it. 



It has been said that at one time he was enamored of the drama 

 and was almost persuaded to make it his permanent occupation. 

 He had a friendship for I )amon, and a morbid desire after the melan- 

 choly Dane. But he was disenchanted of this illusory ambition by 

 friend- who knew his sedate and studious mind, to which an 

 academic course and the little volume on physics, which provoked 

 his curiosity, gave a useful and permanent bent. Then came, all 

 roseate and radiant, the blossom of that magnificent fruitage which 

 was the promise of a life rounded and full of cautious experiments 

 and philosophic deduction. 



What of fancy he had, he restrained by patience in details ami 

 thoroughness in work. Glittering generalization he avoided, as he 

 did controversy. His plan of education for others was that which 



he applied to himself. He began with th mcrete. If indeed 



Lockyer has found Nature's inner secret, it is by his two thousand 

 photographs and one hundred thousand observations. If DRAPER 

 successfully controvert.-, it will be done by like patience and labor 

 in details. If Henry succeeded in his grand inquisition, it was 

 by similar detailed labors. While measuring and weighing the 

 forces of nature he cautiously deduced his theory. He gathered 

 the efforts of others — Oersted, Arago, Davy, and Sturgeon — 

 in his favorite domain of electro-magnetism, and made a sheaf 



