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there. He sat up late. It was in those quiet hours 

 of the night, that he accumulated his vast stores of 

 learning. He ate moderately, but always seemed to 

 relish what he ate. Never idle, he was always at 

 leisure. I was never denied his presence, and never . 

 felt, that my visit was an intrusion. His pen, or book 

 was laid aside instantly, while he greeted me with 

 the most winning gracefulness ; and then we bounded 

 o'er the sea of friendship, as gaily, as though no work 

 had been laid aside. Never in a hurry, he lost not a 

 moment. He occasionally relaxed his overtaxed ener- 

 gies by a game of chess, which he played well; and 

 in earlier years he sought relief in music, in which he 

 was well skilled. He drew finely, although I believe, 

 he never indulged in colors. He was but fifty-four, 

 when he died. His bodily frame was full of vigor 

 to the last, never enfeebled by disease, and never 

 abused by excesses of any sort. 



His life, though one of intense activity, was for the 

 most part spent in retirement ; and to that is attribu- 

 table the fact, that but comparatively few knew, who 

 he was, or what he was. But to the world of science 

 he was well known, and to the more prominent spates- 

 men of the country. The coast surveys were sub- 

 mitted to his inspection, and all disputed questions 

 of geography were referred to him for settlement. 

 On the questions of coinage, which have of late exer- 

 cised many of the European governments, he was 

 probably the best informed man in the country. I 

 regret that I have not accurate information as to the 

 actual service he rendered in this particular depart- 

 ment of science. All that I know, is, that he went 

 abroad, and was brought into close contact with the 

 masters of the mint in England. The triumphs of 

 his genius were signally displayed before the com- 



