31 



In the opening of this brief and imperfect sketch, 

 I said to you, in all frankness and sincerity, that no 

 one could more deeply regret that this duty had not 

 devolved on one of your own number ; for this society 

 are not wanting in all the requisites that make up 

 the skilful delineator of character, in discrimination, 

 patience of investigation, and the power of expression. 

 You have already placed the state and the country 

 under obligation, by your contributions to literature. 

 I do well, therefore, to regret that one of your own 

 fraternity had not been detailed for the duty. You, 

 however, willed otherwise, and I have laid on the 

 altar of friendship this unpretending tribute to the 

 memory of the deceased. It bears the impress of 

 haste, which nothing could atone for but the honest 

 plea that I had no more time, as I had not the 

 ability, to make it more worthy of the occasion. In 

 the words of Pliny, writing of one whose death he 

 deplored, I can say, "what a friend have I lost!" 

 I lament his death on my own account, even more 

 than yours ; for I have " lost a witness of my life, 

 a guide, a master." 



