10 



and Rome and Great Britain, he got to Cbatham County in North Carolina, 

 he furnished, as usual, an essay full of rare information,- judicious sugges- 

 tions, peculiar humour, and excellent common sense. 



As a teacher, Dr. Mitchell took great pains in inculcating the first 

 principles of Science. These he set forth distinctly in the very beginning 

 of his instructions, and he never let his pupils lose sight of them. When 

 brilliant and complicated phenomena were presented for their contempla- 

 tion, he sought not to excite their wonder or magnify himself in their eyes 

 as a man of suprising acquirements, or as a most dexterous manipulator, 

 but to exhibit such instances as most clearly set forth fundamental laws, 

 and demanded the exercise of a skilful analysis. Naturally of a cautious 

 disposition, such had been his own experience, and so large was his ac- 

 quaintance with the experience of others, that he was not easily excited 

 when others announced unexpected discoveries among the laws and the 

 phenomena which he had been studying for years as they appeared. — 

 While others were busy in prophesying revolutions in social or political 

 economy, he "vv^as quietly awaiting the decisions of experience. He con- 

 stantly taught his pupils that there were times wherein they must turn 

 from the voice of the charmer, charm he ever so sweetly. His influence on 

 the developments of Science was eminently conservative, for he loved the 

 old landmarks. As a disciplinarian he was vigilant, conscientious, long 

 suffering, firm, and mild. Believing that the prevention was better than 

 the cure of the ills of a College life, he was constantly watching to guard 

 the Students from a violation of the rules of morality and common pro- 

 priety. When offences were committed, to the offender he set forth his 

 conduct in its true light, and often with very plain language. But when 

 punishment was to be inflicted he generally proposed that which appealed 

 to the culprit's better feelings, and left him a door open for a return to a 

 better mind and an earnest attempt for his reformation. Many cases are 

 known where such unwearied and unostentatious kindness has produced 

 the happiest results. How widely extended it was no one can tell now for 

 it was almost always shown to the receiver alone. It sprang from a love 

 to man and fear of God, for Dr. Mitchell never feared the face of his 

 fellow. 



Dr. Mitchell enjoyed being busy. Neither laziness nor idleness enter- 

 ed into his composition, so that he always had something which he was 

 doing heartily. Besides being a Professor, he educated his own children 

 and especially his daughters to a degree not often attempted. He was 

 a regular preacher in the College Chapel and in the village Church, the 

 College Bursar, a Justice of the peace, a Farmer, a Commissioner for 

 the village of Chapel Hill, and at times its Magistrate of Police. What- 



