9 



But it was not only for accuracy and intelligence as a personal observer, 

 th;it Dr. Mitchell was famous, marked as his exertions were by a won- 

 derful activiW of bod}-, patience of labour, and insensibility to fatigue. 

 He read greedily all that he had a chance to read on the subjects directly 

 or indirectly concerning his professorship, and on many other things be- 

 sides. So that he well deserved the name of " the walking Encyclopedia." 

 There were xery few subjects on which men of polite literature, or of ab- 

 stract as vrell as natural science converse, wherein he was not an intelli- 

 gent and appreciative listener, or an instructive teachen His knowledge of 

 (jcography was wonderful. It was a constant amusement for him to read 

 the advertisements in a large commercial newspaper, to learn what things 

 were bought and sold in the markets of the world, and then to sit doAvn 

 and find out where the things were manufactured. Such was his reputa- 

 tation for these acquisitions that when any one wanted some rare inferma- 

 tion on a Historical, or Geographical, or more strictly Scientific matter, it 

 was a common thing to say, " Go, ask Dr. Mitchell." He also kept him- 

 self supplied with periodicals and magazines in which the Sciences he 

 taught were developing; for he loved to have his knowledge fresh, and 

 would not wait for others to winnow the true from the false. He took 

 pleasure in running the pure motal from the crude ore for himself. His 

 large library contained something on almost every thing. But it was in 

 such a form, and obtained in such times, and at such prices that in the 

 market it never would have brought any approximation to what it cost 

 him. The Sciences he taught were developing Avhile he taught them, and 

 he felt it incumbent on him to have at the earliest moment Avhatever 

 treatise he heard of as likely to secure him the best and latest informa- 

 tion. ]Much of what Dr. Mitchell had to read is not now necessary, and 

 many of his acquisitions may seem to others useless, but he thus provided 

 that no one of his pupils left his laboratory Avithout having an opportunity 

 (}f learning all that Avas of interest or of use to him on the subjects there 

 discussed. Nor Avere his remarkable accomplishments as a professor con- 

 fined to his oAA'n department. In the Ancient Languages he Avas frequent- 

 ly ready and able to help a colleague who Avas prevented from discharging 

 his oAvn duties. In the Mathematics he would often, at public examina- 

 tions, propose such questions as shoAved that his earlier love still retained 

 a hold on his attention and affections. He Avas a good Avriter, and in the 

 department of Belles Lettres he Avas a Avell-read and insti-uctive critic. 

 When it was knoAvn that he Avas to deliver an address before the North 

 Carolina Agricultural Society, a friend, Avho kneAv him well, exclaimed, 

 "I'll Avarrant that Dr. Mitchell begins at the garden of .Eden." And so 

 he did. But by the time that, passing through Egypt and Canaan, Greece 



