MEMOIRS 



f 



OF THi: 



AMERICAN ACADEMY 



Some account of the life and writings of Benjamin Count Mumford 



BY JACOB BIGELOW, M. D. 



EUMFORD PROFESSOR IN HARVARD UNIVERSITY. 



HE labours of mankind are generally efficient in proportioti 



T 



as they are concentrated, or devoted to a single object. In the 

 present advanced state of philosophy and literature^ excellence in 

 any scientific career is usually attained at the price of a long and 

 undivided attention to its particular pursuit. And if in certain 

 instances individuals arrive at distinction in more than one walk 

 of science, as well as of life, it may justly be ascribed to the great- 

 ness and versatility of their talents, or to the ardour, perseverance 



and resolution of their conduct. 



Iq the subject of this memoir a singular example is found of 



J 



success, attcndlag natural talents and force of character, exerted 



■^P^t^J? 



in various situations of life, and under circumstances the most dis» 



similar. We 



ppose 



it to be from uncommon 



d 



ding powers, aided by unusual activity ; that an individ 



ual of obscure orisiin should rise above the disadv 



s> 



& 



of hi 



situation ; should become possessed of high literary and politi- 

 caX honors : and should maintain an uniform eminence in what- 



