HON. II. hamlin's address., 46 



of his decease, it is indeed a pleasant memory that no word, or 

 thought, or deed ever marred the harmony of that association. To 

 Professor Henry must, be awarded the credit for what has been 

 done by the Smithsonian Institution in science and the "diffusion 

 of knowledge among men." It was, his mind that conceived the 

 plan best calculated to accomplish the object designed by Mr. 

 Smithson, and steadily, with a zeal that never faltered, with per- 

 sistent toil that hardly knew a limit, he pressed on in his noble 

 work until the Institution under his inspirations stands to-day 

 recognized and acknowledged as among the first of a like character 

 in the world. There were times when a change was sought and 

 earnestly urged in the scope, mode, and manner in which the Insti- 

 tution should be conducted. But the wiser plans and wiser counsels 

 of Professor Henry prevailed, and it is safe to say that now no 

 ruthless hand would substantially change them. The test of time 

 has fully established and vindicated his wisdom. 



Professor Henry was distinguished in an eminent degree for his 

 dignity of character and rare modesty. To those who knew him 

 well and intimately he was always unassuming, speaking never of 

 himself or his great achievements. He appeared in his possession 

 and dissemination of knowledge, as Newton said of himself, like 

 a child upon the sea-shore, picking here and there a grain of sand, 

 while a vast and unexplored ocean was before him. 



Though gifted with knowledge vast, varied,, and profound, he 

 exemplified and illustrated the maxim of the poet — "Of their own 

 merits modest men are dumb." His dignity and modesty were 

 unerring marks of his intellectual greatness, and adorned his wealth 

 of science and learning. 



Eminent and distinguished as was Professor Henry to those 

 familiar with and who knew the administration of the Smithsonian 

 Institution in all its parts, he was no less great for the rare ability 

 with which he cared for and managed its finances. Here, too, as in 



