64 MEMORIAL OF JOSEPH HENRY. 



whether of high or humble station. Even those, here or elsewhere, 

 who came only into occasional intercourse with him, will remember 

 that thoughtful and benignant face; — certainly it will be remem- 

 bered by those who, in that recourse to him which it was always easy 

 to gain, have seen the mild seriousness of a somewhat abstracted 

 and grave mien change into a winning smile, sure precursor of 

 pleasant words, cheerful attention, and, if need were, Avise counsel 

 and cordial help. But we are all passing, as he has passed, and the 

 tribute to his memory which it is our privilege to pay, is a duty to 

 those who are to come after us. 



Joseph Henry was of Scotch descent. His grandparents, 

 paternal and maternal, landed at New York from the same vessel 

 on the day before the battle of Bunker Hill. The Henrys settled 

 in Delaware County, the Alexanders in Saratoga Oounty, New 

 York. Of his father, William Henry, little is known. He died 

 when his oldest son, Joseph, was eight or nine years old. His 

 •mother lived to a good age.* He was born at Albany very near 

 the close of the last century.f His boyhood was mostly passed 

 with his maternal grandmother in the country at Galway. His 

 early education was such as a country common school would furnish 

 to a lad of inquisitive mind but no aptness for study. The fond- 

 ness for reading came early, but in a surreptitious way. 



One day, in the pursuit of a pet rabbit, he penetrated through an 

 opening in the foundation-wall of the village meeting-house. A 

 glimmer of light enticed him through the broken floor into a room 

 above, in which an open bookcase contained the village library. 

 He took down a book — Brooks's Fool of Quality — was soon 

 absorbed in the perusal, returned again and again to this, which he 



* She is remembered as a lady of winning refinement of mien and character, of 

 small size, with delicate Grecian features, fair complexion, and when young she Is 

 saUl to have been very beautiful. 



t The date, December 17, 1707, given in the American Cyclopedias, appears to be 

 wrong; was perhaps misprinted. There is little doubt that he was born on the 17th 

 of December, 1799. 



