DISCOURSE OF W. B. TAYLOR. 361 



repose a certain pensive but benignant majesty, in the abstraction 

 of study a semblance of constrained severity, in the relaxation of 

 friendly intercourse a genial frank and winning grace of expression. 

 The varying shades of such expression, with the changing current 

 of his thought, combined with a certain reserve, — or (perhaps more 

 properly) freedom from effusiveness, — imparted to his aspect and 

 liis intercourse a singular charm.* His whole physique was in ad- 

 mirable harmony with his power of intellect; — the fitting vesture of 

 the mens sana in corpore sano. Like his intimate personal friend 

 Agassiz, he seemed to stand and to move among men as the very 

 embodiment of unfailing vigorous health and physical strength; and 

 only a year ago, he walked with as erect and elastic a carriage, 

 with as firm and sprightly a step, as any one here present. 



It is difficult to attempt even a sketch of Henry's intellectual 

 character, without allusion to his moral attributes; so constantly 

 did the latter dominate the former. It may be said that the most 

 characteristic feature of his varied activities was earnestness, and 

 this as usual, was the offspring as much of a moral as of a mental 

 purpose. 



His mind was eminently logical ; and this rational power was 

 exhibited in every department of his theoretical or his practical 

 pursuits. He never showed or felt uneasiness at necessary deduc- 

 tive consequences, if the premises were well considered or appeared 

 to be wejil founded; confident that all truth must ultimately be 

 found consistent. If presented with the problem of an untried 

 case, while avowing the necessity of reserve in predicting results, 

 he seemed to have an almost intuitive apprehension of the opera- 

 tion of natural law. If confronted with an unfamiliar phenomenon, 

 whether in the experience of others, or in his own observations, 

 his imagination was fertile in the suggestion of test conditions for 

 eliminating variable influences. While few have ever held the 

 function of hypothesis in higher estimation as an instrument of 

 research, no one ever held hypothesis in more complete subjection. 



*0f the muncroiis photographic portraits of Henry taken within the past ten 

 or twenty years, It has been often remarked that no two appear to have the same 

 character, or to bear a very close resemblance to each other. Three or four meri- 

 torious portraits in oil (of life-size) perpetuate his likeness, with the same char- 

 acteristic dlfTerences. 



