310 BULLETIN OF THE 



conspicuous illustration of the truth that moral excellence is the 

 highest dignity of man." 



The following address by Mr, B. Alvord was also read : — 



JOSEPH HENRY. 



On the 13th May, 1818, Joseph Henry died in this city. ISTo 

 body of gentlemen have bad such opportunities of watching the 

 recent career of this distinguished man as the members of the 

 Philosophical Society of Washington. The suddenness of the 

 event is best realized by us when we recur to the clearness and 

 firmness of his mind as evinced in contact with this Society the 

 whole of last winter. His annual address on the 24th of No- 

 vember, 187 T, was replete with the soundest advice to those who 

 are entering on scientific investigations. We are struck with the 

 freshness and elasticity of his mind and temper in his allusion to 

 the method of scientific observation when he said : " There is a 

 "story in a work entitled 'Evenings at Home,' which made an 

 "indelible impression on my mind. It is entitled 'Eyes and No 

 "Eyes,' and related to two boys who started on a walk during a 

 "warm summer afternoon. On their return, one was fatigued, 

 "dissatisfied, having seen nothing, encountered only dust and 

 " heat ; while the other was charmed with his walk, which had 

 " been over the same ground, and gave a glowing account of the 

 " objects which he had met with, and of the reflections which 

 "were awakened by them." 



Rarely does it happen that the labors of the scholar and stu- 

 dent are continued with such undiminished powers up to the age 

 of eighty. Besides his mental force and vigor, it is necessary to 

 refer to the equipoise and judicial character of his temperament 

 and organization. This fairness and careful avoidance of hasty 

 judgments were important elements in his position as Director 

 of the Smithsonian Institution. I had corresponded with him 

 since 1850, for twenty-eight years, and the more we knew of him 

 the more have all been impressed with bis peculiar fitness for his 

 task in that Institution. 



It may be deemed unnecessary to recur to the amiable traits 

 of his private character, and to his gentle and unostentatious 

 demeanor ; but in such a position these qualities form an impor- 

 tant element in public character. Especially did this appear in 



