14 Life and Character of Nathaniel Boioditch. 



1818, as a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, an honor to 

 which few Americans have attained,) there was not one which 

 afforded him half the pleasure, or which he prized half so 

 highly, as this degree from Harvard. It was, indeed, his first 

 honor, his earliest distinction ; it was not only kindly meant, but 

 timely done ; and it no doubt stimulated him to perseverance in 

 his scientific pursuits, as well as created that interest which he 

 always took in the prosperity of that institution.* 



Mr, Bowditch's fifth and last voyage was made in the ship 

 Putnam, of which he was part owner, and in which he sailed in 

 the combined capacities of master and supercargo. He sailed for 

 Sumatra in November, 1802, and returned in December, 1803. 

 His habits of life and study, when on shipboard, are thus related 

 by one who accompanied him in his two last voyages in the ca- 

 pacity of a seaman and mate. _, 



" His practice was, to rise at a very early hour in the morning, 

 * and pursue his studies till breakfast ; immediately after which, he 

 took a rapid walk for an hour, and then went below to his studies 

 till half past eleven o'clock, when he returned and walked till 

 twelve o'clock, the hour at which he commenced his meridian 

 observations. Then came dinner, after which he was engaged 

 in his studies till five o'clock ; then he walked till tea time, and, 

 after tea, was at his studies till nine o'clock in the evening. From 

 this hour till half past ten o'clock, he appeared to have banished 

 all thoughts of study, and, while walking, he would converse in 

 the most lively manner, giving us useful information, intermix- 

 ed with amusing anecdotes and hearty laughs, making the time 

 delightful to the officers who walked with him, and who had to 

 quicken their pace to accompany him. Whenever the heavenly 

 bodies were in distance to get the longitude, night or day, he 

 was sure to make his observations once, and frequently twice, in 

 every twenty-four hours, always preferring to make them by the 

 moon and stars on account of his eyes. He was often seen on 

 deck at other times, walking rapidly, and apparently in deep 

 thought, when it was well understood, by all on board, that he 

 was not to be disturbed, as we supposed he was solving some 

 difficult problem, and when he darted below, the conclusion was, 



* Mr. Bowditch was a Fellow of the Corporation of Harvard from 1826 till his 

 death. He received the degree of LL. D. from the same University in 1816. 



