hife and Character of Nathaniel Bowditch. 33 



vince our 3^oung men that political life is not the only road to 

 eminence, nor the only adequate and honorable sphere for the 

 exercise and display of their talents. For affording us this evi- 

 dence, his memory deserves to be honored, and his name to be 

 held in everlasting remembrance. 



Dr. Bowditch was a remarkably domestic man. His affections 

 clustered, around his own fireside, and found their most delight- 

 ful exercise in his " family of love," as he called it in almost his 

 last moments. His attachment to home, and to its calm and 

 simple pleasures was, indeed, one of the most beautiful traits in 

 his character, and one which his children and friends will look 

 back upon with the greatest satisfaction. As Sir Thomas More 

 says of himself, " he devoted the little time which he could 

 spare from his avocations abroad, to his family, and spent it in lit- 

 tle innocent and endearing conversations with his wife and chil- 

 dren; which, though some might think them trifling amusements, 

 he placed among the necessary duties and business of life ; it being 

 incumbent on every one to make himself as agreeable as possible 

 to those whom nature has made, or he himself has singled out 

 for, his companions in life."* 



His time was divided between his office and his house; and 

 that must have been a strong attraction, indeed, that could draw 

 him into company. When at home, his time was spent in his 

 library, which he loved to have considered as the family parlor. 

 By very early rising, in winter two hours before the light, " long 

 ere the sound of any bell awoke men to labor or to devotion," 

 and "in summer," like Milton, "as oft with the bird that first 

 rises or n€t much tardier," he Was enabled to accomplish much 

 befoYe others were stirring. " To these morning studies," he used 

 to say, " I am indebted for all my mathematics."! After taking 



* "Dum fovis totum ferine diem aliis impertior, reliquum meis, relinquo mihi, hoc 

 est Uteris, nihil. Nerape, reverse domum, cum uxore fabiilandum est, garriendum 

 cum liberis, colloquendum cum ministris. Q,use ego omnia inter negotia numero, 

 quan do fieri necesse est, (necesse est autem nisi velis essedorni tuae peregrinus,) et 

 danda omnino opera est, ut quos vita3 tuae comites aut natura providit; aut fecit casus, 

 aiit ipse delcgisti, iiis ut tei quam jucundissimum compares." — Preface to Utopia. 



t He might literally apply to himself the apology of the great Roman orator, 

 " Quare quis tandem me reprehendat, aut quis mihi jure succenseat, si quantum 

 caeteris ad suas res obeundas, quantum ad festosdies ludorum celebrandos, quantum 

 ad alias voluptates, et ad ipsann requiem, animi et corporis conceditur temporis ; 

 quantum alii tribuunt tempestivis conviviis ; quantum denique alere, quantum pilsB ; 

 tantum mihi egomot ad liEcc studia recolenda sumpsero ?" 



Vol. XXXV.— No. 1. 5 



