38 Life a?id Character of Nathaniel Bowditch. 



rest at the top of my voice." The President of Harvard Univer- 

 sity recollects distinctly seeing him in the position and attitude 

 thus described. 



At first sight there may seem something ludicrous and puerile 

 in this grave philosopher and calculator, this votary of abstract 

 science, huzzaing in a mixed crowd on a city's holiday. But to 

 me it seems a most natural and beautiful expression of his simpli- 

 city, his self-forgetfulness, his utter unconsciousness of greatness, 

 his generous sympathy with the people, and his grateful and ar- 

 dent patriotism. This little incident cannot fail to raise him in 

 the estimation of every right-minded and single-hearted man. 



Dr. Bowditch was a truly conscientious man. He was always 

 true to his moral as well as intellectual convictions, and followed 

 them whithersoever they led. He had great faith in the rectitude 

 of his moral perceptions, and in the primary decision of his own 

 judgment and moral sense ; and he carried them forth and acted 

 them out instantly. The word followed the thought, and the 

 deed the feeling, with the rapidity of lightning. This straight- 

 forwardness and frankness were among the secret causes of the 

 remarkable influence which he confessedly exercised over the 

 minds and judgments of others. By his honesty, as well as by 

 his resoluteness and decision, he was the main-spring of every 

 thing with which he was connected. By his moral influence he 

 controlled and swayed all men with whom he was associated. 

 As Ben Jonson says of Lord Bacon, " he commanded where he 

 spoke." 



Dr. Bowditch was a man of ardent natural feelings, and of an 

 impetuous temperament. A venerable lady, after her first inter- 

 view with him, said, "I hke that man, for he is a live man." 

 He was strong in his attachment to men and to opinions, and was 

 not easily turned from any course of speculation or action, which 

 he had once satisfied himself was right, wise and good. At the 

 same time, he always kept his mind open to evidence ; and if you 

 brought before him new facts and arguments, he would reconsider 

 the subject — deliberately, not hastily — and the next day, perhaps, 

 would tell 3^ou that you were in the right, and that he had altered 

 his mind. He was sometimes quick, warm, and vehement in ex- 

 pressing his disapprobation of the character or conduct of an in- 

 dividual, particularly if he thought that the person had practiced 

 any thing Uke duplicity or fraud. In such cases, his indignation 



