376 Obituary. 



has separated him i'rom us. But, after making every proper 

 deduction on this account, I can truly say, that Mr. Fisher 

 was the most extraordinary man of his years, whom I have 

 ever known. Acquisitions, equal to his, at the age of twen- 

 ty eight, I have never seen; nor a more vigorous and acute 

 intellect at any age. His moral characteristics — founded on 

 the elevated principles ol the Christian religion, which he 

 fully embraced — were distinguished for unsullied purity 

 and inflexible integrity. To his extraordinaty scientific at- 

 tainments, he added the finish of classical and polite litera- 

 ture, derived from the best ancient as well as modern sources; 

 his elegant taste embraced the fine arts in their extent 

 and variety, and he was satisfied with nothing, even in the 

 decorum and accommodations of private life, which was not 

 adapted to the same elevated standard. In the management 

 of this Journal — for the support and prosperity of which he 

 ever manifested a warm zeal — he was an important auxilia- 

 ry; and no other opinion was ever thought necessary, when he 

 had once given his, (which was often asked,) especially on 

 subjects of mathematical and physical science. Perhaps, it 

 is not improper to add, that, at a period, when, from the 

 failure of health, it appeared probable that the Journal 

 must either be relinquished, or pass into other hands, Pro- 

 fessor Fisher, was the man who would have been depended 

 upon to a'iSume that responsibility. 



His projected scientific and literary tour, excited in my 

 mind the strongest interest — it commanded such efforts as I 

 could make for the promotion of his object, and 1 looked for- 

 ward with high raised hopes and expectations, to the period 

 of his return, when, I doubted not, he would bring back with 

 him, the richest harvest of knowledge, unalloyed by any 

 thing that could give pain to the most affectionate and to the 

 purest of his friends. But it pleased the Almighty to dash 

 him upon the rocks, and to overwhelm him in the ocean, 

 at the moment when Europe, so long and so ardently de- 

 sired, had just broke on his view ! 



A few of his personal friends in this place, have procured 

 an excellent portrait of him to be painted by an eminent artist,* 

 and to be hung in the room which was lately the scene 

 of his labours and instructions. An engravingf of it is 

 prefixed to this number. Editor. 



* Mr Sam. F. B. Morse. t By Mr. S. S. Joce]yn. 



