204 Miscellanies. 
3. Obituary of Gen. Martin Finrtp.—Gen. Field died at his 
residence in Newfane, (Vt.) in October last, at the age of 60. The 
early part of his life was assiduously devoted to the profession of law, 
in which, for many years, he was highly distinguished. On account 
of an incurable deafness, he, several years since, declined the active 
duties of his profession, and as a resource to an energetic mind, and 
a solace in hours that might have been tedious for want of some in- 
teresting object of pursuit, he turned his attention to scientific inves- 
tigations. When he was educated, the natural sciences were scarce- 
ly studied in the schools, and much Jess extensively than now in the 
colleges of this country ; he was therefore obliged to commence with 
the elements. 
Meeting with the American Journal of Science, a new stimulus 
was given to his efforts, and a proper direction to his researches. 
He obtained the best scientific works, and sought the acquaintance 
of those who were pursuing the same path, or who had already 
made attainments in science. Commencing with mineralogy, he, 
for a time, was zealously engaged in collecting a choice and beau- 
tiful cabinet ; but he found, that in order to become a skillful mine- 
ralogist, there was a kindred science to be grasped, and one without 
which he could not penetrate beyond the surface of the mineral king- 
dom; he saw that it was beautiful and curious, and felt a desire to 
know those mysterious laws of combination by which, from a few el- 
ements, the wonderful variety of material things is produced. ‘This 
desire led him to the study of chemistry. He purchased chemical 
books and apparatus, and for a time, directed his inquiries to the ele- 
ments of matter, and the laws by which they are governed. 
A mineralogist and chemist has attained two important requisites 
to enable him to become a geologist. Gen. Field was not satisfied 
with examining nature in his cabinet, and with reading the observa- 
tions of others. He was, in science, what may be termed a working 
man. Few points of interest were there among the romantic scene- 
ry around him, that were not familiar to him; and many a rugged 
precipice, deep glen, and lofty summit of the Green Mountains, nev- 
er before trod by human footstep, can bear witness to his persevering 
research into the nature and arrangement of the rocky strata, of 
which they are formed. In such expeditions, curious living reptiles 
and insects presented themselves, and fossil remains of beings that 
once had life, were found imbedded in the rocks*; he believed that 
* In other regions than the green mountains, which are primary rocks.—£d. 
