Memoir of Rev. John Prince, LL. D. 215 



Wadsworth, of Danvers, preached Dr. Barnard's funeral sermon. 

 It is still more singular, and as affecting as it is singular, that, owing 

 to some error at the time. Dr. Prince's remains were carried down 

 into the wrong tomb, and laid by the side of Dr. Barnard's. He did, 

 literally, " follow him," not only " through death," but through the 

 grave itself! 



Great as was his taste for human science and philosophy, I speak 

 with full conviction, drawn from a daily intimacy of many years, 

 when I say that theology was the subject upon which he most loved 

 to meditate, theological works were most frequently in his hands, 

 and, as he advanced towards the end of life, I doubt not that among 

 his most delightful anticipations of the heavenly state, was the dis- 

 closure there to be made, of all those truths, relating to eternity, the 

 soul, and its author, about which his thoughts had been so habitually 

 exercised. 



Dr. Prince was a christian ; for he had the spirit of Christ, which 

 is a spirit of gentleness, tenderness and love. He loved God most 

 devoutly ; and he so loved man, that he seemed not to know how to 

 cherish any other affection towards him. I believe him to have 

 been incapable of hatred or enmity ; and, as he was an enemy to 

 no one, so I believe that he had not an enemy in the world. It ap- 

 pears that his benignant disposition was an object of particular re- 

 mark at a very early period of his life. Mr. Barnard, in giving the 

 Right Hand of Fellowship at his ordination, congratulated the peo- 

 ple, in the plain simplicity of the times, that they had obtained for 

 their pastor " a person of Mr. Prince's 6ne temper, and respectable 

 abilities." 



The circumstances connected with the history of Dr. Prince's 

 improvements on the Lucernal microscope, which have been men- 

 tioned in another part of this article, present a beautiful illustration 

 of his truly christian spirit. The fact that Mr. George Adams neg- 

 lected to make him known as the author of those improvements, 

 was freely remarked upon by others. One of his philosophical cor- 

 respondents, in a letter dated London, March 3d, 1798, thus alludes 

 to the subject : " I am rather surprised that the late Mr. Adams ap- 

 pears not to have made known the person to whom he was under so 

 many and repeated obligations." But while such remarks fell from 

 others, they were never known to pass the lips of Dr. Prince. The 

 feelings they express were not permitted to enter his breast. It was 

 a beautiful and most noble trait in his character, and one which was 



