Memoir of Rev. John Prince, LL. D. 219 



the following sentence to be inscribed, over his signature, upon the 

 back of the catalogue of the books thus bequeathed. 



" Sensible of the kindness of my people through my long ministry 

 and life, I bequeath these books as a lasting memorial of my affec- 

 tionate gratitude." 



These words were dictated, and inscribed by the direction of Dr. 

 Prince, on the morning of the 4th of June, in the presence of the 

 writer of this notice. It was the last transaction in which he was 

 ever engaged on earth, as he became speechless immediately after- 

 wards. ' 



During his whole sickness he exhibited that delightful serenity, 

 which a purely philosophical spirit, resting on the faith, and filled 

 with the hope of the gospel, will always enjoy and express. In his 

 most excruciating pains, he never wavered for a moment in his re- 

 signation and acquiescence to the will of providence. The whole 

 outward world, as well as the volume of scripture, had ever been 

 radiant with divine wisdom and love, as he had spent his life in ex- 

 ploring them, and in death he lost not for a moment the blissful sight 

 of his heavenly father's countenance. In his waking hours, his 

 mind was warm with benevolent interest in his friends, and exalted 

 into the highest exercises of pious faith and hope, and in his dreams 

 the same trains of association seemed to occupy his spirit. During 

 the last week of his life, he awoke from one of the few quiet slum- 

 bers vouchsafed to his suffering frame, and told the watcher by his 

 bedside, that he had had a most delightful dream. " I dreamed," 

 said he, " that I was in the New Jerusalem, and my church with 

 me." 



Such was the life and such the death of a christian philosopher, of 

 whom America has reason to be proud, and to whom science owes 

 a debt of gratitude, which she will ever be ready to acknowledge. 



When we consider the obscurity of his early life, and then reflect 

 upon the amount of his contributions to the cause of science, and 

 upon the pure and elevated reputation secured to his name, through 

 all coming ages, we cannot but recognize the stimulating encourage- 

 ment held out to genius by his example ; and in the serenity of tem- 

 perament, the cheerful benignity of soul, the fortitude in trial, the 

 resignation in suffering, the length of days, the happiness in old age, 

 and the peace and joy on the bed of death, displayed by this vene- 

 rable and devout philosopher, we see a specimen of the rewards be- 

 stowed upon all who are devoted to their cause, and imbued with 

 their spirit, by science and religion. 



