NovEMBER 10, 1899. ] 
boy he learned the printer’s art, but not to 
the neglect of his studies, for he was gradu- 
ated at Yalein 1828, standing second in his 
class. At once he began his work as a 
teacher in the Hartford grammar school, 
and also took up in Hartford the study of 
law under Jonathan Edwards. Two years 
later he returned to New Haven and was 
made a tutor of mathematics. At that 
time a severe illness produced a temporary 
deafness, and as that affliction was heredi- 
tary in his family, it led him to retire from 
Yale and to turn his attention to the edu- 
cation of the deaf and dumb, accepting first 
a call in an institution in Hartford, and in 
1832 to one in New York City. 
In 1837 he was invited to the University 
of Alabama, where he filled, first the chair 
of mathematics and natural philosophy, and 
later that of chemistry and natural history, 
remaining in Tuscaloosa until 1854. It 
was said of him, at that time, that he was 
“the best at whatever he attempted to do; 
he could turn the best sonnet, write the 
best love story, take the best daguerreotype 
picture, charm the most women, catch the 
most trout, and calculate the most un- 
doubted almanac.’’* As further evidence 
of his versatility it may be mentioned that 
he edited two newspapers of opposite polit- 
ical opinions. It was also while in Tusca- 
loosa that he delivered his famous Fourth 
of July oration, beginning ‘‘ No just cause 
for a dissolution of the Union in any thing 
that has hitherto happened; but the Union 
is the only security for Southern rights.”’ 
While it enraged his colleagues greatly, 
“this oration, read in every part of the 
State, as it was within a week, presented the 
northern cause in an entirely new light in 
Alabama, and checked the rising spirit of 
rebellion for many years.’’ + 
* Appleton’s Annual Cyclopedia, Vol. XIV., p. 73. 
This was given me originally by Mrs. Barnard. 
{ Clipping from The New York Tribune, probably of 
July 6, 1886. 
SCIENCE. 
677 
In 1854 he accepted a call to the chair of 
mathematics, natural philosophy and civil 
engineering in the University of Mississippi, 
of which institution he became president 
in 1856, and chancellor in 1858. When 
the Civil War closed the doors of that Uni- 
versity he declined office under the Confeder- 
ate government and camenorth. Fora time 
he was connected with the United States 
Naval Observatory, and also with the 
United States Coast Survey, but the vacant 
chair of physics in Columbia College at- 
tracted him, and the trustees of that insti- 
tution were wise in taking advantage of 
their opportunity to offer him the higher 
honor of the presidency of Columbia Col- 
lege, a place from which President King had 
just resigned. 
Newberry, who for so long was closely 
associated with him, in an admirable ad- 
dress, in which he presented a summary of 
Barnard’s career as an educator, said of the 
growth of Columbia during his presidency: 
““He made there a noble and an honor- 
able record. Every one of the steps of 
progress was either conceived or earnestly 
advocated by him and owed its achievement 
to his support. He was not only a partici- 
pant, but a leader in every forward move- 
ment.” * 
In conclusion let me quote the lines that 
his friends Whittier wrote of him : 
Rich, from life-long search 
Of truth, within thy academic porch 
Thou sittest now, lord of a realm of fact, 
Thy servitors the sciences exact ; 
Still listening with thy hand on Nature’s keys. 
To hear the Samian’s spheral harmonies 
And rhythm of law. 
As I approach that period in the history 
of our Association during which it has been 
my privilege to know personally the men 
who.were our leaders, the pleasure of pre- 
* John §. Newberry. Necrology Report of the 
University Convention of the State of New York. 
(Reprint. ) 
