Sellers.J do4: [Feb. 19, 



Russia, and a paper on steam boilers. lu all these be sbowed considera- 

 ble literary ability and fully sustained bis claims to the possibility of 

 self-education. 



The dignity of labor was a favorite theme with him, and he held in 

 high esteem the producers in the world's economy. He said that when 

 he returned to America he found that undue prominence was given in 

 society to mercantile pursuits and an underrating of mechanical occupa- 

 tions. During the year 1859, he gave a dinner party to lifty gentlemen, 

 who were invited ostensibly to hear a lecture by Dr. Hays on the Open 

 Polar Sea, but planned in reality to bring together certain persons in dif- 

 fei'ent i^ositions in life who were representatives of different classes, and 

 who were not well-known to each other. This object was fully explained 

 by him to the writer, and was much dwelt upon in his mind at that time. 

 He said that banking facilities were extended to merchants what were not 

 accorded to mechanics ; that in his early career he had felt this want of 

 confidence very keenly, and he earnestly desired to help place the producer 

 in his proper place in the opinion of the world as to usefulness. He lived 

 to see a great change in this respect due somewhat to his own exertions, 

 but may be more to the enforced need of exactness of mercantile pursuits 

 in the conduct of the business of the manufacturer. 



His interest in the fine arts was continued up to the close of his life, 

 and it was known that he desired to give to his valuable collection some 

 permanency, but pain and suffering came upon him too soon and thus 

 suddenly checked much of his exertions. Only those who were near to 

 him knew how much he suffered during the last few years of his life, and 

 with what patience he bore a malady which he was conscious might at 

 any time end his life in pain and suffering, and of which he yet hoped he 

 might be cured. It is probable that his malady seriously affected him as 

 early as 1869, for a letter dated August 12th of that year, addressed to 

 him at Saratoga by his physician, says in speaking of the cause of his 

 decease: "I have seen many cases of it in my life and they have all 

 finally thrown the disorder off." This, however, was not to be in his 

 case, and the best medical skill of the land only gave him partial relief, 

 and five years of great suffering were only ended by the hand of death. 



These years of illness did not prevent him from taking a great interest 

 in all that was going on in the world of art and science, and he busied him- 

 self much in writing. He had lived to see his children grown up and 

 settled. He leaves behind him a widow and six children — William, 

 Henry and Annie, who was born in this country before he went to 

 Russia; Alice M'Neil, Marie Olga and Theodore Leland, born in Russia, 

 and Clara Elizabeth, born in America after their return. In bis home liie 

 he was an affectionate husband, a kind and indulgent father, and at al^ 

 times a dutiful son. The words written by himself to his family are full 

 of love and kindness. His book for their use and comfort was dedicated: 



