176 



But qualities still more rare than that here alluded to character- 

 ized the pursuits and conversation of our late colleague. No one 

 could fail to remark his singular freedom from the ambitious impulses 

 which, while they stimulate the labors of men of science, so often dim 

 the clear beauty of their aspirations for what is true and beneficent. 

 With him the love of knowledge, as gathered in the fields and in his 

 precious library and herbarium, was a sufficing incentive and adequate 

 reward. Delighting to store his mind with the beautiful truths gath- 

 ered from the ample sources around him, and ever ready to help 

 others devoting themselves to kindred branches of inquiry, and indeed 

 to any scientific pursuits, his singular modesty shrunk from the least 

 public exhibition of his various knowledge, and, in the eyes of those 

 who knew his solid and diversified culture, gave to his social character 

 its most peculiar and winning charm. 



Such were some of the services and characteristics of our late col- 

 league, for which we owe him the tribute of our respect and rev- 

 erence ; and in testimony of which Professor Rogers concluded by 

 submitting the following resolutions : — 



1. Resolved, That while it is the duty of the Society to hold in grate- 

 ful recollection all who at any time may have participated in its 

 labors or helped to enlarge its means of scientific usefulness, it is 

 under especial obligations to honor the memory of the founders and 

 early patrons of the Society, whose earnest zeal gave the first strong 

 impulse to the pursuit of Natural History in this community, and 

 whose liberal contributions and fostering care laid the foundation for 

 those labors which have won for the Society an honorable place in 

 the history of scientific investigation. 



2. Resolved, That the Society, while deeply regretting the loss which 

 it has sustained in the death of its late associate, Dr. Benjamin D. 

 Greene, has a sad pleasure in placing on record an expression of its 

 grateful and enduring reverence for his memory as one of the most 

 zealous of its founders, as its first acting President, and as one of the 

 most liberal of the patrons and co-workers of the Society. 



3. Resolved, That in expressing our sense of the great value of 

 the services of our late associate to this Society, and of his worth 

 as a cultivator and promoter of Natural Science, we would dwell 

 with affectionate interest on the gentle graces of character for 

 which he was remarkable, and especially on the shrinking modesty 

 and reserve which veiled so beautifully the knowledge and culture 

 they were unable to conceal. 



4. Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to transmit a copy of 

 these resolutions to the family of the deceased. 



The resolutions were unanimously adopted. 



