152 APPENDIX. 



"As it was the constant practice in my father's family tliat one should read and 

 the rest hear, — -when the Look was in a foreign language, it fell to his lot always 

 to be the reader. Often have I listened with pleasure to hear him read the Com- 

 mentaries of Caesar from the Latin text, which he did with great facility. He 

 became early attached to mathematics and astronomy, in which he had early made 

 some proficiency, owing perhaps to a constant cause always operating with him — 

 that was an entire absence of desire to engage the mind in the ordinary amuse- 

 ments that too often draw the mind from the matter in hand. I think it may with 

 literal truth be said of him, that from two years of age he was never known to cry 

 and seldom to laugh. I never saw him angry, and seldom much elated. With an 

 even temperament he pursued whatever he undertook until it was accomplished. 

 About the year 1790 or 1791 my father was furnished by Governor Wentworth with 

 a complete set of the botanical works of Linnaeus. 



"From this time until I left home, much of the flowering season of the year 

 was devoted to botanical studies,'^ of which his father also was passionately fond 



"From that period onwards for more than half a century I have no personal 

 knowledge of his progress ; but what may not the mind of man accomplish when 

 the key to knowledge is obtained and the storehouse unlocked, and nature's works 

 are placed in view of an eye that is not diverted or drawn aside by the countless 

 trifles that beset us on every side. Titus had in early childhood lived a few years 

 in the City of Newhaven ; while in that city the most of those who visited his 

 father's house were men of letters, and disputations on religious subjects were 

 common. 



" From this place his father removed to Long Island on the Sound, nearly 

 opposite the city of New York, and soon after into the city. You enquire as to 

 scenery, -and the habits of those with whom his early life was passed. There is 

 nothing remarkable in the surrounding scenery of either of the places of his early 

 residence, neither was he made for a painter or poet. 



"Matters of fact — things of real life, and not of imaginary, claimed the greatest 

 share of his attention. 



"He was always liberal, setting no very great value on wealth, except so much 

 as was necessary to supply the ordinary wants of life. He thought but little of 

 high birth or titles of honour; I think he only valued men by their knowledge and 

 goodness. I regret that it is not in my power to give you more information, and 

 y ,u will also perceive that much that I have written is from imperfect memory. 

 Only my dates may be wrong, but the story is near the truth. Should anything 

 else occur to you in which I can render service, you have but to make your wishes 

 known. Be pleased to present my kind regards to the family. 



" I am, Sir, very respectfully, 



" your obedient servant, 



" William Smith." 



