218 



lumbia, and was admitted to the bar of Washington and that of Phi- 

 ladelphia. 



But the law was for him an accomplishment, rather than a profes- 

 sion. He devoted himself more fully to general science and ele- 

 gant literature, and found congenial relaxation in the study of the 

 arts. An ample fortune facilitated these pursuits. He surrounded 

 himself with choice pictures and statuary, a fine cabinet of medals 

 and coins, a collection of minerals more extensive perhaps in the num- 

 ber of specimens than any other in the United States, and an exceed- 

 ingly valuable library. 



He was not, however, a mere collector. His books, though re- 

 markable some of them for their antiquity and rarity, were not things 

 for show. To the standards of English and continental literature, he 

 added all the latest productions of value as they issued from the press: 

 he received these regularly, and sifted them himself before assigning 

 them a place on his shelves. The descriptive catalogue of his mine- 

 rals, which includes more than 12,000 specimens, classified upon the 

 basis of Cleaveland's system, each compared with the original type 

 and its characteristics indicated, is a monument of his scientific la- 

 bour. The preparation of it engaged his leisure, between midnight 

 and two o'clock, for several years. 



Indeed, all his habits showed the man of regulated industry. Al- 

 most engrossed occasionally by the cares of his estate during the day, — 

 sharing zealously and effectively in the political discussions of the 

 times, — mastering successively the French, Italian, Spanish, and Ger- 

 man languages, — and keeping himself in the advance among the stu- 

 dents of natural science, — he had always his hours of leisure for an 

 enlarged correspondence, and for ample hospitality. 



He became a member of the Society in April, 1841. He had short- 

 ly before accepted from General Harrison the post of Charge d'Af- 

 faires at Copenhagen, and in August of that year he sailed for Den- 

 mark. He had scarcely become domiciliated in his diplomatic resi- 

 dence, and was just renewing some researches which he had begun 

 at home into the antiquities of the North, when death met him on the 

 27th of July, 1842, at the early age of thirty-seven. 



Dr. Patterson read a paper on the "Integration of Irrational 

 Functions, by Pike Powers," which was referred to a Com- 

 mittee. 



A paper, consisting of extracts from a mathematical common- 

 place book, was read, and referred to a Committee. 



