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1871.] 19% [Carey. 
be greatly influenced for safer direction and better uses when held in 
logical harmony with, and restrained of its speculative tendencies by, those 
rules of thought which must govern men in the actual duties and rela- 
tions of life. To my mind it is clearly obvious that the religious writings 
of Mr. Colwell exhibit a healthy tone and a useful drift reflected from his 
economic studies ; and in these latter a faithfulness of service and a dedi- 
cation of spirit and endeavor, which happily illustrate the moral respons- 
ibility resulting from the sentiments of the former. To this I may per- 
haps be allowed to add, that if each and every man occupying an influen- 
tial position could be induced with equal fidelity and ability ‘‘ to show 
his fidelity by his works,’’ the prevailing indifference to the claims of 
Christianity would speedily give place to a widely different spirit induced 
by the attractiveness of its illustration. Here, however, I am engaged 
mainly with the prominent traits of Mr. Colwell’s own character and the 
influences that formed his life and gave direction to it. His education 
and effective development were not found alone in the studies by which 
he was so largely and so usefully occupied. Whatever of principle and 
policy resulted from the application of the student was induced and en- 
riched and energized in another and even more exact training school than 
any that the speculations of science can afford. In the thirty-sixth year 
of his age, fresh and full of all that reading and reflection could supply, 
he entered upon the conduct of business affairs in an occupation that as 
much as any other, and probably even more, brought into service and 
severely tested both economic facts and principles. He became a manu- 
facturer of iron first at Weymouth, Atlantic County, New Jersey, and 
afterwards at Conshohocken, on the Schuylkill. Throughout a quarter 
of a century of vicissitudes, inflicted upon that department of manufac- 
ture more mischievously than upon almost any other by an inconstant 
and often unfriendly governmental policy, opportunity was presented, as 
the necessity was imposed, for studying the interests of productive indus- 
try in the light of such actual and greatly varied experiences as might 
instruct even the dullest, and could not fail to teach one already so well 
qualified for promptly understanding all that actually concerned that and 
every other branch of industrial production. 3efore entering upon the 
arduous and trying experiences of this pursuit he had visited Europe, 
and there had studied the art and management of its advanced and varied 
industries. 
The settlement of the large estate of his father-in-law, the late Samuel 
Richards, and the administration of those of seve ral other members of 
his family, required and received as much attention during many years 
as would have constituted the entire business of many men, who would 
have thought themselves fully occupied. In addition to private affairs, 
so considerable and so exacting, he was constantly engaged as a leading 
and working member of various public associations; industrial, benevolent 
and educational. The character, the extent and the variety of these 
engagements, to which he was invariably attentive and puuctual, may Le 
