Q 
1871,] 199 vecii 
support to his country and its government throughout the course of its 
struggle for existence, in resisting, by force of arms, a causeless and 
wicked armed Rebellion.’’? Of his personal character and demeanor, they 
say: ‘‘We desire to bear testimony to those virtues which manifested them- 
selves in all its intercourse with us ; to the singleness and unselfishness 
of his purpose ; to his courteousness and urbanity in our varied relations; 
to his firmness, cautiousness and wisdom in the deliberations of our coun- 
cils; to his patience, unwearying industry and cheerful devotion of time, 
abilities and means in aid of the cause so dear to all our hearts; to his 
constant unwavering joy, and faith, and trust in the overruling Provi- 
dence of the God of our fathers amid the darkest hours of the country’s 
peril, as well as in times of success and victory.”’ 
Such engagements as these, and numerous others kindred in their 
character and calling for similar labors, filled the middle and later pericds 
of his life with occupation: his associates, and all with whom business 
intercourse and public enterprises connected him, testifying to the prompt, 
energetic, patient and worthy performance of every duty thus assumed 
or imposed. Nearly half a century employed in public and private affairs 
making large demands for labor and care, and involving creat responsi - 
bility, gave him that sound practical experience which well and effect- 
ively woven into the studies of his life made him what he eminently be- 
came, a clear, safe, and thoroughly instructive economist. Concurrently 
with this practical training he was, in the best sense and fuilest meaning 
of the word, a student. As early as his business life began, if not even 
earlier, he commenced the collection of a library of social science, politi- 
cal economy, finance, pauperism, organized charities, productive indus- 
tries, and associate and cognate departments of science, now the largest 
and best to be found in the country. This grand collection has not been 
catalogued, or even classified, but it considerably exceeds five thousand 
volumes, and is estimated for the purpose of insurance at a value of 
twenty thousand dollars. To this library and to the books, pamphlets, 
periodical and newspaper articles of his own production, he devoted all 
his leisure. In several lists of cited authorities appended to his own pub- 
lications and criticisms upon them, he furnishes evidence that he was, in 
the language of one of his familiar acquaintances, ‘‘ one of the greediest 
of readers.”’ 
To the commonly accepted authorities on Political Economy, Finance, 
and Policy of Public Affairs, he, however, gave no more than that amount 
of faith and acceptance which they should command from a mind well 
stored with the facts and philosophy of their subjects. Toa friend who 
expressed surprise at his vast collection of books and pamphlets on the 
single subject of Money, he replied when asked if he had perused them 
all, ‘enough to know that there is really little or nothing in them of any 
value.”’ 
His library, besides its completeness in standard works, derives a special 
value from its collection of over twenty-five hundred pamphlets on topics 
