74 The Late Dr. Kane. 



time, nor toil, nor money, to relieve it. I may not violate tlie sa- 

 cred confidence of private friendsliip under any circumstances, and 

 least of all wlien the grave lias for a time sundered tlie ties vi'liicli 

 bound us as earthly friends together ; but were it lawful to speak 

 all I know on this point, both as his almoner and adviser, I could 

 move your generous sensibilities even to tears, by stories of as pure 

 disinterested, liberal, self-sacrificing efforts for others, as any it has 

 been my lot to meet with in the records of human benevolence. 

 Alas ! my countrymen, what is his early grave but a noble testi- 

 monial to his humanity? He is dead himself, because he would 

 snatch others from death. 



Another remarkable trait in his character, was the power he had 

 of commanding and exercising an irresistable influence over men. 

 You, Sir (Mr. H. Grinnell), can bear witness with me to this. You 

 have seen him when, with gentle firmness, when love and resolution 

 were both unmistakablypresent, and both marvellously blended — 

 you have seen him encounter the unequivocal purpose of insubor- 

 dination and rebellion in the person of the enraged, reckless and 

 desperate seaman who refuses obedience, and who possessed a phy- 

 sical power that could have killed him with a blow. You have seen 

 that light, frail frame, that, alas, now sleeps in death, approach 

 with quick, firm step, and with no weapons but such as nature gives, 

 he but fixes his keen eye on the offender, and the clear sound of 

 his voice rings upon the ears, in no tone of passion or anger. He 

 but talks, and there is some strange magic in his manner and his 

 words ; for presently the tears begin to roll down the rugged, sun- 

 burnt cheeks of the hardy seaman ; he has humanized him by some 

 mysterious power made up of love and reason mixed. Rebellion 

 dies, and in its place is born a reverence and affection so deep, so 

 devoted, that to the end of our dead friend's life, none love him 

 better than the vanquished rebel. 



These were some of his qualities as a man. Of what he has 

 done in the cause of science, and of our chosen department in par- 

 ticular, there is but little need that I should speak. In a short ca- 

 reer of but 35 years, he has left upon the times in which he lived 

 his impress so indelibly stamped, that science numbers him with 

 her martyrs, and will not let his memory die. He has told, too, 

 so beautifully and modestly the story of his last suffering pilgrimage 

 in her cause, and that of benevolence, that his remembrance will 

 be kept green in the land of our fathers as well as in our own ; for 

 the English language is our common property, and that which is 



