108 THE ISLAND OF NANTUCKET. 



on copper and other metals, made several chemical and 

 other scientific discoveries, calculated eclipses, under- 

 stood and could speak the French language, and was 

 one of the best astronomers, mathematicians, and me- 

 chanics of his day. 



" His school education in youth was very limited; he 

 never attended a high school, academy, or college, was 

 almost wholly self-taught, but was surpassed by few 

 collegians or others in any branch of business. He 

 never learned any trade, but was a natural genius. 

 When I met the late Hon. Win, Mitchell in Cambridge, 

 a short time before his death in 1869, he told me 'a 

 greater mathematician than Walter Folger never lived, 

 if so great.' 



" Once when going as a representative to Congress, 

 Mr. Folger and his sons carded, spun, and wove his 

 cotton and woollen cloth, cut out and made his whole 

 suit, and he went to Congress dressed — clear of hat 

 and shoes — entirely in home-made clothing." 



This is encouraging home industry with a ven- 

 geance, and the compiler would suggest that some of 

 our modern congressmen make a note of it, especially 

 those who are continually shouting for a higher pro- 

 tective tariff. Individuals and nations should be pro- 

 ducers as well as consumers. 



Charles James Folger. 



This distinguished and truly great man was born at 



Nantucket, in an old house which stood on the site of 



the Sherburne House on Orange Street. This event 



occurred in the year 1818, consequently Judge Folger 



