The voyage from Panama to San Francisco was made on the 

 old whaleship Niantic, as I have learned from a fellow-passen- 

 ger, a well known citizen of San Francisco. Among the nearly 

 three hundred emigrants, adventurers and pioneers on that 

 now historic vessel — including men of all grades of character 

 and culture, exhibiting every mood and tense of humanity — 

 " Colonel Jewett was a general favorite with them all." . 

 " He was a gentleman everywhere and at all times." 



In 1859 Numismatics attracted his attention, and with char- 

 acteristic zeal he pursued the study, and got together in five 

 years one of the largest and most valuable collections of coins 

 and medals in the country. 



Early in the beginning of the great civil war, though seven- 

 ty years of age, he wrote to his old commander, who was then 

 at the head of the army, expressing his readiness to enter the 

 service again, in defence of the Union. The reply of his ven- 

 erable chief was to the effect, that the magnitude and probable 

 duration of the struggle, required that its burdens and man- 

 agement should devolve upon younger men. During the fre- 

 quently changing aspect of that prolonged and terrible conflict, 

 those who knew him can tell you how he chafed under this 

 enforced inaction. 



PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. 



In 1866 he visited California again. It was in the month of 

 June of that year when I met him for the first time and with a 

 few members of the Academy, made up a small party for a 

 short excursion to Bolinas Bay. There are others here to-night 

 who must remember with pleasure the climbing of Tamalpais, 

 the descent to the Bay, and the "walks and talks" with him 

 on that occasion. He was with us but a few months, but suf- 

 ficiently long to endear himself to all. After returning East, 

 he made several journeys to Florida, during succeeding win- 

 ters, collecting everything of interest to himself or which might 

 be of service to others. While visiting the East in 1868-70 I 

 again had the pleasure of his companionship on one of these 

 Florida excursions, and with the lamented Stimpson, our little 

 party of three spent the months of January, February and 

 March in the delightful winter climate of that country, collect- 

 ing along the eastern shore and among the keys on the Gulf 

 side of the peninsula. In November 1869, in company with 



