SKETCH OF CHARLES A. JOY. 4.05 



share which punishment has in the decrease of crime, bnt will 

 repeat that in my opinion prevention is far and away better 

 than any possible cure, and that next to prevention stands cer- 

 tainty of detection and of bringing to justice. Punishment, then, 

 naturally comes into operation to serve as a warning and a deter- 

 rent to the wavering, and to the detected culprit a chastening ex- 

 perience, that should always be accompanied by influences calcu- 

 lated to reform." 



SKETCH OF CHARLES A. JOY. 



By MARCUS BENJAMIN, Ph. D. 



IN tracing the growth of science in this country it is interesting 

 to observe how its development may be followed in the biog- 

 raphies of its leaders ; thus, many of our scientists received their 

 first inspiration from the elder Silliman, while those of a later 

 date acquired their great fondness for the life-work to which they 

 devoted themselves from Louis Agassiz. From the leaders the 

 growth of science passed to the institutions with which originally 

 they were connected; then broadening, it located itself perma- 

 nently with those having the best instruction. In a less degree, 

 but equally true, is such the case in our cities. The story of the 

 development of science in New York city can be acquired almost 

 entirely by reading the lives of such men as Samuel Latham 

 Mitchell, James Renwick, John Torrey, John William Draper, 

 and John Strong Newberry. From these men its growth passed 

 in time to such institutions as Columbia College, the New York 

 Academy of Science, the University of the City of New York, 

 and the Columbia College School of Mines. 



In the development of chemistry in this city Charles Arab- 

 Joy took a prominent part ; and if, perhaps, his name is not as 

 well known as some others, it must be attributed to the long 

 years of retirement — many of which were years of suffering — 

 that he passed in Europe and in his country home prior to his 

 recent death. 



Prof. Joy was born in Ludlowville, Tompkins County, New 

 York, on October 8, 1823. His father was a well-known merchant, 

 but a fondness for literary pursuits seems to have been the habit 

 of the family. An elder brother became distinguished as an able 

 physician, and a sister married an eminent clergyman. With his 

 brother he studied at excellent preparatory schools in Ovid, N. Y., 

 and in Lenox, Mass., and then was sent to Union College, where 

 he was graduated in 1844. Choosing law as his profession, he en- 

 tered Harvard, where he graduated in course at its law depart- 

 ment in 1847, receiving the degree of LL. B. Meanwhile he had 



