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to the result. His mind was ever open to receive new- 

 light, and so unwedded to theories was he that each new 

 discovery found with him an unbiased consideration. His 

 patience in investigation was only equalled by his per- 

 sistence in seeking and proving new data, whether con- 

 firmatory or destructive of the old. He discovered and 

 announced more than thirty years ago the subsidence of 

 the Jersey coast, and almost his last journey was to 

 the shore after the storms of last Fall, to examine on the 

 spot the ravages of the ocean and weigh their bearing on 

 this well-established fact. 



A few years ago he attended and addressed a meeting 

 of the American Association for the Advancement of 

 Science at Montreal, the place at which in 1857 he 

 announced this discovery. He opened his address with 

 words to this effect: "As I stated when I last addressed 

 you in this place" — and immediately the assembly broke 

 into applause in recognition of the true scientific persist- 

 ence which, after a lapse of thirty years brings confirma- 

 tory evidence, gathered patiently year by year. He was 

 slow and cautious in affirmation. Not given to theorizing 

 and modest to a fault, he had seldom to withdraw a state- 

 ment. Under an impassive demeanor was an enthusiasm 

 which kept him active and zealous to the last in the prose- 

 cution of his chosen studies. By reading, by correspond- 

 ence and personal investigation, he kept pace with the 

 progress of science. Of necessity he was, in consequence, 

 most industrious, frugal in time, yet never so as to despise 

 the humblest channel of information. He kept himself 

 ever in contact with the common people. The fisherman 

 and farmer, the miner and mechanic, knew him, honored 

 him and helped gladly and efficiently in his work. From 

 such sources he gathered facts which, sifted and comple- 

 mented by his own stores of knowledge, helped to build 



