V1I1 PREFACE. 



it, to acquire some profession ; and he knew of none more 

 likely to make him useful and respectable than that he was 

 pursuing. Without therefore seeking to become a profound 

 jurist, he did study very attentively the great principles of the 

 law as applicable both to real and personal property ; and in 

 the discussions which, as you may suppose, would arise 

 among us, for there were many students in the office, Mr. 

 Croom always bore his part most creditably to himself, and 

 argued his point on principles, following them out to their 

 fair results by the powers of his own mind, without knowing 

 much of cases to which his companions referred. In due 

 time, he was admitted to the bar, and in the few causes in 

 which he appeared, acquitted himself well. Adhering how- 

 ever to his original purpose, he would not make the profes- 

 sion his business ; and I think his only object in appearing 

 at the bar at all, was to let it be understood that he belonged 

 to the profession. 



Not long after this, he married the lady who perished with 

 him in the wreck of the "Home ;" and quietly divided his 

 time between the enjoyment of his family circle, the care of 

 his estate, and his literary pursuits. The natural sciences 

 very soon occupied a large share of his attention. Geology 

 and Mineralogy became favourites, and of his ardent love of 

 Botany, you are qualified to speak more fully than I can. 

 He had devoted also much attention to the subject of Ame- 

 rican history, and, I know, contemplated a publication on 

 some of the colonial events of our native state, North Caro- 

 lina. In short sir, he loved letters with a pure and beautiful 

 love. 



When such a man dies, every true lover of learning must 

 feel that a worthy companion is gone. I feel more than this, 

 I have lost a friend of pure mind and gentle spirit, who re- 

 lishing not the turmoil of the world, sought for his quiet 

 pleasures in the cultivation of his intellect. Learned without 

 ostentation, and modest without timidity, with a delicate per- 

 ception and exquisite enjoyment of the beautiful in letters, 



