34 



clear exposition were calling forth, — only of what he was 

 simply telling and showing you. Then to those who, like his 

 pupils and friends, were in personal contact with him, there 

 was the added charm of a most serene and sweet temper. 

 He was truthful and conscientious to the very core. His 

 perfect freedom, in lectures as well as in writing, and no 

 less so in daily conversation, from all exaggeration, false 

 perspective, and factitious adornment, was the natural ex- 

 pression of his innate modesty and refined taste, and also of 

 his reverence for the exact truth. 



It has been a pleasure to learn, from former college stu- 

 dents, who hardly ever saw him except in the lecture-room, 

 that he gave to them much the same impression of his gifts 

 and graces, and sterling worth, that he gave us who knew 

 him intimately — so transparent was he, and natural. 



With all his quick sense of justice, and no lack of occasion 

 for controversy, it seemed to cost him no effort to avoid it 

 altogether. He made no enemies, and was surrounded by 

 troops of life-long friends. When he first went abroad, in 

 1841, he was told by some near friends, who recognized his 

 promise, that a chair of Natural History in his alma mater 

 would soon have to be filled, and that he should be presented 

 as a candidate. In the winter following, the present incum- 

 bent, responding to an invitation to visit Boston, which he 

 had never seen, and to consider if he would be a candidate, 

 then first heard of Wyman's name and of his friends' ex- 

 pectations or hopes ; whereupon he dismissed the subject 

 from his mind. Probably he felt more surprise than did Dr. 

 Wyman when notified, a few months afterwards, of the choice 

 of the Corporation. The exigencies of the Botanic Garden 

 probably overbore other considerations. I doubt if Dr. Wy- 



