242 
BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  CHARLES  MARSHALL. 
both  botanist  and  chemist,  and  to  superintend  the  preparation 
and  manufacture  of  most  of  the  remedies  then  in  use.  For  this 
department  he  had  a  remarkable  aptitude,  and  his  skill  and  in- 
tegrity contributed  largely  to  the  reputation  of  the  establishment. 
In  the  early  part  of  the  present  century,  after  a  long  career 
of  usefulness  and  prosperity,  he  retired  from  the  active  duties  of 
business,  and  resigned  it  to  his  son  and  successor,  (afterwards  a 
member  of  this  College,)  and  having  acquired  an  ample  compe- 
tence, he  entered  upon  the  enjoyment  of  those  literary  and  do- 
mestic tastes  which  were  so  congenial  to  him. 
By  the  concurrent  testimony  of  his  cotemporaries,  he  possessed 
scrupulous  probity  of  character,  combined  with  great  urbanity  of 
maimers.  He  was  beloved  by  a  large  circle  of  friends,  and  his 
house  was  the  abode  of  refinement  and  hospitality.  In  this 
connection  we  may  remember  the  testimony  of  one  of  our  col- 
leagues, who,  near  the  close  of  life,  in  recurring  to  the  family  of 
Marshall's,  with  whom  he  had  served  his  apprenticeship,  made 
the  assertion  that  "  few  nobler  men  ever  lived  than  Charles 
Marshall.7' 
We  cannot  better  describe  his  personal  appearance  than  in 
the  language  of  one  who  knew  him  long  and  intimately  in  the 
domestic  circle : 
"  In  stature,  Charles  Marshall  was  about  six  feet  hicfh,  of 
slender  mould,  clear  complexion,  blue  eyes,  and  graced  with  a 
benignant  expression  of  countenance,  heightened  in  its  effect  to- 
wards the  close  of  life  by  the  snowy  whiteness  of  his  hair,  which, 
in  ample  volume,  descended  nearly  to  his  shoulders.  His  costume 
was  uniformly  plain,  and  equally  uniform  in  color,  being  the  drab 
then  in  vogue  with  the  Society  of  Friends,  of  which  he  was  a 
consistent  and  life-long  member." 
A  few  years  after  his  retirement  from  active  business,  the 
establishment  with  which  his  name  had  been  for  many  years 
associated,  loaned  the  endorsement  of  the  firm  to  a  large  amount, 
and  involved  all  connected  with  it  in  bankruptcy.  The  senior 
partner,  who  was  entirely  ignorant  of  these  proceedings,  was 
then  in  advanced  life;  but  he  met  the  shock  with  fortitude,  and 
without  hesitation  gave  up  his  property  for  the  benefit  of  the 
creditors. 
