42  Memoir  of  Thomas  H.  Powers.  {Amjin.%79*rm~ 
"  He  was  aspiring  and  strove  to  qualify  himself  for  whatever  duties 
might  devolve  upon  him.  He  had  a  laudable  ambition  to  make  his 
way  in  the  world  by  industry,  enterprise  and  upright  conduct,  and  he 
seemed  to  have  no  fear  of  his  ability  to  do  so. 
"  During  his  apprenticeship  he  studied  French,  taking  evening, 
lessons,  with  a  view  chiefly  of  its  enabling  him  to  read  chemical  and 
pharmaceutical  publications  in  that  language. 
"  The  Journal  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  contains  a 
translation  made  by  him  at  that  time  of  two  elaborate  papers  by 
M.  Robiquet  and  Boutron  Charlard  on  bitter  almonds  and  their  essential 
oils.1 
"  In  1832  his  health  failed  ;  he  became  very  much  prostrated,  and 
his  friends  became  solicitous  on  his  account.  He  was  sent  into  the 
country  to  the  farm  of  one  of  his  relatives  and  was  absent  for  some 
months.  For  a  time  his  recovery  seemed  doubtful,  accounts  reaching 
us  that  he  was  sustained  only  by  careful  nursing  and  a  generous  diet. 
He  returned  to  the  store  in  apparently  good  health,  and  although  never 
robust,  enjoyed  uniform  good  health  and  vigor. 
"About  this  time  he  came  under  strong  religious  impressions.  I 
remember  frequent  conversations  which  he  had  with  Samuel  Hallowell, 
a  fellow  apprentice  (afterwards  a  clergyman  of  the  Episcopal  church), 
on  religious  subjects  and  the  views  held  by  different  denominations." 
The  result  of  his  religious  exercise  was  his  baptism  in  St.  Andrew's 
Church — Rev.  Gregory  T.  Bedell,  Rector — November  29th,  1833, 
and  his  confirmation  in  the  same  church  March  16th,  1834. 
When  his  pastor,  the  Rev.  John  A.  Clark,  Rector  of  St.  Andrew's 
Church  (successor  of  Dr.  Bedell),  went  to  Europe  in  1837,  on  account 
of  failing  health,  Mr.  Powers  took  a  lively  interest  in  facilitating  his 
departure.  He  had  a  tin  medicine  case  made,  and  furnished  it  with 
medicines  for  his  pastor's  use. 
He  was  also  at  that  time  much  interested  in  and  occupied  with  the 
affairs  of  Emanuel  Church,  in  Kensington.  After  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Clark  left  St.  Andrew's  Church,  Mr.  Powers  attended  St.  Paul's 
Church,  and  had  a  Sunday-school  class  there.  "  I  remember,"  says  a 
fellow-apprentice,  "  on  the  Sundays  when  it  was  his  turn  to  attend  part 
of  the  day  at  the  store,  it  was  his  practice,  in  order  to  be  in  time  for 
1  Vol.  iv,  1833,  p.  67. 
