Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-03-10

NsisoI tic loved knowledge for itself. | have
heard those we able to Judge, say, that no man in
The state was so universally learned. with The
whole range ofthe natural sciences he was inniil-
lar, aud kept hintsci informed of their progress.
Gle was Intimately acquainted with the classic ali'
ihors in our own, the Lain and Greek tongues.
OF the beauty of the last language, no one bad a
nicer perception. He daily read The Old les'a
mcEt in The original nor was lie Il mean adept in
its historical aud pathological crlllcIsn although
he learned The language without teacher, aud al
ter ho was forty years eiagc ;-indeed, lie only en-
joyed the advantages OF common school oduca'
ton ill after his twentieth year.
lie was enthusiastic in his alteration Of the NOR
nny and of the beauty and sublimlty CT the Bible.
Ofthe authenticity of soufo books Of the Scrip
lures. he Is known to have entertained doubt bat
that at lnst, durng the latter part oi his life he
believed in Tie truth Of Christianity, am conh-
dent.
In n conversation which had wild him n few
weeks before hu completed hts ninetlcth year, he
displayed nn acquaintance with The ctymology, or
biography and prosOdy OF Tie Greek tongue, that,
] ,CnturU to say, would hive cast mo the shade
the requirements Oi half the professors III New
Eng 'au. With such pathological ninutle, as few
ever learn aud s,jIl fewer coUcorn Themselves a"
hout after lrayuc college, he showed himself per-
ferr'y laudar As LETT him, mentioned an ac
cidrrt which, il cous quence OF fall, had hap
!penfd t. his sister in.aw,-a lady like himself adj
Varccd ia hic; Aha !" said he, 81 suppose she
IS like ne, getting old and clumsy. Facs de
sccusns A,crn you know"
TO almost lne day Of his death (for his last ILL
ness vas shore indeed his bodl, health was always
remarkably firm and eouablc,) ho CONTINUED TO
employ his mind octivclj M reading, writing and
rrhccuon md to this it is, without doubt, party
OWN, that his mental Vowcrs,- particularly his
peupo,y-s go loug retained their Nlgor aud irestI-
mes. His huhus oC meditation, and perhaps
tinCG at haueh,ress disinclined him. to converse
wlth most pr,rlc; but when once he was engaged
in ccryer u,.op one was disposed 10 do nothing
bur listen.
ti- stores OF knowledge, and the fund winch
he possessed Of original auecuoies OF JeHcfsuH,
Vast jngtpn, Hamilton and others with whom he
had ir,eic arse while in active life. made his cor"
verSa'ion oi The most interesting kind.
Tie gen. ration in which Judgc Chapman held
so cen- Aicu.us place, has long since passed a
way, aud he has himself lived SO many years in
suc.u>iJn ihat his existence was nlnCsi forgotten
sIrn Icy ,hose who never forget genius aud learn.
lu@. His 1rn,h was necessary to bring wildly toI
IL. mind his character. The absence of an Oh
jeGt Is often necessary to make lis feel it, greatness
We do bo perceive The real magnitude OF iamil-
lar UhE till It is laIleulit lis accustomed place is
vacant.
Such was Nathaniel Chipmnn. 81 a scholar
ripe; as soldier without bemisb as lawyer,
profound; rs Judge, upright; u citizen, pub
lie spirited and liberal us 4 man, honest ms a
Christian -- let God Judge him. e. C.PC