New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-09


Of the times with unsparing severity. There was no
eQuivocaon in his nature, either in sentiment or in
manner His address to h4 people, resignng bis
pastoral charge OF the Cedar Street Church H. per
haps his greatest oraorcal effort His Plea for Va.
cramcu,nl Communion evinced n liberation worthy Of
apostolic Christianity his address the formation Of
the American Bible Society, prepared within few
hours for the great occasion, by it, masculine yigor
crushed opposition in high quarters and led cap
tive the COnN ention. We have not n man among
NJ, said Olinthus Gregory, of the British Society
"who can cope with your Mason. All have wondered
NJ the sublimty and eane,tness of his address" Ia
his conversation DIR. Mason was an intellectual gladi-
Nior, while his commanding person aud massive front
added force To hi+ argument. lie knew the ductil-
ity Of words aud generally chose the strongest for
strongest thoughts. lie had n nomenclature which
hc often strkngly used. In reference 10 an individual
whose support TO certain measure was about to be
solicited, Put confidence in him., said the doctor,
hes "a lump of nega'ion.' In speaking of the ca
lamtOus state of the wicked and the needy in times
of pestence, he broke forth in this language To
be poor in this world and 10 be damned in the next Il
To be- miserable indeed lie had deep hatred OF the
oldfashoned pulpit, which he called an ecclesatcal
tub, and said il cramped both mind and body. Win
Whitfield, he wished the mountain tor pulpit ana
the heavens for soundng-bosrd. Jiis example IN
introducing the platform IN is stead mas proved 80
effective, that he may claim the merit "f having Ieu
to an innovation which his already become almost
universal among us. As Dr. Masonis historical, ana
portion of our Society treasure could not be- more
brief concerning him. II ever mortal possessed de-
ClSlOn Oi character, lhdt uoltoI was Jun" 4i' '"
Equally noted in another profession was
DR.. DAVID HOsACK.
OF my preceptor and friend David Hosack iet u
he sufficient remark that, distinguished beyond all
his competitors in the healing art, for long series OF
years he acknowledged by every hearer to have
been the most eloquent and impressive teacher OF
scientific medicine and clinical practice this country
has produced. He was, indeed, great instructor;
his descriptive powers and his diagnosis were the adj
mraion of all; bis efficiency in rearing TO state
Of high consideration the College of Physician. and
Surgeons while he held the responsible Office of Pro-
fessor. is known throughout the Republic; his early
mOveme to establish n Medical Library in the New
York Hospitals his cooperation with the numerous
charities which glorify the metropolis his adventul.
Gus outlay for the establishment Of state Botanical
Garden; his hygenc suggestions the better to i'm
prove the medical police ofNewYOfk his primary for
nation of neurological cabinet his copious writings
fever guarantees and fore gn petilcnce, in which
he was the strenuous and almost the sole advocate for
years, Of doctrines verified by popular demOnstra
ton; these and thousand other circumstances, Sc
cured to him weight Of character that was almost
universally felt throughout the metropolis. Ii was
not unfrcquenly remarked by our citizens, that Cln-
ton Hosack and Hobart the tripod on which our
city stood. The lofty aspirations Of llosack were fur
ther evnced by lis whole career as citizen. Sur
rounded by his large and costly library, his house
was the resort Of the learned and enlightened from
every part Of the world. No traveller from abroad
rested satisfied without personal interview with
him; and, at his evening sOlrces, the nerat the
philosopher and the statesman the skillful in natural
science ard the explorer Of new regions, the archie
OlOgst and the theolOgue met together, particpa-
i'll the recreation of familiar intercourse. Your
printed volumes contain all, | believe, lie ever pre-
triumph in services rendered and in hon"rs recey.di
his death was a loss TO New-1ork, the city of his
birth: his remains were followed to the grave by the
eminent of every profession, and by the humble in
life whom his art had relieved. Hosack was man of
profilse expenditure; he regarded money only for
What il might command Had he possessed the wealth
of John Jacob Astor, he might have died poor
Here we have full-leDgth portrait of the learned
and erratic savant,
DIR. MITCHELL.
The universal praise which Dr. Mitchill enjoyed in
almost every part of the globe where science is cult
waited during n long life is demonstratye that his
merits were of high order discourse might be
delivered the variety and extent OF his services IN
the cause Of learning and humanity His character
had many peculiarties his knowledge was diversified
and most extensive if not always profound Like
most Of our sex he was married; but, "a Old Fuller
would say the only issues Of ms body were the pro-
duets of his brain. He advanced the scientific repu-
taton of New-lork by his early PRONUNCIATION OF the
Layoisieran system Of chemistry, when first ap-
puinted professor in Columbia College: his first scie-
tifc paper was an essay on Evaporation his miner
illogical survey Of New-lork, in 1877, gave Nolney
many hints; his analysis of the Saratoga waters
enhanced the Importance of those mineral springs.
His ingenious theory of septic acid gave impulse TO
Sir Humphry Days vast discoveries; his doctrines
pestilcnce awakened inquiry from every class OF
observers throughout the Union; his eXposltions of a
theory of the earth and solar system captivated
minds Of the highest qualities. His correspondence
with Prestey is an example of the delicious manner
in which argument can be conducted IN ph'lo,
sophical discussion; his elaborate account Of
the fishes of orr waters invoked the plauds of Gu
vier. His reflections Somnium evnce psychology
cal views Of original combination. His numerous pa
pcrs on natural history enriched the annals of the Iy
ceum, cf which he was long President. His researches
on the chronological characteristics Of the red man OF
America betrayed the bsneyolence of bis nature and
his generous spirit: his fanciful article for new and
more appropriate geographical designation for the
United States wAs at period topic which enlist
ed a yOlumnous correspondence, now printed In your
proceedings He increased our knowledge of the vegr
liable materia medca of the United states. He wrote
largely 10 Percival noxious agents. He cheered
Fulton when detected; encouraged Livingston in ap-
prop atiOn; awakened new zeal in Wilson the orni-
biologist when the Governor, Tompkns had nlgh par,
alyzed him by his rgid and unieelng receptions ana
with Pintard and Golden, was a Jealous promoter oi
that system of internal improvement which has
stamped immortality the name Of Clinton. lie CO.
operated with Jonathan Williams in furtherance OF
the Military Academy at West Point, ana for long
series of years was important professor OF useful
knowledge in Columbia College and in the College OF
Physicians and Surgeons. His letter to Iilloch OF
London the progress OF his mind III the nvestiga
ton of septic acid is curious as psychooScal docu
ment.
There was q rare union in DR.. Mitchll of mind of
vast and multifarious knowledge and of poetic in
ogery. Even in his Epstles to his Lady Love, the
excellent lady who became his endeared wife, he gave
uterance of his emotions il tuneul numbers, and k-
ened his condition unto that of the dove, with repida-
ton seeking safety in the ark. Ancient and modern
languages were unlocked to him, and wide range IN
ply sicul science, the pabuum of his intellectual re-
past An essay ccmpOsts tractae on the deaf and
dumb verses TO Septon to the Indian tribes might
be eliminated from his mental alembic within the com
pass If few hours. lie was now engaged with the
anatomy of an egg, and now dccipherng Babylonian
bIick now Involved in the nature Of meteorc stones,
now on a different species of bras ica now on the
~, n, ori uatnn NJ fresh Nnfer NOW ON TINT of sRlt