New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-07

fessor Potter instituted public scientific lectures for
the benefit OF the young mechanics and apprentices
in Schenectady and organized them into an associa-
tion for reading and other exercises for mental inn
provement This was among the first of the ex-
perments ont of which has grown the establishment
of young mems lyceums, Institutes, libraries, and
reading rooms throughout the country His efforts
in this direction show how much of his time and
thoughts was given to class for which college pro-
fessOrs and literary celebrities often have but little
care. He was as thoroughly republican in the world
of Letters of civil rights, while he was in neither
fanatic nor a demagogue. He would open every post
Of honor and influence to free competition, but dd
not maintain the right of every rude hand to seize
upon important trusts without previous training
He sought to elevate society TO a high plane OF
activity and enjoyment, not TO drag 1t down lhto
noisome swamp where existence becomes almost IN
tolerabe.
DR.. Potter was a republican on principle HIS
faith in free political institutions not due To the
accident of birth He believed society to be capable
of self government. His love of man inspired MN
with the liyeest interest in the diffusion OF knowi-
edge and the increase of public intelligence anu
virtue. He had wish to keep science III the po'-
session of privileged few and TO hold the rest OF te
world in a state of darkness and depression hence
his strenuous and enlightened labors IN beha1 Oh
common schools which, in conjunction with those
of other distinguished friends of education, exerted
a leading influence in mOldiDg the educational sys-
TEN of his native State.
In 1916, DIR. Potter was elected TO the once OF
Bishop of Pennsylvania, from which time his ener-
Qies mainly given TO the administration oil uhe
Church and other important ecclesiastical functions.
We need not follow him in the further details of his
long and vigorous career. He devoted himself with
tbo dfccb IF nc
repeated warnings admOnished him that his labors
were too great for his strength and had seriously
impaired the resources of his admirable physical
constitution. At length, he compelled to abstain
entirely from intellectual exertiOn and decided 10
accept an invitation from the Pacific Steamship Co.,
TO take passage in of their vessels for san Fran
cisco by the waysof the Straits Of Magellan. lie ar
rived in the harbOr of that city the LIST of July,
1875, but already PROSTATE with fever which
he had contracted by landing the Isthmus and
passing a night at Aspinwall and too weak to
be removed from the ship. He fingered until the
morning Of the Fourth when he breathed his last as
the boom of and the peal of bells announced
the national anniversary.
The present volume lays no claim to high literary
excellence nor to elaborate artistic finish in its
rangementsand execution but it presents faithful
and apprecatye record of benefcent and noble ca
reer In the narrative of events, the method some
times becomes obscure through want Of strict adj
herence TO chronological order, so that it is not al
ways easy to find the consecutive links which con-
meet the history in a uniform whole. But there is
nothing overchafged extravagant in the compost
ton. The biographer for the most part modestly
keeps himself in the background, as if deeply I'm
pressed by the i1najesty of the subject. lie makes
no attempt TO exhibit the massive nature OF Bishop
Potter in the light of artificial portraiture, but
strives reproduce the original in its natural col
ors and proportions. His work may he regarded as
Doric column TO a man of granite texture of char
acter. in which any fanciful embellishments would
be out of place.