New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-15
LETrERs FROM rHE PEOPLE.
JOEL BENEDICT MOTT.

JOEL BENEDICT MOTT.
THE LIFE OF MAN OF WIDE KNowLgnGg-u,s
INTEREST IN scIEScE-AcQUANTANdf WIFE
POLITICAL ATFARs-AS ExPERIENcR on GrS.
ERAL sHERIDAN's.
TO me Bdttor Of Ths Trt5Wnc
SIR: Joseph Henry and Joel BeDedict Mott
we're born in the same month Of the same year. Deem
ber 1897 and both have passed away during the same
month, May, 1873. The professor Of mathe-
MATES in Albany and the other in schenectady. but
each turned instncvely the study Of the natural
sciences. Unfortunately for science and himself, Mr.
Mott resigned his chair at Union College and went
abroad to introduce into England his fathers then
Mott Stove the first that conquered anthracite
coal and the first base-burner Abiding 10 this, Pro-
fessOr Henry recently said. We scientific men suffered
great when he left u.s." After five years residence
in Europe, Mr. NottreturDed and became an enthusiastic
agTiouturalist Perhaps tho most important public
achievement Of hs life that OF raising the State
Agricultural Society from small club Of gentlemen
farmers present base OF he not alone
in this but his zeal. energy end ability were
spicaous that the society made him their first president
after what might be termed the reorganization and
the first State Far-tha at Syracuse in 1S41-was dur
ing bis presidency.
in political life BIT. Mott a Wing, and member Of
the Utica Convention In 1888, which made Mr. Seward
Governor In 1847 Governor Young rendered 10 him
the position of AdjutantGenera OF this State which he
brilliant and ready speaker and possessed Of extaord.
nary personal popularity, and holding the most intimate
political relations with the party leaders Of his day.
singular fact that he held but political oeethe
insignificant one OF member Of the Legislature in 1850
Ia that body however, such men as Henry Ray
mOnd Joseph BVarnum. Colonel James Monroe, General
James Bowen, Abram Wakeman, and Judge Bacon, OF
Utica and among them he leader In social life DO
was fortunate He the eldest Of the great pre
dent Of Union College, and brother Of the late Dr. John
Mott whose death has likewise occurred during the
same month. His mothers sister was the wife OF the
late James Brown, OF this city and his only sister the
wife OF Alonzo Potter the late Bishop Of Pennsylvania
He was consequently uncle Of the Hon. Clarkson N
Potter of the president OF Union College, and Of
the Rector of Grace Church One Of his sons is Judge
OF the Court Of Claims and soninlaw Is one OF the
Commissioners OF Accounts At college he was the ROOM
mate OF the late William Kent. and the Valedlctorlan OF
his class Among his intimate friends have been DIT.
Tayer Lewis the two BlatchfOrdsour present Circuit
Judge and his father, the former Minister to Rome
William H. Seward, Stephen Van Rensselaer, aud Moses
n. GIinneL Finally, hls wife, who survives him. was
granddaughter Of old LieutenantG 0yernor Tayer,
sister Of the Rev. Charles d. Cooper OF Philadelphia ana
OF General John Tayler Cooper, OF Albany, ana cousin
of the poet Charles FennO Hoffman.
In person is said have Of the handsomest
OF bis day; manly model OF health ana Ygor bear
ing striking resemblance TO that eminent NeW-fork
lawyer Francis 3. Cutting he was universal reader,
a ready taiker, iu Of humor' anecd0te ana JEST yet
field remsTabe instance of this occurred when Gen.
era sheridan visited Albany shortly after the At
answering the civilians nquIies about his battles with
polite evasOns. Suddenly Mr. Mott turned 70 nun ana
asked military question which no CIVILIAN could be sup
posed to nave competent 70 ask, concerning the en-
counter betwt en- his cavalry and tnat OF General B.
Stuart The general thrown OF OF his guard, and be-
fore he knew IL had been drawn INTO an exposition OF
his own strategy Mr. Mott led him Oh, pressing bis in
oures with the inte6ence and earnestness OF another
general eager master the strategy OF sherdan ehef
movements. Some idea OF the skill and ability with
which tins was done may be gathered from the remark
which General Sheridan made 10 one OF his stan az he
drove home: That Dir. Mott made me talk great deal
more than meant to-" In wOrdahe not only could, 0ut
ing with farmers the strategy Of politics with Ihurlow
Weed. the strategy OF war Win sDeuddni inc
problems Of science with Joseph Henry, and
the insight OF Biblical Interpretation with Iavles
Lewis. The closing labor Of Mr. NOtts LIE was
All things considered remarkable, ana VIII prove
It is to be hoped, most useful AT the age OF seEeny
seven with the earnestness OF youth scennc
study OF the Creation in Genesis and for more than o
years including the last day and last evening OF DIS me-
pushed forward In this work increasingly during Tue
last ak months notwithstanding ms great age, ne ec
tured number Of times this subject, and az consG
cradle length. failing to command the unnlnelng
attention OF his audiences II readers will turn back 70
of these lectures, delivered before the Young Mems
Christian Association in this city On the evening OF the
2Ist Of May finished his last lecture" The Seventh
Day I'm Genesis" Al the next morning he had passed
away, going quietly aud quickly Whether his studies
on tie Creation Of Genesis be completed Tor the
press is not known but his scientific training. his
prehensiye knowledge Of geology and astronomy, aIa
his prolonged ana abOrOus consideration OF the subject
render them peculiarly valuable contribution 10
the great discussion of the dayHow may 0e receneiied
the apparent conflict between Science and Constantly
Nelg- l0rS, June 3, 1878.