Jacob Green, Chemist, 1790-1841 EDGAR FAHS SMITH
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vania, John Maclean of Princeton, and Jeremiah Day of Yale, all professors of Natural Philosophy, were not thoughtlessly bestowed, and to them the "Epitome" appealed strongly. It is a delightful as well as a the noble, silent-&en scattered here and there, each in his own remarkable book. I t gives a condensed but illuminating department, silently thinkiug, silently working, whom no morning newspaper makes mention of1 They are the salt of the earth1 history of electricity and devotes more than half of its pages to experiments which, as they are described, .;. . , And Dr. Green'senthusiasm for science and his evidently represent the trials made by the young earnestness in itspursuit 'iie beautifully portrayed in authors themselves. The "Epitome" is now a rare the following lines from. .Es.pen (1834) : volume. Students of science in general would find genuine pleasure in its perusal. A student of elemenI t is not from the products of the earth, nor from the crude materials with which a country may abound, that her resources must tary physics would lose nothing in acquainting himself arise; but wealth, power, and usefulness must he sought, by en- with its contents. couragiag and pursuing 'that active and profound knowledge Nearly every member of Green's college class (1807) which ascertains the principles, qualities, combinations, and use became distinguished in some field of endeavor. For of the animal. vegetab1e;'and mineral kingdoms. How important then it is for every community t o give t o the pursuits of science example, David F. Schaeffer was a founder and presithat encouragementwhich she requires and of right demands. dent of the General Synod of the Lutheran Church, Great and almost equal is.her iduence on national independence as well as the editor of the Lutheran Intelligacer from a s on personal charact&. No axiom is more generally true in 1826-1831; Samuel H. Turner was Professor of its individual, and none more certainly true in its national appli- Hebrew in Columbia University for 31 years; Thomas cation, than that-knowledgeis power. How wonderful and striking the difference between-the poor, the rude and wandering sav- I. Wharton was editor of the Analectic Magazine and age of our western wilderness, trembling before the elements, coxftributor to the famous Portfolio, while Jacob Gratz depending on his solitary, udaided exertions for f w d , for shelter, figured prominently as a State Senator and promoter for clothing, and for arms; 'with the civilized man who, strong in of the Canal System of the State of Pennsylvania. the resources of science and society, rides over the ocean, even on There being in the class of 1807 a goodly sprinkling the wings of the tempest, who!directs his course over the pathless expanse by night or by day, with nnening certainty, who disarms of candidates for the ministry of whom Green was fond the lightning of its power.,.yho subjects the stars t o his calcula- and HE subject of this sketch was a quiet,earnest worker m the field of science, probably one of that group called by Carlyle,
tions, fixes the period of their revolutions, measures their distances, and estimates their weight as by a balance, who ascends the airy canopy of heaven, penetrates into the profound recesses of the earth, or plunges intothe depths of the sea; who robs disease of half its terrors; makes fire, air, earth, and water his ministering servanis; "and standing, as it were. on the confines of nature, seems, as by a talisman, to give energy and life t o the very atoms of matter." , , . .. . . ...,... ...
as his mind was deeply imbued with religious feeling and a strong
sympathy for his fellow creatures, of whatever race, color or condition,
many thought that he would enter that profession. However, to medicine he turned, "but witnessing several severe surgical operations" he espoused the law, was admitted to the bar, and entered upon a successful practice. More congenial pursuits were still insistently beckoning to this possessor
Could Green have dreame'dhf the marvels and wonders science would disclose in t h e q u i n g century? In boyhood he developed a taste for botany and made an extensive collection of plants; the other of a mind well stored with a knowledge of the natural sciences and of English literature, especially poetry, of .which he was resciences also jealously contending for his attention. markably fond For, shortly after receiving his A.B. degree in 1807 (University of Pennsylvania), he joined his friend His contributions in these fields constituted his avocaErskine Hazard in the preparation and publication of tion rather than vocation, and with such excellent "An Epitome of Electricity and Magnetism-by two results did he work that in 1812 he was elected an gentlemen in Philadelphia-1809." The authorship honorary member of the class of 1812 at Rutgers was long unknown, but the excellence of the work, its College and given an A.B. degree which, three years cordial reception, and its prompt adoption very likely later (1815), was changed to A.M., and in that same caused the young authors to divulge their identity. year Princeton awarded him its A.M. gratiae causa. Their effort brought them a worthy reputation. It Plainly he was making his imprint. While in Albany in 1814 Green delivered an address must be remembered that as Green was but 17 years of aae when he maduated (1807) as valedictorian of before the Society for the Promotion of Useful Arts his class, he was, n the appearance of the "Epitome," on the "Botany of the United States." It was able, stiU in his teens. The encomiums of such distinguished timelv. and r e ~ l e t ewith most valuable information. men as John McDowell of the University of Pennsyl- He a%o submi'tted to the Society "A Catalogue of 418
Plants Indigenous to the State of New York." I t was published. The plants cataloged had been collected by Le Conte, Pursh, Eddie, Whitlow, Edmonston, Beck, "and myself." Other sciences, genuinely loved by him, were calling but personal matters, deserving notice, are now due. To begin, Green was socially well connected. On his father's side he could claim Abraham Pierson, Yale's first President, as a great-great-grandfather, while his mother was a daughter of Richard Stockton, Qq., of Princeton-a member of an intellectual and prominent New Jersey family. He bore the name of his grandfather, Jacob Green, a Harvard graduate who, however, gave his life and means to the npbuilding of Princeton; indeed, he served the latter institution as administrative head holding the title of VicePresident. The father of Jacob Green, the scientist, was Ashbel Green, who, as a stripling, served in the militia of the Revolutionary War. Later he entered Princeton, graduating with the valedictory of his class and became a tutor in the college. Ashbel Green hesitated between the law and the ministry, the latter, in the end, winning him. His post was 6rst as assistant, then as full pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia (the Church of the revered Dr. Sproat) where he was active for a period of 25 years, when the invitation to the presidency of Princeton came to him. In this appointment he continued from 1812 to 1822. The universal opinion was that Ashbel Green was a truly great, good, humble, and devout man. With a spiritual and intellectual background as here indicated it is not at aU surprising that in due course Jacoh Green himself should have won from the public the expression that honesty and uprightness were dominant traits in his character.
that he was a most excellent Christian gentleman and chemical philosopher.
and hence one is quite prepared for this statement in Maclean's "History of Princeton": The most important measure a t this meeting of the Board (1818) was the erection of a professorship, under the title "the Professor of Chemistry. Experimental Philosophy, and Natural History," and the election of Jacob Green, a son of President Green, t o fill this newly-established chair, his salary t o be one thousand dollars a year. The professor-elect t w k the usual oaths a t a special meeting of the B a r d an the 24th and 25th of November (1818).
And in the "Life of Ashbel Green" appears this note: On October 18th I attended awin the meetine of the Board of -~ ~~~ofr chcmisrry Trustees. My son Jacoh was appoinwd p r ~ f e ~ s o and experimental philu,ophy. I hope this will be n hlessing to him as I have looked to God to order I he matter for his glory, and for the good of the college and of my son. ~~
The "History of Princeton" also sets forth that: The measure creating a new chair did not originate with President Green, hntwhen proposed t o him he favored it, and wisely maintained its propriety and importance, irrespective of the person who might be called to fill it.
Thus, at 28 years of age, Jacob Green was launched upon his first professorial venture. It will he interesting to follow him in his scientific career. There was very little with which he could prosecute his labors if one may judge from the college statement that Professor Green be allowed a roam in the college with the usual perquisites of a tutor.
His working tools were few and very inadeqhate for the oumoses he had in mind. The bill assigned Green. wiz.,"chemistry, experimental philosophy, and natural history." was also no small consignment. Among the readers of these lines may be some who will recognize in Green's duties something akin to what they did even years after the days of Green. It was not a chair, but literally chairs, which he was called upon to fill. Bravely, he assumed his task, determined to do that which -he could do under prevailing circumstances. Having become the fourteenth professor in the faculty of earlv Princeton. and desirous of accomnlishin~something in addition to his teaching, he became a contributor to Silliman's Jourrml in 1820, just two years after the assumption of his chair, his initial commnnication being "An inflammableair lamp." Volta had constructed such a device, using hydrogen gas, but it suffered from the inconvenience that the reservoir, containing the hydrogen gas, soon became exhausted. This defect Gay-Lussac had sought to remedy by suspending a bar of zinc in the apparatus so as to produce, by a'sort of self-action, as much gas as was exhausted. A
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Another fault remained; the eledrophones connected with the instrument, like all other electrical machines, were so much influenced by the state of the weather that there were seasons when the smallest spark could not he obtained.
To obviate this inconvenience and thus he independent of the state of the atmosphere was the purpose of Green's new contrivance, and -it proved most satisfactory. Singularly enough James Cutbush, another of our early chemists, was likewise employed in improving the Volta lamp. He wrote upon the subject and his article followed that of Green in Sdliman's J o u d . Green further occupied himself in the study of snow crystals, delineating 80 different admirable figures of snow and of obsenring their numberless varieties.
Instantaneous crystallization engaged his attention and he wrote, I n preparing nitric acid from nitrate of potash and sulphuric acid. I had occasion t o stop the process just as the red fumes made their appearance. The next day I found the solution perfectly transparent and upon admitting the atmospheric air, no change took place, hut upon dropping into it a small piece of nitrate of potash, crystallization immediately ensued, and the whole was quickly solidified. There was, I think, a larger quantity of caloric extricated during the above process, than in the instantaneous crystallization of the sulphate of s o d a a n o t h e r difference was that the solidification did not, as far as I observed, commence on the upper surface and proceed gradually downward as in the sulphate of soda, but began t o form rdund the small pieces of nitre which were thrown in.
In 1821, Green called attention to the fact that a President Ashbel Green having concluded to withkinsman of his, residing near Princeton, had successfully draw from his high office at the same time (1822), grown the cotton plant in his garden where there was a father and son repaired to Philadelphia and resided northwestern exposure. The plants matured well there; the father engaging in the prosecution of theological undertakings, and Jacob Green occupying hiand self with literary and scientific pursuits for the next t hestaple was very fineand abundant, so that articles of domestic three years, amidst congenial surroundings, into which u.;e such as stockings, glovci, e m , etc., were manufnctured from he had first been brought to light on July 26, 1790. Back once more with associates of formei days he He believed that the plant could be cultivated much soon became so engrossed in studies dear to him that further to the north than was generally supposed. he may well have said, as did Benjamin Rush, occupant To Silliman, the Elder, Green also addressed com- of the first independent chair of chemistry in our munications "on the history of animals," porfions of country (1769) : these "fragments" appearing in the Journal. Many of them had decided merit. Sdence is my mistress; my books are my companions; my study He sought also to overcome the inconveniences of ismy grave; there I lie buried; the world forgetting, by the world forgot. the ordinary blowpipe, a laboratory instrument which has undergone so many varieties But from this profound and blessed reverie Green in construction. was rudely awakened in 1825 by that singularly positive and aggressive character--George McClellanHis modifications proved most helpful. Another communication (1821) to Silliman con- eminent in the field of surgery, with the call to join veyed the interesting news that Dr. Hosack had pre- him and others in the foundation of Jefferson Medical College, now justly famous the world over as a center sented to the College of New Jersey of thorough and excellent teaching and research in all a very handsome collection of minerals-me thousand spesimens. subjects pertaining to medical education. Green responded and was chosen the first professor of chemOf the collection Hosack himself said: istry in Jefferson Medical College.' In the early strugAs the *st collection that crossed the Atlantic, and as the parent gles of the school, having had the good taste to refrain of many others of much greatervalue and extent, it perhaps merits from controversy, he fortunately and happily sncregard a s such. ceeded in retaining the friendship of all his colleagues; Of the minerals in and about Princeton, Green re- and of the first faculty, his period of service was longer ported that they were few and than any of his professional associates, terminating possess but very little interest. Yellow earth is found on the only upon his death. side of a hill in our neighborhood-it is used for painting carHe was in a congenial chair. His contemporaries riag-nd is by artists considered as a very good substitute for were Robert Hare, in the Medical School of the Univerthe tena de Sienna-ith Prussian blue it forms a v a y delicate of Pennsylvania; William Keating, teaching sity olive yellow calm. chemistry in the School of Arts of the same institution; Thus, doing everything to promote science in the Joseph Cloud, chemist of the United States Mint; several directions in which it was possible for him to John Redman Coxe, actively engaged in experimental proceed by virtue of his limited means, he became a chemistry and along literary lines on the same subject; popular and esteemed professor; but the governing while at the Academy of Natural Sciences were those board of the colleee. embarrassed bv lack of funds. began to repent it to N r . Daltau, and passed some time in his little laboratory, which uccupies one of the rouma of the Liternry and Philosophical Soriety of Manchester. We examined the instruments and the rooms of the Society together. A good half length portrait of Mr. D. is a t one end of the room in which the Society meets, and of which he is the president. On the opposite wall is the portrait of Mr. Henry, father of the present Dr. Henry, author of the chemistry so long used in America, as a textbook in our colleges. He is highly respected by all the inhabitants of this town. I regretted t o learn from Mr. Dalton that Dr. Henry was probably away from home. I was much gratified in examining the rooms and the furniture of this Society. ~~~
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On this occasion it must have been that the conversation drifted to the atomic theory. Davy, as recorded elsewhere, was disposed to accord the discovery of this fundamental theory to Higgins but in Green's "Chemical Philosophy" on p. 434 appears this paragraph: When in Europe we had an interview with Mr. Dalton, on this subiect. and are nerfedv satisfied that this ohilosooher had not seen the work of Mr. Higgins tlll after he haJ given a n account of his own doctrine. The obwrvations of Mr. Higgins, therefore. though highly creditable to his sagacity, do not affect Mr. I M ton's claims t o originality. They were made, moveover, in so casual a manner, as not only not t o haveattracted the notice of his contemporaries, hut t o prove that Mr. Higgins himself attached no particular interest t o them. Mr. Dalton's real merit lies in the discovery of the laws of combination, a discovery which is solely and indisputably his; but in which he would have been anticipated by Mr. Higgins, had that chemist perceived the importance of his own opinions. ~
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Roaming at will Green could not resist the temptation to tarry a bit a t the old town of Derhy, which stands on the Dement; and mentions in the Notes that
the most attractive object t o me was All Saints Church, built in Henry the VII's time. Almost all the Earls and Dukes of the Cavendishfamilv areinterred in this church: and more than all the rest, here lie theremains of the honorable kenry Cavendish, one of the most accurate chemists of his time, and the illustrious d i r coverer of hydrogen gas, the composition of water and of nitric acid.
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Despite the saintliness generally accorded him, Green in the next lines unconsciously discloses his human side: The stage brought me t o a little town on the banks of the Trent, called Burton--everyone has heard of the fine ale which is brewed here--and from curiosity, if not from thirst, I called for a tumbler of the best Burton ale. I have not meat faith in the exquisite sensibility of the gustatory organs, said l o hc porwsaed hy certain persons-nr any rate. I would just now prefer t o have a draught of the ale made in Philadelphia or Durlinglon.
Green fairly reveled in the marvelous treasures of the British Museum. He soon formed one of those accidental but truly delightful and helpful acquaintances with Mr. Gray, the skilful zoologist of the institution. By him he was introduced on every side to men of distinction. Thus he attended an evening meeting of the Geological Society, then under the presidency of Buckland. With interest he participated in events of the meeting and enjoyed the customary aftermath supper. Mr. Gray also accompanied him to the Royal Institution, celebrated throughout the world as the scene of Sir H. Davy's experiments on the alkalies. I was here introduced t o Mr. Faraday, whom I found exceedingly affable and communicative. Mr. Faraday has enriched chemical science with many brilliant discoveries; and I was now as mnch pleased with his gentlemanly manners, as I before had been interested by his philosophical researches. He showed me, a t my request, some of the original instruments in electra-magnetism, which he had invented, and which first turned my attention t o that curious subject. I saw also, in ruins, the great galvanick battery, which has made so much noise in the chemical world-Mr. Children's famous colorimoter, and the original instrument with which Cavendish ascertained the composition of water. Other contrivances of this great man were also shown me; they are all of a rude constmction. The laboratory of the institution is mnch smaller than I expected lecture t o find it: it is. however.. verv convenient. The eeneral room i i the best I have yet seen, bur theapparatus i, by nomeans soerten,i\.eas it is tu many of our o m inrtiturion\. ~
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And on Tuesday, June 10, 1828, at nine o'clock in the morning, Green went t o hear a lecture a t the Royal Institution, by W. T. Brande, Esq., successor t o Sir H. Davy. It was one of the last of his course on chemistry, and was illustrated with but few interesting experiments. Mr. B. is a fluent but not a very agreeable lecturer; his class consisted of about one hundred students.
While on June 12, at six o'clock, he dined with the Royal Society and had the honour of being a t the head of the tahle next the president-Mr. Gilbert, a member of Parliament, a very afiable man, highly distinguished as a mathematician and natural philosopher. He had succeeded S i r Humphrey Davy as President. Next below me was Sir Everard Home, a very agreeable and polite gentlemsn; he unfortunately. however, swore now and then. There were a number of eminent men a t the table. A clergyman. the Rev. Mr. Connybeare, returned a very short mace after meat, just before we drank the health of the king, which is always customary on these occasions.
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Dr. Wollaston and Sir H. Davy were both absent. After dinner. a t about half-past eight, we all adjourned t o Somerset House. where are the rwms of the Royal Society. Here I had the pleasure of witnessing one of their sessions. An ingenious, though dull paper, on friction, was read. The room is hung round with a number of portraits of great men: that of Dr. Franklin held a conspicuous place among them. Before the Society met, I was introduced by my friend Mr. Children, who is deservedly held in high estimation here, both as a man of science and as a gentleman, t o the Society of Antiquaries.
One almost wrestles with envious feelings as the pages of Green's "Notes" are rapidly turned and his experiences read; thus: I n the evening (June 19. 1818) I was invited t o the Royal Institution, t o hear a lecture by Mr. Faraday. The large lecture room was crowded with ladies and gentlemen, who listened for more than an hour with the utmost attention, while the lecturer and sometimes eloauent stvle. us an in a olain...~ersuicuaus. . . . eave account of the past, present, and future prospects of the Thames tunnel. . . The whole lecture was illustrated by numerous diagrams and models, so as t o make the operation of tunnelling perfectly intelligible t o everyone. Such recreations and amusements, as we had this evening, are eminently calculated t o improve the of the ~~~d~~~~~at least seem as state of societyand a much disposed t o encourage literary and scientifick institutions, as the abominations of Covent Garden and Drurv Lane theatres. or those of Vauxhall.
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And then he nayvely wrote: The immensr Ixrweries of London have d r a y s been to me ohjecra of great curiosity. An Englishman and good porter scrm almost identified in my mind-and since my arrival in the kingdom, I have drank scarcely anything else but beer, in some shape or other-from brown stout down t o swipes and two-penny.
Eventually, after sundry harmless adventures, he arrived in Paris and noted that At night Paris is very well lighted by large Lamps, suspended in the centre of the streets by cords, which are stretched from the houses on one side t o those on the other. Much of the oil burnt is derived from the coleza, the plant I have formerly mentioned. M;mv of the and cafes are. however. illuminated with eas. - - - ~ ~shoos , Thccultivnrion of thecoleza plant iu the Unirrd States. I have no douht, would surreed very scll, nnd the oil crtrartrd from it by pressure would, in some of our western districts, prove an economical substitute for spermaceti and other animal oils. The candles used here are beautiful and peculiar t o Paris. They are called stearic or pearl candles; they have no grease or oil in their comoosition. The orocess for makina- them is not aenerallv known. I visited a lahoratnry nhcre the process was going lorward, and will communicate on my rerum home, to some manufactmer. thc little information ou the s u b j c t which I ubrainrd. Except in two or three instances, the chemical Laboratories are on a much smaller scale than I expected t o see them, being for the most part confined t o the manufacture of a few articles ~
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Green was apparently greatly impressed by the reception shown him. Thus, of Cuvier, he said, He treated me with more civility and kindness than any other French gentleman in Paris. I expect t o pass tomorrow evening a t his house, in company with a party of savants, who usually meet there once a week for conversation.
Further along he records: From the Lnnemhoure we went t o the School o f Mines. which I wa5 desirous of just seeing, as three of m y friend- in l'hilaclelphia were here in,tnlrted in the art of chemical analysis, and in all the processes conuectcd with metallurgy and the working of ~
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mines. The cabinets of minerals I found interesting and extensive. Not more than 20 pupils are admitted at one time. . . After this we visited the Schwl of Medicine. This is a grand, extensive, and convenient establishment. I t is, no doubt, the first medical school in France, if not in Europe. I could enter into a great many details on this subject, but they would not prove very interesting t o you. I had an opportunity of witnessing the examination of a candidate for his degree. There was a great deal of parade and formality about the affair. The professors wore silk gowns and square red velvet caps, and the candidate also had on a peculiar dress. They first examined,his thesis. which was printed, each of the officers having a copy, and turning to the pages from which the inquiries were made. As far as I beard the questions, they were fair, minute, and severe. The cabinet of anatomical preparations attached t o this school is remarkable for the variety, multiplicity, and beauty of its contents. The wax models I thought exceedinglyfine.
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He was courteously and kindly escorted by Mr. Warden, the American Consul. to the French Institute. where We were seated in the hall before many of the members had assembled, and those who were the most distinguished were pointed out t o me by Mr. Warden, as they entered. The Count Chaptal took his seat close t o mine. I was astonished to see him look not more than 50 years old; his complexion, like that of most elderly French gentlemen, is very sallow, and the expression of his features was rather mild and pleasant than powerful. Not far from him sat the famous Gay-Lussac, busily occupied in reading same papers; Robiquet, the chemical analist, leaned over his shoulder. Directly opposite t o me was the aged and sightless Lamarck; he was conducted t o his seat with great care and peculiar kindness, by Biot and Arago, the 6rst mathematicians perhaps now living. The infirmities of age have almost completely disabled Lamarck. I was exceedingly fortunate in seeing this great naturalist, as he will perhaps never be found in publick again. The barons Fourrier and Cuvier, two of the perpetual secretaries of the Institute, were close by me on my right, with many other venerable and distinguished men. As each member receives an annuitv from government, of which he forfeits ten francs (two dollars) for nonattendance, the meetings of the Institute are always well attended. . . . After the members were called to order with a bell, the Baron Cuvier read the title pages of 30 or 40 books or pamphlets, presented by the authors t o the Institute, during the week which intervenes between their sittings. Some of the works were from my friends in America; and had they seen the sang froid with which their labours were noticed, their pride of authorship would have been highly piqued. After this, there was a short and animated extemoorarv debate. between the Baron Tbenard. . Arago, and some others, which was nor only instructive but highly a m u h g . 'l'hcnard is somerhing of the benu in hi, dress: he looks a good deal younger than his long reputation as a chemist would seem to indicate, and is quite fluent and animated in his style of speaking. A long and dull, though valuable essay, an a scientifick subject, was now read, in the midst of which I followed the example of many others, and left the hall.
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As might be expected Green did not omit a visit to the Sorbonne-what scientific student would?--and observed in his "Notes" for July 19: I passed a considerable part of this day a t the Sorboone, an establishment peculiarly interesting t o me, on account of the lectures on physical science which are now delivering here, by professors of the highest reputation. The Sorbonne comprises a number of edifices, arranged in the form of a hollow square. It was rebuilt from its ruins by Cardinal Richelieu, and in the church there is a fine monument t o his memory. The great Gay-Lussac lectured for us today, in a large and convenient amphitheatre, well filled with an exceedingly attentive audience: his subject was the nature and properties of cyanogen, or the base of Prussic acid, a substance which he bad himself discovered; but through-
out his whole lecture, which continued more than a hour and a half, he never once hinted that most of the facts which he noticed were derived fram his own ingenious researches. The eminent philosopher does not appear more than 45 years of age: his countenance is by no means impressive or prepossessing; his manner is however oleasine. and his discourse was delivered with meat fluency and ease, without the aid of any notes. This I thought remarkable, as he frequently rattled off the atomic weights of a number of substances, t o the sixth or seventh decimal figure. I thought him rather repetitious; yet perhaps this is a good fault in a scientifick lecturer. The principles and the facts he turned over and over, in a very elaborate manner, presenting them t o the class in almost every possible manner. He unfortunately failed, like all other demonstrative teachers, in some of his experiments; and I was greatly gratified t o notice the silence and sympathy of the whole audience, on such occasions. The apparatus he used was neither showy nor extensive, and in point of manipulation he was not as neat and expert as many of our professors a t home. After the lecture was over. I was pleased t o see the great philosopherlay aside all formality, and amuse the students who crowded and around the lecture table, with some chemical experiments. From the dress and general appearance of the students who mled the Lecture room, they for the most part seemed indigent persons, who were acquiring knowledge, not so much fram the impulse of curiosity, or a love of science, as with a view of obtaining a future subsistence. The facilities enjoyed in Paris for the prosecution of scientifick researches, for the acquisition of learning. and for the study of the fine arts, are unrivalled. ~~~
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enjoyed by Green' The entire trip was and those who read his "Notes" will promptly understand his enthusiasm. Going eastward he has aboard the packet Algquin, sailing from New Castle, Delaware. The oassencer list consisted of 20 concenial persons, and on propitious nights Green had much happiness in explaininl: .- the constellations visible from the deck. with the 'Onsent and aid, he experimented on the Pressure of the sea at various d e ~ t h s . The results were subseauentlv oub-
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friend. Antiquated as is the volume, the writer had genuine delight in reading its pages, as its subject matter is very clearly set forth. Greatly 'disappointedat not having met S i rH u m p W D a w when in London in the summer of 1828. because this distinguished man was in Italy, and having had his admiration for him, which had existed for years, enhanced gratification of conversing with most of Davy's intimate and distinguished friends, e. g.,,J. G. Children and Divies Hilbert, Green could not re'press the desire to leave among his pupils some token of his admiration for Davy and believed that this could be best accomplished by publishing and annotating one of his works; SO in 1830 through a Philadelphia publishinp house he sent forth a little volum-now almost forgotten so far as ~~~~~v~ edition of it is concerned -bearing the title "Consolations in Travel, or the Last Days of a Philosopher, by Sir Humphry Davy, Bart., with a Sketch of That Author's Life, and Notes, by jacOb G ~ M.D., ~ professor ~ , of Chemistry in Jeffenon Medical college,^ His wonderful admiration Davy is shown in this paragraph: 0
when we consider the benefits and the blessings derived by Societv from the labours and discoveries of Sir Humphry Dawwhen w e recollect the influence which his profound inductions and accurate reasonings have had upon t h e theory of natural ..i,,,-,, ,hall not he remrded- as in oronauncine ~~-~ ~~-extravaeant ~" him one of the most eminently useful philosopheis that ever existed, and as one of the brightest ornaments of genius that the has ever produced.
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But Green persisted in saying that his annotations of this little volume were made with the view of some theological errors which, had the distinguished author lived t o revise his work, it is believed he would have modified or erased himself.
We feel a melancholy interest in closing this v o l u m e a s we On his return to America, Green brought with him an abundance of apparatus for chemical and physical fear it will he the last contribution t o the fund of science and literature, and may we not say religion, from one of the most accomchar- plished and highly gifted philosophers of the age. With all its as books of the most purposes, as acter, So that it was quite natural that the year 1829 faults, the author has in this work reared for himself a durable should show renewed activity in teaching and experi- and beautiful monument, which, though it does not fully indicate the profundity, extent, and variety of his scientific attainments, merit, undoubtedly the monumental work of the year :till exhibits the far more interesting portrait of a man, who holds of Chemical m was the publication of his adequate estimation the blessings of religion, and who enPhilosophy on the Basis of Turner's Elements." Here deavors t o sustain and defend it by the aid of sound sciencebe reedited an English work, which was a common thing "Science, so often a truant t o this, the mast important interest of -very common-amonl: the textbook writers of those man." had given to the chemical early-days. Robert Occupied with such worth-while literary work, public an edition of Henry's Chemistry, as did Silliman, there were in this year (1832) by G~~~~to the after. And there had been Other the Transactiolzs of the Albany Institute exceedingly American editions of Turner, but Green interesting monographs on the "Cones of North ingrnfted various additions and improverncnts, resulting ejpe- America," including descriptions of three new species, cially fram his obscrvationi abuad, and more particularly while in and "Notes on American shells," and on the "ReclamaParis, under the auspices of some of the most eminent men of tion of salamanders." The latter, old friends, were that city. almost continuously under study by him. Actively engaged all the while-in chemistry, in Yes, it was a fundamentally altered book, and very interesting reading today. It must have been a most botany, in physics, in mineralogy, or in other fields of satisfactory aid to all students who were receiving science-the student of Green's life is not astonished their instruction exclusively by lectures. To them it on learning that in 1833 he gave to the world a "Monocould only have been a comforting and explanatory graph on the trilobites of North America, with colored
are
models of the species." This was an exceedingly able scientific communication. He succeeded in disclosing the under side of the trilobite, giving a most satisfactory picture of its contour and mechanism. Twenty-two species and five new genera were described. It was a welcome contribution to American paleontology. It was accorded high praise on all sides; specialists even declaring the work to have been done -with fidelity, ability, and good taste. With his friend Titian R. Peale, an artist of reputation but deeply interested in experimental work, he carried out a series of striking experiments with Joseph Saxton's electromagnetic machine (1834). These were new and directed mainly to a study of the spark,
fusion of metals, effect on injbmmable bodies, decomposition of w t n , effect of the galvanometer and eledrometcr, as well as careful observations on the effect of induction and shock [ J . Frank. Inst., 13, 219 (1834)l. This paper is shot through and through with his enthusiastic spirit; experiment being his joy and electricity having a subtle attraction for him. At this time (1834) he also gave expression to a thought which had long been with him; Gz.,that there had been people inhabiting the banks of the Ohio, the Mississippi, and other western waters, greatly superior, in the arts of civilized life, to the Indian tribes which had wandered there in the days of early eighteen hundred. He believed that these earliest people were familiar with the art of manufacturing &d coloring glass, offering beads as evidence [J. Coll. Pharm., 5, 94(1833)], which must have belonged to one of the "ancients of the West," who flourished in these regions long before the voyage of Columbus.
He analyzed these blue-colored beads, and found them to contain copper, silica, and alkalies. He also analyzed what seemed to be a slag of blue glass from near the Chasteter River in the Cherokee Territory. His friend, Professor del Rio, of the Mexican School of Mines, discoverer of the brown lead ore in which vanadium was found, also analyzed the slag, both chemists finding silica, copper oxide, and alkali. Green offered a second very interesting paper (1834) "On the metals known to the aborigines of North America," concluding that these metals were gold, silver, copper, and to some degree iron and lead [J. Coll. Phann., 5 , 182(1833)], and subsequently wrote a t some length "On the pottery used by the aborigines of North America" [J. Coll. Pharm., 5,302(1833)], but as this contains nothing of a chemical character, the citation will be sufficient. At intervals Green was invited to deliver the annual opening address in his college. These occasions were greatly enjoyed by his audience, and when (1834) he spoke upon the "Advantages of chemistry" the student body made request that they might be permitted to publish his very eloquent lecture introductory to the session,
But, as was expected, he demurred, saying he was in hearty accord with the remark he once heard, Gz. : that no discourse prepared for a popular audience should ever he published,
yet, he finally consented, and in a little brochure occur the following items: No science is so intimately associated with all the nursuits of man, or mingles so extensively with all his occupatjons as that of chemistry.
Of its relations to medicine he said The physician and chemist have generally been considered identicalEvery living animal body is, in truth, a perfectly and exquisitely contrived laboratory, in which chemical operations are continually going on-beying the same laws, and producing similar results to those which occur in our ordinary experiments.
Chemistry's relation to physiology, materia medica, and medical jurisprudence were dwelt upon; after which chemistry and mineralogy were contrasted; then metallurgy, agriculture, and what he designated as economical chemistry, which was nothing more than chemistry in intimate daily life. The address is an earnest, thoughtful plea. One cannot but wonder why, if in the years long gone, the devotees of chemistry made such clear and cogent appeals for it, that a t this late day the laity remains apparently indifferent to its evident value. In the following year he was quite absorbed with a green colored sulfated fermginous earth from Kent County, Delaware. He demonstrated that the color arose from an iron salt, formed by the oxidation of pyrite, disseminated throughout the earth. The analytical steps indicate crude procedure but the proofs are most convincing. Analysis was not the strong point in Green's chemical attainments, and yet he was much devoted to work on minerals, so that i t would be inferred that analysis was easily done by him. The truth, however, seems to be in the opposite direction. To the gentle, devoted scientist thus far followed in his career, joy must have come and have given a temporary feeling of satisfaction-maybe pride-when the authorities of old Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, sent him the diploma of an honorary Doctor of Laws as a tribute of its approval of his achievements in the field of experimental science. It was in truth an honor most worthily bestowed. Another textbook-"Syllabus of a Course of Chemistry"-made its appearance a t this time. Search, high and low, has failed to bring a copy to light. No doubt in some old family library or among the treasures of the garret, i t will be discovered in due course, and will afford additional evidence of Green's devotion to the science. The wishes of Green's students seemed ever to be a concern with him. He endeavored earnestly to make clear the difficultiesof chemistry, hence the appearance in 1837 of a booklet called "Chemical Diagrams" was but further expression of his heart's desire. The opening sentence in the preface reads:
The design of the following pages is t o present t o the chemical students same of the most important changes produced by the reciprocal acting of bodies on each other, by the aid of diagrams. This method of illustration has been for a long time employed by the author in teaching the practical details of chemistry, a r ~ dit is now published a t the earnest solicitation of his pupils. .
..
The author incorporated some historical data and practical hints on the detection of poisons. It represents the aid a teacher would be apt to render. Green's experimental activity is attested by the fact that in the Catalogue of the Royal Society of London he is credited with 34 titles, to which six more may be added. With these should also be included his several books, described in the preceding paragraphs. From contemporary publications, it may be inferred that the life of Green was happy-very happy in promoting his science and happy in doing for others without let, until the Grim Messenger suddenly appeared and bade him lav aside the workine tools of life on February 1, 1841.' Deep grief and sorrow followed upon this sad event. The local papers bore witness that he
in his department (chemistry), and an estimable individual-
His colleagues of the Jefferson Medical College faculty gave public expression t o their grief and deep regret a t the sudden death of their beloved and respected colleague,-
while the student bodv, Resolucd, That the death of our esteemed teacher &s been heard with the deepest regret and sorrow and that we lament most sincerely the loss thus occasioned to his family, to society, aud to science. Resolved, That his kind and gentlemanly manners which secured t o him the wannest affection of his class; his generous friendship which attached his numerous students to him with a feeling akin to filial love; and his scienti6c attainments which have ever commanded for him a high place in public estimation, are stamped upon our memory with too deep an impression ever t o he effaced, so long as virtue is honored, friendship cherished, and knowledge admired.
u
was a successful cultivator of natural science, an excellent teacher
And--on February 4, 1841, there passed from the home, No. 26 South Twelfth Street, Philadelphia, the lifeless remains of that profound scholar and superb teacher of chemistry-Jacob Green.
