Intellectual endowments happily proportioned-Effect of infirmities on his intellectual habits-Mental characteristics-Eminently qualified to act as umpire in cases of difficulty-Mode of preparing to write-Qualities as a writer-Feeling of responsibility as a literary man-Letter to Robert Hall.

SINGLE traits of intellect are often so developed as to secure for their possessor the reputation of transcendent genius-a reputation which he easily retains, if called only into the sphere of action for which he seems especially formed; but which he as easily loses in any other department of exertion. It was not the predominance of any one intellectual endowment which contributed chiefly to the reputation of Dr. Porter. This was the result rather of an harmonious assemblage of those qualities, which with judicious cultivation most contribute to extensive and permanent usefulness. Justice requires that we view his intellectual character as a whole, every part of which bears minute inspection, and is contemplated with pleasure. In attempting to delineate his intellectual developments, therefore, the writer cannot hope for the advantage, in such cases often enjoyed, of being able to impart attractiveness to the portraiture, by presenting

certain features in bold relief. As an offset to this disadvantage, however, it is grateful to know that the delineation, if just in its proportions and coloring, may be contemplated with as much profit, as if its characteristics were adapted to strike us with awe, or overwhelm us with astonishment.

During his course of classical and professional study, Dr. Porter gave evidence of intellectual endowments which augured distinguished usefulness in the sacred calling to which he was devoted. The correct habits of his early life were subsequently nurtured and matured. It ought to be said however, that his intellectual character, especially while resident at Andover, was very much modified by bodily frailty. While in many respects his infirmities were a serious hindrance to his improvement, they compelled him to acquire entire self-control. He was obliged to gain the habit of summoning his powers at pleasure, so as successfully to employ intervals in study, or wholly to abandon the performance of professional duty. To the effect of his infirmities in modifying his mental habits, he thus alludes in a letter to Mrs. Porter.- "I have dismissed all thoughts of going to Europe, after much reflection, and seeking as I trust divine guidance. Dr. D― urged my going, especially as the crossing the Atlantic, he said, would be 'laying up my mind on the shelf,' till my body should gain more vigor. I told him that for twenty-five years, I had been from dire necessity driven into habits of self-control, so that I wind up my mind as I do my watch, and except when I am sick, require it to go or stop as I please; and that I should long ago have been in my grave, if I had been the victim of every subject that might happen to harass my thoughts. This, he said, was a power of which he had no conception from his own experience; and the reason that no more men attain this intellectual

discipline, I presume is, that they are happily exempt from that pressure of necessity by which I have been schooled into it, to preserve my life, or at least to make it of any account as to the ends of living."

Dr. Porter's mind was characterized by comprehensiveness. On the presentation of a subject, he seemed at once to grasp its bearings and results. Says one of his colleagues, "his power of entering into subjects, and comprehending their main points, was unusual." Hence his forecast, which rendered his judgment highly valuable respecting new plans of action, or proposed modifications of plans already existing. Aware that

"We may outrun,

By violent swiftness, that which we run at,
And lose by over-running,"

Dr. Porter was accustomed always to act with circumspection. He formed a definite idea of any object he would attain; maturely considered the means of its attainment; and so digested his mode of operation, that while he failed not through lack of effort, he thwarted not his own designs and disappointed not expectation by ill-timed or excessive action.

With comprehensiveness, he united quick and acute discernment. Whether in argument, character, or conduct, he seemed to distinguish what was real from mere pretence, as if by intuition. And though he rarely allowed himself in passing judgment on the motives of others, he gave ample evidence of ability to do it with much correctness. The following catalogue of different sorts of men may amuse the reader, and illustrate Dr. Porter's habits of observation. To each of the classes one or more names are annexed as examples of the author's meaning. So far as the individuals are living, the names are of course omitted.

"Ardent and amiable,-advantage of this as to impulse, often counteracted by trips in judgment.

"Ardent, and rash,-heady, unamiable.

"Cool, steady,-Father Day.*

"Judicious, without genius, good common sense,—

Father Starr.

"Judicious, with genius.

"Steady, discreet, dry,-Father Benedict.

"Witty,-Backus.

"Steady, sagacious, patient, inflexible,-S. J. Mills. Heavy, cold.

"Ambitious, capricious, weak.

"Public spirited men, who are always willing to be on committees; but come to identify themselves so much with the public, as to feel uneasy when burdens are put on other shoulders than theirs.

"Complaining men, whose happiness consists so much in finding fault, that they would not with the same temper live a week, if put among perfect beings in Paradise. Something must be wrong to suit their humor. If the window is down, it must be up-if up, down.

"Indecisive, timid, vascillating men, who never can march on, because some danger is abroad.

"Cunning, calculating men, who aim at under-currents, and management; and generally end with a noose nicely adjusted about their own necks.

"Double minded men, who from policy or politeness are on both sides of all great and disputed subjects."

Dr. Porter's mind was vigorous and active. It is doubtless true, as remarked in a judicious sketch of his character in the Quarterly Register, that "in power of profound investigation on abstruse subjects, he was excelled by some other men." Of this he was himself aware. Yet there

*The father of President Day.

was no deficiency of mental vigor. "He mastered," continues the writer just quoted, "whatever he undertook."

Among his intellectual faculties, reason always presided. He was thus guarded against those influences of self-interest, of sympathy, and of caprice, which often greatly affect, and sometimes shape the decisions of men. Whether acting with reference to himself or others, he spontaneously recognized the principles of right, and cheerfully conformed his conduct to them. Few persons probably have been capable of forming a more impartial estimate of the talents and reasoning of men whose sentiments differed widely from their own. With a mind thus constituted, Dr. Porter was eminently qualified to act as umpire in cases in which were involved conflicting interests. His conclusions in such cases, being the obvious deductions of impartiality from facts developed, were ordinarily received with favor by those who were willing to yield to the dictates of justice. The results of his deliberations would bear the strictest scrutiny. "If one wanted an opinion, that would be likely to abide the test of events," says one of his colleagues, "of all the men whom I have known, he was peculiarly the man to give such an opinion, on all subjects with which he was acquainted. The secret of this was the consultation of sober reason, and the refusal to be dictated by mere sympathies." "It was by no means uncommon," says another of his colleagues, "for those who were associated with him in important public transactions, to distrust their own opinion, as soon as they found it different from his." The same endowments which rendered him singularly discreet and safe as a counselor, rendered him judicious and acceptable as a reprover.

The self-control which Dr. Porter acquired from the discipline to which he subjected his intellectual powers, he made essentially serviceable in preparing for his writ