As a friend, indeed, Dr. Caldwell's character was as unique as
it was admirable. Too proud himself to flatter, and utterly in-
capable of guile, he was in consequence singularly candid, and
confiding in the professions of others, whom hbebelieved to be his
friends. Their interests became his care, their cause was his
own. So true was this, that, in the numerous contests in which
he engaged in defence of his friends, he seldom failed to become
the principal in the combat. He uniformly led the van, received
and repelled the attack, while the subject of. the contest was not
unfrequently forgotten, in his secure ambushment in the rear.
The same qualities which caused him to be often unwisely confid-
ing, tended also to render him slow to perceive, but uncommonly
sensitive to the defection of a friend. Such a default has been
known to give him more acute pain than any personal misfortune
could have done.
  Dr. Caldwell lived to add another half-score to the ordinary
threescore years and ten which is allotted to man. Yet he suf-
fered but slightly from the infirmities usually attendant on ex-
treme old age. His eyesight was retained in a remarkable
degree; serving him for reading and writing many hours of
every day. His hearing, though somewhat impaired, was not so
imperfect as to render it unpleasant to converse with him. And
his mind remained uncommonly clear in its perceptions, and
active in its functions even to the last. His person, always
dignified and stately, continued perfectly upright; nor did he
ever habitually use a cane. True, he always carried a cane
(usually the gift of some friend of long ago), but he carried it
over his shoulder, under his arm, in his hand; in short, did any-
thing with it but support his steps.
  Dr. Caldwell's manners were eminently distinguished for the
highbred courtesy and polished elegance which marked the
gentleman of the last century. He might indeed be considered
one of the finest specimens of the ancien regime.
  The routine of his life was marked by the strictest order and
regularity. He usually rose about five o clock (in a househbld
of persons, all of them much younger than himself, he was always
the first up in the morning), took for his breakfast a single cup
of coffee, and a small portion of toast or some other simple bread.
He then devoted his time to some form of mental labor, reading



452



APPENDIX.