He was engaged with Dr.Gray in preparing the history of American Flora.

Stephen Alexander's modest eye had watched Orion and the Seven Stars through the telescope of the astronomer; the flashing wit and silvery voice of Albert B.Dod, then in his splendid prime, threw a magnetic charm over the higher mathematics.
And in that old laboratory, with negro "Sam" as his assistant, reigned Joseph Henry, the acknowledged king of American scientists.

When, soon after, he gave me a note of Introduction to Sir Michael Faraday, Faraday said to me: "By far the greatest man of science your country has produced since Benjamin Franklin is Professor Henry." With Professor Henry I formed a very intimate friendship, and after he became the head of the Smithsonian Institution I found a home with him whenever I went to Washington.
Our class, which graduated in 1841, contained several members who have since made a deep mark in church and commonwealth.

Professor Archibald Alexander Hodge was one of us.

He inherited the name and much of the power of his distinguished father.