The collection and examination of minerals, a pursuit not then at all attended to in this country, was his particular relief from other studies; for even during his recreation, he was ever on the look-out for something new or instructing in mineralogy.
Dr. Romayne being about visiting Europe, young Bruce pursued his studies with Samuel Bard, M.D.; and having attended the usual courses in Columbia College, he left the United States for Europe in 1798, and in 1800 he obtained the degree of doctor in medicine from the University of Edinburgh, after defending a Thesis, De Variola Vaccina.
Having now finished his medical studies, he was prepared to visit the continent of Europe with peculiar advantage; for his continued attachment to mineralogy, a liberal distribution of American specimens then comparatively new in Europe, and his social habits and dispositions, which were very conciliating, secured him the best introductions from Edinburgh, and laid the foundation of permanent friendships.
During a tour of two years, he visited France, Switzerland, and Italy; and collected a mineralogical cabinet of great value and extent. After his return to England, he married in London, and came out to New-York in the autumn of 1803, to enter on the active duties of a practitioner of medicine.
Previous to the year 1805, the practice of physic in the state of New-York was regulated by no public authority, and of course was not in the happiest condition to promote the respectability and usefulness of the profession. To remove, as far as possible, the existing inconveniences, Dr. Bruce became an active agent, and in conjunction with Dr. Romayne and other medical gentlemen of New-York, succeeded in establishing the state and county medical societies, under the sanction of the state legislature. This act "may be considered among the first efforts made in this country to reduce medicine to a regular science, by investing the privileges of medical men in the body of the members of the profession."
In the organization of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the state of New-York, Dr. Bruce and Dr. Romayne were eminently active, and by their united exertion and perseverance, (opposed by much professional talent) they obtained a charter from the regents. In this new institution, as professor of the materia medica, and of his favourite pursuit, mineralogy, he exhibited the fruits of arduous study, with a dignity of character, and urbanity of manner, which commanded the respect of the profession, and the regard of the students.
The ruling passion in Dr. Bruce's mind, was a love of natural science, and especially of mineralogy. Towards the study of this science, he produced in his own country a strong impulse, and he gave it no small degree of eclat. His cabinet, composed of very select and well characterized specimens; purchased by himself, or collected in his own pedestrian and other tours in Europe, or, in many instances, presented to him by distinguished mineralogists abroad; and both in its extent, and in relation to the then state of this country, very valuable, soon became an object of much attention. That of the late B. D. Perkins, which, at about the same time, had been formed by Mr. Perkins in Europe, and imported by him into this country, was also placed in New-York, and both cabinets (for both were freely shown to the curious, by their liberal and courteous proprietors) contributed more than any causes had ever done before, to excite in the public mind an active interest in the science of mineralogy.[43]
Dr. Bruce, while abroad, had been personally and intimately conversant with the Hon. Mr. Greville, of Paddington Green, near London, a descendant of the noble house of Warwick, the possessor of one of the finest private cabinets in Europe, and a zealous cultivator of mineralogy. Count Bournon, one of those loyal French exiles, who found a home in England, during the storm of the French revolution, was almost domesticated at Mr. Greville's, and was hardly second to any man in mineralogical, and particularly in crystallographical knowledge. His connexions with men of science on the continent, were of the first order, and to be familiar at Mr. Greville's, and with Count Bournon, was to have access to every thing connected with science in England and France. Dr. Bruce was also at home at Sir Joseph Banks's, the common resort of learned and illustrious men. Thus he enjoyed every advantage in England, and when he went to the continent, the abundant means of introduction which he possessed, brought him into contact with the distinguished men of Paris, and of other cities which he visited. The learned and estimable Abbé Haüy was among his personal friends and correspondents; and many others might be mentioned in the same character, whose names are among the first in the ranks of science, in various countries of Europe.
Returned to his own country, after being so long familiar with the fine collections in natural history, and especially in mineralogy, in various countries in Europe, Dr. Bruce manifested a strong desire to aid in bringing to light the neglected mineral treasures of the United States. He soon became a focus of information on these subjects. Specimens were sent to him from many and distant parts of the country, both as donations and for his opinion respecting their nature. In relation to mineralogy he conversed, he corresponded extensively, both with Europe and America; he performed mineralogical tours; he kindly sought out and encouraged the young mineralogists of his own country, and often expressed a wish to see a journal of American mineralogy upon the plan of that of the School of Mines at Paris. This object, it is well known, he accomplished, and in 1810, published the first number of this work. Owing to extraneous causes, it was never carried beyond one volume; but it demonstrated the possibility of sustaining such a work in the United States, and will always be mentioned in the history of American science, as the earliest original purely scientific journal of America.
Dr. Bruce had, in a high degree, the feelings of a man of science. He was ever forward to promote its interests, and both at home and abroad, was considered as one of its most distinguished American friends.