300 A DECADE OF WORK AT HOME. [1843, 



TO MRS. TORREY. 



Thursday evening, 2d March, 1843. 



You will be anxious to hear how my first lecture 

 succeeded, knowing it was to have been given to-day. 1 

 But you must wait a week longer. Since my last 

 letter was dispatched the president, finding the class 

 would hardly be ready, desired me merely to meet 

 them to-day for the purpose of pointing out the sub- 

 ject in the " Text-Book," arranging general plan and all 

 that, postponing my lecture to Thursday of next week. 

 This I was most ready to do, as it gave me the oppor- 

 tunity of entering by degrees upon my task, feeling 

 my way instead of making a plunge in regular desper- 

 ation. The great thing is self-possession. The mo- 

 ment I get that I shall feel tolerably safe. So I met 

 my class to-day, arranged matters, and made a few re- 

 marks without stammering a bit, so far as I recollect, 

 or speaking much too fast. My class consists of 

 about two dozen students (undergraduates), mostly 

 Seniors, besides which any law or divinity students 

 and resident graduates who choose can attend, and 

 several probably will. For my recitations in natural 

 history generally, I have divided the Freshmen into 

 four sections, about sixteen in each, two of which I 

 meet on Fridays, and two on Tuesdays ; have given 

 them their lessons, and to-morrow, consequently, I 

 commence these recitations. I must not forget to tell 

 you that since my return the Sunday-school class left 

 by one of our people who has removed to Boston has 

 been given me, a class of eight or nine very intelligent 

 misses, varying from sixteen years old to twelve, all of 

 one family, though originally of three, some being 

 sister's children (orphans, etc.). I am greatly pleased 

 1 Lecture to his class in college. , 



