344 THEODORE DWIGHT WOOLSEY. 



of his capacity to realize his high ideal of the clerical office prevented 

 him from making the ministry his life-work. His profound sense of 

 religion was accompanied with an over-humble estimate of his own 

 character and qualifications for the sacred calling. From 1S27 to 

 1830 he was in Europe as a student ; mainly in Germany, where he 

 studied Greek philology under the great masters, Hermann, Boeckh, 

 and Welcker, He became an adept in his chosen branch. Besides 

 being accurate in the grammatical and lexical interpretation of the 

 ancient authors, he entered with insight and deep appreciation into 

 their literary qualities, and into the political and social life of an- 

 tiquity. In the autumn of 1831, he commenced his career as Pro- 

 fessor of Greek at Yale. He held this place until he was appointed, 

 in 1846, President of the College. During this term of years, he pub- 

 lished critical editions of a number of the Greek tragedies, and of the 

 Gorgias of Plato. It is not too much to say that these publications 

 mark an epoch in the history of classical studies in America. They 

 were characterized by a more exact and scientific dealing witli the 

 ancient literature than had been the wont among us. Ou acceding to 

 the Presidency, — an office to which he was chosen while he was trav- 

 elling abroad, and which he reluctantly accepted, — he resigned the 

 Greek department, and thenceforward taught to the senior classes 

 history, political economy, and international law. At the beginning 

 he was no novice in these branches, and his familiar acquaintance 

 with the principal modern, as well as the ancient tongues, qualified 

 him for the further study of them. His treatise on International 

 Law, one of the products of this study, was designed as a text-book 

 in colleges, but it was accepted at once as having a place among the 

 authorities on the subject which it handled. It is more than an ex- 

 position in an orderly form of international usages ; it is interspersed 

 with ethical observations of a critical character, which had for their 

 aim the improvement of the science. 



Although Dr. Woolsey held no political office, he took a lively 

 interest in national affairs. He avowed before the public, on all im- 

 portant occasions, his political opinions and preferences. He was 

 consulted by the government in reference to important points con- 

 nected with international differences. 



When Dr. Woolsey became President, he was ordained as a Con- 

 gregational minister, and frequently preached in the College chapel. 

 His sermons, a selection of which was published, by their thoughtful- 

 ness and their religious earnestness made a strong impression on the 

 academic audiences that listened to them. Through his life he was 



