382 MEMOIR OF DANIEL TREADWELL. 



character to bear upon the purpose of life. Is it not very well ? More, is it not very excel- 

 lent ? And will you believe it, my dear Doctor, it is but a sketch of me, your old friend, and 

 my ivife. Yes, I am married. "Fast as the Church can bind us, we are one." To leave 

 this facetious vein, as Ware would say, I was married on the Thursday evening before the last, 

 October 6th, and I should have written to you before to obtain your congratulations, if I had 

 found myself sufficiently disengaged, even for so short and pleasant an act of friendship. 



I am very happy, Doctor, in the prospect of the future, — every way satisfied with my choice. 

 It is the more valuable to me, as I have arrived at a period of life when, having " supped full " 

 of celibacy, a wife became necessary to me. I had fully proved in my particular practice a 

 general truth which most persons will assent to, from the considerations of reason, — that, in 

 the early period of life, a man devoted to some pursuit of science or art may support himself 

 against external circumstances by the action of his enthusiasm ; but a little later he requires 

 the ties and relations which were provided in the laws of his being, and are necessary to the 

 development of his capacities for happiness. 



We have all desired to hear from you very much since you left us. All that we know of 

 you is that you have received the Philadelphia appointment, Dr. P. having told Dr. Ware of 

 it, and that you will, consequently, not be in Boston until late in the winter. AVe have missed 

 you very much. P.'s relief has been in riding, which he has practised to the full of his poor 

 horse's power, which, by the by, has not been wanting, as it has proved an excellent bargain, 

 and will be the sura of two dollars in my fortune, as the insurance will expire before the horse 

 does. Dr. Ware remains the same lively little philosopher ; don't tell him that I have used tlie 

 word " little " within a yard of his name, taking men's hearts by his good nature, money by 

 his good practice, respect by his good sense, and, what pleases him more than all, ajipluuse by 

 his good jokes, — sometimes by his bad ones. I pray you. Doctor, let me hear from you at your 

 earliest. My wife joins me in the full assurance of our respects. 



Very truly yours, 



Daniel Tkeadwell. 



Ill 1834, Mr. Treadwell was called to a new field of usefulness. He was chosen 

 Rumford Professor at Cambridge, with the duty, as described in the will of Count 

 Eumford, the founder of the Professorship, of teaching, " by regular courses of 

 academical and public lectures accompanied with proper experiments, the utility of 

 the physical and mathemathical sciences for the improvement of the useful arts, 

 and for the extension of the industry, prosperity, happiness, and well-being of 

 society." The title of the Professor, as established in the College Catalogue, was 

 " Rumford Professor and Lecturer on the Application of the Sciences to the Useful 

 Arts." He was now to assume the office of teaching the principles of mechanics and 

 their practical applications, in addition to making new mechanical combinations as an 

 inventor, which had heretofore principally occupied his thoughts. Those who knew 

 him knew well that he would not enter upon such duties without forethought and 

 preparation. The following letter defines his relation to the College, and his views 

 as to the proper preparation required. 



