LECTURES IN BOSTON. 343 



public lectures in the cities, and I was therefore constrained 

 to decline. 



Several years elapsed before the subject of lectures in 

 Boston was again presented to me, but from a different 

 source. Mr. William J. Loring, a lawyer in Boston, ad 

 dressed me on behalf of a Boston society for the promo 

 tion of knowledge, desiring me to give a course of lec 

 tures in their city. I accepted the invitation, thinking that 

 it presented a fair opportunity of introduction to the Athens 

 of New England ; I demanded nothing more than an hon 

 orable endorsement from the Society. "Waiving all pecu 

 niary stipulations, I agreed to take my chance, and to 

 depend solely upon my own efforts for a favorable verdict 

 and a competent remuneration. 



He gives an account of his stay in Boston on this 

 occasion, partly availing himself of brief memoranda 

 written at the time. A portion of this account is 

 presented below : 



Monday, March 2, (1835). Dined with Mr. Edmund 

 Dwight and friends, and the next day with Mr. William 

 Lawrence, a beautiful entertainment, and great hospital 

 ity. The morning of March 3d was passed with Robert* 

 in the Temple in arranging the specimens into groups, and 

 in preparing for the first lecture. 



As I had never before appeared publicly in Boston as a 

 lecturer, I thought it both fair towards my audience, and 

 prudent as regards myself, to afford the citizens an opportu 

 nity to hear me before any of them should have been com 

 mitted. After consultation with some friends, I decided 

 upon a lecture which I believed would be interesting, as I 

 felt assured it would be novel. As it was to be gratuitous, 

 it would also be an indication, by the attendance, whether 

 any interest was felt in the stranger now come among them. 

 I gave the lecture at the instance of the Natural History 

 * Robert Park, his faithful colored servant. F. 



