CORRESPONDENCE WITH DR. HITCHCOCK. 135 



Edward Hitchcock. In this conflict they were glad, 

 as will be seen, to have the aid of Professor Kings- 

 ley, a critic whose Damascus blade never failed to 

 leave whatever field he entered vacant of foes. The 

 correspondence between Professors Silliman and 

 Hitchcock, from which brief selections are given be 

 low, is voluminous, and relates to a variety of mat 

 ters ; but the contest of geology with its theological 

 antagonists is a prominent topic. 



FROM DR. EDWARD HITCHCOCK. 



DEERFIELD, January 29, 1819. 



SOME months since I left the Academy in this 



town, and am now studying theology as much as my health 

 will permit. It is my wish and my intention to come to 

 New Haven the ensuing spring, to prosecute this branch 

 under the instruction of Professor Fitch. I saw him when 

 I was at that place last fall, and have just written to him 

 on the subject. I hope I shall not be disappointed in this 

 calculation, for I have been confined almost all my life to 

 this town by a variety of untoward circumstances, and hope 

 that I am not insensible that I greatly need instruction 

 superior to what can be expected in an ordinary country 

 town. One thing, which I confess is no small motive for 

 inducing me to come to New Haven, is the hope that it 

 may be consistent with the regulations of your College to 

 permit me to attend the lectures of yourself and Professor 

 Fisher. My eyes will not suffer me to attend closely to 

 reading, and if I could have this privilege, it would be a 

 great advantage as well as pleasure to me in my leisure 

 hours. Pray, sir, do the laws of your College permit access 

 to your lectures to one who is not an alumnus of it ? .... 



