AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 69 



have rarely, if ever beside, been gathered together 

 for a similar purpose. The President invited 

 some special friends to join him in acquiring the 

 knowledge he desired, and soon I numbered in 

 my class men distinguished in the pursuits of 

 arms, politics, literature, and theology, many of 

 whom would rank with the foremost men of the 

 world. Amongst them were President Grant, 

 General Sherman, Surgeon General Barnes, Gen- 

 eral Fremont, General Porter, General Babcock, 

 General Mechler, Judge Advocate General Holt 

 (the highest position in the army), General Eli 

 Parker, Count Catacazy, the Russian Minister ; 

 Count Turenne, of the French Legation; P. H. 

 Le Poor, French Legation ; H. S. Le Strange, of 

 the British Legation; Commodore Ammen, Com- 

 modore Pickering, Senator McDonald, Senator 

 Stockton, Hon. W. H. Hooper, Rev. Dr. New- 

 man, Chaplain to the Senate ; Senator Sprague, 

 Governor Cooke, and many others of high rank 

 and standing. 



As is well known, in the national capital may 

 be found learned and talented men from almost 



