APPOINTED PROFESSOR: STUDIES IN PHILADELPHIA. 93 



poration, giving me at the same time the assurance of his 

 cordial support, and of his belief that the appointment 

 would be made. I was then approaching twenty-two years 

 of age, still a youth, or only entering on early manhood. 

 I was startled and almost oppressed by the proposal. A 

 profession, that of the law, in the study of which I was 

 already far advanced, was to be abandoned, and a new pro- 

 fession was to be acquired, preceded by a course of study 

 and of preparation too, in a direction in which in Connecti- 

 cut there was no precedent. 



The good President perceived both my surprise and my 

 embarrassment, and with his usual kindness and resource 

 proceeded to remark to this effect : "I could not propose 

 to you a course of life and of effort which would promise 

 more usefulness or more reputation. The profession of 

 law does not need you ; it is already full, and many eminent 

 men adorn our courts of justice ; you may also be obliged 

 to cherish a hope long deferred, before success would crown 

 your efforts in that profession, although, if successful, you 

 may become richer by the law than you can by science. 

 In the profession which I proffer to you there will be no 

 rival here. The field will be all your own. The study 

 will be full of interest and gratification, and the presenta- 

 tion which you will be able to make of it to the college 

 classes and the public will afford much instruction and 

 delight. Our country, as regards the physical sciences, is 

 rich in unexplored treasures, and by aiding in their develop- 

 ment you will perform an important public service, and 

 connect your name with the rising reputation of our native 

 land. Time will be allowed to make every necessary prep- 

 aration ; and when you enter upon your duties, you will 

 speak to those to whom the subject will be new. You will 

 advance in the knowledge of your profession more rapidly 

 than your pupils can follow you, and will be always ahead 

 of your audience." 



Thus encouraged by remarks so forcibly put and so 



