APPOINTED PROFESSOR: STUDIES IN PHILADELPHIA. 95 



changing professions. On the other hand, the study of 

 Nature appeared very attractive. In her works there is no 

 falsehood, although there are mysteries to unveil, which is 

 a very interesting achievement. Everything in Nature is 

 Straightforward and consistent. There are no polluting 

 influences ; all the associations with these pursuits are ele- 

 vated and virtuous, and point towards the infinite Creator. 

 My taste also led me in this direction, and I anticipated no 

 sacrifice of feeling in relinquishing the prospect of practice 

 at the liar, although I had no occasion to regret that I had 

 spent much time in the study of the noble science of the 

 law, founded as it is in sound reason and ethics, and sacred 

 to the best interests of mankind. 



Consultation with Friends. Prominent among them was 

 a wise and good mother, standing in the place of an excel- 

 lent father, whom death had removed when I had attained 

 but half of my then present age. To her and to a higher 

 Tribunal I had chief reference, and I found the impression 

 gaining strength in my mind in favor of the pursuits of 

 science. I therefore decided to accept the proffered nomi- 

 nation of the President, and to take my chance of appoint- 

 ment by the corporation. As I was, however, drawing near 

 to the close of my term of legal study, I resolved to con- 

 tinue my efforts in that direction, and secure an .admission 

 to the Bar as a retreat in case of disaster to the College 

 from the violence of party spirit. President Dvvight was 

 an ardent Federalist of the Washington School, and his 

 eloquent appeals excited the hostility of the rising Democ- 

 racy. I stood my examination successfully, as conducted 

 by the Hon. David Daggett on the 19th and 20th of 

 March, 1802. I was admitted, with the usual oath, to the 

 Bar of Connecticut, in company with my friends and fellow- 

 students, Charles Denison and Myron Holley. President 

 Dwight kindly consented to remain, for the present, silent, 

 and I continued to act and teach as a tutor, until the devel- 



