146 Edward Livingston Youmans. 



not the least gratifying recognition of its value came 

 in an order from Harvard University for two hundred 

 copies. Youmans was much gratified at receiving the 

 following letter from Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes : 

 21 CHARLES STREET, BOSTON, March 10, 1864. 



MY DEAR SIR : You may remember what I certainly 

 have not forgotten that you called on me some months 

 since and left me a copy of your Class-Book of Chemistry. 

 I placed it upon my shelves, thinking that at some future 

 time I might do something more than glance over it, which 

 was all I pretended to do at that time. 



Some days ago I had occasion to look at it for some 

 accidental reason, and while it was in my hands I was 

 drawn to a more particular examination of it. I read the 

 dedication, and liked it particularly. I read the preface, 

 and was pleased with that. I read the introduction, and 

 was struck with its philosophical breadth and the simple 

 clearness of its style. I looked over all the illustrations, 

 which seemed to me particularly well contrived or selected. 

 I had become interested in the book, and read various 

 chapters relating to matters of which I knew something 

 but wished to know more. In every instance I was very 

 much gratified with the neatness of statement, the fresh- 

 ness of the views brought forward, showing that you kept 

 up with the vanguard of science instead of lingering in the 

 rear. I was also pleased with the unpretentious way in 

 which the true essentials of each special branch of the 

 science were laid down, without any unnecessary amplifi- 

 cations for the sake of making a book, as is too commonly 

 done. I was furthermore glad to see that the proportions 

 of the various parts were preserved, so that no subject 

 was overdone and none neglected. 



In mentioning your book to Prof. Bacon, of the Har- 

 vard Medical School, I was glad to find that he agreed 

 with me in the very favourable opinion I had formed of it, 



