DR. WHEWELL. 229 



Mechanics' Institute in that place. The se- 

 lection of the plays was left to my discretion, 

 and I made choice of " Richard the Third," 

 " Macbeth," and " Julius Caesar," as bearing 

 on remarkable epochs in history, rife with 

 dramatic incident and powerful elocution 

 all giving astounding proofs of the skill, 

 capacity, and endowments of their immor- 

 tal author. I was listened to with pro- 

 found attention on each occasion, although 

 the audience was not so crowded as my 

 friend either desired or expected. Neverthe- 

 less, the composition of these discourses oc- 

 cupied my leisure, and diverted my mind, 

 or prepared it for the great change that 

 was fast approaching. About this period 

 I was honoured with the following note : 



" Dr. Whewell returns his thanks to Mr. Cross for 

 his poem of 'Paul's Vision/ which he has read with 

 great pleasure and interest. 



" If agreeable to Mr. Cross, Dr. Whewell would be 

 glad to have two or three additional copies, which will 

 perhaps come within the accompanying sum. 



"Trinity Lodge, Feb. 11, 1850." 



