DR. WHEWELL 213 



Shortly after this I was applied to by a gentleman 

 resident at Hackney, to deliver three lectures on the 

 plays of Shakspere, on three consecutive Monday 

 evenings, at the ^lechanics' Institute in that place. The 

 selection of the plays was left to my discretion, and I 

 made choice of " Richard the Third," " Macbeth," and 

 " Julius CiBsar," 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 immortal author. I 

 was listened to with profound attention on each occasion, 

 althouo;h the audience was not so crowded as my friend 

 either desired or expected. Nevertheless, the composition 

 of these discourses occupied 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 gi-eat 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." 



