250 A Century of Science 



caused a wooden frame to be constructed of the 

 size and shape of a sheet of letter paper. Stout 

 wires were fixed horizontally across it, half an inch 

 apart, and a movable back of thick pasteboard fitted 

 behind them. The paper for writing was placed 

 between the pasteboard and the wires, guided by 

 which, and using a black lead crayon, he could 

 write not illegibly with closed eyes. He was at the 

 time absent from home, on Staten Island, where, 

 and in the neighbouring city of New York, he had 

 friends who willingly offered their aid. It is need- 

 less to say to which half of humanity nearly all these 

 kind assistants belonged. He chose for a begin- 

 ning that part of the work which offered fewest dif- 

 ficulties and with the subject of which he was most 

 familiar ; namely, the Siege of Detroit. The books 

 and documents, already partially arranged, were pro- 

 cured from Boston, and read to him at such times as 

 he could listen to them ; the length of each reading 

 never without injury much exceeding half an hour, 

 and periods of several days frequently occurring 

 during which he could not listen at all. Notes were 

 made by him with closed eyes, and afterwards de- 

 ciphered and read to him till he had mastered them. 

 For the first half-year the rate of composition aver- 

 aged about six lines a day. The portion of the book 

 thus composed was afterwards partially rewritten. 



