UT, 33.] TO JOHN TORREY. 319 
much the best. The first, on the anatomy and physi- 
ology of leaves, and exhalation and its consequences, 
oceupied an hour and twenty minutes. My last, on 
food of plants, vegetable digestion, and the relations 
of plants to mineral and animal kingdoms, — in whie 
I did my very best, and which equines and secured 
the most intense attention on the part of the audi- 
ence for a hundred minutes, — was received with an 
intelligent enthusiasm which did the audience credit. 
For it would be mere affectation for me to pretend 
not to know —as I well do — that it is one of the best 
scientific lectures that have ever been delivered in 
Boston. I have none left to compare with it. I have 
only four more to give, during which I dare say the 
interest will fall off; which will not disappoint or 
mortify me. From your truly kind remarks and warn- 
ings I suppose you look upon my success in this un- 
déctalhng as extremely hazardous to my best interests. 
Now thas duty came to me unsolicited and unexpected. 
I accepted it because I thought it was my duty to do 
so. Then I was of course bound to make every con- 
sistent effort to insure success. While viewing it at 
a distance, I felt much anxiety. But before I com- 
menced, this entirely disappeared, and I have gone on 
just as coolly as you might do with your chemical 
course. I am thankful that (owing chiefly to the 
nature and novelty of the subject) I have done my 
work creditably. The little éclat which attends it, 
I am not so foolish as to care anything for, pro or 
con. It is entirely ephemeral. It may gratify my 
friends ; but it does me no good, and I trust no harm. 
The general result may benefit the science of this part 
of the country. It will probably tend to advance 
my interests, as I certainly wish it may, the object 
