Hartshorne.] 14Z [Oct. 11 



was one which many others have approved; perhaps 

 more even now than at the close of the war, since the 

 trial of a different but imperfectly successful policy ; 

 namely, " the establishment, in the States which had for- 

 feited their rights under the Constitution, of provisional 

 governments, with officers appointed by the President 

 and Senate, and under regulations prescribed by Con- 

 gress, until, by a gradual amendment in the character 

 or material of the population they shall be again fitted 

 to govern themselves as constituent parts of the 

 Union." 



Another, and still nearer, cause of anxiety began, 

 early in the same year, to throw, as he wrote in his 

 Journal, a deep shadow over Dr. Wood's future. This 

 was the discovery that a cancerous tumor was begin- 

 ning to threaten his wife's health and life. His plans 

 of travel were altered in consequence. A voyage to 

 Athens, Constantinople and Egypt was given up; and 

 after some farther stay in Italy, the party traveled 

 slowly toward Paris. 



There, after careful surgical consultation, in April, 

 1862, the operation of excision was skilfully performed 

 by the veteran surgeon, Velpeau, assisted by Nelaton, 

 and Dr. Beylard, then of Paris, but formerly of Phila- 

 delphia. Dr. Wood's feeling upon the subject of his 

 wife's illness and suffering was expressed thus in his 

 Journal: "She and my country are the objects nearest 

 my heart; and, if I know myself, I would willingly give 

 up my own life, could I thereby secure the continued 



