^T. 27.] TO MRS. TORRE Y. 75 



which was, as usual, very stupid, and as it closed we 

 stopped in at the Catholic church — cathedral as it is 

 caUed — and saw the pictures, of which there are sev- 

 eral, some of them valuable. I was struck with a por- 

 trait of St. Peter, a stout Paddy-looking fellow with a 

 heavy black beard and mustachios, bare-footed, lug- 

 ging a pair of keys as large as he could grasp ! We 

 expect nearly all hands to go to Ann Arbor on Fri- 

 day. All speak in glowing terms of the beauty of 

 the location for the university. I had a few minutes' 

 conversation with Whipple as to the plan of buildings, 

 etc., which satisfied me, but I wait for more informa- 

 tion before I attempt to write you about the matter. 



I am, so far, pleased on the whole with the pros- 

 pects here, and think they are more promising than I 

 had at first supposed. I must break off again, as I 

 see Governor Mason has come, as he promised, to give 

 me a call. I had hoped to conclude and fill the sheet 

 ere this. I find that we had the fortune to come 

 through the lake in rather slow vessels. There are 

 several upon the lake which make the trip between 

 Buffalo and Detroit in twenty-six or twenty-seven 

 hours. These are large and really splendid boats, 

 carrying little freight, with richly furnished cabins. 

 I will try to arrange matters so as to come down in 

 one of these boats. To-morrow I hope to botanize a 

 little. . . . Mr. Whipple has also asked me to take a 

 ride up to the foot of St. Clair Lake. Now I have 

 nearly filled this very large sheet, and it is so dark I 

 can hardly see to finish. I shall look at the office to- 

 morrow for a letter from home. 



I was asked to-day if I would stay here until 

 toward winter ! I said I had rather on the whole be 

 excused ! 



