^T. 32.] TO MRS. TORREY. 295 



brated lawyer here says that he never hesitates to take 

 any case that offers, to be argued six months hence ! 

 I have taken this in much the same way. But when 

 the time draws near I dare say I shall call myself a 

 very great fool. But it is now neck or nothing. The 

 money will be really very useful to me ; to decline 

 the offer, coming from one of the most influential of 

 the corporation of the college, woidd have had an 

 unfavorable effect on my prospects, which moderate 

 success wUl greatly advance. The pay is f 1,000 for 

 twelve lectures, or il,200 if they are repeated in the 

 afternoons. Instead of the latter, I have proposed to 

 give a collateral, more scientific course of about twenty 

 lectures, with a small ticket-fee to render the audi- 

 ence more select, and for which I should get about 

 1500, making |1,500 in all. The Institute will pay 

 for full illustrations. Mr. Lowell offered at once to 

 engage me for two or three years ; but I told him he 

 had best wait to see how I succeeded. Mr. Lowell 

 told me that he was in treaty with two of the most 

 distinguished orthodox divines in this country for 

 courses on Natural Theology and the Evidences of 

 Christianity ; the one to commence next year, the other 

 the year after. I do not doubt one is President Way- 

 land. Who can the other be ? Tell Dr. Torrey he 

 hopes to get Faraday next year ; and Mr. Owen the 

 year after. 



I should not wonder if my appointment were in 

 some degree owing to a little piece of generosity in a 

 small way that I played off not long since. The pres- 

 ident has once or twice asked me to hear the Freshmen 

 next term in a course of recitations from a text-book 

 on general natural history as a matter of favor, as he 

 did not wish Mr. Harris or any one else to perform this 



