onger, and as the civil war was closing, I
devoted much time to writing a little book, "Critical Examination
of Our Financial Policy during the Southern Rebellion." I got
this published by the Appletons, but had to pay for the production.
It never yielded enough to pay the cost of printing, as is very apt
to be the case with such a hook when it is on the unpopular side
and by an unknown author. It had, however, the pleasant result of
bringing me into friendly relations with two of the most eminent
financiers of the country, Mr. Hugh McCulloch and Mr. George S. Coe,
the latter president of one of the principal banks of New York.
The compliments which these men paid to the book were the only
compensation I got for the time and money expended upon it.

In 1876 the "North American Review" published a centennial number
devoted to articles upon our national progress during the first
century of our existence. I contributed the discussion of our
work in exact science. Natural science had been cultivated among
us with great success, but I was obliged to point out our backward
condition in every branch of exact science, which was more marked
the more mathematical the character of the scientific work. In pure
mathematics we seemed hopelessly behind in the race.

I suppose that every writer who discusses a subject with a view
of influencing the thought of the public, must be more or less
discouraged by the small amount of attention the best he can say is
likely to receive from his fellow-men. No matter what his own opinion
of the importance of the matters he discusses, and the results that
might grow out of them if men would only give them due attention,
they are lost in the cataract of utterances poured forth from the
daily, weekly, and monthly press. I was therefore much pleased,
soon after the article appeared, to be honored with a visit from
President Gilman, who had been impressed with my views, and wished
to discuss the practicability of the Johns Hopkins University, which
was now being organized, doing something to promote the higher forms
of investigation among us.

One of the most remarkable mathematicians of the age, Professor
J. J. Sylvester, had recently severed his connection with the Royal
Military Academy at Woolich, and it had been decided to invite him
to the chair of mathematics at the new university. It was considered
desirable to have men of similar world-wide eminence in charge of the
other depart