a planter
named Bryan, residing in Prince George County, Md., some fifteen or
twenty miles from Washington. This opened up new opportunities.
I could ride into Washington whenever I wished, leave my horse
at a livery stable, and see whatever sights the city offered.
The Smithsonian Library was one of the greatest attractions.
Sometime in May, 1856, I got permission from the attendant in charge
to climb into the gallery and see the mathematical books. Here I
was delighted to find the greatest treasure that my imagination had
ever pictured,--a work that I had thought of almost as belonging
to fairyland. And here it was right before my eyes--four enormous
volumes,--"Mecanique Celeste, by the Marquis de Laplace, Peer of
France; translated by Nathaniel Bowditch, LL. D., Member of the
Royal Societies of London, Edinburg, and Dublin." I inquired as to
the possibility of my borrowing the first volume, and was told that
this could be done only by special authority of Professor Henry.
I soon got the necessary authority through Mr. Rhees, the chief
clerk, whose kindness in the matter deeply impressed me, signed a
promise to return it within one month, and carried it in triumph
to my little schoolhouse. I dipped into it here and there, but at
every step was met by formulae and methods quite beyond the power of
one who knew so little of mathematics. In due time I brought the
book back as promised.

Up to this time I think I had never looked upon a real live
professor; certainly not upon one of eminence in the scientific
world. I wondered whether there was any possibility of my making the
acquaintance of so great a man as Professor Henry. Some time previous
a little incident had occurred which caused me some uneasiness on
the subject. I had started out very early on a visit to Washington,
or possibly I had stayed there all night. At any rate, I reached
the Smithsonian Building quite early, opened the main door, stepped
cautiously into the vestibule, and looked around. Here I was met
by a short, stout, and exceedingly gruff sort of a man, who looked
upon my entrance with evident displeasure. He said scarcely a word,
but motioned me out of the door, and showed me a paper or something
in the entrance which intimated that the Institution would be open
at nine o'clock. It was some three minutes before that hour so I
was an intruder. The man looked so respectable and so commanding
in his appearance that I wondered if he cou