, than these concurrent last wishes of two such men. Each had
brought to the office he held not merely intellectual pre-eminence, but
a dignity and elevation of character, and a singleness of purpose,
rarely equaled; and to each the future welfare of the institution over
which he presided was an object of the deepest solicitude.

Dr. Dana's letter of acceptance is as follows:

* * * * *

"To the Rev. and Honorable Board of Trustees of Dartmouth College,

"Gentlemen:--I have received, with deep sensibility, not unmingled
with surprise, the notice of the appointment with which you have
honored me, to the presidency of the institution under your care.

"The consideration of a subject of such magnitude has been attended
with no small degree of perplexity and distress.

"The character and objects of Dartmouth College; its intimate
connection with the great interests of the Church and of human
society; the important services it has long rendered to both; its
recent arduous struggle for existence, with the attending
embarrassments, and auspicious issue; the claims it possesses on the
community, and especially on its own sons; the unanimity of your
suffrages in the present case; these with other affecting
circumstances have been carefully considered, and I trust duly
appreciated.

"Considerations of a different kind have likewise presented. My long
and intimate connection with a most beloved and affectionate people--a
connection rendered interesting not only by its duties and delights
but by its very solicitudes and afflictions--a diffidence of my powers
to meet the expectations of the Trustees, and the demands of the
college; the exchange, at my age, of a sphere whose duties, though
arduous and exhausting, are yet familiar, for another in which new
duties, new responsibilities, new anxieties arise; in which likewise
success is uncertain, and failure would be distressing--these
considerations, with a variety of others scarcely possible to be
detailed have at times come over me with an almost appalling
influence.

"In these circumstances I have not dared trust my feelings, nor even
my judgment, with the decision of the case.

"One resource remained,--to seek advice through the regular
ecclesiastical channel--and this with a full determination to consider
the judgment of the presbytery as the most intelligible expression
which I could hope to obtain of the mind and will of Heaven,
re