specting my duty; to this measure my church and people gave their
consent.

"The presbytery having determined, by nearly a unanimous vote, in
favor of the dissolution of my pastoral relation, and my acceptance of
the appointment, my duty is of course decided. I now, therefore,
declare my compliance with your invitation.

"I devote the residue of my life to the interests of the institution
committed to your care.

"This I do with deep solicitude, yet not without an animating hope
that He whose prerogative and glory it is to operate important effects
by feeble instruments, may be pleased, even through me, to give a
blessing to a seminary which has so signally enjoyed His protecting
and fostering care.

"Providence permitting, I shall be at Hanover on the fourth Wednesday
of the present month, with a view to attend the solemnities of
inauguration. It will then be necessary, considering the advanced
season, and other circumstances, for me to return without delay, that
I may arrange my affairs and remove my family.

"Gentlemen, my resolution on this great subject has been taken in the
full confidence of experiencing, in all future time, what I shall so
much need, your liberal candor, and your cordial, energetic support.
Suffer me, in addition, to request, in my behalf, your devout
supplications to Him who is the Father of Lights and the munificent
bestower of every blessing.

"I am, gentlemen, with every sentiment of esteem and respect,

"Your devoted friend and servant,
"Daniel Dana.

"Newburyport, Oct. 3, 1820."

* * * * *

"Allusion is made in his farewell sermon at Newburyport, to his
'recently impaired health.' This was premonitory. Scarcely had he
removed his family to Hanover, and entered on his new duties, before
the crisis came to which, doubtless, the wasting cares and anxieties
of preceding years and the recent severe pressure upon his
sensibilities, had been silently but inevitably tending. His health
gave way, and great depression of spirits accompanied his bodily
languor. He took more than one long journey in the vain effort to
recruit his energies. He writes to a friend of being 'in a state of
great and very uncommon debility, undoubtedly to be attributed to the
protracted operation of distressing causes, both on mind and frame.'
He also states, that, whilst absent from Hanover in accordance with
the advice of his physician, he still hoped to be able, af