ter his
strength was recruited, to accomplish something in the matter of
soliciting aid to the funds of the college; a work which, however
uncongenial to his tastes, he found would necessarily be devolved on
its president.

"The winter months passed by, and there was still little or no
improvement in his health. When it became known that he was agitating
the question of resigning his office, many urgent requests were made
to him not to decide hastily. He delayed only till April, and then
called a meeting of the Trustees, to be held early in May, for the
purpose of receiving and acting upon his resignation of his office. He
wished it to be considered as 'absolute and final.' The notification
to a member of the Board with whom he was specially intimate, was
accompanied by a letter in which he says:

"'You will naturally conclude that the resolution which I have taken
has cost me many a struggle, and much severe distress. This is the
fact. The last seven months have been with me a scene of suffering
indeed. I have fondly hoped that repeated journeyings would give me
relief. But their effect has been only partial and temporary. Such is
my prostration at this moment, that the duties of my office, and not
less its cares and its responsibilities, seem a burden quite beyond my
power of bearing. Had it pleased God to make me an instrument of
important good to the college, I should have esteemed myself
privileged indeed; but this privilege, though denied to me, awaits, I
confidently hope, some more favored instrument of the Divine
benevolence. I earnestly pray, that, in what pertains to this great
concern, the Trustees may be favored with much heavenly wisdom and
direction.'

"He now took a long journey to Ohio, visiting at Athens the brother
who had been the companion of his early years. Under these favorable
influences, his health began more decidedly to improve. At their
meeting, July 4, the Trustees of the college, by unanimous resolution,
requested him to withdraw his resignation; but he declined to do so,
though 'gratefully acknowledging the kindness expressed in their
communication.'

"Many years after these events, the Rev. Dr. Lord, so long and so
honorably the president of Dartmouth College, thus referred to Dr.
Dana's connection with the institution:

"'He was chosen president for his well-known excellence as a scholar
and theologian, and his extraordinary ministerial qualifications. He
was honored the country