e at leisure and feel a little dull, I advise
you to take up some of our good-natured writers, such as Dr. Moore,
Goldsmith, Coleman, Cervantes, Don Quixote, Smollett's novels, or the
pleasant and airy productions of the muse. These I have always found a
powerful anti-splenetic; and, although I am not a professed physician,
I will venture to prescribe to you in this instance with all the
confidence of Hippocrates. The whole system of nostrums from that
arch-quack, the old serpent, down to the far-famed Stoughton of our
own day, does not present so powerful a remedy, amid all its _antis_,
as cheerful reading to a heavy spirit. I will venture to say, in the
spirit of Montesquieu, that an hour of such reading will place one
quietly in his elbow chair in all the tranquillity of a Platonic
lover."

It is probable that Mr. Story's influence was not without its effect
in reconciling his young friend to college life, for he was very soon
to be found among the foremost in the race for honorable distinction.
He was graduated with distinguished honor, in 1806, in a class of
remarkable ability, among whom were the late Hon. Alexander Everett,
Judge William P. Preble, Professor J. G. Cogswell, and the venerable
Dr. Jacob Bigelow, its last surviving member.

After leaving college he began the study of law under the direction of
Mr. Story, but very soon abandoned it, and entered the office of his
uncle, the late Dr. B. Lynde Oliver, of Salem, as a student of
medicine. In 1809, he entered the University of Pennsylvania, at that
time distinguished by the names of Rush, Wistar, and Physick, and by
his talents and attainments soon attracted the notice of Dr. Rush,
whose favorite pupil and warm friend he afterwards became. On
receiving his medical degree, the following letter, written in terms
of the highest compliment, was addressed by Dr. Rush to his uncle and
former instructor.

"Philadelphia, May 1, 1810.

"Dear Sir: I sit down with great pleasure to answer your letter by
your nephew, now Dr. Oliver, and to inform you at the same time that
he has received the honor of a doctor's degree in our university much
to his credit and the satisfaction of his teachers. From his singular
talents, and from his acquirements and manners, he cannot fail of
becoming eminent in his profession. Long, very long, may he live to
reflect honor upon all who are related to him, or who have been
instrumental in opening and directing his acute and capa