Page:A Life of Matthew Fontaine Maury.pdf/182

168 You must make a heap of calls, and leave my cards everywhere. Get a nice hack, and don't overdo the thing by breaking yourself down. Take several days. . ..

Since last I wrote, I have lectured in Kalamaso, Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Laporte; make the children find the places on the map. To-night I lecture here. It is now 10 and raining. I go to Colonel Graham's directly; hope to find there a letter from you. I am very well except a cold. I do long to get over this task; it has been gloomy weather ever since I've been in the lake country—for more than a week. It is now snowing and storming furiously; but I don't lecture on my own hook, that's a comfort!

I had a packed house in Cleveland: they had to stop selling tickets and turn off the people—house full.

I have travelled since I left home 1844 miles, have been from home 12 days—10 days on my lecture ground—and have lectured nine times. I am dying to be with you all!

Your affectionate M. F.

The following account of the lectures is from the Chicago Press and Tribune of November 23rd, 1858:—

"The subject of Lieutenant Maury's lecture was the importance of a 'Careful Meteorological Survey' of the great North-American Lakes. It was delivered before the Chicago Mechanics' Institute.

"The subject is one of the highest interest and importance. In Chicago, the great metropolis of the lakes, this distinguished savant and lecturer had a crowded house on the occasion of his treating of a theme so important as the navigation and commerce of these great inland seas, and the benefits accruing to all from their complete and perfect meteorological survey.

"The lecturer commenced by referring to the magnitude of this chain of lakes, containing as they do one-third of the