ction.
Now if my labors are of any importance to the College it is to the
former class of duties, that the importance belongs. The latter can
be performed as well, perhaps better, by an instructor, employed and
paid in the usual way. In point of fact, my office as Professor of
Belles Lettres is almost annihilated, and I have become merely a
teacher of French. To remedy this, Gentlemen, I make to you the
following propositions:--

I. That I should be wholly separated from the Department of Modern
Languages, and be only Professor of Belles Lettres.

II. That I should reside, as now, in Cambridge.

III. That I should not be a member of the Faculty.

IV. That my duties be confined to lecturing during the Autumn Term;
and the rest of the year be at my own disposal, as in the case of
the Professor of History.

V. In consideration of which I relinquish one half of my present
income from the College, and receive only one thousand dollars per
annum. Respectfully submitted, &c., &c.

HENRY W. LONGFELLOW.{56}

The committee to which was referred the memorial of Professor Longfellow
reports:--

That in conformity with his wishes, one of two modifications of his
existing duties may be admitted consistently with the interest of
the University, both being predicated upon the plan of substituting
a native of France as a principal teacher of the French language.

1. That Professor Longfellow's services should be limited to public
lectures and oral instruction & relief from all other teaching, & to
continue the general superintendence of the Department and to
continue his lectures both terms and receive a salary of One
Thousand dollars.

2. That he perform the above and give instruction by hearing
recitations of the advance Classes in French, in both terms, and
also of all the surplus of the Students in French, when their
numbers shall exceed One Hundred & to receive a salary of Fifteen
hundred dollars.

The committee submit it to the wisdom of the board, which of these
modifications is preferable.

For the Committee,
26 Oct. 1839.

JOSIAH QUINCY.{57}

At a later period came the following:--

GENTLEMEN,--I am reluctant