Cambridge sketches
Estelle M. H. Merrill, Ed.

Many professors had expressed their adherence to the plan, but it was desirable to have formal acceptance of an offer to teach. I therefore, as Secretary, sent out a circular letter to a considerable number. In a few days I had received written responses from more than fifty who had thus been addressed, almost all of which were favorable. Some, indeed, offered to give instruction without charge, rather than permit the scheme to be abandoned. I mention this fact to show the spirit in which the professors of Harvard College received the plan. It is the same spirit in which they have continued to give their services. Formal bargains have not been made. The professors have accepted for their services the sums, small enough in many instances, which the institution has felt it possible to pay. This is the spirit in which the movement was received by the President and by the University. Notably is this true regarding the use of the Library, without which the effort would have been of little value. By agreement with President Eliot and the Librarian, Mr. Justin Winsor, we have always been permitted the use of the great collection of books, and at last, without any request on our part, the privileges of the Library were given to the officers and students by a formal vote of the Corporation-after they had been enjoyed under the original oral agreement for a number of years!

The first half-dozen who responded to the circular letter were, in their order, Professors William E. Byerly, Benjamin Peirce, Frederick H. Hedge, William W. Goodwin and William James. Professors Norton, Peabody, Hill, Palmer, Gurney, Shaler,