Transcribe Ward, Henry A. Letter to Orton, James (1855-09-20)

[in another hand upside down at the top of the page- P.S. My full address in Paris </u Hotel des Mines, 39 Rue D'Enfer face l'College de Mines H. W.] student can choose such as he chooses, At the Sorbonne or Theological school, there are lectures on most of these subjects, but much more concise & general. All then are free but of the highest character & splendidly illustrated. Four of the professors you probably know (Elie de Beaumont, Milne Edwards, Duvernoz & D'orbigny) but all are noted on this side of the water. As to books I can hardly tell you, not knowing your studies. As your lectures will be french your books will be french to a great extent. American authors are little regarded here, but perhaps for that very reason you should a few ( such as Hitchcock's Geology, Agassaizs & Goulds Zoology & c) not for study but as most important in comparing general views & classifications. I have many English authors & what others you want are as easily got here as at home. I can tell you nothing of theological authors. As to your french I can only s[eak generally & comfortingly as everyone differs in their readings of acquiring a language. Your advantages will of course be splendid, & you will probably be able to devote much of your time to it at first. Fortunately for you the lectures at the I. of P. & S. of M. do not commence until About the middle of </u November. > The lecturers speak </u very > plainly & you will recognize each individual word in a fortnight. & (if you read & talk considerable) will under- stand not only the subject but the words in two months but you will not get the </u full > value of them before 4 to 6 months.