Transcribe Ward, Henry A. Letter to Orton, James (1855-09-26)

nwh Paris. Sept. 26th. 1855 My dear Orton.

       I wrote you nearly a week ago in

answer to yours of Aug. 10th. but have concluded to add a word or two, although I hardly know what or why. The truth is, Orton, that, by sort of an anomaly in my feelings, (perhaps you have had the like sometimes) I have never so much feared that you would not come to Paris as since there is a prospect of your coming and moreover, my very earnestness on the subject makes ^me^ feel as if you cared nothing about it. I wrote you last in great haste, as I was in a hurry to go to the Jardin Des Plantes where I am taking private lessons in Geology of Mr Prof. C. D'Orbiznz. I like him very much & think that you would. I understand every thing which he says, although, quite possibly, I lose the full value or force in some measure. I hope however to be completely au fait by the middle of Nov., when most of the lectures commence. I mention this, as well as the fact that I have been in Paris in all but three months, in answer to your question about learning French. It of course takes some time to change one's language, even to a comparatively small extent, but still practice & application will do it. And here the opportunities are immense. You speak french always where you live, you hear it spoken by everyone, and you cannot a single street without taking a lesson. I think that you need give yourself no