ABSTRACT
In the university of Petersburgh my situation was humble. The professors were men in the meridian of life, and who had already acquired for themselves some reputation in France, Germany or Poland, the countries from which they came. I was the only Englishman, and, bringing with me a certificate from neither Oxford nor Cambridge, was looked down upon with / a sort of supercilious contempt. The office of instructing others had the effect of giving perspicuity to my own ideas, and arrangement to the principles with which I was acquainted. The attempt to explain things to my pupils, required of me in each instance that I should first explain them to myself. Being cast by the effect of hazard upon this species of occupation, I resolved to do my utmost to improve myself in those branches of learning which I was called on to teach. I applied to the professors in each of these departments, and intreated them to have the kindness to further my progress. But, in every application without exception, I met with a repulse. It was not their business to instruct those who pretended to be instructors themselves. They desired to keep up the line of distinction between a professor, and a raw and half-informed pedagogue. They had each of them countrymen or friends, whom they aimed / to place over my head, or by thrusting me out to get nominated in my stead. Every day, instead of advancing in my career, I seemed to myself to be losing ground. Though I was not ambitious, I grew dissatisfied under this conviction. I continued for years in my humble situation in the university, and every day became more disturbed with the wish that it was changed. Industry and application have been understood to lead to advancement; but here the order of nature seemed to be inverted to depress me. As the university increased in character and popularity, my situation in it became daily more insignificant.
