the "Crown of Wild Olive," under the title of "The Future of England." The other, February 4, 1870, on "Verona and its Rivers," involved not only a lecture on art and history and contemporary political economy, but an exhibition of the drawings which he and his assistants had made during the preceding summer.

Four days later he opened a new period in his career with his inaugural lecture in the Sheldonian Theatre at Oxford.

BOOK IV.

PROFESSOR AND PROPHET.

(1870-1892.)

"Essa è la luce eterna di Sigieri,

Che leggendo nel vico degli strami
Sillogizzò invidiosi veri."

DANTE, Paradiso, x. 136.

CHAPTER I.

FIRST OXFORD LECTURES.

(1870-1871.)

"Cannot we hire some Abelard to lecture to us?"

THOREAU, Walden.

ON Tuesday, February 8, 1870, the Slade professor's lecture - room was crowded to overflowing with members of the university, old and young, and their friends, who flocked to hear, and to see, the author of "Modern Painters." The place was densely packed long before the time; the ante-rooms were filled with personal friends of Mr. Ruskin, hoping for some corner to be found them at the eleventh hour; the doors were blocked open, and besieged outside by a disappointed multitude.

Professorial lectures are not usually matters of great excitement; it does not often happen that the accommodation is found inadequate. After some hasty arrangements Sir Henry Acland pushed his way to the table, announced that it was impossible for the lecture to be held in that place, and begged the audience to adjourn to the Sheldonian Theatre. At last, welcomed by all Oxford, the Slade professor appeared, to deliver his inaugural address.