26 March–1 April 1866

I often think of uses of an Academy, though they did not rapidly appear when Sumner pro- posed his bill ; and perhaps if it was national, and must meet in Washington, or Philadelphia, — even New York would be a far-away place for me, — such benefits as I crave, it could not serve. But to-day I should like to confide to a proper committee to report on what are called the " Sentences of Zoroaster," or the " Chaldaic Oracles " ; to examine and report on those extraordinary fragments, — so wise, deep, — some of them poetic, — and such riddles, or so frivolous, others, — and pronounce shortly, but advisedly, what is their true history.