Two years had already elapsed; the professor was completely absorbed in his new professorship, in which he was required to teach a new subject in a new language.
Governor Cass, who had undertaken the Indian subject, had greatly enlarged the platform of his inquiries, which rendered it probable that there would be a delay.

My memoir on the geology and mineralogy only was ready.

Dr.Barnes had the conchology nearly ready, and the botany, which was in the hands of Dr.Torrey, was well advanced.

But it required a degree of labor, zeal, and energy to push forward such a work, that admits of no abatements, and which was sufficient to absorb all the attention of the highest mind; and could not be expected from the professor, already overtasked.
Among the papers which were put in my hands at Detroit, I found a printed copy of Governor Cass's Indian queries, based on his promise to Douglass, by which I was gratified to perceive that his mind was earnestly engaged in the subject, which he sought a body of original materials to illustrate.

I determined to be a laborer in this new field.
Our voyage up Lake Huron to Michilimackinack, and thence east to the entrance of the Straits of St.Mary's, at Detour, was one of pleasant excitement.