Our political crisis is over, but the hard times still endure. Lack of confidence is a disease from which convalescence is not quick. I doubt, notwithstanding certain appearances, whether the country was ever morally in as sound a state as it now is, after all this discussion. And the very silver men, who have been treated as a party of dishonesty, are anything but that. They very likely are victims of the economic delusion, but their intentions are just as good as those of the other side.... If you meet my friend Ritter, please give him my love. I shall write to you again ere long _eigenhändig_. Meanwhile believe me, with lots of love to you all, especially to _ces demoiselles_, and felicitations to their mother, Always yours, Wm. James. My wife wishes to convey to Madame Flournoy her most loving regards and hopes for the little one. * * * * * James had already been invited to deliver a course of "Gifford Lectures on Natural Religion" at the University of Edinburgh. He had not yet accepted for a definite date; but he had begun to collect illustrative material for the proposed lectures. A large number of references to such material were supplied to him by Mr. Henry W. Rankin of East Northfield. _To Henry W. Rankin._ NEWPORT, R.I., _Feb. 1, 1897_. DEAR MR. RANKIN,--A pause in lecturing, consequent upon our midyear examinations having begun, has given me a little respite, and I am paying a three-days' visit upon an old friend here, meaning to leave for New York tomorrow where I have a couple of lectures to give. It is an agreeable moment of quiet and enables me to write a letter or two which I have long postponed, and chiefly one to you, who have given me so much without asking anything in return.