SKETCH OF PROF. BENJAMIN SILLIMAN, LED. 265 



inculcated. . . . Nor did be deem it necessary to suppose that the 

 author of Genesis, however instructed by a higher light, was himself 

 cognizant of the truths of geology, especially the truth of the great 

 antiquity of the globe, and the length of time consumed in the geologi- 

 cal changes." The idea of the length of geological time, as presented 

 in his lectures, was novel to the majority of his auditors, and evidently 

 shocked the prejudices of many of them, but he maintained it with 

 vigor, and generally left a good impression regarding it in the end. 

 Concerning the opponents of these ideas among the clergy, he wrote 

 to Dr. Hitchcock in 1837 : " I believe, with you, if they were masters 

 of our subject, they would think as we do. Some of them are candid 

 and forbearing ; others find no insuperable difficulties ; others are 

 silent because they feel that they do not understand the matter ; but 

 a few are loud, confident, and uncharitable, while it is obvious they 

 know not whereof they affirm, . . . but I see a strong purpose on the 

 part of some to hold no terms with geology, and to insist upon the lit- 

 eral and limited understanding of the history ; but they will find them- 

 selves deserted, for the matter will in time come right." Of a particu- 

 lar attack on the geological theory he wrote to Professor Hitchcock : 

 " You and I know that any attempt to impair geological evidence, or 

 to reconcile it with the popular view of time, must be abortive. No 

 matter how violent or bitter our assailant may be, doubtless he will be 

 more so in proportion to his ignorance of geology and to the strength 

 of his prejudices." 



Mrs. Silliman died in January, 1850, and Professor Silliman was 

 married a second time, in the following year, to Mrs: Sarah I. Webb, 

 of "Woodstock, Connecticut. His death was apparently induced by a 

 neuralgic attack which he incurred from attending a meeting on be- 

 half of the Sanitary Commission, on the 13th of November, 1864. 

 He was confined to the house for several days, but seemed afterward 

 to recover, and made several calls in the neighborhood ; but on the 

 24th Thanksgiving-day he died, instantly and without a struggle,, 

 just as he had remarked that he might perhaps go out to church. 

 The disease from which he died was supposed to be an affection of the 

 heart. 



Professor Silliman, says his biographer, Professor Fisher, would 

 have been the last to claim that he had that rare insight of genius 

 which divines the secrets of Nature. His whole turn was more prac- 

 tical than speculative. " His perceptions were quick, his judgment 

 sound, and all his mental operations were marked by good sense." His 

 qualities "well fitted him for his peculiar work, and that was to collect 

 and diffuse scientific truth. . . . Nor is he without merit as an in- 

 vestigator, although his distinction does not lie here. He was never 

 very careful to claim for himself the credit of scientific discovery. At 

 the same time, he took delight in bringing honor to the discoveries of 

 others." He prepared an edition of Henry's "Chemistry," which 



