802 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



of science on this continent during the first half of the present centurv 

 that his life-work is more or less familiar to all. But the important 

 service he rendered in the early history of mineralogy deserves espe- 

 cial recognition here, not only for the work he himself did in the lab- 

 oratory and the field, but because his enthusiasm and zeal were a con- 

 stant inspiration to others. 



Commencing with the historic " candle-box " of unlabeled stones 

 which he took to Dr. Adam Seybert, of Philadelphia, to be named, he 

 began with enthusiasm the acquisition of knowledge and the gathering 

 of material to illustrate the mineral kingdom. During a residence in 

 England and Scotland, in 1805-'6, he had opportunities to add to his 

 information, and collect many specimens, chiefly from the mines of 

 Derbyshire and Cornwall. On his return to America he at once ap- 

 plied the knowledge he had acquired in making an exploration of the 

 mineral structure of the environs of New Haven, and read a paper on 

 this subject to the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences in Sep- 

 tember, 1806. 



In the following year he induced the corporation of the college to 

 purchase the mineral collection of Mr. B. D. Perkins, of New York 

 (already referred to), for one thousand dollars, thus placing the insti- 

 tution in possession of means for illustrating the science of mineralogy 

 far in advance of anything it had before enjoyed. 



The occurrence of the fall of the Weston meteorite in December, 

 1807, offered an opportunity for Professor Silliman to undertake, in 

 connection with his colleague, Professor Kingsley, an investigation 

 into the circumstances of the phenomenon, and the character of the 

 stones which fell at that time. The results of this investigation were 

 presented to the American Philosophical Society, and published in the 

 " American Philosophical Transactions," in 1809. The diligence em- 

 ployed in obtaining all the facts possible from eye-witnesses of the 

 occurrence, and the care and skill shown in the chemical and mineral- 

 ogical examination of the meteorite, made this paper one of the most 

 remarkable memoirs of the time, and attracted the attention of philos- 

 ophers throughout the world. 



As already stated, it was the personal enthusiasm and magnetic in- 

 fluence of Professor Silliman which led Colonel Gibbs to deposit his 

 great cabinet of minerals in New Haven, under the care of his friend. 

 It was due to the same qualities in Professor Silliman that the college 

 secured the permanent possession of this invaluable collection, which 

 probably has done more to create an interest in and disseminate a 

 knowledge of mineralogy in this country than any other single agency. 



The establishment of the " American Journal of Science " in 1818, 

 now everywhere recognized as of inestimable value to all departments 

 of science, was peculiarly helpful to mineralogy, and the early volumes 

 are rich in articles on this subject. Professor Silliman's original con- 

 tributions to science were more in chemistry and geology, but he also 



