OF ARTS AND SCIENCES : MAY 30, 1865. 509 



rupted or discontinued were resumed, and a new spirit was infused into 

 the personnel of the estabhshment, which was also increased in num- 

 ber. Arrangements were made that the work of computation should 

 keep pace with the observations, so that the annual volume should be 

 ready for the press at the end of each year. This was accomplished 

 in every year of Captain Gilliss's superintendence. 



In 1863, he ordered from the celebrated artists Pistor and Martins 

 of Berlin a Meridian Circle of larger dimensions than any now in this 

 country. The details of its construction, and the preparations for its 

 proper reception and mounting, were matters of much soUcitude to him. 

 Indeed, these were the subjects which most occupied his thoughts at the 

 time his career was so suddenly brought to a close. 



He died on the moi'ning of the 9 th of February, almost in the act of 

 waking from an undisturbed slumber, without any previous illness or 

 indisposition, and apparently without pain. The previous day had 

 been one of unusual happiness to him, — his eldest son, a captain of 

 artillery, who had been a prisoner since October in the hands of the 

 Rebels, having just been exchanged and restored to him. 



We now turn our thoughts to one whose prolonged labors as a teacher 

 and cultivator of science claim our grateful recognition, and whose ser- 

 vices as the founder and conductor of the most widely known and 

 valued of American scientific journals entitle him to a distinguished 

 place among the promoters of science in this country. 



Benjamin Silliman was born in North Stratford (now Trumbull), 

 Connecticut, August 8, 1779, of a family which has resided in Fairfield, 

 in that State, since the early colonial days, and which is believed to 

 have come originally to this country from Switzerland. His father. 

 Gold Selleck Silliman, a distinguished lawyer of Fairfield, held during 

 the Revolutionary war the office of Brigadier-General of the State 

 militia, was intrusted with the protection of the Long Island coast, 

 commanded the troops that were gathered in 1777 for the defence of 

 Danbury, and three years after was taken prisoner, and for several 

 months held in captivity. 



The subject of our notice, the younger of the two sons of General 

 Silliman, entered Yale College at thirteen, and graduated at the early 

 age of seventeen. Three years later he was called to a tutorship in 

 the College, and, devoting his leisure to the study of law, he was in 

 1802 admitted to the bar. • 



At this critical moment, fortunately for the interests of the College 



VOL. VI. 57 



