ii8 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



using an interlinear translation prepared for them by Mr. Hart. These 

 lessons being gradually increased in length, the first three books were 

 soon read. With their review a Latin grammar for the first time was 

 used, which, now that the text was understood, proved a fascinating 

 exercise instead of the usual bugbear. With this start the remaining 

 nine books were road by means of the clavis of the Delphin edition of 

 Virgil, as Mr. Hart's translation then only included three books.* The 

 whole "^Eneid " was thus completed in twelve weeks, at the end of 

 which an examination of the class by a professor at Trinity (then 

 Washington) College, Hartford, was pronounced highly creditable, 

 and excited much interest at the time. 



Two or three years later several of the leading men in Manchester, 

 together with Major Bissell, an army officer, having become interested 

 in Lyman's mechanical and scientific pursuits, and wishing him to 

 have the advantages of a thorough education, sent an application to 

 the Secretary of War for a cadetship at West Point. There was every 

 prospect that the appointment would be given him, but, before the 

 requisite time had elapsed, he, having become interested in religious 

 matters, determined, instead of entering the military profession, to go 

 to college with a view of becoming a minister. He had now reached 

 the age of eighteen, had taught school two winters in his native town, 

 and been active in a society which he had started for debate and liter- 

 ary practice, giving occasional lectures on scientific and other sub- 

 jects. He had, withal, fallen into the habit of occasionally writing 

 verses, which now and then got into the newspapers. This habit, 

 begun at the age of ten or twelve, followed him to college and on oc- 

 casions through life. Entering, in June, 1832, the Ellington School, 

 then one of the most pi'ominent preparatory schools in New England, 

 he fitted for college in twelve months' time, entering Yale in 1833, 

 without conditions. 



During his college course he took several literary prizes ; and in 

 his junior year he was one of the originators and editors of the "Yale 

 Literary Magazine," being associated with W. T. Bacon, AY. M. Ev- 

 arts, and others. In addition to his regular studies, in which he took 

 high rank, he continued through his course his scientific pursuits, being 

 assistant to the Professor of Natural Philosophy and having access to 

 the observatory, from which he saw, among other objects, the famous 

 Ilalley's comet at its return in 1835. 



On graduating in 1837 he declined several eligible positions, among 

 them a professorship in a Western university, a place in the Wilkes 

 Exploring Expedition, an examinership in the Patent-Oflice, etc., and 

 became for two years Superintendent of the Ellington School, among 

 his immediate predecessors having been Hon. Alphonso Taft, of Cin- 



* This translation was subsequently completed and published in Baltimore, with the 

 names of V. R. Osborn and Levi llart on the title-page, and serves to this day as a pony 

 for students in Virfril. 



