330 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. X. 



and the care and skill shown in the chemical and mineralogical 

 examination of the meteorite made this paper one of the most 

 remarkable memoirs of the time, and attracted the attention of 

 philosophers throughout the world. As already stated, it was the 

 personal enthusiasm and magnetic influence of Professor Silliman 

 which led Colonel Gibbs to deposit his great cabinet of mine- 

 rals 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 pro- 

 bably 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 contributions to science were more in chemis- 

 try and geology, but he also is the author of several important 

 papers on mineralogy, and was the discoverer of the occurence of 

 native tungstic acid as a mineral species. For more than fifty 

 jears he continued as a teacher in Yale college, and when he re- 

 signed his professorship, in 1853, he had the satisfaction to have 

 as his successor in the department of mineralogy and geology 

 Professor James J). Dana, who was already among the foremost 

 mineralogists of the day, and whose published works, before and 

 since his accession to this professorship, have done so much for 

 the advancement of mineralogy. Professor Silliman retired from 

 his active labors in his seventy-fourth year, still in full possession 

 of his remarkable physical and mental powers, and lived honored 

 and revered until November 24, 1864, when he passed to his 

 rest. 



It will be inferred from what has been said of these pioneers 

 that the developments and discoveries of minerals, during the first 

 twenty-five years of the century, were due entirely to individual 

 enthusiasm and private enterprise. Up to this time no aid had 

 been received from either State or National Governments, and in 

 looking over the work accomplished during this period we are 

 filled with wonder and admiration at the energy and rare devo- 

 tion to science exhibited. The larger portion of the continent 

 was an unbroken wilderness, and the facilities of communication 

 even in the settled parts of the country were of the most primi- 

 tive character. Yet at the present day with our means of rapid 



