34 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



ter through the large telescope from the Museum, which 

 with his four moons we very easily discovered. I returned 

 from the Museum, and had a call to go into Bacon's room, 

 to help despatch some wine ; which I very readily obeyed, 

 and I presume acted my part faithfully. I then returned 

 to my own room, where I found Lynde ; and soon after 

 Bishop came in, who had been with me at Bacon's 

 room, and soon after him Strong. We drank a few 

 glasses of wine, and had some sprightly conversation, &c., 

 &c. They all returned about nine ; and here am I at half- 

 past nine, sitting in my great chair, Selleck reading the 

 History of Greece, and I writing what you now read. My 

 time passes very agreeably, and were it not for the cancer 

 ous humor which I mentioned the other day, I should be 

 in perfect health ; but even this (at present) does not give 

 me much uneasiness, it is only the future consequences 

 which I fear. I am now engaged in reading ancient his 

 tory; and notwithstanding that Dr. Dwight talks very 

 pointedly against our reading much history while in col 

 lege, still I must think that it is highly advantageous, if 

 read with judgment and attention. 



Nov. 6. .... I think that I have never seen college in 

 so regular a situation as at present. There are no disturb 

 ances, and the students attend the exercises with punctu 

 ality. Vigorous preparations are making for commons, and 

 we shall enter the hall next week on Tuesday. I have just 

 now finished reading the first volume of ancient history, 

 and find a very pleasing, and I am apt to think a. profitable, 

 study. The contest between those two powerful and 

 haughty republics, Carthage and Rome, affords a very in 

 teresting piece of history. How different was the state of 

 society and particularly in the art of war in those ages 

 from the present ! And I cannot help concluding in favor 

 of the age in which I live, which has stripped war of half 

 its horrors. 



Nov. 9. .... I rose as early as usual, attended prayers, 



