256 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



half way through my eightieth year, I am writing without 

 glasses, my eye is not dim by reason of age, nor is my nat 

 ural force abated ; and I bless my great Preserver that I 

 am so exempt from infirmities incident to the evening of 

 life, that I am passing comfortably and hopefully through 

 my evening twilight, and looking forward to the glorious 

 morning light, which will break forth beyond the dark 

 valley. 



About the time of this accident, Mr. Silliman re 

 ceived a noble accession to the means of illustrating 

 one of his favorite sciences. 



In the winter of 1809-10, Colonel Gibbs, on a journey, 

 called on me in the evening, and, as usual when we met, 

 the conversation turned on the cabinet, and I inquired : 

 " Have you yet determined where you will open your col 

 lection ? " To my great surprise he immediately replied : 

 " I will open it here in Yale College, if you will fit up 

 rooms for its reception." I rejoined : "Are you in earnest ? " 

 and he instantly responded : " I am." * "" May I then con 

 sult President Dwight and the college authorities on the 

 subject ? " " You may, as soon as you please." 



I was thus suddenly called upon to think of and pro 

 pose some feasible plan for the accommodation of this 

 large cabinet. There was no building on the college 

 ground fitted for its reception. I lost no time, however, in 

 laying the subject before President Dwight. His enlarged 

 mind warmly espoused the design, and, without hesitation, 

 acceded to the plan which I suggested. . The alleys or en 

 tries of the college halls divide them crosswise or trans 

 versely ; and two rooms, with their bedchambers and 

 closets, occupy the breadth of the building. I proposed to 

 knock down all these divisions in the second floor, north 

 end of South Middle, throw the entire space into one room, 

 and thus establish a mineral gallery, lighted at both ends 

 by two windows. The dimensions of the room thus pre- 



