266 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



happy alliance with a superior and lovely lady, Miss Har 

 riet Clark of Providence, he came to pass the summer in 

 New Haven, and was daily with me in the cabinet, and in 

 attendance on the lectures. He became well informed in 

 geology, and made valuable observations, as he travelled, 

 during subsequent years. 



In the autumn of 1815 a fever prevailed in New Haven, 

 and I removed Mrs. Silliman and the children to Walling- 

 ford. I remained most of the time in town, going out fre 

 quently to my family, until the malady had subsided. In 

 September there was a very destructive gale which devas 

 tated the coast of New England. It blew from the south 

 east, and the saline spray was blown far into the interior 

 of the country. There was a saline incrustation upon the 

 front windows of my house, and the fruit-trees that were 

 not protected by the buildings were killed. The twigs 

 and leaves were said to be salted as far inland as Worces 

 ter, Mass. The town of Providence presented an appal 

 ling scene of devastation. My friend, Mr. Wadsworth, 

 proposed to me to go with him to see it. We travelled in 

 his phaeton, and saw with painful interest the records of the 

 tempest, in ships on shore, high and dry in the streets, or 

 on high sandbanks, and in ruined warehouses and dwell 

 ings. Mr. Wadsworth made a pen-and-ink sketch of the 

 scene as it appeared from an upper room in our hotel ; and 

 this drawing, bold, graphic, and effective, I have preserved 

 to this day. We returned to his beautiful villa at Monte 

 Video, ten miles from Hartford, where the family were 

 staying. 



Mr. Silliman, recording only the events which 

 were most noteworthy, passes to the death of his 

 illustrious friend, Dr. Dwight. 



This great and good man was called home, January 11, 

 1817. His physical frame had been growing more and 



