350 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



gave, as a volunteer toast : " Woman, man's social and in 

 tellectual companion." The sentiment did him honor, and 

 was received with enthusiasm. At the dinner at Mr. Lor- 

 ing's, he remarked that the men of the American Revolu 

 tion have been overrated. I suppose he thought as to 

 talent, and that veneration for the cause gave them in the 

 minds of the people an exalted rank. General Sullivan, 

 sipping with moderation his glass of wine, said he did not 

 know what wine was good for, except to set " a fellow's 

 tongue a-running," meaning that it was a promoter of 

 sociability. Many years after, being at the public dinner 

 in Cambridge given in honor of the inauguration of Pres 

 ident Everett, water and lemonade were served without 

 wine, and I did not perceive any want of wit and vivacity, 

 comparing the occasion with similar ones at Cambridge 

 when wine was freely used. 



March 17. From the pressure of the subjects, I be 

 came a little hurried towards the close of the lecture. The 

 presence of a great audience, too, and the heat of the room, 

 contributed to a degree of discomfort, and near the close 

 of the evening a lady fainted quite away, which created a 

 little confusion ; but the interest excited appeared to be in 

 tense ; and as this was only the fourth geological lecture, I 

 hoped that with God's blessing it would be sustained and 

 increased to the end 



Thursday. I dined with Mr. Peter C. Brooks, father- 

 in-law of Mr. Edward Everett. At his table I met Mr. 

 Edward Everett, Warren Button, Esq., Mr. Isaac P. 

 Davis, who said that in 1817 I had shown him civilities at 

 New Haven, forgotten by me ; but I did not tell him so. 

 Also Rev. Dr. Wainwright and Rev. Mr. Frothingham. 

 I retired in season to prepare for the lecture. A violent 

 snow-storm in the morning, but rain and melting before 

 noon. The walking at evening being still wet, the audi 

 ence was not quite so full as the evening before ; but the 

 seats were all occupied, and everything went well 



