EXPLORATION OF VIRGINIA GOLD MINES. 377 



man whom I had long known Commodore Hull kindly 

 found me out, and was earnest that I should remain through 

 the next day to dine with Mr. Vaughan, the British Min 

 ister, as it would be the King's birthday ; and he would 

 hardly let me off from a strawberry party of Mrs. Hull's, 

 on Wednesday evening. 



In August, 1836, at the request of proprietors in New 

 York, Mr. Silliman, in company with his son and 

 Mr. Eli Whitney, made a professional tour among 

 the gold mines of Virginia. Extracts from his nar 

 rative of this visit follow. 



The morning of August 27th found us at the landing-place 

 in Virginia, and a train of stage-coaches was in attendance to 

 convey the passengers of the steamer on their way. Heavy 

 rains had made the road muddy and deep, and we consumed 

 two or three hours in going ten miles to Fredericksburg. 

 In that city there resided a highly respectable Scotch mer 

 chant, James Vass, whose sons having been placed under 

 my care in Yale College, an extended correspondence had 

 been maintained between us for several years. I had 

 not informed him of my intended visit to Virginia ; but, 

 one of his sons having met us at Washington, and having 

 returned home by an earlier boat, had informed his father, 

 who was already at the station waiting the arrival of the 

 stages. They had hardly come to a stand, when I observed 

 a gentleman stranger passing rapidly from carriage to car 

 riage, apparently looking for some one. I had never seen 

 him before ; but, as he approached our carriage, I heard 

 him inquiring for me, and, as he came up, I responded, 

 when he announced Mr. Vass. Of course he gave me a 

 cordial greeting, and at once invited me to his house, when 

 the following dialogue ensued : "I thank you, sir ; but 

 as I^visit Virginia on a professional visit among the gold 

 mines, I may be very irregular in my movements, and 



