8 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



The reputation of Mr. Silliman as an attractive 

 teacher of science had now, through his pupils and 

 in consequence of his popular courses, spread to the 

 remotest parts of the country. The passages which 

 follow are a part of his record of an extensive tour 

 in the South, and of his successful labors in several 

 of its principal cities. 



A correspondence had been sustained between several 

 personal friends and myself, founded on interviews here in 

 New Haven, regarding courses of lectures to be delivered 

 by me in the cities of Mobile and New Orleans. Much in 

 terest was manifested to have me undertake this tour, and 

 preliminary investigations were made by my friends as to 

 the patronage that might be expected, which, in their judg 

 ment, appeared to be sufficient to justify the undertaking. 

 In Mobile, Mr. Milton Pope acted as my friend, and in 

 New Orleans, Messrs. Lucius C. and Grier Duncan, broth 

 ers, and Alfred Hennen, Esq., were my most active sup 

 porters. In both cities there were Northern men, and sev 

 eral from Connecticut, who took an interest in the matter ; 

 and as I had never travelled in the far South and South 

 west, I decided, after mature consideration, to make the 

 effort, my son going with me, both as a companion and 

 assistant. 



He took Charleston on his way, where he was hos 

 pitably received. 



Sabbath, February 2. : A happy meeting with our New 

 Haven friends, Professor C. U. Shepard and lady, cheered 

 us on our arrival, and we resorted at once to their tempo 

 rary home, at Miss Smith's, in Broad Street. We rested in 

 the forenoon in our warm and comfortable chamber, and in 

 the afternoon we resorted to a small free Episcopal Church, 

 because its air was tempered by a stove. We were told that 



