82 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



Quincys, Blagdens, &c. It was a period of relaxation and 

 recreation, equally grateful and useful. 



Soon after, he was afflicted by the death of his old 

 friend and classmate Mr. Elihu Chauncey, of Phil 

 adelphia, of whom he thus speaks : 



1847, April 11. When he was a guest with us, less 

 than eight months ago, and when I saw him at his own 

 house in Burlington, N. J., September 15, on my way to 

 Reading, and again on my return, September 23, he ap 

 peared in fine health and spirits. He and his brother 

 attended me to the steamboat, on the morning of Septem 

 ber 24, and there, unconsciously, I took my last leave of 

 him. His visit with us in the summer was very acceptable 

 to us. He was very cheerful, and his conversation highly 

 instructive and agreeable ; there was in him great depth 

 and scope of thought, and his moral sentiments and affec 

 tions were seated in his inmost soul. He was a playmate 

 of my boyhood, a classmate and associate of my youth, and 

 the warm friend of my whole life. This death comes very 

 near to me, and I must be reminded how near I too may 

 be to death. The circle of my early friends is fast narrow 

 ing Mr. Chauncey has been a man of unusual 



wealth, and vast engagement in affairs of money. I once 

 asked him whether there was not danger in such extensive 

 engagements in worldly affairs, and in the allurements of 

 wealth ; he allowed that there was, but took my remarks 

 very kindly. 



An agreeable visit from his friend Agassiz is here 

 described : 



1847, May 2. He arrived at two o'clock on Monday, 

 May 2, and was attended by his two friends, E. Desor and 

 Count Pourtalis. They remained with us until Saturday, 

 May 7, when they went for New York city, on their way to 

 Albany. Their time in New Haven was occupied chiefly 



