WITHDRAWAL OF HIS RESIGNATION. 99 



as rational beings, and as heirs of immortality. While I 

 mourn for Mr. Calhoun as a friend, I regard the political 

 course of his later years as disastrous to his country and 

 not honorable to his memory, although I believe he had 

 persuaded himself that it was right, and that he acted 

 from patriotic motives. 



In compliance with the request of the College au 

 thorities. Professor Silliman consented to withdraw, 

 for the present, his resignation, which has been already 

 mentioned. 



During the week before the last, President Woolsey 

 called and informed me that a meeting of the Professors 

 and himself had been held, during my absence at Washing 

 ton, on the subject of my proffered resignation of my office 

 as Professor in Yale College, and that they had unani 

 mously voted to request me to reconsider that determina 

 tion. This was followed last Tuesday, April 9, by a vote 

 of the Prudential Committee to the same effect. 



I annex my reply to President Woolsey's note : 



Rev. President Woolsey, 



DEAR SIR, In compliance with the wish " unani 

 mously " expressed by the Prudential Committee, and com 

 municated in your note of this day, I think it my duty to 

 " reconsider my determination to withdraw from my profes 

 sorship." Important changes have taken place in the 

 course of the year, and I now feel, that should it be the 

 desire of the Corporation, I ought to follow the example of 

 President Day, and remain in my office for a season, until 

 Providence shall point out more distinctly the course of 

 duty both to the College and myself. I remain, very re 

 spectfully, yours, 



B. SILLIMAN. 



YALE COLLEGE, April 10, 1850. 



