DEATH OF DR. WILLISTON AND COMMODORE MORRIS. 237 



minister of the Congregational Church in West Haven. In 

 July, 1779, this gentleman, while leaping a fence to escape 

 from the enemy, fell and broke a leg-bone ; but the com 

 mander hearing that he was a clergyman treated him well, 

 and ordered a person to set his fractured limb in his own 

 house. My mother was one of his friends, and I remember 

 being hospitably entertained there on a journey with her 

 when I was a youth and in delicate health. 



Commodore Charles Morris. This gentleman was a na 

 tive of Woodstock, Connecticut, and was much esteemed in 

 the Navy as a brave and able officer. I have seen him 

 several times. He was Captain Hull's first-lieutenant when 

 the Guerriere was captured ; he was shot through the body. 

 I have been informed that when the frigates were approach 

 ing each other, the Guerriere began to fire when two miles 

 off. Hull was bearing down upon her before the wind, and 

 as she came near, the balls of the Guerriere begun to take 

 effect, but Hull had given orders to reserve fire until he 

 should himself give the order. His men had begun to fall, 

 and the sailors became impatient to return the fire, when 

 Morris, as officer of the gun-deck, went to Hull to ask 

 leave to fire, but the commander replied, " Not yet Mr. 

 Morris." The men becoming still more impatient, he went 

 again to Hull, who gave him the same reply, until they 

 were within pistol-shot, when he gave the fatal order, 

 " Now fire in the name of" 



Unexpected honors were paid to Professor Silli- 

 man in connection with the opening lecture of his 

 successor, Professor Dana. 



February 18, 1856. Professor James D. Dana, my son- 

 in-law, successor in the department of geology, began his 

 course to-day in the geological room, the scene of my labors 

 on the same subject. The room was full. His lecture was 

 very able and interesting ; and, very unexpectedly to me, 



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