324 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



this country has done more than he, through his popular 

 lectures, no less than his academic courses, to create and 

 foster a love for geology and the physical sciences. Sir 

 Charles Lyell, in his second visit to the United States, says, 

 that everywhere, even in States most remote from New 

 England, he met with those who, having listened to his 

 lectures, had invariably imbibed a love for the subjects he 

 taught. The progress due to his beneficent influence can 

 not be easily estimated. The influence he exerted, the 

 progress he stimulated, were the work of his life, a great 

 boon to science. 



But, however highly we may esteem him as a teacher 

 and a man of science, there were traits of character which 

 always as deeply impressed those who came in contact 

 with him, but of which it would hardly become me to 

 speak. His benevolence was apparent to all. To benefit 

 another was the natural impulse of his heart. It was easy 

 to see that mechanics and all others and there were 

 many who in one way or another helped in the preparation 

 of his lectures became devoted to him at once, never 

 failed to receive words of encouragement from him, and 

 never parted from him but with profound respect. I well 

 remember a little boy who was one of his assistants, whose 

 surroundings had been the most unpromising for anything 

 good. Professor Silliman took a deep interest in him at 

 sight, and, as long as they were together, seemed to have 

 for him almost the solicitude of a father, in doing what he 

 could for his improvement in mind and character. But 

 this was only one of a thousand incidents of a similar nature 

 scattered through a long life. 



It was my happiness to spend a short time with him, 

 within a year of his death. It was truly a privilege to 

 see him, in the evening of his days, enjoying the fruits of a 

 life so full of goodness. As he walked through the avenue 

 near his house, there was the friendly greeting to and from 

 all. Hardly a child passed who did not do him reverence, 





