BENJAMIN SILLIMAN 99 



The renown of Joseph Black, Professor of Chemistry, who had 

 died in 1799, still shed its luster upon Auld Reekie. Many inter- 

 esting stories are told of this great teacher. " Chemistry," he said, 

 "is not yet a science. We are far from knowing first principles, 

 and we should avoid everything that has the pretensions of a full 

 system." Late in life, Silliman sometimes repeated the following 

 anecdote (which is quoted by Miss Clerke from Ferguson), 

 respecting the death of Professor Black: 



"Being at table with his usual fare, some bread, a few prunes, 

 and a measured quantity of milk diluted with water, and having 

 the cup in his hand when the last stroke of the pulse was to be 

 given, he appeared to have set it down on his knees, which were 

 joined together, and in the action expired without spilling a drop, 

 as if an experiment had been purposely made to evince the fa- 

 cility with which he departed." 



To Professor John Robison, the colleague of Black, Silliman 

 had brought special introductions. Perhaps at Dr. Maclean's 

 suggestion, Princeton had already conferred upon him an honor- 

 ary degree. His death occurred before the letter could be pre- 

 sented. It was therefore to the lectures of Professor Thomas 

 Charles Hope, who had been a pupil of Lavoisier, that Silliman 

 resorted. The art of lecturing was then developed to great per- 

 fection, and although Dr. Hope gave no teaching in practical 

 chemistry before 1823, he must have been an inspiring and bril- 

 liant teacher, performing experiments in the presence of his class 

 in the most skilful manner. His reception of the young American 

 is thus decribed: 



"Dr. Hope was a polished gentleman, but a little stately and 

 formal withal. After reading the letter of introduction, he turned 

 to me and said, 'I perceive that I am addressing a brother Pro- 

 fessor.' I bowed, a little abashed; a very young man, as I still 

 was (at the age of 26), thus to be recognized as the peer of a re- 

 nowned veteran in science, the able successor, as he had been 

 the associate, of the distinguished Dr. Black. He proceeded, 

 'Now sir, from long experience, I will give you one piece of ad- 

 vice, that is, never to attempt to give a lecture until you are en- 

 tirely possessed of your subject, and never to venture on an ex- 



