BENJAMIN SILLIMAN 113 



The latter was undertaken by appointment of the United States 

 Government, and his results were embodied in a voluminous re- 

 port which was published by the Government. 



" These labors exhibit Professor Silliman as possessing the 

 genuine instinct of discovery, the quick recognition of new and 

 interesting facts, and enthusiasm in following them up to novel 

 and important results. That his successes in other directions 

 somewhat overshadowed them does not detract from their per- 

 manent value, and it cannot be doubted that, but for the absorp- 

 tion of his energies in his devotion to the duties of a laborious and 

 responsible position, they would have had a much greater develop- 

 ment." 



These sketches of the services of Silliman which entitle him 

 to the grateful remembrance of his countrymen, will now be sup- 

 plemented by some further data in respect to his life. 



In the autumn of 1819, in company with Mr. Daniel Wads- 

 worth of Hartford, he made a journey to Quebec, and his narra- 

 tive of previous travels in Europe having been most favorably 

 received by the public, Silliman was naturally led to publish a 

 similar account of his American experiences. This volume is 

 entitled to a memorable place in Americana. It is full of 

 allusions to the physical aspect of the country which was traveled, 

 from Hartford to Albany, through Lake Champlain to Montreal, 

 from Montreal to Quebec, and afterwards down the Connecticut 

 River to Hartford. Historical incidents are constantly intro- 

 duced, and comments upon the people whom he met. The pen- 

 cil drawings of Mr. Wadsworth were reproduced for the illustra- 

 tion of the book by an engraver, "a young man of twenty, almost 

 entirely self-taught, whose talents were deserving of encourage- 

 ment and who had been highly spoken of by the first historical 

 painter in this country." The concluding remark of the author 

 may excite a smile: 



" I have said very little of the public houses and accommoda- 

 tions, on the journey. Should this be thought a deficiency, it is 

 easily supplied; for, we found them, almost without exception, so 

 comfortable, quiet, and agreeable, that we had neither occasion, 

 nor inclination to find fault. Great civility, and a disposition to 



