LIFE OF JAMES DWIGHT DANA 



necessary in studying the different subjects I have had 

 under consideration, none of the information I have de- 

 rived from consulting others, none of their advice, no 

 cabinets to consult, etc. Besides, there is much ad- 

 vantage in being with those who are attending to the 

 same studies with yourself. You seem to be carried 

 easily on by the current ; whereas if alone, others about 

 you treating your favorite pursuits with entire neglect, it 

 is almost like striving against the current. 



" I have heard respecting Mr. Hubbard, who is now 

 lecturing at Middletown, that every prospect is in favor 

 of his being appointed professor in the Wesleyan College 

 at that place. The doubt with regard to my obtaining 

 the situation I desire appears to be gradually removing. 

 I cannot, however, feel certain of my success till I hear 

 of his actual appointment." 



An article upon the subject of chemical nomenclature 

 was offered to Professor Silliman, who refused it on the 

 ground that " it would not be interesting to the generality 

 of readers." But the author of it was not in the least 

 dismayed by this return of his paper. He translated the 

 manuscript into Latin, and sent it, with the following 

 letter, to Berzelius, the Swedish chemist and physicist, 

 who was then, in his fifty-sixth year, at the height of his 

 reputation.* 



TO PROFESSOR J. J. BERZELIUS OF STOCKHOLM 



" NEW HAVEN, November n, 1835. 



I have taken the liberty to send you the accompany- 

 ing manuscript on chemical nomenclature, being anxious 

 of obtaining the criticisms of one so distinguished in the 

 world of science. Your interest in the subject will ex- 

 cuse me, I doubt not, for presuming to trouble you with a 

 perusal of it. I appear to myself to be almost guilty of 

 presumption in attempting to write on a subject which 

 has received the attention of one so much more capable. 

 But it is to be expected that some improvements should 



* It is worth noting that some twenty years afterwards the name of 

 Berzelius was given to a society of students, still flourishing, in the Yale 

 Scientific School, now the Sheffield Scientific School, at New Haven. 



38 



