34 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



ter through the large telescope from the Museum, which 

 with his four moons we very easily discovered. I returned 

 from the Museum, and had a call to go into Bacon's room, 

 to help despatch some wine ; which I very readily obeyed, 

 and I presume acted my part faithfully. I then returned 

 to my own room, where I found Lynde ; and soon after 

 Bishop came in, who had been with me at Bacon's 

 room, and soon after him Strong. We drank a few 

 glasses of wine, and had some sprightly conversation, &c., 

 &c. They all returned about nine ; and here am I at half- 

 past nine, sitting in my great chair, Selleck reading the 

 History of Greece, and I writing what you now read. My 

 time passes very agreeably, and were it not for the cancer- 

 ous humor which I mentioned the other day, I should be 

 in perfect health ; but even this (at present) does not give 

 me much uneasiness, it is only the future consequences 

 which I fear. I am now engaged in reading ancient his- 

 tory; and notwithstanding that Dr. Dwight talks very 

 pointedly against our reading much history while in col- 

 lege, still I must think that it is highly advantageous, if 

 read with judgment and attention. 



Nov. 6. .... I think that I have never seen college in 

 so regular a situation as at present. There are no disturb- 

 ances, and the students attend the exercises with* punctu- 

 ality. Vigorous preparations are making for commons, and 

 we shall enter the hall next week on Tuesday. I have just 

 now finished reading the first volume of ancient history, 

 and find a very pleasing, and I am apt to think a profitable, 

 study. The contest between those two powerful and 

 haughty republics, Carthage and Rome, affords a very in- 

 teresting piece of history. How different was the state of 

 society and particularly in the art of war in those ages 

 from the present ! And I cannot help concluding in favor 

 of the age in which I live, which has stripped war of half 

 its horrors. 



Nov. 9. .... I rose as early as usual, attended prayers, 



