194 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



discharge of my pecuniary responsibility and a vote of 

 approbation. It was. signed by the Prudential Committee 

 of Yale College, namely, Timothy Dwight, President ; 

 John Treadwell, Governor of Connecticut; Rev. James 

 Dana, D. D. ; and Rev. David Ely, D. D. The two latter 

 were members of the Corporation of Yale College, and 

 Dr. Ely was Secretary. f 



I was charged also with various private commissions, all 

 of which were executed with fidelity, and the money duly 

 accounted for, and I made no charge for services. I have 

 on my files the book which contained the account of all my 

 personal expenses, and entries of the concerns of other 

 persons. I left home for Europe, and Europe for home, 

 without leaving any unsatisfied demand ; in a word, with a 

 healthy conscience and an unsullied character ; a name, I 

 trust, without reproach, and, for the satisfaction of my 

 children, may it ever so remain ! As regards my personal 

 expenditures, I not only kept an account of every disburse- 

 ment, but I footed up always on Saturday night, and noted 

 the ratio of my expenditure compared with my means. Thus 

 I was able to keep myself within the limits of safety. I 

 neither borrowed money nor loaned my funds, and there- 

 fore my resources proved sufficient ; but there was no ex- 

 cess. I had no money left ; but I had not anticipated my 

 salary, and therefore my small means began again to 

 grow. 



II. In Relation to Professional Improvement, Intellectual 

 Culture, Enlargement of Mind, and Social Advancement. 

 My first duty and highest obligation were, to dispose of the 

 funds of Yale College which had been confided to me with 

 fidelity, and, as far as possible, with good judgment, so as to 

 effect the objects in view. Ten thousand dollars was a con- 

 siderable sum more than fifty years ago, and a few hundred 

 more were remitted afterwards, in addition to the bills of ex- 

 change which I carried with me, and of which, for safety, du- 



