198 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



which we set sail, we should have been in New Haven the 

 next morning, as we confidently expected. We were how- 

 ever becalmed, and wore away both our Saturday and the 

 Sabbath in listless inaction ; but we were not unmindful 

 of the holy day, and occupied some of its hours with read- 

 ing sermons and singing hymns, this being the only 

 instance in which I had witnessed such observances on ship- 

 board on the Sabbath. The day had been passed off Strat- 

 ford Point, within twenty miles of home ; but at last a 

 favoring breeze arose, which wafted us safely into the har- 

 bor. At four o'clock p. M., Sabbath evening, June 1, 1806, 

 I stepped upon the long wharf, and was first welcomed by 

 my early friend, Charles Denison. The public services of 

 the day were over, but I resorted to the evening prayers 

 at the college chapel. President Dwight, my great and 

 good friend, led the services ; when they were finished 

 he gave me a warm, paternal welcome, inviting both Dr. 

 Gorham and myself home to tea ; and we had a very inter- 

 esting evening. I then realized that I was indeed at home 

 again, and safe once more in my own town and institution. 

 My excellent friend, Professor Day, came to President 

 Dwight's, and we accepted his invitation to find our beds 

 at his house, which had become a house of mourning by 

 the death of his estimable wife (Miss Sherman, daughter 

 of the eminent patriot, Roger Sherman). Instances of 

 death among my friends and acquaintance had been pain- 

 fully numerous during my absence of fourteen months and 

 ten days ; but I had been protected and preserved in every 

 vicissitude on the ocean and on the land, and excepting 

 some political jealousy at Antwerp, I had been treated 

 everywhere with confidence and kindness. I had therefore 

 only to thank my great Preserver, and to address myself to 

 perform with zeal and energy the arduous and interesting 

 duties appertaining to my professorship. 



During his absence from home and country, Mr. 



