224 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



Jersey. The night was very cold, and we suffered much, 



but as Miss W was very solicitous to get forward, I 



would not hang back. Anecdotes of the journey will come 

 better orally, there were, however, none of any moment, 

 but I hasten to Philadelphia. I attended Woodhouse's 

 lecture the day after I arrived. He received me politely, 

 but made no allusion to the offensive part of his letter. He 

 showed me his laboratory, which is a very fine one indeed. 

 I dined with him yesterday and met a large party of savans. 

 I cannot stay to relate many particulars. (Monday 25.) 

 The meteor is immediately brought forward in every circle 

 where I go. It was so at Woodhouse's. He was very 

 modest, and even ridiculed the lunar theory which he advo- 

 cated in his letter. There was a Dr. C. present, who, with 

 an air of ridicule and of self-importance, began questioning 

 me, and intimated incredulity on several chemical and as- 

 tronomical points ; but I met him with a decision and sever- 

 ity which I would not often indulge in society, and the Doc- 

 tor being really as ignorant as he was vain and impertinent, 

 I found no difficulty in laying him on his back. N. B. 

 Through the remainder of the evening he treated me with 

 fawning civility. Both Mitchell's and Coxe's " Journal " are 

 out, so that our piece cannot appear under two or three 

 months in either of them. Perkins told me in New York 

 that the first piece would undoubtedly be reprinted in the 

 " Medical Repository." I am uncertain what I shall do. 

 They are very solicitous here to obtain the communication 

 for the Philadelphia transactions, which are now on the 

 point of appearing. I would give it to them, if they would 

 at the same time permit us to send it abroad ; this, how- 

 ever, would be considered as invading their priority. I 

 shall, nevertheless, make the proposition to the secretary, 

 and if he refuses, as I expect he will, I shall bring it home 

 that we may revise it, copy the printed part, and forward it 

 to London and Paris. Our account has been reprinted in 

 most or all of the papers of this city, and has been the 



