

CHAPTER XIV. 



LECTURES IN HARTFORD; IN LOWELL; IN BOSTON; IN 

 SALEM. 



His Lectures outside of College. Course of Geology in Hartford (1834). 

 Lectures in Lowell : Daniel Webster and Jeremiah Smith. Course on 

 Geology in Boston (1835). Hospitable Treatment in Boston. Party at 

 Dr. Warren's. Governor Winthrop. Party at Mr. Nathan Appleton's. 



Judge Davis. Dinner at General William Sullivan's. Judge Story. 



Dr. Gannett. Interview with Mr. Abbott Lawrence. Lectures in 

 Salem: Mr. S. C.Phillips: Dr. Prince: Mr. Silsbee: Judge White. 



THIS chapter marks a new epoch in Mr. Silliman's 

 life. Hitherto his lectures had been addressed to 

 students within the walls of College. He was now 

 to step forth upon a broader arena, and to become 

 the teacher of the people.* Popular lectures were 

 then comparatively a novel thing. Perhaps he, more 

 than any other person, was instrumental in bringing 

 this mode of instruction into vogue in the country. 

 He had some rare qualifications to act in this capac- 

 ity. He had been for many years an assiduous 

 student of the branches which he taught, and was 

 fully possessed of their principles and facts. He 

 knew how to produce brilliant effects by experiments, 

 which he so prepared that they almost never failed. 

 As a public speaker, he was dignified, animated, and 

 fluent. At the same time his engaging manners in 

 private conciliated the favor of all classes, and espe- 



* He had, however, previously (in 1831-32 and 1832-33) given courses 

 of lectures on chemistry and geology to the mechanics of New Haven, in 

 the Franklin Institute, an establishment which, under his encouragement, 

 was founded and supported by a liberal-minded man, himself a mechanic, 

 James Brewster, Esq. 



