LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



His manners are gentle, modest, and winning. Among 

 many good friends in Boston, I have not one more devoted 

 than Judge Davis. He holds, by Washington's appoint- 

 ment, the high office of District Judge of the United 

 States for Boston and the District of Massachusetts. 



March 22. Colonel Pickman of Salem, Speaker of the 

 present House of Representatives, fell dead this morning 

 in an apoplectic fit. His residence was under our roof, in 

 another tenement in the same block of buildings. " In 



o 



the midst of life we are in death ; " let us be always ready, 

 and then we need not fear the summons. While I remain 

 in this world, may God grant me both the ability and the 

 disposition to do good, and perfect willingness to go when- 

 ever, and in whatever manner, He may call me ! May God 

 bless my dearest wife and my lovely and beloved children, 

 and their children also ! May we be all saved by the 

 great and glorious redemption, by a second creation* unto 

 righteousness! In the afternoon I attended the church 

 of the Rev. Mr. Winslow, where I heard an excellent ser- 

 mon by a young man, a stranger. The evening was stormy, 

 and I remained at home. 



Dinner at General William Sullivan's. When General 

 Sullivan led me up to introduce me to his wife, he said : " I 

 present you to the best woman in the world," and I sport- 

 ively admitted her claim, making only a single reservation. 

 In this delightful family I met several eminent men, 

 Judge Story, Rev. Dr. Wainwright, Mr. George B. Emer- 

 son, Professor Ticknor, Rev. Mr. Greenwood, Mr. Dexter, 

 and Professor Farrar. 



Judge Story having extraordinary colloquial powers, 

 great resources for conversation, and a most agreeable 

 voice and manner, with a noble person and fine presence, 

 had been regarded as the monarch of table-talk. To-day 

 he seemed conscious that he might be regarded as too en- 

 grossing, and when he advanced to pay his respects to 



