124 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



own house in Chester Square, London, November 10, 1852, 



about three o'clock p. M I have lost the friend I 



valued most, beyond my own family;* for twenty years 

 he had poured his bounties into my lap, and his affections 

 into mine. It is a great satisfaction to me that I saw 

 him, and was an inmate of his hospitable house eighteen 

 days, during our late European tour, in December, 1852. 



On the day when this record was made, he makes 

 mention of an interesting epoch in his own history. 



December 18, Saturday. I gave the last chemical lec- 

 ture of the College course. The subject was the congela- 

 tion of carbonic acid, and of quicksilver. It was done very 

 successfully, and appeared to give great satisfaction. Hon. 

 Asa Bacon made some remarks to the students before the 

 lecture, on the superior advantages enjoyed by them com- 

 pared with those afforded to him and me in our College 

 course ; (he was my senior in Yale College ;) and he be- 

 stowed encomiums on me more than I deserve. 



Near the beginning of the Diary for 1853, stands 

 this notice of the death of Mr. Amos Lawrence. 



Recently, in Boston, and very suddenly ; it is said within 

 fifteen minutes from the immediate alarm, this excellent 

 man ceased to breathe. He was one of my warm personal 

 friends, and I always received a cordial welcome at his 

 house. His age is reported sixty-seven ; he appeared to be 

 older, being very infirm in health, and for many years un- 

 able to eat with his family, and often appearing to be near 

 death. But he was very cheerful, affectionate, and benevo- 

 lent. He gave largely of his means to charitable purposes, 

 and his wealth was great. He was always seeking out the 

 poor and neglected, and made them his peculiar care. He 



* Except Dr. Dwight. 



