252 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



wicked men, whose course has been marked hitherto by 

 murder, conflagration, robbery, and oppression. 



The following passage affords a glimpse of his 

 occupations at the close of this year. 



December 14. I have been too busy since Thanks- 

 giving to continue my record. The answering of letters 

 occupied me about a week ; and during the last two weeks 

 I have been employed most of the time in rewriting two 

 lectures, one on water and its relations ; and another 

 on fire and its relations, especially to the phenomena of the 

 earth. These two I have finished, with full heads. A 

 third I am to write this week (D.V.), on the combined re- 

 sults of water and fire upon the economy and habitability 

 of our globe. I have undertaken this labor with reference 

 to the Young Men's Christian Union at Buffalo, who have 

 pressed me urgently to give them some lectures; and, 

 although reluctantly, in part, on account of the season of 

 the year, I have consented to go. 



The opening of the new year (1857) leads him to 

 a grateful review of his situation in life. 



January 4, 1857. I am surrounded by mercies innumer- 

 able as they are undeserved. My external circumstances are 

 entirely comfortable, and even moderately prosperous ; my 

 health and activity are preserved ; and I cannot perceive 

 any failure in my mind. But there must be an end of this 

 life, and it is the subject of my daily prayers that I may 

 be prepared for the change of death, and for the recom- 

 pense of reward. I do not pray for an increase of worldly 

 good. I have enough of external good, for which, in all 

 its multiplied forms, I render daily thanks to God. But 

 the prayer which I do most frequently and most urgently 

 offer, is for a holy heart, holy affections, and a holy life, and 

 that I may, by the constant increase of these proofs, find 



