40 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



we are subject. Among them I remarked a few which 

 I thought would very justly apply to myself. They were, 

 whispering in the chapel, and sitting in uneasy postures, 

 not only in my room, but in public. To these habits I 

 am subject, particularly to the last ; and before they are 

 too deeply rooted, I will endeavor to eradicate them. In 

 addition to these observations I would remark that I am 

 apt to speak inconsiderately when in free conversation, and 

 thus not unfrequently utter things for which I am after- 

 wards very sorry. I am not sufficiently tender of the feel- 

 ings of others, and thus (if I have not already done it) I 

 may give offence. I studied spheric geometry in the after- 

 noon ; in the evening went to the Society meeting, returned 

 about seven, and went to bed at half-past eight. 



Dec. 30. .... I rose to prayers and recitation, when I 

 read the dispute which, I wrote yesterday. I observe that 

 young disputants (and myself among the rest) are generally 

 very uncandid. If they find anything in favor of their own 

 side, they impute everything to that simple cause, and 

 allow no weight to anything which is advanced upon the 

 opposite side. I will endeavor in future to canvass both 

 sides, and allow everything its proper weight, and nothing 

 more. We ought not to dispute for victory, but for the dis- 

 covery of truth. I studied as usual until eleven, when the 

 President gave us a most excellent discourse upon pro- 

 faneness, ridicule, levity in matters of religion, &c. Just 

 before dinner I took a walk to the shoemaker's. After 

 dinner I went to Page's room, and he told me of an obser- 

 vation made by Miss , to this effect, that she liked the 



Messieurs Silliman very well, but Selleck the best. I sup- 

 pose that I know the cause of her opinion ; but if I do not, 

 it gives me no trouble : I shall treat her in the same man- 

 ner as usual. I mean to treat every person well ; if I have 

 failed to please in this instance, it is unfortunate, but can- 

 not be helped. Whether her opinion arises from prejudice, 

 from partiality, or from a little incident which happened 



