46 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



off from the society of cultivated young men of his 

 own age. With the exception of an occasional in- 

 terchange of visits with former associates in' New 

 Haven, he was almost bereft of companionship. In 

 this situation, uncertain as he was respecting his 

 career in the future, and oppressed with a nervous 

 infirmity, it is not strange that he became for a while 

 a prey to gloomy thoughts and apprehensions. His 

 letters manifest a dejection of spirits, occasionally a 

 despondency, which were naturally foreign to his 

 temperament. Yet perhaps in no part of his life 

 was the excellence of his character more, manifest 

 than in the patient exertions which he made at this 

 time for the sake of his mother. 



Another year brought with it an improved tone of 

 health ; and this, together with the not less potent 

 influence of a change of scene, and a new, congenial 

 employment, soon restored his cheerfulness. 



He accepted an invitation to take charge of a 

 select school in Wethersfield, where he resided dur- 

 ing most of the year 1798. Here he was introduced 

 to a pleasant, genial circle. His fidelity and winning 

 manners gained the favor of his pupils, some of 

 whom were not far from his own age. His hopes 

 were revived, and he felt desirous of entering, as 

 soon as practicable, upon the study of law. He had 

 fixed his mind upon this profession, not from any 

 strong, controlling bias in favor of it, but from the 

 persuasion that he was better adapted to it than to 

 either of the other learned professions. And what- 

 ever his feeling in respect to the practice of law might 

 prove to be, his taste for the study of jurisprudence 

 needed no stimulant. In October, 1798, we find him 



