96 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



opment took place which is announced in the following 

 paragraphs. 



President Dwight had been in office but three years be- 

 fore he procured the passage of the following resolution, 

 which is taken from the record of the doings of the Presi- 

 dent and Fellows of Yale College at their regular meeting, 

 Sept. 12, 1798: 



" Voted, That a Professorship of Chemistry and Natural 

 History be instituted in this College as soon as the funds 

 shall be sufficiently productive to support it." 



From the doings of the same, Sept. 7, 1802, four years 

 later : 



Whereas, in Sept. 1798, it was voted by this Board that 

 a Professorship of Chemistry and Natural History be insti- 

 tuted in this College as soon as the funds shall be suffi- 

 ciently productive to support it ; arid it now appearing that 

 the funds are adequate to the object, 



" Voted, That a Professorship of Chemistry and Natural 

 History be, and it is hereby, instituted in this College. 



" Voted, That it is expedient to elect, for a Professor of 

 Chemistry and Natural History, some person of competent 

 talents, giving him such time to give his answer whether he 

 will accept such appointment or not, as he may desire, and 

 as may be agreed on between him and the Corporation. 



" The Corporation being led to the choice of a Professor 

 of Chemistry and Natural History in this College, on the 

 provisions of the foregoing vote, 



BENJAMIN SILLIMAN, ESQ., 

 was declared chosen." 



The secret had been faithfully kept by President Dwight 

 and the small number of friends to whom it had been con- 

 fided. The appointment was, of course, a cause of wonder 

 to all, and of cavil to political enemies of the College. Al- 

 though I persevered in my legal studies, as already men- 



