APPOINTED PROFESSOR: STUDIES IN PHILADELPHIA. 97 



tioned, I, soon after the confidential communication of 

 President Dwight, obtained a few books on chemistry, and 

 kept them secluded in my secretary, occasionally reading 

 in them privately. This reading did not profit rne much. 

 Some general principles were intelligible, but it became 

 at once obvious to me that to see and perform experi- 

 ments, and become familiar with many substances, was 

 indispensable to any progress in chemistry, and of course 

 I must resort to Philadelphia, which presented more advan- 

 tages in science than any other place in our country. As 

 to my appointment, when ignorant of the science I was 

 appointed to teach, it was easily explained and vindicated 

 to all reasonable people by such suggestions made by Pres- 

 ident Dwight himself as are recorded above. I was not 

 elated by the appointment ; but having youth, health, zeal, 

 energy, and perseverance on my side, 1 did not, with God's 

 blessing, despair of success. 



FIRST RESIDENCE IN PHILADELPHIA. 



(Nov. 1802 to March 1803.) Absent from New Haven 

 from Oct. 20th to March 17th, four months and twenty- 

 one days. I was all the time, except six days, in Philadel- 

 phia. I arrived in Philadelphia at the close of a season of 

 yellow fever, having never been there before. The city was 

 comparatively deserted ; the streets were quiet, and an air 

 of anxiety was visible in the aspect of the remaining citi- 

 zens. Still, as cool weather had commenced, no serious 

 danger was apprehended, and by the recommendation of 

 my friends, Charles and Elihu Chauncey, I engaged lodg- 

 ings with them at Mrs. Smith's, corner of Dock and Walnut 

 streets. Dock Street runs diagonally from the river, cross- 

 ing Walnut Street at an acute angle, and there a wedge- 

 shaped house had been erected which was now to be my 

 home for four months, both in this year and the next. 



This house attracted a select class of gentlemen. The 

 Connecticut members of Congress resorted to it, I believe, 



VOL. I. 7 



