122 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



from being appointed tutor ; and fifty-six and a half years 

 from my appointment as Professor. 



In 1802 the Corporation of Yale College erected the 

 building which has ever since been known as the Lyceum. 

 Its position is between the old South Middle and the North 

 Middle College. I understood that a deep excavation un- 

 der the west end of the building was intended for a labo- 

 ratory. This building was erected before my appointment, 

 and soon after President Dwight had confidentially offered 

 the Professorship of Chemistry to me. I could, therefore, 

 before my appointment, only look on with suppressed curi- 

 osity as to the structure and progress and destination of the 

 edifice, as I was not at liberty to speak. It was under- 

 stood that the main object was for a library-room, and for 

 suitable apartments for the recitations of the classes, and 

 for study-rooms for two of the professors. I was not con- 

 sulted as to the laboratory, nor could I have been, openly, 

 before my appointment, nor afterwards with advantage, 

 until I had acquired some knowledge of chemistry. Still, 

 after the prospect of my appointment had been opened to 

 me by President Dwight, I cast anxious glances into that 

 deep excavation, not exactly comprehending how it could 

 be rendered available for the purposes of science ; but my 

 lips were as yet sealed in silence. 



An English architect, Mr. Bonner, had established him- 

 self in New Haven, and had acquired a deserved reputation 

 for knowledge, talent, and taste in his profession. He was 

 charged with the erection of the Lyceum ; but, having no 

 particular knowledge of a laboratory, he placed it almost 

 under ground. On my return from Philadelphia, in the 

 spring of 1803, I found that a groined arch of boards had 

 been constructed over the entire subterranean room. It 

 rose from stone pillars of nearly half of the height of the 

 room, erected in each of the four corners and on the middle 

 of the opposite sides. The effect was, therefore, by the 

 curves of the arches, to cut off the light, more or less, from 



