220 LIFE OF BENJAMIN" SILLIMAN. 



eralogy or geology entered into the plans of education in 

 any of our seminaries. Salem presented a very interesting 

 and instructive collection in its P^ast India Museum. This 

 remarkable institution was founded by the illustrious Dr. 

 Nathaniel Bowditch. 



I made three journeys to Newport in the season of 1807, 

 and there and in the environs, including Boston, passed 

 all the time which was at my command. The summer was 

 a very profitable one for me in a professional view, and, as 

 will appear farther on, drew after it important results. 



Among the families to which 1 was indebted for a kind 

 hospitality, I must not omit to mention, more specially than 

 I have done, the families of Gibbs and Channing. Their 

 social position was elevated, and their means being ample 

 they of course stood first in the rank of society; and 

 although I did not feel particularly flattered on that ac- 

 count, their kindness and favor, shown in hospitable and 

 other useful and agreeable manifestations, formed a pleasant 

 and sustaining indorsement of the adoption of me already 

 made by their son and brother. The mother of Col. Gibbs 

 was a dignified and estimable matron, and the daughters 

 cultivated, refined, and agreeable ladies. 



The second full course of lectures in my department was 

 given in 1807-8. I had now tried my powers and my ac- 

 quirements so far successfully, that I felt very much re- 

 lieved from anxiety in regard to my ultimate success. A 

 warm interest had been excited in the College and in the 

 public mind, and it was my earnest wish to increase in 

 every way in my power the means and the value of instruc- 

 tion in my departments. 



About this time, the Corporation were persuaded 

 by Mr. Silliman to purchase the cabinet of minerals 

 belonging to Mr. Benjamin D. Perkins of New York. 

 Tliis had been collected during the residence of Mr. 

 Perkins in England, and was of considerable value. 



