244 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



her sister, two or three years before they were published, 

 had silently pleaded my cause ; they made Mr. Wads- 

 worth my friend. The influence was, however, not con- 

 fined to him ; and my mother's severe casualty placed me 

 in the most favorable circumstances for observation and 

 influence. Ten months passed rapidly away, and the sun 

 during all that period shone upon me without a cloud. 

 But the halcyon days were about to be overcast by domes- 

 tic afflictions, and the happy family at Lebanon were soon 

 to be called to mourn. In the early part of the summer, 

 their loved and venerated head began to experience alarm- 

 ing symptoms, which created solicitude, and produced fruit- 

 less efforts for relief by travelling ; but the succeeding days 

 and weeks brought only increased anxiety. 



After the middle of July, I was at liberty as regards 

 college engagements ; my letters had prepared me to ex- 

 pect unfavorable tidings ; and accordingly I was summoned, 

 about July loth, to the bedside of the sufferer. The stages 

 were circuitous and slow, and I therefore took a spirited 

 horse, with a chair-sulky without a top, and crossing the 

 Connecticut, made as straight a course as possible ; and, in 

 an all-day tempest of wind and rain, holding an umbrella 

 with one hand and driving with the other, I arrived at 

 Lebanon by daylight, and found the revered patient still 



living lie died August 7, 1809, having attained 



the age of seventy the preceding April. Thus passed 

 away the wise and good man, the faithful husband and 

 affectionate father and friend, the tried patriot and gov- 

 ernor, the confidential secretary, companion, and friend of 

 Washington, who loved him as a father loves a devoted 

 son, and corresponded with him to the end of his life. The 

 people of the State were sincere mourners, and his loss 

 was felt throughout the United States. 



My Marriage, September 17, 1809. This event, so 

 happy for me, happy, I may say, for both parties, took 



