260 t LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



adelphia to be named by Dr. Seybert in 1802-3, the 

 triumphant progress from this humble beginning to the 

 splendid cabinet of twelve thousand specimens by which 

 I was now surrounded ; and many more were contained in 

 closets and in drawers. 



The Medical Institution of Yale College. Tt is not my 

 purpose to give a history of this department, but I must 

 make some mention of it on account of my own connection 

 with it. Rev. Dr. Nathan Strong of Hartford, then a mem- 

 ber of the Corporation of the College, introduced, in 1806. a 

 resolution for establishing a Medical Professor such is 

 the language of the resolution ; doubtless it was intended as 

 the leading step towards a Medical School, which actually 

 took its origin from that resolution in the College ; and 

 I had the honor of being named with him as a committee 

 to examine and report, and to devise means for effecting 

 the object. There was a general Medical Society for the 

 State, and there were local societies for the counties, and 

 to the last named belonged the duty of examining and 

 licensing candidates for practice. At first there was jeal- 

 ousy of the College, and it was necessary to conciliate. I 

 omit the mention of many intermediate steps, and come at 

 once to the important measure, the appointment of a 

 committee of conference and consultation, an equal num- 

 ber being appointed by the Medical Society and by the Cor- 

 poration of the College. President Dwight was at the head 

 of the college committee, of which 1 was a member. Dr. 

 Woodward, the elder, led the medical committee, of which 

 Dr. Eli Ives was a member. The joint committee met in 

 my chamber in the Lyceum. The prejudices with which 

 some of the medical men appeared to have come to the 

 meeting, were removed, and harmonious action ensued. . . 

 I pass over the various enactments of the Legisla- 

 ture, of the Corporation of the College, and of the Medical 

 Society, which were necessary to authorize and organize the 



