278 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



volume, which appeared in two editions, in 1820 and 1824, 

 entitled, " A Short Tour between Hartford and Quebec in 

 the Autumn of 1819," with pictorial illustrations by Mr. 

 Daniel Wadsworth. To this volume of 443 pages 12mo., 

 I refer for the details of the journey. 



My little book met with favor. It became a vade mecum 

 for travellers to Canada, and might readily have passed to 



a third edition, had I moved in the matter It was 



agreeable to me also to find that the book met a very 

 favorable reception in Canada. I received from officers 

 of the British army on service in that country, as well as 

 from persons in civil life, a decided expression of approval. 

 These communications were made to me both by letter and 

 in personal interviews. To this day this unpretending 

 volume is sought for by tourists going to Canada ; and re- 

 peated applications have been made to me by strangers for 

 the loan of the book, as it was not to be found on sale. 



Purchase of the Cabinet of Colonel Gibbs. In May, 

 1825, I received a letter from Colonel Gibbs, in which he 

 informed me that he intended to sell his cabinet, but that 

 he now offered to Yale College the right of preemption. 

 The price named was twenty thousand dollars, with a 

 reasonable allowance of time to make the payments. We 

 were startled, indeed, by his letter, and taken by surprise, 

 although we had no right, as regards the liberal proprietor, 

 to entertain any other sentiments than those of grateful 

 acknowledgment for the long - continued loan of such a 

 treasure. The cabinet had rested with us from thirteen to 

 fifteen years. From it the owner had derived no pecuniary 

 advantage whatever ; but he enjoyed the richer satisfaction 

 of doing good to many hundreds of young people, of diffus- 

 ing useful knowledge through the country, and elevating 

 the reputation and dignity of science. I have already 

 mentioned that he had, at his own expense, and without 



