PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANTS. 303 



His starting-point was with us, and we may regard him as 

 a pupil of our scientific departments. 



I cannot take time to follow him in his career as a 

 minister of the gospel at Conway, in his office as Professor 

 of chemistry, geology, &c., in Amherst College, as Presi- 

 dent afterwards, for several years, of the same institution, 

 and as Professor again, after his voluntary resignation of 

 the presidency. 



It was rare that I was without private pupils, but of some 

 the term was too short or the result too unimportant to 

 merit a mention, unless very transiently, on this occasion. 



Rev. Sereno E. Dwight was with me when a youth, and 

 worked with his characteristic zeal. Prof. Chester Dewey 

 and Prof. Robert Hare both operated with me at different 

 times in making potassium, and Dr. Hare in later periods 

 in galvanism. Prof. Amos Eaton passed a winter here in 

 preparation to become a lecturer, and he became a dis~ 

 tinguished teacher. With the same view came Prof. Wil- 

 liam C. Fowler, although he did not follow the profession ; 

 and the same was true of Rev. Gamaliel Olds, a gentleman 

 whose mind was more bent on metaphysics than physics. 

 Prof. Avery, afterwards of Hamilton College, was much 

 engaged as a student of chemistry, and so was Dr. and 

 Prof. Edward Leffingwell, who was, moreover, a very 

 useful assistant, although he could not distinguish colors. 

 Prof. Vigus, of Alabama, observed and recorded every- 

 thing, and carried his knowledge into the Southern acade- 

 mies. Prof. Ormond Beattie was an earnest student. Oth- 

 ers resorted to the laboratory as amateurs, as Mr. Dill, 

 of Indiana. Mr. George Spalding and Mr. John W. Par- 

 ker studied and practised to become chemical manufactur- 

 ers. There were doubtless others whose names do not 

 occur to me, and which could be rallied from my old note- 

 books, for it was very seldom that the laboratory was with- 

 out extra students or observers of the operations. Many 

 times I have said to those who as novices have offered to 



