348 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



without a precedent, even in the case of Dr. Spurzheim, as 

 to the numbers attending and the interest excited." .... 



March 12, Thursday Evening. I did not think that I 

 spoke as well as on the preceding evening ; and have noted 

 in my observations on this lecture that it is very important 

 to be cool and deliberate. I had supposed that the subjects 

 of this lecture might be rather dry, but I was assured that 

 the audience manifested great interest and great satisfac- 

 tion, while they gave profound attention and behaved with 

 perfect decorum. The room was entirely filled, and all the 

 seats occupied by apparently eight hundred or nine hun- 

 dred persons. A few stood, and many were excluded at 

 the door for want of room. 



Day Lectures. Friday and Saturday. The two pre- 

 ceding lectures were repeated on the afternoons of Friday 

 the 13th, and Saturday the 14th, to audiences from four 

 hundred to five hundred persons. I began to feel and act 

 naturally, and thought that I improved in speaking, and it 

 became more easy. The audience on Saturday afternoon 

 was larger than ever before, nearly or quite five hundred. 

 The audience was very attentive, and appeared to be deeply 

 interested. In my notes I remark : " Everything goes well ; 

 it must be my endeavor to sustain the interest, and this will 

 be done by effectual preparation ; but my time (the people 

 are so cordial and kind) is much cut up by calls and en- 

 gagements, sometimes fifty or sixty cards on the frame 

 of the mirror, all reminding me of attentions to be re- 

 turned 



March 13. After tea at home, went to Mrs. Lamb's 

 party ; and then to Dr. Warren's soiree at 8^ o'clock, a 

 large number of gentlemen without ladies. Dr. Warren's is 

 a splendid house. He showed us the Psalm-Book that was 

 in the pocket of his uncle, General Joseph Warren, when 

 he was slain at Bunker's Hill, June 1 7, 1 775. It was taken 

 out of his pocket by an English soldier, who carried it to 

 England, where it was purchased by an English clergyman, 



