238 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



he introduced it with a notice of the rise and progress of 

 geology in this country, and my action and influence in 

 bringing it about were set forth in warm and elegant lan- 

 guage. I was not indeed aware that he appreciated my 

 efforts and attainments so highly. The Class rose as I en- 

 tered the room. They had indeed been waiting for my 

 arrival, as I was a few minutes behind time. It is a signal 

 favor that I have lived to see my two extensive depart- 

 ments divided, and, without any influence of mine, my own 

 son charged with chemistry, and my son-in-law with the 

 mineralogy and geology ; and I am still in health of body 

 and mind to enjoy this happy result. 



Quite unexpectedly to himself, Professor Silliman 

 became involved in the political conflict which pre- 

 ceded the late armed struggle of slavery for domin- 

 ion in this country. The institution of slavery he 

 had always condemned, and had never hesitated to 

 declare his views respecting it on all proper occa- 

 sions. His first book of travels contains a warm 

 remonstrance against the continuance of that system 

 of injustice. At that period, and for a long time after- 

 wards, sentiments adverse to slavery were heard al- 

 most as frequently in the South as in the North. Pro- 

 fessor Silliman had been strongly interested in plans 

 for the voluntary emigration of the released blacks to 

 Africa, and, in common with most good men at the 

 North, had hoped much from the operations of the 

 Colonization Society. In an address on " Some of 

 the Causes of National Anxiety," which he gave in 

 New Haven on the 4th of July, 1832, he discussed 

 elaborately the subject of slavery and colonization. 

 He claimed that the former is "a proper subject of 

 national discussion, and is to be encountered by 

 national efforts;" "that diseased members affect 



