278 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



When Mr. Sheffield added to his gift of the build- 

 ing a noble fund for the support of instruction, Pro- 

 fessor Silliman signified to him, in writing, his warm 

 appreciation of the spirit which prompted these large 

 benefactions. To his note of thanks he received the 

 annexed reply. 



PROM JOSEPH E. SHEFFIELD, ESQ. 



NEW HAVEN, October 22, 1860. 

 Monday Morning. 



DEAR SIR, I received on Saturday your valued note 

 of the 19th, in which you are pleased to speak in flattering 

 terms of my recent donations to the Scientific School of 

 Yale College, and to add a brief narrative of the rise and 

 progress of that important department of the College. I 

 thank you for this paper, and will take care to leave it 

 with others for future reference. 



I have also received from the Faculty of the Scientific 

 School a very flattering acknowledgment of my efforts in 

 aid of the Institution. This latter paper I shall take care 

 to leave with my will, to be read after my death by my 

 children, in the fullest persuasion that its influence will be 

 of a more lasting nature to them, and a more enduring 

 legacy than bank-notes and gold. 



To you, my dear sir, who have labored for more than 

 fifty years, under rather discouraging circumstances, to build 

 up that important department, it must be particularly en- 

 couraging and gratifying to witness, in the evening of your 

 days, an increasing interest in the institution on the part 

 of your countrymen, and an appreciation of its value that 

 will not only sustain it in its present usefulness, but carry 

 it forward to perfection. 



For the complimentary manner in which you have 

 alluded to my humble aid in its behalf, please to receive 

 my warm and respectful acknowledgments; and, in the 



