THE NEW-YEAR OF 1863. 301 



November, 1862. If all our iron-clads that are now in 

 progress should be successfully finished, we need not fear 

 even the power of hostile England as manifested in the 

 allowed construction of ships within her ports, destined to 

 prey upon our commerce on the high seas. Sea-going 

 iron-clads may, by - and - by, supplant the wooden walls. 

 Forts also, of brick or stone, or even of wood, may be iron- 

 clad, and magazines and barracks may be protected in 

 the same manner. It seems probable, therefore, that on 

 the whole, humanity may gain by this strange invention. 

 This will not, however, prevent bloody battles on land be- 

 tween armies that enjoy locomotion. It is true that before 

 the invention of gunpowder, men went to battle covered 

 by iron armor, and the horses even were protected more 

 or less in the same manner, which in this age would 

 afford no protection against rifled cannon and against the 

 explosion of shells. May God of his infinite mercy grant 

 that the time may be hastened when wars shall cease, and 

 when the mild influence of the gospel of peace shall teach 

 mankind to love each other as brethren ! 



1863. The New Year, January 1 I am now 



in the front rank of aged people among us and among my 

 connections. President Day entered his ninetieth year 

 August 3, 1861. My brother, G. S. Silliman, finished his 

 eighty-fifth, October 26. Timothy Bishop, my classmate, 

 was eighty-five October 22. Mrs. Gold Silliman was 

 eighty-four October 3, 1862. I was eighty-three August 8, 

 1862. My classmate, John Harvey Tucker, of Bermuda, 

 if living, must be eighty-six : he was seventy in August, 

 1846, when here. Levi Rollins, a classmate, was seventy- 

 one in August, 1846, and must now be eighty-seven, I 

 have not heard of his death : his residence is in Wethers- 

 field. My early friend, Betsey Whittlesey, was eighty- 

 eight in October, 1862. Although I am the youngest 

 among the aged living friends named above, I am fully in 



