344 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



and of strong liquors, the moral exposures in student life, 

 our safeguards, &c. These topics were treated by the Pro- 

 fessor in his usual manner, fluent, self-possessed, rapid, 

 varied, often digressive, sometimes mirthful, and then grave 

 and serious. At times, especially when describing the 

 ruin of some promising youth, or the desecration of the 

 Chapel by daring mischief, his soul would be moved with 

 grief, and his eyes would fill with tears. These lectures 

 made a very strong impression upon the class in respect to 

 the matters discussed ; but most and best of all, they left 

 one still stronger, of the kindness of the Professor, and 

 of his earnest desire to promote the welfare of the students. 



He took his turn in officiating at evening prayers on Sun- 

 day, and his well-remembered phrases and intonations in 

 reading the Scriptures, and in prayer, would remind us of 

 his sincere and unaffected piety. It was always impressive 

 and elevating to hear him pray in the College Chapel. On 

 occasions of night disturbances about the College, Pro- 

 fessor Silliman was prompt and active, and the students be- 

 lieved that he was the determined foe of mischief and dis- 

 sipation. By these methods, though he gave no instruction 

 to the members of the two lower classes, his presence and 

 influence were felt by all, and his character was influential, 

 well understood, and highly appreciated by the whole com- 

 munity. 



At the beginning of our Junior year, we attended a part 

 of his course of chemical lectures. It was a memorable 

 time when we were permitted to go to the laboratory to 

 hear Professor Silliman, and witness the experiments. The 

 manner of the Professor was free, self-possessed, and rapid. 

 His matter was clearly conceived by himself, but not com- 

 municated after a very strict method. He assumed so much 

 knowledge on the part of the hearer, that he touched many 

 points too lightly, glanced at them too rapidly, and digressed 

 too frequently to make his lectures very valuable as a phi- 

 losophical discipline. The great principles of chemical 



