BENJAMIN SILLIMAN, THE ELDER. j^ 



ethical, and metaphysical subjects were much cultivated, and 

 logic was also a prominent topic " ; mathematics was appreci- 

 ated ; much interest had been aroused in astronomy ; physics 

 was less cared for, and chemistry had been " scarcely men- 

 tioned." Mr. Silliman was considering a proposition to settle 

 down at the practice of the law in Georgia, when in July, 1801, 

 President Dwight informed him that the corporation of the 

 college had several years before resolved to establish a pro- 

 fessorship of chemistry and natural history as soon as the 

 funds would admit of it. The time had come when the reso- 

 lution could be carried into effect, but it was impossible to find 

 in this country a man properly qualified to discharge the 

 duties of the office, while there were reasons that made the 

 appointment of a foreigner inexpedient. The president saw 

 no way but to select a suitable young man at home, and give 

 him time to qualify himself for the professorship ; and he had 

 fixed upon Mr. Silliman as the person whom he would propose 

 to the corporation. Mr. Silliman was inclined from the first to 

 consider the offer favourably, because, as he has recorded in his 

 Reminiscences, " the study of Nature appeared very attract- 

 ive. In her works there is no falsehood, although there are 

 mysteries to unveil, which is a very interesting achievement. 

 Everything in Nature is straightforward and consistent. 

 There are no polluting influences; all the associations with 

 these pursuits are elevated and virtuous, and point toward the 

 infinite Creator." The professorship was instituted in 1802, 

 with a provision that such time as might be agreed upon 

 should be given the professor-elect to decide whether he would 

 accept the appointment, and Mr. Silliman was chosen profess- 

 or. Philadelphia then " presented more advantages in science 

 than any other place in the country," and he went there first. 

 Here he enjoyed the instruction, with experiments, of Dr. 

 James Woodhouse, of the Medical College, and had as a fel- 

 low-boarder Robert Hare, who had just perfected his oxyhy- 

 drogen blowpipe, and was much occupied with the subject, 

 and enlisted his new friend in his service. He also attended 

 the lectures of Dr. Barton on botany and of Dr. Caspar Wistar 

 on anatomy and surgery, and met Dr. Priestley at the house 

 of the latter. He received valuable suggestions from Dr. Mac- 

 lean, of Princeton, whom he visited in his transits to and from 

 Philadelphia ; and thus he learned to regard the eminent pro- 



