114 
and connecting the animal structure of long ages past with 
that of the living present. Davy and Berzelius and Gay 
Lussac were just entering on their several careers of dis- 
covery, which have rendered their names illustrious in the 
history of science. The science of Geology, as now under- 
stood, had then no existence. 
With these facts before him, President Dwight saw the 
importance of making Chemistry and the natural sciences a — 
part of general education. He discerned in his young friend 
those endowments and aptitudes of mind which promised 
success in these departments of science. He accordingly, in 
1802, urged upon Mr. Silliman the expediency of abandon- 
ing the profession of the law, and of devoting himself to 
science. The suggestion was adopted, and the corporation 
Yale College in that year elected “Benjamin Silliman, 
Esq., as the Professor of Chemistry and Natural History.” 
It is our impression that there were at that time only two of 
our collegiate institutions where instruction was given in 
Chemistry, — those of Harvard College and the University 
of Pennsylvania. 
Professor Silliman did not immediately enter upon the 
duties of his new office. He took time for preparation. 
Portions of two winters were spent in Philadelphia, a5 4 
student of Dr. Woodhouse, prosecuting his professional 
studies under advantages which probably no other American 
city could then furnish. Dr. Hare had at that time just 
invented and brought into use the Oxyhydrogen or Com- 
pound Blowpipe, which generated an intensity of beat 
hitherto unknown to the Laboratory, and gave to science 4 
‘new and efficient means of research. It was fortunate for 
both, perhaps, that Professor Silliman was engaged with 
_ him in many experiments with this instrument. His first 
course of lectures was given in the winter of 1804, and 
§ 
