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judge from the testimony of others, the lustre of his Christian 
character grew brighter and brighter as he drew towards 
the end of his pilgrimage. The contemplation of nature, no 
Jess than the sublime teachings of Scripture, inspired him 
with true devotion. His death was but the beautiful termi- 
nation of a conscientious religious life. With physical pow- 
ers far less impaired than is usual to his age, and with 
mental powers still fresh and active, he died in the bosom of 
his family almost without warning, and without pain, on the 
morning of Thanksgiving day, November 24, 1864, in the 
eighty-sixth year of his age. He had just closed his accus- 
tomed service of prayer and praise, with a heart full of grati- 
tude to God for the blessings bestowed upon him, he was ut- 
tering words of endearment and affection to members of his 
family when the summons came, and he was numbered with 
the dead. In contemplating a scene so touching, who can re- 
frain from exclaiming, in the language of Scripture, “ Let me 
die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like 
his”? 
Professor Silliman was twice married. He was most 
happy in his domestic life, and in the children and grand- 
children who will delight to honor his memory, and bear 
onward the torch of science which he has laid down. 
