No, 109,] 15 



green old age gladdens our eyes and hearts to-day, the Emeritus 

 Professor in the legitimate and full meaning of the term, emeritus 

 in the minds of thousands besides the Yalenses. Fifty years ago 

 last June, Prof, Silliman returned from his tour in Europe, stored 

 with the facts and principles of the first age of geology, but pos- 

 sessing a richer treasure for the country in that spirit of enterprise 

 and communication of science demanded at that day. Within five 

 years he saw the magnificent cabinet of Col. Gibbs deposited in 

 Yale College, for practical use there, and for the advantage of the 

 whole country. The impulse was given, and the impulse was felt. 

 What a change those pioneers had wrought in the twenty years 

 from Sillim.in's graduation ! 



Forty years ago commenced the career of Prof. Amos Eaton, in 

 short courses of lectures on chemistry and botany, mineralogy 

 and geology. After he had been for years a graduate of Williams 

 College, and settled in this State in the honorable profession of the 

 law, he spent several months attending the various lectures at 

 Yale College, to fit him for the proposed effort. I have ever re- 

 joiced that my hural^le influence brought him to his Alma Mater, 

 where for months he gave lectures on natural history to the stu- 

 dents. Commended by the Faculty of Williams College, he went 

 forth to diffuse the elements of this science, and to rouse the 

 attention of the people to this subject. Singular as he seemed to 

 some, he was scientific, ardent and confident ; and he exerted a 

 vast influence on the minds of the young, and of the older also, 

 and many received directly from him that impulse which has led 

 to great results Patronized by Gen. Stephen Van Eensselaek, of 

 this city, so distinguished for his liberality, and so loved and ho- 

 nored by the great community, Mr. Eaton made, among other 

 works, his famous Survey of the Canal Rocks. This was published 

 by the Patroon, who also placed Mr. Eaton at the head of the 

 Rensselaer Institute, only to act in a wid^er and more useful sphere. 

 Prof. Eaton was the first to assert, from his examination of the 

 rocks of New- York and New-England, that the geologists of 

 Europe would come to the United States to study their favorite 

 science on a grander scale. This day, and in your hearing, has Prof. 

 Agassiz announced to you that the prophecy is already fulfilled. 



