Dana — American Journal of Science, 1818-1918. 13 



bushel of stones, which once went to Philadelphia for names, in 

 a candle-box, yon see above the largest mineral cabinet in the 

 country, which but for Professor Silliman, his attractions and 

 his personal exertions together, would never have been one of 

 the glories of old Yale. . . . 



Moreover, the American Journal of Science, — now in its^ 

 thirty-seventh year and seventieth volume [1856], — projected 

 and long-sustained solely by Professor Silliman, while ever dis- 

 tributing truth, has also been ever gathering honors, and is one 

 of the laurels of Yale. 



We rejoice that in laying aside his studies, after so many 

 years of labor, there is still no abated vigor. . . . He retires 

 as one whose right it is to throw the burden on others. Long- 

 may he be with us, to enjoy the good he has done, and cheer us 

 by his noble and benign presence." 



In addition to these words of Dana, much of vital 

 interest in regard to Silliman and his work will be 

 gathered from what is given in the pages immediately 

 following, quoted from his personal statements in the 

 earlv volumes of the Journal. 



The Early Years of the Journal. 



In no direction did Silliman 's enthusiastic activities in 

 science produce a more enduring result than in the found- 

 ing and carrying on of this Journal. The first sugges- 

 tion in regard to the enterprise was made to Silliman by 

 his friend, Colonel George Gibbs, from whom the famous 

 Gibbs collection of minerals was bought by Yale College 

 in 1825. Silliman says (25, 215, 1834) : 



"Col. Gibbs was the person who first suggested to the Editor 

 the project of this Journal, and he urged the topic with so much 

 zeal and with such cogent arguments, as prevailed to induce the 

 effort in a case then viewed as of very dubious success. The 

 subject was thus started in November, 1817 ; proposals for the 

 Journal were issued in January, 1818, and the first number 

 appeared in July of that year." 



He adds further (50, p. iii, 1847) that the conversation 

 here recorded took place "on an accidental meeting on 

 board the steamboat Fulton in Long Island Sound.' ' 

 This was some ten years after Eobert Fulton's steam- 

 boat, the Clermont, made its pioneer trip on the Hudson 

 river, already alluded to. The incident is not without 

 significance in this connection. The deck of the "Ful- 



