THERE are few, if any, more eminent names recorded in the history of the physical sciences in America, than that of Benjamin Silliman. He was born, August 8th, 1779, at Trumbull, Fairfield county, Connecticut. Both his parents and grand-parents were of the higher class in society. His grandfather, who graduated at Yale College in 1727, was a distinguished lawyer, and judge of the Superior Court in Connecticut. His father, General Silliman, was also educated at the same institution, and for many years followed a similar profession, with superior success. When the war of the revolution broke out, abandoning the profession of the law, he hastily took up arms in his country's defence. His energy and daring raised him into public notice, and he was soon appointed Brigadier General, to guard the coast in the county of Fairfield. His services, so timely and important, are justly regarded with admiration.

With such examples before him, it was but natural to expect that young Silliman would lead a brilliant career. He was early prepared for Yale college, where he was admitted in 1792, at the age of fourteen, and graduated in 1796. While a member of college he was distinguished for activity of intellect and extensive range of thought. Even before leaving college, a striking proof was given of his original and innate talent for lecturing-an interesting presage of future celebrity and usefulness. He was appointed by an association of students to deliver a lecture on a subject to which he had not as yet, given attention. Though he had but little time for preparation, his lecture was an admirable effort, and was regarded as a great triumph of youthful genius.

After graduating he studied law, at the same time also pursuing a wide and varied range of studies in various branches of knowledge. In 1799 he was chosen tutor in Yale college, and was admitted to the bar in New Haven county in 1802.

The enterprize and energy of Dr. Dwight, procured the estab lishment of a professorship in the then new and rapidly rising sciences of Chemistry and Mineralogy, and Mr. Silliman in 1802, was chosen professor.

Mr. Silliman set out in his career a few years after Lavoiser had established the modern system of chemistry, and at about the same time with Sir Humphrey Davy and his compeers; early in a period which may perhaps be considered the most brilliant in the history of the physical sciences. In the early years of this century, the admiration of the whole literary and scientific public. of Europe was attracted to the astonishing discoveries then making in the chemical constitution of the material universe. The mysterious constitution of all organized and unorganized matter, was daily unfolding through the labors of the great European chemists of the time. Not only the most studious, but the most aristocratic, wealthy, and fashionable portion of society in London and Paris were flocking to hear these discoveries announced in public lectures. But in this country the whole subject was yet to be introduced and public interest in it to be excited. Lectures had been but rarely given, and only in connection with the science of medicine. None, with the exception of a small number of medical students, had any opportunity of acquiring even as much knowl edge of the wonders of chemistry as is now possessed by boys and girls in many of our primary schools.

For thirty years past no branch of the physical sciences has excited so universal an interest in this country, and been studied with so much zeal and delight as this. Few intelligent persons are ignorant of its most important facts and doctrines. The professorship of chemistry has long been considered an indispensable department in every college of whatever rank, and in all our higher academies. It is an established part of a complete female education; not only on account of the vast extent of the practical applications of chemistry, but for the sake of its expanding and ennobling influence, its effects in banishing superstition and superstitious feeling in connection with the wonders, laws and oper

ations of nature, and in elevating the mind, through contemplation of the laws of the material world, to the Creator by whom they are establised and maintained. It is to such expanded and elevated feelings that the study of chemistry owes its popularity, which has so long been maintained in this country. A mere operative chemist at the present day may be ranked as appropriately among manufacturers as among scientific men. In Europe the compounders of medicine, are, to a great extent, styled chemists. By such men, chemistry is practised merely as a trade. A practical chemist may be considered as ranking with a machinist or a civil engineer. (Observe, we are speaking of established branches of knowledge, and practical professions in society.) Great inventors or discoverers in the arts or sciences, form a class by themselves, as those who make new accessions to the stock of knowledge in the world. Their character and reputation are little dependent upon the particular branch of knowledge or the arts to which they make accessions. Mere practical chemistry, followed as it is by so many men as a trade, perhaps would not be considered as holding so high a rank, as was the case fifty years ago.

But Mr. Silliman's services to his country and to society are of the highest kind. Through his enterprise, energy and enthusiasm, not only chemistry and its kindred sciences, but, to a great extent, the whole range of the natural sciences have been introduced among his countrymen, and a wide-spread zeal awakened in their pursuit. To him also we are indebted not a little, for that enlargement in the range of our established courses of education, and the elevated feelings with which these branches of knowledge are pursued in our seminaries of learning. May we not safely say, that, in no country, are low and groveling superstitions, and the narrow-minded prejudices of ignorance, less prevalent throughout the great body of society, than in the United States? The more we reflect upon the necessary influence of this class of studies on the mind, the more we shall discover their value in improving the tone of thought and feeling in those who are engaged in the common pursuits of life. These studies, even if pursued to a small extent, train the mind, and may we not add, the heart, also, to sympathize with those great ideas of the Creator which are expressed in the laws of the natural world. Systematically, scientifically, and step by step do they lead us "through nature up to natura's God."

Upon being appointed to organize and establish this new department in Yale College, Mr. Silliman, after availing himself of all the resources afforded at home, immediately proceeded to Europe. The enterprise and energy which he evinced in qualifying himself for his great work, was truly remarkable. He traveled extensively both in Great Britain and on the continent, making the acquaintance of the first scientific and literary men of the age. He afterwards published a journal of his travels in Europe, which was pronounced by the highest literary authority in Great Britain, as one of the most successful efforts of American literature.

But his chief design in going to Europe was to acquaint himself with chemistry as taught by the great masters of the science. He accordingly studied it as a pupil of the ablest chemists of the day, in London, Edinburgh and Paris; taking pains to write out with the utmost care, notes of each lecture to which he listened. The zeal with which he pursued these studies was only equaled by the amount of knowledge he acquired. The minutest details given in the lecture-room were all treasured in his mind.

In his lectures, the reminiscences of his old instructors have been particularly interesting. The friendship and intercourse which he established with eminent scientific men, in Europe, have been very useful to the cause of science in this country. Not only by means of his journal, but correspondence, Mr. Silliman has been a principal medium of communication between the science of Europe and that of America.

As a lecturer, Mr. Silliman has been one of the most successful of the age. Many years ago, an intelligent Englishman, who had been accustomed to hear the ablest lecturers of London, at a time when Sir Humphrey Davy, Coleridge, and other most distinguished literary and scientific men of the day, were delighting large audiences in London, gathered from the most intelligent classes of that metropolis, and at a time when public lectures were frequented with fresh zeal and enthusiasm, upon hearing Mr. Silliman lecture, testified most decidedly to his preeminent ability, compared with the eminent lecturers of England. In this country, throughout the whole of his protracted course, Mr. Silliman has ranked highest in the estimation of the public.

It is impossible to convey to those who have never listened to