eties at home, Dr.
Oliver was honored in 1835 with a diploma from the Academy of Sciences
and Belles Lettres of Palermo, and in 1838 received the degree of
Doctor of Laws.

The following notice of a gentleman of rare eminence in the scientific
world, is from a reliable source:

James Freeman Dana, who was connected as a teacher with both the
Academical and Medical departments of Dartmouth College, was born at
Amherst, N. H., September 23, 1793. He was the eldest son of Luther
and Lucy (Giddings) Dana, and grandson of Rev. and Hon. Samuel Dana.
On the father's side he was descended from Richard Dana, who was among
the early settlers in Massachusetts; on that of his mother he was a
descendant in the seventh generation from Rev. John Robinson, the
pastor of the noble band of Pilgrims who founded Plymouth, Mass.

Dana was fitted for college at Phillips Academy, Exeter, N. H.,
entered Harvard in 1809, and graduated in 1813, his name standing on
the catalogue as Jonathan Freeman Dana; the first name, by which,
however, he had never been known, was changed to James, by act of
legislature.

Immediately after entering Harvard, Dana showed a decided partiality
for scientific pursuits. To Natural Philosophy, Natural History, and
Chemistry, he mainly devoted his attention, making excursions into the
surrounding country for the purpose of examining its geological
structure, and collecting mineralogical and other specimens. The
result of these rambles was embodied in a small volume, published in
conjunction with his brother Dr. S. L. Dana, in 1819, entitled
"Mineralogy and Geology of Boston and its Environs." While in college
he formed, together with his brother and several classmates, a society
for the cultivation of Natural Science and Philosophy, named at first
for two distinguished French chemists, but afterward known as the
Hermetic Society. Towards the close of his collegiate course he was
appointed to assist Dr. Gorham, the professor of Chemistry, in
preparing his experiments. That eminent physician and chemist soon
became so much interested in the pupil who displayed such assiduity in
scientific researches, that finding he intended to pursue the study of
medicine, he kindly invited him to do so under his tuition.

In 1813, Mr. Dana commenced his studies with Dr. Gorham, attending
lectures at the Medical College, but though he became well acquainted
with the principles and practice of the profession, he never
relinquish