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One hour each day during this Spring term, for five days in every week, is employed in attending Professor Cleaveland’s Chemical Lectures. I do not recollect whether I mentioned this circumstance to you in my last letter or not, however be that as it may I think it worth repeating. Most of the lectures, which we have thus far attended have been very interesting. There were one or two upon the subject of Chemical Affinity which were not so. And yet I believe it is considered of the greatest importance, for those who would devote themselves to the study of Medical Science, to be acquainted and pretty thoroughly acquainted with the principles of this affinity.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to his father, March 13, 1824
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The chemical lectures are very amusing these are the first our class have ever attended, and the first of doings with Professor Cleaveland, this be considered a kind of eventful moment, for he is undoubtedly the greatest man amoung the government, he is supposed to have the greatest influence in all government concerns.
George Washington Pierce to his sister, February 29, 1824
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Professor Cleaveland, who, in fact, is the president, overseers, and all the government of the college, is rather an eccentric genius. He is undoubtedly the first mineralogist in the United States; and he is not inferior to anyone in his knowledge of Chemistry. Though Allen is nominally the president, yet Cleaveland, in reality, exercises more authority than he, & all the rest of the government, together. He is a very pleasant instructor, as the seniors say. He explains everything in such a manner, that the dullest fellow cannot avoid comprehending him. – He has many eccentricities. – It is said that he has a lightening -proof room in his cellar, whither he retires, whenever it thunders!
Gorham Deane to his brother, November 10, 1821
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…by far, the most distinguished member of the faculty, had but few if any superiors in the country as geologist or chemist. He was a king and genial as he was learned….Never [was a] professor held in higher regard, nor could nay one have inspired more kindly respect.
Horatio Bridge, Personal Recollections of Nathaniel Hawthorne (1893)