THE original and primary Design of the Insti­tution of Colleges and superior Schools of Learning, was to educate young Men for the Work of the Ministry: ^(a) And therefore they have been generally esteemed to be of divine Institution, ^(b) and were anciently called the Schools of the Church ^(c) To this Effect the Fathers of New-England declare their Sentiments in sundry Expressions in their early Synodi­cal Acts. ‘That we read in Scripture of Schools and Colleges: ^(d) That they are necessary for the training up of such in good Literature as may be called to the Office of a Pastor or Teacher in the Church. That the Doctor or Teacher was instituted both for the Churches and the Schools. ^(e) That Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha were Presidents of the Schools of the Pro­phets.’ ^(f) And that ‘Ecclesiastical History informs us that great Care was taken by the Apostles and [Page 2] their immediate Successors to settle Schools in all Places, where the Gospel had been preached; that so the Interest of Religion might be preserved, and the Truth propagated to succeeding Generations.’ ^(g)

1698The Design of founding a College in the Colony of Connecticut, was first concerted by the Ministers; among which the Rev. Mr. Pierpont of New Haven, Mr. Andrew of Milford, and Mr. Russel of Branford, were the most forward and active. They had sundry Meetings and Consultations, and received several Pro­posals or Schemes relating to the Constitution and Regu­lation of such a College. The first Plan was very for­mal and minute, drawn up by some Gentleman in Imi­tation of the Protestant Colleges and Universities in France, founded by their general Synods. ^(h) In which it was proposed, ‘That a College should be erected by a general Synod of the consociated Churches ⁽ⁱ⁾ in the Colony of Connecticut. To be under the Govern­ment of a President and ten Inspectors or Trustees, any seven of them to be a Quorum. That the Synod should nominate the first President and Inspectors, and should have some kind of Influence in all future Elec­tions, so far as should be necessary, to preseve Ortho­doxy in the Governors. That the Synod should agree upon a Confession of Faith to be consented to by the President, Inspectors and Tutors. That the College should be called the School of the Church. And that the Churches should contribute towards it's Support.’ [Page 3] ^(k) &c. There was no publick Motion for the calling of a formal Synod, for that Purpose, till three Years after; but in the mean Time, in the lesser Conventions of Ministers in Associations and Councils, and in private Conversation, ten of the principal Ministers in the Co­lony, were nominated and agreed upon by a general 1699 Consent both of the Ministers and People, to stand as Trustees or Undertakers to found, erect and govern a College, viz.

• James Noyes, of Stonington.
• Israel Chauncy, of Stratford.
• Thomas Buckingham, of Saybrook.
• Abraham Pierson, of Killingworth.
• Samuel Mather, of Windsor.
• Samuel Andrew, of Milford.
• Timothy Woodbridge, of Hartford.
• James Pierpont, of New-Haven.
• Noadiah Russel, of Middletown.
• Joseph Webb, of Fairfield.

The Ministers so nominated, met at New-Haven and formed themselves into a Body or Society, 1700 to consist of eleven Ministers, including a Rector, and agreed to Found a College in the Colony of Connecticut; which they did at their next Meeting at Branford, in the fol­lowing Manner, viz. Each Member brought a Num­ber of Books and presented them to the Body; and laying them on the Table, said these Words, or to this Effect; "I give these Books for the founding a College in this Colony." Then the Trustees as a Body took Pos­session of them; and appointed the Rev. Mr. Russel of Branford to be the Keeper of the Library, which then consisted of about 40 Volumes in Folio. Soon after they received sundry other Donations both of Books and [Page 4] 1700Money, which laid a good Foundation. This Library with the Additions, was kept at Branford, in a Room set apart for that Purpose near three Years, and then it was carried to Killingworth.

But afterwards some began to doubt whether they were fully vested with a legal Capacity to hold Lands, and whether private Donations and Contributions would yield a Sufficiency to carry on so great a Design; it was therefore proposed to make Application to the Hon. the General Assembly of the Colony for some Assistance; and to ask for a Charter. The Expediency of this Propo­sal was debated at several Meetings; and sundry Argu­ments were used on both Sides: and some of the ablest Lawyers both in, and out of the Government, were consulted upon it. After mature Consideration, they concluded that it was safe and best to have a Charter, 1701notwithstanding any Change of the Government which might possibly happen; and wrote to the Hon. Judge Sewall, and Mr. Secretary Addington of Boston to prepare a Draught of a Charter, to be presented to the next As­sembly.

Whereupon a large Number of Ministers and others, drew up and signed a Petition to the Hon. the General Assembly, representing, ‘That from a sincere Regard to, and Zeal for, upholding the Protestant Religion, by a Succession of learned and orthodox Men, they had proposed that a Collegiate School should be erect­ed in this Colony, wherein Youth should be instructed in all Parts of Learning, to qualify them for publick Employments in Church and Civil State; and that they had nominated ten Ministers to be Trustees, Part­ners or Undertakers for the Founding, Endowing and Ordering the said School, viz. The Rev. Mr. James Noyes, Mr. Israel Chauncy and the rest before mentioned And thereupon desired that full Liberty and Privilege might be granted to the said Underta­kers for that End.’

[Page 5]And in Order to facilitate the Design, James Fitch, 1701 of Norwich Esq one of the Council, soon after the As­sembly met, made a formal Donation under his Hand, predicated upon ‘the great Pains and Charge which the Ministers had been at in setting up a Collegiate School; and therefore in order to encourage a Work so pleasing to God, and beneficial to Posterity, he gave a Tract of Land in Killingly, of about 600 Acres; and all the Glass and Nails which should be necessary to build a College House and Hall: and promised to give a more ample Conveyance of the Land, as soon as it could be resurveyed.’

The Petition being presented to the Hon. Assembly, they appeared very ready to encourage such a laudable and pious Design, and accordingly established the Act or Charter drawn up by Mr. Secretary Addington, with some small Additions and Alterations, which is as fol­lows, viz.

The Trustees receiving an additional Vigour from the Grants and Privileges contained in this Charter, met soon after and entered the following solemn Declaration, viz.

With sundry other Rules and Orders for the Regula­tion of the said School.

The Trustees chose the Rev. Mr. Abraham Pierson, who was one of their Number, to take the Care of Instructing and Governing the Collegiate School; un­der the Title and Character of RECTOR.

And in as much as it was originally proposed that there should be ten Trustees besides the Rector, they ‘chose the Rev. Mr. Samuel Russel, of Branford, to be a Trustee to complete the Number of Eleven.’

At the same Meeting, they entered upon the Conside­ration of the most convenient Place in the Colony of Connecticut, in which they might erect and fix the Collegiate School: they were not perfectly satisfied or united in it; but after a considerable Debate they fixed upon Saybrook, as the most convenient Place, at Present; unless upon further Consideration they should alter their Minds: And this Matter was debated at several Meet­ings afterwards.

They also desired the Rector to remove himself and Family to Saybrook; but till that could be effected, they ordered that the Scholars should be instructed at or near the Rector's House in Killingworth. As this School [Page 12] was some Years in forming, 1702 several young Gentlemen were preparing for it under the more private Instruc­tion of some one of the Trustees or others: After the School became furnished with a Rector and a Tutor, eight of them were admitted, and put into different Classes, according to the proficiency they had antece­dently made. So that in a Year or two some were qua­lified for Degrees.

The first Commencement was held at Saybrook, on Sept. 13th, 1702. at which four young Gentlemen, who had before been graduated at the College at Cam­bridge, and one more, who had a private Education, received the Degrees of Master of Arts. This and se­veral Commencements following were held privately in the House of the Rev. Mr. Buckingham, because the Trustees by a preceding Act, had forbid all publick Commencements; to avoid the Charge and other In­conveniences attending them.

Mr. Nathaniel Lynde of Saybrook, was pleased ge­nerously to give a House and Land for the Use of the Collegiate School, so long as it should be continued at Saybrook. And James Fitch, Esq in pursuance of his generous Donation made in October last, gave an ample Deed of 637 Acres of Land at Killingly. There was also a general Contribution throughout the Co­lony, 1703 to build a College House at Saybrook, or where­ever the College should be finally fixed: But we have no Account what was obtained by it.

The Trustees had a special Meeting at Guilford, March 17th, 1703, and wrote a Circular Letter to the Ministers, proposing "to have a general Synod of all the Churches in the Colony of Connecticut, to give their joint Consent to [Page 13] the Confession of Faith, after the Example of the Synod in Boston, in 1680." This Proposal being universally ac­ceptable, the Churches in the several Counties met in a consociated Council, and assented to the Westminster or Savoy Confessions; and drew up some Rules of Ec­clesiastical Discipline; as Matters preparatory to the Synod. Then each Council chose six Delegates, that is, three Ministers and three Messengers, to meet in a general Synod. This Synod met at Saybrook, in 1708: And having compared the several Draughts of the Councils in each County, unanimously agreed in these three general Acts.

Ist. They drew up and consented to a Confession of Faith; which is the same in Substance, and nearly in the same Words with the Westminster and Savoy Confessions.

IId. They consented to the general Plan of Eccle­siastical Government, contained in the Heads of Agree­ment assented to, by the united Ministers, in England, for­merly called Presbyterian and Congregational.

IIIdly. They drew up some particular Articles and Rules for the Administration of Church Discipline. The Substance of which (so far as they seemed to contain any Thing new) was this, that whereas in former Times the Boundaries of the several Councils of Churches Consociated for mutual Assistance, were unfixed, and left in the general Terms of the Neighbouring Churches. ^† Now the several Neighbourhoods of Churches were more precisely bounded, and limited to the respective Counties or Districts. These Acts of the Synod were established by the Laws of the civil Government: And are called the Ecclesiastical Constitu­tion of the Churches of the Colony of Connecticut: And are frequently referred to in the Acts of the Trustees; ac­cording to the original Plan of the College, menti­oned in Page 2d.

[Page 14]The Trustees made several Essays to remove the Rector, with his Family, to Saybrook, and proposed to give him 50 Pounds Sterling, to bear the Charges of his Removal, and 60 Pounds Sterling Salary per Annum. But as this Encouragement was but small, and his Removal was strongly opposed by his People, and many of the Trustees were not so well satisfied in fixing the College at Saybrook, as to act with so much Vigour as otherwise they would have done; his Re­moval was never effected; but the Students continued at Killingworth till his Death; 1707 which was in April 1707, to the unspeakable Grief and Loss both of the College and of his People.

He was educated at Harvard College and graduated there Anno. 1668; was a hard Student, a good Scho­lar, a great Divine, and a wise, steady and judicious Gentleman in all his Conduct: He was for many Years a faithful and well respected Pastor of the Church in Killingworth, and after he was chosen Rector, he instructed and governed the Infant College with gene­ral Approbation; and composed a System of Natural Philosophy, which the Students recited for many Years.

Upon the Death of Mr. Rector Pierson, the Rev. Mr. Andrew of Milford, was chosen Rector pro Tem­pore, until one could be obtained who should reside at the Collegiate School. Upon which the Senior Class were removed to Milford, to be under his im­mediate Care and Instruction till the Commencement. The rest of the Students were removed to Saybrook, and put under the Care of two Tutors.

The Tutors and Students being now about twenty in Number, resided and boarded in private Houses, where they could be best accommodated. And the Students [Page 15] every Day came to their Tutors Chambers to Recita­tions and Prayers: Mr. Andrew moderated at the Commencements, and sometimes gave or sent Direc­tions to the Tutors, in special Cases: But inasmuch as he lived at a great Distance, Mr. Buckingham of Saybrook, one of the Trustees, (while he lived) was sub­stituted to have some Kind of Inspection over the Tu­tors and Students. In this obscure State the College continued at Saybrook about seven Years, without any remarkable Occurrent or Alteration. And the Trus­tees not being fully agreed or satisfied in their own Minds about the Place of the College; and their In­comes being scarce sufficient to settle and support a Resident Rector; they made no considerable Attempts to procure one in all that space of Time.

About this Time sundry Donations of valuable Books were made to the Library, 1713 particularly by Sir John Davie, of Groton, who had an Estate descended to him in England, together with the Title of Baronet: Upon his going to England, he sent a good Collec­tion of Books to the Library.

But the greatest Donation of all was by the Gene­rosity and Procurement of Jeremiah Dummer, Esq of Boston, then Agent at London, who in the Year 1714 sent above 800 Volumes of very valuable Books; about 120 of which were at his own Cost and Charge; and the rest by his Procurement from sundry princi­pal Gentlemen in England; particularly Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Richard Blackmore, Sir Richard Steele, Dr. Burnet, Dr. Woodward, Dr. Halley, Dr. Bently, Dr. Kennet, Dr. Calamy, Dr. Edwards, the Rev. Mr. Henry, and Mr. Whiston, severally gave a Collection of their own Works, and Governor Yale put in about 40 Vo­lumes: All which I suppose to be worth 260 Pounds Sterling.

[Page 16] 1714The Trustees and the Colony in general were from the Beginning, not very well agreed in their Senti­ments about the Place where to fix the College; and most Men's Sentiments were influenced by their Situ­ation; and they generally chose that Place which would best accommodate themselves. Three or four Places were generally discoursed upon viz. Saybrook, Hew-Haven, and Hartford or Weathersfield. The Scho­lars were also somewhat uneasy at their Situation, they thought that Saybrook was not compact enough for their Accommodation, since many of them were obliged to reside above a Mile from the Place of publick Ex­ercises, 1715 and they were not pleased with their Instruction and Government; there being no resident Rector, and the Tutors sometimes very young. Many of the Students therefore, having manifested an Uneasiness and Disrespect towards their Tutors; the Trustees met at Saybrook, Apr. 4 1716 and called the Students before them, and enquired into the Occasion of their Uneasiness and Disorder. They principally insisted upon the insuffici­ency of their Instruction; and sundry of them who lived in or near Hartford and Weathersfield, said that it was a Hardship for them to be obliged to reside at Saybrook, when they could as well or better be instruc­ted nearer home. ^†

The Trustees entered into a long Debate upon all the Circumstances of the Collegiate School, and it seems did not entirely agree in their Sentiments, and secret Views and Motives of Action; but at length they condescended to give a Sort of Toleration, that those Students who were uneasy, might go to other Places for Instruction, till the next Commencement.

[Page 17]Whereupon the greater Part of the Students went to Weathersfield, 1716 and were under the Instruction of Mr. Elisha Williams; some went to other Places, and some remained at Saybrook; but the Small-Pox coming there, a little after, most of them removed to East-Guilford, June and continued there till the Commencement, under the Tuition of the Reverend Mr. Hart, and Mr. Russel.

The Collegiate School being in this broken and tot­tering State, the People in several Parts of the Coun­try begun to Subscribe large Sums for Building the College, to induce the Trustees to set it where it would best accommodate them. About £. 700 Sterling I suppose the Whole of that Sum was not actually paid. was subscribed for New-Haven; and tis said that about £. 500 Sterling was subscribed for Saybrook; and a considerable Sum for Hartford or Weathersfield.

The Trustees met at the Commencement at Saybrook, September 12, 1716, and entered upon the Conside­ration of the State and Place of the Collegiate School, but not being perfectly agreed they adjourned to New-Haven, to meet on the 17th Day of October follow­ing; where were present,

• Samuel Andrew,
• Timothy Woodbridge,
• Joseph Webb,
• Samuel Russel,
• Moses Noyes,
• John Davenport,
• Thomas Buckingham,
• Thomas Ruggles.

[Page 18]And Voted, ‘that considering the Difficulties of continuing the Collegiate School at Saybrook, and that New-Haven is a very convenient Place for it, for which the most liberal Donations are given, the Trustees agree to remove the said School from Say­brook to New-Haven, and it is now settled at New-Haven accordingly.’ Five Trustees present were in this Vote, Mr. Woodbridge and Mr. Buckingham were for Weathersfield; and Mr. Noyes declared, that he did not see the Necessity of removing the School from Saybrook; but if it must be removed, his Mind was to settle it at New-Haven.

At this Meeting the Trustees received 250 Pounds Sterling, which was granted to them by the General Assembly some Years before (from the Sale of the equivalent Lands;) and having now in their Treasury about 125 Pounds Sterling, Part of which might probably be the Effect of the Contribution in 1703, and Part of it saved by not having a Resident Rec­tor; and being also encouraged by the large Sub­scriptions before-mentioned; they voted to build a large and convenient College and Rector's House at New-Haven; and appointed a Committee to carry on the Work. The College accordingly was raised on the 8th Day of October following.

They also Voted, that the Rev. Mr. Andrew should continue Rector, pro Tempore, till a settled Rector could be obtained, which they would Endeavour with all convenient Speed. And they chose two Tutors; and ordered that Notice should be given to all the Stu­dents belonging to the School, that Provision was made for their Instruction and Government here. And ac­cordingly those Scholars who had been at Guilford on Account of the Small-Pox, came to New-Haven; but none came from Weathersfield. They also chose [Page 19] the Rev. Mr. Stephen Buckingham of Norwalk, to be a Trustee; but he considering the present difficult State of Affairs, (and especially his near Relatives at Saybrook) did not choose to act, for some Time. Then the Trustees sent the Entries of their Acts at this Meeting, to the Rev. Mr. James Noyes of Stonington, who signed them, and declared his hearty Concurrence with every Vote, on the 19th of December following.

The Trustees met again at New-Haven, April 5, 1717 1717, where were present,

• James Noyes,
• Samuel Andrew,
• Samuel Russel,
• Joseph Webb,
• John Davenport,
• Thomas Ruggles,
• Stephen Buckingham.

The foregoing Acts past at the last Meeting were all read and confirmed, and subscribed to by all the Members present; except Mr. Stephen Buckingham. And again on the 11th of September following.

These Proceedings were strongly opposed by many Gentlemen in the Northern and Eastern Parts of the Government, and the Colony in general were much engaged on one Side or the other; insomuch that the Affair was several Times moved in the General As­sembly, for their Interposition; which occasioned some warm Debates, but no Vote was past.

Notwithstanding these Difficulties, the Trustees stea­dily pursued their own Determinations of settling the College at New-Haven; and accordingly held the first Commencement here on September 11, 1717. To [Page 20] which four Senior Sophisters came from Saybrook, and received the Degree of Batchelor of Arts, and several others commenced Masters. Mr. Andrew mo­derated, and gave Degrees, as Rector pro Tempore. The last Year 13 Scholars had resided at New-Haven, 14 at Weathersfield, and 4 at Saybrook.

Mr. Woodbridge and Mr. Buckingham were very desirous to stop the Proceedings of the Trustees in New-Haven, and therefore in October following, they entered a Kind of Remonstrance to the General As­sembly, then sitting at New-Haven: wherein they repre­sented, that the Votes of the Trustees for fixing the College at New-Haven, past October 17th, 1716, and April 5th, 1717, were not legal Votes; for that the Major Part of the Trustees were not in them. That there were Nine Trustees at least, subsisting in Octo­ber 1716, and but Four of them in the Vote, viz. Mr. Andrew, Mr. Webb, Mr. Russel and Mr. Daven­port. That Mr. Ruggles was chosen before he was forty Years of Age, and therefore that Choice was null. And that Mr. James Noyes's Consent to that Act, at such a Distance and so long after, could be no Confirmation of it. And that in the Act of April 1717, there were but Five Trustees out of Ten.

To which the Trustees, being then convened, re­plied, That in October 1716, there were but Nine Trustees, Mr. Pierpont being dead, and none then chosen in his Room; and Mr. Mather of Windsor had been Bed-rid many Years, and had resigned the Ministry; and therefore could not be look'd upon as a Trustee. That if it should be granted that Mr. Ruggles could not act as a Trustee, at the Time when he was first nominated, yet he was forty Years old before the passing of that Vote; and the Trustees by permitting him, in pursuance to a former Nomina­tion, [Page 21] to sit and act with them, thereby associated him, according to the Charter. That inasmuch as the Trus­tees were not limited in their Way and Manner of acting or voting, Mr. Noyes, tho' absent from the Meeting, might give his Consent to an Act by sub­scribing it at home, within two or three Months after, as well as if he had been present. And so there was a Majority of Six out of Nine. And in April 1717, after Mr. Stephen Buckingham was chosen, there was a Majority of Six out of Ten. But if Mr. Ruggles should not be reckoned at either of the Meet­ing, nor Mr. Noyes, nor any other Trustee when absent, then there will be a Majority of those who were present, which makes a legal Act.

Whereupon the upper House were of Opinion, ‘that the Objections against the Vote of the Trustees were insufficient.’ And after a long Debate in the lower House, they did not see Cause to Vote any Thing upon it.

The Trustees being then convened at New-Haven, Oct. 30 and being inclined to cut of all Occasion of Objec­tion for the future, past a Vote, wherein they declared and associated Mr. Ruggles a Trustee. And another Vote predicated upon sundry former ones, wherein they finally settled the College at New-Haven, to which Seven Trustees, for greater Solemnity, set their Hands, Viz.

• James Noyes,
• Moses Noyes,
• Samuel Andrew,
• Samuel Russel,
• Joseph Webb,
• John Davenport,
• Thomas Ruggles.

[Page 22]The Reason assigned by the Trustees in their Votes (and other Papers) for settling the College at New-Haven, were these; the Difficulty of keeping it at Saybrook, which arose partly from the Uneasiness of the Scholars, partly from the continual Endeavours of some to carry it to Hartford, which they supposed to be at too great a Distance from the Sea, and would no ways accommodate the Western Colonies. That they look'd upon New-Haven to be in itself the most convenient Place, on the Account of the commodi­ousness of its Situation, the agreableness of the Air and Soil, and the Cheapness of Commodities; and that very large Donations had been made towards the Building an House there, without which they had not sufficient to defray the Charge.

The Major Part of the General Assembly, being desirous to strengthen the Hands of the Trustees in the present Difficulties, past the following Vote, in the same Session, viz. ‘That under the present Circumstances of the Affairs of the Collegiate School, the Rev. Trustees be advised to proceed in that Affair; and to finish the House they have built in New-Haven, for the Entertainment of the Scholars belonging to the Collegiate School.’

Notwithstanding these Votes of the Trustees and the General Assembly, some Gentlemen still pursued their Design of carrying the College to Weathersfield, and therefore encouraged the Scholars there, which were about 14 in Number, 1718 to continue there: and in May following they again moved the Affair to the General Assembly at Hartford. The lower House voted, ‘to desire the Trustees, to Consent that the Commencements should be held alternately at Wea­thersfield and New-Haven, till the Place of the School be fully determined.’ The Upper House were of [Page 23] Opinion that the Place of the ‘School was fully determined already, by the indisputable Votes of the Trustees, and the subsequent Advice of the Assem­bly thereupon;’ and therefore did not concur.

Presently after this, the Collegiate School at New-Haven, received sundry very large and generous Dona­tions; (which were very acceptable at this difficult Time.) The greatest of which was from the Hon­orable ELIHU YALE, of London, Esq Governor of the East-India Company. He was Heir to a Manor in Wales, of the Value of 500 Pounds Sterling per Annum, besides the vast Treasures he got by his per­sonal Industry while he was in the East-Indies. The paternal Estate (as it was said) being entailed to the Male Heir of the Family, and he, having no Son, but three Daughters, sent to his first Cousin and next Male Heir Mr. John Yale of New-Haven, with whom he had been formerly acquainted in England, to send him one of his Sons, to inherit the paternal Estate. Accord­ingly in the Year 1712, he sent his Son Mr. David Yale, to London, who upon his Return was graduated at this College 1724.

These Things brought Governor YALE into Cor­respondence with the Honorable Governor Saltonstall and the Rev. Mr. Pierpont of New-Haven, which was the Occasion of his generous Donations. In the Year 1714 he sent 40 Volumes of Books in Mr. Dummer's Collection. Last Year he sent above 300 Volumes, both which Parcels I suppose to be worth 100 Pounds Sterling. This Summer he sent Goods to the Value of 200 Pounds Sterling at prime Cost, besides the King's Picture and Arms; with some Intimations that he would yet add; and accordingly three Years after, he sent to the Value of 100 Pounds more; both which [Page 24] Parcels were sold here for an Equivalent to 400 Pounds Sterling.

Mr. Dummer at this Time also sent 76 Volumes of Books, whereof 20 were Folios, in Value about 30 Pounds Sterling. The Honorable Gurdon Saltonstall, Esq and Jahaleel Brenton, of Newport, Esq gave, each of them, 50 Pounds Sterling.

Upon the Receipt of these and other large Donati­ons, the Circumstances of the Collegiate School were very much altered for the better, and the Trustees were now well enabled to finish the large and com­modious College House, which they had before erected; it was raised on the 8th Day of October 1717, and within a Year after was so far finished, as to be fit for the commodious Reception of the Students. It was 170 Feet long, 22 Feet wide, and 3 Story high; made a handsome Appearance, and contained near 50 Studies in convenient Chambers, besides the Hall, Library and Kitchin, and Cost about 1000 Pounds Sterling.

On September 12, 1718, there was a splendid Com­mencement held at New-Haven, where were present, besides the Trustees, the Honorable GURDON SAL­TONSTALL, Esq Governor of the Colony of Connec­ticut, the Honorable William Taylor, Esq as repre­senting Governor Yale, the Honorable Nathan Gold, Esq Deputy Governor, sundry of the worshipful As­sistants, the Judges of the Circuit, a great Number of Rev. Ministers, and a great Concourse of Spectators.

The Trustees, in Commemoration of Governor Yale's great Generosity, called the Collegiate School, after his Name, YALE-COLLEGE; and entred a Memorial thereof upon Record, which is as follows.

Which I shall translate, for the Sake of the English Reader.

On the Commencement Day Morning, this Monu­ment both of Generosity and Gratitude was with solemn Pomp read off in the College Hall, both in Latin and English; then the Procession moved to the Meeting-House, to attend the Publick Exercises of the Day: Wherein, besides the Oration made by one of the Bachelors, the Rev. Mr. John Davenport, one of the Trustees, at the Desire of the Body, made a florid Oration, wherein he largely insisted upon and highly extolled the Generosity of Governor Yale. Eight Can­didates received the Honour of a Degree of Bachelor of Arts; and several more were created Masters. And the Honorable Governor Saltonstall was pleased to Grace and Crown the whole Solemnity, with an ele­gant Latin Oration; wherein he congratulated the pre­sent [Page 27] happy State of the College, in being sixed at New-Haven, and enrich'd with so many noble Bene­factions; and particularly celebrated the great Gene­rosity of Governor Yale, with much Respect and Honour.

After this the Trustees sent a very Complaisant Let­ter of Thanks to Governor Yale; and gave him a particular Account of all the Transactions at the Com­mencement. They also sent a Letter of Thanks to their great Friend and Patron Jeremiah Dummer, Esq for his late Donation of Books; and another to the Honorable General Nicholson for his Donation of Books in Mr. Dummer's Collection; and for a late Donation, the Number or Value of which I can't find.

On the same Day upon which the Commencement was carried on at New-Haven, something like a Com­mencement was carried on at Weathersfield, before a large Number of Spectators; five Scholars, who were originally of the Class, which now took their Degrees at New-Haven, performed publick Exercises; the Rev. Mr. Woodbridge acted as Moderator; and he and Mr. Buckingham and other Ministers present signed Certifi­cates, that they judged them to be worthy of the Degree of Bachelor of Arts; these Mr. Woodbridge delivered to them in a formal Manner in the Meet­ing-House; which was commonly taken and repre­sented as giving them their Degrees.

Notwithstanding this Irregularity, which wise and good Men fell into in a Time of Strife and Tempta­tion; yet the Trustees were disposed to condescend, as far as possible, to gain and reconcile those who had withdrawn from them; and therefore ordered, Sept. 13. ‘that if any of those Five Scholars should produce to the Rector, a Testimony under the Hands of any two [Page 28] Trustees, of their having been approved by them, as qualified for a Degree, the Rector upon easy and reasonable Terms, should give them a Diploma in the usual Form, and that their Names should be inserted in the Class, as they were at first placed;’ which was done accordingly. They also directed the rest of the Scholars remaining at Weathersfield to come to New-Haven, and paid for their Tuition while they were there.

Oct. 9.The General Assembly in October following, ‘in Order to quiet the Minds of People, and introduce a general Harmony in the Publick Affairs, ordered that a State House should be built at Hartford, to compensate for the College at New-Haven; that 25 Pounds Sterling should be given to Saybrook for the Use of the School, to compensate for the Removal of the College: That the Governor and Council should, at the Desire of the Trustees, give such Orders as they should think proper for the Remo­val of the Library from Saybrook to New-Haven: That the Scholars at Weathersfield, should go to New-Haven; and the College should be carried on, promoted and encouraged at New-Haven, and all due Care taken for its flourishing.’

In December following the Governor and Council, at the Desire of the Trustees, met at Saybrook; and gave a Warrant to the Sheriff, to deliver the Books to the Trustees. The House where the Books were, was filled and surrounded with a great Number of Men, who were determined to prevent the Removal of the Books; and therefore resisted the Officer: But he, with his Attendants, broke open the Door, and delivered the Books to the Trustees, or their [Page 29] Order; and so they were conveyed to New-Haven. But in this Tumult and Confusion, about 250 of the most valuable Books, and sundry Papers of Impor­tance were conveyed away by unknown Hands, and never could be found again.

After this unhappy Struggle, the Spirits of Men began, by Degrees to subside; and a general Har­mony was gradually introduced among the Trustees, and the Colony in general. The Rev. Mr. Wood­bridge and Mr. Buckingham became very friendly to the College at New-Haven, and forward to promote all its Interests. The Trustees, in Testimony of their Friendship and Regard to Mr. Woodbridge, chose him Rector pro Tempore; and he accordingly moderated and gave Degrees at the Commencement Anno 1723. Yet in this Time of Anarchy and Confusion, while all College Order and Authority was in a Manner dissolved, the Scholars contracted such licentious and vicious Habits, as were not wholly suppressed and extirpated out of the College in several Years.

Governor Yale, 1721 the great Benefactor to this Col­lege died July 8th, 1721. He descended from an ancient and wealthy Family in Wales; who for many Generations possest the Manor of Plas Grannow, and several other Messuages, near the City of Wrexham, of the yearly Value of 500 Pounds. Thomas Yale, Esq the Governor's Father, for the Sake of Religion, came over to America with the first Settlers of New-Haven, in the Year 1638. Here the Governor was born, April 5, 1648. He went to England at the Age of about 10 Years; to the East-Indies at about 30, where he lived near 20 Years; acquired a very great Estate, was made Governor of Fort St. George; [Page 30] married an Indian-Lady of Fortune, the Relict of Governor Hinmers, his Predecessor; by whom he had three Daughters; viz. Katharine, who was afterwards married to Dudley North, Esq commonly called Lord North. Ann, who was married to the Lord James Cavendish, Uncle to the Duke of Devonshire. And Ursula, who died unmarried. After his Return to London, he was chosen Governor of the East-India Company; and made the Donations beforementioned. And it is said, that a little before his Death, he wrote his Will, wherein he gave 500 Pounds more: But afterwards, thinking it was best to execute that Part of his Will in his Life-time, he packed up Goods to that Value, ready to be sent; but before they were shipped, he took a Journey into Wales, and died at Wrexham, in or near the Seat of his Ancestors. So that the Goods were not sent; neither could the Will obtain a Probate; altho' Governor Saltonstall took much Pains to effect it.

He was a Gentleman, who greatly abounded in good Humour and Generosity, as well as in Wealth: And his Name and Memory will be gratefully per­petuated in YALE-COLLEGE.

After the College was fixed at New-Haven, was enriched with sundry noble Benefactions, and had a handsome and commodious House built for the Re­ception of the Students, it began to flourish; and was much more taken Notice of in the World, than it was in its more obscure State at Saybrook. The Number of the Students was now about 40, who were under two Tutors, and sometimes visited by Mr. Andrew, Rector pro Tempore. But yet the Col­lege was under great Inconveniencies both with Re­spect to Government and Instruction, for want of a Resident Rector.

[Page 31]The Trustees therefore met at New-Haven, 1719 in March 1719, and chose the Rev. Mr. Timothy Cutler, Minister of Stratford, to be Resident Rector, till the next Meeting of the Trustees. He presently came to New-Haven, and entred upon the Business. At the next Commencement the Trustees voted, ‘that Mr. Cutler's Service hitherto in the Place of a Rector was to their good Satisfaction, and therefore they desired him to continue in it. 1720’ And after several Conferences with, and Proposals to the People at Stratford, it was finally agreed, that the People at Stratford should have Mr. Cutler's House and Home-lot there, in Consideration of his Removal; and that the Trustees should give him 84 Pounds Sterling for it: Which was paid out of the 120 Pounds lately given by the General Assembly, by the Sale of Lands. 1721

To accommodate the Rev. Mr. Cutler and his Family, the Trustees built the Rector's House, 1722 in the Year 1722, which with the Land and Appurtenances Cost 260 Pounds Sterling, of which 35 Pounds was raised by Subscription, 55 Pounds by a general Con­tribution, 115 Pounds by Impost on Rum, and 55 Pounds out of Governor Yale's last Donation.

The College seemed now to be in a settled and flourishing State, but there was a sudden and unex­pected Change; for at the next Commencement, it was discovered, that the Rector, one of the Tutors, and two of the neighbouring Ministers had agreed to leave the Communion of the Churches in the Co­lony of Connecticut, and to go to England for epis­copal Ordination. This Event was somewhat sur­prising to the Trustees and to the Body of the Peo­ple; for at that Time there was not one episcopal Minister in the Colony of Connecticut; and but very [Page 32] few of the Laity, who were episcopally inclined. Whereupon the Trustees met, and passed the follow­ing Votes.

1723Mr. Daniel Turner of London sent to the Library sundry Volumes of his own Works, on Physick and Chirurgery; and a Collection of other valuable Books, principally on the same Subject; and particularly the large Volume of Cowper's Anatomy. Whereupon the Trustees sent him a Diploma, creating him Doctor of Physick.

The Controversy about moving the College had occasioned several Questions upon the College Char­ter; Oct. 10 1723 whereupon the General Assembly made an Ex­planatory and additional Act; in which it was de­clared, ‘that any Trustee might resign his Office when he should see cause. That seven Trustees conven'd at any Meeting, properly warned, should be a Quorum; and have Power to act by a Ma­jority then present: And to appoint a Clerk to Re­gister their Acts. That a Minister of Thirty Years of Age, might be chosen a Trustee: And that the Rector should be a Trustee ex Officio.’ There was, for a Time, some Hesitation about the Reception of this Act.

[Page 35]After Mr. Cutler's Removal there was no settled resident Rector for near 4 Years. In this Interval the Trustees agreed, that each of them, by turns, should reside at College, about a Month at a Time, with the Authority of a Rector. But this Form of Government did not very well answer the End; for tho' there were several Instances of strict Discipline and Punishment of Offences; yet the ill Habits for­merly contracted by the Students were not easily and suddenly eradicated, and before the Vice-Rector could have Time to learn sufficient Experience how to exe­cute his Office to Advantage, he resigned his Post. But at the Commencements, Mr. Andrew moderated, and gave Degrees, in the Years 1724, 1725 and 1726.

In September 29, 1725, 1725 the Trustees chose the Rev. Mr. Elisha Williams, Minister of Newington, in Weathersfield, to be Rector of the College; and ap­pointed Mr. Woodbridge, Mr. Buckingham and Mr. Whitman, to obtain his acceptance of the Office. In May following they put in a Memorial to the Gene­ral Assembly, desiring them to make Satisfaction to the Parish of Newington, on the Account of their Mi­nister's Removal; and they accordingly released the Parish from their County Tax for Three Years.

The Circumstances of Mr. Williams's Removal were 1726 not settled before the next Commencement. And therefore, Mr. Andrew still presided. And on the next Day after, Mr. Rector Williams was installed, in the following Manner, viz. In the Library, before the Trustees, he gave his Consent to the Confession of Faith and Rules of Church-Discipline, agreed upon by the Churches of this Colony, in 1708. After Dinner he made a publick Oration in the Hall; and the Trus­tees successively came and saluted him as RECTOR.

[Page 36]After Mr. Rector Williams was settled in his Post, he began, by Degrees, more effectually to suppress Vice and Disorder among the Students; and to in­troduce and settle a Number of good Customs: A Taste for many Parts of useful and polite Literature increased; and the State of the College has been gra­dually growing better ever since.

1730In the Year 1702, Major James Fitch gave a Deed, in Confirmation of the Donation of Land, he had made some Time before. Afterwards there was a Contro­versy and Law Suit with Mr. John Fisk, and James Leavins, about the Bounds of it, (they having a Sur­vey which interfered with it.) A Clause in the Deed to the College was construed to Limit the Grant to Saybrook. Upon an Agreement with Major Fitch, in the Year 1719, he gave the Trustees a new Deed of it; and they paid him 15 Pounds Sterling in Money, and expended 15 Pounds more for pious Uses, ac­cording to Major Fitch's Direction. And finally, in the Year 1730, to put an End to all Controversies with Mr. Fisk and Leavins, the Trustees, by Way of Exchange, gave them a Deed of the Land given by Major Fitch, and they gave the Trustees a Deed of 628 Acres of Land in SALISBURY. I judge that the Trustees gave and expended, in various Ways on Account of the said Land, near half the Value of it, at that Time.

1732In October 1732, the General Assembly were pleased generously to Grant 1500 Acres of Land to the Col­lege, viz. 300 in each of the new Towns of Norfolk, Canaan, Goshen, Cornwal and Kent. In Confirmation of which a Patent was given May 16, 1741.

[Page 37]The Rev. Dr. GEORGE BERKELEY, then Dean of Derry, in Ireland, afterwards Bishop of Cloyne, came into North-America, in Order to found an Episcopal College. He resided a Year or two at Newport in Rhode-Island, where he purchased a Country Seat, with about 96 Acres of Land; and became acquainted with the Rev. Mr. Jared Eliot of Killingworth, one of the Trustees, the Rev. Mr. Samuel Johnson, Episcopal Minister at Stratford, and some other Gentlemen, who informed him of the State and Genius of this Col­lege; he had also a Correspondence with Mr. Rector Williams; all which were the Occasions of his gene­rous Donations. While he resided at Newport, he sent all his own Works, a Present to the College. It so happened, that he did not pursue his Design of founding a College in North-America; but returned back to London. And being a Gentleman who was furnished with a great Treasure of ingenious and po­lite Learning, and endowed with a generous Disposi­tion to promote and propagate the same among Man­kind; he sent a Deed of his Farm at Rhode-Island to this College, in the Year 1732. The Descriptions and Conditions in the Deed not being perfectly adap­ted to the State of the College, at the Desire of the Trustees he, next Year, sent another Deed, in which it was ordered, that the Rents of the Farm, (after necessary Charges are deducted,) should be appropri­ated to the Maintenance of the Three best Scholars in Greek and Latin, who should reside at College, at least nine Months in a Year, in each of the Three Years between their first and second Degrees: That on the 6th Day of May annually, or in Case that should be Sunday, on the Seventh, the Candidates should be publickly examined by the President or Rector, and the Senior Episcopal Missionary within [Page 38] this Colony, 1733 who should be then present; and in Case none be present, then by the President only. And in Case the President and Senior Missionary should not agree in their Sentiments, who are the best Scho­lars, the Case shall be determined by Lot. And that all Surplusages of Money which should happen by any Vacancies, shall be distributed in Greek and Latin Books to such under-graduate Students as should make the best Composition or Declamation in the Latin Tongue, upon such a moral Theme as shall be given them.

This Premium has been a great Incitement to a laudable Ambition to excell in the Knowledge of the Classics.

At the same Time the Rev. Dr. Berkeley pursuing his generous Intentions, sent to this College the finest Collection of Books that ever came together at one Time into America. The Number was near 1000 Volumes, (including those which he had sent before) whereof 260 were Folios, and generally very large. I judge that this Collection cost, at least 400 Pounds Sterling. This Donation of Books was made, partly out of the Doctor's own Estate, but principally out of Monies which he procured from some generous Gentlemen in England. Upon the Receipt of them, the Trustees sent the Doctor a Letter of Thanks, and have since given him repeated Expressions of the grateful Sense which they retain of his Generosity towards this College.

1739The College flourished many Years under Mr. Rector Williams's Administration; but the Sea Air and southerly Winds at New-Haven did not agree with his Constitution, and sometimes incapacitated him for Business, so that he found himself by Degrees [Page 39] necessitated to resign his Office; which he accordingly did, at a Meeting of the Trustees October the 31st, 1739. ‘The Trustees returned him their hearty Thanks for his good Service to the College.’

After this he retired, and lived on his own Estate at Weathersfield; was soon made Speaker of the Hon­orable House of Representatives, a Judge of the Su­perior Court, and Colonel of a Regiment, in an in­tended Expedition against Canada. Afterwards he went to England, to receive the Wages due to him­self and his Regiment; and there cultivated a perso­nal Acquaintance, with several Gentlemen of Distinc­tion; and married a Gentlewoman of superior Ac­complishments. He then returned to his Seat at Weathersfield; and died there, July 24th, 1755.

He was educated at Harvard-College in Cambridge, in New-England, and graduated there, Anno. 1711: Was furnished with most Parts and Kinds of aca­demical Literature: And left the College in a much better State than he found it. His just Character is given at large in a funeral Sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Lockwood; and in the Appendix. The Rev. Dr. Doddridge, who had an intimate Acquaintance with him in England, gives this Short, but compre­hensive Character of him, in a Letter to a Friend; ‘I look upon Col. Williams to be one of the most valuable Men upon Earth, he has joined to an ardent Sense of Religion, solid Learning, consum­mate Prudence, great Candour and sweetness of Tem­per, and a certain nobleness of Soul, capable of contriving and acting the greatest Things, without seeming to be conscious of his having done them.’

[Page 40]October 31, 1739, the Rev. Mr. Thomas Clap, Minister of Windham, was chosen Rector of this Col­lege; and the Rev. Messieurs Ebenezer Williams, and Samuel Woodbridge, were appointed a Committee to treat with him and his People, in Order to obtain his Acceptance of the Office. The Committee went to Windham on the 10th of November; having given previous Notice of their coming and Design. The Generality of the People could not be satisfied that it was their Duty to part with their Minister, on this Occasion; on the other Hand they were not satisfied that they should be in the Way of their Duty to oppose his going; so that after a considera­ble Debate, they did little or nothing, but left the whole Affair to the Conduct of Providence.

The Committee moved for the calling of a Coun­cil of the Churches in the County, to advise in this important Affair; who after a publick Hearing of the Objections, which some of the People made against his Removal, gave it as their Opinion and Advice, ‘That it was Mr. Clap's Duty to accept of the Of­fice of Rector of the College, as being a Call of Providence, to greater and more extensive Useful­ness.’ The Committee of the Trustees considering the great Inconveniencies which the College had for­merly sustained by the long Intervals in which it was destitute of a resident Rector, urged Mr. Clap to be speedy in accepting and undertaking the Busi­ness: Whereupon he concluded to accept of it, as a Call of Providence; and accordingly in December made a Visit to the College.

1740At a Meeting of the Trustees, on the 2d Day of April following, he was installed, in the follow­ing Manner, viz. He gave his Consent to the Con­fession [Page 41] of Faith and Rules of Church Discipline, agreed upon by the Churches in the Colony of Connecticut, assembled by Delegation at Saybrook, in the Year 1708: And gave Satisfaction as to the Soundness of his Prin­ciples, according to the Act of the Trustees, Anno. 1722. Then they went into the Hall; the Rev. Mr. Whitman, the Moderator began with Prayer; and one of the Students made an Oration proper for the Oc­casion; then the Moderator made a Speech, in Latin, wherein he committed the Care of instructing and governing the College to the Rector; and he con­cluded the whole with an Oration.

The Trustees met at Hartford in May following; and the Committee of the first Society in Windham, moved that they might have Recompence for the Removal of their Pastor; they mutually agreed to re­fer it to three Gentlemen of the General Assembly, to consider what Recompence they ought to have; those Gentlemen were of Opinion, that inasmuch as Mr. Clap had been in the Ministry at Windham 14 Years, which was about Half the Time Ministers in general continue in their publick Work; the People ought to have Half so much as they gave him for a Settlement, which upon Computation was about 53 Pounds Sterling. Whereupon the Trustees put in a Memorial to the General Assembly, praying them to grant that Sum to the People of Windham; which they readily did.

The College was now, in the main, in a good State; yet not so perfect, but that it would admit of sundry Emendations. The Rector therefore endea­voured by all Ways and Means in his Power, to bring it forward towards a State of Perfection. The [Page 42] first Business of special Importance, which he entered upon, was the compiling a Body of Laws. At the first founding of this College, it was ordered, that where no special Provision was made by the Trustees, the Laws of Harvard-College should be the Rule. About the Time the College was fixed at New-Ha­ven, a short Body of Laws was drawn up, which was usually transcribed by the Scholars at their Ad­mission; but these, in Time, were found to be very defective; and several of them became obsolete. In the Year 1735, the Trustees appointed a Committee with the Rector, to draw up a new Body; but he, being in a declining State of Health, did little or nothing upon it. As soon therefore as Rector Clap was fixed in his Post, the Trustees desired him to enter upon the Business; accordingly a large Body was drawn up, partly out of the ancient Laws and Statutes of this College, partly from the principal and most important Customs which had obtained, partly from the Laws of Harvard College, and partly from the Statutes of the University of Oxford; and some few new ones were added. This Body was pe­rused by a Committee, then by most of their Mem­bers at their own Homes, and after several Readings at the Trustee's Board, passed their Sanction in 1745. These Laws were afterwards translated into Latin and printed in 1748: And some Additions have been made since, with several new Editions.

About the same Time the Rector collected and wrote down, under proper Heads, all the Customs of College, which had from Time to Time obtained and been established by Practice, which made as large a Volume as the Statutes. By all which Means, the Rules by which the Officers and Students of the Col­lege were to conduct themselves, became better fixed [Page 43] and known, and the Government of the College was rendered more steady and uniform, and less arbitrary.

Before this Time there never had been any perfect Catalogue of the Books in the Library; 1742 for want of which the Students were deprived of much of the Benefit and Advantage of them. The Rector there­fore placed all the Books in the Library, in a pro­per Order (but in Honour to the Rev. Dr. Berkeley, for his extraordinary Donation, his Books stood by themselves, at the South End of the Library) and put a Number to every Book in it's proper Class and Box; and then took three Catalogues of the Books, one as they stood in their proper Order on the Shelves; and another in an Alphabetical Order; and a Third, wherein the most valuable Books were placed under proper Heads, according to the Sub­ject Matter of them; together with Figures referring to the Place and Number of each Book. By which Means it might be easily known what Books were in the Library upon any particular Subject, and where they might be found, with the utmost Expedition. This Catalogue was printed, and was a great Incite­ment to the Diligence and Industry of the Scholars in reading of them. About the same Time the Ge­neral Assembly augmented their annual Grant to the College, whereby they were enabled to support three Tutors, one to each Class, including the Rector. This removed a great Inconveniency which the College had before been under by one Tutor's hearing two Clas­ses, and sometimes more. And thereupon the Scho­lars studied and recited much more than they had done in Years past.

[Page 44] 1743Mr. Anthony Nougier of Fairfield, in his Will, was pleased generously to bestow on this College Twenty Seven Pounds Sterling, to be put out to Interest, and the Interest thereof to be appropriated for the Maintenance of the Rector and Tutors and their Successors forever, in Part. This Sum was received in 1744, and put out to Interest accordingly.

1744The former Acts or Charters did not establish the College in so perfect and complete a Form as it was capable of; particularly the Name, Trustees, by which the first Undertakers and Founders of the Col­lege and their Successors were usually called, was not so proper and usual a Title for the Gover­nors of a College, in a more mature and perfect State. The Rector therefore drew up a Draught of a new Charter, wherein the Trustees were incorpo­rated by the Name of, The President and Fellows of Yale-College in New-Haven. This Draught was revised by the Honorable Thomas Fitch, Esq and approved by the Trustees, and by them ordered to be pre­sented to the Honorable the General Assembly for their Sanction: Which was obtained in May fol­lowing; and is as follows, viz.

[Page 53]Mr. Samuel Lambert, 1746 of New Haven, a Scotch Mer­chant, by his Will, dated February 19th, 1718, gave almost all his Estate, for the Benefit of the College; and ordered, that Ten Pounds should be paid to the Trustees, towards the Building of the College; and the rest to be paid, three Pounds Sterling to each Scholar graduated at New-Haven, who should settle in the Ministry; and impowered his Executors to sell his Lands for that End. The Executors paid the Ten Pounds to the Trustees, but being informed that there was a large Debt due from the Estate, in En­gland, paid nothing to the graduated Ministers; and they living at a great Distance, and some Difficulties intervening, did nothing further in many Years. In the mean Time many of the young Ministers grew uneasy, and ventured to sell some of the Lands, tho' none of them had any Authority to sell; and the greater Part had no Right to the Money, because, as the Lands were appraised in the Inventory, the Money would all be run out, before it came to them. And other Persons, who had no Pretence of Right, got into Possession of some of the Lands, and kept them so long as to claim them by Possession. And it appeared that Mr. Lambert was cheated in some Parcels, because the Persons who sold them to him, had no Right. The President being unwilling that the Estate should be lost, as to the End for which it was given, set up a Notification in the Hall at the Commencement 1744, desiring those Ministers who had any Interest, to meet and consult upon it. They met and chose a Committee to Manage the Affair; but they found it attended with so many Difficulties that they could not do it, to any Advantage; and therefore agreed to resign it up to the President and Fellows; who would be under a better Capacity to [Page 54] manage it. Accordingly most of those who were supposed to have any Interest, freely resigned it up to the President and Fellows, to be improved for the Benefit of the College, in such a Manner as they should think best; and the rest of the Rights were purchased. And the Executors gave to the President and Fellows a Deed of all the Lands of which Mr. Lambert died seized; whereupon with considerable Pains and Expence, they became possessed of about an Hundred Acres of Land in Wallingford, and Sixty Two Acres, lying in five Parcels, in New-Haven; exclusive of those sold by the young Ministers.

The Honorable Phillip Livingston, Esq one of his Majesty's Council for the Province of New-York, hav­ing had four Sons educated at this College, was pleased generously to bestow Twenty Eight Pounds and Ten Shillings Sterling, to be put out to Interest, and the Interest to be appropriated for the Support of a Professor of Divinity, or to any other Use the President and Fellows should think to be most for the Advantage of the College. And they being of Opi­nion that a Professor of Divinity would be most Ad­vantageous, appropriated the Donation to that Use.

1748The Number of Students being about One Hun­dred and Twenty, more than half of them were oblig­ed, for want of Room, to live out of the College; which was upon many Accounts inconvenient. The President therefore projected a Scheme for building a new College House. And accordingly, upon Con­sultation with some of the Fellows, obtained of the General Assembly in May 1747, the Liberty of a [Page 55] Lottery for that Purpose; by which Five Hundred Pounds Sterling was raised, clear of all Charge and Deductions.

The Foundation of the House was laid April the 17th, 1750. And the Outside was finished in Sep­tember 1752. ^* It is 100 Feet long, 40 Feet wide, 1750 and three Story high, besides the Garrets; and a Cellar under the whole, containing 32 Chambers, and 64 Studies. It makes a good Appearance, and was set back in the Yard that there might be a large and handsome Area before it, and toward the North Side of the Yard, with a View that when the old College should come down, another College or Chapel or both should be set on the South of the present House; and additional Lands were purchased on the North and on the West for better Accom­modation.

The General Assembly in October 1749, ordered, that 363 Pounds in the Hands of Gurdon Saltonstall, Esq which came by a French Prize, taken by the Frigate belonging to the Government; and in Octo­ber 1751, ordered that the Remainder of the Prize aforesaid, and the Effects of the said Frigate (which, after the War, was sold) amounting to 500 Pounds more, and in October 1754, £. 280 in the Hands of Gurdon Saltonstall, and Jabez Hamlin, Esqrs, on some old Accounts, should be paid to the President, to­wards building the new College.

[Page 56] 1751The Outside of the House being finished, prin­cipally by the Generosity of the Government, (tho' nothing came directly out of the publick Treasury) the President and Fellows, at the Commencement 1752, ordered that the New College be called and named CONNECTICUT-HALL, and then walked, in Procession, into it, and the Beadle, by Order, made the following Declaration, viz.

CUM e Providentiae Divinae Favore, per Coloniae Connecticutensis Munificentiam gratissimam, hoc novum Edificium Academicum, Fundatum et Erectum fue­rit; in perpetuam tantae Generositatis Memoriam, Aedes haec nitida et splendida, AULA CONNECTI­CUTENSIS nuncupetur.

In English thus; WHEREAS thro' the Favour of Divine Providence, this New College House has been built, by the Munificence of the Colony of Connecticut: In perpetual Commemo­ration of so great Generosity, this neat and decent Build­ing shall be called CONNECTICUT-HALL.

The Building of this new House was very neces­sary; for, after it was finished, both Houses would not contain all the Students, which were then in Num­ber more than 170; so that more than 50 were obliged to live out of College.

Bishop Berkeley received Information from Time to Time, by Letters, and from Gentlemen who were oc­casionally here, concerning the Management and Ef­fects of his generous Donations; particularly from an Irish Gentleman, who was present at one of his Examinations, and carried to him two Calculations, made by his Scholars, viz. one of the Place of the Comet, at the Time of the Flood; which appeared Anno 1680, having a periodical Revolution of 575½ Years; which Mr. Whiston supposes to have been the Cause of the Deluge. And another of the remarka­ble Eclipse of the Sun in the 10th Year of Jehoia­kim; mentioned by Herodotus, Lib. I. Cap. LXXIV. And in Ushers Annals. The Bishop, therefore, about [Page 58] that Time, wrote several Complaisant Letters to the President, in one of which dated July 25, 1751, he has these Words, viz.

‘The daily Increase of Religion and Learning, in the Seminary under your auspicious Care and Go­vernment, gives me a very sensible Pleasure, and an ample Recompence for all my Donations.’ He died within a few Months after; and this College will always retain a most grateful Sense of his Ge­nerosity and Merits; and probably, a favourable Opi­nion of his Idea of material Substance; as not con­sisting in an unknown and inconceivable Substratum, but in a stated Union and Combination of sensible Ideas, excited from without, by some Intelligent Being. His just Character is elegantly summed up in his Epi­taph.

[Page 59]The College Lands in the County of Litchfield, mentioned Anno 1732, lying in the most remote and uncultivated Part of the Colony, had hitherto lain wholly dormant; Land being so plenty in the County, none appeared as Tenants upon any advan­tageous Terms. And the Corporation being desi­rous to put the Lands under some profitable Im­provement, more especially for maintaining a Profes­sor of Divinity; the President projected the follow­ing Scheme, viz. that the Lands should be leased for the Term of 999 Years; the Rent to be the In­terest of the present Value of the Lands, at 5 per Centum; to be forfeited in Case of non Payment of the Rent, at the annual Times appointed, but re­deemable within Six Months after, upon Payment of the Rent, with lawful Interest upon it. This Me­thod of Leasing appeared upon all Accounts, to be the most Advantageous both for Landlord and Te­nant. The Rents were secured to the College in the best Manner, and they were free from the Trou­ble and Charge of Inspection and Reparation. And the Tenants had all possible Encouragement to cul­tivate and improve the Lands, as their own. And the Rents were much higher than most other Lands were leased for, altho' cleared and fenced; tho' pos­sibly in future Times they may seem low. Upon these Terms sundry Parcels were leased out, from Time to Time, as there was opportunity.

The Farm at Rhode-Island given by Bishop Berkeley, in pursuance to the Advice of the Rev. Mr. George Berkeley, the worthy Son of the Donor, was in the Year 1762 leased to Captain John Whiting, for the Term of 999 Years; upon the same Conditions with the other College Lands, before-mentioned. The [Page 60] annual Rent to be 18 Pounds Sterling, and 40 Rods of Stone-Wall, to the Year 1769: Then £. 36, to the Year 1810; and after that 240 Bushels of good Wheat, to the End of the Term.

The College was in an agreeable and happy State, in most Respects, but had for many Years been un­der, some Difficulties and Disadvantages with Re­gard to Religion. The Corporation in the Year 1746, Voted, ‘That they would choose a publick Professor of Divinity in the College, as soon as they could procure a sufficient Support.’ In the Year 1752, 1752 the Necessity appearing to be greater, they Voted, ‘That a Professor of Divinity in the College would be upon all Accounts Advantageous, and therefore resolved, that they would endeavour to get a Sup­port for such a Professor, as soon as may be; by all such Ways and Means as Prudence should di­rect: And afterwards, ordered, that one half of the College Lands, in the County of Litchfield, should be leased out for that Purpose.’

1753 Octo.The General Assembly resolved, ‘that one prin­cipal End proposed in erecting the College was to supply the Churches in this Colony with a learned, pious and orthodox Ministry; to which End it was requisite that the Students of the College should have the best Instructions in Divinity, and the best Patterns of Preaching, set before them. And that the Settling a Learned Pious, and Orthodox Pro­fessor of Divinity in the College, would greatly tend to promote that good End and Design. And therefore recommended a general Contribution to be made in all the Religious Societies in the Co­lony, [Page 61] for that Purpose.’ ^† The College being in Danger of being infected with Errors, the Corpora­tion desired the President to undertake and carry on the Work of a Professor of Divinity, by preaching to the Students in the College Hall on the Lord's Day, until a Professor of Divinity could be obtained: which he accordingly did, with the Assistance of sun­dry Ministers; in pursuance to the Advice of the ge­neral Association. And to preserve and secure the Religion of the College upon it's original Foundation and Constitution, they came into the following Act.

[Page 67]In September 1755 the Corporation nominated the Rev. Mr. Naphtali Daggett, 1755 Pastor of a Church on Long-Island, to be Professor of Divinity. Upon Appli­cation made to the Presbytery he was dismiss'd from his Charge; and in November following came and preached in the College-Hall to good Satisfaction.

The President and Fellows met March 3, 1756, 1756 and spent a Day in examining Mr. Daggett, as to his Principles of Religion, his Knowledge and Skill in Divinity, Cases of Conscience, Scripture History and Chronology, Antiquity, Skill in the Hebrew Tongue, and various other Qualifications for a Professor; in all which he acquitted himself to the good Satisfac­tion of the Corporation. The next Day he preached a Sermon in the College-Hall, upon that Text, 1 Corinth. II. 2; and gave his full and explicit Con­sent to all the Doctrines contained in our Catechism and Confession of Faith, and to the Rules of Church Discipline established in the Churches of this Colony. And also exhibited a full Confession of his Faith, of his own Composure; and expressly renounced the principal Errors prevailing in these Times; according to the Act of the Corporation, before recited. Then he was by the Corporation, inaugurated and installed Professor of Divinity, in this College; with nearly the same Solemnities and Formalities, as are usual at the Instalment of other Ministers, who have been before ordained. All which are particularly entered in the Records of the College.

Mr. Gershom Clark, of Lebanon, ^‡ generously gave 33 Pounds 10 Shillings Sterling to be put out to Interest, for the Use of the Professor of Divinity. [Page 68] The Interest of which together with the Interest of Mr. Livingston's Donation before-mentioned, and the Rents of the College Lands agreed to be leased, were sufficient for the annual Support of the Professor.

The President having before given a Lot of Land, for the Use of a Professor of Divinity, for the Time being, who should be settled and continued according to the Act of the Corporation, November 21, 1753, and constantly preach in the College-Hall or Chapel, except in Vacations: ^‖ Sundry generous and princi­pal Gentlemen came into a Subscription, or Contri­bution for Building a House for the Professor, under the like Limitations. The House was raised in June 1757; 1757 completely finished the next Summer; and cost 285 Pounds Sterling. The President in the Presence of a considerable Number of Gentlemen, with all proper Formalities, put the Professor into the Pos­session of the House; declaring that it was built, for the Use of a Professor of Divinity, in the College, who should hold and preach all the Doctrines con­tained in our Catechism and Confession of Faith; and in Case he, or his Successors should hold, teach or maintain any contrary Doctrine, he or they would have no Right to any Use or Improvement of it, &c. And the Solemnity was concluded with Prayer and Singing a Psalm. ^†

At a Meeting of the President and Fellows June 29, 1757. The Tutors and a Number of the Stu­dents made Application as follows, viz.

‘WHEREAS this Rev. Corporation of their paternal Care and Goodness, have settled a Professor of Divinity in this Ecclesiastical Society, whom we [Page 69] receive as an able Minister of the New-Testament; We the Subscribers, Members of this Society, hav­ing been admitted Members in full Communion in sundry Churches, and consenting to the Ecclesiasti­cal Constitution of the Churches of this Colony, as agreeable to the Word of God in Doctrine and Dis­cipline; are desirous to attend upon the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper, under the Administration of the Rev. Professor; and to walk together in stated Christian Communion and holy Subjection to all the Ordinances of Christ; and desire the Approbation and Sanction of this Rev. Body.’

This was approved of by the Corporation; and a Sermon was preached in the Hall by the Professor; and all proper Solemnities attended upon this Occa­sion. And the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is accordingly administred in the College-Hall, or Cha­pel, on the first Lord's Day in each Month; agree­able to the Practice of the Colleges in England. By all which the State and Constitution of the College was rendred more perfect and agreable; tho' not pleasing to some particular Gentlemen of different Sentiments.

In May 1763, nine Gentlemen preferred a Memo­rial to the Honorable the General Assembly, 1763 wherein they represented, that the General Assembly were the Founders of the College; and as such, had right to appoint Visitors, to reform Abuses if any were found. Which right the Memoralists suggested, ought to be seasonably, and most explicitly vindicated and asserted: or otherwise the College might become too independent. And therefore prayed, that the said Assembly, would pass an Act, to authorize an Appeal, from any and every Sentence given by the Authority of the Col­lege, [Page 70] to the Governor and Council of this Colony; for the Time being. And that the said Assembly would immediately issue forth a Commission of Visitation, enabling some suitable Persons to inquire into all the Affairs of said College, and either of themselves rec­tify all Abuses, which they may discover; or make Report of what they shall find, with their Opinions thereon, to the said Assembly at their next Session.

The Counsel for the Memoralists alledged, that the General Assembly founded the College by giving a Charter, in the Year 1701: which contained a Do­nation of about Sixty Pounds Sterling, to be annually paid out of the publick Treasury; and by sundry subsequent Donations, especially five Tracts of Land in the Year 1732. And that the present Assembly, as Successors to the Founders, had a right of Visitation, by the Common Law. They further alledged, that such an Appeal, and Visitation were very necessary to preserve the good Order and Regulation of the College, upon all Accounts, and particularly to pre­serve Orthodoxy in Religion.

To which the President replied;

That the General Assembly, in their Legislative Capacity, have the same Authority over the College, and all the Persons and Estates belonging to it; as they have over all other Persons and Estates in the Colony; and all that Power which is necessary for the good of the College, or the general Good of the Community. And that an especial Respect and Gratitude is due to them, as the greatest Benefactors; yet they are not to be considered as Founders or Visi­tors in the Sense of the Common Law. That the first Trustees, Undertakers and Inspectors, who were nominated by the Ministers with the general Consent of the People, and by Compact, became a Society or [Page 71] Quasi Corporation (as my Lord Coke says) near two Years before they had a Charter, were the Founders of the College; and that they formed it, by making a large and formal Donation of Books; above a Year before they had a Charter from the Government. That the College had a Being, not only in fieri in the Purpose and Intention of the Undertakers (as Lord Coke says) ^* but in esse by the Donation of Books, Money and Land actually made to it, before it had a Charter. That Major Fitch of Norwich, made a Donation, in Writing, to the Undertakers, of Six Hundred Acres of Land, and some Materials to build a College House, in the Time of the sitting of the Assembly, some Days before the Charter was given. And this Donation he made to the Collegiate School, as ‘ already set up by the great Pains and Charges of the Ministers.’ That the King, by giving a Licence to found a College, does not thereby, in Law, become the Founder in Sensu Dotationis. And that he is the Founder only of those Colleges or Hospitals, to which he makes the first Donation for founding. My Lord Coke distinguishes between Fundator Incipiens and Fun­dator Perficiens; and says, that he only is the Foun­der quoad Dotationem, (to whose Heirs or Successors the Law gives a Right of Visitation) who makes the FIRST DONATION. ^‖ And the Right of Visitation arises in Law, from the Interest which the Founder has in the College or Hospital by his Donation.

For if it be essentially perverted from the Design for which it was given, the Donation becomes void, and reverts to the Donor or his Heirs. That the first Donation only creates the Founder; and all subse­quent Donations are presumed in Law to be given up­on [Page 72] the same End and Design with the first, unless some particular Limitation be expressly made.

That if a common Person makes a Donation to found a College or Hospital, tho' ever so small, and the King afterwards endows it with large Possessions, yet the common Person is the Founder and not the King. ^†

That a Licence to found, and a Charter of Incor­poration, are in their own Nature distinct; and either may be first, in Law, yet they are often Times both contained in the same Instrument; and may either preceed or succeed the first fundamental Donation.

When the fundamental Donation is made before the Licence to found, there the Licence is only a formal and explicit Confirmation from the Crown, of what was before done by the general Licence given by the Common and Statute Law; whereby every Man may give his Estate, for publick, pious and cha­ritable Uses; upon such Conditions and Regulations, as he shall see Cause. ^‖ And the Feoffees in trust, are the legal Proprietors of such Donations; accord­ing to the Conditions and Limitations with which they are made. And have a legal Right to hold and lease; and to dispose of the Profits as a quasi Corporation, for those particular Purposes. And may, by a long Course of stated and regular Conduct, become a complete legal Corporation, by Prescription. And the King's Charter or Licence only makes or declares that to be a legal Corporation, at the first, which may become such, by immemorial Usage and Custom.

In a Licence to found, the Words FOUND, ERECT or any other Words of the like Import, are indif­ferent [Page 73] in Law; and sufficient to make a Foundation; And in the first Charter or Grant to the College, these Words are promiscuously used, and applied to the first Trustees only. The first Charter plainly sup­poses ten Trustees, Partners or Undertakers antecedently existing; and a School already founded, in fact, (tho' not fully and completely so in Law) by Donation of Lands, Goods, and Monies, before given; and therefore gives them a full legal Right, Liberty and Privilege to proceed, in erecting, endowing and governing the School; which they had a general and imperfect Right to do by the Common Law. And the Charter declares them to be in a legal Capacity to ‘demand, have, hold, and possess all such Lands, Goods and Monies as have heretofore been given, (as well as those which might hereafter be given) for the founding, erecting and endowing the said School.’

And there is no Intimation, that their giving to the first Trustees, a Right to receive Sixty Pounds out of the publick Treasury, a Year after, and an­nually, and to improve it, at their Discretion, for the Good of the School, should be deemed the sounding of it; to be sure not in such a Sense as to annul the former Foundation; much less could any Endowments made thirty Years after, make them the Founders in the Sense of the Common Law. Besides the Preamble to the Charter of 1745, expressly says, that the first Trustees founded the College.

It was further observed, that an ‘Appeal from all and every Sentence given by the Authority of College; to the Governor and Council of this Colony, for the Time being,’ (as proposed in the Memorial,) would retard and obstruct all the Proceedings of the Authority of College. It being found, by universal Experience, that in all Instances, wherein a Liberty [Page 74] of Appeal is allowed, the Judgment appealed from, is of no Force or Efficacy; except that which may arise from the extraordinary Trouble and Charge of bringing the Case to a Trial, in the Court ap­pealed to. That such a Constitution would take the Government of the College wholly out of the Hands of those, in whom it was originally vested; and be contrary to the Charter. That such a universal Li­berty of Appeals, especially in criminal Cases, is not allowed in any Community whatsoever; and that those few Cases in which Appeals are allowed in some other Colleges, are under peculiar Conditions and Restrictions.

It was also observed that the Power of Visitation is, by the Common Law, expressly limited to the Statutes of the Founder; ^‡ which are the Conditions or Limitations of the Use of the Founder's Dona­tion; and the Visitor can do nothing but rectify those Things which are plainly repugnant to those Limitations; or claim a Forfeiture. But as no such Statutes, made by the General Assembly, can be found; such Visitors would have no Power at all, or be altogether arbitrary, like the Visitors sent to Magdalen College, by King James II.

If it should be supposed, that there is any Need of any Overseers, under the Name and Title of Visitors; the first Trustees and their Successors, may properly be denominated such: And in the first Plan of the College, they are expressly called Inspectors. That to have Visitors over Visitors or Inspectors, would make endless Trouble and Confusion. That Matters of Property must be determined by the stated, execu­tive Courts, according to the Course of the Com­mon [Page 75] Law; but to erect any new Kind of Court over the Affairs of the College, which are committed to the President and Fellows, would be an Infringement on their Charter. Though the General Assembly still retain such a supreme Power, as that if there should be any plain Breach of Trust, cognizable by a Court of Chancery, or any such Misconduct in the Corpora­tion, as should be plainly detrimental to the pub­lick Good, they may rectify it in their legislative Capacity.

As to the Advantage of Visitors to preserve Or­thodoxy in the Governors of the College;

The President observed, that whatever was the Oc­casion, or Design of that Argument, he was glad that such an important Point was moved. That it was well known, that the President and Fellows or Trustees have from the Beginning, shewn a proper Care and Zeal to preserve Orthodoxy in all the Go­vernors of the College; and to such a Degree, as to be disagreable to some Gentlemen of late; who have thereupon endeavoured to obstruct the Government, and flourishing State of the College. That the Or­thodoxy of the College was settled and secured upon the best Foundation, that human Wisdom, directed by the general Rules of God's Word, could devise. That according to the original Design of the Found­ing of the College, the President, Fellows, Professor of Divinity, and Tutors, are to be admitted upon Con­dition of their Consent to the Confession of Faith, agreed upon by the Churches in the Colony, Anno 1708, and established by the Laws of the Government. ^¶ That there is not the like Security of the Ortho­doxy of Visitors or any other in the civil Order, [Page 76] except his most excellent Majesty; who, by the Act of Union, is obliged to Consent to the Westminster Con­fession of Faith, received in the Church of Scotland, as being agreable to God's Word, and containing the Sum and Substance of the Doctrine of the Reformed Churches. ^§ And as the Governors of the College are satisfied that the Body of this Honorable Assembly is fully orthodox, and so are intirely easy under their Su­perintendency; relying principally upon the Care of the great Head of Church; yet they can't have the like Security of any other Order of Men, which may be substituted by them. And one principal Reason why they oppose all Innovations in the Constitution and Government of the College, is, lest they might hereafter, have an ill Influence upon the Orthodoxy of it; which the President and Fellows, according to the Trust reposed in them, by the Founders and by the General Assembly, are fully determined to maintain and preserve to the Utmost of their Power.

When these Arguments were considered by the Honorable the General Assembly, but very few ap­peared to be of the Opinion, that the Assembly [Page 77] were the Founders of the College; and so they acted nothing upon the Memorial. And it is generally sup­posed that this Question will never be publickly moved again.

The Rev. Mr. Jared Eliot, of Killingworth, in his last Will, gave Seven Pounds and Ten Shillings, Ster. to be put out to Interest; and the Interest thereof to be expended in purchasing Books for the Library from Time to Time, at the Discretion of the Pre­sident and Fellows.

The Number of Students, for near ten Years past being about 170, it became extremely inconvenient to carry on all religious and scholastick Exercises in the old College-Hall; and to make Use of it for a Dining-Room.

The Library was also too small for the Books and Apparatus. The President therefore proposed a Scheme to build a new Hall or Chapel, with a Li­brary over it: And set forward a Subscription for that Purpose: the Foundation was laid in April 1761, and the Outside was nearly finished that Summer: It is built of Brick, fifty Feet long, and forty Feet wide, with a Steeple and Galleries, in which are three Rostra for Orations, Disputations, &c. and a Library over the whole. It is set near the South End of the Brick College, with a View that when another Col­lege is built, it will be set near the South Side of the Chapel. In June 1763, it was opened with a Ser­mon preached by the Professor, in the Presence of the President and Fellows, and a large Number of other Gentlemen. And the President and Fellows voted, ‘that the Chapel should hereafter be used for the Religious and Scholastick Meetings and Exercises, [Page 78] for which the old College-Hall has been used here­tofore.’ The Conveniencies of it have been found to be very many and great.

It is not finished withinside; but only a Desk and some Seats are set up for present Use. As we have now nothing in the College Treasury but only the Donations of Messrs. Nougier, Livingston and Clark, which are appropriated to special Uses, as before­mentioned, we must hope and wait for the further Help and Assistance of some generous Gentlemen.

Richard Jackson, Esq a Member of Parliament and Agent for the Colony of Connecticut, has very gene­rously given One Hundred Pounds, towards finishing the Chapel.

And some Gentlemen in New-Haven, have gene­rously subscribed considerable towards erecting a Spire upon it, for an Ornament to the Town, as well as the Chapel. The larger of these Subscriptions will be in the List of Donations.

The Rev. Dr. Timothy Cutler, formerly Rector of this College, died in August 1765: He was educated at Harvard-College, in Cambridge, and graduated there in 1701. In the Year 1710 he was ordained over a Church at Stratford, according to the Constitution of the Churches in Connecticut: In 1719 he was cho­sen Rector of the College, as before related. After his Removal he went to England, and took Episco­pal Orders, and received the Degree of Doctor of [Page 79] Divinity, from both the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge: and afterwards was Rector of Christ-Church in Boston, about 40 Years. He was a Gentleman of superior natural Powers and Learning; had enter­tained a high Opinion of the Constitution of the Church of England, and was zealously attached to it. His Character is given at large, in a funeral Ser­mon, preached by the Rev. Mr. Henry Caner, of Boston.