VL HARVARD COLLEGE.*

1636-1654.

In 1636, six years after the first settlement of Boston, the General Court, or Legislature, of the colony of Massachusetts Bay, which met at Boston on the 8th of September, and continued in session until the 28th of October, passed an act appropriating £400 toward the establishment of a school, or college. The sum thus set apart was more than the whole tax levied on the colony, at that time, in a single year. The civilized portion of the population did not exceed five thousand persons of all ages, and these were scattered thinly through ten or twelve small villages, in a country whose resources was not yet developed, and of which so little was known, that it might be said to be unexplored. But in all these villages, the magistrates and ministers were educated men-many of them were eminent graduates of the university of Cambridge, and not a few of them had taught in the public schools of England. These men gave direction to the educational policy of the colony, which resulted in the establishment of public schools and colleges, so that "learning was not buried in the graves of the fathers in church and commonwealth."‡

In 1637, Governor Winthrop, Deputy-Governor Dudley, Counselors Humphrey, Harlaskenden, and Houghton, and the Ministers Cotton, Wilson, Davenport, Wells, Shepard, and Peters, were appointed by the General Court "to take order for a college," which, in the same year, was located in Newtown, and which name was changed, in 1638, to Cambridge, in remembrance of the place where many of the leading colonists had received their education. In 1638, the Rev. John Harvard, who came to Charlestown in 1637, gave by his will the sum of £779 17s. 2d. in money, and more than three hundred volumes of books. It is to be lamented that so

* This sketch will follow substantially Eliot's "History of Harvard College." "The Court agreed to give £400 toward a school or college, whereof £200 to be paid next year, and £200 when the work is finished, and the next Court to appoint where and what building." For List of Legislative Grants, see Appendix. p. 139.

"The ends for which our fathers did chiefly erect a college in New England, were that so scholars might be there educated for the service of Christ and his churches, in the work of the ministry, and that they might be seasoned in their tender years with such principles as brought their blessed progenitors into this wilderness. There is no one thing of greater concernment to these churches, in present and aftertimes, than the prosperity of that society. They can not subsist without a college "-Dr. Increase Mather.

very little is known of a man whose name is deservedly commemorated in that of the college, to which his bequest was so timely and so bountiful an aid. He had been but a few months in the colony, though long enough to acquire the respect of his associates, and to excite in himself the strongest sympathy with the effort to extend the means of education. He was a scholar, as well as an orthodox divine, and a practical Christian; and it is a striking characteristic of the age, and of the individual, that a man of such character, and in such circumstances, should have been found in his position. The sum above named was but half of his property, and must be esteemed equal to six or seven times the same nominal amount at the present day-sufficient, certainly, to secure to its possessor the comforts of life, as they would then have been esteemed. And yet he leaves his native country, a voluntary exile, and resorts to the feeble settlement of a scanty colony, in an unknown wild, and preaches the gospel to the little flock that can be found there to attend his ministrations. If there be such a thing as strength in the human character, or elevation of purpose, and superiority to worldly advantages, in the human heart, surely they were exhibited by John Harvard.*

The first class was formed in 1638, under the care of Mr. Nathaniel Eaton-but whether as a preparatory or collegiate class does not appear. It is certain, however, that Mr. Eaton enjoys the bad preeminence of being mentioned as one of the earliest schoolmasters in New England, who disgraced his calling as a teacher of "the school at Cambridge," by bad temper, unjustifiable severities, and short commons.

In 1640 the General Court granted to the college the income of the Charlestown ferry; and in the same year, the Rev. Henry Dunster arrived from England; and so eminently qualified was he by learning, ability and virtues for the office of president, that he was placed in it at once by a sort of acclamation and general consent. He was inducted into the office on the 27th of August, 1640. Under his administration, and principally by his efforts, a course of study was prescribed, a code of laws for the government of the students was framed, the ceremonial of the annual commencement and conferring of degrees was instituted, and a charter, the first corporation created by the General Court, and which still remain as the fundamental law of the oldest literary institution in this country, was obtained. Probably the college never had a more able, faithful, and devoted officer than President Dunster, and yet all his services to the cause of good learning could not protect him from being indicted by the grand jury

• For Memoir of Harvard," and Mr. Everett's address on erecting a monument to his memory in 1838, see Barnard's "American Journal of Education," Vol. V, p 521-534.

for disturbing the ordinance of infant baptism by preaching antipedobaptism in the church of Cambridge, of which he was pastor. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to receive admonition on Lecture Day, and to be laid under bonds for good behavior; and so strong was the pressure against him, that on the 24th of October, 1654, he resigned the presidency, and retired to Scituate, in the jurisdiction of Plymouth Colony, where he died in the following year. In compli ance with his dying request, his body was brought back to Cambridge, that it might rest near the college which he had loved and served so faithfully.

Some of the provisions in the laws for the government of the college, drawn up by President Dunster, presents a vivid picture of the manners of that age. "They [the students] shall honor, as their parents, the magistrates, elders, tutors, and all who are older than themselves, as reason requires, being silent in their presence, except when asked a question, not contradicting, but showing all those marks of honor and reverence which are in praiseworthy use, saluting them with a bow, standing uncovered," &c. The use of their mother tongue was prohibited, and perhaps so much might be effected by law even now; but it would be entirely unsafe to predict what would be the substitute for it in familiar use. Latin, surely, would scarcely be thought of.

The mode of discipline authorized by the "seventeenth rule" is a recorded proof of what otherwise might have rested on obscure tradition only, that our fathers, in common with their contemporaries generally, were not well informed upon one characteristic of human nature, at least. The degrading and brutalizing effect of stripes has been so often, so eloquently, and so learnedly demonstrated in modern times, and has been shown, besides, by the experience of so many ages, that it has become a matter of especial wonder that the generations which grew up under such a liability did not relapse into barbarism, rather than make any further progress toward civilization. We, of the nineteenth century, sympathize deeply, and even painfully, with the feelings, wounded and indignant as they must have been, of a future baronet, a governor, three presidents of the college, and thirty-seven ministers of the gospel, to say nothing of the less distinguished individuals, all of whom were exposed, for the four years of their college life, to the cruelty permitted in the following law, sanctioned by Dunster. "If any student shall violate the law of God and

* Lecture Day-Rev. Dr. Cotton commenced the practice of a public discourse on Thurs. day of each week, which was attended by the devout from all the villages about Boston, and has been continued to the present time.

of this college, either from perverseness, or from gross negligence, after he shall have been twice admonished, he may be whipped, if not an adult; but if an adult, his cause shall be laid before the overseers, that notice may be publicly taken of him according to his deserts. In case of graver offences, however, let no one expect such gradual proceedings, or that an admonition must necessarily be repeated in relation to the same law."

The enforcement of the "twelfth rufe" would, in these days, certainly afford frequent occasion for both the admonition and the rod, and one can not but suspect that, even then, the police of the college must have had some calls for activity, both in word and in deed. "No scholar shall buy, sell, or exchange any thing of the value of sixpence, without the approbation of his parent, guardian, or tutor. But if he shall do so, he shall be fined by the president, according to the measure of his offence."

The first commencement at Harvard College, was holden on the 9th of October, 1642, when nine candidates took the degree of Bachelor of Arts. "They were young men of good hope," remarks Gov. Winthrop, "and performed their parts so as to give good proof of their proficiency in the tongues and arts. Most of the members of the General Court were present, and for the encouragement of the students, dined at the "ordinary commons." Thus commenced flowing out that current of cultivated intellect, which has widened and deepened into more than a mighty stream, and exerting a powerful influence over the social life and public sentiment of each successive generation for more than two centuries.

In 1642 the General Court, held at Boston, passed the following "Act establishing the Overseers of Harvard College :”

Whereas, through the good hand of God upon us, there is a College founded in Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex, called HARVARD COLLEGE, for the encouragement whereof this Court has given the sum of four hundred pounds, and also the revenue of the ferry betwixt Charlestown and Boston, and that the well ordering and managing of the said College is of great concernment;

It is therefore ordered by this Court, and the authority thereof, that the Governor and Deputy Governor for the time being, and all the magistrates of this jurisdiction, together with the teaching elders of the six next adjoining towns, viz., Cambridge, Watertown, Charlestown, Boston, Roxbury, and Dorchester, and the President of the said College for the time being, shall, from time to time, have full power and authority to make and establish all such orders, statutes, and constitutions, as they shall see necessary for the instituting, guiding, and furthering of the said College, and the several members thereof, from time to time, in piety, morality, and learning; as also to dispose, order, and manage, to the use and behoof of the said College, and the members thereof, all gifts, legacies, bequeaths, revenues, lands, and donations, as either have been, are, or shall be, conferred, bestowed, or any ways shall fall, or come, to the said College.

⚫ See APPENDIX VI. for the Statutes, &c.-reprinted entire from Quincy's "History of Har vard College."

Azi whereas it may come to pass, that many of the said magistrates and said elders may be absent, or otherwise employed about other weighty affairs, when the said College may need their present help and counsel,-It is therefore ordered, that the greater number of said magistrates and elders, which shall be present, with the President, shall have the power of the whole. Provided, that if any constitution, order, or orders, by them made, shall be found hurtful to the said College, or the members thereof, or to the weal-public, then, upon appeal of the party or parties grieved, unto the company of Overseers, first mentioned, they shall repeal the said order, or orders, if they shall see cause, at their next meeting, or stand accountable thereof to the next General Court.

In 1643 a vote was passed by the governors of the college to adopt a common seal, in a form which has the qualities of simplicity and appropriate beauty. Three books were spread open on a shield, and upon them was inscribed the word VERITAS, expressing in the most emphatic manner, the object of the institution, and indicating the most prominent means by which it was to be attained. It does not appear that this device was ever engraved, or used; though it has the merit of being more comprehensive, and more simple, than the first seal which was actually used, and which had the motto "IN CHRISTI GLORIAM." This, as it would be ordinarily understood, conveys the erroneous impression that the institution was designed to be, or that it actually was, a theological school; and such an idea is still more directly countenanced by the motto subsequently introduced, and which is still in use, CHRISTO ET ECCLESIE. VERITAS includes every species of truth, and is therefore more strictly in unison with the known plan and character of the college. The simplicity of the device, characteristic of that age, recommends itself to the best taste of all ages.

In 1642 and 1643 many large donations of money, types, books, &c., were made by persons in England, and in the colony. Some of the money which came from abroad was taken by the General Court, and interest was allowed for it, at the rate of more than nine per cent. This was continued for many years, and then discontinued for some time; till at length, in 1713, the original sum was repaid, with interest at six per cent. from 1685.

In 1650 a charter was granted by the General Court, by which the President, five Fellows, and a Treasurer were made a "Corporation," with power of perpetual succession, and of doing many, nay almost all necessary acts "for the advancement and education of youth, in all manner of good literature, arts and sciences."

The Charter of the President and Fellows of Harvard College, under the Seal of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, and bearing date, May 31st, A. D. 1650.

Whereas, through the good hand of God, many well-devoted persons have been, and daily are, moved, and stirred up, to give and bestow, sundry gifts, legacies, lands, and revenues, for the advancement of all good literature, arts, and