USA > Connecticut > A complete history of Connecticut, civil and ecclesiastical, from the emigration of its first planters, from England, in the year 1630, to the year 1764; and to the close of the Indian wars > Part 32
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As soon as he was fixed in his post, at the desire of the trustees, he began this business. A large body of laws was drawn up, partly out of the ancient laws of this col- lege, partly from the principal and most important customs which had obtained, partly from the laws of Harvard col- lege, and partly from the university of Oxford. To these, there was an addition of some new ones. This was pe- rused by a committee of the trustees, and by most of them at their own houses ; and after several readings before the board of trustees, in 1745, obtained their sanction.
The rector also, about the same time, collected and wrote under proper heads, the customs of the college which had from time to time obtained, and had been estab- lished by practice. By these, the rules by which the offi- cers and students of the college should conduct themselves, became better known and fixcd, and the government of the college became more steady and uniform, and less sove- reign and arbitrary.
Before this time there had been no convenient arrange- ment, nor catalogue of the books. The rector arranged all the books in proper order. In honor to the Rev. Dr. Berkeley for his liberal donation, his books were placed by themselves at one end of the library. He also made three catalogues of the books ; one as they stood in their proper order on the shelves ; another in alphabetical or- der ; and a third, in which the most valuable books were placed under proper heads, according to the subject matter of them ; together with figures referring to the number and
Arrange- ment and catalogues of the li- brary. 1742.
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place of each book. By which means it might easily be BOOK II. known what books were in the library upon any particular subject, and where they might be found with the utmost ex- 1744, pedition. This catalogue was printed, and had a happy influence on the diligence and industry of the scholars in . reading them.
About this time the college received another considera- ble benefit. The legislature augmented their annual grant to the college, by which the rector was enabled to support three tutors ; one to each class, including himself. This removed a considerable inconvenience which the college had before suffered, by one tutor's hearing two classes. It had another benefit ; the scholars studied and recited much more than they had done in the preceding years.
Mr. Anthony Nougier, of Fairfield, in 1743, by his last Mr. Nou- will, bestowed on the college twenty seven pounds sterling, to be put out at interest, the amount of which was princi- pally to be appropriated to the maintenance of the rector and tutors forever. This donation was received the next year, and was employed according to the direction of the donor.
The college was now become numerous and respecta- ble : it had educated a large number of men, who were pil- lars in the commonwealth and stars of distinguished lustre in the firmament of the church. The under-graduates amounted annually to eighty or more : as many as twenty upon an average were graduated each commencement. The rector and trustees conceived the idea that their pow- ers ought to be enlarged ; and that a new charter should be given, in which the founders and officers of the college should be named, more agreeably to the forms and usages of other colleges. It was imagined that this would make them and their respective offices better known abroad, and give the college a greater importance and respectability. The rector, therefore, who had a very accurate and exten- sive knowledge of the forms, powers, and usages of colleg- es, made a draft of a new charter, in which the trustees were incorporated, by the name of the president and fel- lows of Yale College, in New-Haven, This draft was revised by the honorable Thomas Fitch, Esq. afterwards governor of the colony, approved by the trustees, and or- dered by them to be presented to the honorable general as- sembly for their sanction. It was granted at the session in May, the next year. A copy is here exhibited. Q 2
gier's do- nation, 1743.
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BOOK II. BY THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY of his MAJESTY's colony of CONNECTICUT, in NEW-ENGLAND, in AMERICA.
1745. Charter of the co !- lege.
An Act for the more full and complete establishment of YALE COLLEGE in NEW-HAVEN, and for enlarging the powers and privileges thereof.
Whereas, upon the petition of several well disposed and public spirited persons, expressing their desire that full liberty and privilege might be granted unto certain under- takers for the founding, suitable endowing, and ordering a collegiate school within this colony, wherein youth might. be instructed in the arts and sciences, the governor and company, in general court assembled, at New-Haven, on the 9th day of October, in the year of our Lord one thou- sand seven hundred and one, granted unto the Rev. Messrs, James Noyes, Israel Chauncey, Thomas Bucking- ham, Abraham Pierson, Samuel Mather, Samuel Andrew. Timothy Woodbridge, James Pierpont, Noadiah Russell. and Joseph Webb, who were proposed to stand as trus- tecs, partners or undertakers for the said society, and to their successors, full liberty, right and privilege to erect, form, dirett, order, establish, improve, and at all times, in all suitable ways, to encourage the said school, in some convenient place in this colony : and granted sundry pow- ers and privileges for the attaining the end aforesaid.
And whereas the said trustees, partners or undertakers, in pursuance of the aforesaid grant, liberty and license, founded a collegiate school at New-Haven, known by the name of YALE COLLEGE ; which has received the favoura- ble benefactions of many liberal and piously disposed per- sons, and under the blessing of Almighty God, has trained up many worthy persons for the service of God, in the stato as well as in the church.
And whereas, the general court of this colony, assem- bled at New-Haven, the tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and twenty-three, did explain and enlarge the aforesaid powers and privile- ges, granted to the aforesaid partners, trustees, or under- takers and their successors, for the purpose aforesaid ; as by the respective acts, reference thereunto being had, more fully and at large may appear.
And whereas, the Rev. Messrs. Thomas Clap, Samuel Whitman, Jared Elliot, Ebenezer Williams, Jonathan Marsh, Samuel Cooke, Samuel Whittelsey, Joseph Noyes, Anthony Stoddard, Benjamin Lord and Daniel Wadsworth, the present trustees, partners and undertakers of the said school, and successors of those before mentioned, have pc- titioned that the said school, with all the rights, powers, priv-
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ileges and interests thereof, may be confirmed ; and that Book II. such other additional powers and privileges may be .. grant- ed as shall be necessary for the ordering and managing the 1747. said school in the most advantageous and beneficial manner for the promoting all good literature, in the present and succeeding generations. Therefore,
The GOVERNOR and COMPANY of his majesty's said En- glish colony of Connecticut, in general court assembled, this ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty-five, enact, ordain, and declare, and by these presents it is enacted, ordained and declared,
I. That the said Thomas Clap, Samuel Whitman, Jared Elliot, Ebenezer Williams, Jonathan Marsh, Samuel Cooke, Samuel Whittelsey, Joseph Noyes, Anthony Stoddard, Benjamin Lord, and Daniel Wadsworth, shall be an incor- porate society, or body corporate and politic ; and shall hereafter be called and known by the name of the PRESI- DENT AND FELLOWS OF YALE COLLEGE, IN NEW-HAVEN ; and that, by the same name, they and their successors shall and may have perpetual succession ; and shall and may be persons capable in the law to plead and be impleaded, defend and be defended, and answer and be answered un- to ; and also to have, take, possess, acquire, purchase, or otherwise receive lands, tenements, hereditaments, goods, chattels, or other estates, to grant, demise, lease, use, man- age, or improve, for the good and benefit of the said col- lege, according to the tenor of the donation, and their dis- cretion.
II. That all gifts, grants, bequests and donations of lands, tenements or hereditaments, goods and chattels, heretofore made to or for the use, benefit and advantage of the colle- giate school aforesaid, whether the same be expressed to be made to the president or rector, and to the rest of the incorporate society of Yale College, or to the trustees or undertakers of the collegiate school in New-Haven, or to the trustees, by any other name, stile or title whatsoever, whereby it may be clearly known and understood, that the true intent and design of such gifts, grants, bequeste and donations, was to and for the use, benefit and advantage of the collegiate school aforesaid, and to be under the care and disposal of the governors thereof, shall be con- firmed, and the same hereby are confirmed, and shall be and remain to, and be vested in the president and fellows of the college aforesaid, and their successors, as to the true and lawful successors of the original grantees.
III. The said president and fellows and their succes- sors, shall and may hereafter have a common seal, to serve
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· Book II. and use for all causes, matters and affairs, of them and their successors ; and the same seal to alter, break and 1745. make new, as they shall think fit.
IV. That the said Thomas Clap shall be, and he is here- by established the present president ; and the said Samuel Whitman, Jared Elliot, Ebenezer Williams, Jonathan Marsh, Samuel Cooke, Samuel Whittelsey, Joseph Noyes, Anthony Stoddard, Benjamin Lord, and Daniel Wads- worth, shall be, and they are hereby established the pres- ent fellows of the said college : and that they and their suc- cessors shall continue in their respective places during life, or until they or cither of them shall resign, or be re- moved or displaced, as in this act is hereafter expressed.
V. That there shall be a general meeting of the presi- dent and fellows of said college, in the college library, on the second Wednesday of September annually, or at any other time and place which they shall see cause to appoint, to consult, advise and act in and about the affairs and busi- ness of the said college : and that on any emergency, the president and two of the fellows, or any four of the fellows, may appoint a meeting at the said college, provided they give notice thereof to the rest, by letters sent and left with them, or at the places of their respective abodes, five days before such meeting ; and that the president and six fel- Jows, or in case of the death, absence or incapacity of the president, seven fellows convened as aforesaid, (in which case the eldest fellow shall preside,) shall be deemed a meeting of the president and fellows of said college, and that in all the said meetings, the major vote of the mem- bers present, shall be deemed the act of the whole ; and where an equi vote happens, the president shall have a casting vote.
VI. The president and fellows of the said college and their successors, in any of their meetings, assembled as aforesaid, shall and may from time to time, as occasion shall require, elect and appoint a president or fellow in the room and place of any president or fellow who shall die, resign, or be removed from office, place or trust ; whom the said governor and company hereby declare, for any misdemeanor, unfaithfulness, default or incapacity, shall be removable by the president and fellows of the said col- lege ; six of them, at least, concurring in said act. And shall have power to appoint a scribe or register, a treasur- er, tutors, professors, steward, and all such other officers and servants as are usually appointed in colleges or uni- versities, as they shall find necessary and think fit to ap- point ; for the promoting of literature, and the well order-
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ing and managing of the affairs of said college ; and them, Book II. or any of them, at their discretion, to remove ; and to pre- scribe and administer such forms of oaths (not being con- 1745. trary to the laws of England, or of this colony) as they shall think proper to be administered to all those officers and instructors of the said college, or to such and so many of them as they shall think proper, for the faithful execu- tion of their respective places, offices and trusts.
VII. That the present president and fellows of said col- lege and their successors, and all such tutors and other of- ficers as shall be appointed for the public instruction and government of said college, before they undertake the exe- cution of their respective offices, and trusts, or within three- months after, shall publicly, in the college hall, take the oaths and subscribe the declaration appointed by act of parliament, made in the first year of king George the first ; entitled an act for the further security of his majesty's per- son and government, and the succession of the crown in the heirs of the late princess Sophia, being protestants ; and for extinguishing the hopes of the pretended prince of Wales, and his open and secret abettors ; that is to say, the president before the governor, deputy governor, or any two of the assistants of this colony, for the time being; and the fel- lows, tutors and other officers, before the president for the time being; who is hereby empowered to administer the same. An entry of all which shall be made in the records of said college.
VIII. That the president and fellows shall have the gov- ernment, care and management of the said college ; and all the matters and affairs thereunto belonging; and shall have power, from time to time, as occasion shall require, to make, ordain and establish all such wholesome and reasona- ble laws, rules and ordinances, not repugnant to the laws of England, nor the laws of this colony, as they shall think fit and proper, for the instruction and education of the stu- dents, and ordering, governing, ruling and managing the said college, and all matters, affairs and things thereunto belonging, and the same repeal and alter, as they shall think fit ; which shall be laid before this assembly, as often as required, and may also be repealed or disallowed by this assembly, when they shall think proper.
IX. That the president of said college, with the consent of the fellows, shall have power to give and confer all such honors, degrees or licenses as are usually given in col- leges and universities, upon such as they shall think wor- thy thereof.
X. That all the lands and rateable estate belonging to
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Book II. the said college, not exceeding the yearly value of five hundred pounds sterling, lying in this government, and 1746. the persons, families and estates of the president and pro- fessors, lying and being in the town of New-Haven, and the persons of the tutors, students, and such and so many of the servants of said college, as give their constant at- tendance on the business of it, shall be freed and exempted from all rates, taxes, military service, working at high- ways, and all other such like duties and services.
XI. And for the special encouragement and support of said college, this assembly do hereby grant unto the said president and fellows, and their successors, for the use of said college, in lieu of all former grants, one hundred pounds silver money, at the rate of six shillings and eight pence per ounce, to be paid in bills of public credit, or other currency equivalent to the said hundred pounds, (the rate or value thereof to be stated from time to time by the assembly,) in two equal payments, in October and May annually. This payment to continue during the pleasure of this assembly.
In full testimony and confirmation of this grant, and all the articles and matters therein contained, the said com- pany do hereby order, that this act shall be signed by the governor and secretary, and sealed by the public seal of this colony ; and that the same, or duplicate exemplifica- tion thereof, shall be a sufficient warrant to the said presi- dent and fellows to hold, use, and exercise all the powers and privileges therein mentioned and contained.
JONTH. LAW, Governor.
By order of said governor and company, in general court assembled.
Sigillum
appendens.
GEORGE WYLLYS, Secretary.
This ample charter, placed the college in a much more perfect and honorable state than it was in before, and laid the foundation for its advancement to a very useful and honorable university. The grant of an hundred pounds, or an equivalent in bills of credit, was punctually paid for ten years, until the commencement of the French war, and the heavy taxes and burdens which it occasioned. With this salary, president Clap, with his singular economy, liv- ed with dignity.
1746. Mr. Lam- bert's do- nation.
Some years since, Mr. Samuel Lambert, a Scotch mer- chant, of New-Haven, died, and by his will, dated Feb- ruary 19th, 1718, gave the principal part of his estate for the benefit of the college. He directed that ten pounds
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should be paid for the building of the college, and the rest Book II. to be paid, three pounds sterling to each person graduated at New-Haven, who should settle in the ministry, and em- 1746. powered his executors to sell the lands for that purpose. But the executors finding the estate involved, by reason of a large debt due from the estate in England, paid only the ten pounds to the trustees, and neglected all payments to the graduated ministers. These, living at a great dis- tance, and some difficulties intervening, did nothing rela- tive to the affair for many years. In the mean time, seve- ral of the young ministers grew uneasy, and ventured upon the sale of some of the lands, though they had no right to sell them, and some who undertook it, had no right even to the money ; because as the lands were appraised in the inventory, the money would all be run out before it came to them. Some other persons, who had no pretence of any right, got into possession of some other parts of the lands, so as to claim them by possession. With respect to some other parcels of the land, Mr. Lambert had been de- frauded by the persons of whom he purchased, as they had no right to the lands which they sold to him.
As the president was unwilling that the estate should be lost, as to the end for which it was given, he set up a notifi- cation in the hall, at the commencement of 1744, desiring those ministers who were interested in the affair, to meet and consult upon it. They accordingly met and appoint- ed a committee, to act in the affair. They soon found it attended with so many difficulties, that they agreed to re- sign the whole into the hands of the president and fellows. They conceived that they were under a much better capa- city of managing it than themselves.
Most of the clergy, who were supposed to have any in- terest in the affair, freely resigned it up to the president and fellows, to be improved for the benefit of college, in such a manner as they should judge best. The rest of the rights were purchased. In consequence of this, the exec- utors gave to the president and fellows a deed of all the lands of which Mr. Lambert was seized at the time of his death. After very considerable pains and expense, they became finally possessed of one hundred acres of land in Wallingford, and sixty-two acres, lying in five parcels, in New-Haven, exclusive of those sold by the young minis- ters.
This year, the honorable Philip Livingston, Esq. one of
Donation his majesty's council for the province of New-York, made from Mr. a donation of twenty-eight pounds ten shillings sterling, to Livingston, be put out at interest, and the interest to be appropriated,
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Book II. to the support of a professor of divinity in Yale College, or to any other use the president and fellows should judge 1746. most for the advantage of the college. The president and fellows were of the opinion, that a professor of divinity would be of the greatest advantage to the college, and ap- propriated the donation to that purpose. In consequence of this donation, and in honor of Mr. Livingston, the pro- fessor of divinity in Yale College, was called the Livings- tonian professor of divinity. Four sons of the honorable Mr. Livingston had been educated at this college, which was probably an occasion of his making this donation.
From this time, the president and fellows, it seems, were wishing for, and looking forward to, the settlement of a professor of divinity in the college, and they were con- certing measures for its accomplishment, as soon as might be
The college was now, under the instruction and govern- ment of president Clap, flourishing and honourable. His great mind and extensive literature, made it reputable at home and abroad. Its numbers were increased to an hun- dred and twenty students. More than half this number were obliged, for want of room in college, to live out in private houses. This, on many accounts, was very in- convenient. The president, therefore, projected the plan of erecting a new college house. Upon consultation with several of the fellows, in 1747, he obtained liberty for a lottery, to assist him in the enterprise. By this, five hun- dred pounds sterling were raised, clear of all charges and deductions.
The president took the whole affair of constructing and building the house, upon himself. He laid the foundation on the 17th of April, 1750, and the outside was completely finished in September, 1752. It was 100 feet long, 40 feet wide, and three stories high, besides the garrets, and a cellar under the whole. It contained thirty-two chambers, and sixty-four studies. It 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 chap- el, or both, should be set, on a line, to the south of it. Ad- ditional lands were also purchased on the north, and on the west, for its better accommodation. It was built of brick,* and made a very beautiful appearance. It was, at that time, the best building in the colony. The whole was performed with great economy and good judgment.
* It took about 230,000 brick, and the cost of the outside was about £1180 sterling.
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To assist the president in building this, the General As- Book II. sembly, besides granting the lottery in October, 1749, or- dlered, that 363 pounds, in the hands of Gurdon Salton- 1748. stall, Esq. which came by a French prize, taken by the Donations colony, for
frigate belonging to the government, should be paid to the from the president, toward building the new college. In October, building 1751, the assembly gave further order, that the remainder the new of the prize aforesaid, and the effects of the frigate, which college, was sold after the war, amounting to 500 pounds more, should be paid for the same purpose, There were 280 pounds in the hands of Gurdon Saltonstall and Jabez . Hamlin, Esq'rs. due to the government on some old ac- counts, which the assembly, in the session in October, 1754, ordered to be paid into the hands of the president, for his further assistance in erecting the new college hall.
The outside of the house having been finished, princi- pally by the generosity of the government, the president New cole and fellows, at the commencement in 1752, with a view to lege na- give it an honourable perpetuation, ordered, that the new med. college be called, and named, CONNECTICUT HALL, and then walked into it in procession. At the same time, the beadle, by special order, made the following declaration, viz :
Cum e Providentiæ Divina favore, per Colonia Con- necticutensis munificentiam gratissimam, hoc novum ædifi- cium academicum, fundatum et erectum fuerit ; in perpe- tuam tantæ generositatis memoriam, ædes hæc nitida et splendida AULA CONNECTICUTENSIS nuncrepetur.
Thus in English :
Whereas, through 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 college was, at this time, greatly increasing in num- bers, literature, and reputation. Bishop Berkeley, from time to time, received such information of the management and effect of his generous donations, as met his approba- tion, and gave him very sensible pleasure. An Irish gen- tleman, who was present at one of the examinations for his bounty, carried to him two calculations made by his scholars, one of the place of the comet, at the time of the flood, which appeared anno 1680, having a periodical re- volution of 575 1-2 years, which Mr. Whiston supposes to have been the cause of the deluge ; and another of the re- markable eclipse in the tenth year of Jehoiakim, mention- ed by Herodotus, lib. i. chap. 74, and in Usher's Annals ;
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