USA > Maine > Cumberland County > History of Cumberland Co., Maine > Part 63
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On May 30th, of this year, the inhabitants of Mair Point petitioned the General Court, since one-half of that point was within the bounds of the township of North Yarmouth, and was twenty-five miles distant from the meeting-house in that town by land, and ten miles distant by sea, with two dangerous bays to be crossed, and since the northerly por- tion of the point was but two miles distant from Brunswick, that they might be set off from North Yarmouth and an- nexed to the town of Brunswick. An act was passed granting this privilege, which took effect October 2d fol- lowing.
The total appropriation for defraying the expenses of the town in 1740 was £248 16s. Of this amount £150 was for the salary of Rev. Mr. Rutherford, and £80 for support of a school-master, leaving but £18 for contingent expenses. It was also voted this year to raise £200 as a settlement for Mr. Rutherford, " if he lives and dies minister of Brunswick ;" and a little more than one-fourth of this amount was to be raised that year. The town voted not to send any representative this year to the General Court, and also voted to allow hogs to run at large, provided they were properly yoked and ringed.
Space will not allow us to follow these records. They may be consulted at large in the excellent and exhaustive work of the Messrs. Wheeler, from which the matter for this sketch has been chiefly taken. The administrative policy of the town continued to be much the same for several years.
CIVIL LIST. REPRESENTATIVES TO CONGRESS.
Robert P. Dunlap, Brunswick, 1813-47. Charles J. Gilman, Brunswick, 1857-59.
GOVERNORS OF MAINE.
Robert P. Dunlap, Brunswick, 1834-38.
Joshua L. Chamberlain, Brunswick, 1867-71.
SECRETARY OF STATE.
Franklin M. Drew, Brunswick, 1868-71.
STATE TREASURER.
Abner B. Thompson, Brunswick, 1831-32.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL.
Abner B. Thompson, Brunswick, 1839-40.
STATE SENATORS.
Jacob Abbott, 1813-16; Robert P. Dunlap, 1824-29 ; Jonathan Page, 1829; Robert P. Dunlap, 1830-33; Tobias Puriatoo, 1836 ; John C. Humphreys, 1839 ; Elijah P. Pike, 1841 ; Samuel R. Jackson, 1847 : William Il. Morse, 1848; Abner B. Thompson, 1856; Daniel Elliott, 1863; Henry Carvill, 1870; Marshall Cram, 1871.
REPRESENTATIVES IN GENERAL COURT OF MASSACHU- SETTS.
David Dunning, 1742-43: Samuel lliokley, 1747; Samuel Thomp- son, Samuel Stanwood. 1776; Sammel Denken, 178]; William Owen, 1785; John Peterson, 1791-02; William Stanwood, Jr., 1793; Willinm Stanwood, 1704-95; John Minot, 1796; John Dunlap, 1799-1805; James Curtis, E. II. Goss, 1800; Robert Giveea, 1806-7; Robert D. Duoniog, 1808-16; Henry Putnam, Philip Owen, 1813; David Dunlap, 1810-20 ; Joseph MeKeen, 1819.
SELECTMEN.
1739 .- Capt. Benjamin Larrabee, Samuel Hinkley, John Getchell, James Dunniog, David Dunning.
1740 .- Benjamin Larrabee, Samuel Hinkley, David Giveen. 1741 .- Samuel Hinkley, David Dunning, Robert Spcar.
1742 .- Capt. Benjamin Larrabee, Samuel Hinkley, Wimond Brad- bury.
1743 .- Isaac Snow, Samuel Hinkley.# Wymond Bradbury," Capt. John Minot,t Eben Stanwood,t James Dunoing.t
1744 .- Thomas Skolfield,# Ebenezer Stanwood,¿ James Dunning,; James Dunning,? Samuel Clark .¿ Ebenezer Stanwood .¿ 1745 .- Thonins Skolfield, Ebenezer Stanwood, Anron Hiokley. 1746-47 .- David Giveen, Isaac Snow, Thomas Skolfield. 1748 .- James Thompson, Thomas Skolfield, John Smart. 1749 .- John Getchell, David Duoning, Thomas Skolfield. 1750 .- John Minot, Aaron Hinkley, Robert Finney. 1751 .- John Minot, Isaac Snow, Robert Finney.
1752 .- James Thompson, Samuel Stanwood, Thomas Skolfeld. 1753 .- William Woodside, James Thompson, Thomas Skolfield. 1754 .- James Thompson, Samuel Stanwood, Thomas Skolfield. 1755 .- Aaron llinkley, William Speer, Robert Givcea. 1756 .- Isaac Snow, Samuel Stopwood, Thomas Skolfield. 1757 .- James Thompson, William Stanwood, Thomas Skolfield. 1758 .- Isaac Snow, William Stanwood, Thomas Skolfield. 1759 .- Aaron Hinkley, William Stanwood, Thomas Skolfield. 1760 .- Aaron Hinkley, Samuel Moody, Thomas Skolfield. 1761 .- Samuel Stanwood, Phinens Nevers, Thomas Skolfeld. 1762 .- Thomas Skolfield, Samuel Stanwood, Nathaniel Larrabce. 1763-64 .- Samuel Stanwood, Nathaniel Larrabee, Vincent Woodside. 1765 .- Samuel Stanwood, Nathaniel Larrabee, Thomas Skolfield. 1766 .- Thomas Skolfeld. Samuel Stanwood, Stephen Getchell. 1767 .- Thomas Skolfield, Samuel Stanwood, Nathaniel Larrabee. 1768-70 .- Samuel Thompson, William Woodside, Andrew Dunning. 1771 .- Samuel Thompson, William Woodside, Robert Spear. 1772-73 .- Thomas Skolfield. Samuel Stanwood, Nathaniel Larrahec. 1774 .- Samuel Stanwood, William Stanwood, Nathaniel Larrabee. 1775 .- Thomas Skolfield, Thomas Moulton, Nathaniel Larrabee. 1776-77 .- Samuel Stanwood, Benjamin Stone, James Curtis. 1778 .- William Stanwood, John Dunlop, Nathaniel Larrabeo. 1779-81 .- Nathaniel Larrabee, William Stanwood, Andrew Dunaing. 1782 .- Thomas Skolfield, Samuel Stanwood, James Curtis.
* Elceted at annual meeting. Held office till August 30th.
t Elected August 30th. Ileld office till Jan. 17, 1744.
# Elected January 17th. Held office till March meeting.
2 Elected at annual meeting in Mareb.
237
TOWN OF BRUNSWICK.
1783-85 .- Nathaniel Larrabee, William Stanwood, Jr., Ephraim llunt.
1786-87 .- Nathaniel Larrabee, Ephraim Hunt, Andrew Dunning. 1788-90 .- Nathaniel Larrabee, Andrew Dunning, William Stanwood, Jr. 1791-92 .- Nathaniel Larrabee, John Dunning, Daniel Given. 1793 .- Nathaniel Larrabee, Daniel Giveen, Capt. William Stanwood, Jr.
1794-97 .- Nathaniel Larrabee, Col. William Stanwood, Daniel Given. 1798 .- Nathaniel Larrabee, Col. Wm. Stanwood, Capt. W'm. Stan- wood.
1799 .- Nathaniel Larrabee, Capt. Wm. Stanwood, Amos Lunt. 1800 .- Nathaniel Larrabee. William Dunning, Amos Lunt.
1801 .- William Dunning, Dr. Charles Coffin, Nathaniel Larrabee. 1802 .- Nathaniel Larrabce, Col. Wm. Stanwood, Daniel Given. 1803 .- Ephraim Hunt. Stephen Larrabee, Charles Coffin. 1804-6 .- William Dunning, Capt. Robert Thompson, Thomas Noyes. 1807-8 .- William Dunning. John Perry, Jr., Stephen Larrabee, Jr. 1809 .- Robert D. Dunning, Stephen Larrabee, Jr., Jacob Anderson. 1810 .- Stephen Larrabee, Joseph Ilacker, William Dunning. 181] .- John Given, Joseph Hacker, William Dunning. 1812-13 .- Joseph Hacker, James Dunning, Stephen Larrabee. 1814 .- Hon. Jacob Abbot, Robert D. Dunning, Esq., Stephen Lar- rabec.
1815-16 .- Joseph Hacker, Robert D. Dunning, David Given. 1817-18 .- Joseph Hacker, Edward Raymond, Calch ('ushing. 1819-23 .- Caleb Cushing, Edward Raymond, Jacob l'ennell. 1824-26 .- Abner Bourne, Thomas Given, Jr. (2d), David Farrin. 1827-30 .- Joho A. Dunning. James F. Matthews, Thomas Given. 1831 .- Noah Hinkley, James F. Matthews, Isaiah Hacker. 1832-33 .- John A. Dunning. James F. Matthews, Isaiah Hacker. 1834 .- Elijah P. Pike, Isaiah Hacker, Thomas Given. 1835 .- Nathaniel Dunning, James F. Matthews, Henry Merritt. 1836 .- Nathaniel Dunning, James F. Matthews, Thomas Given (2d). 1837 .- James F. Matthews, Thomas Given (2d), John C. Humphreys. 1838 .- James F. Matthews, Robert Pennell, Peter Jordan. 1839 .- James F. Matthews, Robert Pennell, James Cox. 1840-41 .- James F. Matthews, James Cox, Joseph Lunt (2d). 1842-44 .- Adam Lemont, Joseph Lunt (2d), Richard Greenleaf. 1845-46 .- Richard Greenleaf, Joseph Lunt (2d), Samuel S. Wing. 1847 .- Richard Greenleaf, Samuel S. Wing, James Otis. 1848 .- Richard Greenleaf, Samuel S. Wing, J. W. Forsaith. 1849-50 .- Richard Greenleaf, Samuel S. Wing, Benjamin D. Peanell. 1851 .- Richard Greenleaf, Benjamin Fuibish, John S. Gross. 1852-54 .- Richard Greenleaf, Rodney Forsaith, Lenj. D. l'ennell. 1855 .- Joseph Lnnt (2d), George C. Crawford, Garduer ti. Frost. 1856 .- Joseph Lunt (2d), Thomas S. Duuning, Joseph C. Given. 1857 .- Joseph Lunt (2d), John L. Swift, Gardner G. Frost. 1858 .- Joseph Lunt (2d). John L. Swift. John S Gross. 1859 .- Richard Greenleaf, William S. Given, Nathaniel Badger. 1860-61 .- John L. Swift, Leonard Townsend, Augustus F. Cox. 1862-64 .- Leonard Townsend, Augustus F. Cox, Francis Owen. 1865 .- Joseph Lunt (2d), John L. Swift, Leonard Townsend. 1866 .- Joseph Lunt, Augustus F. Cux, John L. Swift. 1867 .- Joseph Lunt, Augustus F. Cox, Charles C. Humphreys. 1868-69 .- C. C. Humphreys, J. C. Given, Henry Carvill. 1870 .- IIenry Carvill, Joseph Lunt (2d), Lyman E. Smith. 1871 .- Henry Carvill, Lyman E. Smith, Charles N. Bates. 1872 .- Ilenry Carvill, Lyman E. Smith, John Crawford. 1873 .- Lyman E. Smith, Thomas U. Eaton, Larkin D. Snow. 1874 .- Larkin D. Snow, Samuel S. Wing, George P. Simpson. 1875,-Samuel S. Wing. George P. Simpson, Horatio A. Patten. 1876,-Lyman E. Smith, Samuel S. Wing, Thomas U. Eaton. 1877 .- Lyman E. Smith, Thomas U. Eaton, Sumner L. Holbrook.
TOWN CLERKS.
Samuel linkley, 1739; Benjamin Larrabee, 1740, 1743; Wimond Bradbary, 1741-42; Robert Finney, 1744-51; Thomas Skol- Geld, 1752-61, 1763-65; David Dunning, 1762; Nathaniel Lar- rabee, 1766-1802 : Charles Coffin, 1803; Jotham Stone, 1804-8; John Perry, 1809; Daniel Given, 1810-13, 1815-20; Nathaniel Poor, 1814; John MeKeen, 1821-36; Nathaniel Badger, 1837- 59; J. W. Forsaith, 1865-67; Leonard Townsend. 18 61, 1868-77.
BOWDOIN COLLEGE.
In November, 1788, petitions were sent to the General Court of Massachusetts from the Cumberland County As- sociation of Ministers, as well as from the Cumberland County Court of General Sessions, for the incorporation of a college in that county. No decided action, however, was taken on these petitions until 1790, when a favorable report was made by a committee of the Legislature, to which the matter had been referred. In March, 1791, in consequence principally of the exertions of Hon. Josiah Thatcher, a Senator from Cumberland County, a bill for a college, to be called the Maine College, passed the Senate, but failed to pass the House.
At the next session, in the winter of 1791-92, upon the motion of 11. Slocum, Esq., a member from Bristol County, a committee was raised " to Consider the expedieney of establishing a College in the District of Maine." All men- tion of Cumberland County was avoided, and the motion was made by a member from another county in order that no prejudice might be excited against the measure. Gov- ernor Eustice was appointed chairman of the committee, and a bill was prepared establishing a college, which was first proposed to be called Winthrop College, but which was called in the act of incorporation Bowdoin College, " the name being selected as one of the most honored names that Massachusetts could boast." The bill passed the House at this session, but owing to a disagreement between the two Houses in regard to the name and location of the college the bill was not formally enacted until June 24, 1794, when it passed both Houses and received the signature of the Governor, Samuel Adams. The towns of Gorham, Port- land, North Yarmouth, Brunswick, New Gloucester, Free- port. and Winthrop were pertinacious in urging their re- spective claims as being the most fitting scat of the college, and in some of them subscriptions were raised to secure the location. The town of Brunswick was at length selected as a compromise between the conflicting interests of the claim- ants, the citizens of the town having wade what was considered at that time a valuable consideration for the preference.
The founders of this institution appear to have formed adequate conceptions of what such a college should be. Their evident design was, as expressed in their own words, to found a seminary which should " promote virtue and piety, and a knowledge of the languages, and of the useful and liberal arts and sciences."
The government of the college was, by its act of incor- poration, vested in a board of trustees and a board of over- seers, the former consisting of 13 and the latter of 45 members. The trustees are the legislative body, and the overseers possess a vetoing power. Five townships of land, each six miles square, of the unappropriated lands in the then District of Maine, were granted for the " use, benefit, and purpose of supporting" the college.
" Immediately after the charter was granted establishing an institution which was to bear his family name, the Hon. James Bowdoin, of Boston, afterwards minister pleui- potentiary at the Spanish Court, generously bestowed both money and lands, the estimated value of which was 86800. The first meeting of the boards of the college was held at
238
IIISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.
Portland, December, 1794. In consequence, however, of a deficiency of available funds (for the best lands of the State having been previously selceted by other grantees, there was great difficulty in effecting a sale of the college town- ships, or any portion of them, without a sacrifice), eight years passed before the college went into operation. In- deed, notwithstanding the original grant of the Legislature, and the patronage of the individual already named, nothing but great zeal and unwearied perseverance on the part of the most active friends of the project carried it through to its accomplishment. Besides two stated meetings of the boards each year, special meetings were occasionally called ; but it was no easy matter to sustain the interest of all the members in an institution which as yet existed but in name, and it was always difficult even to form a quorum for the transaction of business. Committees were repeatedly ap- pointed by the boards to solicit donations, but the publie had not then learned to give, and when thousands were needed, the amount contributed was small, and mostly in books. Mutual recriminations of inefficiency and neglect passed between the two boards, and some were almost ready to despair of success."
Although but few donations were made to the college at this time, it is gratifying to know that neither the citizens nor the Pejepscot proprietors were ummindful of the benefit the location of the college in Brunswick would be to this town. Thirty acres of land were given to the college for its location by Capt. John Dunlap, William Stanwood, and Brigadier Thompson, though the college afterwards had to purchase a part of it from more rightful owners .*
The Pejepscot proprietors also, at a meeting held April 3, 1799, voted to give a deed of 200 aeres of land to the trustees, " for the use of the college forever."
The following were the original trustees and overseers of the college :
Trustees .- Rev. Thomas Brown, Falmouth ; Samuel Dean, D.D., Portland ; John Frothingham, Esq., Port- land ; Rev. Daniel Little, Wells; Rev. Thomas Laneas- ter, Scarboro'; Hon. Joshua Thatcher, Gorham ; David Mitchell, Esq., North Yarmouth ; Rev. Tristram Gilman, North Yarmouth ; Rev. Alden Bradford, Wiseasset ; Thomas Rice, Esq., Pownalboro'; William Martin, North Yarmouth ; and the president and treasurer of the college.
Overseers .- Edward Cutts, Kittery ; Thomas Cutts, Pepperelboro'; Simon Frye, Fryeburg ; David Sewall, York ; Nathaniel Wells, Wells ; Rev. Moses Hemmeuway, D.D., Wells; Rev. Silas Moody, Arundel ; Rev. John Thompson, Berwick ; Rev. Nathaniel Webster, Biddeford ; Rev. Paul Coffin, Buxton ; Rev. Benjamin Chadwick, Scarboro' ; Rev. Samuel Eaton, Harpswell ; Rev. Samuel Foxeroft, New Gloucester ; Rev. Caleb Jewett ; Rev. Al- fred Johnson, Freeport ; Rev. Elijah Kellogg, Portland ; Rev. Ebenezer Williams, Fahnouth ; Rev. Charles Turner, Sandford ; Daniel Davis, Portland ; Samuel Freeman, Port- land ; Joshua Fabyan, Scarboro'; William Gorham, Gor- ham ; Stephen Longfellow, Gorham ; Joseph Noyes, Falmouth ; Isaac Parsons, New Gloucester ; Robert South- gate, Scarboro'; John Wait, Portland; Peleg Wadsworth,
Thomaston ; William Widgery, New Gloucester; Rev. Ezekiel Emerson, Georgetown ; Rev. Jonathan Ellis, Top- sham; Jonathan Bowman, Pownalboro'; Edmund Bridge, Augusta ; Daniel Cony, Angusta ; Henry Dearborn, l'itts- ton ; Dummer Sewall, Bath ; Samuel Thompson, Topsham ; John Dunlap, Brunswick ; Francis Winter, Bath ; Natha- niel Thwing, Woolwich ; Alexander Campbell, No. 4 Washington County ; Paul Dudley Sargeant, Sullivan ; and the president and secretary of the college.
The site for the college was selected in 1796. It is situ- ated on a plateau about three-quarters of a mile south of the Androscoggin Bridge, near the pine plains. A beau- tiful grove of pines forms a part of the college grounds, and its proximity suggested the motto of one of the literary societies of the college.t
It was decided at this time to erect a building as soon as practicable, and in 1798 one was constructed of brick, fifty feet long, forty feet wide, and three stories high. Owing to lack of means, however, it was not ready for use until the summer of 1802. In this latter year a wooden house was erceted for the use of the president of the college.
About this time a part of the college lands was sold, and thus a new and more vigorous itupulse was given to the growth of the college.
" In July, 1801, the boards proceeded to eleet a presi - dent. Among several candidates the choice fell upon Rev. Joseph McKeen, a elergyman of high standing of Beverly, Mass. The selection was fortunate for the institution. Possessing sound judgment and great sagacity, President MeKeen was enabled to give a wise direction to measures, and to establish precedents of great importance to the future stability and prosperity of the institution. Through his instrumentality the tenure of office, a point which elicited much discussion, was established on a proper basis. In the following November, John Abbot, A.M., Harvard, was chosen professor of languages. The president and professor of languages were installed September, 1802. Great interest was felt by the friends of learning and education throughout the commonwealth in this under- taking, and the ceremonies of the inauguration attracted to Brunswick a large assemblage, in which were men of the first distinction in the State. For want of a building suitable for the occasion a platform, with accommodations for spectators, had been erected in the pine grove in the rear of the ground where the college grounds now stand. The scene in which they were participating could not but have deeply affected the principal actors. . . . On this occasion the name of the college building, already erected, was proclaimed in due form,-Massachusetts Hall.
"On the day following this interesting occasion eight students were examined for admission into the college, two of whom came from the metropolis of the commonwealth and its neighborhood, showing the interest and the confi- dence felt there in this new child of promise.
* * *
* " The duties to which President MeKeen was called were arduous and highly responsible. For two years he
t The motto of the Pencinian Society is " Pinos loquentes semper habemus" (The murmuring pines we always havo).
¥ Jolin MeKeen, Reminiscences of Brunswick in IS02.
239
TOWN OF BRUNSWICK.
was aided only by the faithful services of the professor of languages. The obstacles and the discouragements he was compelled to encounter in laying the foundation of an in- stitution which was attracting notice and exciting much expectation in the community, without apparatus of any kind and almost without funds, situated in a part of the country where superfluous wealth was not yet known, at a period when such an undertaking was a novel one, cannot now be duly appreciated. Before they were introduced to their labors the president and professor visited the principal colleges of New England, that they might avail themselves of the best experience of the time for the successful man- agement of the college. It should be mentioned as an honorable testimonial to the enlarged and independent views which governed the measures then adopted, that the requisitions for admission at once placed the new in- stitution in this respect on a level with the oldest and best- conducted institutions in the country,-a rank which it has ever maintained."
His house not having been completed in time, the presi- dent and his family for a while occupied rooms in Massa- chusetts Hall, the lower story of which had been fitted up temporarily as a chapel and recitation-room, and the upper portion for dormitories. There was no bell of any kind, and the pupils were summoned to prayers morning and evening by the thumping of the president's cane on the staircase. In addition to these daily devotional exercises, President McKeen also preached on Sunday either in the meeting-house of the First Parish or the college chapel.
In 1804, Samuel Willard was appointed a tutor, and took up his residence within the college. One or two resi- dent tutors were chosen annually after this until 1824.
Soon after its incorporation Mr. Bowdoin presented the college with £823 4s., with a "request that the interest thereof may be applied to the establishment and support of a professorship of Mathematics, and of Natural and Experi- mental Philosophy, and that this interest be added to the principal until a professor shall be appointed." To fill this professorship the boards, in May, 1805, elected Parker Cleveland, A.M., Harvard, who was at that time a tutor at Cambridge. Ile was inducted into office in October. During this year the first chapel was erected. It was constructed of wood, with rooms for the library and philosophical appa- ratus in the second story. It was not designed for a per- manent building, but was, however, enlarged and improved in 1817, and served the purposes for which it was built until 1845.
In 1805 the first literary society was instituted. This society, the Peucinian, was founded by Charles Stewart Daveis, Alfred Johnson, Nathan Lord, Robert Means, Enos Merrill, Benjamin Randall, Joseph Sprague, and Henry Wood, members of the three highest classes of the college. Robert Means was the first president. At first the society consisted solely of members of college, but in 1814 the meni- bers who had graduated held a meeting, and, together with those belonging to the college society, formed a general so- eiety, of which Charles Stewart Daveis was elected the first president. With varying periods of prosperity and reverses, the society has continued to the present day. Its member- ship in 1858, the date of the last catalogue, was as follows :
Whole number of members, 1023; initiated members, 945 ; honorary members, 78; members of General Society, 882 ; members of College Society, 63.
The first commencement of the college was celebrated in September, 1806, when the first class was graduated. The following-named individuals composed this class :
Mr. Richard Cobb, who died in 1837, aged forty-nine ; Mr. Isaac Foster Coffin, who died in 1861, aged seventy- four ; John Davis, who died in 1841, aged sixty-two; MIr. John Maurice O'Brien, who died in 1865, aged seventy- nine; Moses Quiuby, S.II.S., who died in 1857, aged seventy-one; Mr. George Thorndike, who died in 1810, aged twenty-one, and who also received his degree at Ilar- vard, in 1807 ; Rev. Benjamin Titcomb, who died in 1829, aged forty-two.
At the same time the following fourteen persons, gradu- ates of other colleges, received at their own solicitation honorary degrees : Ebenezer 11. Beckford, of Harvard; Oliver Bray, of Yale; Jason Chamberlain, of the Univer- sity of Brunswick ; Thomas J. Eckley, of Harvard ; Jacob H. Elliott, of Harvard ; Abraham Eustis, of Harvard ; Ja- cob C. Jewett, of Harvard ; Thomas M. Jones, of Harvard ; Isaae Lincoln, of Harvard; Samuel Orne, of Harvard and Yale ; Albion K. Parris, of Dartmouth ; Leverett Salton- stall, of Harvard and Yale; Ichabod Tucker, of Harvard ; and Owen Warland, also of Harvard.
This being the first occasion of the kind in a portion of the commonwealth then looked upon as almost a wilderness, excited much interest throughout Massachusetts. A large number of people attended from the district of Maine, and many from Boston and vicinity. There was, perhaps, a larger attendance than has been usual since that time. This commencement is memorable not only on account of its being the first one, but also on account of a storm of un- common severity, which began the day before the one ap- pointed for the exercises of graduation, and for three days raged without abatement. The exercises were postponed one day, but were obliged to be held the next.
The successful working of the college at this time is shown by the fact that in 1807, 44 students had been ad- mitted to it, the library contained between 1400 and 1500 volumes, and a philosophical and chemical apparatus had been obtained which was probably unsurpassed at that time by any in New England, except by that in Harvard University. A new building, subsequently named Maine Hall, was commenced this year. It was of brick, 140 feet long, 40 wide, and four stories high, and was intended for dormitories.
In consequence of the illness of the president at this time, his duties were distributed among the three remaining in- structors. The tutor, Nathan Parker, A.M., Harvard, af- terwards Rev. Dr. Parker, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, " a most efficient and able officer, both of instruction and government," performed regularly the chapel duties of the president during the vacancy in that office.
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