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Annals of Public Education. f c I 169 
 
 [Ccyrdinued from Convocation Proceedings for \%Wi,\%&^ and \%'^.'\ 
 
 ANNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION JN THE STATE OF NEW-:;¥OllK/== 
 
 By Daniel J. Pratt, A. M., '^y^;/'^) 
 
 Assistant Secretary of the Regents of the University. 2:://'//^„_ ' ";' 
 
 THE FOUNDING OF KINO'S (AFTERWAKD COLUMBIA) 
 
 (^OLLEGE. 
 
 The records of Trinity Church, in New York city, state that in 
 1Y03, " the Rector and Wardens' were directed to wait upon Lord 
 Cornbury, the Governor, to Know what part of the King's Farme, 
 then vested in Trinity Church, had been intended for the college 
 which he designed to have built." ^ 
 
 We have previously quoted. from the proceedings of the Society 
 for the Propagation of the Gospel, etc., for the year 1704, a state- 
 ment that " there are also Proposals going on for Building a College 
 on the Queens new Farm by subscription " ; and have shown that 
 Mr. Malcolm's school of 1732-9, " for teaching Latin, Greek and 
 'Mathematicks," may be regarded as the " germ of Columbia 
 College." 2 
 
 ■^ In 1725, Dr. George Berkeley (afterwards Bishop), published in 
 London " A Proposal for the better supplying of Churches in our 
 Foreign Plantations, and for converting the Savage Americans to 
 Christianity, by a college to be Erected on the Summer Islands, 
 otherwise called the Isles of Bermuda. " ^ 
 
 A more eligible site was subsequently sought, and it has been 
 claimed that, had the scheme gone into effect. New York would 
 probably have been selected. Moreover, Bishop Berkeley afterwards 
 became a friend and adviser of the first President of King's College. 
 These incidents are our warrant for referring in this connection to 
 an otherwise foreign and abortive scheme, and for quoting the 
 following curious paragraphs concerning it : 
 
 * Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1871, by Daniel J. Pratt, in the office of the 
 Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
 •Moore's Hist. Sketch of Col. Coll., p. 6. 
 
 ^Annals of Public Education, etc., as revised and separately printed in 1872, pp. 86, 
 124, 125. 
 ' Berkeley's "Works, il, 281. 
 
170 Univebsity Convocation. x' ''i 
 
 Why BermtKia was chosen for the place of tlie college will best 
 appear from the Dean's own words. In speaking of the choice of a 
 siiiiatio7i, he says, "It should he in a good air; in a place M'here pro- 
 visions are cheap and plenty; where an intercourse might easily be 
 kept up with all parts of ' America and the islands; in a place of 
 security, not exposed to the insults of pirates, savages or other 
 enemies ; where there is no great trade which might tempt the readers 
 or fellows of the college to become merchants, to the neglect of their 
 proper business; where there are neither riches nor luxury to divert, 
 or lessen their application, or to make them mieasy and dissatistied 
 with a homely frugal subsistence; lastly, where the inhabitaiits, if 
 such a place inay be found, are noted for innocence and simplicity of 
 manners."^ All these advantages, he imagined, were to be found in 
 the islands of Bermuda, in a more considerable degree than in any 
 other place in the British American dominions. 
 
 The scheme, for some time, met with all the encouragement that 
 was due to so benevolent a proposal. The King granted a charter, 
 appointing Dr. Berkeley the first President of the intended 
 college. * * * * 
 
 The monies arising from the sale of lands in St. Christopher'' s., 
 that were ceded to the British crown by the treaty of Utrecht., 
 amounted to eighty thousand pounds ; and Queen Anne designed 
 that sum as a fund for the support of four American Bishops. But 
 that design tailing by her death. Dr. Berkeley, by dint of applica- 
 tion and address, notwithstanding Sir Robert Walpole's opposition, 
 procured a parliamentary grant of twenty thousand pounds of that 
 money, for the establishment of his college. 
 
 * * He came immediately [1729] to RJtode Island, with a view 
 of settling a correspondence there, for supplying his college with such 
 provisions as might be Avantcd from the northern colonies. But soon 
 after his arrival he was convinced th.at he had been greatly misinformed 
 with regard to the state of Bermuda, and that the establishment of 
 a college there would not answer his purpose. He then wrote to his 
 friends in Kngland, requesting them to get the patent altered for 
 some ]ilace on the Auierican continent, which would, probably, have 
 been Nmo YorJi. ; and to obtain the payment of the sum that had 
 been granted him. 
 
 Accordingly, Bishop Gibson applied to Sir Robert Walpole, 
 then at the head of the Treasury, in his behalf; but the answer was 
 unfavourable. With regard to the request for the payment of the 
 money, Sir Robert replied : " If you put the question to me as a 
 Minister, I must and can assure you that the money shall most 
 undoubtedly be ])aid, as soon as suits with public convenience; but 
 if you^ ask me as a friend, whether Dean Berkeley should con- 
 tinue in America, expecting the i)ayment of twenty thousand pounds, 
 I advise him, by all means, to return home to Europe, and to give 
 up his present expectatii»ns." The Dean, being informed of this con- 
 versation by his good friend the Bishop, and fully convinced that his 
 whole plan was defeated, resolved to return to England ; and accord- 
 
 ■ Berkeley's Works, ii, 284. 
 
Annals of Public Education. 171 
 
 ingly he embarked at Boston, in September, 1731. Not long after 
 the whole eighty thousand pounds above-mentioned was given to the 
 Princess Anne, on her marriage with the Prince of Orange. ^ 
 
 The foregoing paragraphs constitute the meagre extant record of 
 what was said and done with reference to a college for tlie province 
 during the lirst one hundred and twenty years from the organization 
 of the colonial government, viz., from 1626 to 1Y46. Meanwhile, 
 Harvard College had become a century, and Yale almost a half- 
 century old, though the Massachusetts colony was scarcely older, and 
 Connecticut was much younger than New York. This backwardness 
 on the part of our ancestors has placed them in unfavorable contrast 
 with their eastern neighbors. By way of explanation and apology, 
 it has been urged that the other colonies named were founded mainly 
 in the interests of religion and learning, but New York rather as a 
 commercial enterprise ; also, that the former were each homogeneous 
 as to population and character, and would, therefore, act promptly 
 and efficiently in matters relating to the welfare of society ; wdiile 
 New York, by reason of her several nationalities, was too hetero- 
 geneous, as well as too much absorbed in material pursuits, to become 
 the early patron of liberal learning. At length the disadvantage 
 became apparent to our own people, and both business shrewdness and 
 jealous self respect were stimulated to supply this educational need. 
 The condition of the colony, in this respect, is forcibly set forth by 
 one of our early and prominent historians, who, referring to Yale 
 College, has said : 
 
 * * The inhabitants of New Haven (to whose honour be it 
 mentioned) raised a large sum to begin the institution within five or 
 six years from the date of their Indian purchase of that town, then 
 called Quinipiack. It was from this seminary that many of the 
 western churches in New York and New Jersey were afterwards 
 furnished with their English clergymen. Mr. Smith,^ who was a tutor 
 and declined the rectors's chair in Yale College, vacant by the 
 removal of Dr. Cutler, was the first lay character of it belonging to 
 the colony of New York. Their numbers multiplied some years 
 afterwards, and especially when, at his instance, Mr. Philip Living- 
 ston, the second propietor of the manor of that name, encouraged 
 that academy by sending several of his sons to it for their education. 
 
 To the disgrace of our first planters, who beyond comparison sur- 
 passed their eastern neighbours in opulence, Mr. Delancey, a graduate of 
 the university of Cambridge, and Mr. Smith, were, for many years, the 
 
 'Chandler's Life ■ of Samuel Johnson, D. D., First President of King's College, 
 pp. 50-54. 
 
 ^This seems to be one William Smith (not the historian) who graduated in 1719 
 became tutor in 1722, and died in 1769. 
 
J 72 University Ookvocatiok 
 
 • 
 
 only academics in this province, except such as were in holy orders ; 
 and so hite as the period we are now examining [1746], tlie author 
 did not recollect above thirteen more,^ the youngest of whom had his 
 bachelor's degree at the age of seventeen, but two months before Uie 
 passing of the above law [for raising money by lottery], the first 
 towards erecting a college in this colony, though at the distance of 
 above one hundred and twenty years after its discovery and the settle- 
 ment of the capital by Dutch progenitors from Amsterdam.'^ * * 
 As to the actual inception of King's College, the records of legisla- 
 tion in its behalf are the first, and, for some years, almost the only 
 sources of information : 
 
 [In General Assembly.] 
 
 Die Jovis. 3 Jw. P. M. Oct 23, 1746. 
 * ^f ■ * * 
 
 Ordered,, That a Bill be brought in, for raising the Sum of, Two 
 Thoumnd, Tioo Hundred and Fifty Pounds,, by a publick Lottery 
 for this Colony, for the Advancement of Learning, and towards the 
 founding of a College within the same; and that Mr. Oruger^ and 
 Capt. Richards,* prepare and bring in the same. 
 
 Die Veneris, 9 ho. A. if., Oct 24, 1746. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Mr. Cruger (according to Order) presented to the House, a Bill, 
 entitled. An Act, for raising the iSu?)i of, Two Thousand, Two Hun- 
 dred and Fifty Pounds, hg ajjaUick Loiter g for this Colony, for the 
 Advancement of Learning, and towards the founding a College 
 within the same ^ which was read the first Time, and ordered a second 
 Reading. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Die Sahatii, 9 ho. A. M. Oct 25, L746. 
 
 The Bill, entitled, An Act [etc., as above] ; was read a second Time, 
 and committed to a Committee of the whole House. 
 
 -X- * * * 
 
 Die Martis, 3 ho. P. M. Oct 28, 1746. 
 
 Mr. Crvger, from the Committee, to whom was refered, the Bill, 
 entitled. An Act [etc., as above] ; reported. That the Committee had 
 
 ' The persons alluded to, were: Messrs. Peter Van Brugh Livingston, John Living, 
 ston, Philip Livingston, William Nicoll, Benjamin Nicoll, Hendrick Hansen, William 
 Peartree Smith, Caleb Smith, Benjamin Woolsey, William Smith, jun, John 
 McEvers, John Van Home. 
 
 ^Smith's Hist, of N. Y. (Hi.st. Soc. ed., 1829) ii, 113, 383. 
 
 • Henry Cruger, of New York. * Paul Richards, of New York. 
 
ANNALS OF Public Education. 173 
 
 gone tlirough the Bill, made several Amendments, and added a Clause 
 tliereto; which they had directed him to report to the House; and he 
 read the Eeport in his Place, and afterwards delivered the Bill, with 
 the Amendments, and Clause, in at the Table ; where the same was 
 again read, and agreed to by the House. 
 
 Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, and Clause, be 
 
 ingrossed. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Die MerGurij, 3 ho. P. M. Oct. 29, 1746. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 The ingrossed Bill, entitled. An Act [etc., as above] ; was read the 
 third Time. 
 
 Besolved, That the Bill do pass. 
 
 Ordered, That Mr. Cruger, and Capt. 8tillweU,^ do carry the Bill 
 to the Council, and desire their Concurrence. 
 
 * ^^ * * 
 
 [In Council.] 
 Wednesday, the 29'^ day of October, 1746. 
 
 * -:<- -X- * 
 
 Present, The Uono^^^ Cadwallader Colden, Esq""., Speaker, 
 Archibald Kennedy, 
 James De Lance y, 
 Daniel Horsmanden, 
 John Moore, Esq'■^ 
 •H- * * * 
 
 A Message from the General Assembly by M"" Cruger & Capt 
 Stilwell witli a Bill Entituled, " An Act" [etc., as above] Desiring 
 the concurrence of the Council thereto. 
 
 Ordered, That the said Bills [the above with two others] be now 
 read 
 
 Then the said three Bills were read the first time and 
 
 Ordered a second Eeading 
 
 % * -» ^ 
 
 Tuesday, the fourth day of November, 1746. P. M. 
 «• * * * 
 
 Present — The Hono''^^ Philip Livingston, Esq*", Speaker, 
 Archibald Kennedy, 
 Philip Courtlandt, 
 Daniel Horsmanden, 
 John Moore, Esq'^ 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Then the said three Bills were read the second [time] and 
 Ordei'ed to be committed. 
 
 ik * ->;- * 
 
 . ' Richard Stillwell, of Richmond Co. 
 
^74 University Coonvcation. 
 
 Saturday^ the Eighth day of November^ 1746. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Present — [as on the 29tli day of October, and] 
 Philip Courtlanut, and 
 Stephen Bayard, Esq". 
 
 * * * • * 
 
 The Council Resolved tlienisclves into a Committee to consider of 
 the following Bills, viz* 
 
 The Bill entituled, "An Act" [etc., as above] 
 
 * w * * 
 
 The Committee having duely weighed & considered of the said four 
 Bills and being ready to make their Report thereon 
 
 The Speaker resumed the Chair 
 
 Ordered^ That the said Report be made immediately 
 
 Then the Hono''^*^ Daniel Horsmanden Esq'' Chairman of the said 
 Committee in his place Reported that the Committee had gone through 
 the said four Bills and had directed him to report tliem without 
 amendment 
 
 AVhich Report on the Question being put was agreed to ife approved 
 of and the Bills severally 
 
 Ordered a third Read" 
 
 Then the said four Bills were read the third time and 
 
 On the Question being severally put 
 
 liemolvt'd, that the said Bills do pass 
 
 Ordered, that the Ilono''''^ Daniel Horsmanden Esq'' do acq' the 
 General Assembly that the Council have passed the said four Bills 
 witliout amendment 
 
 * -;•:- * ■}{• 
 
 [In General Assembly.] 
 
 Die LuiKE, 3 ho. P. M. Nov. 10, 1746. 
 
 * -X- * -jf 
 
 A .Message from the Council, l)y the honourable Daniel Horsman- 
 den, Esq ; aciiuainting this House, That the Council have passed the 
 following Jjjlls without Amendment, viz. 
 
 The Bill, entitled, An Act [etc., as above]. 
 
 Die Sahatii, 9 ho. A. M. Dec. 6, 1746 
 ""' His Excellency Avas pleased to give his Assent to 
 thn-teen I5ills, passed this Session, the Titles whereof are, viz. 
 
 -» * * 
 
 9. An Act,/o;' raising the Sum. of, [etc., as above]. 
 
Annals of Public Education. 175 
 
 An Act for' Raising the Sum of Two Thousand Two Hundred and 
 Fifty Pounds hy a Public Lottery, for this Colony for the 
 Advancement of Learning da Towards the Founding a CoUedge 
 within the same. Passed Decmnber 6. 1746. 
 
 In as much as it will greatly Tend to the Wellfare & Reputation 
 of the Colony That a Proper & Ample Foundation be Laid for the 
 Regular Education of Youth, & as so good & Laudable a design must 
 readily excite the Inhabitants of this Colony to become Adventurers 
 in a Lottery of which the Profits shall be Employed for the founding 
 a CoUedge for that Purpose. 
 
 Be it enacted by his Excellency the Governour, the council and the 
 General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the Authority of the 
 Same, That a Lottery be Erected within this Colony, and that for & 
 towards the Raising the Sum of Two Thousand Two Hundred & 
 Fifty Pounds, it shall & may be Lawfiill, For any Person or Persons, 
 Natives or Foreigners, bodies Politick or Corporate, To contribute by 
 Paying at or before the respective Times by this act Limited in that 
 behalf, to any Person or Persons hereinafter to be appointed for that 
 purpose, The sum of one Pound Ten Shillings or Divers entire Sums 
 of one pound Ten Shillings upon this act, and that every contributor 
 or Adventurer, For every such sum of one pound Ten Shillings 
 which he she or they shall so advance. Shall be Interested in Such 
 Lott or Share of & in the said Lottery Established by this act, as is 
 hereinafter Directed & appointed, and the Same Entire Sums of one 
 Pound Ten Shillings Each, are hereby appointed to be paid unto such 
 Person or Persons as aforesaid on or before the first Day of June 
 next. 
 
 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid Tiiat Peter 
 Yallete and Peter Yan Brugh Livingston shall be managers for Pre- 
 paring & Delivering out Tickets Receiving of money for the said 
 Tickets, & to oversee the Drawing of Lotts, and to order do & Per- 
 form such otlier matters & Things as are hereafter in & by this act 
 Directed & appointed by such managers to be done & Performed, 
 and That such managers, shall meet Together from time to time, at 
 some Public Place as to them shall seem most convenient for the 
 execution of the Powers & Trust in Them Reposed by this act, and 
 that the said managers. Shall cause Books to be prepared in which 
 every Leaf shall be Divided or Distinguished into Three columns and 
 upon tlie Innermost of the said three columns, there shall be printed 
 Ten Thousand Tickets numbered, one. Two, Three and so onwards 
 in Arithmetical Progression where the common excess is to be one, 
 until they arrive to and for the number of Ten Thousand, and upon 
 the middle column in every of the said Books shall be Printed Ten 
 Thousand Tickets of the same Breath &c form, and numbered in like 
 manner. And in the exti'eam column of the said Books there shall 
 be Printed a Third Rank or Series of Tickets of the same number 
 with those of the other two columns, which Tickets shall Severally 
 be of an oblong Figure, and in the said Books shall be Joined with 
 oblique Lines, Flourishes or Devices, in such manner as the said Mana- 
 gers shall think most safe & convenient, and that every Tioket in the 
 
176 UmVEHSITY COXVOCATJON. 
 
 Extreain or third culuinns of the said Books shall have Printed there- 
 upon, besides the number, The following words viz. " The Possessor 
 of this Ticket if drawn a Prize siiall be Entituled to the Prize so 
 Drawn, subject to such Deduction as is Directed by an Act of this 
 colony in that behalf 
 
 And it is further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the 
 said Managers, shall carefully examine all the said Books, withthe 
 Tickets therein, and that the same be contrived, numbered tfe made 
 according to the True Intent & meaning of this Act, and all and 
 Every such Manager Respectively is and are hereby Directed & 
 Required upon his or their Receiving of every or any Entire Sum of 
 one Pound Ten Shillings in full Payment for a Ticket, From any 
 Person or Persons contributing or Adventuring as aforesaid To cut 
 out of said Book or Books, through the said oblique Lines, Flourishes 
 or Devices, indentwise a Ticket of the Tickets in the said Extream 
 Columns which one of the said Managers shall sign with his own 
 name, and he or they shall Permit the contributer or Adventurer [if 
 it be Desired] to write his or her name or Mark on the two corre- 
 sponding Tickets in the same Book and at the same time the said 
 Managers, or one of Them shall Deliver to the said contributer or 
 Adventurer the Ticket so cut off, which He She or They are to keep 
 & use for the belter ascertaining ct securing the Interest, which he 
 she or They, his, her, or their Executors, Administrators, or Assigns 
 shall or may have in the said Lottery for the monies so by him her or 
 Them contril)uted or Adventured, until the said adventure by the 
 Drawing the Lots, and the Payment of such Tickets as shall be For- 
 tunate shall be fully Determined. 
 
 And be it further Enacted, That the said Managers at a Meeting as 
 aforesaid shall cause all the Tickets of the nnddle columns in the 
 books. To be cut indentwise through the said oblique Lines, Flour- 
 ishes or Devices and carefully rolled up as much alike as may be & 
 made fast with Thread, and in the Presence of such contributors or 
 Adventurers as will be there present, cause all the said Tickets \vhieh 
 are to be Rolled up «fe made fast as aforesaid to be put into a Box to 
 be Prepared for that Purpose, and to be marked with the letter (A) 
 which is presently to be put in another strong Box & to be Locked 
 up with two Different Locks & Keys, to be kept by as many mana- 
 gers and Sealed with their Seals, until the said Tickets are to be 
 Drawn as is hereinafter mentioned and that the Tickets in the tirst 
 or Innermost Columns of the said Books shall remain still in the 
 Books, for Discovering an}' mistake or Fraud if any such should hap- 
 pen to be committed contrary to the true Intent <fe meaning of this 
 act. 
 
 And be it further Enacted by the same Authority, That the Mana- 
 gers before mentioned, shall cause to be Prepared other Books in 
 which Every Leaf shall l)e Divided or Distinguished in two columns, 
 and u]ion the Innermost of these two columns there shall be Printed 
 Ten Thousand Tickets and upon the outermost of the said two col- 
 umns there shall be Pi-inted Ten Thousand all which shall be of 
 Equal Length & Breath as near as may be, which Two columns in 
 
Annals of Public Education. 177 
 
 the said Books shall be Joined with some Flourishes or Devices 
 through which the outermost Tickets may be cut of Indentwise, and 
 that One Thousand Six Hundred & Sixty Five Tickets part of those 
 to be contained in the outermost Columns of the Books Last mentioned 
 shall be called the Fortunate Tickets to whieh Benefits shall belong 
 as hereinafter Mentioned, and the said Managers shall cause the said 
 Fortunate Tickets to be written upon or otherwise Expressed, as well 
 in Figures as in woi'ds at Length in manner following, Tliat is to 
 say, upon, one of Them, Five Hundred Pounds, upon one of them 
 Three Hundred Pounds upon one other of them Two Hundred 
 Pounds, upon Ten of them Severally one Hundred Pounds, upon 
 Thirty of them Severally Fifty Pounds, Upon Forty of Them Sever- 
 ally Twenty five Pounds upon Fifty nine of them Severally Fifteen 
 Pounds, upon four Hundred of them severally Ten Pounds, and 
 upon one Thousand one Hundred & Twenty Three of them Severally 
 Five Pounds, which sums so to be written or otherwise Expressed 
 upon the said Fortunate Tickets will Amount in the whole to the 
 sum of Fifteen Thousand Pounds, which is the Produce of Ten 
 Thousand Tickets, according to the Yaluatiou of one Pound Ten 
 Shillings for each Ticket as before Mentioned. 
 
 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid. That the 
 Managers before mentioned, shall cause all the said Tickets contained 
 in the outermost column of the Last mentioned Books, in the 
 Pesence of such contributors or Adventurers as will then be there 
 Present To be cut out Indentwise, Through the said Flourishes or 
 Devices & carefully Rolled up as near as may be alike & fastened 
 with Thread, and put into another Box to be Prepared for that Pur- 
 pose, and to be marked with the Letter [B] which box shall presently 
 be put into another strong Box & Locked up & Sealed in the man- 
 ner as Box Letter'd (A) until these Tickets shall also be Drawn in the 
 manner & form hereafter mentioned, and that no money shall be 
 received from any contributor or Adventurer, towards this Adventure 
 as aforesaid after the first Day of June next, and that the whole Busi- 
 ness of Roleing up & cutting off and Putting in the said Boxes the 
 said Tickets & locking up & sealing the said Boxes, shall be Per- 
 formed by the said Managers, on or before the first Day of June 
 next. And to the End every Person concerned, may be well assured 
 That the counter Part of the same Number with his or her Tickets is 
 put into the Box marked with the Letter (A) from whence the same 
 may be Drawn & that other matters are done as hereby Directed, 
 some Public ISTotification in Print shall be given of the Precise time 
 or times of Cutting the said Tickets & putting them into the Boxes, 
 To the End that such Adventurers as shall be minded to See the same 
 done may be Present at the doing thereof. 
 
 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid. That on. or 
 before the said first Day of June next. The said Managers Shall Cause 
 the said Several Boxes, with all the Tickets therein. To be brought 
 into the City Hall of the city of New York by nine of the clock in the 
 Forenoon of the same Day, and shall then & there attend the Service 
 in order for Drawing, with Two clerks, with Books prepared for that 
 
 12 
 
[^yy University Convocation. 
 
 l*iirnoso, To Enter down all the Fortunate Tickets, and the said Man- 
 a'^ers l>t'in«;- Prepared for Drawing, sluill cause the two Boxes contain- 
 iiTg tlu; Biiid Tickets, To be severally taken out of the other two 
 jinxes in which they shall have been Locked up, and the Tickets or 
 J.ots ill the Ucsi)ective Innermost Boxes, being in t!ie Presence of 
 the said Managers and of such Adventurers as will be there Present 
 lor the Satisfaction of Themselves, well shaken & mingled in Each 
 IJox distinctly, ct some one Indiiferent i^ iitt Person to be appointed 
 ^ Directed by the Managers, shall take out & Draw one Ticket from 
 the Pox, where the said' Numbred Tickets shall be as aforesaid Put, 
 an<l one other Jnditferent & tit Person to be appointed & Directed 
 in the lik(! manner; shall Immediately Draw a Ticket or Lot from 
 tilt! Pox where the one Thousand six Hundred ife Sixty Five Fortu- 
 nate ife Eiu-ht Thousand Three Hundred & Thirty five blank Tickets, 
 shall be Promiscuously put as aforesaid & hnmediately both the 
 Tickets so drawn, shall be opened and The number as well of the 
 Fortunate as the blank Tickets, shall be named a Loud, and if the 
 Ti(-k('t Taken or J^rawn from tlie Pox containing the Fortunate & 
 \W\\\\k Lots, shall appear to l)e J>lank, then the numbred Ticket so 
 Drawn, with the said P>laid< at the same time Drawn, shall be wrote 
 u|)on Plank, and shall both be put on one File, and if the Tickets 
 so Drawn or taken out of the Pox containing the Fortunate & Plank 
 Ijots shall appear to be one of the Fortunate Tickets then the sum 
 wi-itten upon such Fortunate Ticket [whatever it may be] shall be 
 entered by the CMerks so appointed, into the Books prepared for that 
 Purposi", "Together with the Number coming up with the said Fortu- 
 nate Ticket, and one of the said Managers shall set their Name as 
 witness to Every such Entry, and the said Fortunate <fe; numbered 
 Tictkets so Drawn together, shall be put upon another file, and so the 
 said Drawing of the Tickets shall continue, by taking one Ticket at 
 a Time out of Each Pox, and with opening naming aloud & Fileing 
 the Same, and by P^ntering the Fortunate Lots insuch method, as is 
 before Mentioned, Until the whole Number of Tickets, shall be com- 
 }»lct('ly Drawn, And if the same cannot be Performed in one Days 
 
 shall be comjileatly Drawn as aforesaid. 
 
 Aiul to the End that tlie Adventurers may have all Possible Satis- 
 f;iction in the Due Regular it ,lust management of the said Lottery 
 P.c it enacted by the Authority aforesaid. That the Mayor, Recorder, 
 Aldermen & Commonalty of the City of New York, may A: are 
 hei'eby lm])owered to a])point Every Day during the whole course of 
 the Lottery, two or more of their body to Lispect all v.t Every Trans- 
 action of tlie said Lottery hereby Directed and lletjuired, and that 
 each county in the Colony may <Sc arc hereby Lnpowered If They 
 see cause to Depute two .lustices of the Peace, or other Ke])utable 
 l"'reeliolders or Ldiabitants For the afoi-esaid Inspection with Projier 
 C'ertiiicates of their being so Deputed, From the next or any subse- 
 
Annals of Public Education. 179 
 
 quent General Session of the Peace, and the said Managers are 
 hereby Directed & Required to Admit Them, and the said Members 
 of the said Corporation to the aforesaid Inspection accordingly. 
 
 And to the End the Fortunate may know, whether absent or Pre- 
 sent to what Degree they have been so, and that Speedy Payment 
 may be made upon the Fortunate Tickets to the Persons Entitled 
 thereto Be it Enacted by the autliority aforesaid. That during the 
 course of the Drawing the said Managers are here by Required, 
 weekly to give Publick notice, in the New York Post Boy of the 
 numbers of the Tickets drawn Blank and also of the numbers of 
 the Tickets drawn against the Fortunate Lots, and the Sums written 
 on the same and as soon as the drawing is over, shall pay the said 
 sums to such persons, who shall Produce Tickets with the Numbers 
 Drawn against such Fortunate Lots, They the said Manager first 
 Deducting Fifteen per cent out of the said Fortunate Lots & to be 
 applyed as hereafter is Directed 
 
 And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid. That if any 
 Person or Persons shall Forge or Countci'fcit any Ticket or Tickets 
 to be made forth on this act, or Alter any of the numbers thereof or 
 bring any Forged or counterfeited Ticket, or any Ticket whereof the 
 Number is Altered, knowing the same to be such, to the said Mana- 
 gers or either of them for the Time being, To the Intent to Defraud 
 the Colonj'', or any Contributer or adventurer or the Executors, 
 Administrators or Assigns of any Contributer or Adventurer upon 
 this Act, That then Every such Person or Persons [being thereof 
 Convicted in Due Form of Law] shall be adjudged a Fellon, and 
 shall suffer Death, as in Cases of Fellony, without Benefit of Clergy, 
 and the said Managers or Either of Them are hereby Authorized 
 Required & Impowered to Cause any Person or Persons bringing 
 such Altered Forged or Counterfeited Ticket or Tickets as aforesaid 
 to be apprehended and to Commit Him, Her or Them to his Majis- 
 ties Goal of the City of New York, to be Proceeded against for the 
 said Fellony according to Law — 
 
 And be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid. That every of tlie 
 Managers hereby appointed for Putting this Act in Execution before 
 his Acting in such commission Shall take the oath following that is 
 to say, I, A, B, do swear That I will Faithfully Execute the Trust 
 Reposed in me and That I will not use any Indirect Art or means, or 
 permit or Direct any Person to use any Indirect Art or means to 
 obtain a Prize or Fortunate Lot for myself or any Person whatsoever, 
 and that I will do the utmost of my Endeavours to prevent any undue 
 or sinister Practice to be done by any Person whatsoever and that I 
 will to the best of my Judgment declare to whom any Prize Lot or 
 Ticket of Right does belong according to the true Intent of the act 
 of Gouvernour council & general Assembly Passed in the Twentyth 
 year of his Majisties Reign in that behalf, which oath shall be 
 administered by. one of the Justices of the Supream Court of this 
 Colony. 
 
 Provided always and be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid that 
 the managers hereby appointed, before they take the oath Prescribed 
 
IgQ University Convocation. 
 
 by tliis act or Perform or Execute any thing therein contained shall 
 first Enter into the following Recognizances to our Sovereign Lord 
 the King, his Heirs & Successors, That is to Say, Each of them 
 before one of the Justices of the Supreme court, in tlie sum of Four 
 Thousand Pounds with two sufficient securities Each in half that sum 
 Conditioned that tliey shall & will well & Truely, each for his Part 
 Execute the Trust Reposed in Them by this act & well & Truely 
 observe do & Perform all the Directions thereby Required to be done 
 & Performed by Them, according to the True Intent & meaning 
 thereof, which several Recognizances, are to be delivered to the 
 Treasurer, by the Justice before whom the same shall be so taken 
 [having first caused the same to be Recorded in the Minutes of the 
 Supreme Court] in order to be Lodged in the Treasury. 
 
 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the 
 several Deductions of Fifteen per cent, upon the whole number of 
 Fortunate Tickets shall be paid into the Hands of the Treasurer of 
 this Colony by the Managers hereof, out of which there shall be 
 allowed in Case the Lottery shall be actually Drawn, The following 
 sums viz. " To Each of the said Managers the sum of one Hundred 
 & Twenty Five Pounds, To each of the Two Clerks six shillings 
 per diem For every Day They shall be actually employed in the said 
 Drawing To Each of the Two Persons who shall Draw the Tickets 
 Three shillings per Diem, for Every Day they shall be so Employed, 
 and all Reasonable Charges, For Printing Books, Tickets & advertise- 
 ments & such other Licidents as may necessaril}^ be I'equired in the 
 said Lottery, and the monies ariseing from the said several Deduc- 
 tions of Fifteen pr cent, upon the whole number of Fortunate 
 Tickets, The aforesaid charges of Management being first Deducted, 
 shall be paid into the hands of the Treasurer, To be and Remain in 
 the Treasury, To & for the Purpose of Founding a Colledge for the 
 Education of Youth and to & for no other Purpose whatsoever in 
 such Manner as shall be hereafter Directed by Act or Acts of the 
 Governour Council & Generel Assembly. 
 
 And That the Purpose of Founding the said Colledge may not be 
 obstructed by any other application of the moneys to arise from the 
 Profits of the said Lottery Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid 
 That Each & Every Representative in General Assembly, For the 
 Time being, who shall hereafter in General Assembly, move or con- 
 sent to the applying or appropriating the said money to any other 
 i\iriiose whatever Than the Founding the Colledge aforesaid shall be 
 and hereljy is Declared <fe made forever Incapable of Sitting & vot- 
 ing in this or any Future General Assembly, and new Writts shall 
 Issue accordingly. 
 
 And be it further Enacted by the same authority. That no Fee or 
 Gratuity whatsoever shall or nuiy be Demanded or taken of any 
 Person or Persons, contributor or' Adventurer to the Lottery afore- 
 said by any Manager or Managers, or any other officer or officers 
 appointed by tliis Act, For any thing that 'shall be done Pursuant to 
 this act upon Pain That any officer or Person offending by taking any 
 Fee or Gratuity contrary to this act, shall Forfeit the sum of Fifty 
 
Annals of Public Education. 181 
 
 Pounds to the Party grieved, To be Recovered with full Cost in any 
 of his Majisties Courts of Record within this Colony, 
 
 And be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That in case all the 
 said Ten Thousand Tickets, shall not be sold &, Disposed of before 
 the said lirst Day of June next, That then the Money That has been 
 Received for any Ticket or Tickets by virtue of this act, shall be by 
 the said Managers Repaid to the Person or Persons of whom the 
 same shall have been Received, his her or their Executors, Adminis- 
 trators or Assigns, He, She or They first Producing the several 
 Tickets for wliich such Repayment, shall be Required, and the Lot- 
 tery hereby Erected & made, shall from thence forth become void, 
 any thing in this Act contained to the contrary hereof notwithstand- 
 ing, and in such case the Treasurer aforesaid shall pay out of any 
 money then in the Treasury (except such as shall be appointed for 
 the annual support of Government) The several Incidents before 
 mentioned, upon proper certificates signed by the said Managers, and 
 Receipts thereon, shall be good Youchers to him for the Payment 
 thereof. For the amount of which the General Assembly shall & will 
 Provide ways & means to Repay & Replace the same. 
 
 Provided and be it Enacted, That in case the said Ten Thousand 
 Tickets aforesaid, be sold and disposed of in the manner aforesaid 
 before the first day of June next. That then the' Managers shall pro- 
 ceed to the Drawing the Lots in manner aforesaid, first giving Pub- 
 lick l^otice there of in the New York Post Boy at Least Fourteen 
 Days before the Drawing the same, any thing in this act to the con- 
 trary notwithstanding 
 
 And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid. That if 
 either of the before mentioned Managers shall happen to Die Remove 
 out of this Colony or Refuse to Act, according to the several and 
 Respective Powers & Authorities hereby Directed & Required, It 
 shall & may be Lawfull to and for the Governour or commander in 
 Chief for the time being by and with the advice & consent of his 
 Majisties Council to nominate & appoint some other fit Person or 
 Pei'sons to be Manager or Managers in the place & stead of the Man- 
 ager or Managers so dying Removing or Refusing to Act as aforesaid 
 any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding Provided 
 that the Person or Persons who may be so appointed shall be obliged 
 to take the Like oath, Enter into the Like Recognizance &, Sureties 
 as is herein Directed to be done by the Managers named in this act 
 and be in all Respects as subject to observe & Perform the several 
 Directions of this Act, as if he or They had been named or appointed 
 in it.^ 
 
 *MS. Laws, in office of Secretary of State. 
 
182 University Gonvocation. 
 
 New Yoke, Jan 5, 1746, 7. 
 
 By a Law passed the last Sessions, a Pablick Lottery is directed, 
 to consist of 10,000 Tickets, at 305. each, 1665 of which to be fortu- 
 nate, viz. 
 
 Number Value Total 
 
 of prizes. of each. value. 
 
 1 of £500 £500 
 
 1 of 300 300 
 
 1 of ' 200 200 
 
 10 of 100 1000 
 
 30 of 50 1500 
 
 40 of 25 1000 
 
 59 of 15 885 
 
 400 of 10 4000 
 
 1123 of 5 5615 
 
 oQor Sr^?^' \ 10,000 Tickets at 30s. makes £15,000 
 
 8335 Bhinks, j ' 
 
 15 per Cent, to be deducted from the Prizes. The Profits will be 
 employed towards founding a College within this Colony, for the 
 regular Education of Youth; And as such a laudable Design will 
 greatly tend to the Welfare and Keputation of this Colony ; it is 
 expected the Lihabitants will readily be excited to become Adven- 
 turers. Publick Notice will be given of the Precise Time for putting 
 the Tickets into the Boxes, that such Adventurers as shall be minded 
 to see the same don, may be present at the doing thereof. The 
 Drawing to commence on or before the first Day of June next, at 
 the City-Hall, of New York, under the Inspection of the Corpora- 
 tion, who are impowered to appoint two or more of their Body to 
 inspect all and every Transaction of the said Lottery ; and two Jus- 
 tices of the Peace, or other reputable Free-holders or Inhabitants of 
 every County in this Colony, if they see Cause to depute the same at 
 their next or any subsequent general Sessions of the Peace. Notice 
 will be given in the New - York Post Boy fourteen Days before the 
 Drawing. The Managers are sworn faithfully to execute the Trust 
 reposed in them, and have given Security for the faithful Discharge 
 of the Same. As the late Lottery has given general Satisfaction, the 
 same Care will be taken, and the same Regulations observed in this, 
 with respect to the Tickets, the Drawing, Keeping the Books, and 
 other Particulars, as near as possible. The Blanks as well as Prizes 
 will be published weekly in the Neio-York Post Boy. Such as forge 
 or counterfeit any Ticket, or alter the Number, and are thereof con- 
 victed, by the said Act are to sufi'er Death as in Cases of Felony. 
 The Money will be paid to the Possessors of the Benefit Tickets as 
 soon as the Drawing is finished. 
 
 Tickets are to be had at tiie Dwelling-houses of Messrs. Peter Val- 
 lette and Peter Van Brngh Livingston, who are appointed Managers.^ 
 
 The results of the first lottery in aid of Columbia College are 
 
 'New- York Weekly Post Boy, Numb. 307,' Jan. 5, 1746-7. 
 
Annals of Public Education. 18B 
 
 given in full in Parker's Gazette. Nos. 229, 230, 231 and 232 con- 
 tain ten pages of figures. The last sheet, issued as a supplement to 
 No. 234, is missing from the New York Historical Society file. The 
 highest prize, £500, was drawn by ticket No. 3306, on the 12th day 
 of June, 1747. The printer in a note states : " The highest Prize 
 drawn we hear proves the Projperty of the Honourable Joseph Mur- 
 KAT, Esq^. of this Gity^'' 
 
 The following is the announcement in No. 229, above referred to : 
 
 In Pursuance of a Laio of this Golony entitled, An Act for rais- 
 ing the Sum of £2250, by a publick Lottery for this Colony, for the 
 Advancement of Learning, and toAvards founding a College within 
 the same ; passed in the '2iQth Year of his Majesty'' s Reign ; the 
 Managers of the said Lottery met at the City-Hall in New-York, on 
 Monday last, with two Clerks, /or the Drawing the same, and in the 
 Presence of two of the Members of the Gorporation of this Gity, 
 proceeded therein as follows, viz. 
 
 Monday, June 1, Numb. 5144, 299, 2478, Blanks. 
 Tuesday, June 2. 9254, Blank. 
 
 Wednesday, 3, 2454, Blank, 
 
 Thursday, 4, 3314, Blank, 
 
 Friday, ' ' 5, 5517, Blank, 
 
 Saturday, 6, ' 495, Blank. 
 
 The Drawing so few for the Week past, is occasioned by there 
 being yet a small Number of the Tickets unsold ; which, however, 
 some Gentlemen have engaged to take off, in case they shall not be 
 purchased within a limitted Time, so that an Opportunity still 
 remains for any Person to be supplied with Tickets until Wednesday 
 Morning next, when the Drawing as fast as possible will certainly go 
 on, and no more be sold after that Time.^ 
 
 [In General Assembly.] 
 
 Die Martis, 3 ho. P. M. May 19, 1747. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Mr. Gruger moved for Leave to bring in a Bill, for prolonging the 
 Time of drawing the publick Lottery, till the first of September next. 
 Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill accordingly. 
 
 W W W fc w 
 
 Die Martis^ May 26, 1747. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Mr. Gruger (according to Leave) presented to the House, a Bill, 
 entitled, An Act, to prolong the Time limited for drawing the Lot- 
 tery, appointed 'in and by an Act, entitled.. An Kci,for raising the 
 Sum of Two Thousand, two Hundred, and Fifty Pounds, by a 
 publick Lottery for this Colony, for the Advancement of Learning, 
 
 ' New-York Revived Weekly Gazette in the Post-Boy. Numb 229^, June 8, 1747. 
 
184 University Convocation. 
 
 and toioards the founding a College loithin the same; which was 
 read the tirst Time, and ordered a second Reading. 
 
 ■X- * * * 
 
 Nothing further relative to this bill appears in the Journal of the 
 General Assembly, and the drawing seems to have occurred at the 
 time appointed by the above statute. 
 
 Die Veneris, 9 ho. A. M. August 21, 1747. 
 * * * * 
 
 Ordered, That a Bill be brought in for raising the Sum of, Two 
 Thousand, Two Hxmdred, and Fifty Pounds, by a publick Lottery, 
 for a further provision towards founding a College, for the Advance- 
 ment of Learning within this Colony, and that Mr. Cruger, and Capt. 
 Richards, prepare and bring in the same. 
 
 Die Sahatii, 9 ho. A. M. August 22, 1747. 
 
 Mr. Cruger (according to Order) presented to the House, a Bill, 
 entitled, An Kat, for raising the Sum of. Two Thousand, Two Hun- 
 dred, and Fifty Pounds, [etc., as above] ; which was read the first 
 Time, and ordered a second Reading. 
 
 Die Martis, 9 ho. A. M. Aiigust 25, 1747. 
 
 The Bill entitled, An Act, [etc., as above]; was read a second 
 Time, and committed to a Committee of the whole House. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Die Mercurij, 9 ho. A. M. Sept. 2, 1747. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 • Ordered, That the Managers of the late Lottery, do, by Tuesday 
 next, lay before this House, an Account upon Oatli, of the Charge 
 of the Management thereof; and an Account of what Monies they 
 have paid into tlie Treasury, in pursuance of the Act for that Pur- 
 pose. 
 
 Ordered, That the Clerk of this House, serve the aforesaid Com- 
 missioners [for certain military purposes] and the Managers of the 
 said Lottery, with copies of these Orders forthwith. 
 
 ^fr . *■ * * 
 
 Die Jovis, 3 ho. P. M. Sept. 10, 1747. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 The House being informed that Messieurs Vallette, and Vanbrugh 
 Living.^tm}, INfanagors of the late Lottery, attended at the Door, they 
 were called in, and presented to tlie ITouse (according to Order), their 
 Accounts, sworn to, and then withdrew. 
 
 And the Titles thereof being: read. 
 
Annals of Public Education. 185 
 
 Ordered, That Captain Richards, Mr. ClarTcson, and Mr. Cruger, 
 be a Committee to examine the said Accounts, and make Report 
 thereof to the House. 
 
 * * * * 
 We do not find any subsequent record as to this Report. 
 
 Die Mercurij, 3 ho. P. M. Oct. 7, 1747. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Ordered, That a Bill be brought in for raising the Sum of, [etc., 
 as under date of August 21] ; and that Mr. Cruger, and Col. Zott, pre- 
 pare and bring in the same. 
 
 Die Jovis, 9 ho. A. M. Oct. 8, 1747. 
 * * * * 
 
 Mr. Cruger (according to Order) presented to the House, a Bill, 
 entitled [as indicated above] ; which was read the first Time, and 
 ordered a second Reading. 
 
 Die Veneris, 3 ho. P. M. Oct. 9, 1747. 
 
 * * * ^«- 
 
 The Bill, entitled, [as indicated above] ; was read a second Time, 
 and committed to a Committee of the whole House. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 The above bill failed to become a law during the session which 
 ended November 25, 1747. A similar bill walls introduced and passed, 
 in an amended form, during the next session. Meanwhile, private 
 Lotteries were prohibited bj an act, which recognizes the immoral 
 tendency of a free lottery system, entitled : 
 
 An ACT to prevent private Lotteries within this Colony. 
 
 Pass'd the 25th of November, 1747. 
 
 Whereas several persons, of late, have set on Foot, and opened 
 private Lotteries within this Colony ; which being under no Restric- 
 tions by Law, are attended with pernicious Consequences to the Pub- 
 lick, by encouraging Numbers of labouring People to assemble 
 together at Taverns, where such Lotteries are usually set on foot and 
 drawn : For Remedy whereof ; 
 
 I. Be it Enacted by his Excellency the Governor, the Council, 
 and the General Assembly, and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority 
 of the same, That if any Person or Persons whatsoever, shall, after 
 the Publication of this Act, presume to open, set on foot, or draw 
 any private Lottery whatsoever, under whatsoever Name, Title or 
 Denomination, the same may pass ; he, she or they, shall respectively 
 
X86 UmvERSiTY Convocation. 
 
 forfeit and pay double the sum of which such Lottery shall consist ; 
 to be recovered by any Person or Persons who will sue for the same, 
 in any Court of Record within this Colony ; one Half of which For- 
 feiture to be paid to the Treasurer of this Colony, for and towards 
 the Support of this Government, and the other Half to the Person 
 that shall sue for the same as aforesaid.^ 
 
 Die Martis, 9 ho. A. M. Feb. 23, 1747-8. 
 * * * * 
 
 Mr. Criiger, moved for Leave to bring in a Bill, for raising the 
 Sum of. Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Pounds, by a 
 publick Lottery, for a further Provision towards founding a College, 
 for the Advancement of Learning within this Colony. 
 
 Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill accordingly. 
 
 Die Mercurij, 9 ho. A. M. Feb. 24, 1747-8. 
 
 * -2* * * 
 
 Mr. Gruger (according to leave) presented to the House, a Bill, 
 entitled, [as above] ; which was read the first Time, and ordered a 
 second Reading. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Die Jovis, 9 ho. A. M. Feb. 25, 1747-8. 
 
 * 4t * * 
 
 The Bill, entitled, [as above] ; was read a second Time, and com- 
 mitted to a Committee of the whole House. 
 
 Die Veneris, 3 ho. P. M. Feb. 26, 1747-8. 
 * * * * 
 
 Mr. Cr^iger, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom 
 was refered, the VAW, entitled, [as above] ; reported. That the Com- 
 mittee had gone through the Bill, altered the Title, and made several 
 Amendments to the Body of the said Bill, which they had directed 
 him to report to the House; and he read the Report in his Place, 
 and afterwards delivered the Bill, with the Amendments, in at the 
 Table, where the same were again read, and agreed to by the House. 
 
 Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed. 
 
 Die Veneris, ^ ho. A. M. March 4, 1747-8. 
 
 The ingrossed Bill, entitled [as amended], An Aat, for raising the 
 8vm of. One Thousand, Eight Hundred Pounds, hj a puUick Lot- 
 
 ' Livingston and Smitli's Laws of N. Y., i, 405. 
 
Annals of Public Ebucation. 187 
 
 tery, for a further Provision towards founding a College for the 
 Advancement of Learning, within this Colony' was read tlie third 
 Time. 
 
 Resolved, That the Bill do pass. 
 
 Ordered, That Mr. Yerplank, and Mr. Nicoll, do carry the Bill to 
 the Council, and desire their Concurrence. 
 
 [In Council.] 
 
 Tuesday the 8**" day of March^ 1747. 
 
 The Council met according to adjournment 
 Pbesbnt — The Hon^^^ Philip Livingston, Esq*", Speaker, 
 Aechibald Kennedy, 
 James De Lancey, 
 Philip Cortlandt, 
 John Moore, 
 John Rutherford, Esq", 
 The Speaker assumed the Chair 
 
 A Message from the General Assembly by M"" Nicoll & M** Yer- 
 plank with a Bill Entituled, "An Act for raising the sum of £1800 
 "by a publick Lottery for a further provision towards founding a 
 "Colledge for the advancement of Learning within this Colony" 
 desiring the concurrence of the Council thereto 
 Ordered, that the said Bill be now read 
 Then the said Bill was read the first time and 
 Ordered a second reading 
 
 Wednesday the 9*^* day of March, 1747. 
 * * * * 
 
 Ordered, that the Bill Entituled [as above] be now read the second 
 time and 
 
 Ordered to be committed 
 
 Saturday the 19*^ day of March, 1747 
 
 The Council resolved it self into a Committee to consider of the 
 Bill Entituled [as above] 
 
 The Committee having duly weighed and considered of the said 
 Bill and being ready to make their report thereon 
 
 The Speaker resumed the Chair 
 
 Ordered, that the said Report be made imediately 
 
 Then the Hon^^® John Moore Esq"* Chairman of the said Com- 
 mittee in his place Reported that the Committee had gone through 
 the said Bill and had directed him to report the same without any 
 amendment 
 
X88 University Convocation. 
 
 Whicli Report on the Question being put was agreed to and 
 approved of and 
 
 Ordered, that the said Bill be read the third time 
 
 Friday, the 25*^ day of March, 1748. 
 * 4t * * 
 
 Ordered, that the Bill Entituled [as above] be now Read the third 
 time 
 
 Then the said Bill was Read the third time and 
 
 On the Question being put 
 
 Resolved, that the said Bill do pass 
 
 Ordered, that the Hon^'^ John Moore Esq'" do Acquaint the Gene- 
 ral Assembly that the Council have passed the said Bill without any 
 Amendment 
 
 [In General Assembly.] 
 
 Die Mercurij, 9 ho. A. M. March 30, 1748. 
 
 * * % * 
 
 A Message from the Council, by the honourable John Moore, Esq ; 
 acquainting this House, that the Council have passed the Bill, enti- 
 tled, [as above] ; without any Amendment. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Die Sahatii, % ho. A. M. April 9, 1748. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 A Message from his Excellency [Governor Clinton], by Mr. Banyar, 
 Deputy Secretary. 
 
 Mr. Speaker, his Excellency requires the immediate Attendance of 
 this House, at the Council- Chamber, at Fort-George, in this City 
 [New York]. 
 
 The Speaker left the Cliair, and with the House, attended accord- 
 ingly; and being returned, he resumed the Chair, and reported to 
 the House, that his Excellency had, in the Presence of the Council, 
 and the Members of this House, given his assent to eleven Bills, 
 passed this Session ; the Titles Whereof are, viz. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 An Act, for raising the Sum of One Thousand, Eight Hundred 
 Pounds, [etc., «s above]. 
 
Annals of Public Education. 189 
 
 An ACT for raising the Sum of One Thousan(j Eight Hundred 
 Pounds, ly a piiblick Lottery, for a further Provision towards 
 founding a College for the Advancement of Learning within this 
 Colony. 
 
 Pass'd the 8th of April, 1748.' 
 
 The body of the above act being an almost verbatim copy of that ' 
 enacted December 6, 1746, ah-eady recited, except as to dates and 
 the amount to be raised, need not be reproduced. 
 
 The following criticism on the act is alike applicable to the pre- 
 ceding one for raising £2,250 : 
 
 " An Act for raising the sum of £1800 by a Lottery " 
 On this Act IVf Lamb observes, that, although the money thereby 
 to be raised, is directed to remain in the hands of the Treasurer, to 
 and for the purpose of founding a College and to no other use what- 
 ever, a very extraordinary clause immediately follows, enacting, that, 
 if any member should thereafter move for applying the said money 
 to any other purpose, he should be incapable of sitting in that or any 
 future Assembly, M' Clinton likewise complains, that by this Act 
 Commiss" were nominated for that trust without his being consulted.^ 
 
 An Act to revive an act Entitxded an act for raising the sum of 
 Eighteen Httndred Pounds hy a PvMiclt Lottery for a Further 
 Provision towards founding a college for the Advancement of 
 Learning within this colony with an Addition thereto. 
 
 [Passed October 38, 1748,] 
 
 Whereas an act passed the ninth Day of April Last Entitled an 
 act for raising the Sum of Eighteen Hundred Pounds by a Publick 
 Lottery for a further Provision towards founding a college for the 
 advancement of Learning within this colony, did for want of a Suf- 
 ficient Number of contributors expire the iirst Day of September 
 last, by which means the Managers appointed in the said Act cannot 
 proceed to tlie drawing the Lottery thereby Erected, For Remedy 
 whereof, Be it enacted by his Excellency the Governour, Council <fe 
 General Assembly, & it is hereby enacted by the Authority of the 
 Same, That the said act Entituled an act for raising the Sum of 
 Eighteen Hundred Pounds by a Publick Lottery for a further Pro- 
 vision towards founding a college for the Advancement of Learning 
 within this colony, Shall be and hereby is revived and every clause 
 Matter & Thing therein contained Enacted to be & remain of full 
 Force & Yirtue to all Intents Constructions and Purposes whatsoever 
 except so much thereof as Shall be alter'd by this Act. And Be it 
 further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that instead of the first 
 Day of September Last as was directed by the aforesaid Act, the 
 Drawing of the said Lottery shall begin on the fourteenth Day of 
 
 'LiTingston and Smith's Laws of N. Y., i, 406. »K Y. Col. Doc, ri, 685. 
 
190 University Convocation. 
 
 Novemher next, or sooner if full, And all the matters whatsoever 
 directed by the above mentioned Act to be done, & Performed by 
 the first Day of September Last, if done on or before the Fourteenth 
 day of November next, Shall be good & Valid to all intents con- 
 structions & Purposes whatsoever, anything in the said Act to the 
 contrary notwithstanding. 
 
 And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid in order to 
 answer the good Purposes intended by the Act aforesaid. That in 
 case the whole Number of Tickets should not be sold by the said four- 
 teenth Day of November next in such case the Managers shall cause 
 all the Tickets of the outermost collumns which shall then remain 
 undisposed of to contributors or adventurers to be delivered into the 
 hands of the Treasurer of this Colony for the time being, to be by 
 liim retained &, kept as cash received from the said Managers, to be 
 contributed &, Adventured by the Publick towards the filling up of 
 the said Lottery at the risque and for the benefit of this colony, and 
 shall be signed with the name of one of the Managers, and the cor- 
 responding Tickets in the same books shall be wrote upon thus 
 (Colony of New York) which Tickets so delivered into the hands of 
 the said Treasurer shall by him be kept for the better Ascertaining 
 & securing the Literest which this colony shall or may have in the 
 said Lottery, for the Tickets so contributed or Adventured until the 
 adventure by the Drawing of the Lots and the Payment of such Tick- 
 ets as shall be Fortunate be full}' determined. 
 
 Fort George in the City of New York 
 the 28''> day of October ITttS 
 
 I assent to this Bill Enacting 
 the Same and Order 
 it to be Enrolled, 
 
 G CLINTON 
 
 City of New York Die Mercurii y*= 19*'' of October 1748. 
 In the Twenty Second year of his Ma tys reign General Assembly 
 for the colony of New York. This bill having been read three Times 
 Kesolved this bill do Pass. 
 
 DAVID JONES Speaker 
 
 (Endorsed) Die Mercurii y« W^ of Octo"" 1748 
 
 Tins bill l)eing Passed 
 
 Ordered 
 
 That M[ Nicol & W Cruger do carry this bill to the council and 
 desire their concurrence. 
 
 Council^ chamber New York, 20*" Ocf 1748. This bill was then 
 read the first Time & Ordered a second Reading 
 
 Oct 24, Read the second Time & Ordered to be Committed. 
 
 Oct 25, Reported without Amendment and Read the third Tinje 
 & Passed 
 
 G^ BANYARi 
 
 'MS. Laws, in Office of Sec'y of State. 
 
Annals of Public Education. 191 
 
 An ACT for vesting in Trustees, the Siim of Three Thousand Four 
 Hundred and Forty-three Pounds, Eighteen Shillings, raised hy 
 Way of Lottery, for erecting a College within this Colony. 
 
 Pass'd the 25th of November, 1751. 
 
 Whereas the Sum of Three Thousand Four Hundred and Forty- 
 three Pounds, Eighteen Shillings, has been raised within this colony, 
 by Way of Lottery, for erecting a College for the Education of 
 Youth, within the same ; which Sum being not. conceived suffi- 
 cient, without further Addition, to answer the said End of erecting, 
 eonipleating and establishing a College for the Advancement of useful 
 Learning, it is conceived necessary, that Trustees be appointed, as 
 well for the setting at Interest the said Sura of Three Thousand Four 
 Hundred and Forty-three Pounds, Eighteen Shillings, already raised 
 for the said Purpose, as for receiving the contributions and Donations 
 of such Persons as may be charitably disposed, to be Benefactors and 
 Encouragers of so laudable an Undertaking : 
 
 L Be it therefore Enacted hy Ms Excellency the Governor, the 
 Council and the General Assembly, and it is hereby Enacted hy the 
 Authority of the same. That the eldest Councellor residing in this 
 Colony, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Judges of the 
 Supreme Court, the Mayor of the city of New-Yorlt, and the 
 Treasurer of this Colony, for the Time being, together with James 
 Livingston,Yi&(\; Mr. Eenja'minJV^icoll, and. M.r. William Livingston, 
 or the Survivor or Survivors of them, the said James Livingston, 
 Benjamin Nicoll, and William Livingston, shall be, and hereby are 
 appointed Trustees for managing the said Sum of Three Thousand 
 Four Hundred and Forty-three Pounds, Eighteen Shillings, and for 
 managing any other Sum or Sums of Money, Lands, Goods, or Chattels, 
 which may be contributed or given, by any Person or Persons what- 
 soever ; to be imployed for the said Use and Purpose, of erecting, com- 
 pleating, and establishing a College, for the Advancement of Learn- 
 ing, within this Colony : All which said Sum and Sums of Money, they, 
 the said Trustees, and the major Part of them, and of the Survivors 
 of them, shall be, and hereby are irapowered, required, and directed, 
 to put out at Interest, yearly, and every Year, together with the Inter- 
 est arising thereon, until the same shall be employed for the Use and 
 Purpose of erecting and establishing a College for the Advancement 
 of Learning, within this Colony, in such Manner as shall, by some 
 Act or Acts hereafter to be passed for that Purpose, be directed. 
 
 II. And be it further Enacted hy the Authority aforesaid. That 
 if any Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments, shall be given by any 
 Person or Persons whatsoever, towards founding the said College, the 
 aforesaid Trustees, and the major Part of them, and of the Survivors 
 of them, shall be, and hereby are enabled, to let the same to farm, to 
 the best Advantage, for advancing the said Undertaking, rendering 
 the Rent to the Treasurer of this colony, for the Time being, for the 
 Use and Purpose aforesaid. 
 
 III. And be it further Enacted hy the Aiithority aforesaid, That 
 the Treasurer of this Colony shall, and he is hereby required and 
 directed, to pay to the Borrowers, such Sum and Sums of the Money 
 
1^2 University Convocation. 
 
 aforesaid, from Time to Time, as shall be specified in the Securities 
 by them to be given, with the Consent of the major Part of the 
 Trustees aforesaid, or of the Survivors of them ; which Securities 
 shall be, in the Names of two or more of the Trustees aforesaid con- 
 senting, with Conditions for the Payment of the Money and Interest 
 there-from arising, to the Treasurer of this Colony, for the Time 
 being, for the Use and Purpose aforesaid : And such Securities, 
 given as aforesaid, shall be to the said Treasurer, good Vouchers and 
 Discharges for the Sums paid theroun by him, and therein men- 
 tioned. 
 
 IV. And be it futher Enacted hy the Authority aforesaid, That 
 the aforesaid Trustees shall be, and hereby are enabled, to receive 
 Proposals from any of the Cities or Counties within this Colony, which 
 shall be desirous of having the said College erected within their said 
 Cities or Counties, touching the placing or fixing the same therein, 
 respectively ; and the said Trustees, and every of them, shall be, and 
 hereby are required, to render a just and true Account on Oath, of 
 all their Proceedings in the Premisses, to the Governor, Council, and 
 General Assembly, when by them, or any of them, thereunto 
 required.^ 
 
 * * Of these trustees, ten in number, two belonged to the 
 Dutch Reformed Church, one was a Presbyterian, but seven were 
 members of the Church of England, and some of these seven were 
 also vestrymen of Trinity Church. These circumstances — the known 
 sentiments of this large majority of the trustees — their well under- 
 stood, and very natural desire, that the proposed college should be 
 connected with their church — might sufiiciently account for the offer 
 made to them by Trinity Church, not long after their appointment, 
 " of any reasonable quantity of the Church farm, * * for erect- 
 ting, and use of a college ;" * * however, * * it may not 
 unreasonably be inferred, that the then recent grant of the King's 
 Farm to that corporation, had been made with a view to the advance- 
 ment of learning as well as of religion ; that some condition to that 
 effect had been at least implied, oti occasion of that grant. 
 
 If such were the case, the present offer from the church was but 
 the carrying out, after a lapse of fifty years, of this original design. 
 * * The jealous apprehensions entertained of any, the smallest, 
 approach to a church-establishment within the province, caused vio- 
 lent opposition to the plan, as soon as it became known, of obtaining 
 a royal charter for the college. This determined opposition to the 
 plan of the Trustees, was maintained chiefly by one of their number, 
 the only Presbyterian at their Board, Mr. William Livingston ; a 
 gentleman, hy his birth, his connexions and his position in society; 
 by his superior education, his industry and talents as a lawyer, already 
 eminent ; and afterwards, in the various high stations which he filled, 
 greatly distinguished for patriotic devotion to his country. A declared 
 enemy of all church establishments, he, in this matter of the college, 
 was actuated by conscientious, probably, but mistaken views of the 
 
 ' Livingston and Smith, i, 450. 
 
Annals of Public Education. 193 
 
 design and tendency of the incorporation which he so zealously 
 endeavored to defeat. With this view, he commenced on the 22d of 
 March, 1753, in The Independent Reflector, a paper published under 
 his direction, his " Remarks on our intended College." After con- 
 sidering, first, the great importance of the institution, he goes on, in 
 subsequent numbers, to discuss the proper mode of its establishment, 
 which he insists should be, not by Charter, but by Act of A&semhly : 
 in whicli case it was taken for granted, that the plan of the institu- 
 tion would be more consistent with the views of those who professed 
 themselves advocates "for constituting a college on a basis the most 
 catholic, generous and free." ^ 
 
 * * -St * 
 
 It seems proper to add to the above statement by President Moore, 
 that this Mr. Livingston was a grandson of Robert Livingston, 
 who came to this country from Scotland about the year 1675 ; the 
 father of Philip, Robert and Gilbert, the first of whom had 
 two distinguished sons : Philip, one of the signers of the Declara- 
 tion of Independence, and William, the subject of this notice. The 
 latter graduated at Yale College in 1741, and was for some fourteen 
 years governor of ISTew Jersey, which office he held at the close of 
 his life in 1790. He was a delegate from that State to the Conven- 
 tion of 1787, for framing the federal constitution. One of the 
 standard editions of the Colonial Laws of New York (Livingston 
 and Smith's) perpetuates his name in connection with that of Mr. 
 William Smith, from whose History we have already quoted. Chan- 
 cellor Robert R. Livingston was a son of Robert, and hence second 
 cousin of William. 
 
 Mr. Livingston's acknowledged prominence among the opponents 
 of certain views and measures which finally prevailed in the estab- 
 lishment of the College, seem to entitle his controversial writings to a 
 place among the Educational annals of the period under considera- 
 tion ; and for this reason we copy verbatim and entire the articles 
 in the Indapendent Reflector relating to the College. Each article 
 filled, with slight exception, a number of the paper (or rather tract), 
 which, though in newspaper form, was not a wei/jspaper in the 
 ordinary sense of the term. The papers are subscribed " Z.," " A.," 
 "B.," "A. & Z.," and "Academicus" ; all which seem to indicate 
 various authors, although the articles themselves are characterized 
 by an apparent unity of style. 
 
 ^ Moore's Hist. Sketch, pp. 8-10. 
 13 
 

 THE 
 IISTDE PENDENT I^EFEECTOR. 
 
 NUMBEK XVII. 
 
 ©hur^xlay, Pavch 23, 1753. 
 
 MemarJcs on our intended College, 
 
 Nullum non posse 7najus ■meliusve Reipublicce afferre munus, 
 
 Quam docendo et erudiendo Juventnfem. Cicero. 
 
 THE Design of erecting a College in this Province, is a Matter of 
 such grand and general Importance, that I have frequently 
 made it the Topic of my serious Meditation. Nor can I better 
 employ my Time than by devoting a Course of Papers to so interest- 
 ing a Subject. A Subject of universal Concernment, and in a pecu- 
 liar Manner involving in it, the Happiness and Well-being of our 
 Posterity ! 
 
 The most convenient Situation for fixing the Fabric, tho' obvious 
 on the least Reflection, has been made Matter of laborious Enquiry, 
 as well as afforded a copious Fund for private Conversation. That 
 the College ought to be plac'd in or near this City, appears evident 
 from numberless Arguments, that naturally occur to the most super- 
 ficial Tliinker, But Mdiile we have been amusing ourselves with 
 disputations concerning the Situation of the Building we have been 
 strangely indolent about its Constitution and Government, in Com- 
 ])arison of which, the other is a Trifle that scarce deserves Attention. 
 To expatiate on the Advantages of Learning in general, or a liberal 
 Education in particular, would be equally impossible and useless. 
 Impossible from the narrow Limits of my Paper: And useless, 
 because no Arguments that can be urged, are capable of rendering 
 the Assertion more evident, than the irresistible Demonstrations of 
 Experience. 
 
 That the C(tllege ought therefore to be situated near our Metrop- 
 olis, and that it will be productive, if properly regulated, of unspeak- 
 able Benefit to this Province, 1 shall lay down as two po.sUdata not 
 to be questioned. 
 
 Hkfokio we engage in any Undertaking, common Prudence requires 
 us maturely to consider the End we propose, and the means most con- 
 ducive to its Attainment. 
 
 To imagine that our Legislature, by raising the present Fund for 
 the College, intended barely to have our Children instructed in Greek 
 and Lftflti, or the Art of making Exercises and Verses, or disputing 
 in Mood and Figure, were a Sui)position absurd and defamatory. 
 For these J3ranches of Literature, however useful as preparatory to 
 
Annals of Public Education. 195 
 
 real and substantial Knowledge, are in themselves perfectly idle and 
 insigniiicant. The true Use of Education, is to qualify Men for the 
 different Employments of Life, to which it may please God to call 
 them. 'Tis to improve their Hearts and Understandings, to infuse a 
 public Spirit and Love of their Country ; to inspire them with the 
 Principles of Honour and Probity ; with a fervent Zeal for Liberty, 
 and a diffusive Benevolence for Mankind ; and in a Word, to make 
 them the more extensively serviceable to the Common-Wealth. 
 Hence the Education of Youth hath been the peculiar Care of all 
 the wise Legislators of Antiquity, who thought it impossible to 
 aggrandize the State, without imbuing the Minds of its Members 
 with Virtue and Knowledge. Nay, so sensible of this fundamental 
 Maxim in Policy, were Plato, Aristotle, and Lycukgus, and in short 
 all the ancient Politicians who have delivered their Sentiments on 
 Government, that they make the Education of Youth, the principal 
 and most essential Duty of the Magistrate. And, indeed, whatever 
 literary Acquirement cannot be reduced to Practice, or exerted to 
 the Benefit of Mankind, may perhaps procure its Possessor the Kame 
 of a Scholar, but is in Reality no more than a specious Kind of Igno- 
 rance. This, tlierefore, I will venture to lay down for a capital 
 Maxim, that unless the Education M^e propose, be calculated to render 
 our Y^outh better Members of Society, and useful to the Public in 
 Proportion to its Expence, we had better be without it. As the 
 natural Consequence of this Proposition, it follows, that the Plan of 
 Education the most conducive to that End is to be chosen, and what- 
 ever has a Tendency to obstruct or impede it, ought carefully to be 
 avoided. 
 
 The Nature, End and Design of such Seminaries, is to teach the 
 Students particular Arts and Sciences, for the Conduct of Life, and 
 to render them useful Members of the Community. " Science in Pro- 
 "priety of Language signifies, a clear and certain Knowledge of 
 " anything, founded on self-evident Principles or Demonstration : 
 " Tho' in a mere particular and imperfect Sense, it is used for a Sys- 
 "tem of any Branch of Knowledge, comprehending its Doctrine, 
 " Peason and Theory, without an immediate Application thereof to 
 " any Uses or Offices of Life." This twofold Definition of the Word 
 Science, I may probably have Occasion to make use of hereafter. 
 
 The vast Influence of any Education upon the Lives and Actions 
 of Men, and thence by a kind of political Expansion, on the whole 
 Community, is verified by constant Experience. Nay, it discriminates 
 Man from Man, more than by Nature he is differenced from the 
 Brutes : And beyond all doubt much greater was the Disparity 
 between the renowned Mr. Locke, and a common Hottentot, than 
 between the latter and some of the most sagacious of the irrational 
 Kingdom. But the Influence of a Collegiate Education, must spread 
 a wider Circle proportionate to the Number of the Students, and their 
 greater Progress in Knowledge. 
 
 The Consequences of a liberal Education will soon be visible 
 throughout the whole Province. They will appear on the Bench, at 
 the Bar, in the Pulpit, and in the Senate, and unavoidably affect our 
 
196 University Convocation. 
 
 civil and religions Principles. Let ns addncc, a few Arguments from 
 Reason, Experience and llistoiy. 
 
 A YOUTHFUL Mind is snsceptible of almost any Impression. Like 
 the ductile Wax, it receives the Image of the Seal without the least 
 Resistance. " What is learned at that tender Age, says Quintilian, is 
 "easily imprinted on the Mind, and leaves deep Marks behind it, 
 "which are not easily to be effaced. As in the Case of a new Vessel, 
 "which long preserves a Tincture of the first Liquor poured into it: 
 "And like Wool which can never recover its primitive Whiteness 
 " after it has once been dyed ; and the Misfortune is, that bad Habits 
 " last longer than good Ones." The Poet Houace, to Avhom it must 
 have been very natural to draw Similes from Liquor, makes use of the 
 same comparison. 
 
 Quo semel est imbuta 7'ece7is, servabit odoreni 
 
 Testa dhi. — 
 
 What season\l first the Vessel, keeps the Taste. Creech. 
 
 The Principles or Doctrines implanted in the Minds of Youth, grow 
 up and gather Strength with them. In Tinje tliey take deep Root, 
 pass from the Memor}^ and Understanding to the Ileai't, and at length 
 become a second Nature, which it is almost impossible to change. 
 While the Mind is tender and flexible, it may be moulded and man- 
 aged at Pleasure : But when once the Impressions are by Practice and 
 Habit, as it were incorporated with -the intellectual Substance, they 
 are obliterated with the greatest Diiliculty. Frangas enlm citius 
 quani covrigas., quae in pravuni Induerunt., said an Author, alike 
 celebrated for his Skill in Rhetoric, and his Knowledge of Mankind. 
 
 Fkom these Premisses, the natural Inference is, that we cannot be 
 too cautious in forming the human Mind, so capable of good, and so 
 passive to evil Impressions. 
 
 There is no Place where we receive a greater Variety of Impres- 
 sions, than at Colleges. Nor do any Instructions sink so deep in the 
 Mind as those that are there received. The Reason is, because they 
 are not barely imprinted by the Preceptor, as at inferior Schools; but 
 perpetually confirmed and invigorated by the Suscipients themselves. 
 Tho' * Academies are generally Scenes c»f endless JDisputations, they 
 are seldom Places of candid Lxpiiry. The Students not only receive 
 the Dogniara of their Teachers with an implicit Faith, but are also con- 
 stantly studying how to support them against every Objection. The 
 System of the College is generally taken for true, and the sole Busi- 
 ness is to defend it. Freedom of Thought rarely penetrates those 
 contracted mansions of systematical Learning. But to teach the 
 rstablish'd notions, and maintain certain lly|)otheses, hie LaJ>or hoc 
 opus est. Every Deviation from tiie beaten Tract is a kind of literary 
 Heresy ; and if the Professor be given to Excommunication, can 
 scarce escape an Anathema. Hence that dogmatical Turn and Impa- 
 
 * Note. Thdt for the f/miter wiriety of Lanr/iuu/e, I shall use the Words Academy, 
 College, (Did University, as .y/mnimous Terms; tho\ in strict Propriety, tliey are far 
 from being equipollent Expressions. 
 
Annals of Public Education. 197 
 
 tience of Contradiction, so observable in the Generality of Academies. 
 To this is also to be referred, those voluminous Compositions, and that 
 learned Lumber of gloomy Pedants, which has so long infested and 
 corrupted the World. In a Woi'd, all those visionary Whims, idle 
 Speculations, fairy Dreams, and party Distinctions, which contract and 
 imbitter the Mind, and have so often turn'd the World topsy-turvy. 
 I MENTION not this to disparage an academical Education, from 
 which I hope I have myself received some Benefit, especially after 
 having worn oif some of its rough corners, by a freer Conversation 
 with Mankind. The Purpose for which I nrge it, is to shew the 
 narrow Turn "usuall}^ prevailing at Colleges, and the absolute Necessity 
 of teaching Nothing that will afterwards require the melancholy Retro- 
 gradation of being unlearned. 
 
 From this Susceptibility of tender Minds, and the extreme Diffi- 
 culty of erasing original Impressions, it is easy to conceive, that what- 
 ever Principles are imbibed at a College, will run thro' a Man's whole 
 future Conduct, and affect the Society of which he is a Member, in 
 Proportion to his Sphere of Activity ; especially if it be considered, 
 that even after we arrive to Years of Maturity, instead of entering 
 upon the difficult and disagreeable Work of examining the Principles 
 we have formerly entertained, we rather exert ourselves in searching 
 for Arguments to maintain and support them. 
 
 Tho' I have sufficiently shewn the prodigious Influence of a College 
 upon the Community, from the Nature and Heason of the Thing, it 
 may not be improper, for its farther Corroboration, to draw some 
 Proofs from Experience and History. 
 
 At Harvard College in the Massachusetts -Bay, and at Yale Col- 
 lege in ConnediGut, the Presbyterian Profession is in some sort 
 established. It is in these Colonies the commendable Practice of all 
 who can afford it, to give their Sons an Education at their respective 
 Seminaries of Learning. While they are in the Course of their Edu- 
 cation, they are sure to be instructed in the Arts of maintaining the 
 Religion of the College, which is always that of their immediate 
 Instructors ; and of combating the Principles of all other Christians 
 whatever. When the young Gentlemen, have run thro' the Course of 
 their Education, i\\ey enter into the Ministry, or some Offices of the 
 Government, and acting in them under the Influence of the Doctrines 
 espoused in the Morning of Life, the Spirit of the College is trans- 
 fused thro' the Colony, and tinctures the Genius and Policy of the 
 public Administration, from the Governor down to the Constable. 
 Hence the Episcopalians cannot acquire an equal Strength among 
 them, till some new Regulations, in Matters of Religion, prevail in 
 their Colleges, which perpetually produce Adversaries to the hier- 
 archical System. Nor is it to be question'd, that the Universities in 
 North ?iw(\. South -Britain, greatly support the different Professions 
 that are establish'd in their respective Divisions. 
 
 Sensible of the vast Influence which the Positions and Principles 
 of Colleges have upon the public, was that politic Prince King Henkt 
 the Eighth, No sooner had he determined to repudiate his Queen, 
 
]^98 University Convocation. 
 
 thro' liis Love for Anne Boleyn, than, the better to justify his Divorce, 
 or rather to guard himself against the popular Resentment, by the 
 Advice of Ckanmek, the State of his Case was laid before all tlie Uni- 
 versities, who, agreeable to his Wishes, determined his marriage with 
 Catherine, to be repugnant to the divine Law, and therefore invalid. 
 
 In the Reign of King James IL of arbitrary and papistical 
 Memory, a Pi-oject jesuitically artful, was concerted to poison the 
 Nation* bv filling the Universities with popish and popishly-affected 
 Tutors ; and but for our glorious Deliverance, by the immortal 
 William, the Scheme had been sufficient, in Process of Time, to have 
 introduc'd and establish'd, the sanguinary and antichristian church of 
 Home. 
 
 Since then, the extensive Influence of a College so manifestly 
 appears, it is of the last Importance, that ours be so constituted, that 
 the Fountain being pure, the Streams (to use the Language of 
 Scripture) may make glad the City of our GOD. 
 
 Li. 
 
 JT HOPE my Correspondents toill not be displeased, at seeing the 
 -*■ 1* ublication of their Letters thus long deferred, after assuring 
 them, that thd' they have, contrary to my inclination, been unavoid- 
 ably postponed, they will by 7io means be forgotten • but receive due 
 Honour, as soon as possible, after I have finished my Remarlts on 
 the College / which, for its great Importance, will probably engross 
 four or five of my succeeding Numbers. 
 
 New-York: Printed by J. Parker, a< tlw New Printing-Office in Beaver-Street, ij^ 
 whom Letters to the Author are carefully delivered. 
 
 Number XVIII. 
 
 THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1753. 
 
 A Continuation of the same Subject. 
 
 Tros ButtUusvefuaC, nulla dincritnine habebo. ViRO. 
 
 I HAVE in my last Paper shewn, from Reason, Experience and 
 History, the vast Influence of a College, upon the civil and 
 religious Principles of the Community in which it is erected and 
 supported. I shall now proceed to offer a few Arguments, which I 
 submit to the Consideration of my Countrymen, to evince the Necessity 
 and Importance of constituting our College upon a Pasis the most 
 catholic, generous and free. 
 
 It is in the first Place observable, that unless its Constitution and 
 Government, be such as will admit Persons of all protestant 
 Denominations, upon a perfect Parity as to Privileges, it will itself 
 be greatly prejudiced, and prove a Nursery of Animosity, Dissentiou 
 
Annals of Public Education: 199 
 
 and Disorder. The sincere Men of all Sects, imagine their own Pro- 
 fession, on the whole, more eligible and scriptural than any other. It 
 is therefore very natural to suppose, they will exert themselves to 
 weaken and diminisli all other Divisions, the better to strengthen 
 and inlarge their own. To this Cause must in a great Measure be 
 ascribed, that Heat and Opposition, which animate the Breasts of 
 many Men of religious Distinctions, whose intemperate and mis- 
 applied .Zeal, is the only Blemish that can be thrown upon their 
 characters. Should our College, therefore, unhappily thro' our own 
 bad Policy, fall into the Hands of an}' one religious Sect in the 
 Province : Should that Sect, which is more than probable, establish 
 its religion in the College, shew favour to its votaries, and cast Con- 
 tempt upon others ; 'tis easy to foresee, that Christians of all other 
 Denominations amongst us, instead of encouraging its Prosperity, 
 will, from the same Principles, rather conspire to oppose aud oppress 
 it. Besides English and Butch Presbyterians, which perhaps exceed 
 all our other religious Professions put together, we have Episcopalians, 
 Anabaptists, Lutlierans, Quakers, and a growing church of Mora- 
 vians, all equally zealous for their discriminating Tenets : Which- 
 soever of these has the sole Government of the college, will kindle 
 the Jealousy of the Rest, not only against the Persuasion so pre- 
 ferred, but the College itself. Nor can any Thing less be expected, 
 than a general Discontent and Tumult; which, affecting all Panks of 
 People, will naturally tend to Disturb the Tranquility and Peace of 
 the Province. 
 
 In such a State of Things, we must not expect the Children of any, 
 but of that Sect which prevails in the Academy will ever be sent to 
 it : For should they, the established Tenets must either be implicitly 
 .received, or a perpetual religious War necessarily maintained. Instead 
 of the liberal Arts and Sciences, and such Attainments as would 
 best qualify the Students to be useful and ornamental to their Country, 
 Party Cavils and Disputes about Trifles, will afford Topics of Argu- 
 mentation to their incredible Disadvantage, by a fruitless Consumption 
 of Time. Such Gentlemen, therefore, who can afford it, will give 
 their Sons an Education abroad, or at some of the neighboring 
 Academies, where equally imbibing a Zeal for their own Principles, 
 and furnished with the Arts of defending them, an incessant Opposition 
 to all others, on their Return, will be the unavoidable Consequence. 
 Not to mention, that Youth may become strongly attached to the 
 Places at which they are educated. At this season of Life they 
 receive the deepest Impressions : And, for the Sake of a Wife or a 
 Friend, and a thousand other Reasons that cannot now be enumerated, 
 a Gentleman may turn his Back upon the Place of his Birth, and 
 take up his Residence where the Morning of Life has been agreably 
 passed. Hence, besides the Expence of such Education prejudicial 
 to us, we may frequently lose the Hopes of our Country, lose perhaps 
 a Man every Way qualified to defend its Interests, and advance its 
 Glory. 
 
 Others, and many such there may be, who not able to support the 
 Expence of an Education abroad, but could easily afford it at Home, 
 
200 University Convocation. 
 
 thro' a Spirit of Opposition to the predominant Party, will rather 
 determine to ;[;ive their Children no Education at all. From all which 
 it follows, that a College under the sole Influence of a Party, for 
 want of suitable Encour-iii-ement, being but inditierently stocked with 
 Pui)ils, will scarce arrive to the Usefulness of a Schola iUustris., 
 which 'being inferior to a College is, I hope, ranch short of what is 
 intended by Ours. 
 
 Axotup:r Argument against so pernicious a Scheme is, that it will 
 be dangerous to Society. The extensive Influence of such a Seminary, 
 I have already shewn in my last Paper. And have we not reason to 
 fear the worst Effects of it, where none but the Principles of one 
 Persuasion are taught, and all others depressed and discountenanced? 
 Where, instead of Reason and Argument, of which the Minds of the 
 Youths are not capable, they are early imbued with the Doctrines of 
 a Party, inforced by the Authority of a Professor's Chair, and the 
 combining Aids of the President, and all the other Otflcers of the 
 Colle<'-e ? That religious Worship should be constantly maintained 
 there, I am so far from opposing, that I strongly recommend it, and 
 do not believe any such Kind of Society, can be kept under a regular 
 and due Discipline without it. But instructing the Youth in any 
 particular Systems of Divinity, or recommending and establishing any 
 single Method of Worship or Church Government, I am convinced 
 wuuld be both useless and hurtful. Useless, because not one in a 
 Hundred of the Pupils is capable of making a just Examination, and 
 I'casonable Clioice. Hurtful, because receiving im])ressions blindly on 
 Authority, will corrupt their Understandings, and fetter them with 
 Prejudices which may everlastingly prevent a judicious Freedom of 
 Thought, and infect them all their Lives, with a contracted turn of 
 mind. 
 
 A Party-College, in less than half a Century, will put a new Face 
 upon the Religion, and in consequence thereof aftect the Politics of 
 the Country, Let us suppose what may, if the College should be 
 entirely managed by one Sect, probably be supposed. Would not 
 all possible Care be bestowed in tincturing the Minds of the Students 
 with the Doctrines and Sentiments of that Sect? Would not the 
 Students of the College, after the course of their Education, exclusive 
 of any otliers, All all the (Jflices of the Government ? Is it not highly 
 reasonable to think, that in the Execution of those Ottices, the Spirit 
 of the College would have a most prevailing Influence, especially as 
 that Party would perpetually receive new Strength, become more 
 fashionable and numerous? Can it be imagined that all other Ciiris- 
 tians would continue peaceable under, and unenvious of, the Power 
 of that Church which was rising to so exalted a Preheminence above 
 them ? Would they not on the Contrary, like all other Parties, reflect 
 upon, reluct at, and vilify such an odious Ascendancy? Would 
 not the Church wliich had that Ascendancy be thereby irritated 
 to repeated Acts of Domination, and stretch their ecclesiastical 
 Rule to nnwarantable and unreasonable lengths? Whatever others 
 may in their Lethargy and Supineness think of the Project of a Party- 
 College, I am convinced, that under the Management of any particu- 
 
Annals of Public MBUCAttoN. 201 
 
 lar Persuasion, it will necessarily prove destructive to the civil and 
 religious Rights of the People : And should any future House of 
 Representatives become generally infected with the Maxims of the 
 College, nothing less can be expected than an Establishment of one 
 Denomination above all others, who may, perhaps, at the good 
 Pleasure of their Superiors, be most graciously favoured with a bare 
 Liberty of Conscience, while they faithfully continue their annual 
 Contributions, their Tytlies and their -Peter-Pence. 
 
 A Third Argument against suffering the College to fall into the 
 Hands of a Party, may be deduced from the Design, of its Erection, 
 and Support by the Public. 
 
 The Legislature to whom it ows its Origin, and under whose Care 
 the Atfair has hitherto been conducted, could never have intended it 
 as an Engine to be exercised for the Purposes of a Party. Such an 
 Insinuation, would be false and scandalous. It would therefore be 
 the Height of Insolence in any to pervert it to such mean, partial 
 and little Designs. No, it was set on Foot, and I hope it will be con- 
 stituted for general Use, for the public Benefit, for the Education of 
 all who can afford such Education : And to suppose it intended for 
 any other less public-spirited Uses, is ungratefully to reflect upon all 
 who have.hitherto, had any Agency in an Undertaking so glorious to 
 the Province, so necessary, so important and beneficial. 
 
 At present, it is only in Embrio, yet the Money hitherto collected 
 is public Money ; and till it is able to support itself, the Aids given to 
 it will be public Aids When the Community is taxed, it ought to be 
 for the Defence, or Emolument of the Whole : Can it, therefore, be 
 supposed, that all shall contribute for the Uses, the ignominious Uses 
 of a few ? Nay, what is worse to that which will be prejudicial to a 
 vast Majority? Shall the whole Province be made to support what 
 will raise and spread desperate Feuds, Discontent and ill-Blood thro' 
 the greatest Part of the Province? Shall the Government of the 
 College be delivered out of the Hands of the Public to a Party ! 
 They who wish it, are Enemies to their Country: They who ask it, 
 have, besides this Anti- Patriotism^ a Degree of Impudence, Arro- 
 gance, and Assurance unparallel'd. And all such as are active in so 
 iniquitous a Scheme, deserve to be stigmatized with Marks of ever- 
 lasting Ignominy and Disgrace. Let it, therefore, ever remain where 
 it is, I mean under the Power of the Legislature : The Influence, 
 whether good or bad, we shall all of us feel, and are, therefore, all 
 interested in it. It is, for that Reason, highly fit, that the People 
 should always share in the Power to inlarge or restrain it. That 
 Power they will have by their Representatives in Assembly ; and no 
 man who is a Friend to Liberty, his country and Religion, will ever 
 rejoice to see it wrested from them. 
 
 It is farther to be remarked, that a public Academy is, or ought to 
 be a mere civil Institution, and cannot with any tolerable Propriety 
 be monopolized by any religious Sect. The Design of such Semi- 
 naries, hath been sufficiently shown in my last Paper, to be entirely 
 political, and calculated for the Benefit of Society, as a Society, 
 
202 UmvERSiTT Convocation. 
 
 lout any Intention to teacli Reli<^i()n, wliich is tlie Province of the 
 pit : Tlio' it must, at the same Time, I)e confessed, tliat a judiciouB 
 
 withe 
 Pulpi 
 chojce of our Principles, chiefly depends on a free Education. 
 
 AoAiN, the Instruction of our Youth, is not the only Advantage 
 we ouf^lit to propose by our College. If it be properly regulated and 
 conducted, we may expect a considerable Number of Students from 
 the neighbouring Colonies, which must, necessarily, prove a great 
 Accessation to our Wealth and Emolument. Forsuch is our Capacity 
 of endowing an Academy; that if it be founded on the Plan of a 
 general Toleration, it must, naturally, eclipse any other on the Conti- 
 nent, and draw many Pu{)ils from those Provinces, the Constitution 
 of whose Colleges, is partial and contracted: From Nev) -England 
 where the Presbyterians are the prevailing Party, we shall, 
 undoubtedly, be furnished with great Numbers, who, averse to the 
 Sect in vogue among them, will, unquestionably, |)refer the free 
 Constitution, for which I argue, to that of their Colleges in which 
 they cannot enjoy an equal Latitude, not to mention that such an 
 Increase by foreign Students, will vastly augment the Grandeur of 
 our Academy. 
 
 Add to all this, tliat in a new Country as ours, it is inconsistent 
 with good Policy, to give any religious Profession the Ascendency 
 over others. The rising Prosperity of Pennsylvania, is the Admira- 
 tion of the continent; and tho' disagreeing from them, I should 
 always, for political Reasons, excluile Papists from the com- 
 mon and (>(pial Benefits of Society: Yet I leave it to the Reflections 
 of my judicious Readers, whether the inq)artial Aspect of their Laws 
 upon all Professions, has not, in a great Degree, conduced to their 
 vast Importation of religious Refugees, to their Strength and their 
 Riches: And whether a like Liberty among us, to all Protestants 
 whatsoever, without any Marks of Distinction, would not be more 
 commendable, advantageous and politic. 
 
 A. 
 
 « * * « 
 
 The Letter from Portius, contahmig a Scheme for endowing the 
 College, is also come to Hand, and shall not fail of heing duly 
 honoured. 
 
 NUMHEH XIX. 
 THURSDAY, APUIL 5, 1753. 
 
 The same Snhject co7itinued. 
 
 Tlmfo DaiKws dona ferfntes. Vmo. 
 
 AS nothing would be more fruitless than to excite the Apprehen- 
 sions, or raise the Mopes of my Readers, by a Prospect of 
 remediless Evils, or unattainable Plessiugs, T consider my former Papers 
 upon this Subject, only as a Prelude to what is yet to come. It would 
 be of little Use to have shewn the fatal consequences of an Academy 
 founded in Bigotry, and reared by Party-Spirit; or the gloriou's 
 
Annals of Public Education. 208 
 
 Advantages of a College, whose Basis is Liberty, and where the 
 Muses fl.t)urish with entire Freedom ; without investigating the Means 
 by which the one may be crushed in Embrio, and the other raised and 
 suppoi'tcd with Ease and Security. In all Societies, as in the human 
 Frame, inbred Disorders are chiefly incurable, as being Part of the 
 Constitution, and inseparable from it, while, on the contraiy, when 
 the Rage of Infirmities is resisted by a sound Complexion of Body, 
 they are less inherent, and consequently more medicable. For this 
 Reason, it must necessarily be esteemed of the utmost Importance, 
 that the Plan upon which we intend to form our Nursery of Learn- 
 ing, be concerted with the most prudent Deliberation ; it being that 
 alone upon which its future Grandeur must evidently depend. 
 
 To delineate a compleat Scheme for so great a Work, is beyond 
 the Stretch of my Abilities : And to imagine that these Imperfect 
 Attempts, will be of any other Use than as a Spur to greater Inven- 
 tions, is a Piece of Yanity with which the Reflector scorns to be 
 thought chargeable. But should they prove useful to his Country, 
 either by inspiring others to communicate something more perfect, 
 or inciting our Legislature to a serious consideration of this Subject, 
 I shall think the general Design of these Papers sufficiently answered. 
 
 In pointing out a Plan for the College, I shall first shew what it 
 ought not to be, in order that what it should be, may appear with 
 greater Certainty. 
 
 As Corporations and Companies are generally founded on Koyal 
 Grants, it is without Doubt supposed by many, that our College must 
 be constituted by Charter from his Majesty, to certain Persons, as 
 Trustees, to whose Government and Direction it will be submitted. 
 Nor does the Impropriety of such a Plan strike the unattentive Yul- 
 gar, tho' to a considerate Mind it appears big with mighty Evils. 
 
 I^eo qu(B circumsta/)it tp demde jpericula cernis 
 
 Demons Yieg. 
 
 It is necessary to the well-being of every Society, that it be not 
 only established upon an ample and free Bottom ; but also secured 
 from Invasion, and its Constitution guarded against Abuses and Per- 
 version. These are Points of which I beg Leave to think my Readers 
 fully convinced. Nor can they wonder at the Novelty of my Scheme, 
 when an University, hatched by the Heat of Sectaries, and cherished 
 in the contracted Bosom of furious Zeal, shall be shewn to be the 
 natural consequence of a Charter Government. 
 
 But to consider an Academy founded on a Royal Grant in the most 
 favourable Light, Prudence will conpel our Disapprobation of so pre- 
 carious a Plan. The Mutability of its Nature will incline every 
 reasonable Man, to prefer to it that Kind of Government, which is 
 both productive of the richest Blessings, and renders its Advantages 
 the more precious, by their superiour Stability. A Charter can at best 
 present us with a Prospect of what we are scarce sure of enjoying a 
 Day. For every Charter of Incorporation, as it generally includes a 
 Number of Privileges subject to certain express or implied Condi- 
 tions, may, in particular, be annulled, either on a Prosecution in the 
 
204 University Convocation. 
 
 Court of Kings -Bench by Quo warranto or by Scire Facias in 
 Chancery, or by Surrender. Nor does it require a great Abuse of 
 Privilege to determine its Fate by the two first Means, while mere 
 Caprice, or some thing worse, may at an}'^ Time work its Dissolution 
 by the latter. I believe my Countrymen, have too high a Sense of 
 the Advantages of Learning, to risk the College upon so unsettled a 
 Basis; and would blast a Project so ineffective of its true End, to 
 make Room for a Scheme ])y which the Object of Public Attention 
 may be fixed on a Bottom more firm and durable. How would it 
 damp the sanguine Prospects, of the fervent Patriot; disappoint the 
 honest "Well-wisher of his Country ; and blacken the Hopes of every 
 Lover of the Muses into Dispair, should an inconsiderable Mistep 
 subvert so noble a design ! Yet, to these fatal Evils would a Charter 
 be exposed : Should the Trustees exceed their Authority, however 
 inconsiderably it might affect the Literest of the College, their acting 
 contrary to the express Letter, would ipso facto avoid it. Or should 
 they, either thro' Ignorance, Luittention or Surprize, extend their 
 Power in the least beyond those Limits, which the Law would pre- 
 scribe upon a Construction of the Chartei", a Repeal might be 
 obtained by Suit at Common Law, or in Equity. And perhaps such 
 might be the Circumstances of Things, as to render a new Licorpora- 
 tion at that Juncture, utterly inq)racticable. Besides, upon its 
 Dissolution all the Lands given to it, are absolutely lost. The Law 
 annexes such a Condition to every Grant to a Body politic : They 
 revert to the Donor, Nor is there much Reason to expect a chari- 
 table Reconveyance from the Reversioner. 
 
 But if this may possibly be the Case, should even the Scheme of 
 the Listruction of our Touth contimie unperverted by the Directors 
 of our Academy, Avhat Abuses of Trust might they commit, what 
 Attacks upon the Liberty and Happiness of this Province might they 
 make, without Correction or Controul, should they be influenced by 
 sinister Views? While the Fountain continues pure and unpolluted, 
 the Stream of Justice may flow through its Channels clear ami undis- 
 turbed. But should arbitary Power hereafter prevail, and the tyran- 
 nical Arts of James return to distress the Nation, the Oppression 
 and Avarice of a future Governor, may countenance the iniquitous 
 Practices of the Trustees, or destroy the Charter by improving the 
 Ol)p()rtunity of some little Error in their conduct; and having seized 
 the Franchise, dispose of it by a new Grant lo the fittest Instruments 
 of unjust and imperious Rule, and then adieu to all Remedy against 
 theui : For wcre^ they prosecuted by his Magesty's Attorney Gen- 
 ei-al in the Kimfs -Bench a Noli 2)roseqiil would effectually' secure 
 them from Duiiger ; while the Authority of a Governor rendered a 
 Suit in Ecpiity entirely useless. Thus would the Cause of Learnincr, 
 the llights :iud Privileges of the College, our public Liberty and 
 Hai)pines8, become a Prey to the base Designs and united Interest of 
 the Governor and Trustees, in Spite of the most vigorous Efforts of 
 the whole Province: Nor could a happy Intervention to the general 
 Cahimity, bo expected from tlie otiier liranches of the Legislature, 
 while his Majesty's Representative would give a hearty Negative to 
 
Annals of Public Education. 205 
 
 every salutary Bill, the Council and Assembly should think proper 
 to pass. I say, his Majesty's Representative ; for tho' our gracious 
 Sovereign can delegate his executive Authority, he cannot transfer 
 liis Royal Virtues ; and more than once has this Province beheld a 
 Vicegerent of the Best of Princes, imitate the Actions of tlie Worst. 
 Reflections of this Kind will pronounce it a Truth most glaringly 
 evident, that whatever Care may be taken in the Construction of a 
 Charter to give our College an extensive Bottom, to endow it with 
 the richest Privileges, and secure them by the most prudent Methods, 
 it may still become the Spoil of Tyranny and Avarice, the Seat of 
 shivish, bigotted and persecuting Doctrines, the Scourge and Inquisi- 
 tion of the Land. And far better would it be for us to I'est contented 
 with the less considerable Blessings we enjoy, without a College, 
 than to aim at greater, by building it upon the sandy Foundation of 
 a Charter-Government. 
 
 But after all, it may be urged, that should the College be founded 
 on a Royal Grant, it might still be raised upon as unexceptionable a 
 Basis, and as munificently endowed with Privileges as upon any other 
 Footing. This is not in the least to be doubted. That a specious 
 Charter will be drawn, and exhibited to public View, I sincerely 
 believe : A Trick of that kind will unquestionably be made Use of, 
 to amuse the unattentive Eye, and allure the unwary Mind into an 
 easy Compliance. But it will be only latet Anguis in Herha, and 
 when a copious Fund is once obtained, a Surrender of the Charter 
 may make Way for a new One, which tho' sufficiently glaring, to 
 detect the Cheat, will only leave us Room to repent of our Credulity. 
 This is beyond Dispute, a sufficient Reason with some, for establishing 
 the College by Charter, tho', in my humble Opinion, it is one of the 
 strongest Arguments that can be urged against it. We should be 
 careful, lest, by furnishing the Trustees with a Fund, to render them- 
 selves independent of us, we may be reduced to the Necessity of being- 
 dependent upon them. If the Public must furnish the Sums by which 
 the College is to be supported, Prudence declares it necessary, that 
 they should be certain to what Uses the Monies will be applied ; lest 
 instead of being burdened with Taxes to advance our Interest, we 
 should absurdly impoverish ourselves, only to precipitate our Ruin. 
 In short, as long as a Charter may be surrendered, we are in Danger 
 of a new One, which perhaps wnll not be much to our liking : And, 
 as this Kind of Government will be always subject to Innovations, 
 it wnll be an incontestible Proof of our Wisdom to reject it for a 
 better. 
 
 It has in my last two Papers been shewn, what an extensive and 
 commding Influence the Seat of Learning will have over the whole 
 Province, by diffusing its Dogmata and Principles thro' every Office 
 of Church and State. What Use will be made of such unlimited 
 Advantages, may be easily guessed. The civil and religious Princi- 
 ples of the Trustees, will become universally established. Liberty and 
 Happiness be driven without our Borders, and in their Room erected 
 the Banners of spiritual and temporal Bondage. My Readers may, 
 perhaps, regard such Reflections as the mere Sallies of a roving 
 
206 University Convocation. 
 
 Fancy; tlio', at tlie same Time, nothing in Nature can be more real. 
 For should the Trustees be prompted b}^ Ambition, to stretch their 
 Authority to unreasonable Lengths, as undoubtedly they would, were 
 they under no Kind of Eestraint, the Consequence is very evident. 
 Their principal care would be to chuse such Persons to instruct our 
 Youth, as would be the fittest Instruments to extend their Power by 
 positive and dogmatical Precepts. Besides which, it would be their 
 mutual Interest to pursue one Scheme. Their Power would become 
 formidable by being united: As on the contrary, a Dissention would 
 impede its Progress. Blind Obedience and Servility in Church and 
 State, are the" only natural Means to establish unlimited Sway. 
 Doctrines of this Cast would be publicly tauglit and inculcated. Our 
 Youth, inured to Oppression from their Infancy, would afterwards 
 vigorously exert themselves in their several Offices, to poison the 
 whole Connnunity with slavish Opinions, and one universal Estab- 
 lishment become the fatal Portion of this now happy and opulent 
 Province. Thus far the Trustees will be at Liberty to extend tiieir 
 Influence without controul, as long as their Charter subsists: And 
 thus far they would undoubtedly extend it. For whoever, after being 
 conscious of the uncertain Nature and dismal Consequences of a 
 Charter College, still desires to see it thus established, and willingly 
 becomes a Trustee, betrays a strong Passion for Tyranny and Oppres- 
 sion : Did he wish the Welfare of his Country, he would abhor a 
 Scheme that may probably prove so detrimental to it ; especially 
 when a better may be concerted. It would therefore be highly 
 imprudent to trust any Set of Men with the care of the Academy, 
 who were willing to accept it under a Charter. 
 
 If it be urged, that the Reasons above advanced, to prove the 
 Danger and Mutability of a charter Government, militate strongly 
 against the Consequences I have deduced from tliem, let it be con- 
 sidered, that it will be in the Power of one Person only, to encourage 
 or oppose the Trustees in the Abuse of their Authority. This Point, 
 I thiidc, is surticientl}' evinced. Time nuiy, perhaps, furnish the 
 Trustees with an Opportunity of corrupting him with Largesses; or 
 the change of Atl'airs, make it his Duty to encourage the most slavish 
 Doctrines and Impositions. Where then will be our Remedy, or 
 how shall we obtain the Re})eal of a Charter abused and perverted? 
 Be it ever so uncertain in its Nature, it will still be in the Power of 
 a Governor, to secure it against the Attacks of Law and Justice: Or, 
 to render us more compleatly miserable, he may grant a new One, 
 better guarded against any Danger from that Quarter. In the present 
 Situation of Things, we have, indeed, no Reason to fear it. But as 
 they may possibly assume a different Face hereafter, let us at least be 
 'armed in a Matter of so great Consequence, against the Incertainty 
 of future Events. 
 
 But after all it cannot be expected, that a Charter should at once 
 be so compleatly formed, as to answer all the valuable Purposes 
 intended by it. Inventions are never brought to sudden Perfection ; 
 but receive their principal Advantages from Time and Experience, 
 by a slow Progression. The human Mind is too contracted to com- 
 
Annals of Public Education. 207 
 
 prehend in one View, all the Emergencies of Futurity ; or provide for 
 and guard against, distant Contingencies. To whomsoever, there- 
 fore, the Draft of a Charter shall be committed Experience will prove 
 it defective, and the Yicissitude of Things make continual Altera- 
 tions necessary. Nor can they be made without a prodigious Expence 
 to the Public, since, as often as they are ' expedient, a new Charter 
 will be the only Means to effect it. 
 
 I Hope my Readers are by this Time convinced, that a Charter 
 College will prove inefficacious to answer the true End of the 
 Encouragement of Learning ; and that general Utility can never be 
 expected from a Scheme so precarious and liable to abuse. I shall 
 in my next Paper exhibit another Plan for the Erection of our Col- 
 lege, which if improved, will answer all the valuable Ends that can 
 be expected from a Charter, and at much less Expence : While it 
 will also effectually secure all those Rights and Privileges which are 
 necessary to render the Increase of true Literature more vigorous 
 and uninterrupted. 
 
 B. 
 
 Number XX. 
 
 THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1753. 
 
 A farther Prosecution of the same Subject. 
 
 Si vincimtn omnia nobis tuta erunt, Commeatus ahunde municipm atqtie ColonicB paUbv.nt ; 
 sin metu cesserimvs, eadem ilia adversa fient. Sai. 
 
 I HAVE in my last Paper endeavoured to explode the Scheme of 
 erecting our College by Charter, as a Means wholly inadequate 
 to the End proposed. Many of my Readers are doubtless convinced, 
 how justly it lies open to the Objections I have raised against it ; 
 and therefore expect, that something more effectual be proposed in 
 its Stead : While others that remain unsatisfied, may, perhaps, find 
 their Doubts removed, by perusing the Plan I shall lay before them. 
 
 But I would first establish it as a Truth, that Societies have an 
 indisputable Right to direct the Education of their youthful Mem- 
 bers. If we trace the Wisdom of Providence in the Harmony of 
 the Creation ; the mutual Dependence of human Nature, renders it 
 demonstrably certain, that Man was not designed solely for his own 
 Happiness, but also to promote the Felicity of his Fellow-Creatures. 
 To this Bond of Nature, civil Government has joined an additional 
 Obligation. Every Person born within the Yerge of Society, imme- 
 diately becomes a Subject of that Community in which he first 
 breathes the vital Element ; and is so far a Part of the political 
 Whole, that the Rules of Justice inhibit those Actions which, tho' 
 tending to his own Advantage, are injurious to the Public Weal. If 
 therefore, it belongs to any to inspect the Education of Youth, it is 
 the proper Business of the Public, with whose Happiness their future 
 Conduct in Life is inseparably connected, and by whose Laws their 
 relative Actions will be governed. 
 
2Q8 University Convocation. 
 
 Sensible of this was the Spartan Law-giver, who claimed tlie 
 Education of the Lacedemonian Youth, as the unalienable Eight of 
 the Commonwealth. It was dangerous in his Opinion, to suffer the 
 incautious Minds of those who were born Members of Society, to 
 imbibe any Pi'inciples but those of univeisal Benevolence, and an 
 unextiuiiuishable Love for the Community of which, they were Sub- 
 jects. For this Reason, Children were withdi-awn from the Authority 
 of their Parents, who might otherwise wai-p their immature Judg- 
 ments in Favour of Prejudices and Errors obtruded on tliim by Dint 
 of Authority: ut if this was considered as a prudent Step to guard 
 the Liberty and Happiness of that Republic; methinks it will not be 
 unadvisabic, for our Legislature, who have it in their Power, to secure 
 us against the Designs of any Sect or Party of Men, that may aim 
 at the sole Governn'ient of the College. If there the youthful Soul 
 is to be ingrafted with blind Precepts, contracted Opinions, inexpli- 
 cable Mysteries, and incurable Prejudices, let it be constituted by 
 Charter: But if from thence we expect to fill our public Posts with 
 Persons of Wisdom and Understanding, worthy of their Offices, and 
 capable of accomplishing the Ends of their Institution, let it not be 
 made the Portion of a Party, or private Set of Men, but let it merit 
 the Protection of the Public. The only true Design of its Erection, 
 is to capacitate the Inhal)itants of this Province, for advancing their 
 private and public Happiness; of which the Legislature are the law- 
 ful Guardians : To them, therefore, does the Care of our future 
 Seminary of Learning properly and only belong. 
 
 Instead of a Charter, I would propose, that the College be founded 
 and incoroorated by Act of Assembly, and that not only because it 
 ought to be under the Inspection of the civil Authority ; but also, 
 because such a Constitution will be more permanent, better endowed, 
 less liable to Abuse, and more capable of answering its true End. 
 
 It is unreasonable to suppose, that an Uuiversity raised by private 
 Contribution in this Province, should arrive at any considerable 
 Degree of Grandeur or Utility : The Expence attending the first 
 Erection, and continual Support of so great a Work, requires the 
 united Aid of the Public. Should it once be made an Affair of uni- 
 versal Concern, they will, no Doubt, generously contribute by Taxes, 
 and every other Means towards its Endowment, and furnish it by a 
 \ provincial Charge, with whatever shall bo necessary to render it of 
 general Advantage. But altho' our Assembly have already raised a 
 considei-able P^und for that Purpose, who can imagine they will ever 
 part with or dispose of it to any other Uses, than such as they shall 
 til ink proper and direct. If the College be erected at the Charge of 
 the Province, it ought doubtless to be incorporated by Act of Assem- 
 bly ; by which Means the whole Legislature will have, as they ought 
 to have, the Disjxjsition of the Fund raised for this Purpose : The 
 Community will then have it in their Power to call those to an 
 Account into whose Hands the public Monies shall be deposited for 
 that particular Use : And thus the Sums though necessary for the 
 Improvement of Learning, will be honestly expended in the Service 
 for which they are designed ; or should they be embezzled, it might 
 
Annals of Public Education. 209 
 
 easily be detected, and publicly punished : Besides, no particular Set\ 
 of Men can claim a Right to dispose of the provincial Taxes, but 
 those impowered by the Community ; and therefore, if the Colony 
 must bear the Expence of the College, surely the Legislature will 
 claim the Siiperintendency of it. But if after all, it should be thought 
 proper to incorporate it by Charter, it is to be hoped, they will 
 reserve the public Money for some other Use, rather than bestow it 
 on a College, the Conduct of whose Trustees would be wholly out of 
 the Reach of their Power. 
 
 A FURTHER Argument in Favour of being incorporated by Act of 
 Assembly, may be deduced from the End of its Institution. It is 
 designed to derive continual Blessings to the Community ; to improve 
 those public Virtues that never fail to make a People great and 
 happy ; to cherish a noble Ardour for Liberty ; to stand a perpetual 
 Barrier against Tyranny and Oppression. The Advantages flowing 
 rom the Rise and Improvement of Literature, are not to be confined 
 to a Set of Men : They are to extend their chearful Influence thro' 
 Society in general, — thro' the whole Province; and therefore, ought 
 to be the peculiar Care of the united Body of the Legislature. The 
 Assembly have been hitherto wisely jealous of the Liberties of their 
 Constituents : Nor can they, methinks, ever be persuaded, to cede 
 their Authority in a Matter so manifestly important to our universal 
 Welfare, or submit the Guidance of our Academy to the ILiuds of a 
 few. On the contrary, we are all so greatly interested in its Success, 
 as to render it an Object worthy of their most diligent Attention, — ■ 
 worthy of their immediate Patronage. Should a Number of private 
 Persons have the Impudence to demand of our Legislature, the Right 
 of giving Law to the whole Community ; or even should they ask 
 the smaller Privilege, of passing one private Act, would it not be 
 deem'd the Height of Effrontery ? In what Light then ought the 
 Conduct of those to be considered, who, in claiming the Government 
 of our University, ask no less considerable a Boon, than absolute 
 universal Dominion. 
 
 To a matter of such general, such momentous concern, our Rulers 
 can never too particularly apply their Thoughts, since under their 
 Protection alone Learning must flourish, and the Sciences be 
 improved : It may indeed be urged, that the Nature of their Employ- 
 ment forbids them to spend their Time in the Inspection of Schools, 
 or directing the Education of Youth : But are the Rise of Arts, the 
 Improvement of Husbandry, the Increase of Trade, the Advance- 
 ment of Knowledge in Law, Physic, Morality, Policy, and the Rules 
 of Justice and civil Government, Subjects beneath the Attention of 
 our Legislature ? In these are comprehended all our public and 
 private Happiness ; these are consequences of the Education of our 
 Fouth, and for the Growth and Perfection of these, is our college 
 designed. 
 
 Another Reason that strongly evinces the Necessity of an Act of 
 Assembly, for the Incorporation of our intended Academy, is, that by 
 this means that Spirit of Freedom, which I have in my former Papers, 
 
 14 
 
210 University Convocation. 
 
 shewn to be necessary to the Increase of Learning, and its conse- 
 quential Advantages, may be rendered impregnable to all Attacks- 
 While the Government of the College is in the Hands of the People, 
 or their Guardians, its Design cannot be perverted. As we all value 
 our Liberty and Happiness, we shall all naturally encourage those 
 Means by which our Liberty and Hapjnness will necessarily be 
 improved : And as we never can be supposed wilfully to barter our 
 Freedom and Felicity, for Slavery and Misery, we shall certainly 
 crush the Growth of those Principles, upon which the latter are 
 built, by cultivating and encouraging their Opposites. Our College 
 therefore, if it be incorporated Ijy Act of Assembly, instead of 
 opening a Door to universal Bigotry and Establishment in Church, 
 and Tyranny and Oppression in the iState, will secure us in the Enjoy- 
 ment of our respective Privileges both civil and religious. For as we 
 are split into so great a variety of Opinions and Professions ; had each 
 Individual his Share in the Government of the Academy, the 
 Jealousy of all Parties combating each other, would inevitably pro- 
 duce a perfect Freedom for each particular Party. 
 
 Should the College be founded upon an Act of Assembly, the Legisla- 
 ture would have it in their Power, to inspect the Conduct of its 
 Governors, to divest those of Authority wdio abused it, and appoint in 
 their Stead, Friends to the Cause of Learning, and the general Welfare 
 of the Province. Against this, no Bribes, no Solicitations would be 
 effectual : No Sect or Denomination plead an Exemption : But as 
 Parties are subject to their Authority ; so would they all feel its 
 equal Influence in this Particular. Hence should the Trustees pur- 
 sue any Steps but those that lead to public Emolument, their Fate 
 would be certain, their Doom inevitable : Every Officer in the college 
 being under the narrow Aspect and Scrutiny of the civil Authority, 
 would be continually subject to the wholesome Alternative, either of 
 performing his Duty, with the utmost Exactness, or giving up his 
 Post to a Person of superior Integrity. By this Means, the Preva- 
 lence of Doctrines destructive of the Privileges of human Nature, 
 would effectually be discouraged, Principles of public Virtue inculca- 
 ted, and every Thing promoted that bears the Stamp of general 
 Utility. 
 
 But what remarkably sets an Act of Assembly in a Light far 
 superior to a Charter, is, that we may thereby effectually counterplot 
 every Scheme that can possibly be concerted, for the Advancement 
 of any particular Sect above the rest. A Charter may, as I have 
 shewn in my last Paper, be so unexceptionably formed, as to incur 
 the Disapprobation of no Denomination whatever, but unexception- 
 able as it may be we cannot be sure of its Duration. A Second may 
 succeed, which, perhaps, would be disapproved of by all but one Party. 
 On the contrary, we are certain that an Act of Assembly must be 
 unexceptionable to all ; since Nothing can be inserted in it, but what 
 any one may except against ; and, as we are represented in the 
 Asseml)ly by Gentlemen of various Persuasions, there is the highest 
 Probability, that every Clause tending to abridge the Liberty of any 
 particular Sect, would by some or other of our Representatives be 
 
Annals of Public Education. 211 
 
 strongly opposed. And this will still be the Case, however repeatedly 
 Innovations may be attempted by subsequents Acts. 
 
 Another Advantage accruing to the College itself, and consequently 
 to the Community in general, is that larger Donations may be 
 expected, should it be incorporated by Act of Assembly, than by 
 Charter. Every generous Contributor, would undoubtedly be willing 
 to have some Security for the Disposition of his Gratuity, consistent 
 with the Design of his Donative. ISTor is it improbable, that the 
 most bounteous Person would refuse to bestow a Largess, without 
 being convinced of the Honesty and Propriety of its Application. 
 Under a Charter no Security to this Purpose can possibly be expected. 
 This is sufficiently evinced by my last Paper. Besides which, if a 
 Charter be obtained, it will without Doubt, be immediately or eventu- 
 ally in favour of one particular Party; the Consequence of which 
 will be plainly this, that the other Sects amongst us, being a vast 
 Majority, instead of contributing to the Support of our Academy by 
 private Donations, will endeavour to discourage each other from it. 
 But should our University be established by Act of Assembly, as 
 every Individual M^ould bear a Part in its Grovernment, so should we 
 all be more strongly induced, by private Gifts, to increase its Endow- 
 ments. 
 
 Add to all this, that should the Persons intrusted with the imme- 
 diate Care of our Nursery of Learning, comnait any Error in their 
 Conduct, the Act of Assembly would not be void, but in as full Force 
 as if the Error had not been committed. And should they designedly 
 transgress the Bounds of their Authority, the Act might be so con- 
 structed, as to disquality them for holding their Offices, and subject 
 them to the severest Penalties ; to be recovered by his Majesty, or 
 the Party aggrieved, or by both. It is also to be remarked, that 
 should the Act of Incorporation be at any Time infringed, and the 
 Liberty of the Students invaded, their Redress would be more easily 
 obtained in a Court of Law. 
 
 To this Scheme it may be objected, that the Creating a Body-Politic 
 by Act of Legislation, without a previous Charter, is unprecedented, 
 and an Infringement of the Prerogative of the Crown, and may pos- 
 sibly for those Reasons be damned by the King, who cannot repeal a 
 Charter ; and farther, that every End that can be proposed by Act 
 only, may be obtained by a Charter-Incorporation ; and an Act pos- 
 terior, confirming it, and enlarging and regulating the Powers of the 
 Body. In Answer to which, let it be considered, that it is not only 
 the King's Prerogative, to grant a Charter, but also to grant it upon 
 certain Terms ; a Non-Compliance with which, will cause its repeal ; 
 and from thence arises the Precariousness of a Charter. Should an 
 Act be passed in Consequence of a Charter, it must be either to pre- 
 vent its Precariousness, or to add new Privileges to those granted by 
 it. If the former should be the Reason for passing an Act, it would 
 militate against the Royal Prerogative, as well as an Act to incorpo- 
 rate the College ; and therefore would, in all Probability, meet with 
 the same Fate, and by that Means the Charter would stand alone. If 
 the Act should be only in Aid of the Charter, it would still leave it 
 
2\2 University Convocation. 
 
 in as uncertain a State, as without an Act. So that in either Case the 
 College would be exposed to those Inconveuiencies, which, in my last 
 Taper 1 have shewn to be the natural Consequences of a Charter 
 Government : Besides which, shuuld the College be established by a 
 Cluuter, the Public will lose most of those Advantages, wdiich I shall 
 in my next Paper propose, as some of the substantial Parts of an Act 
 of Assembly. 
 
 Manv other convincing Arguments might be urged with Success, 
 hi favour of an Act of Assembly for the Incorporation of our 
 intended College, Avould the Bounds of this Paper admit their Inser- 
 tion. Those Ihave had Room to enforce, are, I am convinced, suffi- 
 ciently striking, to engage the Assent of every candid and unpreju- 
 diced Thinker. To the W-isdom of our Legislature, these Hints will 
 be perfectly useless: Nor do I aim at any Thing more upon so 
 important a Subject, than barely to open the Eyes of some of my less 
 impartial Readers ; and testify, how entirely the true Interest of this 
 Province commands the most ardent and sincere Wishes of the Inde- 
 'pendent liejiector. 
 
 To the Gentlemen who favoured me with their Sentiments on the 
 Subject of the College, in two Letters signed B C. and A Friend, 
 / return my profoundest Thanks. 
 
 Number XXI. 
 
 THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1753. 
 
 Remarks on the College continued. 
 
 Si quid NmiHi rectius is/is, 
 
 Candidits imperii : si non, /lis ulere niecum HoR. 
 
 THAT a College may he a Blessing or a Curse to the Community, 
 according to its Constitution and Government, I think appears 
 sufficiently evident from my former Papers. That incorporating it 
 by an' Act of Assembly, will be the best Means of securing the first, 
 and avoiding the last, is in my Opinion, equally clear and incontesti- 
 ble. On a Subject of such gonoi-al Luportance ; a Subject that con- 
 cerns our Liberty and our Privileges, civil and religious; a Subject 
 that will aft'ect the Prosperity of our Country, and particularly 
 involves in it, the Happiness and Misery of our Posterity, it would 
 bave been unpardonable in a Writer, whose Services are entirely 
 devoted to the Public, to have passed it over in Silence, or handle it 
 with Indiiference and Langour. No, it deserves my most deliberate 
 Attention, and fervent Activity ; and calls for the Assistance of every 
 Man who loves Liberty and the Provim-e. Fully sensible of its 
 unspeakable Importance, I shall now proceed to point out those 
 Tilings which in my Judgment, are necessary to be inserted in the 
 incoi'porating Act, for the Advancement of the true Interest of the 
 College, and rendering it really useful to the Province. Such Things 
 
Annals of Public Education. 213 
 
 as "will effectually prevent its being prejudicial to the Public, and 
 guard us against all the Mischiefs we so justly apprehend, should it 
 ever unhappily fall into the Hands of a Party. 
 
 First : That all the Trustees be nominated, appointed, and incor- 
 porated by tlie Act, and that whenever an Avoidance among them 
 shall happen, the same be reported by the Corporation to the next 
 Sessions of Assembly, and such Vacancy supplied by Legislative Act. 
 That they hold their Offices only at the good Pleasure of the Governor, 
 Council and General Assembly : And that no Person of any Protest- 
 ant Denomination be, on Account of his religious Persuasion, dis- 
 qualified for sustaining any Office in the College. 
 
 In Consequence of this Article we shall have the highest Security, 
 that none will be dignified with that important and honourable Office, 
 but such as are really qualified for executing it, agreeable to the true 
 Design of its Institution. Should either Branch, or any two Branches 
 of the Legislature, propose and elect a Candidate obnoxious to the 
 Third, the Negative of the latter is sufficient to prevent his Admis- 
 sion. The three Branches concurring in every Election, no Party 
 can be disobliged, and when we consider the Characters of the Electors, 
 all Possibility of Bribery and Corruption, seems to be intirely excluded. 
 
 Secondly : That the President of the College be elected and 
 deprived by a Majority of the Trustees, and all the Inferior Officers 
 by a Majority of the Trustees with the President ; and that the Elec- 
 tion and Deprivation of the President, be always reported by the 
 Trustees, to the next Session of Assembly, and be absolutel}'- void, 
 unless the Acts of the Trustees in this Matter, be then confirmed by 
 the Legislature. 
 
 By this Means the President, who will have the supreme Superin- 
 tendency of the Education of our Youth, will be kept in a continual 
 and ultimate Dependence upon the Public ; and the Wisdom of the 
 Province being his only Support, he will have a much greater Secu- 
 rity, in the upright Discharge of his Duty, than if he depended solely 
 on the Trustees, who are likely to oust him of his Office and Liveli- 
 hood thro' Caprice or Corruption. That Station being therefore more 
 stable, will at the same Time be more valuable ; and for this Reason 
 we have the stronger Hopes of filling the President's Chair with a 
 Man of Worth and Erudition, upon whose good Qualifications and 
 Conduct, the Success and Improvement of the Students, will emi- 
 nently depend. 
 
 Thirdly : That a Majority of the President and Trustees, have 
 Power to make By-Laws not repugnant to the Act of Incorporation, 
 and the Law of the Land : That all such By-Laws be reported to the 
 House of Pepresentatives at their next succeeding Session, in hceo 
 Verba, under thei'Sealof the College, and the Hands of the President 
 and five Trustees ; and that if they are not reported, or being reported 
 are not confirmed, they shall be absolutely void. 
 
 Hence it is easy to conceive, that as on the one Hand there will be 
 a great Security against the arbitrary and illegal Rule of the Presi- 
 dent and Trustees ; so on the other, the immediate Governors of the 
 
214 University Convocation. 
 
 College will have all proper Antliority to make snch salutary Eules 
 as shall be necessary to advance the Progress of Literature, and sup- 
 port a Decorum and Police in the Academy, — as well as maintain the 
 Dignity and Weight which tiie Superiors of it ought undoubtedly to 
 be enaijled to preserve over their Pupils. 
 
 Fourthly: That the Act of Incorporation contain as many Rules 
 and Directions for the Government of the College as can be fore- 
 seen to be necessary. 
 
 As all our Danger will arise from the Mis-Rule of the President 
 and Trustees ; so all our Safety consists in the Guardianship of the 
 Legislature. Besides, the Advantage herefore, of being by this 
 Article secured from arbitrary Dominatioti in the College ; the Busi- 
 ness of the Trustees and President will be less, and they with their 
 Subordinates, more at Leisure to concert the Advancement of the 
 College. 
 
 The Fifth Article I propose is, that no religious Profession in 
 particular be established in the College, but that both Officers and 
 Scholars be at perfect Liberty to at_tend any Protestant Church at 
 their Pleasure respectively : And tFat tTie'co'rpo'rati61i~'b^'"atet7kitely 
 inhibited the making of any By-Laws relating to Religion, except 
 such as compel them to attend Divine Service at some Church or 
 other, everj'- Sabbath, as they shall be able, lest so invaluable a Liberty 
 be abused and made a cloak for Licenciousness. 
 
 To this most important Head, I should think proper to subjoin, 
 
 Sixthly : That the whole College be every Morning and Evening 
 convened to attend public Prayers, to be performed by the President, 
 g or in his Absence, by either of the Fellows; and that such Forms be . 
 I prescribed and adhered to as all Protestants can freely join im / 
 
 Bkhidks the fitness and indisputable Duty of supporting the 
 "Worship of God in the College; obliging the Students to attend it 
 twice every Day, will have a strong Tendency to preserve a due Deco- 
 rum, Good Manners and Vertue amongst them, without which the 
 College will sink into Profaness and Disrepute. They will be thereby 
 forced from the Bed of Sloth, and being brought before their 
 Superiors, may be kept from Scenes of Wickedness and Debauchery, 
 which they might otherwise run into, as hereby their Absence from 
 the College will be better detected. 
 
 With respect to the Prayers, tho' I confess there are excellent 
 Forms composed to our Hands, it would rather conduce to the Inter- 
 est of our Academy, if, instead of those, new Ones were collected, 
 which might easily be done from a Yariety bi approved Books 
 of Devotion among all Sects ; and perhaps it may be thought better 
 to frame them as near as possible in the Language of Scripture. 
 The general Form need be but few. Occasionarparts may be made 
 to be inserted when necessary ; as in cases of Sickness, Death, &c. 
 in the College, or under general Calamities, as War, Pestilence, 
 Drought, Floods, &c. and the like as to Thanksgivings. Many of the 
 Forms of Prayer contained in the English Liturgy, are in themselves 
 unexccptionably good ; but as establishing and imposing the Use of 
 
Annals of Public Education. 215 
 
 those, or of any other Protestant Communion, would be a discrimi- 
 nating Badge, it is liable to Objections, and will occasion a general 
 Dissatisfaction. As the Introduction of them, therefore, will preju- 
 dice the College, it is a sufficient Reason against it. It will be a 
 Matter of no small Difficulty to bring the greatest Part of the 
 Province, to the Approbation of praying at any Time by Forms ; 
 but since they are in this Case absolutely expedient, our Affection for 
 the Prosperity of this important Undertaking, should incline us, 
 while we give some Offence in one Article, to remove it by a Com- 
 pensation in another of less Consequence to the College. 
 
 Seventhly : That Divinity be no Part of the public Exercises of 
 the College, I mean, that it be not taught as a Science : That the 
 Corporation be inhibited from electing a Divinity Professor ; and that 
 tiie Degrees to be conferred, be only in the Arts, Physic, and the 
 Civil Law. 
 
 Youth at a College, as I have remarked in a former Paper, are 
 incapable of making a judicious Choice in this Matter ; for this 
 Reason the Office of a theological Professor will be useless : Besides, 
 Principles obtruded upon their tender Minds, by the Authority of a 
 Professor's Chair, may be dangerous. But a main Reason in support 
 of this Clause, is the Disgust which will necessarily be given to all 
 Parties that differ in their Professions from that of the Doctor. The 
 Candidate for the Ministry will hereby in his Divinity Studies, when- 
 ever he is fit for them, be left to the Choice and Direction of his 
 Parents or Guardians. Besides, as most of the Students will be 
 designed for other Imployments in Life, the Time spent in the Study 
 of Divinity, may be thought useless and unnecessary, and therefore 
 give Umbrage to many. jSTor will their whole Course of Time at the 
 College, be more than sufficient for accomplishing themselves in the 
 Arts and Sciences, whether they are designed for the Pulpit, or any 
 other learned Profession. And it may justly be doubted, whether a 
 Youth of good Parts, who has made any particular Proficiency 
 in the Elements, or general Branches of Knowlege (his Instruction 
 in which is the true and proper Business of a collegiate Education) 
 would not be able to qualify himself for the Pulpit, by a Study of the 
 Scriptures, and the best Divinity Books in the College Library, as well 
 without as with the Aid of a Professor ; especially if it be enacted, 
 
 Eighthly : That the Officers and. Collegians have an unrestrained 
 Access to all Books in the Library, and that free Conversation upon 
 polemical and controverted Points in Divinity, be not discounte- 
 nanced ; whilst all public Disputations upon the various Tenets of 
 different Professions of Protestants, be absolutely forbidden. 
 
 Ninthly : That the Trustees, President, and all inferior Officers, 
 not only take and subscribe the Oaths and Declaration appointed by 
 Statute, but be also bound by solemn Oath, in their respective Sta- 
 tions, to fulfil .their respective Trusts, and preserve inviolate the 
 Rights of the Scholars, according to the fundamental Rules contained 
 in the Act. And that an Action at Law be given and well secured 
 to every inferior Officer and Student, to be brought by himself, or 
 
216 University Convocation. 
 
 liis Ouardkui, or prochem Amy, according to his Age, for every 
 Injury agniiist his legal Ilight so to be established. 
 
 And in as nuich as artful Intrigues may hereafter be contrived to 
 the Prejudice of the College, and a Junto be inleagued to destroy its 
 free Constitution, it may perhaps be thought highly expedient, that 
 the Act contain a Clause 
 
 Tknthly : That all future Laws, contrary to tlie Liberty and P'unda- 
 mentals of this Act, shall be construed to be absolutely void, unless 
 it refers to the Part thus to be altered, and expressly repeals it ; and 
 that no Act relating to the College, shall hereafter pass the Llouse 
 of Representatives, but with the Consent of the Majority of the 
 whole House ; I mean all the Members of Assembly in the Province. 
 
 NoK would it be amiss to prescribe, 
 
 Eleventhly : That as all Contests among the inferior Officers of 
 the College, should be finally determined by the Majority of the 
 Members of the Corporation, so the latter should be determined in 
 all tiieir Dis|)utes, by a Committee of the whole House of Representa- 
 tives, or the major Part of them. 
 
 These are the Articles which in my Opinion, should be incorpo- 
 rated in the Act for the Establishment of the College; and without 
 which we have the highest Reason to think, the Advantages it will 
 produce, will at best fall short of the P]xpence it will create, and per- 
 haps prove a perpetual Spring of public Misery — A Cage, as the 
 Scripture ii\:>Giiks, of evert/ uuGlecm Bird — The Nursery of Bigotry 
 and Superstition — An Engine of Persecution, Slavery and Oppres- 
 sion — A Fountain whose putrid and infectious Streams will over- 
 flow the Land, and poison all our Enjoyments. Far be it from me 
 to imagine I have pointed out every Thing requisite to the Preserva- 
 tion of Liberty, and the Promotion of the Interest of the College ; 
 I only suggest such Heads as occur. Beyond all doubt my Scheme 
 is still imperfect. Should our Legislature themselves enter upon this 
 momentous Afl'air, the Example of a British House of Commons, in 
 Matters of great Importance, might be worthy their Imitation. I 
 mean, that the Bill be printed and published several Months before it 
 passes the House. The Advantage I would propose from this Step 
 is, that while it only exists as a Bill, the Objections against it would 
 be offered with Freedom, because they may be made with Impunity. 
 The general Sense of the People will be the better known, and the 
 Act acconnuodated to the Judgment and Esteem of all Parties in the 
 Province. 
 
 A. 
 
I 
 
 Annals of Public Ebtjcation. 217 
 
 Number XXII. 
 
 THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1753. 
 
 The same Subject continued and concluded in. 
 
 An Address to the Inhabitants of the Province. 
 
 If we retain the Glory of our Ancestoi's, 
 Whose AsMs will rise wp against our Dulness, 
 Shake off our Tameness, and give Way to Courage ; 
 We need not doubt, inspired with a just Rage, 
 To break tJie Neck of tlwse, that would yoke ours. 
 
 , Tatham's distrarted State. 
 
 Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo. ViRa. 
 
 My Dear Countrymen, 
 N a Series of Papers, I have presented to your Yiew the Incon- 
 
 veniences that must necessarily result from making the Rule of 
 the College, t\ieMo?iopoly of any single Denomination. I have con- 
 sidered it in a Yariety of Lights, and explor'd it's numerous Evils. 
 To prevent them in the most effectual Manner, I have concerted a 
 Plan, the Heads of which have been offered to your serious Con- 
 sideration. Throughout the whole, I have given my Thoughts with 
 the Freedom and Independence suitable to the Dignity of the Subject, 
 and the Character of an impartial Writer, Upon my Representation 
 of the Matter, nor Awe, nor Hope, hath had any Influence. But 
 urg'd by the Love of Liberty, and a disinterested Concern for your, 
 and your Posterity's Happiness, I have disclos'd the Importance, — 
 the prodigious importance of the present Question. 
 
 Far be it from me, to terrify you with imaginary Dangers, or to 
 wish the Obstruction of any Measure conducive to the public Good. 
 Did I not foresee, — was I not morally certain of the most ruinous 
 Consequences, from a Mismanagement of the Affair, I should not 
 address you with so much Emotion and Fervor : But when I perceive 
 the impending Evil ; when every Man of Knowledge and Impartiality 
 entertains the same Apprehension ; I cannot, I will not conceal my 
 Sentiments. In such a Case, no Yehemence is excessive, no Zeal too 
 ardent. The Alarm given is not confined to Particulars. No, the 
 Effects I presage are dreaded far and wide as a general Calamity. 
 Would to God our Terror was merely panic ! but it is founded on the 
 unerring Testimony of History, of Reason, and universal Experience. 
 
 Nor fancy I aim at warping your Judgment by the Illusion of 
 Oratory, or the Fascination of Eloquence. If in the Sequel, I appear 
 rather to declaim than prove, or seem to prefer the Flowers of 
 Rhetoric to the Strength of Argument, it is because, by the clearest 
 Demonstration, I have already evinc'd the Necessity of frustrating so 
 injurious a Step. My Assertions have not been unsupported by 
 Evidence, nor have I levell'd at your Passions, till I had convinced 
 your Reason. After this, you will pardon a more animated Address, 
 intended to warm the Imagination and excite your Activity. 
 
 Of Prejudice and Partiality, I renounce the Charge ; having alike 
 
218 University Convocation. 
 
 argued against all Sects whatever, as I am in reality pei-fectly neutral 
 and indift'ei-ent. For the Sincerity of my Intentions, I lay my Hand 
 upon my Heart, and appeal to the enlighten'd Tribunal of Heaven. 
 
 Arise, therefore, and baffle the Machinations of your and their 
 Country's Foes. Every Man of Vertue, every man of Honour, will 
 join you in defeating so iniquitous a Design. To overthrow it, noth- 
 ing is wanting but your own Resolution. For great is the Authority, 
 exalted the Dignity, and powerful tlie Majesty of the People. And 
 shall you the avow'd Enemies of Usurpation and Tyranny, — shall 
 you, the Descendants of Britahi,hoYn in a Land of Light, and rear'd 
 in the Bosom of Liberty, — shall you commence CoM'ards at a Time 
 when Reason calls so loud for your Magnanimity i I know you scorn 
 such an injurious Aspersion. I know you disdain the Thoughts of 
 so opprobrious a Servility ; and what is more, I am confident the 
 Moment you exert a becoming Fortitude, they will be sliam'd out of 
 their Insolence. They will blush at a Crime they cannot accomplish, 
 and desist from Measures they lind unsuccessful. Some of yovi, per- 
 haps, imagine all Opposition unavailable. Banish so groundless a 
 Fear. Truth is Omnipotent, and Reason must be finally victorious. 
 Up and try. Be Men, and make the Experiment. This is your Duty, 
 your bounden, your indispensable Duty. Ages remote, and Mortals 
 yet unborn, will bless your generous Efforts ; and revere the friendly 
 Hand that diverted the meditated Ruin, as the Saviour of his Country. 
 
 The Love of Liberty is natural to our Species, and an Affection for 
 Posterity, interwoven with the human Frame. Inflamed with this 
 Low^ and animated by this Affection, oppose a Scheme so detrimental 
 to your Privileges so fatal to your Progeny. Perhaps you conceive the 
 Business is done. What ! do you take it for granted that so it must be ! 
 Do you not think yourselves free? Our Laws, our Assemblies, the 
 Guardianship of our Mother Country, the mildest and the best of Kings, 
 do they not convince yon that hitherto you know not what is Servi- 
 tude? And will 3'ou trifle with an inestimable Jewel? Will you dance 
 on a Precipice, and lay your Hand on a Cockatrice's Den ? Unresisting 
 will you yield, and resign without a Struggle? Will you not even 
 venture at a Skirmish, to bequeath to your Posterity the priceless 
 Treasure yourselves enjoy? Doubtless you resent the Insinuation. 
 Courage then my Bretliren : Reason is for us, that Reason whose 
 awful Empire is spurn'd by your Adversaries ; for such are those 
 whoever they be, that aspire to a Superiority above their fellow Sub- 
 jects. Whence then should ])roceed your remissness in a Concern 
 so momentous ? Whence so tame a Submission, so ignominious a Com- 
 pliance ? Thou Genius of Liberty dispensing unnumbered Blessings ! 
 Thou Spirit of Patriotism ever watchful for the public Good ! Do 
 ye inspire us with Unanimity in so interesting a Cause, and we will 
 assert our Rights against the most powerful Invasion ! 
 . You, Gentlemen of the Church of England, cannot but condemn 
 the unaccountable Assurance of whatever Persuasion, presumes to 
 rob you of an equal Share in the Government of what equally 
 belongs to all. With what Indignation and Scorn, must you, the 
 most numerous and richest Congregation in this City, regard so inso- 
 
Annals of Public Education. 219 
 
 lent an Attempt ! Yon who have the same Discipline, and the same 
 Worship with the Mother Chnrcli of the l^ation, and whose funda- 
 mental Articles are embrac'd by all Protestant Christendom, — what 
 Colour of Reason can be offered to deny you your just Proportion in 
 the Management of the College? Methinks a due Respect for the 
 national Church, nay common Decency and good Manners, are suffi- 
 cient to check the presumptuous Attempt, and redden the Claimant 
 with a guilty Blush. Resent, therefore, so shameless a Pretence, so 
 audacious an Incroachment. 
 
 Nor can you Gentlemen of the Dutch Church, retrospect the Zeal 
 of your Ancestors in stipulating for the Enjoyment of their religious 
 Privileges, at the Surrender of the Province, without a becoming 
 Ardor "for the same Model of public Worship which they were so 
 anxious in preserving to you in its primitive Purity, Or higher still, 
 to trace the Renown of your Progenitors, recollect their Stand, their 
 glorious and ever memorable Stand against the Yoke of Thraldom, 
 and all the Horrors of ecclesiastic Yillainy, its inseparable Concomi- 
 tants. For their inviolable Attachment to pure unadulterated 
 Protestantism, and the inestimable Blessings of Freedom civil and 
 sacred, History will resound their deathless Praises; and adorned 
 with the precious Memorials of their heroic and insuppressible Strug- 
 gles against Imposition and Despotism, will shine with eternal and 
 undecaying Splendor. Impell'd by their illustrious Example, -disdain 
 the Thoughts of a servile Acquiescence in the usurp'd Dominion 
 of others, who will inevitably swallow up and absorb your Churches, 
 and efface even the Memory of your having once formed so consider- 
 able a Distinction. Pity Methinks it would be and highly to be 
 deplor'd, that you should, by your own Folly, gradually crumble into 
 Ruin, and at length sink into total and irrecoverable Oblivion. 
 
 Remember Gentlemen of the Englisli Presbyterian Church, 
 remember with a sacred Jealousy, the countless Sufferings of your 
 pious Predecessors, for Liberty of Conscience, and the Right of 
 private Judgment. What Afflictions did they not endure, what fiery 
 Trials did they not encounter, before they found in this remote Cor- 
 ner of the Earth, that Sanctuary and Requiem which their native 
 Soil inhumanly deny'd them? And will you endanger that dear- 
 bought Toleration for which they retired into voluntary Banishment, 
 for which they agoniz'd, and for which they bled? What drove your 
 Ancestors to this Country, then a dreary Waste and a barren Desart ? 
 What forced them from the Land of their Fathers, the much-lov'd 
 Region where first they drew the vital Air ? What compell'd them 
 to open to themselvs a passage into -these more fortunate Climes? 
 Was it not the Rage of Persecution and a lawless Intolerance ? Did 
 they not seek an Asylum among the Huts of Savages more hospitable, 
 more humaniz'd than their merciless Oppressors ? Could Oceans stop 
 or Tempests retard their Fhght, when Freedom was attack'd and 
 Conscience was the Question ? And will you entail on your Posterity 
 that Bondage, to escape which they brav'd the raging Deep, and 
 penetrated the howling Wilderness ! ' 
 
220 University Convocation. 
 
 You. inj Friends, in Derision called Quakers, have always 
 approv'd yourselves Lovers of civil and religious Liberty ; and of 
 universal Benevolence to Mankind. And tho' you have been mis- 
 represented as averse to human Learning, I am confident, convinced 
 as you are of the Advantages of useful Literature, by the Writings 
 of your renown'd Apologist, and other celebrated Authors of your 
 Persuasion, you would generously contribute to the Support of a 
 College founded on a free and catholic Bottom. But to give your 
 Substance to tlie Bearing of Bigotry, or the tutoring Youth in the 
 enticing Words of 31an''s Vaiiity, I know to be repugnant to your 
 candid, your rational, your manly Way of thinking. Since tiie first 
 Appearance of the Friends, thro' what Persecutions have they not 
 waded? With what Difticulties have they not conflicted, e'er they 
 could procure the unmolested Enjoyment of their Religion? This I 
 mention not to spur you to revenge the Indignities offered to your 
 Brethren, who being now beyond the Reach of Opposition and Yio- 
 lence, you, I am sure will scorn to remember their Tribulations with 
 an unchristian Resentment. But to make their inhuman Treatment 
 a Watch-Tower against the like Insults on your Descendants, is but 
 wise, prudent and rational. At present, as ever you ought, you enjoy 
 a righteous Toleration. But how long you will be able to boast the 
 same Immunity, when the Fountain of Learning is directed, and all 
 the Oftices of the Province engrossed by one Sect, God only knows, 
 and 3'ours it is to stand on your Guard. 
 
 Equally tremendous will be the Consequences to you, Gentlemen 
 of the French, of the Moravian, of the Lutheran, and of the Ana- 
 baptist Congregations, tho' the Limits of my Paper deny me the 
 Honour of a particular Application to jour respective Churches. 
 
 Having thus, 3Ty Couninj-Men, accosted you as distinct Denomi- 
 nations of Christians, 1 shall again address you as Men, and reasonable 
 Beings. 
 
 Consider, Gentlemen, the apparent Iniquity, the monstrous Unrea- 
 sonableness of the Claim I am opposing. Are we not all Members of 
 the same Community ? Have we not an equal Right ? Are we not 
 alike to contribute to the Support of the College ? Whence then the 
 Pi-etensions of one in Preference to the Rest ? Does not every Per- 
 suasion pi-oduce Men of Worth and Yirtue, conspicuous for Sense, 
 and renown'd for Probity ? Why then should one be exalted and the 
 other debased ? One preferr'd and the rest rejected? Bating the 
 Lust of domineering, no Sect can pretend any Motive for monopo- 
 lizing the whole? Let them produce their Title, and we will submit. 
 Or (l(. they think us so ]uisiilanimous that we dare not resist? What! 
 are wo to be clioak'il without attempting to struggle for Breath? One 
 woukl, indeed, im:igine the Business was done^kwd that with a Wit- 
 ness. One would fancy he already beheld Slavery triumphant, and 
 Bigotry swaying her enormous, her despotic Sceptre. But you, I 
 trust, will asswage their Malice, and confound their Devices."^ You, 
 I hope, will consider the least Infraction of your Liberties, as a Pre- 
 lude to greater Enci-oachments. Such always was, and such ever will 
 be the Case. Recede, therefore, not an Inch from your indisputable 
 
Annals of Public Education. 221 
 
 Kiglits. On the contrary declare your Thoughts freel}^, nor loiter a 
 Moment in an Affair of such unspeakable Consequence. You have 
 been told it, — Posterity will feel it. Indolence, Indolence has been 
 the Source of irretrievable Ruin. Langour and Timidity, when the 
 public is concerned, are the Origin of Evils mighty and innumerable. 
 Why then in the Name of Heaven, should you behold the Infringe- 
 ment, supine and inanimate? Why should you too late deplore your 
 Irresolution, and with fruitless Lamentation bewail your astonishing, 
 your destructive Credulity ? No; defeat the Scheme before it is car- 
 ried into Execution : Countermine it e'er it proves irreversible. 
 Away with so pestilent a Project : Suffer it no longer to haunt the 
 Province, but stigmatize it with the indelible Brands of the. most 
 scandalous Infamy. Alas, when shall we see the glorious Flame of 
 Patriotism lighted up, and blazing out with inextinguishable Lustre'^ 
 When shall we have One Interest, and that Interest be the common 
 Good. 
 
 To assert your Rights, doth your Resolution fail you ? To resist 
 the Domination of one Sect over the Rest, are you destitute of 
 Courage ? Tamely will yoit submit, and yield without a Contest ? 
 Come then, and by Imagination's Aid, penetrate into Futurity. 
 Behold your Offspring train'd in Superstition, and bred to holy Bond- 
 age. Behold the Province over-run with Priest-Craft, and every 
 Othce" usurped by the ruling Party ! 
 
 Pause, therefore, and consider. Revolve the Consequences in a 
 dispassionate Mind : Weigh them in the Scale of Reason, in the 
 Ballanee of cool deliberate Reflection. By the numberless Blessings 
 of Liberty, heavenly-born; — by the uncontroulable Dictates of 
 Conscience, the Vicegerent of GOD ; — by the Horrors of Per- 
 secution, conceived in Hell, and nurs'd at Rome / — and by the 
 awful Name of Reason, the Glory of the human Race ; I conjure 
 you to pluck tTift this Thorn, which is incessantly stinging and goad- 
 ing the Bosom of every Man of Integrity and Candour ! 
 
 Next to the most patriot King that ever grac'd a Throne, and the 
 wisest Laws that ever bless'd a People, aii equal Toleration of 
 Conscience, is justly deem'd the Basis of the public Liberty of this 
 Country. And will not this Foundation be undermined? Will it 
 not be threatned with a total Subversion, should one Party obtain 
 the sole Management of the Education of onr Youth? Is it not 
 clear as the Sun in his Meridian Splendor, that this Equality — 
 this precious and never-to-be-surrender'd Equality, will be destroy'd, 
 and the Scale preponderate in Favour of the Strongest ? And are 
 we silent and motionless, to behold the Abolition of tliose invaluable 
 Bulwarks of our Prosperity and Repose? Is not the Man, — the 
 Man do I call him ? Is not the Miscreant, who refuses to repel their 
 Destruction, an Accomplice in the Crime? Does he not agi-ee to 
 sacriflce tliat which, next to the Protection of our Mother Country, 
 constitutes our' Security, our Happiness,"^ and our Glory? He is 
 beyond Question cliargeable with this aggravated Guilt. — Let us, 
 therefore, strive to have the College founded on an ample, a 
 generous, an universal Plan. Let not the Seat of Literature, the 
 
222 University Convocation. 
 
 Abode of the Muses, and the Nurse of Science; be transform'd into 
 a cloister of Bigots, an Habitation of Su})erstition, a Nursery of 
 ghostly Tyranny, a School of rabbinical Jargon. The Legislature 
 alone should have the Direction of so important an Establishment. 
 In their Hands it is safer, incomparably safer, than in those of a 
 Party, who will instantly discover a Thirst for Dominion, and lord it 
 over the Rest. 
 
 Come on then, My Country-Men, and awake out of your Lethargy ! 
 Start, O start, from your Trance ! By the inconquerable Spirit of 
 the ancient Britons; — by the Genius of that Constitution w^hich 
 abhors every Species of Yassalage ; — by the unutterable Miseries of 
 Priest-Craft, reducing Nations and Empires to Beggary and Bond- 
 age ; — by the august Title of Englishmen, ever impatient of lawless 
 tyrannic liule ; — by the grand Prerogatives of Human Nature, the 
 lovely Image of the infinite Deity ; — and what is more than all, by 
 that Liberty ichereu)ith Christ has set you free ; — I exhort, I beseech, 
 I obtest, I implore you, to expostulate the Case with your Representa- 
 tives, and testily your Abhorrence of so perillous, so detestable a Plot. 
 In Imitation ot the Practice of your Brethren in England, when an 
 Affair of Moment is on the Carpet, petition your respective Members 
 to take it into their serious Consideration. Acquaint them with your 
 Sentiments uf the Matter, and I doubt not, they will remove the 
 Cause of your Disquiet, by an Interposition necessary to the public 
 Prosperity, and eventual of their own immortal Honour. 
 
 Z. 
 
 fW^IIK Reflector'' s Sentiments, relating to the religious Worship of 
 
 -*• the College, Jtaving been ohjected to under pretence, that no 
 
 Prayer can he calculated to please all Parties, he intends, in some 
 
 future Paper, to exhibit a Form, against which no Protestant of the 
 
 most scrupulous Conscience can except. 
 
 SIR. 
 
 Number XXIX. 
 
 THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1753. 
 * * 
 
 To the Independent Reflector. 
 
 AMONG the many Objections raised by the Enemies of civil 
 and religious Liberty, against your Sentiments on our future 
 ' CV)1 lege, there is one which for its peculiar Malignity, deserves, in 
 'my Opinion, the severest Animadversions. It has often been 
 'advanced by Persons equally unacquainted with your Subject and 
 'Design, that instead or delineating a just Plan for so noble a 
 'Structure, you have endeavoured, by raisina: the Heat of Parties, to 
 ' prevent our having any College at all. This Assertion contains a 
 'double Charge, either Part of which were it true, would be suffi- 
 'cient to blast the growing Reputation of your weekly Reflections. 
 
Annals of Public Education. 223 
 
 ' For my Part, I have considered your Papers with the Impartiality 
 becoming a Friend of public Yertue, and cannot discover the least 
 Marks of an Attempt to raise Animosities among your Fellow 
 Creatures. You have indeed animated the various Sects among us, 
 to guard against the Encroachments of each other, which to me 
 appears to be the most natural Means for suppressing the Growth of 
 party Zeal : For the Heat of Sectaries consists not in a mutual 
 Watchfulness, by which they severally keep themselves in a State of 
 Independence; but on the Contrary is the natural Offspring of a 
 persecuting Spirit in the prevailing Persuasion, and tlie just Resent- 
 ment of the injured and oppressed. Where all Men enjoy an equal 
 Freedom in Profession and Practice, there can be no Room for the 
 Exertion of so uncharitable a Fervour ; and nothing but unwarrant- 
 able Encroachments can be productive of Heat and Opposition. In 
 endeavouring, therefore, to support the Freedom of each particular 
 Sect, you have evidently aimed at the Repose and Tranquility of the 
 Whole. 
 
 ' But after all, had You arrouzed the Spirit of Party among the 
 People of this Province, is there not sufficient Reason to. warrant 
 such a Conduct, tho' so loudly exclaimed against ? Does not one 
 Persuasion openly and avowedly claim the Management of an Atfair, 
 with which the Happiness of all Sects is most intimatedly connec- 
 ted ? And will not so daring an Encroachment justify the utmost 
 Rage of the Parties insulted ? While any Denomination continues 
 so insolent a Claim, it becomes a public Writer industriously to rake 
 up the Sparks of Party, and fan the Fire of Opposition till it 
 mounts into an universal Blaze. 
 
 ' The second part of the Charge is, that you aim at having no Col- 
 lege. And for this Assertion, whoever candidly reads your Papers, 
 will own there is not the least Foundation. You have convinced 
 the World that you are sensible of the vast advantages of a Public 
 Academy, and would willingly have it secure against the Attacks of 
 every Denomination, that it might continue an inexhaustible Fund 
 of universal Happiness, to latest Posterity. It is true you have 
 declared, that you would prefer our present illiterate State, to all 
 the Benefits we can possibly purchase by raising a College at the 
 Expence of our Liberty: And this, doubtless, is what they mean by 
 your aiming at having no College at all. Nor can they be persuaded, 
 that rough uncultivated Liberty, is infinitely preferable to the most 
 polished and ornamented Servitude. 
 
 / am your Humhle Servant, 
 
 B ACADEMIC US. 
 
 Bye, 18th May, 1753. 
 
 [For typographical convenience, we have transposed the next preceding and 
 succeeding articles from their original order.] 
 
224 University Convocation. 
 
 Number XXVII. 
 
 THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1753. 
 
 A Prayer. 
 
 AMONGST numberless other Absurdities, it bath often been 
 asserted by tliose for a partial College, that no prayer could 
 possibly be formed, but what would be rejected by all other Denomi- 
 nations, on Account of the Party by whom it w^as composed. I shall 
 therefore lay before the Eeader, a Prayer wholly collected from the 
 Scriptures, except the Passaji^es in Italics;^ ai^^ainst which, I presume, 
 no Christian of any Persuasion can object, without at the same Time 
 manifesting his Irreverence for the sacred Oracles. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 [This Prayer being very long, we copy only the last third of it 
 (omitting the marginal references of the original to books, chapters 
 and verses), M'hich will sufficiently illustrate its character and scope :] 
 
 * X- * * 
 
 Wisdom is better than Rubies, Length of Days are in her Right 
 Hand, and in her Left Hand Riches and Honour: Her Ways are 
 Ways of Pleasantness, and all her Paths are Peace. Let the Know- 
 ledge of Wisdom be sweet unto our Souls, as is the Honey-Comb 
 unto the Taste. Let us perceive the Words of Understanding, and 
 cry after Knowledge. Doth not Wisdom cry, and Understanding 
 ])ut forth her Voice? She crieth at our Gates, at the Entry of this 
 Ilotise, at the coming in at the Doors unto us doth she call, unto us 
 lifteth she her Voice. Let us therefore hear Instruction, be wise and 
 refuse it not: Watching daily at Wisdom's Gates, and waiting at the 
 Posts of her Door: For whoso lovetli Listruction, loveth Knowledge. 
 
 Unto thee, O God, do we give Thanks, unto thee do we give 
 Thanks. We will praise the Lord for it is good, it is pleasant, and 
 Praise is comely for the Upright. It is a good Thing to give Thanks 
 unto the Lord, and to sing Praises unto thy Name, O Most High ! 
 To show forth thy loving Kindness in the Morning, and thy Faith- 
 fuhiess every Night. We bless thee, that when the Fulness of Time 
 was Come, thou didst send forth thy Son made of a Woman, made 
 under the Law, to redeem them that were under the Law, that we 
 nii<;iit receive the Adoption of Sons. That we have an Advocate 
 with the Father, even Jesus Christ the Righteous. That he is set on 
 the Right Hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens, 
 Angels and Authorities, and Powers being made subject to him. 
 That he Iniih sent us another Comforter to abide with us forever, 
 even the Sj)irit of Truth. The Lord is good, his Mercy is everlast- 
 ing, and his Truth endureth to all Generations. 
 
 Let thy Salvation and thy Righteousness be openly shewed in the 
 Sight of the Heathen, and let all the Ends of the Earth see the Sal- 
 
 'The compiler does not adhere to this rule in the use of the words ^^ Levi" 
 " Amen" and " Our Futher wlio art in Heaven." 
 
Annals of Public Education. 225 
 
 vation of our God. Let the Word of the Lord have free Course, 
 and let it be glorified. Save thy People, O Lord, and bless thy 
 Heritage : Feed them also, and lift them up forever. Bring thy Seed 
 from the East, and gather them from the West : Say to the North 
 give up, and to the South keep not back. Bring thy Sons from afar, 
 and thy Daughters from the Ends of the Earth. From the rising of 
 the Sun to the going down of the same ; let thy Name be great 
 among the Gentiles, and the Earth be full of the Knowledge of the 
 Lord, as the Waters cover the Sea. Grace be with all them that love 
 the Lord Jesus Christ with Sincerity. Give King George thy Judg- 
 ments, O God, and thy Kighteousness, that he may judge the Poor 
 of tlie People, save the Children of the Needy, and break in Pieces 
 tiie Oppressor. Let him redeem their Souls from Deceit and Vio- 
 lence, and let their Blood be precious in his Sight. Let his Throne 
 be established in Righteousness, and upheld with Mercy. Make him 
 exceeding. glad with thy Countenance. Through the tender Mercy 
 of the most High, let him not be moved. Cloath his Enemies with 
 Shame, but upon himself let the Crown flourish. Grant him length 
 of Days, and let his Glory be great in thy Salvation. jBless his 
 Hoi/al Highness George Prince of Wales, the Princess Dowager of 
 Wales, the Duke, the Princesses, and all the Royal Family. May 
 thy loving Kindness be before their Eyes, and may they walk in thy 
 Truth. Smile 07i our Governor. May he walk in LTpriglitness : 
 And may his Ways please the Lord. Teach our Senators Wisdom. 
 Let our Rulers be able Men, such as fear God, Men of Truth, hating 
 Covetousness. That Justice may run down as a River, and Righte- 
 ousness as a mighty Stream. Peace be within our Borders, and 
 Prosperity within our Palaces. Make our Officers Peace, and our 
 Exactors Righteousness. Let Violence never be heard in our Gates ; 
 Wasting or Distruction in our Borders: Let our Walls be called 
 Salvation, and our Gates Praise. In the Name of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, let there be no Divisions among us, but that we may be per- 
 fectly joined together in the same Mind and in the same Judgment. 
 Purify the Sons of Levi / purge them as Gold and Silver, that they 
 may offer unto the Lord an Offering in Righteousness. Let the Ser- 
 vants of the Lord be gentle to all Men, apt to teach — patient — 
 Examples to the Believers, in Word, in Conversation, in Charity, in 
 Spirit, in Truth, in Purity. 
 
 Let us know above all Things, that the Fear of the Lord is the 
 Beginning of Wisdom, and the Knowledge of the Holy is Under- 
 standing. Let us love our Enemies, bless them that curse us, do 
 good to the in that hate us, and pray for them that despitefully use 
 us, and persecute us. Father forgive them, for they know not what 
 they do. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only 
 wnse God, be Glory and Majesty, Dominion and Power, both now 
 and ever, Amen. Our Father who art in Heaven, &c. 
 
 In like Manner occasional Parts may be composed, adapted to the 
 Morning, and Evening, Sabbath, Sickness, Death, War, Famine, Fast- 
 ing, Thanksgiving, (&c. 
 
 A. & Z. 
 15 
 
226 University Convocation. 
 
 Number L. 
 thursday, november 8, 1753. 
 
 The Advantages of Education, with the Necessity of instititting 
 Grammar Schools for the Instruction of Youth, preparatory to 
 their Admission into our intended College. 
 
 My Spirit pours a Vigour thro'' the Soul, 
 TK unfettered Thought with Energy inspires, 
 Invincible in Arts, in the bright Field 
 Of laureVd Science, <is in that of Arms. 
 
 Thom. Lib. 
 
 TO enumerate all the Advantages accruing to a Country, from a 
 due Attention to the Encouragement of the Means of Education, 
 is impossible. The happy Streams issuing from that inexhaustable 
 Source, are numberless and unceasing. Knowledge among a People 
 makes them free, enterprising and dauntless ; but Ignorance enslaves, 
 emasculates and depresses them. When Men know their Rights, 
 they will at all Hazards defend them, as well against the insidious 
 Designs of domestic Politicians, as the undisguised Attacks of a 
 ft)reign Enemy : But while the Mind remains involved in its native 
 Obscurity, it becomes pliable, abject, dastardly and tame: It swallows 
 the grossest Absurdities, submits to the vilest Impositions, and follows 
 wherever its is led. In short, irrefragable Arguments in favour of 
 Knowledge, may be drawn from the Consideration of its Nature. 
 But it is sufficient barely to observe its Effects. He must be a 
 Stranger to History and tliC World, who has not observed, that the 
 ])rosperity, Happiness, Grandeur, and even the Strength of a People, 
 have always been the Consequences of the Improvement and Cultiva- 
 tion of their Minds. And indeed, where this has been in any con- 
 siderable Degree neglected, triumphant Ignorance hath open'd its 
 Sluices, and the Country been overflowed with Tyranny, Barbarism, 
 ecclesiastical Domination, Superstition, Enthusiasm, cori'upt Manners, 
 and an irresistible confederate Host of Evils, to its utter Ruin and 
 Destruction. While Egypt was the School of the Ancients, her 
 nuirtial, was not inferior to her literary, Glory. The successful 
 Defence of the Greeks, against the powerful Invasion of Persia, is 
 to be imputed, rather to their Art tJian to any other Cause. And 
 when Rome had compleated the conquest of the World, she triumphed 
 over it as much in Science as in Power and military Valour. 
 
 But as necessary and advantageous as the Education of Youth is 
 to a Country, it has often been renuirked, that of all the Provinces on 
 the Continent, not one has been so culpably inattentive to this 
 important Article as ours. I wish it was in my Power, to disprove 
 the truth of the Observation. We are not only surpassed by several 
 of our Neighbours, who have long since erected Colleges for publick 
 Instruction, but by all others, even in common Schools; of which I 
 have heard it lamented, that we have scarce ever had a good One in. 
 the Pi'ovince, It is true, we had a Law which declared in its Pre- 
 amble, that the Youth of this Province, were not inferior in their 
 
Annals of Public Education. 227 
 
 Geniusses to those of any other Country : But against this it is to be 
 observed, that the Law is long since expired, and probably our 
 natural Ingenuity abated, and even tho' this was not our Case, I can 
 by no Means agree, that the natural Fertility of our Geniusses, is a 
 sufficient Reason for the total Neglect of their Cultivation. 
 
 It is with joy I observe the present Disposition of our Legislatures 
 to remove the Scaiidal of our former Indolence, about the Means of Edu- 
 cation, in the Measures we are pursuing for the Establishment of a 
 College. That important Design must flourish under the Care of the 
 Public. Our Province is growing and opulent, and we are able to 
 endow an University in the most splendid Manner, without any Bur- 
 den upon the People. Scarce any Thing at present but the Nature 
 of its Constitution demands the Study of the several Branches of the 
 Legislature. And that alone is a Subject worthy their utmost Yigi- 
 lance and Attention. A College in a new Country, and especially 
 in a Province of such scanty Limits as ours, will necessarily make a 
 vast Alteration in our Afl"airs and Condition, civil and religious. It 
 will, more or less, influence every Individual amongst us, and diffuse 
 its Spirit thro' all Eanks, Parties and Denominations. If it be 
 established upon a generous and catholic Foundation, agreeable to 
 the true Nature and End of a Seminary for the Instruction of Youth 
 in useful Knowledge, we and our Posterity will have Reason to bless 
 its Founders, and long will it continue the Fountain of Felicity to 
 the Province. But should it unhappily be made the Engine of a 
 Party in Church or State — should it be constituted with any Badge 
 of religious Discrimination of Preference, we have no Reason either 
 to believe or \visli its Prosperity. Such an impure Source must 
 necessarily poisen us with its infected Sti'eams, endanger our precious 
 Liberties, discourage our Growth, and be obstructive to the public 
 Emolument. But this Matter I have fully considered in some of my 
 former Papers on the College. The laudable Generosity which our 
 Assembly have already exhilDited in their Sentiments relating to its 
 Constitution, have procured them the most general Applause, and 
 inspired the People with a Confidence that they will faithfully guard 
 their Privileges sacred and political. 
 
 Whoever has been at a College, is not ignorant, that the Youth at 
 their Initiation, must be considerably instructed in the Latin and Greek 
 Tongues; their first exercises there, consisting in reading the princi- 
 pal Authors that have written in those Languages. Hence it is plain, 
 that good Grammar Schools, are absolutely necessary in a Course of 
 Education, to the Growth and Prosperity of our College, where, 
 instead of studying the Rudiments of those Languages, after only 
 one Year's Exercise in them, the Youth enter upon sublimer Employ- 
 ments in Logic, Philosophy, Ethics, &c. in which it is impossible for 
 School Boys, thro' the Immaturity of their Judgments, to make any 
 valuable Proficiency. At the same Time, therefore, that we institute 
 a College, we should by no Means neglect the Encouragement of 
 Schools, without which it will be thin and unprosperous. To what 
 Purpose shall we rear a vast and costly Edifice, and raise an expen- 
 sive Fund for the Support of Instructors, but for the Benefit of the 
 
228 University Convocation. 
 
 Students ? And to supply the latter without good Schools throughout 
 the Province, will be impossible, unless the College itself be made 
 one, which will be a Scheme both unexampled and absurd. 
 
 Wrrn Submission therefore, to my Superiors, I would propose, that 
 an Act be passed for building and establishing two Grammar Schools 
 in every County, and enabling the Inhabitants, annually to elect 
 Guardians over them, and impowering the Assessors to raise Fifty 
 Pounds per Annum, as a County Charge, for the Support of each 
 Master, to be nominated and paid by those Guardians. 
 
 This Step is, in my Opinion, not only feasible, but free from all 
 the Objections which lie against a Grammar School Education in the 
 College, and will, besides, be attended with very good Consequences. 
 
 First : Two Schools in a County will probably, for many years, be 
 more than sufficient for the Instruction of the Children to be sent 
 from it to the College, and both of them may be raised at a very 
 inconsideraljle Sum, In the Colonies to the Eastward, they are built 
 upon the Commons, contain but one Room, are tight and warm, and 
 not more costly nor larger than a counnon Log Cottage. The Mas- 
 ter suits himself with a Lodging in the Village, and so do his Pupils 
 generally at a very cheap rate. The Masters among them are such 
 as have been graduated at their Colleges, and for want of Estates, 
 stoop to this Employment, till they have more fully prosecuted their 
 Studies ; and having but just finish'd their collegiate Education, are 
 perhaps better fitted for that Business, than Persons of riper Years, 
 who have worn off their academical Learning, and are determined 
 upon some particular Office or Occupation. I make no doubt there- 
 fore, l)ut that it will be easy to supply our Schools with Preceptors, 
 at Fifty Pounds per Annum each, since there are many such in those 
 Colonies who are glad to take up with a more inconsiderable Sum. 
 But as it seems agreed to fix the College in this City, the Salaries of 
 the same Officers, if Grammar Schools be supported in the College, 
 must be vastly augmented, because their additional Expences in Diet 
 and Dress, must be very much enhanced ; and perhaps it will be no 
 easy Matter to provide a Fund for the College, sufficient to sustain 
 the continual Charge of so many Masters. 
 
 Secondly : Supporting the Youth at those Schools in the Country, 
 will be but a Trine compared with the prodigious Expence of main- 
 taining them in the City, which probably will prevent many from 
 bestowing upon their Children a publick Education. 
 
 TiiiKDLY : It is worth Consideration, that as Boys at a very early 
 Age may be fit for the Grammar School, the Tenderness or Weak- 
 ness of Parents, may raise Objectit)ns against sending them to New- 
 YorJi, at the proper Time, for their Study of the Tongues; and in 
 Consequence thereof, to their utter Ruin, prevent their ever passing 
 thro' the College who might otherwise be constantly kept, during 
 their Infancy, at a Country School, under the Care of their Parents, 
 till they were in Age, and Capacity, prepared for entering the Col- 
 lege. And, indeed, I cannot help thinking, but that this Objection 
 alone would prove fatal to the Scheme of supporting Grammar 
 
Annals of Public Education. 229 
 
 Schools in tlie College ; for where one Man would agree to put a 
 Lad of Ten or Twelve Years of Age to School, Fifty or a Hundred 
 Miles from him, many, rather than submit to it, would refuse giving 
 their Children any Education at all, especially if it be also considered 
 how susceptible tender Minds are of all Impressions, whether Good 
 or Evil, and how necessaiy it is in forming their Morals, that they 
 should be kept under the Eye of their Parents. 
 
 Fourthly : It is not to be supposed that, let a Boy's Genius be 
 never so promising, he can be well-fitted for his Entrance into the Col- 
 lege, in less than four Years. JSTor will he thence carry off much 
 Knowledge, unless he continues his Studies there, at least four Years 
 more. So that, if he is sent to the College for his Attainment of 
 the Tongues, his Absence from Home, and Residence in the City, 
 will take up eight Years, where the Expence of his Tuition, extra- 
 ordinary Di-ess and Diet, will perhaps exceed his Father's Purse, and 
 for that unsurmoiintable Objection, prevent his ever having the 
 Means of an Education ; when, if one Half of that Time was spent at 
 no Charge for Tuition, and a very trifling Expence for his Board and 
 Dress in the Country, his Talents might be cultivated to the Advan- 
 tage of himself and the Public. 
 
 Fifthly : At these Country-Schools it will be in the Power of 
 those Parents to have their Children taught Latin and Greek, who 
 are neither able nor inclined to give them an academical Education, 
 from which they will be deterred by the Expence of maintaining 
 them four Years in New - York. Nor, tho' they should not intend 
 them so ample an Education as they would receive in the College, 
 would it in many Cases be improper to let them pass thro' the Gram- 
 mar Schools. I have known many Men, without any other Assist- 
 ances in Education than what they received at such Schools, make a 
 very agreeable and useful Appearance in Life : And it is, perhaps, 
 principally to be ascribed to the Number and Cheapness of those 
 little Country Seminaries, that the Scotch, in the Article of Litera- 
 ture, support the Reputation of exceeding in general, any other 
 Nation in the "World. Besides the Advantage of acquiring a Know- 
 ledge of those Languages sufficient to read and examine the Writings 
 of the Ancients, the shortest Course that can be recommended for 
 the Attainment of any considerable Accuracy in the Knowledge even 
 of our own Language, is by a tolerable Acquaintance with the Latin 
 and Greek Tongues. Whoever understands those Languages, and 
 English, will find the latter vastly augmented and inriched by Deri- 
 vatives from the former. The Technical Terms, or Words of Art, 
 are deduced almost intirely from those Fountains, as well as many 
 others of Use, even in common Conversation. It would be an end- 
 less Piece of Work to be indebted to our Dictionaries (which by the 
 Way are seldom to be depended upon, often unsatisfactory, and 
 defective) for the Meaning of Words ; which must always be the 
 Case, when we are ignorant of the Languages from whence they are 
 derived. Besides, Boys in the Study of the Languages, are imployed 
 in a Manner best suited to their Capacities. Plain Rules of Morality 
 and History are generally the Subjects of the Books put into their 
 
230 University Convocation. 
 
 Hands. Whatever tliej are designed for, there can be no Danger of 
 an Excess in tlieir Studies of these Things, and their Progress in 
 them principally depends upon the Memory, a Faculty of the Mind 
 which is generally exercised the first of any others in Youth. In a 
 Course <>f Grammar School Learning, they are enured to Books and 
 Attention, in a Manner the most easy and natural. Their Capacities 
 gradually opened — their Curiosities raised — Their Powers strength- 
 ened — their Views extended, and tlieir Minds familiarized to Inquiry: 
 All which must be necessary and advantageous to them in any 
 Employment in Life, even tho' they do not enter upon collegiate 
 Exercises in a more deep and abstruse Course of Studies. It is Dr. 
 Swift who says, >' The Books read at School are full of Incitements 
 to Virtue, and Discouragements from Vice, drawn from, the wisest 
 Reasons, the strongest Motives, and the inost inflxtencing Examples. 
 The very Maxims set tip to direct modern Education, are enough to 
 destroy all the Seeds of Knoioledge, Honour, Wisdom and Virtue 
 among us. The current Opinion p>revails, that the Study of Greek 
 and Latin is Loss of Time.^'' 
 
 Sixthly : It may be observed, that few, if any, of the Pupils in 
 the Grammar School to be erected in the College, will be of an Age 
 to admit of their living within its Walls. Their tender Years will 
 render it necessary for them to board at private Houses in the City, 
 for the Advantage of Nurses to exercise over them a Mother's Care, 
 which will prevent the Masters from that narrow Inspection into 
 their Conduct from which they cannot so well be exempted at a 
 School in the Countrj', and at the same Time weaken the Support of 
 a suitable Government in the College, where, unless the strictest 
 Regimen is observed, the wildest Confusion and Disorder will take 
 Place, to the absolute Ruin of the Students. 
 
 I ONLY add, that no Instance can be assigned that Grammar-School- 
 Learning was ever a Part of the Instruction in any College or Uni- 
 versity ; and I conceive, for the Reasons before offered, it would be 
 very improper for ns to begin such an unprecedented Institution. 
 The Enc-ouragement of County Schools, will suppl}^ our College 
 with Students, in a Manner best suited to our Cii'cumstances ; and if 
 we neglect them, I think one may ventui-e to predict, that the Acad- 
 emy will never rise to any Considerable Fame, nor answer the gen- 
 eral Expectations of the Province. 
 
 A. 
 
Annals of Public Eduoatfon. 231 
 
 Number LI. 
 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1753. 
 
 WHEN I consider, either the favourable Sentiments which the 
 Author of the following Letter is pleased to entertain of 
 some of my Reflections, or the Importance of the Subject he has 
 chosen, and the masterly Manner in which he handles it, I think it 
 would be an Injury, both to the Public and myself, to refuse it a 
 Place in the Reflector. 
 
 To the Independent Reflector. 
 
 Philadelphia, October 21, 1T53, 
 STR, 
 
 THO' we are unknown to each other, and my Residence is out 
 ' the Province, for which your Papers are more particularly 
 calculated, I cannot restrain my Acknowledgments to an Author 
 who inspired with an amiable Disinterestedness, so industriously 
 aims at the Advancement of the Honour and Happiness not only of 
 his own Country, but of universal Mankind. I heartily approve of 
 your Papers in general ; but of those on the Subject of the College, 
 I have the highest Opinion. The Method you therein pursued is 
 strictly accurate, and the Scheme you proposed for its Constitution 
 and Government, judicious and wholesome. I do not remember to 
 have heard any Man, who has impartially considered it, advance any 
 material Objection against it. Nor do I believe, from what I know 
 of the State of your Province, that a more advantageous Scheme 
 can possibly be recommended to a People split into sucli a Diversity 
 of religious Opinions. Yours not only obviates the Jealousy of 
 each, but eflfectually secures all in the lasting Enjoyment of their 
 Liberties. And in this Yiew of your Sentiments on that important 
 Subject, it has been Matter of Surprize to many Gentlemen among 
 us, who heartily desire to see Learning prevail in the Plantations, 
 that, after the Plan you have drawn up and proposed, the Affair of 
 the College should have so tardy a Progress. These Colonies have 
 hitherto been too much despised by some British Politicians, whose 
 Indiff'erence has often exposed us to sundry political Disadvantages. 
 The best Means for raising a Sense of our Importance, and in Con- 
 sequence of it, an Attention to our provincial Interests, is, in my 
 opinion, to encourage the Education of Youth in all our Prov- 
 inces. The Importation of Foreigners, and our own Growth, will, 
 indeed, people our Country. Our Lands may be cultivated, and our 
 Commerce enlarged; but our Reputation, and ev^en our Strength, 
 will principally depend upon able Councillors, sensible Representa- 
 tives, and Ofl&cers of Judgment and Penetration. But, how shall 
 we preserve those Rights of which we are ignorant ? How intro- 
 duce Measures necessary for our general Prosperity, but with great 
 Art and Address ? Tho' we are entitled to all the Rights of English- 
 men, we have not an equal Security with those of our Fellow Sub- 
 
232 University Convocation. 
 
 'jects, who enjoy the Happiness of living under the immediate 
 ' Protection of oiir gracious Sovereign. The Infancy of our Country, 
 ' necessarily exposes us to many Defects which are not to be found in 
 'a State grown perfect and compact by Time and Experience. Our 
 ' politicaf Frame must attain its' full Maturity by Steps gradual and 
 'slow. Nor shall we ever behold this happy Period, 'till we apply 
 ' our Tlioughts to the Consideration of our Condition, Interest and 
 ' Relations. There are doubtless some Instances of Persons of that 
 ' Turn among us : A few will, however, but little avail us : Their 
 'Influence will be no wider than their Sphere. Such a Spirit must 
 ' become general, before the Advantages will be so ; and of all the 
 ' Methods we can pursue, there u none so likely to enkindle and 
 'diffuse it, as the Encouragement of Education, thereby furnishing 
 ' our Colonies with Men of Sense and Literature, with enterprizing 
 ' Heads, and Hearts inflamed with Patriot-Fire. 
 
 ' I ASSURE you. Sir, I am deeply affected with the Indifference 
 ' which prevails among some of you in the important Undertaking 
 ' of erecting a College ; and I think the Opposition to your Scheme, 
 ' as it retards that useful Design, a Shame to your Adversaries. 
 ' Such a Seminary would not only be advantageous to your Province, 
 ' in the View I have before considered it, but would attach to it many 
 'of our Youth. Our Academy is only intended to teach the lower 
 ' Kinds of Knowledge; and, indeed, in that Respect, will, undoubt- 
 ' edly, be of admirable Service. But if the College of New - York, is 
 ' established upon the free Bottom you proposed, by which all tlie 
 ' Students, of whatever Protestant Denomination, will be received 
 ' upon, and admitted to a perfect Parity of Privileges, it cannot but 
 ' prosper, and invite Pupils from all our Colonies, as it will, in 
 ' Reality, be preferable to the public Seminaries of all of them, each 
 ' savouring more or less of religious Party. Nor has the Catholicism 
 ' of your plan been less happy in obviating the Objections which the 
 ' Gentlemen of the West-Indles,\\2iwe, hitherto raised against most 
 ' of our Northern Colleges. 
 
 ' The Contention about introducing the English Litnrgy, tho' I 
 'profess myself a Churchman, has, in ray Opinion, had more Regard 
 ' paid to it, than ought to be allowed to any Thing that impedes so 
 'good a Design. You, indeed, have insisted, that no Form used by 
 'any Church in your Province should be introduced, lest a Discrimi- 
 ' nation of one Sect enkindle the Jealousy of the Rest, to the Preju- 
 ' dice of the College. I concur with you in Opinion, if a Form could 
 ' he agreed upon free fi-om tlie Objection : But you'll admit it a great 
 ' Pity, that such a trifling Dispute, should retard so glorious and 
 ' benefleial an Undertaking. The Form of Prayer you Proposed as 
 'a Model, tho' ingenious, will, I believe, never be consented to, 
 ' because I do not suppose your Assembly will ever think proper to 
 'give themselves tiie Trouble of preparing a Set of Forms. In 
 ' Favour of the Liturgy of the Church of ^Jiujland it is urged, that 
 ' the Nation has approved it; but it must be confessed, that tho' it is 
 ' very well suited to the State of a Church, it will require a consider- 
 ' able Alteration, to adapt it to the State of such a Seminary: The 
 
Annals of Public Education. 233 
 
 ' Forms of the Dutch and French Protestant Churches are as ojood, 
 'and will require less Alteration and Addition; and if it should not 
 ' be thought proper to introduce them, rather the Contention about 
 'Forms should impede that noble Design, the Prayers, I think, 
 ' should be left to the Discretion of the President, with the Trustees, 
 ' to whom it should be committed, to draw up a Formular_y, to be 
 ' laid before your Legislature for their Approbation and Establish- 
 ' ment. 
 
 ' These, Sir, are my Sentiments of the Matter, and upon your 
 ' Promise to correct them, you have Leave to give them a Place in 
 ' your Paper. I hope, at your next Session, something difinitive will 
 ' be done in this Affair. May God inspire your Legislature with a 
 ' generous Regard to the Liberties of their Countrymen, and assist 
 ' them in establishing the College upon such a Foundation, as that it 
 ' may continue a perpetual Blessing to your Province, and of great 
 ' Utility to Mankind. 
 
 /am, &cP 
 A. 
 
 The Independent Refiector, the organ of Mr. Livingston's opposi- 
 tion to the college, ceased with its 52d number, on the 22d of Novem- 
 ber, 1753 ; the printer, Parker, refusing to, go on with it. In the 
 month of January following, Mr. Livingston reprinted the whole, 
 with a long preface; and bearing on its title page "Printed until 
 tyrannically suppressed in 1753." 
 
 Contemporary with this Independent Reflector^ but of less note, 
 were several publications relating to the college controversy, and 
 turning upon the same points that Mr, Livingston professed to have 
 in view.'^ 
 
 I 
 
 An A ct further to continue the duty of Excise and the Currency of 
 
 the Bills of Credit emitted thereon^ for the purposes in the former 
 
 act and herein mentioned. 
 
 [Passed July 4, 1753.] 
 
 Whereas^ by an act of the Governor Council and General Assem- 
 bly entituled, " an act for laying an excise on all strong liquors retailed 
 in this Colony," passed the twelfth year of her late Majesty Queen 
 Anne, there was granted to and for the use in the said act particularly 
 mentioned, a duty of excise on all strong liquors retailed in this 
 colony for the term of twenty years, to determine on the iirst day of 
 November, in the year one thousand seven hundred and thirty four, 
 which by several subsequent acts has been prolonged to the year one 
 thousand seven hundred and fifty-seven : — 
 
 And lohereas, it has been the intention of the legislature for several 
 years past, to establish a seminary within this colony, for the educa- 
 
 * Moore's Hist. Bketch, p. 11, 
 
234 University Convocation. 
 
 tioii of youth in the liberal arts and sciences, and as at present, 
 no other means can be devised, than by a further continuance of 
 the aforesaid act, and the bills of credit issued thereupon, and his 
 Excellency the Governor having been pleased to approve the inten- 
 tions of tiie General Assembly "to proceed upon that good design at 
 this session, as signified by their votes at their last meeting ; — The 
 General Assembly therefore pray it may be enacted and. 
 
 Be it Enacted ' * * That the before mentioned act, entituled, 
 [as above] "^ * be, remain and continue of full force and virtue, to 
 all intents, constructions and purposes whatsoever, until the first day 
 of November, which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand 
 seven hundred and sixty seven. 
 
 And he it further enacted * * That the Treasurer of this 
 colony for the time being, is hereby enabled and directed, to pay 
 unto the trustees mentioned and appointed in and by an act passed 
 in the twenty fifth year of his present majesty's reign entituled, "An 
 act for vesting in Trustees the sum of three thousand four hundred 
 and forty three pounds eighteen shillings, raised by way of lottery, 
 for erecting a college within this colony, out of the moneys arising by 
 the duty of excise, the annual sum of five hundred pounds, for and 
 during the term of seven years, to commence from and after the first 
 day of January now next ensuing, to be by them apportioned and 
 distributed in salaries for the chief master or head of the seminary, 
 by M'hatever denomination he may be hereafter called, and for such 
 and so many other masters and officers, uses and purposes, concerning 
 the establishment of the said seminary, as the said trustees shall from 
 time to time in their discretions think needfull : always provided, that 
 the whole charge and expence of the same, do not exceed the above 
 sum of five hundred pounds a year, any thing in the acts aforesaid to 
 the contrary notwithstanding. 
 
 And he it further enacted * * That the said Trustees, shall be 
 and are hereby impowered to apportion and ap]wint the quantum of 
 the salary's of the several masters and otticers of the seminary hereby 
 intended to be established, and to direct the payment thereof by 
 quarterly or half yearly payments, as they in their discretion shall 
 think most fitting and convenient. 
 
 And he it further enacted * * That the Trustees aforesaid, 
 shall ascertain the rates which each student or scholar shall annually 
 pay, for his or her education at the said seminary, for all of which 
 sums they shall account \\\\X\ the governor or coininander in chief for 
 the time l)eing, the council or the General Assembly when by them 
 or any of them thereunto required, and Avliich said sums shall be 
 aj)])lied to and for such use or uses as shall be directed by an act or 
 acts hereafter to be passed.^ 
 
 -X- * * * 
 
 [The continuation of tliesc Annals of the founding of Kiiufs 
 College, etc., may be expected in future issues of the Convocation 
 Proceedings.] 
 
 ' MS. Laws, in office of Secretary of State. 
 
Annals of Public Education. 205 
 
 [ Continued from. Convocation Proceedings for 1868 and 1869.] 
 
 MNALS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.* 
 
 By Daniel J. Pratt, A. M., 
 
 Aseietant Secretary of the Regents of the University. 
 
 LEGISLATIVE GRANTS AND FRANCHISES ENACTED 
 FOR THE BENEFIT OF ACADEMIES. 
 
 The following is a summary of legislation from 1Y86 to 1873, for 
 the pecuniary relief and benefit of academies : 
 
 Gospel, School, and Literature Lots. 
 
 1786. " A71 ACT /or the speedy Sale of the unappropriated Lands 
 within this state, and for other purposes therein mentioned^'' consti- 
 tuted certain State officers " commissioners of the land office," under 
 whose direction the Sm-veyor-Geueral was to lay out the waste and 
 unappropriated lauds belonging to the State into townships of sixty- 
 four thousand acres each (ten miles square), as nearly as might be, and 
 these townships into lots of six hundred and forty acres each, and con- 
 struct a map of the same ; and 
 
 " XL That in every township so laid out, or to be laid out as afore- 
 said, the surveyor-general shall mark one lot on the map, gospel and 
 schools, and one other lot, for promoting literature, which lots shall 
 be as nearly central in every township as may be; and the lots so 
 marked shall not be sold, but the lot marked, gospel and schools, 
 shall be reserved for and applied to promoting the gospel and a 
 public school or schools in such township ; and the lot marked, for 
 promoting literature, shall be reserved to the people of this State, to 
 be hereafter applied by the legislature for promoting literature in 
 this state." The Southern District of the State (New York, Kings, 
 Queens, Suffolk and Westchester counties) was excluded from the 
 provisions of this act. 1 Greenleaf p. 280. 
 
 1790. " An ACT for the further Encotoragement of Literature,'''' 
 declares, by way of preamble, that "it is the duty of a free and 
 enlightened people to patronize and promote science and literature, 
 as the surest basis of their liberty, property and happiness ;" that 
 the Regents of the University " have represented that Columbia 
 College, as well as the respective academies incorporated by the said 
 regents in pursuance of the trust reposed in them by the legislature, 
 
 • Entered according; to act of CoBgress, iu the year eighteen hundred and seventy-one, by Dauox J. 
 Pratt, in the ofllce of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
206 University Convocation. 
 
 require aid and encouragement to remove the impediments under 
 which they labuur, from a deficiency of their funds, notAvithstandin^ 
 the contributions of individuals"; and that it appears ''to this 
 legislature, that a proportion of the public property will be wisely 
 and usefully employed in enabling- the said regents to remove those 
 disadvantages, and to proceed with greater energy and success in 
 accomplishing the important office assigned to them by law, as the 
 guardians of the education of the youth of this state." 
 
 The said act therefore authorizes the Regents to take possession of 
 and lease out certain described lands and tenements vested in the 
 people of this State, and to apply the rents and profits thereof " for the 
 better advancement of science and literature in the said college, and 
 the respective academies now incorporated or hereafter to be incor- 
 porated under their superintendence and authority within this state, 
 and in such manner and proportion as they shall conceive will best 
 answer the ends of their institution and the true intent and meaning 
 of this act : Reserving so much of the said rents, issues and profits 
 as shall be found necessary to defray the expense which shall be 
 incurred by them in the execution of their trust." 
 
 The same act further declared that, in addition to the provision 
 which may arise from the rents and profits of such lands, a sum of 
 money should be applied without delay tor the same object, and 
 actually appropriated the sum of one thousjind ])Ounds to Columbia 
 College, out of any unappropriated money hi the tre^isury. 2 G-reeti- 
 leaf. p. 316. 
 
 1792. " An ACT to Encourage Literature., hy Donations to Colum- 
 hia College^ and to the several Acadamies in the State^'' on the 
 ground that the college had sustained serious losses in consequence 
 of the late war, and was unable to incur such further expenses 
 as would render it more extensively useful without pecuniary aid 
 from the Legislature, appropriated for various wants of the college, 
 out of any unappropriated moneys in or to be in the treasury after 
 providing for certain specified objects, the aggregate sum of £7,900, 
 and a further annuity of £750 for the term of five years ; and a 
 like annuity of £1,500 for five years, for the benefit of academies. 
 2 Greenleqf, p. 479. 
 
 SPECIAL LEGISLATION. 
 
 The earliest special legislation in favor of academies, during the 
 period under consideration, seems to have been in behalf'of 
 
 Johnstown Academy. 
 1796. "Jin ACT relative to certain confiscated Lands in the coun- 
 ties of Saratoga and Montgomery,'' provided : " That all the estate, 
 
AimALS OF Public Education. 207 
 
 right, title, interest, claim and demand of the people of the state of 
 New York in and to lot number thirty-six in the village of Johns- 
 town in the county of Montgomery, consisting of half an acre here- 
 tofore by law appropriated to and set apart for the nse of a school,* 
 be and the same is hereby vested in the trustees of Johnstown acad- 
 emy and their successors in trust for the only beneiit and advantage 
 of tlie said academy." The trustees of the academy were further 
 autnorized by the same act, to sell said lot and to buy another for the 
 same purpose, if deemed advantageous. 3 Greenleaf, p. 327. 
 
 Thirty years later, a sum of money was appropriated to this 
 academy : 
 
 1826. "AN ACT for the Relief of Johnstown Academy. Be it 
 enacted,^'' etc., " That the treasurer shall pay, on the warrant of the 
 comptroller, to the trustees of Johnstown academy, the sum of six- 
 teen hundred dollars : Provided^ Tliat before the receiving the said 
 sum, the trustees shall give security, satisfactory to the comptroller, 
 for the faithful application of said sum to the erection of a suitable 
 building for the said academy, or to the repair of the present build- 
 ing, and to the purchase of a library and chemical apparatus, and that 
 they will duly account for the expenditure thereof to the regents of 
 the university." Statutes, p. 90, 
 
 1827. " AN ACT to amend'' the foregoing act of 1826, authorized 
 the investment of any unexpended balance of the appropriation, and 
 the application of the annual interest thereof to the paj'inent of 
 teachers, or the purchase of a library or chemical apparatus, at the 
 pleasure of the trustees. Statutes, p. 205. 
 
 Oxford Academy. 
 
 1800. " An ACT relative to Oxford Academy,'' on the representa- 
 tion of the Regents of the University " that Oxford Academy has 
 been accidentally consumed by fire, and that in their opinion legis- 
 lative aid would be yjroper for the purpose of re-building said 
 academy," authorizes the trustees to select one of the lota 
 reserved for promoting literature in this State, and directs the com- 
 missioners of the land ofiice to grant " letters pattent " for the same. 
 Statutes, p. 237. 
 
 1821. Section Yltl of " AN ACT to divide the town of Windsor," 
 etc., appropriates "the annual income arising from the sale of the 
 literature lot in the township of Fayette, in the county of Chenango, 
 
 * " Sir Wm. Johnson set apart a portion of the Kingsborough patent for the benefit 
 of a free school. This reservation was respected by the courts of forfeiture, and 
 trustees were appointed to take cliarge of the trust. The proceeds were appro- 
 priated to the use of this [Johnstown] Academy." FrencKi Gazetteer of the State of 
 Feio York (1860), p. 317 ; Hough's Gazetteer (1872), p. 312. 
 
208 University Convocation. 
 
 to the trustees of Oxford academy, for the use and benefit of said 
 academy.'' Statutes, p. 239. 
 
 1822. The bunds and moneys received from the sale of lot No. 51, 
 in the township of Fayette, were granted to the trustees of Oxford 
 Academy, the principal of which was to be invested for the use and 
 benetit of said academy. Statutes, p. 4. 
 
 1868. "AN ACT for the relief of the Oxford Academy," authorizes 
 and directs tlie trustees of the village of Oxford to levy and collect, out 
 of the taxable property of said village, one thousand and live hun- 
 dred dollars, to pay up the indebtedness of said academy and for 
 the improvement of the academic property. Statutes, p. 823. 
 
 " LiTEKATURE LoTl'ERIES, ETC., FoR THE JOINT BENEFIT OF ACADEMIES 
 
 AND Common Schools." 
 1801. ^'An ACT for the encouragement of Literature,^'* provided 
 that " there shall be raised, by four successive lotteries, the sum of 
 one hundred thousand dollars, that is to say, the sum of twenty-five 
 thousand dollars by each lottery," from the net avails of which the 
 sum of twelve thousand five hundred dollars was to be paid to the 
 Regents of the University, for distribution to academies, and the 
 residue into the treasury of the State for the encouragement of com- 
 mon schools, in such manner as the Legislature should from time to 
 time direct. Statutes, p. 158. 
 
 1814. The commissioners of the land office were directed "to seP 
 and convey all the hinds belonging to the peoi)le of this state, lying 
 and being in the towns of Maryland and Milford, in the county of 
 Otsego, and the sum or sums of money to be received therefor, to 
 pay over in the following manner, the one moiety thereof to such 
 academy or academies as the regents of the university shall or may 
 direct, and the remaining half to the treasurer, for the benefit of 
 common schools." Statutes, p. 95. 
 
 1816. " An ACT/b/' the sale of certain unap^^rojrriated lands in 
 the county of Otsego,^'' provided for the sale of certain lands in said 
 county, and the application of the prt)ceeds, one-half to such academy 
 or academies as the Regents of the University should direct, and the 
 other half to the credit of the connnon school fund. The third sec- 
 tion repealed the aforesaid act of 1813. Statutes, p. 86. 
 
 Cayuga Academy. 
 1806. By "An ACT for the relief of the trustees of Cayuga 
 Academy,^'' the commissioners of the land oftice were instructed to 
 grant a certain 275 acres of land, in the township of Scipio, to the 
 
Annals of Public Education. 209 
 
 trustees of said academy in fee simple, with the proviso that the said 
 trustees pay the occupants of the land the value of the improvements 
 made thereon. Statutes, p. 78. 
 
 181-i. Lot No. 89, in the town of Cato, was granted to Cayuga 
 Academy in the place of lot No. 36, in the town of Aurelius, which 
 was previously granted to both Cayuga Academy and Union College, 
 and which was held by tlie said college. Statutes, p. 79. 
 
 Origin of the Liter atuke Fund. 
 
 1813. " ^?i ACT dii'eeting the sale of certain Lands for the benefit 
 of Academies^'' required the commissioners of the land office to sell, 
 for the benefit of such academies, or to convey to such academy or 
 academies as the Regents of the University shall direct, a certain 
 tract of land in the town of Westford, in the county of Otsego. 
 Statutes, p. 290. 
 
 1813. ^^ An ACT to authorize the sale of Lands apjpropriated for 
 the pro7notion of Literatuy^e^'' directed the commissioners of the land 
 
 office " to cause all the land heretofore appropriated for the promotion 
 of literature in this state, and situate in the military tract, or in 
 either of the counties of Chenango or Broome, and now remaining 
 unsold or not disposed of, to be surveyed and sold .... and to 
 vest the proceeds in such manner as they may deem best calculated 
 to secure the principal sum, and the regular payment of the interest 
 thereon annually ; and the Regents of the University shall make such 
 distribution of the annual income amongst the several incorporated 
 academies of this state as in their judgment shall be just and equita- 
 ble, taking into calculation all former or present endowments made 
 by the legislattire of this state, except lot number twenty-four, in the 
 town of triysses, in the county of Seneca, lot number thirty-six, in 
 the town of Aurelius, in the county of Cayuga, and lot number 
 eighty-five, in the town of Homer,* in the county of Cortland, which 
 lots are hereby appropriated to the support of academies in each of 
 the said respective counties in wliich the said lots severally lie, to be 
 regulated in such manner as the legislature shall hereafter direct." 
 Statutes, p. 319. 
 
 PoMPBY Academy. 
 
 The same act provided that lot No. 15, in Camillus, Onondaga 
 county, be granted to Pompey Academy in fee simple, and directed 
 the trustees of said academy, " whenever they shall sell the said lot, 
 or any part thereof, to loan the money arising from such sale on 
 landed security to double the sum so loaned, and on the payment of 
 any such loan', again to reloan the same forever, and appropriate the 
 
 * 1823. The trustees of Cortland Academy were authorized to sell tliis lot and v^gti 
 the proceeds for tbe benefit of their academy. Statutes, p. 8, 
 14 
 
210 University Convocation. 
 
 interest arising from such loans forever to the support and mainte- 
 nance of instruction in said academy." Statutes, p. 319. 
 
 1814. The Supervisors of Seneca county were directed by law to 
 take posr^ession of lot No. 24, in the town of Ulysses, and to lease the 
 same for the term of five years, for the support of academies in the 
 said county, in such manner as the legislature should thereafter 
 direct. Statutes, p. 74. 
 
 Erasmus Hall Academy. 
 1814. " J.W ACT relative to Erasmus HalV^ provided, that " whereas, 
 difficulties exist respecting the distribution of the school money in 
 the town of Flatbush, in Kings county : therefore, .... the school 
 money granted from time to time to that part of the town of Flat- 
 bush, commonly called the Old Town, .... be paid .... to the 
 
 trustees of the academy of Erabui us Hall, .... to be applied to the 
 education of ... . poor children belonging to the said old town, and 
 sent to the said academy, and who in the opinion of the said trustees 
 shall be entitled to gratuitous education," 
 
 This act further provided that the trustees of said academy should 
 account to the school commissioners of the town for the faithful appli- 
 cation of the money, and report annually as to the number and pro- 
 gress of the children so instructed. Statutes, p. 91 ; do. 1827, ^Oth 
 sess., p. 336. 
 
 Onondaga Academy. 
 
 i814. " An ACT for the Payment of certain Officers of Govern- 
 ment and for other purposes,''' granted lot No. 9, less fifty acres, in the 
 town of Lysander, Onondaga county, to the trustees of Onondaga 
 Academy in fee simple. Statutes, p. 253. 
 
 1825. "AN ACT for the relief of the Trustees of the Onondaga 
 Academy,^'' granted lot No. 100 in the town of Lysander, less fifty 
 acres, to the said trustees in fee simple, and directed that an appraisal 
 of lots Nos. 9 and 100 be made, and that the amount -)f the appraised 
 value of lot No. 100, in excess of the value of No. 9, be paid to the 
 said trustees on the warrant of the comptroller; the interest arising 
 therefrom to be applied for defraying the expenses of instruction, 
 and for no other purpose whatever. Statutes, p. 353. 
 
 Chapter 429 of the Laws of 1859 (p. 972) provided that this fund 
 might be applied to payment of deljt ov, new building, 
 
 St. Lawrence Academy. 
 1816. The commissioners of the land oftice were directed to issue 
 letters patent conveying lot No. 56, in the town of Potsdam, to the 
 
Annals of Public Education. 211 
 
 trustees of St. Lawrence Academy, in fee simple, with the proviso 
 that no lease of said lot shall be for a term of more than thirty-one 
 years, and that the avails " be appropriated for the payment of wages 
 of the tutors in the said academy and for no other purpose." Statutes^ 
 p. 161. 
 
 1825. '-AN ACT/or the relief of the Trustees of the St. Lawrence 
 Academy^'' authorized the commissioners of the land office "to sell, 
 on the usual terms of selling public lands, such lot or lots reserved 
 for literary pm-poses, and not otherwise appropriated to the literature 
 fund, or otherwise, as may be sufficient to raise the sum of twenty- 
 live hundred dollars, and to pay the same to the trustees of the St. 
 Lawrence academy, for the nse of that institution : Provided, That 
 the comptroller, before drawing his warrant for the payment of such 
 money, shall be satisfied that the said trustees of the said academy 
 shall have erected and completed, on ground owned by them in fiee, 
 and free from incumbrance, a substantial brick or stone building for 
 an academy, of the value of at least three thousand dollars." Statutes, 
 p. 170. 
 
 1825. The commissioners of highways of the town of Potsdam 
 were authorized to convey part of the public square to the trustees 
 of St. Lawrence Academy. Statutes, p. 383. 
 
 1826. "AN" ACT to Garry into effect the Provisions of an act for 
 the Relief of the Trustees of St. Lawrence Academy, passed April 
 9, 1825," directs that '' there shall be paid by the treasurer, on the 
 warrant of the comptroller, to said trustees or their treasurer, the 
 sum of twenty-five hundred dollars for the use of said institution, 
 which said sum of money is hereby declared to be an advance for and 
 in lieu of the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars, mentioned in the 
 act, entitled [as above described], and the said sum directed to be 
 raised by the act last mentioned, shall be raised in the manner therein 
 mentioned, or in such other manner as the legislature shall hereafter 
 prescribe, and become a part of the general fund of the state, as a 
 I'eimbursement for the sum by this act authorised to be paid to the 
 said trustees or their treasurer : Provided however, .... that the said 
 trustees shall repay to the people of this state, such part of the 
 said twenty-five hundred dollars as the said fund shall not be suffi- 
 cient to repay, together with lawful interest from the time the said 
 trustees shall receive the same." Statutes, p. 82. 
 
 1828. " The Trustees of St. Lawrence academy are hereby author- 
 ised to sell, in whole or in part, and convey in fee simple or other- 
 wise, the lot of land granted by the act hei-eby amended [that of 1816, 
 above referred to], and to invest the avails of" said land in a permanent 
 fund, the annual income of which shall be appropriated for the pay- 
 ment of the wages of the tutors in the said academy, and for no 
 other purpose." Statutes, p. 208. 
 
 1841. The Comptroller was authorized to loan to the Trustees of 
 the St. Lawrence Academy, two thousand dollars out of the capital 
 
212 University Convocation. 
 
 of the common school fuud, for a term of ten years, at seven per cent, 
 on a mortgage of academic property, and an insurance policy as col- 
 lateral security. Any unpaid interest might be deducted from the 
 distributive share of the literature fund. Statutes, p. 63. 
 
 1849. "AN ACT apprcpriating the revenues of the Literature and 
 United States deposite fund^'' contains the following, among other 
 appropriations to colleges and academies : " To the St. Lawrence 
 Academy, two thousand dollars." Statutes, p. 433. 
 
 1851. "AN ACT making an appi'opriation for the St. Lawrence 
 Aeademy, discharging a mortgage upon its academg huildings held 
 ly this state, on which is due an arrearage of inter est^ appropriates 
 out of any moneys not otherwise appropriated "" four hundred and 
 seventy-three dollars and nineteen cents, . . . , in full satisfaction and 
 discharge of a mortgage held by the state upon the academy build- 
 ings of the St. Lawrence Academy, and belonging to the common 
 school fund, which moneys hereby appropriated shall be paid into 
 the common school fund." Statutes, p. 967. 
 
 1857. "AN ACT for the relief of the St. Lawrence Acadenuy.'** 
 
 " The board of supervisors of the county of St. Lawrence are hereby 
 authorised and required at their next annual meeting, to cause to be 
 raised, levied, and collected by tax upon the inhabitants of the town 
 of Potsdam, in said county, in the same manner in which the other 
 taxes of the said town shall be raised and collected, the sum of fifteen 
 hundred dollars, and when collected, to be paid over to the treasurer 
 of St. Lawrence academy, for the use of said institution, for refitting 
 and improving the buildings and premises of said academy." Star 
 tutes, p. 20. 
 
 Statutes Incorporating Academies. 
 
 1817. The first legislative act incori:)orating an academical institu- 
 tion, viz., the Clinton Grammar School, was passed March 28, 1817 ; 
 prior to which time the Regents of the University had incorporated 
 forty academies, under the authority vested in that Board by the 
 Legislature. 
 
 The following copy of the act above referred to will serve as a 
 specimen of numerous statutes subsequently enacted for similar pur- 
 poses : 
 
 Clinton Grammar School. 
 
 1817. "AN ACT to incorporate the Clinton grammar school. 
 
 "WHEREAS Salmon Butler and others have, by their petition, 
 represented to the legislature, that they have associated together and 
 erected a building in the town of Paris and county of Oneida, for the 
 use of a grannnar school, and have prayed for an act of incorporation — 
 Therefore, 
 
Annals of Public Education. 213 
 
 I. BE it enacted [etc.], That Asahel S. Norton, Joel Bristol, Jesse 
 Curtis, Seth Hasting-s, junior, and Isaac Williams, and their successors 
 in office, be and they are hereb}^ constituted and declared to be a 
 body politic and corporate, in fact and in name, by the name of the 
 trustees of the Clinton grammar school, and by that name they and 
 their successors shall and may forever hereafter have continual suc- 
 cession, and be capable in law of suing and being sued, impleading 
 and being impleaded, answering and being answered unto, defending 
 and being defended, in all courts and places whatsoever, in all man- 
 ner of actions, suits and causes whatsoever ; and may have a common 
 seal, and change the same at pleasure ; and may hold, receive, pur- 
 chase, have and possess real and personal estate, and at pleasure sell 
 and dispose of the same, for the sole and only use of the said grammar 
 school. 
 
 II. And 1)6 it further enacted, That there shall be five trustees to 
 manage the concerns of said corporation, any three of whom shall be 
 a quorum for the transaction of business ; and that the five persons 
 last aforesaid named, shall continue trustees until others are chosen in 
 their stead ; and that when any vacancy or vacancies shall happen in 
 the office of trustees, by deatli, resignation or removal from the town 
 of Paris aforesaid, such vacancy or vacancies shall be supplied by 
 appointment of some person or persons residing in said town, under 
 the hands of the remaining trustees and their corporate seal. 
 
 III. And he it further enacted, That the said trustees and their 
 successors shall have power to appoint such and so many officers, 
 instructors and agents, as they, or a majority of them, may think proper, 
 for the conducting and managing the school, property and concerns 
 of the said corporation, and to make all such by-laws, rules and regu- 
 lations as they or a majority of them may think proper for the well 
 ordering of the same, and for the election of trustees, by the persons 
 who have contributed, or may contribute, towards the funds and pro- 
 perty of said corporation : Promded however, That such by-laws, 
 rules and regulations, shall not be inconsistent witli the intent of this 
 act, the constitution and laws of this state or of the United States : 
 Aiid provided further, That the legislature may, at any time, add to, 
 alter and amend the provisions of this act." Statutes, p. 110. 
 
 "AN ACT to incorporate the memhers of the New York Institu- 
 tion for the Instruction of the Deaf and Durnb,^^ passed April 15, 
 1817, concludes with this section : 
 
 " YI. And he it further enacted, That this act be and is hereby 
 declared a public act, and that the same be construed in all courts and 
 places benignly and favorably, for every humane and benevolent pur- 
 pose. Statutes, p. 306. 
 
 1819. "AN ACT to incorporate a Female Academy in the village 
 of Waterford^^ includes the following section : 
 
 " YII. And be it further enacted. That this act shall be and is 
 hereby declared to be a public act, and shall be construed benignly 
 and favorably for every beneficial purpose hereby intended, nor shall 
 
214 Univkksity Convocation. 
 
 any non user of the priviloijes o-ranted hereby to the said corporation 
 create or pnxhice any torfoiture of the same, and no misnomer of the 
 said corperation,"^' in any (UhhI, will or testament, orant, i>it't, demise, 
 or other insti'ument, ctmtractor conveyance, sliall defeat or vitiate the 
 same : Pvovided the cor|)(>ratioii l)o sntHciently described to ascer- 
 tain the intention of the parties. Statutes, ]>. 61. 
 
 From the years 1819 to 1830 inclusive, forty-one Academies and 
 similar institutions of learning- wen- incorporated by the Legislature, 
 and twenty-ciiiht of these acts of incorporation are expressly declared 
 to be public acts, generally in the precise language of the section last 
 quoted above. The names of these twenty-nine institutions are : 
 
 1810. Waterford Female Academy. 
 
 1820. Catskill Female Seminary. Statutes, p. 87. 
 
 1820. Mount Pf-easant Acahemy. Statutes, p. 90. 
 
 1821. Alhany FEiMALE AcADEMY. Statutes, p. 43. 
 
 1822. Newtown Female Academy. Statutes, p. 59. 
 
 1822. CooPEKSTowN Female Academy. Statutes, p. 178. 
 
 1823. Ithaca Academy. Statutes, p. 93. 
 
 1823. Reduook Academy. Statutes, p. 413. 
 
 1824. KiNDERHooK AcADEMY. Statutes, p. 169. 
 
 1824. Jefeerson Academy. Statutes, p. 378. 
 
 1825. Seminary of the Genesee Conference (since Oneida Con- 
 ference, and now Central N. Y. Conference Seminary). Statutes, 
 p. 125. 
 
 1825. Ontario Female Seminary*. Statutes, p. 239. 
 
 1826. Briogewater Academy. Statutes, p. 96. 
 1826. BEPFoun xA-cademy. Statutes, p. 101. 
 1826. Cana.u)harie Academy. Statutes, p. 155. 
 
 1826. Rensselaer Oswego (now Mexico) Academy. Statutes, 
 p. 158. 
 
 1826. Ovid Academy. Statutes, p. 164. 
 
 1827. Livingston County High School (now Geneseo Academy). 
 Sfafuti's, p. 50. 
 
 1827. Si'RiNGviLi.E Academy (now (triffith Institute). Statutes, 
 \\ tU>. 
 
 1827. Gaines Academy. Statutes, p. 300. 
 1827. Flushing Institute. Sttftutes, p. 360. 
 
 1827. Buffalo High School Assooiation. Statutes, p. 369. 
 
 1828. Alhany Female Seminary. Statutes, p. 221. 
 
 1828. RocHEsrER iNsriTurK of General Education. Statutes, 
 p. 375. 
 
 * So tpelled In the SUtate. 
 
Annals of Public Education. 215 
 
 1828. White Plains Academy. Statutes, p. 377. 
 
 1829. Palmyra High School. Statutes, p. 157. 
 
 1829. Brooklyn Collegiate Institute foe Young Ladies. Sta- 
 tutes, p. 344. 
 
 1830. Ontario High School. Statutes, p. 119. 
 
 The Revised Statutes, which went into full effect in 1830, made 
 general provisions applicable to all corporations, and a clause refer- 
 ring to these provisions occurs in many of the subsequent acts incor- 
 porating academies, seemingly in place of the disused section " That 
 this act be and hereby is declared a public act," etc. ; as above cited. 
 
 LowviLLE Academy. 
 
 1818. One of the lots, of 640 acres, reserved by law within the ten 
 townships located on the St. Lawrence, was directed to be granted 
 by letters patent to the trustees of LoM^ville Academy ; and it was 
 made the duty of the trustees to apply the interest arising from the sale 
 thereof in the manner stated above with reference to Pompey Aca- 
 demy, in 1813, (investing the principal, and applying the income to 
 the maintenance of instruction). Statutes, p. 123. 
 
 1824. "AN ACT for the relief of the Trustees of the Lowmlle 
 Academy^'' authorized the commissioners of the land ojBSce to sell lots 
 reserved for literary purposes " sufficient to raise the sum of three 
 thousand dollars, and to pay the same to the Trustees of the Lowville 
 academy, for the use of that institution : Provided, that the comp- 
 troller, before drawing his said warrant, shall be satisfied that the said 
 trustees shall have erected and completed, on ground owned by them 
 in fee and free of incumbrance, a substantial brick or stone building 
 for an academy, of the value of at least eight thousand' dollars." 
 (This provision was also enacted a year later, in the case of the St. 
 Lawrence Academy, above cited, p. 211.) Statutes, p. 336. 
 
 1828. "AN ACT/br the relief of Lowmlle Academy,'''' authorized 
 the trustees " to apply the whole avails of lot number fifty-six, in the 
 
 town of Canton, in the county of St. Lawrence, to the payment of 
 the debts owing by them, and which were contracted by them for the 
 erection and completion of their academic buildings, notwithstanding 
 any condition in the act granting the aforesaid lot to the use of the 
 said academy." Statutes, p. 43. 
 
 1836. "AN ACT to provide for the rebuilding of the Lowville Aca. 
 demy " directs that " the treasurer, on the warrant of the comptroller, 
 shall, out of ai\y money in the treasury belonging to the capital of 
 the common school fund, pay the sum of two thousand dollars to the 
 trustees of the Lowville academj^, in the town of Lowville, in the 
 county of Lewis, to be by them expended in the rebuilding of the 
 
216 Uyn'RRsrrr Convocation. 
 
 ]>riiu'i|>;il biiililinii^ hcloniiint!; to said aciideiuy; which said sum of two 
 thoiisaiid doihirs shall he charood in tlie hooks of the comptroller as a 
 dcltt diir IVoiii the said town of Lowville to this state, Mith interest 
 tlu>i('on at the rate of six percent per annnm ; and the said debt 
 
 shall heloui;' to the eomuum seluinl I'liiid."' 
 
 'IMie act further autlu)rizcs and re(piires the sujiervisors of Lewis 
 county, at their annual meetini^ in each year, for five years, " to 
 cause to be levied and collected from the taxable inhabitants of the 
 afi>resaid town of Lowville, over and above all expenses of collecting 
 the same, the sum of five hundred dollars, and the interest at the 
 rate aforesaid, which may be due on the first day of February 
 then next ensuin»;-, u])on so much of the principal smn of two 
 tJKnisand dollars as shall then remain unpaid; .... and, M'hen so col- 
 li'cted, one huiulred dollars thereof shall be paid to the trustees of 
 the said Lowville academy, for the purposes aforesaid; and the 
 residue thereof shall be paitl over to the treasurer of the said county 
 of JiCwis,-' .... who shall " pay the same into the treasury of this state ; 
 and, upon such .jviyment beiiii;- made, the same shall he an extinguish- 
 ment of so nnu'h of the said debt so as aforesaid charged to the said 
 town c>f Lowville.'' Statutes, p. 8'2. 
 
 184L The provisicuis of the above act were extended as to time. 
 iitatuts, p. 249. 
 
 AVashington Acapiomy. 
 
 181i>. "AN ACT for the Relief of the Trustees of the Washington 
 Academy." This act recites that ''the trustees of Washington Acad- 
 emy, situ.nte in the town of Salem, in the county of Washington, have 
 sustained heavy losses, by having two edifices, together with the appa- 
 ratus and libraries belonging thei*eto, destroyed by fire." 
 
 The act, therefore, appropriates to said trustees, " out of any 
 moneys not i>therwise appropriated, three thousand dollars, for the 
 purjiose of enabling them to rebuild said academy, and also to supply 
 the same witli suitable apparatus and library ;" for the faithful dis- 
 charge of which trust they are to account to the comptroller. 
 Statutes, p. t>2. 
 
 Montgomery Academy. 
 
 1819. "AN ACT to enable the trustees ofthe Montgomtry Academy 
 to erect a new hui/din<j,'' granted to the trustees of Montuomery 
 .Veademy the quit-rents, including the commutation for future quit- 
 rents, on sundry jvitents eontaining an aggregate of 19,000 acres of 
 laud ; but no direction is given in the body of the act as to the man- 
 ner in which the proceeds are to be applied. Statvtes, p. 149. 
 
 18'Jl'. "AN ACT for the relief of the 2rustees of Montgomery 
 Academy '' appropriates $737.82 to the trustees, iu full satisfaction of 
 
Annals of Public Education. 2X7 
 
 their claims (for quit-rents) under the above act of 1819. Statutes^ 
 p. 43. 
 
 1827. "The trustees of Montgomery Academy, in the town of 
 Montgomery, and their successors in office, shall be the trustees of 
 school district number seven in said town," * * Statutes, 
 50 tk sess., p. 336. 
 
 Delaware Academy. 
 
 1819. "AN ACT concerning an Academy in the county of Dela- 
 yjare,^^ provided that the sum of six thousand dollars, paid into the 
 treasury of this State, from the proceeds of a tract of land forfeited 
 by attainder, be appropriated to the Regents of the University, to be 
 by them applied toward the endowment of an academy in the vil- 
 lage of Delhi, Delaware county. Statutes, p. 218. 
 
 1821. The " Supply Bill" appropriated $681, in lieu of quit-rents 
 supposed to be due on the George Murray patent of 4,000 acres, 
 " from which the said patent had been totally discharged by reason of 
 a former confiscation and sale." Statutes, p. 266. 
 
 1849. " The treasurer shall pay, on the warrant of the comptroller, 
 
 1. To the Delaware academy, for each of the years one thousand eight 
 hundred and forty-nine and one thousand eight hundred and fifty, 
 the sum of two hundred and eighty-nine dollars and fifty cents, 
 being the interest, at six per centum, on four thousand, eight hundred 
 and twenty-five dollars of state stock held by the comptroller, in 
 trust for said academy, being part of an appropriation for said 
 academy, by chapter one hundred and seventy, of the laws of one 
 thousand eight hundred and nineteen." Statutes, p. 433. 
 
 1851. This provision was renewed for the years 1850 and 1851. 
 Statutes, p. 992. 
 
 Inckease of the Literature and Common School Funds.* 
 1819. "AN ACT concerning Quit-Rents, and to increase the Litera- 
 iure and School Funds, respectively,^^ provided, " That one moiety of 
 all the quit-rents, and commutation for future quit-rents, which may 
 be received into the treasury, shall be and the same are hereby 
 appropriated to the increase of the literature fund; and the other 
 moiety tliereof to the further increase of the school fund; .... tlie 
 one moiety thereof in the name of the regents of the university, 
 to be held in trust by them for the promotion of literature ; and the 
 other moiety thereof in the name of the comptroller of this state, 
 for the time being, to be held in trust by him for the benefit of the 
 school fund; * * Statutes, p. 298. 
 
 * For a report made by the Regents of the University, April 3, 1819, showing the funds and 
 revenues of the Regents at that date, and the •' fund for the promotion of literature" created by the 
 Statue of 1813, see Senate Journal, 42d session, 1819, pp. 845-247. 
 
218 University Convocation. 
 
 1827. "AN ACT to provide permanent funds for the annual appro- 
 priation to Common Schools, to hiGrease the Literature Fund, and to 
 Promote the Education of Teachers^'' directs, in regard to the increase 
 of the Literature Fund, " tliat the comptroller be and he is hereby 
 authorised to receive any bonds and mortgages taken, or that shall 
 hereafter be taken, on the sale of any lands belonging to canal fund, 
 to the amount of one hundred and liftj thousand dollars, in payment 
 for so much of tlie canal stock owned by this state, belonging to the 
 general fund, and thereupon to cancel and discharge the like amount 
 of the said canal stock, and the bonds and mortgages when so 
 received, and the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars of 
 the said canal stock, until the said bonds and mortgages are received, 
 shall be ajipropriated and transferred to the literature fund of this 
 state, and the income thereof shall be subject to the control of the 
 regents of the university, upon condition or in addition to any other 
 condition the regents may prescribe, that the said regents shall 
 annually distribute the whole income arising from the fund now 
 under their control, as well as that hereby added, among the incor- 
 porated academies and seminaries of this state, other than colleges, 
 which are subject to the visitation of the said regents." * * * 
 * * Statutes, p. 237. 
 
 1830, 1831, 1832. Certain transfers of stocks were directed to be 
 made, not materially affecting the status of the Literature Fund. 
 Statutes, 1830, p. 207; 1831, p. 350; 1832, p. 510. 
 
 1832. "AN ACT for the improvement of the Literature Fund^^ 
 directs that " the regents of the university shall, within sixty days 
 after the passage of this act, transfer to the comptroller all the stock, 
 money, securities and property belonging to the literature fund in 
 their possession, w under their control ;" and, further, provides for 
 the application of the income arising from said fund to the same 
 general purposes as before. Statutes, p. 10. 
 
 Farmers' Hall Academy. 
 
 1822. The Trustees of Farmers' Hall Academy, in the village of 
 Goshen, were constituted the trustees of the common school district 
 comprising the said village, provided, the consent of a majority of 
 the taxable inhabitants of the district should be obtained, for the 
 term of six years only, unless by renewal of such consent for the 
 same period, from time to time. Statutes, p. 196. 
 
 Oyster Bay Academy. 
 
 1823. By a like provision of law, the trustees of Oyster Bay 
 Academy were conditionally made the trustees of the local common 
 school. Statutes, p. 170. 
 
Annals of Public Education. 219 
 
 MiDDLEBUBY AcADEMT. 
 
 1823. The commissioners of the land office were authorized to raise 
 one thousand dollars for the benefit of the Middlebury Academy, 
 from the sale of lots reserved for literarj'^ purposes. Statutes, p. 45, 
 
 1826. Tlie sum of $1,000 was appropriated in advance for and in 
 lieu of that provided for in 1823, the said trustees being required to 
 give a penal bond to make up any deficiency in the amount raised 
 by the sale of lots reserved for literary purposes. Statutes, p. 177. 
 
 Mount Pleasant Academy. 
 
 1824. "AN ACT for the benefit of the Mount Pleasant Academy" 
 directed the comptroller to grant to the trustees of said academy a 
 certain bond and mortgage, with all the rights appertaining to the 
 people of the State of New York thereto. Statutes, p. 330. 
 
 E.ED Hook Academy. 
 
 1824. "AN hSjl^inaking an ajpprojpriationfor the Red Hook Acad- 
 emy " granted $1,000, to be raised from the sale of lots reserved for the 
 literature fund, to the trustees of the Red Hook academy, for appara- 
 tus, libraiy, etc. ; for the faithful discharge of which trust, the said 
 trustees were to account to the comptroller. Statutes, p. 375. 
 
 • Fkedonia Academy. 
 
 1825. "AN ACT/br the Relief of Fredonia Academy,''^ granted an 
 
 annuity of $350 for five years, to be applied " towards the payment 
 
 of a salary to a competent preceptor of said academy ;" and provided 
 
 " that the trustees shall annually report and account to the regents of 
 the university for the application of the said monies." Statutes, p. 349. 
 
 AuBUKN Academy. 
 
 1825. Letters patent were directed to be issued to the trustees of 
 the Auburn Academy, for lot No. 88, less fifty acres, in the township 
 of Sterling. Statutes, p. 387. 
 
 1826. The sum of $1,002 was appropriated in exchange for the 
 above lot. Statutes, p. 100. 
 
 Ithaca Academy. 
 
 1825. The treasurers of Seneca and Tompkins counties were 
 authorized to sell lot No. 24, in the town of Ulysses, and apply one- 
 half the proceeds to Ithaca Academy, and to preserve one-half for the 
 benefit of such academy in Seneca county as the legislature should 
 thereafter direct. Statutes, p. 428. 
 
220 University Convocation. 
 
 Lewiston Academy. 
 
 1826. "AN ACT relative to the Ferry on the Niagara River, at 
 Lewiston,,^'' directed the commissioners of the land office to lease the 
 said ferry and lot appertaining thereto, for a term of ten years, to the 
 trustees of Lewiston Academy, for tlie sole use and benefit of said 
 academy. Statutes, p. 301. 
 
 1833, 1843. The above lease was renewed for the term of ten 
 years from each of the foregoing dates. Statutes, 1833, p. 114 ; 
 1843, p. 89. 
 
 Mexico (formerly Rensselaer Oswego) Academy. 
 
 1828. "AN ACT relative to the Rensselaer Oswego Academy," 
 declares that " the site of the Rensselaer Oswego Academy is hereby 
 located on a lot of land in the town of Mexico, in the county of 
 Oswego, which was conveyed on the twentieth day of March, one 
 thousand eight hundred and twenty-two, by Roswell L. Colt, to 
 Dennis Peck, Leonard Ames, and William S. Fitch, trustees of school 
 district number five, in said town of Mexico." Statutes, p. 124. 
 
 1829. " It shall and may be lawful for the trustees, for the time 
 being, of school district number five, in the town of Mexico, in the 
 county of Oswego, to convey by a good and sufficient deed of con- 
 veyance, to the trustees of the Rensselaer Oswego academy, or their 
 successors in office, the land which was conveyed (as stated in the act 
 of 1828), together with all and singular the buildings, appurtenances 
 and privileges to the same belonging or in any vinse appertaining." 
 Statutes, p. 83. 
 
 1856, "AN ACT authorizing the Conjptroller to loan money to the 
 Mexico Academy, and for other purposes,^^ allowed the inhabitants 
 of the town of Mexico, at a town meeting, to vote for or against the 
 proposed loan ; and in case of a majority vote in favor of such loan, 
 " the comptroller is hereby authorized to loan to the trustees of the 
 said Mexico academy, from the capital of the common school fund, 
 a sum of money not to exceed the sum of one thousand five hundred 
 dollars, to be paid in three annual installments, next following the 
 making of such loan, with interest annuully upon the whole sum 
 remaining unpaid ; and such loan, when made, shall be a debt of the 
 said town of Mexico, to be assessed, levied and collected on the taxa- 
 ble property of said town, as hereinafter provided." * * * Sta- 
 tutes, p. 171. 
 
 Franklin Academy (Prattsburgh). ' 
 
 1828. "AN ACT for the Relief of Franklin Academy." 
 
 " The treasurer shall pay, on the warrant of the comptroller, to the 
 
 trustees of the Franklin Academy, in the county of Steuben, the sura 
 
 of two thousand dollars, out of tlie first money that shall be received 
 
 into the treasury on account of the debt due the people of this state 
 
Annals of Public Education. 221 
 
 from George McClure ; the said sum to be applied by the said trus- 
 tees to the purchase of philosophical apparatus, and a library suitable 
 for the said academy ; but this act shall not entitle the said trustees 
 to any money out of the treasury, unless it shall be received from the 
 debt above mentioned." Statutes, p. 298. 
 
 Ogdensbuegh Academy. 
 
 1833. AN ACT authorising the hoard of supervisors of the county 
 of St. Lawrence to lay a tax on the town of Oswegatchie, to he 
 invested in an academy and lot, and for other purposes, ^^ appoints 
 " commissioners for expending and laying out the monies raised and 
 appropriated by this act ;" directs that " the money now in the hands 
 of the supervisor and poor-masters of the town of Oswegatchie, or the 
 securities therefor, shall be paid or delivered over into the hands of 
 the [said] commissioners ;" and provides for levying and collecting 
 upon the taxable property of said town, such sum as, with the sum 
 to be received from the said supervisor and poor-masters, shall amount 
 to two thousand dollars : Provided, that the inhabitants of the village 
 of Ogdensburgh shall first have raised, by subscription or otherwise, 
 the sum of two thousand dollars for the same purpose. The said 
 moneys are further directed to be applied to the purchase of a lot, and 
 the purchase or erection of suitable buildings for an academy, etc.. 
 including a room for public meetings of the inhabitants; and certain 
 town and village officers are made trustees, ex officio, of such academy. 
 It is also directed, among other things, that the amount of said $2,000' 
 tax for each school district of the town be ascertained, and that the 
 inhabitants of each school district of said town, outside of the village 
 of Ogdensburgh, " shall annuall}' be entitled to a credit on the tuition 
 of any scholars from such district, attending any course of instruction 
 in the said academy during the said year, to the amount of the inte- 
 rest on the sum so determined to have been paid or to belong to the 
 said district." Statutes, p. 353. 
 
 1834. "AIST ACT in addition to an act entitled " (as above), author- 
 izes certain ex officio trustees of the Ogdensburgh Academy, for the 
 term of ten years, to grant licenses to keep a ferry across the St. Law- 
 rence river, the net rents, profits and income of which shall inure to 
 and belong to the said Ogdensburgh Academy. Statutes, p. 220. 
 
 1844. The foregoing franchise was renewed for the term of ten 
 years. Statutes, p. 53. 
 
 Canton Academy. 
 
 1835. "AN ACT authorising the supervisors of the county of St. 
 Lawrence to levy a tax for the henefit of a classical school in the 
 
222 University Convocation. 
 
 town of Canton, heretofore known as the Canton Academy, ^^ pro- 
 vided for raising the sum of five hundred dollars, to be securely 
 invested, and the interest to be applied to the support of said classi- 
 cal school. Statutes, p. 282. 
 
 1837. Renewed, us to amount, for each of three successive years, 
 provided an amount equal to the whole sum raised by taxation shall 
 have been raised by individuals for the same object, or the income of 
 such sum shall have been secured for a term of at least twenty years. 
 Statutes, p. 139. 
 
 1842. The act of 1837 was amended and renewed so far as to allow 
 the last five hundred dollars to be collected during two then subsequent 
 years, and " to be applied in payment of debts incurred by Canton 
 Academy, for the erection of academic buildings." Statutes, p. 367. 
 
 DlSTKIBUTION OF THE LITERATURE FuND. 
 
 1834. "AN ACT relating to the distribution and ajpplication of the 
 revenues of the literature fund." 
 
 § 1. There shall be twelve thousand dollars of the revenues of the 
 literature fund annually distributed, by the regents of the university, 
 to the academies and schools which nuw are or hereafter may be sub- 
 ject to the visitation of the regents, in the manner now provided by 
 law; which moneys shall be exclusively appropriated and expended 
 by the trustees of such academies and schools respectively, towards 
 paying the salaries of tutors. 
 
 I 2. Any portion of the excess of the literature fund over the sum 
 of twelve thousand dollars, may, in the discretion of the regents, be 
 assigned to any academy or school subject to their visitation, and subject 
 to such rules and regulations as the}' may prescribe, for the purchase of 
 text books, maps and globes, or philosophical or chemical apparatus; 
 such sum shall not (^xceed two hundred and fifty dollars in any one 
 year. But no part of the said excess shall be actually paid over, 
 unless the trustees of the academy or school to which it is to be appro- 
 priated shall raise and apply an equal sum of money to the same 
 object. Statutes, p. 176. 
 
 § 3. The fifty -fourth section of chapter fifteen of title one of the 
 first part of the Revised Statutes, is hereby repealed. [The section 
 thus repealed was: " Any college or academy now incorporated, and 
 exempt from the visitation of the regents, may subject itself to such 
 visitation, by a resolution, to be approved and signed by a majority 
 of its trustees, and attested by the seal of the corporation ; and every 
 such resolution, when received by the regents, shall be unalterable, 
 unless with the consent of the regents." 1 R. S., p. 164.] 
 
Annals of Public Education. 223 
 
 Education of Common School Teachers. 
 1834. "AN ACT concerning the Literature Fund^'' directs: 
 § 1. Tlie revenue of the literature fund now in the treasury, and 
 the excess of the annual revenue of said fund hereafter to be paid 
 into the treasury, over the sum of twelve thousand dollars, or portions 
 thereof, may be distributed by the regents of the university, if they 
 shall deem it expedient, to the academies subject to their visitation, or 
 a portion of them, to be expended as hereinafter mentioned. 
 
 § 2. Tlie trustees of academies to which any distribution of money 
 shall be made by virtue of this act, shall cause the same ,to be 
 expended in educating teachers of common schools, in such manner 
 and under such regulations as said regents shall prescribe. Statutes, 
 p. 425. 
 
 1849. "AN ACT mahmg appropriations for the support of common 
 schools for the years 1849 and 1850," provides, among other things : 
 
 § 2. The treasurer shall pay on the warrant of the comptroller out 
 of the income of the United States deposite or Literature Funds, not 
 otherwise appropriated to the trustees of one or more academies, as 
 the regents of the university shall designate, in each county in this 
 state, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars per year for the years 
 one thousand eight hundred and fifty and one thousand eight hundred 
 and fifty-one ; provided such academy or academies shall have 
 instructed in the science of common school teaching, for at least four 
 months during each of said years at least twenty individuals, but no 
 such one county shall receive a larger sum than two hundred and 
 fifty dollars. Statutes, p. 236. 
 
 Fkanklin Academy (Malone). 
 
 1836. "AN ACT to provide for the rebuilding of the Fra/nklin 
 academy,-^ authorized the comptroller to loan out of the capital of 
 the common school fund, " the sum of two thousand dollars to the trus- 
 tees of the Franklin academy, in the town of Malone, in the county 
 of Fi-auklin, to be by them expended in the rebuilding of the academy 
 buildings on the academy lot in said town ; which said sum of two thou- 
 sand dollars shall be charged in the books of the comptroller as a debt 
 due from said town of Malone to this state, with interest thereon at the 
 rate of six per cent per annum ; and the said debt shall belong to the 
 common school fund." To meet this indebtedness, the supervisors of 
 said county were required to levy a tax, for each of four successive years, 
 on the taxable inhabita.its of said town of Malone, equal to one-fourth 
 of the whole debt, including interest, etc. (See a similar act in rela- 
 tion to Lowville Academy, ante, p. 215.) Statutes, p. 32. 
 
 185Y. "AN ACT to authorize a loan to the trustees of Franklin 
 Academy, at Malone, Franklin county," authorized the comptroller 
 to loan to said trustees, at seven per cent interest, " out of the capi- 
 
224 University Convocatiox. 
 
 tal of the common school fund, to be paid in six equal annual 
 instalments, the sum of twelve hundred dollars, on the execution, by 
 such trustees, of a bond and mortgage on their real property, as the 
 comptroller shall deem ample security, or the deposit of such other 
 security as the comptroller shall deem sufficient." A satisfactory 
 policy of insurance on the academy buildings, duly assigned, was also 
 required as further security. Statutes, vol. 2, p. 403. 
 
 Sandy Hill Academy. 
 1836. "AN ACT to jprovide for thehuilding of an academy or high 
 school in the village of Sandy Hill^'' authorized the levying a tax 
 upon the said village not exceeding three thousand dollars, for this 
 purpose. Statutes, p. 790. 
 
 FuETHER Increase of LrrERAxuRE and Common School Funds, from 
 THE U. S. DEPosrr Fund. 
 
 1838. "AN ACT to appropriate the income of the United States 
 deposite fund to the purposes of education and the dijf'fsion of 
 knowledge^'' directs that the sum of one hundred and ten thousand 
 dollars be annually distributed from that fund to the common 
 schools ; the sum of fifty-live thousand dollars annually for the pur- 
 chase of district libraries, for the term of three years, and thereafter 
 for either libraries or teachers' wages, in the discretion of the inhabi- 
 tants of each district; six thousand dollars each, annually, for five 
 years, and until otherwise directed by law, to Geneva College, and 
 the University of the City of New York, for the payment of pro- 
 fessors and teachers ; three thousand dollars annually for the same 
 ])eriod and purpose, to Hamilton college ; and twenty-eight thousand 
 dollars annually " to the literature fund, which, together with the 
 sum of twelve thousand dollars of the present literature fund, shall 
 be annually distributed among the academies in the several sena- 
 torial districts by the regents of the university, in the manner now 
 provided by law. But no academy shall hereafter be allowed to par- 
 ticipate in the annual distribution of the literature fund, until the 
 regents of \\w. university shall be satisfied that a proper building has 
 lieen erected and finished to furnish suitable and necessary accommo- 
 dation for such school, and that such academy is furnished with a 
 suitable library and philosophical apparatus, and that a proper pre- 
 ceptor has been and is employed for the instruction of the pupils at 
 such academy :"^ And further, that the regents shall, on being satisfied 
 that such building, library and apparatus are sufficient for the pnr- 
 poses intended, and that the whole is of the value at least of twenty- 
 five hundred dollars, permit such academy or school to place itself 
 under the visitation of the regents, and thereafter to share in the 
 
Annals of Public Education. 225 
 
 distribution of the moneys above mentioned, or any other of the 
 literature fund in the manner now provided by law. The regents of 
 the university may also admit to such distribution and to any other 
 of the literature fund, any incorporated school, or school founded and 
 governed by any literary corporation other than theological or medi- 
 cal, in which the usual academic studies are pursued, and which shall 
 have been in like manner subjected to their visitation, and would in 
 all other respects, were it incorporated as an academy, be entitled to 
 such distribution. 
 
 "§ 9. It shall be the duty of the regents of the univer- 
 sity to require of every academy receiving a distributive share of 
 pifblic money under the preceding section equal to seven hiindred 
 dollars per annum, to establish and maintain in such academy a 
 department for the instruction of common school teachers, under the 
 direction of the said regents, as a condition of receiving the dis- 
 tributive share of every such academy." 
 
 The residue of the income of the said U. S, deposit fund not 
 otherwise appropriated was to be annually added to the capital of 
 the common school fund.- * * * Statutes^ p. 220. 
 
 1851. ''AN ACT appropriating the revenues of the Literature and 
 United States Deposit Funds^'' provides : 
 
 § 1. There shall be paid annually, by the treasurer, on the war- 
 rant of the comptroller, out of the revenues derived from the litera- 
 ture fund, to the several academies under the supervision of the 
 regents of the university, the sum of twelve thousand dollars, and 
 the further sum of twenty-eight thousand dollars from the income of 
 the United States deposit fund, being in all forty thousand dollars, 
 according to an apportionment to be made by the regents among 
 the said academies, in proportion to the number of pupils in each 
 who shall have pursued the requisite studies to enable them to 
 share in said distribution ; there shall be paid to the Delaware 
 academy in each of the years 1851 and 1852, the sum of two 
 hundred and eighty-nine dollars and fifty cents, being the interest 
 at six per cent, on four thousand eight hundred and twenty-five 
 dollars of state stock held by the comptroller in trust for said 
 academy, being part of an appropriation for said academy, by chap. 
 170, of the laws of 1819. ***** 
 
 § 3. There shall be paid by the treasurer, on the warrant of the 
 comptroller, out of the income of the literature fund, to the regents 
 of the university, three thousand dollars annually, to be assigned by 
 them to such academies, subject to their visitation, for the purchase 
 of text books, maps and globes, or philosophical or chemical appara- 
 tus, as may apply for a part of the money for that purpose, on the 
 terms prescribed in the second section of chapter one hundred and 
 forty of the laws of one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four. 
 ** * * **** 
 
 § 4. The treasurer shall pay yearly, on the warrant of the comp- 
 troller, out of the income of the United States deposit or literature 
 
 16 
 
226 University' Coxvocation. 
 
 fund, not otherwise appropriated, to the trustees of one or more 
 academies in each county of the state, as the re_^ents of the univer- 
 sity shall designate, the sum of twelve dollars and iifty cents for each 
 scholar whu shall have been instructed in such academy during at 
 least four full calendar months in the science of common school 
 teaching. Statutes, p. 992. 
 
 Hudson Academy. 
 1838. ''AN ACT for the relief of the Hudson Academy ,' provides 
 that " the comptroller of this State is hereby authorized to cancel the 
 bond of live hundred dollars, with interest thereon, held by the peo- 
 ple oi this state, against the Hudson Academy, bearing date third 
 March, one thousand eight hundred and thirteen." Statutes, p. 268. 
 
 Provisions rel<\tivk to Trust Funds. 
 1840. "AN KQT authorizing eetiaiir trusts.-' provides: 
 § 1. Eeal and personal property may be granted and conveyed to 
 any incorporated college oi' other literary invorporated institution in 
 this state, to be held in trust for either of the following purposes : 
 
 1. To establish and maintain an observatory. 
 
 2. To found and maintain professoi'ships and scholarships. 
 
 3. To provide and keep in repair a place for the burial of the dead ; or 
 
 4. For any other specific purposes comprehended in the general 
 objects authorized by their respective cliartcrs. The said trusts may 
 be created, subject to such conditions and visitations as may be pre- 
 scribed by the grantor or donor, and agreed to by said trustees; and 
 all property which shall hereafter be granted to any incorporated 
 college or other literary incorpoi-ated institution in trust for either 
 of the aforesaid purposes, may be held by such college or institution 
 upon such trusts, and subject to such conditions and visitations as 
 may be prescribed and agreed to as aforesaid. 
 
 § 2. Real and personal estate may be granted and conveyed to the 
 corporation of any city or village of this state, to be held in trust for 
 any purpose of education, or the diffusion of knowledge, or for the 
 relief of distress, or for parks, gardens, or other ornamental grounds, 
 or grounds for the purposes of militai-y parades and exercise, or 
 health and recreation, within or near such incorporated city or village, 
 upon such coiuiitions as may be jjrescribed by the grantor or donor, 
 and agreed to by such coi'poi-ation ; and all real estate so granted or 
 conveyed to such corporation, may be held by the same, subject to 
 such conditions as may be ])rcsci-ibed and agreed to as aforesaid. 
 
 § 3. Real and i)ersonal estate may be granted to commissioners of 
 common schools of any town, and to trustees of any school district, 
 in trust for the benefit of the common schools of such town, or for the 
 benefit of the schools of such distriqt. 
 
 § 4. The trusts authorized by this act may continue for such time 
 as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes for which they may be 
 created. Statutes, p. 267. 
 
Annals of Public Edtjcation. 227 
 
 1846. ''AN" ACT to amend the act,''^ (authorizing certain trusts as 
 aforesaid) provides : 
 
 § 1. The income arising from any real or personal property granted or 
 conveyed, devised or bequeathed in trust to any incorporated college 
 or other incorporated literary institution, for any of the purposes spe- 
 cified in the "Act authorizing certain trusts," passed May lith, 1840, 
 or for the purpose of providing for the support of any' teacher in a 
 grammar school or institute, may be permitted to accumulate till the 
 same shall amount to a sum sutficient, in the opinion of the regents 
 of the university, to carry into effect either ol the purposes aforesaid, 
 designated in said trust. Statutes, p. 76. 
 
 Cambridge Washington Academy. 
 
 1848. "AN AQTfor the relief and lenefit of the Cambridge Wash- 
 ington Academy " provides that " all the right, title and interest of 
 the people of this state, in and to the personal estate of Margaret 
 McLelland, deceased, late of Washington county, a lunatic, veho it is 
 alleged died without heirs at law capable of inheriting, is hereby 
 released to the trustees of the Cambridge Washington Academy, for 
 the use and benefit of said academy, provided always that nothing 
 herein contained shall be construed to impair or affect the claims of 
 any creditor or heir at law of said Margaret McLelland." Statutes, 
 p. 341. 
 
 Academy of Dutchess County. 
 
 1849. "AN ACT apjpropriating the revenues of the Literature and 
 United States deposite fund,'''' in addition to appropriations to certaini 
 colleges, and to the Delaware and St. Lawrence Academies, appro- 
 priates " to the Dutchess County Academy, out of the income of the 
 United States deposite fund, four thousand dollars." Statutes^ 
 p. 433. 
 
 Alfred Academy. 
 
 1850. "AN ACT authorizing a loan to the town of Alfred, in the 
 county of Allegany, and to authorize the town of Alfred to reloan 
 the same money to the trustees of Alfred Academy^'' provided for 
 advancing the sum of ten thousand dollars from the capital of the 
 common school fund, under certain specified conditions. Statutes, 
 p. 496. 
 
 1851. The Annual Appropriation Act contains the following : 
 
 " From the General Fund :" [for the three next following institu- 
 tions.] 
 
228 University Convocation. 
 
 Rensselaer Institute. 
 
 " For the Rensselaer Institute [then an acadeui}^], three thou- 
 sand dollars." [Subsequent appropriations have been made to the 
 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which, being now authorized to 
 confer degrees, may be classed with colleges.] 
 
 Geneseo Academy. 
 " For Geneseo academy, three thousand dollars." 
 
 Gouverneue Wesletan Seminary. 
 " To the Gouverneur Wesleyan seminary, two thousand dollars." 
 Statutes, p. 936. 
 
 New Paltz Academy. 
 
 1856. "AN ACT for the loaning of certain moneys to the New 
 Paltz Academy, at New Paltz, Ulster county, " provides : 
 
 § 1. The comptroller is authorized to loan to the trustees of New 
 Paltz Academy, the sum of one thousand dollars from the literature 
 fund for the period of six years, upon said trustees filing satisfactor}-^ 
 securities for the payment of the same by mortgage on the real estate 
 belonging to said academy, situate in the village of New Paltz, Ulster 
 county. 
 
 § 2. The sum of money hereby authorized to be loaned shall be 
 applied by such trustees solely for the benefit of such academy. 
 
 § 3. The interest upon the sum hereby authorized to be loaned 
 shall be paid annually. Statutes, p. 169, 
 
 1863. "AN ACT for the relief of New Paltz Academy," released the 
 aforesaid loan of one thousand dollars with accrued interest, and appro- 
 priated from the general fund a sum sufiicient to reimburse the lite- 
 rature fund therefor. Statutes, p. 826. 
 
 Loans to Academies. 
 
 1857. During this year, the Legislature authorized the Comptroller 
 to loan money from the common school fund to several of the acade- 
 mies, to wit : 
 
 Antwerp Liberal Literary Institute, $3,000. Statutes, vol. ii. 
 p. 473. 
 
 Franklin Academy, Malone, $1,500. Vol. ii, p. 403. (See p. 223, 
 a/nte.) 
 
 Onondaga Academy, $4,000. Vol. ii, p. 496. (See p. 210, ante.) 
 
 Ovid Academy, $5,000. Vol. ii, p. 492. 
 
 Rogersville Union Seminary, $3,500. Vol. i, p. 846. 
 
 Susquehanna Seminary, $15,000. Vol. ii, p. 495. 
 
Annals of Public Education. 229 
 
 Olean Academy. 
 1857. The town of Olean was authorized to raise $1,500 by tax, 
 on a two-thirds vote by the taxable inhabitants, the said sum to be 
 expended in completing the said academy and buildings thereto 
 belonging. /Statutes, vol. i, p. 904. 
 
 Aurora Academy. 
 
 1864. The town of Aurora, Erie county, was authorized to raise 
 six thousand dollars by bond, to be expended in rebuilding the said 
 academy, and the Comptroller was authorized to make a loan from 
 the common school fund on such bond. Statutes, p. 1318. 
 
 1868. Fifteen hundred dollars, in addition to the above, for com- 
 pleting and furnishing the building and paying off the indebtedness 
 of said institution. Statutes, p. 533. 
 
 Utica Academy. 
 
 1866. Common Council authorized to raise $25,000 by bonds, to be 
 applied to the erection of a new building, etc. Statutes, p. 26. 
 
 1868. Ten thousand dollars, in addition to the above. Statutes, 
 p. 41. 
 
 Le Koy Academic Institute. 
 
 1867. Town authorized, on a majority vote at the annual town 
 meeting, to raise $10,000, upon its bonds, for benefit of institute, 
 the acting supervisor to be, after delivery of bonds, from that time 
 forward, a trustee by virtue of his office. Statutes, p. 84. 
 
 Canajoharie Academy. 
 1867. Village trustees authorized to levy tax of $2,500, to pay 
 indebtedness of said academy and to improve property. Statutes, 
 p. 833. 
 
 Arcade Academy, 
 
 1867. Town authorized to issue bonds to the amount of $8,000^ 
 for liquidation of debt, erection of boarding-house, and improvemenv 
 of buildings and grounds. Statutes, p. 2381. 
 
 Almond Academy, 
 
 1868. Town authorized, on a majority vote of electors, to raise 
 $7,000 by bonds, for erecting an Academy and town hall. Statutes, 
 p. 199. 
 
280 University Convocation. 
 
 WooDHULL Academy. 
 1869. The Supervisor of Woodhull was authorized, on the con 
 sent of a majority of the tax-payers of said town, to issue bonds 
 upon tlie credit of the town to the amount of $4,000, for the purpose 
 of erecting additional buildings for the use of said Academy. Sta- 
 tutes, p. 424. 
 
 Friendship Academy. 
 
 1871. Supervisor of Friendship authorized, on a majority vote 
 of electors, to issue bonds to the amount of $3,000, for addition 
 to building, repairs and improvements. Statutes, p. 269. 
 
 1873. Similar enactment for $4,000 more. Statutes, ^^.\\'^^.. 
 
 Christian Brothers' Academy, Albany. 
 Gary Collegiate Seminary. 
 
 1871. "AN ACT making appropriations for certain public and 
 charitable institutions," contains the following grants to academies, 
 subject to the visitation of the Regents of the University : 
 
 " For the Christian Brothers' Academy at Albany, three thousand 
 seven hundred and fifty dollars." 
 
 " For the Cary Collegiate Seminary, Oaklield, three thousand seven 
 hundred and fifty dollars." Statutes, p. 1966. 
 
 Rochester Free Academy. 
 
 1872. The city was authorized to issue bonds to the amount of 
 $75,000, " to be expended in the erection of a free academy upon the 
 site purchased and now owned by said city for such purpose." Star 
 tides, p. 471. 
 
 Also, for $15,000, to pay debt incurred in the purchase of a site for 
 said free Academy. Statutes,^. 541. 
 
 1873. $75,000 above, increased to $125,000. Statutes, p. 1060. 
 
 Unadilla Academy. 
 
 1872. "AN ACT to provide for the endowment of the Unadilla 
 academy" authorizes an appropriation of $10,000 of the surplus 
 moneys in the hands of the railroad commissioners of said town, for 
 which surplus money said town has incurred no liability, on the con- 
 sent of a majority of the tax-payers of said town, owning or repre- 
 senting more than one-half of the taxable property, to be set apart as 
 a fund, the income of wliich shall be applied exclusively toward the 
 
Annals of Public Education. 231* 
 
 payment of the salaries of teachers employed by the trustees of the 
 said Unadilla Academy. Statutes, p. 1149. 
 
 Cortland Academy. 
 
 1867. The town officers of Homer were authorized, on a two-thii-ds 
 vote of electors, to raise $20,000 by bond, for erection of new build- 
 ing for Cortland Academy. Statutes, p. 224. 
 
 1873. AN" ACT to provide for the payment of tuition in Cortland 
 Academy of academic scholars residing in the village of Homer." 
 
 Section 1. Every scholar residing within the corporate limits of 
 the village of Homer, who has received or who may hereafter receive 
 the regents' certificate, entitling such scholar to admission in the 
 academies of this State, shall be entitled to tuition, free of charge, in 
 Cortland Academy, in the village of Homer, for the full academic 
 course of instruction as established by the trustees of said academy. 
 
 § 2. To pay the expenses of tuition of all scholars who receive 
 instruction in Cortland Academy pursuant to section one of this act, 
 the trustees of the village of Homer are hereby authorized and 
 required to levy a tax upon the taxable property of said village, suf- 
 ficient to pay the tuition of such scholars, at the rate of nine dollars 
 a term of thirteen weeks, for all scholars who are pursuing studies 
 known as higher English, and at the rate of twelve dollars a term of 
 thirteen weeks, for all scholars who are pursuing classical studies in" 
 said academy. 
 
 § 3. After the close of each academic term in said academy, it shall 
 be the duty of the principal of said academy to report, to the presi- 
 dent of the board of trustees of said village, the name of each aca- 
 demic scholar residing in said village of Homer, who has received 
 instruction in said academy during the previous term, with the num- 
 ber of weeks each has been in attendance, and the studies pursued 
 by each, which report shall be verified by the affidavit of said prin- 
 cipal. 
 
 § 4. It shall be the duty of the president of the board of trustees of 
 said village of Homer, within ten days after receiving the report 
 mentioned in the preceding section, to lay the same before the board 
 of trustees of said village, at a regular or special meeting of such 
 board, whose duty it shall be to draw an order on the treasurer of 
 said village, payable to the treasurer of said Cortland academy, fo 
 the amount which said academy is entitled to receive, as shown ! j 
 the report of said principal of Cortland academy, which order shall 
 be delivered to the treasurer of Cortland academy. 
 
 § 5. It shall be the duty of the secretary of the board of trustees 
 of said academy to give notice, in one or more papers published in 
 the village of Homer, at least two weeks before the holding of the 
 regents' examination in each term of said academy ; and any scholar 
 residing within tlie limits of said village shall be allowed all the 
 privileges of an examination granted to scholars attending said aca- 
 demy. 
 
232 University Convocation. 
 
 § 6. Nothing in this act, giving free tuition to scholars in Cortland 
 academy, shall be construed .so as to interfere with the discipline of 
 said school ; and it shall be lawful for tlie l>oard of trustees of said 
 academy, on reconimen<]ation of the principal of said ucademy, to 
 expel any scholar for improper conduct. 
 
 § 7. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby 
 repealed. 
 
 § 8. The said board of trustees of the village of Homer shall take 
 no steps in pursuance of the provisions of this act until the same shall 
 be approved by a majority of voters of said village voting at a special 
 meeting held for that purpose, in the town hall in the said village of 
 Homer on the tirst Tuesday of May next. A notice of which special 
 meeting shall be published in two papers published in said village for 
 two weeks previous to such election. Said vote shall be taken by 
 ballot, and there shall be written or printed or partly w^ritten and 
 |)artly printed on the ballots of tliose in favor of the tax, " For the 
 payment of tuition of academic scholars in Cortland academy;'* and 
 on the ballots of those opposed, " Against the payment of tuition of 
 academic scholars in Cortland academy." The poll shall be open 
 from one o'clock in the afternoon until seven o'clock in the evening. 
 The trustees of said village shall preside at and certify the result of 
 such meeting ; and such certificate shall be recorded by the clerk of 
 said village in the village record. 
 
 § 9. Tliis act shall take effect immediately. Statutes, p. 255. 
 
 State Tax for the BENEFrr of Academies and Academical 
 Departments of Union Schools. 
 
 1872. The Annual Appropriation Act contains the following para- 
 graph : 
 
 '* For the benefit of the academies and academical departments of the 
 union schools, the sum of one hundred and twenty-live thousand dol- 
 lars, or so much thereof as may be derived from a tax of one-sixteenth 
 of one mill upon each dollar of the taxable property of the State ; 
 the sum thus arising to be divided as the literature fund is now 
 divided, which is hereby ordered to be levied for each and every 
 year." Statut'>s,\). I'iibO. 
 
 1873. The Annual Appropriation Act renews the appropriation of 
 
 1872, with this modification of the clause following the M^ord " State," 
 
 to wit : " this sum to be divided as the literature fund is now divided, 
 and in accordance with the law passed in eighteen hundred and 
 seventy-two ; but no part of this fund shall be distributed in aid of 
 anv religious or denominational academy of this State." Statutes, 
 p. '1007. 
 
 The language used in tlie final clause of this paragraph differs from 
 that which occurs in § 7, of the following statute : 
 
Annals of Public Education. 233 
 
 Free Instruction, Mode of Distribution, etc. 
 
 1873. "AN ACT iu relation to academies and academical depart- 
 ments of union schools, and the distribution of public funds." 
 
 Section 1. The sum of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dol- 
 lars, ordered by chapter five hundred and forty-one of the laws of 
 eighteen hundred and seventy-two, to be levied for each and every 
 year, for the benefit of academies and academical departments of 
 union schools, shall be annually distributed by the regents of the 
 university, for the purposes and in the manner following, that is 
 to say : 
 
 § 2. Three thousand dollars or so much thereof as may be required, 
 in addition to the annual appropriation of three thousand dollars for 
 the same purpose from the literature fund, for the purchase of books 
 and apparatus, to be annually apportioned and paid in the manner 
 now provided by law. 
 
 § 3. Twelve thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be 
 required in addition to the annual appropriation of eighteen thousand 
 dollars from the United States Deposit fund, for the instruction of 
 common school teachers ; the whole sum to be apportioned and paid 
 to the several institutions which may give such instruction as now 
 provided by law, at the rate of fifteen dollars for each scholar 
 instructed in a course prescribed by the said regents, during a term 
 of thirteen weeks, and at the same rate for not less than ten weeks or 
 more than twenty weeks. 
 
 § 4. The said regents shall cause to be admitted to the academic 
 examination, established by them in the academies and academical 
 departments of union schools, any common school, or free school, any 
 scholar from any common school who may apply for such examina- 
 tion .bearing the certificate of the principal teacher, or of any trustee 
 of such school, that in his judgment such scholar is qualified to pass 
 the said examination. 
 
 § 5. Free instruction in the classics or the higher branches of 
 English education, or both, shall be given in every academy and 
 academical department of a union school subject to the visitation of 
 the said regents, under such rules and regulations as the said regents 
 may prescribe, to all scholars, in any academy and in any free school, 
 or in any common school, who, on any examination held subsequent 
 to the beginning of the present academic year, shall have received 
 the certificate of academic scholarship issued by the said regents to 
 the extent of twelve dollars, and if the condition of .the fund will 
 admit not less than twenty dollars tuition, at such rates of tuition as 
 are usually charged for such scholars in such academies and acade- 
 mical departments respectively, and in case the tuition is free to resi- 
 dent pupils, at the rates charged to non-resident pupils, or at such 
 rates, in all cases, as the said regents may deem reasonable ; but such 
 free instruction must be obtained by such scholars within two years 
 from the date of their examination respectively. 
 
 § 6. The said regents may, in their discretion and under such rules 
 as they may adopt, annually apply a sum not exceeding twenty-five 
 hundred dollars, in book or other premiums, for excellence in scholar 
 
234 University Convocation. 
 
 ship and conduct, as shown in the papers and the returns of the 
 academic examination ; hut the cost of any one premium shall not 
 exceed ten dollars ; and the said sum of twenty-five hundred dollars, 
 or such pari thereof as may be needed, shall be paid to the said 
 regents out of the amount referred to in the first section of tliis act, 
 by the treasurer on the warrant of the compti-oller. 
 
 § 7. The balance of the said one hundred and twenty-five thousand 
 dollars remaining after the apportionments described in the preceding 
 sections of this act shall have been made, shall be distributed as the 
 literature fuiul is now by law directed to be distributed, but no 
 monev ^hall be jxiid to any school under the control of any religious 
 or denominational sect Or society. 
 
 § 8. The said regents of the university are hereby authorized to 
 make such just and equitable regulations as they may deem necessary 
 for the ]iurposes of this act. 
 
 § 9. The treasurer shall pay, on the warrant of the comptroller, the 
 several sums to which the said regents may certifv any institution to 
 be entitled under the provisions of this act. 
 
 § 10. Every academy shall make up its annual report for its 
 academic year, and shall transmit the same to the regents on or 
 before the first day of September in each year. 
 
 § 11. This act shall take eftect immediately. Statutes, p. 997. 
 
 Summary of Institutions and Leading Subjects. 
 The names of academies, etc., and the leading subjects contained 
 in this paper, have been inserted generally in the chronological order 
 of the first statutes relating to them respectively, an alphabetical list 
 of which is now annexed : 
 
 • Page. 
 
 Academy of Dutchess County 237 
 
 Albany Female Academy 214 
 
 Albany Female Seminary 21-t 
 
 Alfred Academy 227 
 
 Almond Academy 329 
 
 Annual Reports of Academics, etc 334 
 
 Antwerp Liberal Literary Institute 238 
 
 Appropriations, direct, to Academies, etc., 206, 207, 211, 213, 316, 217, 319, 
 
 330, 336, 337, 338, 330 
 
 Arcade Academy 889 
 
 Auburn Acaden'iy 311) 
 
 Aurora Academy 339 
 
 Bedford Academy 214 
 
 Bridgewater Academy 214 
 
 Brooklyn Collegiate Institute for Young Ladies 215 
 
 Buffalo High School Association 214 
 
 Cambridge Washington Academy 237 
 
 Canajoharie Academy 814, 839 
 
 Canton Academy 231 
 
 Cary Collegiate Seminary 280 
 
Annals of Public Education. 235 
 
 Paqb 
 
 Catskill Female Seminary 214 
 
 Cayuga Academy 30? 
 
 Central N. Y. Conference Seminary 314 
 
 Christian Brothers' Academy, Albany 230 
 
 Clinton Grammar School 21? 
 
 Columbia College 205, 206 
 
 Common School Fund, origin of 208 
 
 increase of 217, 224 
 
 loans from, to Academies, 211, 315, 220, 223, 227, 228, 231 
 
 Common School Teachers, education of 223, 235, 236 
 
 Cooperstown Female Academy 214 
 
 Cortland Academy 209, 231 
 
 Delaware Academy 217, 227 
 
 Erasmus Hall Academy 210 
 
 Farmers' Hall Academy 318 
 
 Ferries, leases of, to Academies 320, 221 
 
 Flushing Institute 214 
 
 Franklin Academy, Malone 223, 228 
 
 Franklin Academy, Prattsburgh 220 
 
 Fredonia Academy 219 
 
 Free Instruction 233 
 
 Friendship Academy 230 
 
 Gaines Academy 214 
 
 Geneseo Academy 214, 228 
 
 Geneva College 224 
 
 Gospel, School, and Literature Lots 205 
 
 Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary 228 
 
 Griffith Institute 314 
 
 Hamilton College 234 
 
 Hudson Academy 226 
 
 Ithaca Academy 214, 219 
 
 JeflFerson Academy •. 314 
 
 Johnstown Academy 306 
 
 Kinderhook Academy 314 
 
 Le Koy Academic Institute 229 
 
 Lewiston Academy 320 
 
 Literature, etc., Lots 205,207,309,211, 219 
 
 Literature Lotteries, etc 308 
 
 Literature Fund, origin of 309 
 
 increase of 317, 224, 282 
 
 distribution of 322, 233 
 
 Loans to Academies 328 
 
 Livingston County High School 314 
 
 Lowville Academy 315 
 
 Mexico Academy 314, 220 
 
 Middlebury Academy 319 
 
 91 ft 
 
 Montgomery Academy '*^" 
 
 Mount Pleasant Academy 314, 219 
 
 New Paltz Academy 338 
 
 Newtown Female Academy 314 
 
286 University Convocation. 
 
 Paob. 
 
 New York Institution for the Deaf ami Dumb 213 
 
 Ogdensburcih Academy 221 
 
 Okan Academy 229 
 
 Oneida Conference Seminary 214 
 
 Onondaga Academy '. 210, 228 
 
 Ontario Female Seminary 214 
 
 Ontario High School 215 
 
 Oswego High School 315 
 
 Ovid Academy 214, 228 
 
 Oxford Academy 207 
 
 Oyster Bay Academy 218 
 
 Palmyrn High School 215 
 
 Pompey Academy 209 
 
 Premiums, provision for 233 
 
 Redhook Academy 214, 219 
 
 Rensselaer (Polytechnic) Institute 228 
 
 Rensselaer Oswego Academy 214, 220 
 
 Revised Statutes 215 
 
 Rochester Institute of General Education 214 
 
 Rochester Free Academy 230 
 
 RogersviUe Union Seminary 228 
 
 St. Lawrence Academy 210, 227 
 
 Sandy Hill Academy 224 
 
 School, etc. , Lots 205 
 
 Seminary of the Genesee Conference 214 
 
 Special legislation 206 
 
 Springville Academy 214 
 
 Statutes incorporating academies 212 
 
 declared to be public acts 213, 214 
 
 Susquehanna Seminary 228 
 
 Ta.x, State, for benefit of Academies, etc 232 
 
 Taxes, local, for Academies, etc 208, 212, 216, 221, 224, 229, 230 
 
 Trust funds, provisions relative to 226 
 
 Unadilla Academy 230 
 
 Union College 209 
 
 United States Deposit Fund 223, 224, 225, 227, 233 
 
 University of the citj' of New York 224 
 
 Utica Academy 229 
 
 Washington Academy 216 
 
 Waterford Female Academy 213, 214 
 
 White Plains Academy 215 
 
 Woodludl Academv 230 
 
 H. 346 85 
 

 
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