CHAPTER the most distinguished lawyers of Massachusetts; who, XXXI. in all the relations of private and public life, combined the confidence and the affections of his fellow-citizens. He united high powers of intellect and professional talent with practical skill and acquaintance with men and affairs; and his associations in life gave him great opportunities to observe the currents which influenced political events, and to form correct anticipations of the result. Mr. Lowell maintained his connexion with the Corporation eighteen years. His zeal in the service of the College, the soundness of his judgment, and his characteristic integrity gave great weight to his influence in the critical period which succeeded the peace of 1783. To no individual is the seminary more indebted than to him, for that course of policy, which enabled it to escape impending dangers and to attain a comparative degree of financial independence. Result of their meas ures. By the successive measures wisely adopted by the Corporation, the Treasurer was enabled, in June, 1793, to report, that the whole personal estate of the seminary (including some small portions of real estate in which a part of it had been invested) amounted to more than the sum of one hundred and eighty-two thousand dollars, of which about eighty-two thousand dollars were appropriated, and an unappropriated balance of nearly one hundred thousand dollars remained as a fund, applicable to the general purposes of the seminary. This amount, although inferior to the wants of a great public institution, was a subject of congratulation to the friends of the College, considering the nature of the revolutionary furnace into which it had been cast, and by which its power of self-preser vation had been tried. Before this period the prosperous condition of the ΧΧΧΙ. The Corpothe approtheir origi ration raise priations to nal value. College finances had been felt and acknowledged by CHAPTER the Corporation. In consequence, as early as May, 1791, a vote was passed by that board, declaring that, "whereas sundry appropriated sums were by vote of the Corporation (on account of a depreciated paper currency) about the year 1750, reduced below their original value, and continued at that rate, and whereas the general stock of the College has since that time much increased, and appears to be now fixed permanently, and it is consequently reasonable, that the said appropriations should be again set at their first value, voted, that the sums so reduced, amounting to about £10,704,* be now estimated at £4,922, being the original value, calculated at the price of silver at the times they were given." At the same time they voted, that the rates of interest on all the said appropriations should be reduced, according to the reduction of interest sustained by the general stock of the College, in consequence of the funding of the public securities, of which the College stock then chiefly consisted. The Corporation thus endeavoured to equalize among all the foundations and appropriations the loss or the gain, which had on the one hand been sustained, or on the other acquired. CHAPTER CHAPTER XXXII. Outline of Events during the Presidency of Dr. Willard.-Hollis Professors of Divinity, Edward Wigglesworth, David Tappan. - Hollis Professors of Mathematics, Samuel Williams, Samuel Webber. - Hancock Professors of Hebrew, Stephen Sewall, Eliphalet Pearson. — Medical Professorships established; John Warren, Benjamin Waterhouse, Aaron Dexter.- Bequests of Mrs. Sarah Derby and of William Erving. Names of Hersey and Erving given to the Medical Professorships respectively.- Legislative Patronage of the College. Its ancient Right to Charlestown Ferry devested. - Lotteries granted. - Stoughton Hall erected from their proceeds. Successive Attempts to raise the Standard of Learning, and improve the Discipline of the Seminary. — A permanent Tutorship established; Levi Hedge appointed. — Death and Character of President Willard. THE history of Harvard University has now been brought down to our own times; to a period too near to be viewed in just historical perspective. Henceforth it will therefore be restricted to an outline of events, and, in each successive presidency, attention will be principally directed to the nature and objects of the Professorships established or enlarged. The legislative patronage granted and the changes in the studies, discipline, and finances, which have occurred, will be stated, and accompanied by such facts and illustrations as will give a comprehensive view of the progress, present state, and resources of the institution. When, in 1780, the framers of the Constitution of Massachusetts authorized Harvard College to assume the title of "University," it comprised, strictly speaking, but one school, the Academic, or "School of the XXXII. State of the the year College in 1780. Arts." There was a Professorship of Divinity, another CHAPTER of Mathematics, and a third of Hebrew and other Oriental Languages; but their foundations were insufficient. The support of the Professors was chiefly derived from assessments on the scholars, or from annual grants by the legislature, denominated “ gratuities." A few of the graduates of the College remained to qualify themselves for the profession of Divinity, but there was no school of Law or of Medicine. The instruction given by the Professors was almost wholly confined to undergraduates. The manner in which it was conducted, before the American Revolution, may be inferred from the memorials of the Professors to the General Court, requesting a continuance or increase of their annual grants, and stating their respective claims and services.* During the The Prowar of the Revolution, and for many years prior and of Divinity. subsequent, the Rev. Edward Wigglesworth was the Hollis Professor of Divinity. The system adopted in the Professorship included two exercises, denominated "lectures"; the first, a dissertation read by the Professor on some topic of positive or controversial divinity; the second, a catechetical exercise on the preceding lecture, accompanied by instructions and remarks. The Resident Graduates and all the members of the Senior and Junior classes were required to attend both these exercises. The second became irksome to the students who did not intend to qualify themselves for the clerical profession; and, in 1784, on the proposal of Professor Wigglesworth, none were required to attend except those who were on the Divinity foundations, or intended to make Divinity a * See Appendix, No. XXVI. fessorship XXXII. CHAPTER particular study. The second exercise, instead of being a scrutiny into the students' knowledge of the first, was changed into an examination on assigned portions of the theological part of Doddridge's "Lectures." This was the first step taken towards separating, as to the studies, those who intended to make theology a profession, from those whose views were directed to other pursuits in life. The former were carefully instructed in the arguments adduced by Christians in favor of their several creeds and persuasions, in a critical knowledge of the languages in which the Scriptures were written, and in those usages and customs, which serve to explain the phraseology peculiar to the sacred writings; but the latter were only required to attend the public lectures. Dr. Wigglesworth. His resignation, Dr. Wigglesworth continued in the Professorship of Divinity until 1791, but the infirmities of a feeble constitution had, for several years, interrupted the regular performance of his official duties; and, in February, 1790, a severe paralytic affection having threatened to put a period to his usefulness, the Overseers of the College appointed a committee in May, 1791, to consider what measures were proper to be taken on the subject of that Professorship. In this month, Dr. Wigglesworth communicated to that board his willingness to retire, "if provision was made for his comfortable support." Votes, granting him an annuity for life of £132, expressing thanks for his past services, and constituting him "Professor Emeritus," received the sanction of both the Corporation and Overseers; and, in the July following, he "cheerfully resigned his office," expressing his gratitude for this arrangement. Dr. Wigglesworth was the immediate successor of his |