ing counties in Virginia. His death was regarded as no ordinary instance of mortality, but as causing a loss almost irreparable to the great interests of the church and the community.* Dr. Green says that he was probably the most eloquent and accomplished pulpit orator ever produced in this country. He used to say that every discourse of his, which he thought worthy of the name of a sermon, cost him four days' hard study in the preparation. Sometimes when pressed to speak extemporaneously, he said, "It is a dreadful thing to talk nonsense in the name of the Lord." His sermons have been published, and are extensively circulated and greatly admired. The Board did not meet after the death of president Davies till the May following. The college duties were discharged by the tutors, Jeremiah Halsey, Jacob Ker, and Samuel Blair, who were "eminently qualified for their situation." On the first of June, 1761, the Rev. Samuel Finley was unanimously chosen president. It was ordered that he have the usual salary, £200 proclamation money, with the usual privileges and perquisites. His salary was soon increased to £250. The privileges were the profits of the grammar school connected with the college, and the opportunity to educate his sons gratuitously. Till April 1762, there had been no house for public worship in the village of Princeton. Worship was celebrated in the college chapel, where the inhabitants of the village used to meet with the students. The college trustees gave the land requisite for the purpose of erecting an edifice. A refectory for commons was built about the same time. In 1662, permission was granted by the legislature of the State to raise a lottery for the benefit of the institution. The sum to be raised was £3,000 proclamation money. This was the first assistance which the college had received from the government of the State. In 1763, the president's salary was increased to £300. £75 was given to the senior tutor, and £50 each to the two junior tutors. The president's salary, probably on account of the depreciation in the value of money, was, in 1765, increased to £400, though it was soon diminished. In 1766 a donation of £100 was given to the college by Mr. John Williamson of Virginia, as a foundation in part for a professorship of divinity. The Rev. John Blair had been appointed a professor about a year before this donation was given. He continued in office till the accession of Dr. Witherspoon, who assumed the duties both of president and professor. The annual charge of education, was on an average as follows: tuition, £4; board, £15; rent, £1; washing, £3; wood and lights, £2; contingencies, 6s;-Total, £25 6s. About this time, Col. Alford of Charlestown, Mass. gave £500 to the college. A lottery, which was commenced by some gentlemen of Philadelphia, yielded about £1,500, and the lottery granted by the State, £2,200 more. This accession of funds enabled the trustees to make some addition to the annual allowances of the college officers, though it was not sufficient to retain the tutors, three in number, in the character of professors. The college flourished under the care of Dr. Finley. He was known in Europe, and corresponded with some eminent men in that quarter of the world. So high was the opinion of his worth in Scotland, that he received from the university of Glasgow, the unsolicited diploma of doctor in divinity. The Rev. Dr. John Woodhull, of Monmouth, thus describes him. "Dr. Finley was a man of small stature, and of a round and ruddy countenance. In the pulpit he was always solemn and sensible, and sometimes glowing with fervor. His learning was very extensive. Every branch of study taught in the college appeared to be familiar to him. Among other things, he taught Latin, Greek, and Hebrew in the senior year. The number of students was about 100. Thirty-one commenced in the class before mine, and the same number in the class to which I belonged. These were the largest classes that had commenced at that time. There were about 50 boys in the grammar school. Most of them boarded in college, and ate in the dining room. The trustees appointed and paid the teachers. They were excellent ones in Dr. Finley's time, namely Joseph Periam and Tapping Reeve." * An excellent biography of president Davies may be found in the Richmond Virginia Literary and Evangelical Magazine, from the pen of Dr. Rice. He left a widow, three sons-Col. William Davies, John Rodgers Davies, Esq. and Samuel Davies, and one daughter. Mrs. Martha Davies, his mother, after his death, was taken into the family of the Rev. Dr. John Rodgers of New York. Unremitted attention to the duties of his station very sensibly affected Dr. Finley's health, and caused an obstruction in his liver, which put a period to his life, July 17, 1766, in the 51st year of his age. He died in Philadelphia, where he was buried. He emphatically died in the Lord, triumphantly rejoicing in his great salvation. "My very soul," he said, "thirsts for eternal rest. I see the eternal love and goodness of God. I see the fullness of the Mediator. I see the love of Jesus. O, to be dissolved and be with him! I long to be clothed with the complete righteousness of Christ. A Christian's death is the best part of his existence." During his whole sickness, he was never heard to utter a repining word; and in all his farewells, he was never seen to shed a single tear, or exhibit any mark of sorrow.* On the 19th of November, 1766, the trustees of the college made a unanimous choice of the Rev. John Witherspoon, D. D., LL. D., of Paisley, in Scotland, as successor to Dr. Finley. Rev. William Tennent was appointed president pro tempore. On the 1st of October, 1767, it was announced that Dr. Witherspoon had declined the appointment. His refusal was not occasioned by the discouraging accounts which had been transmitted to Scotland in relation to the state of the institution, by a party in Philadelphia, who wished to procure a decided preponderance of old school influence in the government of the college. The former party lines of the two synods were not yet obliterated. The reluctance of Mrs. Witherspoon to leave her native country, was the chief, if not the scle cause of Dr. Witherspoon's refusal at this time. She was afterwards perfectly reconciled to the idea of his removal, and with the affection and piety for which she was eminently distinguished, cheerfully accompanied her husband to a foreign country, with no expectation of ever returning to Scotland. At this meeting of the trustees, the Rev. John Blair, of Fog's Manor, Pa., and a member of the Board, was chosen professor of divinity and moral philosophy; Dr. Hugh Williamson, of Philadelphia, professor of mathematics and natural philosophy; Mr. Jonathan Edwards, a tutor in the college, professor of languages and logic; and Rev. Samuel Blair, of Boston, president and professor of rhetoric and metaphysics. The following sums were fixed as salaries:president, £200; professor of divinity, £175; professor of mathematics, £150; professor of languages, £125. Funds, however, being wanting to pay the salaries of the professors, it was voted that the former arrangement of a vice president and three tutors, be continued for one year. Mr. John Blair alone accepted his appointment. The other part of the arrangement never took effect, it being proposed as a conciliatory measure, in respect to the old school party. Rev. Samuel Blair, now chosen president, the son of the Rev. Samuel Blair, of Fog's Manor, and nephew of Rev. John Blair, was at this time colleague pastor with the Rev. Dr. Joseph Sewall, of the Old South church in Boston. He was only twenty-eight years of age, but a youth of higher promise, says Dr. Green, was not to be found in the American church. Mr. Blair declined the office, because he understood that a re-election would secure the services of Dr. Witherspoon ;-a disinterestedness highly creditable to Mr. Blair. Dr. Witherspoon was unanimously re-elected. He did not arrive in the country till November, 1768. On the 15th of that month, he was inaugurated. About this time, the synod of New York and Philadelphia ordered that a contribution be made in all the congregations under their care, for the support of a professor of divinity in the college. £50 were immediately realized.f As president of the college, Dr. Witherspoon rendered literary inquiries more liberal, extensive, and profound; and was the means of producing an im *Dr. Finley was born in the year 1715, in the county of Armagh, Ireland. He left his native country in 1734. In 1744, he was settled in the ministry in Nottingham, Md., where he remained 17 years. He was twice married. His first wife was Miss Sarah Hall, a lady of amiable character, by whom he had eight children. She died in 1760. In 1761, he married Miss Ann Clarkson, daughter of Mr. Matthew Clarkson, an eminent merchant of New York. Ehe survived her husband more than forty-one years, and died in January, 1808. She left no children. Dr. Ebenezer Finley, the last surviving child of president Finley, died in Charleston, S. C. A daughter married Samuel Breeze, Esq. whose only daughter was married to the Rev. Dr. Jedidiah Morse. Thus far, the writer of this article has been mainly indebted to the copious and well digested notes, appended by the Rev. Dr. Ashbel Green, to his baccalaureate addresses, published by E. Littell, Philadelphia, 1522. portant change in the system of education. He extended the study of mathematical science, and it is believed he was the first man who taught in America, the system of philosophy, which Dr. Reid afterwards developed. Scarcely any man of the age, had a more vigorous mind, or a more sound understanding. His name brought a great accession of students, and by his exertions, its funds were much augmented. Soon after the commencement of the war, New Jersey was overrun with British troops. In 1776-7, it became the theatre of hostilities. In January, 1777, Princeton was occupied by a portion of the British army, which was attacked by general Washington. A part of one British regiment took post in the college, and made some attempt at resistance, but after a few discharges of artillery from Washington's army, the college was abandoned, and the greater part of the regiment were made prisoners. More than 100 of the British were killed, and 300 taken prisoners. The war of course prostrated every literary effort. The functions of the president were suspended, and he was immediately introduced to a new field of labor, being appointed a member of the convention, which formed the constitution of New Jersey. From the revolutionary committees and conventions of the State, he was sent in 1776 a representative to congress. He was for seven years a member of that illustrious body, and he was always collected, firm and wise, amidst the embarrassing circumstances by which he was surrounded. His name is affixed to the declaration of independence. As soon as the state of the country would permit, the college was re-established, and its instruction was re-commenced under the immediate care of its vice president, Dr. Smith. Dr. Witherspoon was induced from his attachment to the college, to cross the Atlantic that he might promote its benefit. After his return, he devoted himself exclusively to his duties as president and a minister of the gospel. Dr. Witherspoon died Nov. 15, 1794, aged 72; and was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Samuel Stanhope Smith.† Dr. Smith was born at Pequea, Lancaster Co., Pa., March 16, 1750. He was the son of Rev. Robert Smith, D. D. He graduated in 1769, at the college of New Jersey, where he was afterwards for two years tutor. He was for a few years a preacher in Virginia, and president of the Hampden Sidney college. In 1779, he was appointed professor of moral philosophy at Princeton, and was succeeded in Virginia by his brother, John Smith. In the absence of Dr. Witherspoon, as member of congress, much of the care of college devolved on him. He was elected president in 1794, and on account of bodily infirmity, resigned in 1812. He died August 21, 1819, aged 79. Dr. Green thus describes the religious state of college during Dr. Smith's incumbency. "There were some instances, not known to me, although a trustee of the institution, of young men, who became pious, while they were members of college; and there were always a number of religious students on the charitable funds, appropriated by the donors to the education of poor and pious youth, for the ministry; and some also who had become pious before they entered college, who there supported themselves on their own funds. But there was certainly nothing that so much as approximated to a revival of religion; and Dr. Smith's infirm state of health, in the latter part of his time as president, disqualified him for all vigorous action, in sustaining the government of the college; and this favored that tendency to dissipation and dissolute The exercises of the college were totally suspended for more than three years; and the edifice was a barrack, in turn both for the British and American troops; and the interior of it was completely defaced, exhibiting nothing but filth and dilapidation. In the spring of 1782, about two years after the re-commencement of the collegiate exercises, the walls of the building were still perforated in a number of places, the effect of the cannon balls, which had passed through them, from the artillery of the American army. Only two of the entries were in a habitable state. The morals of many of the students were greatly corrupted. Profane language was common among them. They had formed themselves into a military company, chose their officers, furnished themselves with muskets, learned the manual exercise and could not be kept from practising their evolutions, even during the hours of study, and in the college edifice. Dr. Witherspoon was born in Yester, near Edinburgh, Scotland, February 5, 1792, and was a lineal descendant of John Knox. le studied at the university of Edinburgh seven years, and at the age of 21, was licensed to preach the gospel. He was soon ordained at Beith, and from thence removed to Paisley. His works are very various in their subjects, and highly esteemed. They were published in four volumes, with an account of his life, by Dr. Rodgers, in 1802. morals, which had long prevailed, and which, aided by some other concurring causes, had risen to a most fearful height, when I was called to the presidency in the autumn of 1812." Among the instructors, who assisted Dr. Smith, were Dr. Green, bishop Hobart, Drs. R. Finley, Kollock, Neill, Linsley, Weeks, Mills, John Smith, Minto, Maclean, Caldwell, &c. The number of graduates during Dr. Smith's administration amounted to 527, about 29 on an average yearly.* The Rev. Dr. Ashbel Green, son of the Rev. Jacob Green, was president of the college from 1812 to 1822, when he resigned. He now resides in Philadelphia, and edits the Christian Advocate. Soon after Dr. Green's inauguration, the college was blessed with a revival of religion, which was followed with very happy effects. At the commencement of it, the deficiency of Bibles was so great in college, that the shops in town could not supply it. This destitution of the means of grace was owing in a great measure to the baleful moral influence of the American and French revolutions. About 40 individuals were, as it was thought, permanently interested in this work of grace. In 1822, the Rev. James Carnahan, D. D., a Presbyterian minister of Utica, N. Y., was chosen president of the college. He still remains in the office. He graduated at the college in 1800, and was afterwards a tutor for two years. The college of New Jersey is now considered to be in a very flourishing condition. The number of undergraduates, is about 150. The faculty consists of a president, seven professors, and three tutors. Provision is made for imparting instruction in the Greek, Latin, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and English languages; in mathematics, natural philosophy, chemistry, natural history, belles lettres, mental and moral philosophy, logic, political economy, natural and revealed religion, anatomy, physiology, &c. The libraries of the college and of the literary societies connected with it, contain 12,000 volumes. The college has a very valuable philosophical and chemical apparatus, a museum of natural history, a small anatomical museum, and a mineralogical cabinet. The principal edifice, Nassau hall, has been already described. In 1833, another college building, 112 feet long, and four stories high, was erected. There are two other buildings, each 66 feet in length, 36 in breadth, and three stories in height, one used for a library and recitation rooms; the other for a refectory, museum, apparatus, &c.f The principal benefactors of the college of New Jersey, have been governor Belcher, the family of lieutenant governor Phillips, of Boston, ($2,000,) John Williamson, Mr. Hugh Hodges, and Mr. James Leslie, of New York, (fund for poor and pious students,) colonel Alford, colonel Rutger's family, of New York, ($6,500,) Dr. Elias Boudinot, ($8,000, and 4,000 acres of land,) Charles F. Mercer, Joseph Pitcairn, Dr. David Hosack, (1,000 valuable mineralogical specimens,) Jonathan B. Smith, and Samuel Bayard.‡ HISTORY OF LEICESTER ACADEMY. As this is one of the oldest and most respectable academies in Massachusetts, we are induced to place on our pages a brief account of its origin and progress, derived principally from an appendix to an address recently delivered by Mr. * Dr. Smith's wife was a daughter of Dr. Witherspoon. His daughter married J. M. Pintard, consul at Madeira. His published works are valuable. Among them, Lectures on Moral and Political Philosophy; Essays on the causes of the variety in the complexion and figure of the Haman Species; Sermons; Lectures on the Evidences of Christianity; Continuation of Ramsay's History of the United States, from 1808 to 1817, &c. See the History and Gazetteer of New Jersey, page 85, by Thomas F. Gordon, 1834, printed at Trenton. The literary institutions of Princeton, are a college, theological seminary, three classical schools, two young ladies' schools, and three or four common schools. Princeton is a borough, partly in Somerset and partly in Middlesex counties, 50 miles from New York, and 40 from Philadelphia, on the main road between the two cities. It contains 185 dwelling-houses, and 1,100 inhabitants exclusive of 350 youths at the seminaries, one Presbyterian church, and one Episcopal church. Luther Wright, preceptor of the academy. Leicester is a pleasant town of about 1,800 inhabitants in the western part of the county of Worcester, Ms., about midway between Boston and Northampton, and six miles west of the town of Worcester. The principal village has a commanding situation on the height of land, between the waters of the Atlantic at Boston, and those of the Connecticut river. The academy, (the second incorporated in the State, the first being Phillips academy, at Andover,) received an act of incorporation March 23, 1784, for the purpose of promoting "true piety and virtue, and for the education of youth in the English, Latin, Greek, and French languages, together with writing, arithmetic, and the art of speaking; also, practical geometry, logic, philosophy, and geography; and such other of the liberal arts and sciences as opportunity may hereafter permit, and the trustees hereinafter provided shall direct." The trustees named in the act, were Lieut. Gov. Gill, of Princeton, Hon. Levi Lincoln, of Worcester, Hon. Timothy Danielson, of Brimfield, Rev. Messrs. Thaddeus Maccarty, of Worcester, Benjamin Conklin, of Leicester, Joseph Pope, of Spencer, Joseph Sumner, D. D., of Shrewsbury, Archibald Campbell, of Charlton, Joshua Paine, of Sturbridge, and Messrs. Ebenezer Crafts, of Sturbridge, Jacob Davis, of Charlton, Samuel Baker, of Bolton, Joseph Allen, of Worcester, Seth Washburn, of Leicester, and Rufus Putnam, of Rutland. Messrs. Crafts and Davis, gave to the academy before its incorporation, lands, a large mansion house, and other appurtenances. For a fund to support the academy, £1,000 had been subscribed. Considering the depressed state of the country at the close of the war of the revolution, the efforts made to establish the institution are worthy of much commendation. The mansion house above referred to was used as an academy-building till 1806. On the 4th of July of that year, a new building was dedicated. An address was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Sumner, and an oration by Rev. Dr. Bancroft, both members of the board of trustees. The building was neat, well proportioned, three stories high, and contained a dining hall, library, school-room, chapel, and sixteen lodging-rooms or parlors. It cost between $8,000 and $9,000. Unfortunately, the foundation was not sufficiently firm, and in consequence, many parts of the building settled, and became much injured. Considerable sums of money were expended in repairs, but to little purpose. On the 12th of June, 1832, the trustees voted to erect a new edifice on the site of the old one. This building being completed, was dedicated on the 25th of December, 1833, with prayer from the Rev. Micah Stone, vice president of the academy, and with addresses from the Rev. George Allen, one of the trustees, and Mr. Wright, the principal. The central part is 42 feet long and 40 broad, and each wing 30 feet square, making the whole length of the building 102 feet. The lower story is occupied with school-rooms, and accommodations for the families of the principal and steward. The second and third stories embrace 28 rooms for assistant instructors and students. The whole cost of the edifice was $10,000. "School-rooms more convenient and pleasant, and combining more advantages for the accommodation of instructors and students, it is believed, are not to be found in any academic building in the commonwealth." "The institution has already," say the trustees, "imparted to thousands the first rudiments of the arts and sciences, prepared many to be instructors of others, and fitted numbers, from year to year, to enter our colleges and universities, many of whom now fill important stations in church and state." The following are among the donations to the academy. Donation of Messrs. Davis & Crafts, $1,716 67 Individuals in Leicester for philosoph- . 100 00 ical apparatus,. 500 00 Of which, including lottery, the State have given about $11,000. |