The Rev. Wm. Kirkpatrick, in the room of the Rev. John Blair, elected Professor. The following gentlemen composed the Faculty:

The Rev. William Tennent, President pro tem., from July 17 to October 2, 1767. The Rev. John Blair, Vice-President, from October 2, 1767, to August 17, 1768; Professor of Divinity and Moral Philosophy until the annual Commencement, September 27, 1769.

Mr. Jeremiah Halsey, Senior Tutor.

Mr. James Thompson.

Mr. Joseph Periam, Senior Tutor upon Mr. Halsey's resignation.

Mr. Jonathan Edwards.

At the annnual Commencement of 1767 there were eleven graduates, and at that of 1768 there were also eleven; total for both years, twenty-two. Of these, eight became ministers of the gospel. The most distinguished of these graduates in afterlife were of the class of

1767. Francis Barber, A.M., of New Jersey, a classical teacher of much repute; also Lieutenant-Colonel in the U. S. Army.

1767. Nathaniel Ramsay, A.M., of Maryland, a lawyer of eminence, a Colonel in the Revolutionary Army, and a member of the Continental Congress.

1767. Samuel Witham Stockton, A.M., Secretary of State for New Jersey; previously he was Secretary of the American Commission to the Courts of Austria and Prussia.

1768. Rev. Robert Blackwell, D.D., of Philadelphia, an Episcopal clergyman, a Chaplain and also a Surgeon in the U. S. Army.

1768. Ephraim Brevard, M.D., reputed author of the Mecklenburg Resolutions;. a Surgeon in the U. S. Army.

1768. Pierpont Edwards, A.M., a son of President Edwards, Judge of the U. S.. District Court for Connecticut, and a member of the Continental Congress.

1768. Wm. Churchill Houston, A.M., Professor of Mathematics in the College of New Jersey; a member of the Continental Congress.

1768. Adlai Osborne, during the Revolution a Colonel in the U. S. Army; also a Trustee of the University of North Carolina.

1768. Rev. Thomas Reese, D.D., of South Carolina, a scholar and a minister of much repute.

1768. Rev. Elias Van Bunschooten, a minister of the Reformed Dutch Church.. He left a large legacy to Queen's College, New Brunswick.

CHAPTER XV.

DR. WITHERSPOON'S ADMINISTRATION, FROM AUGUST 17, 1768, TO NOVEMBER 15, 1794.

DR. WITHERSPOON was inaugurated on the 17th of August, 1768, at a special meeting of the Board called for this purpose. The minute of the Board in reference to his inauguration is as follows: "The Rev. Dr. Witherspoon being now arrived from North Britain to preside at the head of this Institution, pursuant to his re-election at the last meeting, was duly qualified as the charter directs; and, having taken the oaths of office as one of the Trustees and President of the College, took his seat accordingly."

So far as appears from the minutes, there was no other ceremony connected with his entrance upon the duties of his office; but in a short sketch of his administration, given by the Rev. Dr. Ashbel Green before the Alumni Association in 1840, and published in the "Presbyterian Magazine" for 1854, it is expressly said that he delivered a Latin inaugural address on the union of Piety and Science. The venerable author of this statement confirmed it by adding, "I had an opportunity, when a member of the Senior class in College, of perusing the Address, in the handwriting of its author; but it has not been found among the manuscripts which were left by the Doctor at the time of his death."

Dr. Witherspoon was most cordially welcomed by the Trustees and other friends of the College, and also by the community at large. They all expected great benefits to result to the College from his accession to the Presidency; and in this they were not disappointed.

The first order passed by the Board, after his inauguration, was one directing the Treasurer of the College to pay Dr.

Witherspoon, "with the first moneys that may come into his hands, one hundred guineas, the same being the sum that was voted by this Board for defraying the expenses of his removal to this country." This shows the low condition of the College funds at this time.

The following resolutions were also passed:

"Voted, That the salary of the President of this College be fixed at three hundred and fifty pounds proclamation money of this Province, exclusive of house and the customary use of the College lands. Which sum of £350 is equal to £206 sterling money of Great Britain, mentioned to Dr. Witherspoon at his first election, in a letter sent him by order of this Board, and agreeable to an explanation of the same in Mr. Stockton's letter written to him from Edinburgh, 2d of March, 1767."

There is no mention in the minutes of the meeting at which Dr. Witherspoon was chosen President of the College that his salary should be three hundred and fifty pounds proc. At a meeting of the Trustees, held some weeks before his election, it was agreed that the President's salary should be two hundred and fifty pounds proc., with the usual perquisites. It is not improbable, however, that in the letters sent to Dr. Witherspoon and to Mr. Stockton there were intimations of a willingness to make his salary three hundred and fifty pounds.

"Voted, That the President's salary do commence from the fifteenth day of May last, being the day of his discharge from his pastoral office at Paisley to enter upon this service."

Dr. Witherspoon, President of this College, having, at the request of several friends to this Institution, taken a tour from Paisley to London, and from thence to Holland, and having thereby done eminent service to this College, It is ordered, That the thanks of this Board be given to the said Dr. Witherspoon, and that the Treasurer is ordered to pay unto him the balance of his account of expenses on that service, amounting to the sum of £42.9.0, sterling money of Great Britain."

Of the precise character of this "eminent service" no mention is made in the minutes of the Board. It no doubt consisted, in part, in a successful effort to enlist the kind feelings. of sundry friends of religion and learning in behalf of the College, and to prepare the way for benefactions in books, apparatus, and gifts to the College treasury. For at the time the above minute was made we find also the following:

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'The President having informed the Board that he had brought over a considerable number of Books for the use of the College, amounting to about 300 volumes,

which were gifts of sundry friends abroad, and that he soon expects another considerable benefaction in Books, the Trustees do most thankfully accept the same, and request that the President will be pleased, by letter, in their name, to express to the several Benefactors their grateful acknowledgments for these useful donations."

It was next "Voted, That Dr. Witherspoon be allowed the privilege of educating his sons in this College, without payment of tuition-money or other occasional fees."

After a reference to the action of the Board in 1751 on the subject of College habits, of which action, however, no mention is made in the minutes of that year, but to which there is an allusion in the minutes of 1752, the following stringent rule was adopted, viz.:

"That from and after the next Commencement Vacation in this present year, 1768, all the officers and students of Nassau Hall shall appear uniformly habited, in a proper collegiate black gown and square cap, to be made in the manner and form of those now used in some of our neighboring colleges, and perfectly uniform, excepting proper distinctions that may be devised by the officers of the College to distinguish the habits of the President, Professors, and Tutors from those of the students. And it is hereby strictly ordained, That no resident student or undergraduate, subject to the rules and orders of the College, shall at any time, after the next Commencement vacation, appear either at church, in the College Hall at prayer, or at any other collegiate exercises, or at any time abroad, or out of the Hall (excepting the back-yard of the College only, and that on necessary occasions), without being clothed in their proper College habits, on penalty of five shillings proc. money, to be levied upon every student who shall offend against this law."

How far this rule was ever enforced is not known. To us it seems ill adapted to an American college, not to speak in stronger terms. If it ever went into operation to its full extent, it happily soon ceased to be of binding force with respect to some of its provisions. For many years, indeed, the students were required each to wear a black gown at all services in the College Chapel and at all public declamations; but at this day (1873) College habits are seen only at Commencements and other exhibitions, and this has been the case for nearly, if not quite, fifty years.

The law respecting College habits, passed in 1751, was repealed by the Trustees at the only meeting at which President Edwards was present, viz., of February 16, 1758. But to this repeal no reference is made in the preamble to this order. The

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action of the Board in 1758 may have escaped the recollection. of the author of the above minute, who, probably, was Mr. Wm. P. Smith, the gentleman who, in the year 1752, procured two habits, one for the use of the President, and the other as a pattern for the habits to be worn by the students, who were left at liberty to wear them or not, as they pleased. It is not improbable that Dr. Witherspoon, just arrived from Scotland, where college habits were customary, was in favor of the rule now adopted. The minutes show that Mr. Smith was present at this meeting of the 17th of August, 1768.

The next meeting of the Board was on Wednesday, the 28th of September, 1768. Eleven members of the Senior class were admitted to their first degree in the Arts, among whom were Ephraim Brevard, the author of the Mecklenburg Resolutions; Pierpont Edwards, a son of President Edwards, and Judge of the United States District Court in Connecticut; and Wm. Churchill Houston, the first Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in the College, and afterwards a member of the Convention that formed the Constitution of the United States.

At this meeting William Livingston, Esq., of New York, was chosen a Trustee. This gentleman was afterwards Governor of New Jersey, and ex officio President of the Board of Trustees.

Mr. Wm. P. Smith communicated a letter from Mr. Jonathan Smith, of Philadelphia, one of the executors of Colonel Peter Bayard, of Maryland, wherein he informed the Board that Colonel Bayard left to the College a legacy of twenty pounds, to be paid within one year after his decease, to be applied to the education of candidates for the ministry; and that the executors were prepared to pay the same. The Treasurer was ordered to receive the same and to give the executors a full discharge.

A new arrangement was made with the Steward for the boarding of the students, according to which the Steward engages to "find and provide for the said scholars such food as has been heretofore served up to them, and Small Beer to drink, at the Price of six shillings and sixpence proclamation money of New Jersey, by the week," or, in other words, for eighty-six and one-third cents a week.

The attention of the Board was given very much to the aug