CHAPTER VII.

The Presidency of the Rev. Ezra Stiles, S. T. D. LL. D.

THE Corporation of Yale College, in common with the literary men of the age, had, for some time previous to the resignation of President Daggett, witnessed, with high gratification, the growing reputation and scientific accomplishments of one of the alumni of the institution, the Reverend Ezra Stiles, Pastor of a Church in Newport, Rhode Island.

The rank that he held among the clergy, and men of letters, pointed him out as a suitable person to fill the vacant chair, and accordingly, after a satisfactory consultation with the committee of the General Assembly, on the subject, he was duly elected President in September 1777. In addition to this appointment, Doctor Stiles was also chosen Professor of ecclesiastical history, and was formally inducted into both offices on the 8th of July, 1778. On this occasion, the academic ceremonies were appropriate and impressive. Professor Daggett opened the meeting with prayer, the presiding Fellow then delivered a Latin oration, and committed the College to the instruction and government of Doctor Stiles. The President replied by addresses in Latin, to the Corporation, and the

various classes of the assembly. A congratulatory oration, in Latin, was then delivered by one of the senior Bachelors; to which succeeded a learned oration in the same language, by the President, on the Encyclopedia of Literature.

After the ceremonies of his induction, the Professors and Tutors waited upon him, with an address, expressive of the affection and respect with which the College received him as their President.

At the time of his induction, the only regular Professorships were those of Divinity and Mathematics, and although the condition of the College had essentially improved, during the Presidency of Doctor Daggett, yet the gloomy state of the country, involved as it was in a desperate struggle for liberty, which required all its resources, seemed to forbid the expectation of any rapid advancement in literary institutions. Notwithstanding these discouragements, the talents of the President gradually infused new vigor and animation into the establishment.

In the year 1780, Professor Daggett died, after a short illness, and was succeeded in that chair by the Reverend Samuel Wales, then pastor of a Church in Milford, Connecticut, who was inducted on the 12th June, 1782.

On the 12th September 1781, after an interval of seven years, (arising from obstacles growing out of the Revolutionary War,) Commencement was celebrated in public. On this occasion, the President introduced the exercises of the morning by a

Hebrew oration, and those of the afternoon by a Latin oration.

In 1782, a brick dining hall was erected, sixty feet in length and thirty in breadth. In the modern improvements and alterations of Collegiate buildings, this hall has been converted into a chemical laboratory and lecture room, and is now used for those purposes.

Professor Strong having resigned his office, the President, on the 2d January of this year, delivered a lecture in the Chapel, on Natural Philosophy, and continued to give occasional lectures on that branch of science, and on Mathematics, until the chair of that Professorship was filled.

In 1783, the number of Students in the College, under the popular government of President Stiles, had increased to two hundred and seventy. Various additions were made to the philosophical apparatus, principally by means of individual liberality and contributions, and the institution attained high rank and reputation.

The auspicious effects of Doctor Stiles's unwearied efforts, aided by his enlightened academic associates, on the character of the College, are happily illustrated in a letter from the first President Adams, acknowledging the honor of a degree as Doctor of Laws, conferred upon him in 1788. "If this honorary degree is, as you inform me, to be considered as a token of affection and esteem, I shall certainly hold it among the most precious of things; since nothing can be more pleasing to me,

or more satisfactory to my highest ambition, than the approbation of an University which has distinguished itself in literature, among the foremost in America, and which is the light of a Commonwealth that I esteem the purest portion of mankind."

In 1790, as "an encouragement to the study of the English language," Noah Webster, Esq. appropriated a certain proportion of the avails of his Grammatical Institute, to be given, as an annual premium, to the author of the composition which should be judged best, by the President, Professors and Tutors of the College.

This donation has subsequently been commuted for a definite sum.

An important change in the chartered rights and government of the College, was at this time maturing. The College had, from its foundation, enjoyed the patronage and fostering care of the government, but had resisted its claim to visitatorial power. The Corporation was composed entirely of clergymen, and although the original intention of making the College exclusively "a school of the Church," had for many years been abandoned, no laymen were permitted to have a place among its gov

ernors.

President Clap had obtained a triumph in argument; but in doing so, had convinced many, not only private citizens, but legislators, that in some cases, what is legally right, may be positively wrong. Besides, many religious sects, which were

inconsiderable when the College was founded, had increased in numbers, talents and wealth, and they naturally felt desirous, that the supervision of laymen should be extended to an institution, where pupils of all religious denominations were to receive their education. They very properly thought and contended, that a judicious union of civil and ecclesiastical power, would inspire confidence, remove long cherished prejudices, and give additional vigor and stability to the College. President Stiles, from the time of his entrance into office, had uniformly encouraged conferences with the General Assembly, and their personal inspection of the state of the College.

At the session of the General Assembly, in October 1791, a committee was appointed, "to confer with the President and Fellows of Yale College, relative to the state and circumstances of said College." This committee attended faithfully to their trust, and were met by the Corporation in a spirit of honorable frankness and candor. The condition of the institution, both as to its management and resources, was communicated by the President and Faculty without reserve, and at the next May session of the Assembly, the committee made a full and satisfactory report.

After commending the great improvements in discipline and literary exercises, observable in the College the committee add, "The treasury is in a much better condition than we apprehended. In justice to the Corporation, we are bound to ob