of learning, whose anticipations were soon to be proved the prophetic visions of futurity. His successor, Dr. Dwight, thus speaks of his literary merits. "Doctor Stiles was probably the most learned man in America, at the time of his death; and was probably excelled by few in the world. A very learned Jewish Rabbi, who lived in Asia, where he corresponded, for some years, with Doctor Stiles, and who afterwards came to America, declared that Doctor Stiles understood and wrote Hebrew, better than any other Gentile whom he had ever known." But these notices, gathered chiefly from the pages of Doctor Stiles' biographer, have already been extended beyond the intended limits of the writer, and they will be closed by a reference to the numerous testimonials, borne to his literary merits, by his contemporaries. "The University of Edinburgh, the Colleges of Nassau Hall, and of Dartmouth, conferred on him the degree of Doctor in Divinity; Nassau, the degree of Doctor of Laws. The American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Massachusetts Historical Society, chose him a member of their respective bodies." But in the fullness of his labors, in the vigor of intellectual strength, and in the midst of new formed plans of future usefulness, death arrested the career of this distinguished man. This event occurred on the 12th May, 1795, after a severe illness of four days, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. It need hardly be added, that the sudden extinguishment of so bright a luminary, produced a wide-spread gloom, or that the numerous friends who were attached to him, by the bonds of science and Christian fellowship, hastened to offer their tributes of affection to his memory. The Reverend Doctor Dana, of New Haven, preached a sermon at his funeral, and subsequently Professor Meigs pronounced a beautiful and finished oration, in commemoration of his virtues. His remains were interred in the old burying ground of New Haven, but on its discontinuance as a cemetery, were removed to the present grave yard of the city. The Corporation of College have erected a handsome marble monument to his memory. It bears the following just inscription. Hic Jacet Sepultus S. T. D. LL. D. Alta Mente præditus, Eruditione omnigena imbutus, Urbanitate suavissima, Moribus probis, Charitate, Fide, Pietate evangelica; Officiis Patris, Amici, Præceptoris, suis percarus, In Ecclesia magno cultu dignatus, Lacrymis Omnium Maii XII mo. MDCCXCV to. Ecclesæ 11 dæ. Nov. Port. Rhod. Ins. Pastor annos XXII; Collegii Yalensis Tutor VI, Præses XVIII. Senatus Academicus Coll. Yal. hoc saxum posuit. CHAPTER VIII. The Presidency of the Rev. Timothy Dwight, S. T. D. LL. D. Ar an early meeting, after the decease of Doctor Stiles, the Corporation of the College elected the Rev. Timothy Dwight, S. T. D. then Pastor of a Church in Greenfield, Connecticut, as President. He accepted the appointment, (which was made with great unanimity,) and commenced the performance of his official duties in the ensuing Collegiate year. His advancement to the responsible station of President, was made under circumstances highly auspicious to the future prosperity and usefulness of the institution. Professor Silliman, in an EULOGIUM pronounced before "the academic body of Yale College," on the occasion of his desease, thus speaks of the qualifications of Doctor Dwight, at the time of his election to the Presidency. "Doctor Dwight had now arrived at the fortythird year of his age. In the meridian of life; mature in experience and in reputation; long practiced in the difficult task of instructing and governing youth; familiar with the courses of academic learning, and imbued with the principles of most branches of human knowledge; also possessing powers of communication almost unrivalled, and his whole character surrounded with great dignity and splendor, the public voice, with unprecedented unanimity, designated him to fill the Presidential chair in this seminary, which in May, 1795, was vacated, by the death of the learned and venerable Doctor Stiles." So much of the history and character of an institution, to which Doctor Dwight devoted the energies of his life, after the acceptance of its Presidency, must be blended with his personal memoirs, that a brief chronological statement of academic events, will only be deemed necessary, as prefatory to a sketch of his biography. The annals of literary institutions are, like political histories of nations, so dependant on governing chiefs, that the delineations of personal characters are more satisfactory guides as to results, than mere details of occurrences. When he accepted the office of President, the whole corps of instructors consisted of four persons, viz. Josiah Meigs, Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, Josiah Stebbins, Roger Minot Sherman, and Jeremiah Atwater, Tutors. The entire interests of the institution were, therefore, dependent on five gentlemen; and as Tutorships were usually accepted for temporary support, and literary advantages, and held for short periods, his only permanent reliance must have been on Professor Meigs. His predecessor Doctor STILES, had discharged the duties of a Professor of Ecclesiastical His |