CHAPTER IX.

The Presidency of the Rev. Jeremiah Day, S. T. D.

THE decease of President Dwight, who in all respects, was so well qualified to direct and regulate the concerns of the University, awakened a general solicitude with regard to its future government. In selecting his successor, the friends of the institution directed their attention to an academic corps, formed under his judicious and enlightened system, and the Rev. JEREMIAH DAY, then Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, was elected President. He had been educated at the College, had served three years as a Tutor, and fourteen years as Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, and in the discharge of all his academic duties, had gained the favor of the Corporation and Faculty, and the affections of the Students. The obvious indelicacy of alluding in stronger terms to the fitness of this choice, must restrain the remarks of the writer; he may however with propriety, advert to the unexampled prosperity of the University, during the Presidency of Doctor Day, as evidence that the wisdom which guided its early councils has not forsaken its paths.

The annals of the institution, since the election of President Day, are so familiar to those conver

sant with the concerns of the institution, or who take an interest in its prosperity, that only a brief chronological statement will be requisite to complete the object of this treatise. The Corporation, feeling deeply sensible of the loss of President Dwight, and being fully aware of the fact, that the character of the College was, in public estimation, very intimately blended with his reputation, wisely resolved to amplify the advantages of the institution, by increasing the number of Professorships, and thus strengthening their claims on a continuance of favor and confidence.

At a meeting of the Board, in 1817, the academic corps was modified and extended by the following appointments.

The Rev. JEREMIAH DAY, S. T. D. was appointed President.

ALEXANDER METCALF FISHER, Esq. a Tutor of high reputation in the College, and whose literary pursuits had been especially directed to the study of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, was advanced to the Professorship of those sciences, rendered vacant by the appointment of Doctor Day to the Presidency.

The Rev. CHAUNCEY A. GOODRICH, then Pastor of a Church in Middletown, Connecticut, was chosen Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory. The establishment of this Professorship, indicated the sentiments of the Corporation in reference to the views of Doctor Dwight, as they added thereby, a new branch to the classical department of the University.

The chair of the Professorship of Divinity, which had been filled by Doctor Dwight, was detached from the Presidency, and the Rev. ELEAZAR T. FITCH appointed as Professor.

The system of government, established during the Presidency of Doctor Dwight, had proved so efficacious, that but few modifications or additions were deemed necessary, and although the course of academic instruction has been since materially improved, yet in most particulars, the system established by him, remains unaltered.

In the early part of the year 1822, Professor Fisher, at the request of the Corporation and Faculty, sailed on a voyage to Europe. His objects were, personal improvement, by an intercourse with the learned men of the old world, and the selection of books and apparatus, for the use of the University. He unfortunately embarked in the ill-fated packet ship Albion. The disastrous shipwreck of that fine vessel, was accompanied by circumstances of such an appalling nature, and produced such peculiar and distressing bereavements, that its details will long live fresh in the recollections of those who are conversant with American commerce. Professor Fisher was among the victims; and probably few of our countrymen could have died at his age, who had earned as valuable a reputation, or whose loss would have excited equal regret.

Literary men do not present themselves to the public view, in the strong light, in which the more bustling actors on the theatre of life are exhibited.

Yet notwithstanding the seclusion of Professor Fisher, and his constant devotion to science, he had attracted much of public attention; and the value attached to his occasional essays, on various branches of learning, had awakened great expectations, with regard to his future efforts. He possessed the rare talent of illustrating the principles of abstract sciences, by exhibiting their connection with popular learning; and perhaps few gentlemen, so well versed in mathematical science, have manifested, in other departments of literature, a more refined and cultivated taste. An An essay, written by Professor Fisher, and published in the Journal of Science and Arts, on the principles of Music, in which just rules, derived from mathematics and philosophy, are applied to that elegant art, attracted, at the time of its appearance, much public attention. It is more particularly referred to, as presenting a correct illustration of his genius, which was so happily modeled, that science and taste became mutual helpmates.

On receiving the news of the loss of the packet Albion, Professor Kingsley, an intimate friend and literary associate of Mr. Fisher, was requested by the Faculty of the College, to pronounce a discourse on the melancholy occasion. He complied with the request, and drew the character of his friend with such accuracy of delineation, and correctness of coloring, that it cannot be uninteresting to those, who regard and cherish the reputation of the University, to indulge the compiler in making liberal extracts.

Professor Kingsley says, "The character of Professor Fisher, such as it appeared to me from familiar acquaintance and long observation, I should fear to delineate in any other place than this,where there are so many who can testify to the justness of the description, and shield me from the charge of fanciful and extravagant panegyric. But here I do not hesitate to exhibit it as it was,-in perfect confidence, that what I say will receive the fullest attestation from those who hear me.

"I have already alluded to the quickness with which he apprehended the most remote truths: but rapid and almost intuitive as were his perceptions, no one could be more free from the fault of precipitate judgment. Caution, no less than activity, constituted a prominent feature of his mind; and on whatever subject he had formed an opinion, seldom could a difficulty be suggested, which he had not foreseen, or an objection which he was not prepared to remove. To this union of a cautious and quick judgment, of ready decision and prudent wariness, no doubt the scheme of study, which he early adopted, and to which he constantly adhered, very greatly contributed. Whatever book he read, it was the subject of which it treated, that received his first and principal attention. He examined the statements and reasonings of an author, less to know his peculiar views and manner of unfolding them, than to aid his own investigations, and obtain materials for thought and reflection. Hence, while he was familiar with books within the range of his