and in 1745, went as chaplain in the army, in the celebrated expedition against Cape Breton.

Talents so versatile, united with such varied and extensive information, as he possessed, advanced him soon in military rank, and in 1746, he was appointed Colonel of a Regiment, on a proposed expedition against Canada.

A few years afterwards, he went to England as an agent, to obtain the pay due to himself and Regiment. He there cultivated an acquaintance and intimacy, with many gentlemen of distinction; and after marrying a lady of superior accomplishments, returned to his seat in Wethersfield.

He died at Wethersfield, July 24, 1755, aged sixty one years. So great a variety of honorable occupations, successfully discharged by an individual, is rarely recorded in the history of man.

His virtues and talents won the applause both of European and American biographers.

Doctor Doddridge, who was intimately acquainted with him, in England, bestowed upon him this beautiful and comprehensive eulogy.

"I look upon Colonel Williams to be one of the most valuable men upon earth. He has joined to an ardent sense of religion, solid learning, consummate prudence, great candor, and sweetness of temper, and a certain nobleness of soul, capable of contriving and acting the greatest things, without seeming to be conscious of having done them.”

An American writer says of him, "He was a good classical scholar, well versed in logic, meta

physics and ethics, and in rhetoric and oratory. He presided at Commencement with great honor. He spoke Latin freely, and delivered orations gracefully, and with animated dignity."*

The Rev. Mr. Lockwood, who delivered a funeral sermon at his death, says of his character as President, "He presided with wisdom, gravity and authority; applied himself with care and assiduity, to guard and secure the Students, both from whatever might blemish and wound their moral characters, and from errors and mistakes in matters of religion; and to form their minds, not only to useful knowlege and learning, but to virtue and real piety."

* Stiles' Literary Diary.

CHAPTER V.

Rectorship and Presidency of the Rev. Thomas Clap.

THE state of Rector Williams' health, for a considerable time previous to his resignation, had prepared the Trustees for that event, and enabled them therefore, to appoint a successor, without delay. In the selection made, the influence of Rector Williams, who enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the Trustees, and had given stability and reputation to the College, was undoubtedly fully exerted; as he must have felt, that his own honorable fame was in a great degree, connected with the reputation of an institution, that had flourished so much under his judicious guidance.

On the day, therefore, of the resignation of Rector Williams, the Rev. Thomas Clap, minister of Windham, was chosen Rector, and the Rev. Ebenezer Williams and Samuel Woodbridge, were appointed to treat with him and his people, in order to obtain his acceptance of the office.

"The History of Yale College," published by this learned gentleman, in the year 1766, to which the compiler of this essay is indebted, for the most important facts, in relation to the early history of the College, will constitute almost his exclusive guide, during his Presidency. Indeed, with the

exception of some minute particulars, which will be omitted, as uninteresting, in a general history of the College, his narration will be chiefly adopted, both in style and matter.

The people of Windham, whose attachments to Mr. Clap, based as they were on the excellence of his pastoral character, and his superior learning, were naturally strong, could not easily be persuaded to part with their minister. The matter was, however, referred to a council of the Churches in the county, who after a public hearing, advised his immediate acceptance of the office of Rector.

"At a meeting of the Trustees, on the 2d day of April following, he was installed in the following manner, viz. He gave his consent to the Confession of Faith, and rules of Church Discipline, agreed upon by the Churches in the Colony of Connecticut, assembled by delegation, at Saybrook, in 1708; and gave satisfaction as to the soundness of his principles, according to the act of the Trustees. Then they went into the Hall; the Rev. Mr. Whitman, the Moderator, began with prayer; and one of the Students made an oration proper for the occasion. Then the Moderator made a speech in Latin, wherein he committed the care of instructing and governing the College, to the Rector; and he concluded the whole with an oration."

The Legislature, on this occasion also, made compensation to the people of Windham, for the loss of their Pastor, the value of which was ascertained by a singular rule of computation. The

Trustees of College, and the Committee of the Society, agreed to refer it to three members of the General Assembly, to ascertain the amount. "Those gentlemen were of opinion, that inasmuch as Mr. Clap had been in the ministry at Windham, fourteen years, which was about half the time ministers in general continue in their public work; the people ought to have half so much as they gave him for a settlement; which upon computation, was about fifty three pounds sterling.” On application of the Trustees, the General Assembly readily granted that sum to the people of Windham.

Rector Clap entered upon the duties of his office, with the zeal and ability that were expected from his character. His first business was, to give stability and uniformity to Collegiate government, by drawing up, at the request of the Trustees, a body of academic laws. These were compiled, partly from the ancient laws and statutes of the College, partly from important customs that had obtained, partly from the laws of Harvard College, and partly from the statutes of the University of Oxford. Some few new laws were added.

This body of laws, after minute examination by the individual members, was adopted by the Board of Trustees, in 1745, and subsequently translated into Latin, and printed, in 1748.

About the same time, the Rector collected under proper heads, all the customs of College, which had been established by practice, and which form ed as large a volume as the statutes.