APRIL MEETING, 1920

    A Stated Meeting of the Society was held, at the invitation of Mr. Henry Herbert Edes, at No. 62 Buckingham Street, Cambridge, on Thursday, 29 April, at eight o’clock in the evening, the President, Fred Norris Robinson, Ph.D., in the chair.

    The Records of the last Stated Meeting were read and approved.

    The President appointed the following Committees in anticipation of the Annual Meeting:

    To nominate candidates for the several offices, — Dr. CHARLES LEMUEL NICHOLS, and Messrs. RICHARD CLIPSTON STURGIS and JULIUS HERBERT TUTTLE.

    To examine the Treasurer’s accounts, — Messrs. John Eliot Thayer and John Lowell.

    The Corresponding Secretary reported that a letter had been received from Mr. George Russell Agassiz accepting Corresponding Membership.

    The President announced the death at Cambridge on the 29th of March of Andrew McFarland Davis, a Resident Member.113

    Mr. Henry H. Edes read the following letter:

    3, Buckingham Gate, S. W.

    25th March, 1920.

    Dear Mr. Johnson

    Thank you for your letter. I am greatly interested to hear of the progress you are making with the celebration of the landing of the Pilgrims. That event is one of the great events in the history of the English-speaking world, which well deserves to be commemorated, and I heartily hope that the spirit shown by the Pilgrims will maintain itself on both sides of the Atlantic, in your people and in ours.

    I wish I could think that that particular spirit was having the influence in Continental Europe among the new states that are rising there, which I see that you wish it should have. Some of them, so far, at any rate, do not seem to me to have imbibed or to be giving effect to the great principles for which the great minds of both Britain and America have so long stood. We must hope that this will come in due course.

    Believe me,

    Faithfully yours,

    James Bryce.

    Alfred Johnson, Esq.

    Mr. ALBERT MATTHEWS made the following remarks on—

    A GHOST BENEFACTOR OF HARVARD COLLEGE

    As there are ghost words and ghost books — that is, words and books which have no real existence114 — so too are there ghost benefactors of Harvard College. Writing about 1831 Peirce remarked:

    A legacy of £40 was bequeathed to the college by Deacon William Trusdale, and one by Mr. Henry Ashworth115 of £100 sterling. Whether these two legacies were received, it does not appear.116

    In 1840 Quincy, after naming certain benefactors, went on to say:

    Besides the above, the following donations appear on the books of the College, from which it is not known that any thing has been received, viz. . . .

    1693. Deacon William Trusdale, . . . £40 0 0117

    In his pamphlet on Harvard College and its Benefactors, published in 1846, Samuel A. Eliot was silent as to such a legacy; but in a book published two years later, he recorded the following:

    1683 Deacon William Trusedale bequeathed £40 — “and still remains due to the College,” says the record.118

    These statements had for their basis three items found in the College records. The first item, appended to “Sundry Donations to the Colledge received by Capt John Richards Trear̄.,” reads as follows:

    1683 More Donations not containd in Capt Richards Account. & are yet resting due to the Coll.

    Deacon William Trusedales legacy   040 00 00119

    The second item, dated March 5, 1683, in “An Accot of the Estate belonging to Harvard Colledge under the Care of Saml Nowell Esqr. delivrd unto him by Thomas Danforth,” is this:

    Legacy of Deacon Trusedall. Excrs of Wm Gilbert   040 00 00120

    The third item reads:

    1683 Deacon William Trusdale bequeathed forty pound.

    Mr Henry Ashworth bequeath’d one hundred pounds Sterg in Coll Book No 3 p 59, These two Legacys are mentioned as Remaining due to the Colledge Vizt 1683 nothing is afterwards said about them121

    No trace of a William Trusedale can be found in New England at that time.122 But the designation of “Deacon,” applied to Trusedale in all these items, sufficiently proves that the person meant was not William Trusedale but Richard Trusedale, who joined the First Church on July 27, 1634,123 became a deacon of that church in 1650,124 in 1669 was one of the seceders to the Third (Old South) Church,125 and died in 1671. But in his will, dated September 9, 1669, and proved January 4, 1671, there is no mention of a legacy to Harvard College.126

    But if Deacon Richard Trusedale was not the benefactor, who was? Previous to 1834, only three Trusedales are to be found in the Suffolk Probate Files. On January 30, 1677, “Power of Administracon to the Estate of the late Richard Truesdail of Roxburough decd is granted unto Katharin his Relict.”127 This Richard Trusedale was a nephew of Deacon Richard Trusedale; but, like his uncle, could not have been the benefactor.

    There remains Mary Trusedale, the widow of Deacon Richard Trusedale. Her will, without specific date but drawn up in 1672 by John Hull, contains these items: “. . . morover I doe give unto Harvard Colledge at Cambridge forty Pound in money . . . Moreover I doeordaine Constitute & appoint my Couzen William Gilbert sole Execr of this my will . . . I do Desire that all my Legacies may be paid in money & within six months after my decease.”128 Here, then, is revealed the identity of the benefactress who for two hundred and thirty-seven years or more has masqueraded as “Deacon William Trusedale.” Even if the money — as in the case of too many other legacies in the early days — was never received, it is just that in future the name of Mary Trusedale should take its place beside those of Lady Ann (Radcliffe) Mowlson, Bridget Wines, Judith Finch, Mary Anderson, and perhaps one or two others, as one of the few benefactresses of Harvard College during the seventeenth century.

    Mr. Arthur Lord exhibited a forgery which purported to be a document signed by Myles Standish and remarked upon its having been facsimiled by John Fiske and Woodrow Wilson in their historical publications before the spurious character of the paper was discovered. Mr. Lord also discussed several signatures of John Robinson, claimed to be autographs of the Rev. John Robinson, and announced the recent discovery in Holland of a letter bearing what is probably a genuine autograph of the Leyden pastor.

    Mr. Worthington C. Ford remarked upon the injury which can be done by the suppression of names that occur in diaries and letters through a mistaken over-sensitiveness for the feelings of the persons mentioned or of the members of their families, and cited instances that occur in the Life and Letters of John Hay and in Colonel Thomas L. Livermore’s Days and Events, 1860–1866.

    Mr. Percival Merritt gave an account of a hitherto unnoted clergyman of King’s Chapel in Boston — the Rev. Robert Boucher Nickols, who was curate to Dr. Caner just before the Revolution and was subsequently settled in Salem. Mr. Merritt traced his later career in England until his death in 1814.

    Mr. Julius H. Tuttle made the following communication, written by Professor Howard J. Hall of Stanford University:

    TWO BOOK–LISTS: 1668 AND 1728

    A search of the Suffolk County Probate Records for the first forty years has brought to light some interesting book-lists. The recorded wills and inventories of these years show the high importance of books in the minds of the planters and their children. Generalities and statistics both are liable to mislead, but it may be noted that a search for book items through year after year of this period shows books mentioned in between forty-five and fifty per cent of all the inventories, including those lumped under such inclusive heads as personal and real property and those itemized in painful detail, with a range in value from a few shillings to thousands of pounds. To the searcher it is rewarding to come across two or three books in inventories revealing the utmost poverty; and it is tantalizing to find other property lists that show a high degree of comfort and the beginning of luxury in which the books are merely appraised at twenty-five or a hundred pounds. Among these early inventories with book lists two seem worthy of especial mention.

    The Ratcliff Invoice, 1668

    An early document of the Boston book trade is an inventory of Thomas Ratcliff, stationer, of Wapping, England, covering books and stationer’s goods in the hands of John Ratcliff, of Boston, stationer. John Ratcliff appears as binder of Eliot’s Indian Bible129 in 1664. To him and Alice, his wife, are born sons John and Thomas and a daughter Elizabeth in 1664, 1666, and 1669.130 He is one of those citizens of Boston who in 1664 petition the General Court on October 19 that the Charter rights of the Colony be confirmed and continued.131 In 1667 he is a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.132 Samuel Sewall in a commonplace-book notes, “Samuel Sewall, his Booke, Decemb. 29, 1677. Bound by Jno. Ratcliff.”133

    Thomas notes him as a bookseller for whom was printed Cotton Mather’s youthful poem upon President Urian Oakes, and for whom and John Griffin was published the Rev. Joseph Rowlandson’s last sermon.134 These were printed in 1682. Thomas further says that Ratcliff did little work as a bookseller, but that a few pamphlets were printed for him. After 1682 John Ratcliff apparently disappears from Massachusetts. It seems likely that he removed with his family from the vicinity of Boston, for outside the present entry the name of Ratcliff, in any form, does not again appear in the Suffolk County Probate Records for more than two hundred years.

    The inventory that follows, together with the preamble and the attached power of administration, explains itself. The books are of the class to be found on the shelves of the colonists generally, not alone in ministers’ libraries. The consignment was treated apparently by the court as if to have been sold on commission as the venture of Thomas Ratcliff, of Wapping, and not as an order at the risk of John. The binding materials John would of course buy for his own use; the books he would sell on commission. It will be noted that the items on seamanship and navigation are usually of several copies each, but that the books of divinity are usually of a single copy. It would be interesting to know whether these latter represent a special order sent to England or whether they are wholly a venture on Thomas Ratcliff’s part to feel the Boston market. Such ventures were not unknown.135

    An Inuentory of Certaine parcells of Bookes pasboards parchments &c sent ouer by the late mr Thomas Ratlife of Wapping stationr sent over to his Brother John Ratlife of Boston stationr &c as found in the Depty Govrs Warehouse, Taken and Apprized by mr Hezekiah Usher as they cost in England, as neere as he could: 15 July 1668

    £ s d

    3 dozen of duble pasboards

    000:

    12:

    -

    8 dozen & ½ of single pasboards

    000:

    05:

    6

    1 doz: of barromes

    000:

    07:

    -

    1 doz: of Parchment

    000:

    05:

    -

    1 doz: of red ship skins

    000:

    08

    1 diodates Annotius in folio bound

    000:

    19:

    -

    1 newmans Concordance in folio bound

    000:

    18:

    -

    1:vollume of Pembles workes in folio bound

    000:

    08:

    -

    2:gunters workes bound

    000:

    16:

    -

    12:seamans Callenders in sheets

    000:

    16:

    -

    6:seamans seacrets

    000:

    06:

    -

    6:seamans glass

    000:

    06:

    -

    12:seamans Practises

    000:

    18:

    -

    6:norwoods Epitamy

    000:

    09:

    -

    5:nauagatrs

    000:

    07:

    6

    1 Geometricall seaman

    000:

    01:

    6

    2:norwoods Doctrin of Dryangles in sheets

    000:

    09:

    -

    4:Allens vindication in Octauo

    000:

    08:

    -

    2:Beuis on Religeon in Octauo

    000:

    01:

    6

    6:norwoods Epittamy bound

    000:

    09:

    -

    2:smiths on Rethorick in Octauo

    000:

    02:

    -

    4:of the Godlimans Portion in Octauo

    000:

    04:

    9

    3:Bookes of mr Hennings, Things worth Thinkinton in Octauo

    000:

    04:

    6

    6 Dyers Cabbinet of Jewells in 12

    000

    06

    2:Jacksons Enottomy in 12

    000:

    04:

    -

    2:Goldberryes on Prodiges in Octauo

    000:

    03:

    -

    2:Bookes of Kings in Octauo

    000:

    03:

    -

    1:Brookes his Ark

    000:

    01:

    4

    1:doctrine of Law & grace in Octauo

    000:

    01:

    4

    1:Predix Compendium in quarto

    000:

    05:

    -

    1:Baker vpon Gardening in quarto

    000:

    04:

    -

    1:Arons Rodd quarto

    000:

    04:

    6

    1:Simson on vnbeleife:quarto

    000:

    04:

    0

    1:Swinnock on faith in qrto

    000:

    13:

    06

    1:Mecouia Pedamea in qrto

    000:

    05:

    -

    1:streets soliectall motions qrto

    000:

    02:

    06

    1:Griffith sermons qrto

    000:

    02:

    06

    1:Hollinger Historagraphræ qrto

    000:

    02:

    06

    1:Watsons Cordiall Octauo

    000:

    01:

    06

    1:Hoddars Arethmatick: 12

    000:

    01:

    00

    1:Triggs secrets

    000:

    01:

    00

    2:Brownes Rules

    000:

    02:

    -

    1:Phillips Patterne

    000:

    01:

    -

    2:streets Appendix to Astronomy in qrto

    000:

    06:

    -

    1:Lattin brooke in quarto

    000:

    00:

    00

    1:Jewell of Arethmaticque in qrto sticht

    000:

    03:

    -

    1:doz bound Paper Books in qrto

    000:

    10:

    -

    6:in parchement in qrto: 1 quire

    000:

    03:

    06

    2:doz bound Paper Bookes in Octauo:20:sheets

    000:

    10:

    -

    1:doz: in leather half quires

    000:

    07:

    06

    2:doz: bound in Leather: 12

    000:

    14:

    -

    1:Roswells Case & Cure in 12

    000:

    01:

    -

    017:

    03:

    08

    Att a meeting of the major Generall John Leveret & Edw: Tyng Esqr with the Recordr in Boston this : 24 : July : 1668

    Power of Administration to the Estate of the late mr Thomas Ratlife, of Wapping stationr as found in this Jurisdiction is granted to John Ratliffe his Brother in right & behalfe of the children left by the sajd Thomas Ratliffe, hee giuing Bond to Administer there vpon According to Law.

    As Attests: Edw Rawson Recordr

    24 July 1668

    John Ratliffe deposed that this paper contains a just & true Inuentory of soe much of his late Brother Tho: Ratlife his Estate, as is come to his hands & knowledge that when hee knowes more hee will discouer the same

    ꝑ EDW Rawson Recordr136

    The Greene Inventory, 1728

    Judge Sewall in his Diary, August 9, 1714, wrote “Last night our neighbour Green died.”137 This neighbor was Nathaniel Greene, a prosperous young merchant, a grandson of John Greene who was an associate of Roger Williams in the Providence settlement, 1638, and nephew of James Greene from whom descended General Nathaniel Greene of the Revolution. He was born at Warwick, Rhode Island, April 10, 1679. On February 27, 1704, he was married in King’s Chapel to Ann, daughter of Thomas and Frances (Robinson) Gould, of Boston, about eighteen years of age. In his will written two days before his death he mentions five children to whom he leaves one hundred and fifty pounds each with equal shares in Rhode Island land. His wife he makes residuary legatee and “full and sole executrix.” The widow Greene increased the property; and by her will of November 27, 1727, in which she describes herself as “widow and shopkeeper,” she leaves all of the property to her five sons equally, the eldest of whom, Thomas, she makes sole executor. The total estate as inventoried four months later sums up to more than £7000, consisting of shop and household goods, books, and the Rhode Island land still undivided and much increased in value. It was the children of Thomas Greene who left to Trinity Church in Boston the “Greene Foundation” of £500 for the maintenance of assistant ministers.138

    In the long and minutely detailed inventory of the property left by Mrs. Greene in 1728 the books are of chief interest, one hundred and twenty-four titles from folios to unnamed pamphlets. They are mostly works of divinity, to be sure, but a careful look down the columns shows to one who has become familiar with seventeenth century book-lists that here is something different. Even the divinity is of lighter type. “Pilgrims Progress” and “Grace Abounding” appear, surprisingly rare in New England lists for a generation after Bunyan’s death, when compared with the frequent appearance of such books as “Caryl on Job” and Mr. Preston’s and Dr. Sibbs’s works. For a library of this size the folios are fewer and less profound than in those of a generation before. The quartos and octavos have a fair proportion of history, and the list ends with a group of a dozen titles of fiction and romance that would indicate that the widow Greene and her family had found that books might serve for delight. Of all her books one quarter, including history, may fairly be called books of diversion or of diverting information.

    An Inuentory & Apprizement of the House & Land Plate Wearing Apparel and Household Goods belonging to the Estate of Ann Green late of Boston deceased as taken Accompt of & apprized by Messrs Zechariah Thayer, Benja Simpson & Philip Bongarden the 8th day of March 1727/8 Vizt . . .

    Books in Folio vizt

    Henry on the Bible 6 Vol

    £24

    Perkins’s works 3 Vol

    3

    Ambros’s works

    3

    Caves Lives

    3

    10

    Taylers Exempler

    4

    Cambridge Concordance

    3

    Clarkes Martirology

    1

    10

    a Quarter Wagginer

    1

    Herberts Travels

    10

    Hookers Eclesiastical Politie

    1

    Books in Quarto

    1 Holy Bible old

    8

    1 Family ditto most new

    2

    5

    The History of the old and new Testaments wth Maps

    2

    10

    Patricks Parrable of ye Pilgraim

    10

    a Collection of Sermons by Thomas Cartwright

    15

    The Christian Compleatly armd

    5

    51

    3

    Calfs Wonders of the Invisible World

    2

    The History of the Knight of the burning sword

    3

    The History of Parismus

    5

    Octavos &c

    Ye History of England 4 Vols

    3

    Athenian Oracles 4 Vols

    3

    Beveridge on the 39 articles

    15

    on Prayer & Communion

    1

    Thoughts on Religion

    2

    6

    Sheerlock on death

    10

    on Judgment

    12

    on Religious assemblys

    8

    on the Immortality of the Soul

    12

    Nelson’s Rules to Live above the World

    14

    Address to Persons of Quality

    5

    Down’s exposition of the book of Common Prayer

    16

    Ray’s wisdom of God in the Works of Creation

    15

    Horneck’s Crucified Jesus

    16

    Great Assize

    8

    Jenkins on the Christian Religion 2 Vols

    1

    10

    The Bulwark storm’d

    8

    The Life of Leopold Emperour of Germany

    5

    The Life of the Revd mr George Trosse

    3

    Dreling court on death

    6

    Cole on Regeneration

    5

    Josephus History of the Jews

    8

    Articles & Canons of the Church

    6

    Janeway’s Heaven upon Earth

    7

    his life

    2

    6

    Token for Children

    6

    Telemachus 2 Vols

    15

    State Worthies 5/Grainger’s Life 2/

    7

    Wadsworth on ye Immortality of ye Soul

    4

    12 Sermons

    2

    6

    Gods terrible Voice in the City

    2

    Foxcroft’s cleansing our way in Youth

    3

    Patrick’s Advice to a Friend

    4

    a Believer’s Golden Chain

    4

    Taylor’s Contemplations

    3

    Bunyan’s Sighs from Hell

    2

    Grace abounding to the Chief of Sinners

    2

    6

    Davids Repentence 4/ The Wars of England & 2/

    6

    Meat out of the Eater

    2

    £20

    5

    6

    Books in Octavo &c

    Colman’s Incomprehensibleness of God

    2

    Sermons

    2

    6

    Funeral Sermon on Grove Hirst

    2

    Grailes holy History 18d Crisps Sermons 18d

    3

    Allin’s alarm to unconverted sinners

    2

    Smiths great assize 3/ a spelling book 2/

    5

    A young man’s conflict with y. Devil

    1

    8

    a Catechism & Confession of Faith

    2

    6

    The Life of the Lady Margaret de la Musse

    1

    6

    Doolittle’s Call to Delaying sinners

    1

    6

    a prospect of Eternity

    1

    6

    Lives of the Primitive Christians

    2

    Hayward’s blood of the son of God sheed

    1

    6

    Russel’s 7 Sermons 2/6 Jacob’s Ladder 2/

    4

    6

    Flavel’s Token for Mourners

    2

    6

    The Lama Sabacthany 2/ Francis Spira

    4

    6

    The Pattern of mans Imperfections

    1

    Mather’s Life of Mr Cotton &c

    2

    6

    Pilgrims Progress 2/ The barren figg Tree 2/

    4

    a Guide to Eternal Glory

    2

    6

    The youth summon’d to appear at Christ’s barr

    1

    0

    Testament of the 12 Patriarchs

    1

    6

    The History of the holy Jesus

    2

    An Ark for all good Noahs

    3

    Christ’s sudden appearance to Judgment

    3

    The Existence & Omniscience of God

    2

    Two Journeys to Jerusalem

    2

    The Truimph of mercy

    3

    a New England Psalm book 2/8 a Ditto 1/6

    4

    Sr Francis Drake 2/ 9 Worthies 2/

    4

    Maynes Practical Gaguer 12d Cromwell’s Life 2/

    3

    English Rogue 18d French Rogue 18d

    3

    Queen Elizabeth & Essex 18d Fortunatus 12d

    2

    6

    Argalus & Parthenia 18d Valentine & Orson 2/

    3

    6

    7 Wise masters 2/7 wise Mistresses 2/

    4

    Destruction of Troy 18d Fair Rosamond 18d

    3

    The English Empire in America

    2

    Laugh & be fat 18d Amadis de Gaul 18d

    3

    Guy Earl of Warwick

    1

    6

    a parcel of Pamphlets &c

    5

    £5

    6

    2

    7 Champions of Christendom

    1

    6

    1 Book, Kempis on the Christians Exercis

    15

    [Then follows attestation] Boston March 8th 1727/8139

    Mr. M. A. DeWolfe Howe exhibited two volumes — one a collection of printed tracts, which once belonged to Judge Samuel Sewall and containing his book-plate and notes in his hand; the other a copy of Officia Sacrata, printed in 1742.

    Mr. Matthews read the following —

    NOTE ON ROBERT ELLISTON (1680–1756)

    The second volume exhibited by Mr. Howe raises biographical and bibliographical problems of some interest. The title-page reads:

    Officia Sacrata: or, Devotional Offices in the Retired Acts of Divine Adoration. With Pious Instructions prefixed, for Rectifying the Dispositions therein: And useful Sentences adjoin’d, Concluding the Parts thereof. Collected from the Sacred Writings, and Orthodox Writers of the Church. Deus Religione intelligendus, Pietate profitendus, Sensu vero persequendus non est; sed adorandus. S. Hilar. de S.Trin. MDCCXLII.140

    Following the title-page is this dedication:

    To the Worthy Professors of the Church of England, these Offices Are inscrib’d by Robert Elliston, the Compiler, In regard of their Orthodox Character.

    The binding is modern. There are two fly-leaves of modern paper, and then a fly-leaf which belonged to the original volume. The recto of this fly-leaf is marbled, and on the verso is pasted a book-plate. Mr. Elliston used two book-plates, very similar but not identical. In each is a coat of arms, but slightly different in each case. Over the arms in one book-plate is the date “M. DCC. XXV.” and under the arms the motto “Bono Vince Malum.” Underneath are the words: “Robert Elliston Gent. Comptrolr. of his Majestie’s Customs of New York in America.” In the other book-plate the arms are some what different, there is no date at the top, the motto at the bottom is the same, but the words underneath read: “Robert Elliston Gent Comptrolr. of his Majesties Customs, of New York in America.” It is the latter book-plate which is pasted into Mr. Howe’s volume.141 Underneath the book-plate is written in Mr. Elliston’s hand:

    By whom these Devotional Offices unto Benjamin Franklin Gent: of Philadelphia in Pensilvania are in respectfulness given.142

    Of this book there is a copy in the Columbia University Library143 and another in the library of the General Theological Seminary.144 The former I have not seen, but the latter on examination proved to be bound in its original leather binding, handsomely tooled, the back being labelled “Officia Sacrata,” in two lines. On the inside of the cover is marbled paper, which extends over the recto of the first fly-leaf — thus explaining the condition of the fly-leaf in Mr. Howe’s copy, remarked upon above. Pasted on the verso of that fly-leaf is the same book-plate as that in Mr. Howe’s copy and underneath is written in Mr. Elliston’s hand: “By Whom these Devotional Offices are in beneficence given to the Parochial Library of Holy Trinity Church in N. York City.”

    Of a second book compiled by Mr. Elliston, the only copy I have run down is in the library of the General Theological Seminary. This is also in its original leather binding, with marbled paper on the inside of the cover and extending over the recto of the first fly-leaf. The back of the cover is labelled “Religious Instructions,” in two lines.

    The title-page reads as follows:

    Cognitiones Christianismi: or, Religious Instructions, Expressive in some Strictures of Christianity, conducing to Holiness & Happiness, from Holy Church her Writings. Ut Deus piisimè colatur, hæce, animum virtute benedictâ erudiendi certitudo sint. MDCCXLII.145

    The “Address Dedicatory, to the Worthy Professors of the Church of England,” is signed —

    Recte legit,

    qui

    in opera vertit.

    Robert Elliston

    ΦΙΛΟΧΡΗΣΤΟΣ.

    Fest. Epiphaniæ,

    MDCCXLII.

    On page 243 is printed the following:

    ΕΠΙΛΟΓΟΣ ΦΙΛΟΧΡΗΣΤΟΥ. | Ex His, | Solamen ac Salutem | Contemplatori | Equidem Optat. | Answering To The English; | Philochrestus His Peroration. | Unto the Observer | He | doth truly wish | from these, | the means of | Comfort & Salvation.

    On pages [244–245] is this printed inscription:

    Narratus Quidam | De | Roberto Elliston Generoso.| Ipse Middle-sexiæ Natus, | Æra Salutis | MDCLXXX. | In Aula Civica Minutariorum: | Post | Conflagrationem Londinensem, | Annis XIV. Consummatis, | Istoque Diei Articulo. | Et | Proxima Ineunte Centuria, | Unus E Scripturariis: | Ad Quoddam Tempus, | V. Honorabili Edvardo Harley Armigero | Regio Computatori, | Subfuerat:146 | Inde Usque Ad | MDCCXLII. | Regii Telonii Custos | In Portu Neo-Eboracensi In America, | Fuit. | Laus utique sit omnis | altissimo.147

    Of a third book compiled by Mr. Elliston I have seen three copies, there being a fourth in the Columbia University Library. The copy in the library of the General Theological Seminary is in its original leather binding, with marbled paper inside the cover and extending over the recto of the first fly-leaf. Underneath the book-plate is written in Mr. Elliston’s hand, “By Whom this Manual is in,” the remainder being erased. The title-page reads:

    Enchiridium Polychrestum: or an Useful Manual; Containing Religious Instructions, Expressive in Some Strictures of Christianity: Extracted from Several Writings of Holy Church. In v. Partitions. Ut Deus piissimè colatur, hæce, animum virtute benedictâ erudiendi certitude sint. MDCCXL.148

    “An Address Dedicatory” begins “To You, the Worthy Professors of Our Holy Church, is an Offering of this Manual, which doth contain Religious Instructions as the Title sets forth;” is signed “Sic, Vota efferimus Deo; Amen. R.E.;” and is dated “Fest. S.Matthæi. MDCCXL.”

    Another copy of this book, once owned by the General Theological Seminary, is now owned by the New York Historical Society. It also is in its original leather binding, with marbled paper on the inside of the cover and extending over the recto of the first fly-leaf. Underneath the book-plate is written in Mr. Elliston’s hand: “By Whom this Enchiridium is in respectfulness given to the Revd Mr Jonathan Arnold Curator of St Andrews’s Church on Staten-Island New York.” But it has two leaves not in the copy already described. Following the Address Dedicatory is a leaf containing this printed dedication:

    D.

    IOHANNI DUPUY

    M. & C.

    Professori Literato;

    hæce

    Præceptiones Christianismi,

    per

    R. Elliston ejus Socerum

    inscriptæ:

    hinc exopatur ut

    ipsimet

    Placitæ erint Plurimæ.149

    Vigil. Omn. Sanct.

    MDCCXLI.

    And at the end of the book, following page 84, is a leaf which contains this printed inscription:

    Narratus150 quidem151 | de | Roberto Elliston generoso. | Ipse | Middle-sexiæ natus, | ærâsalutis | MDCLXXX; | in Aulâ Civicâ Minutariorum:| post |conflagrationem Londinensem, | annis XIV. consummatis, istoque diei articulo. | Et | proximâ ineunte centuriâ, | unus è scripturariis; | ad quoddam tempus, | V. Honorabili Edvardo Harley armigero | regio computatatori,152 | subfuerat: | à quo, tam hactenus | MDCCXLI, | regii telonii custos | in portu Neo-Eboracensi in America, | fuit. | Laus utique sit omnis | altissimo.

    The third copy also once belonged to the General Theological Seminary, but is now owned by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, to whom it was given by the late Charles R. Hildeburn on October 31, 1892. It, too, is in its original leather binding, with marbled paper inside the cover and extending over the recto of the first fly-leaf. Underneath the book-plate is written in Mr. Elliston’s hand: “By whom this Enchiridium is in benevolence given unto Richard Nicholls Gent. Attorney at Law in New-York Province.” This copy also has the two leaves not found in the copy now in the library of the General Theological Seminary.

    It thus appears that the book itself is dated MDCCXL, while those two leaves are each dated MDCCXLI; and that some copies have, while other copies lack, the two leaves. These facts perhaps indicate that the book was originally issued without those two leaves, which afterwards were printed off and inserted in the copies not previously bound. The discrepancy between the date on the titlepage and the date on those two leaves is not without precedent.

    The existence of three such books, compiled and distributed by an ardent Episcopalian in New York between 1740 and 1742, prompts the questions: Who was Robert Elliston? Where were the books published? By whom were the books printed?

    From the inscriptions quoted above, we learn that Robert Elliston was born in London, England, on September 2, 1680; that he was employed under Edward Harley; and that in 1741 he was Comptroller of the Customs in New York. His patron in England was Edward Harley (1664–1735), a brother of Robert Harley (1661–1724, first Earl of Oxford), an uncle of Edward Harley (1689–1741, second Earl of Oxford), and the father of Edward Harley (1699–1755, third Earl of Oxford), and who in 1702 obtained the lucrative office of auditor of the imprest, which he held during life. Exactly when Elliston came to this country has not been ascertained, but he was in New York as early as 1711, in which year he contributed £1 towards the building of a steeple to Trinity Church.153 Nor is it known precisely when he became Comptroller of the Customs, but apparently he held that position in 1720 and retained it until 1755. The allusions to him are scanty and chiefly in connection with Trinity Church, of which he was a vestryman from 1713 to 1726, again in 1736, and from 1740 to 1756.154 In 1736 he gave £8 for enlarging Trinity Church,155 and (whether earlier or later does not appear) “an altar piece was prepared, according to the plan of Mr. Robert Elliston, towards which he himself contributed £20.”156 He was likewise the donor of “a very handsome silver basin . . . to receive the offerings at the Communion;”157 and on several occasions gave books to the parish library.158 This library was largely destroyed in the fire of 1776, but the books which remained were later given to the General Theological Seminary. His death was recorded in two London magazines for July, 1732;159 but, as in the case of Mark Twain, the report was “grossly exaggerated,” since he lived until March 20, 1756, as appears from a notice in the New York Mercury of March 22d:

    The same Day, departed this Life in the 76th Year of his Age, Mr. Robert Eliston, a Gentleman, who for many Years past has been Comptroller of his Majesty’s Customs in this City; very remarkable for many shining Virtues, which makes his Death much lamented by all his Acquaintance.

    His wife Mary, whose maiden name is unknown, survived him for nearly twenty years, dying in February, 1775, in her eighty-eighth year. Their only child, Frances, was married first to Dr. John Dupuy, to whom the Enchiridium Polychrestum was dedicated and who died in July, 1745;160 and secondly, on January 6, 1757, to the Rev. John Peter Tetard, who died December 6, 1787. She died August 2, 1808, in her ninety-second year.161

    On the questions as to where the three Elliston books were published and by whom they were printed, no light is thrown by the title-pages, which, as we have already seen, give neither place of publication nor publisher’s name nor printer’s name. But two suggestions have been made, — one by the late Charles R. Hildeburn, the other by Mr. D. Berkeley Updike.

    In 1889, when he compiled his List of the Issues of the Press in New York, 1693–1752,162 Hildeburn was silent as to the Elliston books. Perhaps at that time he did not know about them. However that may be, in 1892, as stated above, he gave to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania a copy of the Enchiridium Polychrestum. Three years later (1895), speaking of the New York printer James Parker, he wrote:

    Parker’s first work was “Enchiridium Polychrestum,” privately printed for the author, who, according to his book-plate, was “Robert Elliston Gent Comptrolr of his Majesties [sic] Customs of New York in America.” The title-page is dated 1740, the dedication Vigil. Omn. Sanct. [November 1] 1741, but the typography is neither Bradford’s nor Zenger’s, and is Parker’s; besides which the printer’s “flowers” used throughout it all appear in works from no other American printing-office than the latter’s. The work is highly mystical, and the author probably insisted on preserving in print the dates he affixed to his manuscript, though the book was not printed until 1742.163

    This passage contains several statements that are open to challenge. First, the assertion that the book was “not printed until 1742” is a pure assumption, no evidence in its support being adduced. Secondly, the statement that the typography “is neither Bradford’s nor Zenger’s, and is Parker’s” is questionable in the extreme. To my eye the typography of all three of the Elliston books by no means resembles the typography of the few books I have seen which were printed by Parker in 1743–1746.164 Thirdly, the statement that “the printer’s ‘flowers’ used throughout it all appear in works from no other American printing-office than” Parker’s is difficult to understand. If this means that the use of “flowers” was confined in this country to Parker’s press, the statement is of course erroneous, since flowers appear in many American books of that and of an earlier period. If it means that the particular flowers “used throughout” the Enchiridium Polychrestum “all appear in works from no other American printing office than” Parker’s, I can only say that apparently none of those particular flowers appear in any of the books printed by Parker which I have examined.

    Nor must the fact be overlooked that the Elliston books are dated 1740–1742, while it is questionable whether Parker established his press before 1743. Hildeburn does indeed say that Parker’s “first production was the votes of the Assembly for the latter part of 1742,”165 though according to Evans’s American Bibliography Parker did not print the Journal of the Votes and Proceedings until November, 1743. But however that may have been, no book is known to have been printed by Parker previous to 1743.166

    Two years ago, after examining Mr. Howe’s volume, Mr. Updike threw out the suggestion that the book may have been printed in London by William Bowyer the younger, the “learned printer,” a notion which seems not improbable. This question can of course be determined only after a careful comparison of the Officia Sacrata and the other Elliston books with books printed by Bowyer167 — a task so tedious that the result would hardly warrant the labor.168

    Meanwhile those who — like Mr. Updike, Mr. Robert H. Kelby, Mr. Worthington C. Ford, Mr. Julius H. Tuttle, and the present writer — have examined one or all of the Elliston books, agree that in typography, in binding, and in paper,169 they were doubtless of English manufacture.170

    The Treasurer announced the receipt of $2000 on account of the bequest of Horace Everett Ware, which is to accumulate till 1930, when the amount, with any additions which may be made from other sources, is to be used by the Society for the erection of some memorial to the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay and the transfer of the Colony charter to New England. He also reported the receipt of $30,000 from the executors of the will of George Vasmer Leverett in satisfaction of his bequests. These additions bring the total amount of the Society’s endowment up to something more than $100,000.

    Mr. William C. Lane made the following communication:

    THE BUILDING OF MASSACHUSETTS HALL, 1717–1720

    Massachusetts Hall was completed in 1720, and was first occupied by students in the fall of that year. The story of its building is told briefly in this paper, and in the pages following are printed the documents upon which that story is founded.

    It was in November, 1717, that the need for a new building to provide lodging for students first found public expression. An inspection of the Quinquennial Catalogue shows that at just this time there had been a sudden increase in the number of students. The class of 1721, which entered in 1717, graduated with 37 members, and the five classes, 1721 to 1725, averaged 39 in number. The previous five classes, 1716 to 1720, averaged only 18. Previous to the autumn of 1717 the number of students in residence must have been well under one hundred, for the four classes, 1717 to 1720, graduated with only 80 members altogether. In November, 1718, however, it is explicitly stated that there were 124 students, graduate and undergraduate, in residence. At this time the College had only two buildings in which students lodged — that which stood on the present site of Harvard Hall and was burned in 1764, in which, it is stated, there were twenty chambers in the upper story, and Stoughton College, built in 1700, containing sixteen chambers.171 These thirty-six chambers probably each contained two studies or closets, about five feet square, partitioned off from them, and accordingly would accommodate seventy-two students. There may possibly have been room for a few more than seventy-two, since the chambers in Stoughton, or some of them, may have had three studies, for in one of the plans for the new building it was proposed that three studies might be contrived in some of the chambers, which were of the same size as the chambers in Stoughton; but in any case it is evident that the supply had come to be far short of the demand.

    The first step toward obtaining a new building was taken on November 14, 1717, when at a meeting of the Overseers172 the President stated the difficulties of the situation, and moved that the Overseers would consider and advise what should be done. The Overseers having thereupon voted that a memorial should be presented to the General Assembly, the President read the draught of a memorial which he had prepared. This was approved and referred to a committee of six, with instructions that it be transcribed, signed by the clerk of the Overseers, and presented to the Governor and Council as soon as possible.

    The committee met the next day, November 15th; the memorial was read and approved, and Tutor Flynt, the clerk of the Overseers, was directed to get it transcribed while the committee adjourned for half an hour. Upon meeting again the memorial was duly signed by the clerk and the committee immediately waited upon the Governor and Board, who agreed to send it down recommended to the House of Representatives, whereupon a joint committee was appointed by the Council and the House to consider what might be proper to be done, and to make their report at the next session.

    The memorial173 should be read in extenso. It set forth the early provision made by the Government for the College, the “more Capacious & sumptuous Habitation” (the second Harvard College) which had been built later, and the “Large College built & finish’d at his own sole Cost & Charge” by the “truely Honorable & Conspicuously learned and religious Wm Stoughton Esqr.” It went on to state that while hitherto there had been “sufficient Apartments for ye Students” yet “the Numbers of ye Sons of ye Prophets are now so increas’d, that the Place where they were wont to dwell is become so Streight as not to be capable of receiving ym” and that many of the students having to take lodgings in the town, the Government “do already feel a great Concern in yr Minds & have but uncomfortable Views of Mischeifs impending,” since many are “necessitated to be so much & so far from their constant Inspection, & ye Slender Authority ye College is capable of Exerting in the Town.”174

    During the recess the joint committee of the General Court and the committee of the Overseers sat together, and when the Court met again, on February 6, 1718, were ready to report without delay. Governor Shute in his opening speech directed attention to the College’s needs and recommended prompt action. The committee handed in their report that it was “necessary that some further Building be erected for the Making Provision of Forty or Fifty Studies more, that all the Students may be entertain’d within the College.”

    This report was sent down to the House, which ordered, the next day (February 7), that the committee “be desired to prepare & lay before the Court a Projection of such Additional Buildings, as they think necessary . . . & a Computation of the Charge it will probably amount to.” The Council concurred, and in the afternoon of the same day a draught of the proposed building was presented to the House, the committee recommending as “the most frugal method of Building . . . to Erect a double House, somewhat conformable to the Draught herewith exhibited, to be plac’d pretty near the Southwest Corner of Stoughton College, and thence to extend its length Westward in a parallel Line to Harvard College,” thus forming three sides of a square open toward the West. The charge, they gathered from skilful workmen, would amount to about three thousand pounds.

    Among the College papers there are two plans evidently connected with Massachusetts Hall. One (reproduced facing page 94) may well be the draught presented at this time, since it does not correspond very closely with the building as actually erected, especially in the position of the chimneys. On the back is a brief description175 in the hand of Benjamin Wadsworth, a member of the Overseers’ committee at this time, one of the Fellows of the Corporation, the minister of the First Church in Boston, and later the successor of President Leverett in the Presidency. It proposes a building 98 feet long and 43 feet wide, three stories high, and containing in each story eight large chambers 20 feet square. Cut off from each chamber are either two or three studies (each five feet by four and a half) giving 60, 66, or 72 studies in all, and accommodating that number of students.

    Evidently this seemed to the House a large undertaking, and on February 12, when the report was read again, it was voted that “inasmuch as the charge of the said Buildings is like to be very considerable, and a great part of this House is absent,” consideration be deferred to the next session of the Court in May.

    No further step was taken until June 19, 1718, when a new committee composed of thirteen members was appointed to go to Cambridge, and choose a site for the new building. The next day the committee reported in agreement with the previous committee as to site, but limited the building to not more than fifty feet in length, with three upright stories and a convenient roof of a suitable pitch.176 On July 4, the sum of fifteen hundred pounds was appropriated toward the cost of the building, and a committee consisting of Jonathan Remington, Charles Chambers, and Andrew Bordman (the Steward of the College) was named “to take care for the carrying on and effecting the said Building.”

    The reduction of the new building to half the size originally planned must have been a sore disappointment to the government of the College, but apparently no record exists of any further plans or discussions until we find in President Leverett’s Diary, November 3, 1718, his statement that the Governor had agreed that there should be a meeting of the Overseers on November 7, when a second memorial might be presented “for the carrying on the begun building . . . to the length of one hundred feet.”

    The meeting of November 7 proved abortive, as objection was made that the ministerial portion of the Board had not been duly notified, so that the meeting was not regular, and “that it was not proper for the Council to address themselves.” Leverett says that “thô these objections were accounted but frivolous ones, yet, this meeting dropt without any effect” except to prepare the way for another meeting on the 12th of the same month. On that day everyone had been duly notified and the clerk made formal statement of the fact, so there was no ground for objection on the score of regularity, but it is evident that a hostile element had prepared to take advantage of the occasion to attack the President. The President, at the Governor’s invitation, set forth the business of the meeting, namely to prosecute “their former Memorial with a Second” praying for an enlargement of the building already under construction. At the Governor’s invitation, he presented the memorial which had been prepared, praying that the Court would be “pleas’d to carry out ye begun additionall building to ye Length first proposed.”177 The Governor spoke in favor of it, and was about to put the question when Mr. Paul Dudley asked to be allowed to look upon the memorial, and while he was doing so, thus delaying action, Judge Sewall rose and began to ask how the worship of God was carried on in the College, and whether the President expounded the Scriptures regularly; he had heard that it had not been done, and he apprehended that this was an affair of greater moment even than the erection of a new building. The President protested that this was not the proper time or place to raise the question, “that he was surprized and little Expectd Such a treatmt from the Honble person that moved it.” The Governor declared “that the Motion . . . was very improper and altogether out of Course.” Sewall, giving a spicy account of the affair in his Diary, says: “Many spake earnestly that what I did was out of Season. Mr. Attorny [Paul Dudley] stood up and Seconded me very strenuously. When I was fallen so hard upon, I said I apprehended The not Expounding the Scriptures was a faulty Omission, and I was glad I had that Opportunity of shewing my dislike of it.” Sundry motions were made again by Mr. Dudley “tending to, if not designing for a diversion,” but at length votes were passed directing the memorial to be presented to the General Assembly in the name of the Overseers, and in conclusion it was voted, “That the President shal Entertain the Scholars in the College Hall with Frequent Expositions of the holy Scripture.”

    The memorial was accordingly presented in the House on November 13, but on being brought up for consideration on the 28th, the House voted down the motion to grant the enlargement asked for. Again the reasonable and urgent petition of the College failed to gain support.

    At the next session of the Court the subject was pressed again, and this time with success. On May 29, 1719, Charles Chambers and Andrew Bordman of the building committee presented a further memorial recommending that the building should be carried out to its full length. “First, Because it will save considerable Charge if the Building be carried on entire; Secondly, Because the Building will be much stronger as well as much more beautiful; Thirdly, Because the proposed Building of fifty feet long will not be sufficient to accommodate the Students.” They report that the master workmen compute that the sum of three thousand five hundred pounds, with what the President’s old house will sell for, will complete the building. The House was now favorably inclined and the same day ordered, that the building extend in length 100 feet, that an additional two thousand pounds be appropriated, and “that the Rent paid by the Students that shall be entertained in the said Building shall not exceed Twenty shillings per Man per Annum.” In these votes the Council concurred the following day, and the work evidently proceeded thereupon without further interruption.

    On May 24, 1720, the new college was so far finished178 that the Corporation desired the President to acquaint the Overseers with the fact and take their advice in regard to returning thanks to the General Court.

    The Overseers having advised (June 23) that an address of thanks be presented in the name of the Corporation, the Corporation (June 28) appointed two of the Fellows, Benjamin Colman and Joseph Stevens, and the Treasurer, John White, a committee to prepare the draught of an address. The Corporation also voted, “That the New College be kept securely shut up, and no Use made of it, either of Chambers or Cellars, for the Next Com̄encmt [July 6] to prevent the Damage that will otherwise necessarily be, while the house is new & Green,” but two days later President Leverett records in his Diary that “upon the representation of the great disappointmt it was like to prove to Sundry of the Com̄encers not to emprove some pts of the New Building, and the Intimation of the Disposition of some at least of the Com̄ittee for the Inspecting that Building to have the house stand open for the publick View,” the matter of opening or shutting was left to the discretion of the President and the committee, and “Accordingly It was Advised and agreed that the West half of the House shd be Open’d and Improved by Com̄encers as far as was requisite for their Accom̄odation.”

    On July 18 the House appointed a committee of seventeen to visit Cambridge, view the building, and examine and audit the accounts of the building committee. The committee made its report November 4, “That they had attended that Service, and find it a well Built and Finisht House, and well adapted to the Reception of Students;” also that the accounts were correct and satisfactory, “And that the Ballance due from the Committee to the Province is One Hundred and Sixteen Pounds, and One Peny.” They also reported that they had received the keys of the building and had delivered them to the President, and with him had named the building Massachusetts Hall. The balance of one hundred and sixteen pounds and one penny, the House handsomely presented to the committee for their good service in taking care of the building.

    The time had now come for the College to present its formal thanks to the Province, and on November 18, 1720, the President with the Rev. Mr. Wadsworth and the Rev. Mr. Colman, Fellows of the Corporation, were admitted into the House, and presented an address which was read by the President. This address (written doubtless by Benjamin Colman) gratefully and piously declares that the “fine and goodly House . . . will be a lasting Monument, if God please, of the Just Regards of the Present Government for the Support of Religion and Learning amongst us in time to come.”179

    The documents follow.

    I

    Overseers’ Meeting, November 14, 1717

    The Presidt representing to the Overseers that Considerable Numbers of the Studts of the College were obliged to take up Lodgings in the Town, for want of Accom̄odation in the College, and thereupon the necessity of an Addition Building to the Colleges that now are, moved that the Overseers wd be pleased to take the matter into consideration, and Advise what may be ꝑper to be done in that behalfe. And the sd Overseers taking the matter into their Considration, and debated the same, and advised

    That a Memorial signed by the Clerk of the Overseers be presented to the Genl Assembly in the Name of the Overseers importing the Same with Mr Presidts Representation.

    Mr Presidt in his place read the draught of a memorial wch he had form’d, which was approv’d of, and a Committee of the Overseers appointed vizt The Lt Govr Wm Tailer Esqr Saml Sewal Esqr Elisha Cook Esqr. The Presidt Mr Wadsworth & Mr Coleman, to take care that the sd Memorial be transcribed, and to be signed by the Clerk of the Overseers, and further was agreed, that the sd Com̄ittee shd present the sd Memorial to His Exc̄y & Council as Soon as possible it could be made ready & Sign’d.

    The Overseers being dismiss’d, withdrew to attend the Funeral of Majr Generall Winthrop.

    The Com̄ittee agreed to meet to morrow at 11 of ye Clock.180

    II

    Meeting of the Committee of the Overseers, November 15, 1717

    The Com̄ittee of the Overseers, vizt The L. Govr Colo Tailer, Capt Sewall, the Presidt Mr Cook, Mr Wadsworth & Mr Coleman, being met, the Memorial was read. It was concievd in these Terms.181

    To the Great & Generall Assembly of his Majesty’s Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New Engld now sitting in Boston

    The Memoriall of ye Overseers of Harvard College in Cambridge in ye County of Middl within ye Province aforsd

    Sheweth

    That whereas it pleased Almighty God to inspire ye first Heroick Adventurers into a Wast & howling Wilderness wth Piety & Wisdom early to contrive a Seminary for the Preserving propagating and advancing Learning & Religion, and ꝑ ye Liberal Assistance of many well dispos’d & generous ꝑsons, The Government wch then was but in it’s Infancy, was pleas’d to erect a College, and ꝑvide Accom̄odation of Buildings for ye Reception both of a presidt & Studts proportionable to ye first Numbers yt offer’d themselves to be educated in good Letters & Piety; and in after Times wn the first Edifices were become too Streight or unfit for ye Scholars to dwell in, the same publick Spirit Discended upon ye Successors of ye first Patriots: Insomuch as a more Capacious & sumptuous Habitation was provided p ye Publick for them.

    And yet Later even in ye Rembrance & View of the Youngest in This Genl Assembly, The truely Honorable & Conspicuously Learned & religious Wm Stoughton Esqr (who is to be held in everlasting remembrance by all Learned & Good Men) built & finish’d at his own sole Cost & Charge an intire Large College for the Accom̄odation of ye Studts

    The Memorialists cant but take it to be ye most agreable Thing in ye World, as to represent to you the great & Generous the Wise & pious things done ꝑ yor blessed Predecessors ye Fathers & Founders of this Country, so to ꝑsent to you the Oppertunity & Occasion, of convincing all mankind, That yt Excellent Spirit is not intomb’d wth our fathers, but still survives in this Generon and is vigorous in ys great general Assembly. — Now thus it is may it please

    This honorle Court

    That althô ꝑ ye Accom̄odats & provisions before mentioned there have been sufficient Apartments for ye Students wth in ye College hither unto, yet thrô the Blessing of God upon ye Land, & upon ye College; The Numbers of ye Sons of ye Prophets are now so increas’d, that the Place where they were wont to dwell is become so Streight as not to be capable of receiving ym. There are Considerable Numbers especially that were admitted this Year, who are oblig’d to take Lodgings in ye Town; upon wch not only they themselves complain of great Difficulties & Inconveniencies, but ye Gentlemen yt have ye Govermt of ye Society do already feel a great Concern in yr Minds & have but uncomfortable Views of Mischeifs impending; wch yy fear they shall not be able to avert, by reason of many being necessitated to be so much & so far from their Constant Inspection, & ye Slender Authority ye College is capable of expecting from ye Town.182

    Wherfore ye sd Overseers have tho’t themselves under Indispensible Obligations both out of a just regard to y° Honour of this Court, and a Tender Concern for ye most Important Interests of Religion & Learning, to lay ye Premises before this Great & General Assembly hoping yt you will be pleased to take ye same into your most serious Consideration & do therein as shall seem good in your great Wisdom & Piety, under ye benign Influence of ye Excellent Spirit transmitted to you, together wth ye Blessed Fruits of it, from your Ancestors: That so your Names as well as theirs may be consigned wth ye Like Odours to ye Latest Posterity

    ꝑ Order of ye Overseers

    H Flynt Cler Inspect183

    The Com̄ittee directed Mr Flynt the Clerk of the Overseers to get the Memorial Transcrib’d, & adjourn’d for half an hour.

    The sd Com̄ittee met and the Clerk of the Overseers Signed the Memorial as above.

    And the sd Com̄ittee Waited upon his Exc̄y & Board, and the Lt Govr presentd the sd Memoriall, wch was read by ye Secretary & agreed to Send it down recom̄ended to the House of Representatives. According the sd Memorial was Sent down Recom̄ended to the House, and the sd House appointed Majr Hab. Savage Mr Tim̄° Lyndal, and Capt Jona Dows to Join others of the Board to be a Com̄ittee to considr what may be proper to be don upon the sd Memorial, to wch the Council joyn’d Capt Sewal, Majr Fitch & Capt Tho. Hutchinson.184

    III

    Council Meeting, November 15, 1717

    A Memorial of the Overseers of Harvard College in Cambridge shewing that the Number of the Students in the said College is of late so much encreas’d that the Place where they were wont to dwell is become so streight as not to be capable of receiving them, That there are considerable Numbers (of those especially that were admitted this year) who are oblig’d to take Lodgings in the Town, Upon which not only they themselves complain of great Difficulties & Inconvencies, but the Gentlemen that have the immediate Government of the Society do already feal a great concern in their Minds & have but uncomfortable Views of Mischiefs impending which they fear they shall not be able to avert, by Reason of so many being necessitated to be so much & so far from their constant Inspection & the slender Authority the College is capable of Exerting in the Town, wherefore the said Overseers think themselves under indispensable Obligations both out of a just Regard to the Honour of this Court & a tender Concern for the most important Interests of Religion & Learning to lay the Premises under their Consideration, Praying that they would do therein as shall seem best in their great Wisdom & Piety. Read & sent down recommended.185

    IV

    House Journal, November 16, 1717

    A Memorial Sign’d by Henry Flint Clerk of the Overseers of Harvard College in Cambridge which was sent down from the Board yesterday. Read. Moving this Court to make further Provision for the Reception and Entertainment of the Students in that Seminary, the present Edifices not being sufficient to accommodate them.

    Ordered, That Major Habijah Savage, Mr. Timothy Lindal, and Capt. Jonathan Dowse, with such as the Honorable Board shall appoint be a Committee in the recess of this Court to consider what is proper to be done in answer to the said Memorial, and make their Report at the next Session. Sent up for Concurrence.186

    V

    Council Meeting, November 18, 1717

    A Memorial of the Overseers of Harvard College in Cambridge, As Enter’d Nov. 15. In the House of Representves Nov. 16. Read &Ordered that Major Habijah Savage Mr Timothy Lindal and Capt. Jonathan Dowse with such as the Honble Board shall appoint be a Committee in the Recess of this Court to consider what is proper to be done in Answer to this Memorial, And make their Report at the next Sessions: Sent up for Concurrence.

    Read & Concur’d, And the Honble Samuel Sewall, Thomas Hutchinson & Thomas Fitch Esqrs are added to the Committee.

    Consented to Samll Shute.187

    VI

    Council Meeting, November 19, 1717

    Advised that the Committee of both Houses do meet & sit with the Committee of the Overseers of the College to advise about the Subject of the Memorial of the said Overseers.188

    VII

    Governor Shute’s Speech to both Houses, February 6, 1718

    Gentlemen, I had not given you or myself the Trouble of a Winter Session, but that thro the Providence of God in the late Sickness, we were oblig’d to break up the last Session before some affairs of Importance were finishd, And among others a Proposal that was then made for some Additional Building to your College at Cambridge. I doubt not but it was very acceptable to Hear the Sons of the Prophets say, The Place where we dwell is so streight for us. You are very much in the Right to have the Interest of Learning much at Heart, And therefore if any further Buildings for that Purpose be intended the Next Summer, You must make the proper Provision for it this Session.189

    VIII

    Council Meeting, February 6, 1718

    The Committee of both Houses appointed to Consider what is proper to be done by the Generall Court in Answer to the Memorial laid before them by the Overseers of Harvard College (as enter’d Nov. 18) gave in the following Report; Viz.

    We whose Names are underwritten being a Committee appointed by the General Court to consider what is proper to be done in Answer to the Memorial laid before them by the Overseers of Harvard College at their last October sessions, Having mett at the College in Cambridge Dec. 27, 1717 & Enquired into the Accomodations that are there at Present for the Students (Graduates & Undergraduates) Do find it necessary that some further Building be erected for the Making Provision of Forty or Fifty Studies more that all the Students may be entertain’d within the College. All which is humbly Submitted by Your most humble & obedient Servants

    Habijah Savage

    Jonathan Dowse

    Samll Sewall

    Thos Hutchinson

    Thoms Fitch

    In Council Read & Sent down Recommended.190

    IX

    House Journal, February 6, 1718

    The following Report, Brought down from the Board by Benjamin Lynde, John Clark, Addington Davenport, and Adam Winthrop Esqrs; viz.

    We whose Names are underwritten being a Committee appointed by the General Court to Consider, what is proper to be done in answer to the Memorial laid before them by the Overseers of Harvard College at their last October Sessions, having met at the College in Cambridge, Decemb. 27th 1717. And Inquired into the Accomodations that are there, at present for the Students, Graduates and Undergraduates do find it necessary that some further Building be Erected for the making Provision of Forty or Fifty Studies more, that all the Students may be Entertain’d within the College, all which is humbly Submitted by your most humble and obedient Servants.

    Samuel Sewall, Thomas Hutchinson, Thomas Fitch, Habijah Savage, Jonathan Dowse. In Council Read, and sent down Recommended. Read.191

    X

    House Journal, February 7, 1718, A.M.

    The Report of the Committee entered Yesterday, relating to Erecting additional Buildings at Harvard College, further considered, and

    Ordered, That the said Committee be desired to prepare and lay before the Court a Projection of such additional Buildings, as they think necessary to be Erected at present, and a computation of the Charge it will probably amount to, that further consideration may be had thereof. Sent up for Concurrence.192

    XI

    Council Meeting, February 7, 1718

    The Report of the Committee appointed to Consider about Erecting an Additional Building to Harvard College, As Enter’d Feb. 6.

    In the House of Representatves; Read & Ordered that the above mentioned Committee be desired to prepare & lay before the Court a Projection of such Additional Buildings, as they think necessary to be erected at present, & a Computation of the Charge it will probably amount to, that further Consideration may be had thereof.

    In Council; Read & Concur’d,     Consented to, Samll Shute.

    A Message went down to the House of Representatives by Coll Tayler Coll Byfield Coll Payne Mr Lynde & Mr Davenport, To acquaint them That it is the Opinion of the Board that the Committee upon the Affair of the College should immediately proceed to lay before the Court a Projection of the Additional Building to the said College, & an Estimation of the Charge it will probably amount to.193

    XII

    House Journal, February 7, 1718, A.M.

    Upon a Motion being made, Mr. President Leverett was again admitted into the House and Informed them of the great necessity of further Buildings being speedily made for the Entertainment of Students at Harvard College. And withdrew.

    A Message from the Board by William Tailer, Nathaniel Byfield, Nathaniel Paine, Benjamin Lynde and Addington Davenport, Esqrs; That the Council had concurr’d the Vote of this House of this Day, on the Report of the Committee, relating to additional Buildings to be made to Harvard College, and desired that the Committee might meet thereon forthwith.194

    XIII

    House Journal, February 7, 1718, P.M.

    A Message from the Board by William Tailer, Nathaniel By field, Addington Davenport, Thomas Hutchinson, Thomas Fitch, and Adam Winthrop, Esqrs with the Report of the Committee concerning an additional Building to be made at Harvard College, A Draught195 of such Building and a Computation of the Charge, Shewing the present necessity thereof, and moving the House now to Proceed in the affair: And Left the further Report of the said Committee which was Read, viz. In Pursuance of the within Order, The Committee are humbly of opinion, that as it’s the most frugal method of Building, So it will best answer the present Occasions, to Erect a double House, somewhat conformable to the Draught herewith exhibited, to be plac’d pretty near the Southwest Corner of Stoughton College, and thence to extend it’s length Westward in a parallel Line to Harvard College. The Charge thereof by what we gather from Skilful Workmen, may probably amount to Three Thousand Pounds, or thereabouts.196

    A DRAUGHT FOR THE NEW COLLEGE BY BENJAMIN WORDSWORTH

    engraved for the colonial society of massachusetts from the original in the harvard college library

    XIV

    House Journal, February 12, 1718

    The Report of the Committee for making an Addition to the Buildings of Harvard College, entred the 7th Currant, read again.

    Upon Consideration, of that part of His Excellency’s Speech, which relates to making additional Buildings to Harvard College.

    Ordered, That the Thanks of this House be returned to His Excellency the Governour for his Care to promote good Literature, without which Religion will not be upheld amongst us:

    But inasmuch as the charge of the said Buildings is like to be very considerable, and a great part of this House is absent.

    It is further Voted, that the Consideration of the said Affair be Referr’d, to the Session of this Court in May next, when a full House may be expected.

    Sent up for Concurrence.197

    XV

    Council Meeting, February 14, 1718

    In the House of Representatves Feb. 12 Upon Consideration of that Part of his Excellencys Speech which relates to the making Additional Buildings to Harvard College; Ordered that the Thanks of this House be return’d to his Excellency the Governour for his Care to promote good Literature, without which Religion will not be upheld amongst us; But in as much as the Charge of the said Building is like to be very considerable, And a great Part of this House is absent, It is further Voted that the Consideration of the said Affair is refer’d to the Sessions of this Court in May next when a full House may be expected.

    In Council; Read & Concur’d, Consented to Samll Shute.198

    XVI

    House Journal, June 19, 1718

    Ordered, That Col. Hutchinson, Col. Thaxter, Capt. Whippel, Capt. Osgood, Capt. Chambers, Mr. Remington, Mr. Porter, Mr. Thomas, Capt. Gorham, Mr. Turner, Capt. Throop, Capt. Bane, and Mr. Coffin, be a Committee, to go to Cambridge, this Day view and consider the most convenient place whereon to erect an additional Building to Harvard College, and make report to the House.199

    XVII

    House Journal, June 20, 1718

    Col. Hutchinson, from the Committee appointed Yesterday to go to Cambridge, view and report the most Convenient place where to Erect an additional Building to Harvard College, reported their opinion, That the most convenient place is opposite to said College on the South side, beginning about Six Foot from the South West end of Stoughton House, and to extend Westward, which was accepted by the House.

    Ordered, That an additional Building of Brick, be made to Harvard College, to begin about six Feet from the South West end of Stoughton House, and to extend in length Westward Forty seven and half Feet, or thereabouts, not exceeding Fifty, of the same breadth with Harvard College, of a suitable height, not exceeding the heighth of said Harvard College, with three upright Stories, and a convenient Roof of a suitable Pitch.

    Sent up for Concurrence.200

    XVIII

    Council Meeting, June 24, 1718

    In the House of Representatves June 20. 1718 Ordered that an Additional Building of Brick be made to Harvard College to begin about six Feet to the South West of Stoughton House & to extend in Length Westward Forty seven & half Feet or thereabouts not exceeding Fifty, of the same Breadth of Harvard College & of a suitable Heighth, not exceeding ye Heighth of Harvard College, with three upright Stories & a convenient Roof of a suitable Pitch.

    In Council Read & Concur’d: Consented to Samll Shute.201

    XIX

    House Journal, July 4, 1718

    Resolved, That a Sum not exceeding Fifteen Hundred Pounds be at this time allowed and paid out of the Publick Treasury, towards Erecting an Additional Building to Harvard College. And that Jonathan Remington, Charles Chambers, Esqrs; and Mr. Andrew Bordman, be a Committee to take care for the carrying on and effecting the said Building.

    Sent up for Concurrence.202

    XX

    Council Meeting, July 4, 1718

    In the House of Representatves Resolved that a sum not exceeding Fifteen Hundred Pounds be at this Time allowed & paid out of the publick Treasury towards Erecting an Additional Building to Harvard College, And that Jonathan Remington & Charles Chambers, Esqrs & Mr Andrew Boardman be a Committee to take Care for the Carrying on & Effecting the said Building.

    In Council Read & Concur’d; Consented to Samll Shute.203

    XXI

    President Leverett’s Diary, November 3, 1718

    A particular history of that affair204 may, if God directs and Spts the Presidt therto, may hereafter be given. In the meantime, It shalbe onely remember’d here that his Exc̄y had agreed with the Presidt that there shd be an Overseers meeting on the 7th of Novr for the prefering a Second Memorial to the Genl for the carrying on the begun building of a College to the length of one hundred foot. On the wch day the Presidt with Mr Wadsworth & Mr Coleman waited on his Exc̄y and the board in the Council Chamber, and a Draught of a Memorial was read, but Mr. Dudley objecting that the ministers that are Overseers of the College being not duely warn’d, it wd not be deem’d a regular Meeting and that it was not ꝑper for the Council to address themselves: tho these objections were accted but frivilous ones, yet, this meeting dropt without any effect, Save that it was agreed that there shd be an Overseers Meeting on the 12th day of Novr, and the Presidt was desired to Give Order that the Ministers shd be notify’d. An his Exc̄y directed the Council to attend on that Service at 3 of the clock that day.205

    XXII

    Overseers’ Meeting, November 12, 1718

    The ministers Overseers of the College having taken their places on Each hand of the Presidt, his Exc̄y ask’d the Presidt Whither Notifications had been sent out to the ꝑsons that had right to be at the Meeting; The Presidt inform’d his Exc̄y that he had Ordered the Clerk of the Overseers to do so, and Mr Flynt the Clerk of the Overseers being present, and called upon by the Presidt to say what he had don in that behalf, declared he had don as he had been Order’d by the Presidt.

    Then upon his Exc̄y’s direction the Presidt open’d the Occasion of the Meeting, representing, That the Genl Court at their Session in May Last pass’d had, upon the Memorial of the Overseers Seting forth the want of accom̄odation for receiving and entertaining students admitted into the College, Granted, that an additional building shd be Erected not exceeding fifty foot in Length Westward; which upon Computation is found Short abundantly of what is necessary for the Ends ꝑpounded, and therefore there is need of further application for an Elargmt and that as the Overseers has begun and brôt forward what was obtain’d, So it is thôt, that nothing is So likely to bring the begun good work to pfection, as their prosecuting their former Memorial with a Second; and that this might be done at the present Session of the General Court is the business of this Meeting. And hereupon the Presidt moved, that his Exc̄y & the Honble & Revd Overseers wd give their advice hereupon.

    After this his Exc̄y desired the Presidt to lay before the Overseers a draught of a Memorial, if he had form’d one. Upon wch he read in his place a Memorial he had prepar’d in the Words following, Vizt206 . . .

    When the Presidt had read the above Memorial, he deliver’d it into his Exc̄ys hand, who discoursed in short in favr of it, and seem’d to be ready to put it to Vote. But Mr Dudley pray’d he might look upon it, to wm it was handed, and while he was looking on it, there was an Interval of Silence. In which Space Judg Sewall Stood up and said to this Effect, While we are considering to Enlarge the College for the reciving Studts I desire to be inform’d how the Worship of God is carry’d on in the Hall, and to ask Mr Presidt whither there has not bin som Intermission of the Exposition of the Scriptures of late? The Presidt after a short pause, Answer’d, that he thôt the present business of the Meetg was to be attended, and not to be Interupted by any Surmise of a neglect in the Administration of the Affair of the College, and that the place the Overseers were now Conven’d was not the ꝑper place for such an Enquiry. That if the Overseers, who are the Visitours of the College, had any informations laid before ’em of Omissions or Neglects of Duty or Maladministration by any of the ꝑsons that had the Im̄ediate Adminc̄on of the College in their hands that the Overseers shd make a visitation, and Inquire into those Matters upon the Very place, either in the College Hall or Library. And the Presidt Added he did not Expect Such a Question shd Have bin Moved at this time in interruption of the busieness before the Overseers, and for the Considring & advising upon wch this meeting was called; and that he was surprized and little Expectd Such a Treatmt from the Honble pson that moved it, having never once Suggested any thg of his Suspicion or apprehension of any failure in his duty from his honr

    His Exc̄y took up the Matter, and declared that the Motion, whatever Occasion there might be for it, thô he knew none, was very improper and altogether out of Course, and the whole Board Seem’d to be of the same opinion: Except Mr Dudley, (who It may be Supposed, by Concert with somebody it may be then not present, contriv’d the Interval of Silence by poring on the Memorial, that So the Zealous Judge might have the Opportunity to make his Impertinent (not to say in him Invidious) Motion) raised his head & Eyes from the paper hee seem’d to be intent in reading, sd he for his ꝑt Seconded his Honr the Chief Justice’s Motion. However this Motion was put by, and the business of the Meeting was reassumed. And yet Sundry Motions were made again by Mr Dudley tending to, if not designing for a diversion, but at length the

    1. Question was put, Whither it be the Mind of the Overseers of Harvard College, That the Generall Assembly be address’d to ꝑfect the New Building of a College in Cambridge to One Hundred foot in length? Which pass’d in the Affirmative.

    2. Q. Whither the Address shalbe in the Name of the Overseers? Pass’d in the Affirmative.

    3. Q. Whither the draught of a Memorial now read by the Presidt shalbe presented to the Genl Assembly? Pass’d in the Affirmative.

    Then the Presidt presented at the Board a Transcript of the sd Memorial, and compar’d by the Clerk of the Overseers. And the 4th Question being put, whither the sd Memorial shd be sign’d by the Clerk by the Order of the Overseers? It pass’d in the Affirmative. And the sd Memorial was Sign’d at the Board by Order of the Overseers H. Flynt Cler̄ Inspect.

    5. Q. Whither his Honr the Lt Govr207 Colo Tailer, Judge Sewall, Colo Byfield, Mr Belcher, the Revd Mr Benjamin Wadsworth & Mr B. Coleman be a Com̄ittee to present the Memorial to the General Court? It pass’d in the Affirmative.

    6. Q. Whither it be the mind of the Overseers, That the Presidt shal Entertain the Scholars in the College Hall with Frequent Expositions of the holy Scriptrs? pass’d in the Affirmative.208

    A PLAN FOR THE NEW COLLEGE BY PRESIDENT LEVERETT

    engraved for the colonial society of massachusetts from the original in the harvard college library

    XXIII

    Overseers’ Memorial, November 12, 1718

    To the Great & Generall Assembly of his Majtys Province of the Massachusetts in New England now sitting in Boston, The Memoriall of ye Overseers of Harvard Colledge in Cambridge in the County of Middlesex with in ye Province aforesd

    May it please this Honble Court

    Forasmuch as upon ye memoriall prefer’d by the same body that now lays this before you, You have bin pleased to take into your Consideration the Necessity of Providing for ye reception & accommodation of ye Students admitted into Harvard College in Cambridge; & Thereupon at ye Session of this Honble Court in May last past, Order’d an Additionall Building to be Erected at the South West Angle of Stoughton College of ye same width wth that called Harvard College, & to Extend Westward in Length Fifty foot, The foundation of wch is already Laid; On the Account whereof the Memorialists do most heartily thank this Honble Court & most religiously acknowledge ye goodness of Almighty God in inclining your hearts to so Good a worke.

    So Ready a Coming into this Important Affair, & so Generous A begining of this Pious work, so highly conducing to your own honour & ye Interest of your Countrey are an ample Testimony yt ye Motion made for it was not disagreeable to you; & ye Memorialist cannot but believe, yt this, their Second request wch is for ye carrying on and perfecting of ye Same in a manner worthy ye noble beginnings, will be as acceptable to this Honble Court.

    As it was Meer necessity yt obliged ye memorialist to make ye first motion, & ye belief yt it was so, yt induc’d you [to] Come into ye affair of ye College & to make ye beginnings that have bin made; so there is nothing in ye world yt Could produce this Second Motion, but ye certainty, That that necessity can’t be answered and Supply’d unless this Honble Court will be pleas’d to carry out ye begun additionall building to ye Length first proposed in ye Plan laid before you, That is, to one hundred foot in length.

    This will be plain Demonstration if it be considered.

    1 That ye number of ye now resident Studts Graduates & undergraduates amts to one-hundred & Twenty four.

    2 That ye Studys to receive them even when ye building founded shall be finish’d will amount to but one Hundred & Sixteen wch is Eight less then are absolutely necessary to Entertain ye present residts

    3 That if you shall be pleased to carry on ye sd additionall building to ye length of one hundred Foot as Above mentioned ye Studies then will amt but to one Hundred & Thirty Four wch will afford but Ten supernumerary studys, & these will not be like to remain So, But in all probability will be taken up as soon as ready, if not by new admissions Yet by ye return of Graduates who are now non-resdts onely for want of Studys to receive them.209

    The Memorialists therefore Pray this Honble Court to take ye Premises in to your Serious Consideration, & do there upon according to yor Great wisdom, wch always resolves to pfect a great & good work by making it to answer all it’s necessary Ends & Intentions

    Henry Flynt Cler: Inspectorū210

    XXIV

    Sewall’s Diary, November 12, 19, 1718

    Novr 12. Overseers Meeting, to petition the Court to make the College 100 foot long. One calling for the Memorial to the end of the Table, I stood up, and said what the honble Com̄issioners had in hand was of great moment, but I apprehended there was an affair of greater moment. I had heard Exposition of the Scriptures in the Hall had not been carryed on, I enquired of the President whether ’twere so or no. Was silence a little while; then the President seem’d to be surprised at my Treating of him in that man̄er; I did not used to do so; neither did he use to Treat me so; This Complaint was twice at least. Many spake earnestly that what I did was out of Season. Mr. Attorny211 stood up and Seconded me very strenuously. When I was fallen so hard upon, I said I apprehended The not Expounding the Scriptures was a faulty Omission, and I was glad I had that Oꝑortunity of shewing my dislike of it. President said, he had begun to take it up agen; I said I was glad of it. At another time said, If he were to Expound in the Hall, he must be Supported. It went over. The Memorial was voted: Then Mr. Belcher stood up, and mov’d earnestly that Exposition might be attended. At last Mr. Wadsworth stood up and spake in favour of it, and drew up a vote that the president should as frequently as he could entertain the students with Expositions of the holy Scriptures; and read it. I mov’d that as he could might be left out; and it was so voted. Mr. President seem’d to say softly, it was not till now the Business of the President to Expound in the Hall. I said I was glad the Overseers had now the Honour of declaring it to be the President’s Duty.

    Novr 19. mane. Mr. President spake to me again pretty earnestly; and intimated that twas not the President’s Duty to Expound before this Order: I said Twas a Shame that a Law should be needed; meaning ex malis moribus bonae Leges.212

    XXV

    House Journal, November 13, 1718

    The Honourable Lieut. Governour Dummer, William Tayler, Samuel Sewall, Nathaniel Byfield, and Jonathan Belcher Esqrs; and the Reverend Mr. Benjamin Wadsworth, and Mr. Benjamin Colman were Admitted into the House and presented a Memorial of the Overseers of Harvard College in Cambridge, and withdrew.

    The said Memorial Signed by Henry Flynt, Clerk of the said Overseers. Read, Moving the Court to Extend the additional Building to be Erected to said Harvard College, to the length of 100 feet, the Buildings already there, and that last ordered to be made when finish’d not being sufficient to Entertain the Students belonging to that Society.213

    XXVI

    House Journal, November 28, 1718

    The Memorial of the Overseers of Harvard College, Moving as is entred the 13th Currant. Read again.

    And the Question being put, Whether the Additional Building ordered to be Erected at Harvard College be Inlarged, as proposed in the said Memorial?

    It pass’d in the Negative.214

    XXVII

    House Journal, May 29, 1719

    A Memorial of Charles Chambers and Andrew Bordman, of the Committee for building an addition to Harvard College, presented to the House and Read, shewing the conveniency, and Reasonableness that the Building already begun should be enlarged, and moving that the Memorial of the Overseers of the said College, that was Presented to this Court, at their last Session, to the same purpose may be Read.

    The said Memorial of the Overseers moving as entered the 13th of November last. Read.

    Ordered, That Mr. Cooke, Mr. John Pain, Mr. Lindal, Mr. John Barker and Mr. Stone be a Committee to whom the said Memorials are referred, to consider and make Report to the House what they think proper to be done in answer thereto. . . .

    Mr. Cooke from the Committee to whom the Memorial of the Overseers of Harvard College, and the Memorial of Charles Chambers and Andrew Bordman were this Day referred, offered their Reports to the House, which was accepted and addition made thereto by the House, and accordingly,

    Ordered, That the additional Brick Building to Harvard College, for the suitable Reception and Accommodation of the Tutors and Students there shall extend in length 100 Feet.

    That two, Thousand Pounds over and above the l. 1500. already Granted, be Allowed & Paid out of the Publick Treasury to the Committee appointed for the Effecting of the said Building.

    That the Rent paid by the Students that shall be Entertained in the said Building, shall not exceed 20 s. per Man per Annum.

    And that the said Rents from time to time shall be Improved for no other use than the Repairs of the said Building, unless by Direction from this Court.    Sent up for Concurrence.215

    XXVIII

    Council Meeting, May 30, 1719

    A Memorial of the Overseers of Harvd College Shewing that for as much as upon their former Memorial, the Court were pleased to take into Consideration the Necessity of Providing for the Reception & Accomodation of the the Students admitted into Harvard College in Cambridge; & thereupon, at the Session in May last ordered an additional Building to be erected at the South west Angle of Stoughton College of the same Breadth with that called Harvard College & to extend Westward in length fifty feet, the Foundation of which is already laid; On the Account of which the Memorialists do heartily thank this Honble Court, & most religiously Acknowledge the Goodness of God in inclining their Hearts to so good a Work: So ready a Coming into so important an Affair & so generous a Beginning of this pious Work gives Encouragemt to the memorialists to make this their second Request; which is to carry on this Work in a Manner worthy of these noble Beginnings; That as it was meer Necessity that obliged the Memorialists to make their first Motion, & the Belief that it was so that induced the Honble Court to come into that Affair of the College, & to make the Beginnings that have been made, so there is Nothing in the World that could produce this second Motion but the Certainty that that Necessity cannot be answered & supplied unless the Honble Court will be pleased to Carry out the begun additional Building to the Length at first proposed in the Plan laid before this Honble Court that is to One hundred feet in Length; which will be plainly demonstrated, If it be considered that the Number of now resident Students, Graduates & Under Graduates, amounts to One hundred & twenty four, That the Studies to receive them, even when the Building now founded will be finished, amounts to but One hundred & sixteen, which is eight less than is absolutely necessary to entertain the present Residents, That if the Court should please to carry on the said Additional Building to the Length of One hundred feet as above mentioned, they will amount to but One hundred & thirty four; which will allow but ten supernumerary ones; And these are not like to remain so, but in all Probability will be taken up as soon as ready, if not by new Admissions, yet by the Return of Graduates, who are now Non-Residents only for Want of S[t]udies to receive them; And therefore Praying that this Honble Court would take the Premises into their serious Consideration & upon fuller Views of the Necessity of the Matters & Things therein demonstrated, act therein according to their great Wisdom and Goodness.

    A Memorial of Charles Chambers Esqr & Andrew Boardman appointed by the Court for building an Addition to Harvard College, Shewing that they think they shall be wanting in their Duty to this Honble Court if they do not inform that there is now an Opportunity to carry on the whole Building to its full Length as first proposed; Which they think proper & necessary to be done for the following Reasons, First, Because it will save considerable Charge if the Building be carried on entire; Secondly, Because the Building will be much stronger, as well as much more beautiful; Thirdly, Because the proposed Building of fifty feet long will not be sufficient to accomodate the Students that are already belonging to the College, & residing in the Town of Cambridge, That they have desired the Master Work men to make a Computation of the Charge in building the whole House; who say that the sum of Three thousand five hundred Pounds, with what the Presidents old House216 will sell for, will compleat the whole Building; However that the said Master Work men are willing to indent for Four thousand Pounds; which does not so much exceed the sum for carrying on the Building of fifty Feet long, but it will prove to be Money well laid out: For which Reason the Memorialists propose to this Honble Court that the said Building be carried out to the said Length of one hundred Feet.

    The above said Memorials were read in the House of Representves May 29, 1719;

    And Ordered that the additional Brick Building to Harvard College for the suitable Reception & accomodation of the Tutors & Students there, shall extend in Length One hundred Feet; That two thousand Pounds, over & above the Fifteen hundred Pounds already granted, be allowed & paid out of the publick Treasury to the Committee appointed for the effecting the said Building That the Rent paid by the Students that shall be entertained in the said Building shall not exceed Twenty shillings per Man per Annum; And that the said Rents from time to time shall be inproved for no other Use than the Repairs of the said Building, unless by the Direction of this Court.

    In Council: Read & Concur’d;    Consented to, Samll Shute.217

    XXIX

    Corporation Meeting, May 24, 1720

    Memo The Presidt is desired to acquaint the Honble the Overseers, that the New College is near Finish’d, and the Corporation is ready either to Wait on their Honrs or by themselves to return thanks to the Generall Court for that their Noble Munificence to this Society, as they shall advise.218

    XXX

    Overseers’ Meeting, June 23, 1720

    The Presidt by the desire of the Corporation acquainted the honble and Revd Overseers, that the new College is near finished, and that it was Supposed ’twd be proper to express their Sense of the Noble munificence of the Genl Court to the College in that building, and on behalf of ye Corporation pray’d the Advise of the Overseers, Whither the Corporation shd wait upon their honrs in rendring thanks, or whether they shod offer their Address of thank in their own Name. Advised, That the Address of thanks to the Genl Court be in the Name of the Corporation.219

    XXXI

    Corporation Meeting, June 28, 1720

    The Presidt acquainted the Corporation, that at Late meeting of the Honble & Revd Overseers, He had ꝑposed to them, whether They wd be pleased to address the Genl Court wth thanks for the Additionall Building to the College, which they have bin pleased lately to Erect, and that they had refer’d that affair to the Corporation.

    1. Voted, That Mr Colman, Mr Stevens and the Treasurer be desired to prepare a Draught of an Address in the Name of the Corporation returning thanks to the Honble Genl Court for the sd Building. . . .

    4. Voted, That the New College be kept securely shut up, and no Use made of it, either of Chambers or Cellars, for the Next Com̄encmt to prevent the Damage that will otherwise necessariely be, while the house is new & Green.220

    XXXII

    Leverett’s Diary, June 30, 1720

    Upon the representation of the great disappointmt it was like to prove to Sundry of the Com̄encers not to emprove some pts of the New Building, and the Intimation of the Disposition of some at least of the Com̄ittee for the Inspecting that Building to have the house stand open for the publick View the Gentlm̄ of the Corporation Advise to the superseding the 4th Vote of their meeting the 28th Currt And refer the Opening or Shutting up that house either in pt or in whole to the Presidt & Fellows with the Advice of the sd Com̄ittee. Accordingly It was Advised and agreed that the West half of the House shd be Open’d and Improved by Com̄encers as far as was requisite for their Accom̄odation, the sd Com̄encers to Stand Oblig’d to render the Chambers and Studys impved by them to the Com̄ittee in as good Order and Condition as they were at their Entry on them. And the South and North West Chambers are reserv’d and to be kept lock’d up.221

    XXXIII

    House Journal, July 18, 1720

    Ordered, That Mr. William Clark, Maj. Chandler, Capt. Throop, Capt. Gardner, Col. Somersby, Maj. Bond, Capt. Rouse, Capt. Brown, Mr. Foster, Maj. Stoddard, Mr. Clap, Capt. Gorham, Maj. Bourn, Mr. Croseman,Capt. Pepperell, Mr. Bunker, and Mr. Mayhew, be a Committee, to go to Cambridge, & Veiw the Additional Brick Building at Harvard-Colledge, Lately Errected there at the Province Charge, and Report how they find the same Effected.

    And to Examine and Audit the Accompts of the Committee that had the care of Building the same, and make Report thereon.222

    XXXIV

    House Journal, November 4, 1720

    Mr. William Clark from the Committee appointed the 18th of July last, to go to Cambridge, and view the additional Brick Building at Harvard Colledge, Erected at the Province Charge, and Report how they find the same effected, and to Examine, and Audit the Accompts of the Committee that had the care of Building the same. Made Report, That they had attended that Service, and find it a well Built and Finisht House, and well adapted to the Reception of Students.

    And that they had Examined, and Audited the Accompts of the Committee that had the care of Building the same, and find them well Voucht, and rightly Cast; and the several Charges in the many Tradesmen’s Bills, are no more than what is usual and customary: And that the Ballance due from the Committee to the Province is One Hundred and Sixteen Pounds, and One Peny.

    And that they had Received the Keys of said Building, which with the President, they named Massachusetts-Hall, and Delivered said Keys to the President, as to the President and Fellows of Harvard Colledge. Read and

    Ordered, That the said Report be Accepted, and that the said Sum of One Hundred and Sixteen Pounds, and One Peny, the Ballance in the hands of the said Committee, be Presented to them for their good Service in taking care of the said Building.

    Sent up for Concurrence.223

    XXXV

    House Journal, November 18, 1720

    The Reverend Mr. Leverett, President of Harvard-Colledge, and the Reverend Mr. Wadsworth, and Mr. Colman, Fellows of the said Colledge, were Admitted into the House; and Mr. President Leverett Addrest the House in thankful Acknowledgment of the Favour of this Court to the said Colledge, in Erecting an additional Brick-Building, for the reception and Accommodation of the Students there; and leaving a Copy of the Address, they Withdrew.

    Ordered, That the said ADDRESS, which is well Accepted by this House be Printed in the Votes of this Day.

    The said ADDRESS is as follows, Viz.

    To his Excellency

    Samuel Shute Esqr.

    Captain General and GOVERNOUR in Chief, in and over His Majesties Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England.

    And to the Honourable His Majesty’s Council, and House of Representatives in General Court Assembled, at Boston, Nnvember 2d. 1720.

    THE Humble Address of the President and Fellows of Harvard College in Cambridge.

    Sheweth,

    THat Wheras it pleased the Great and General Assembly of this Province, in Answer to the Memorials of the Honourable and Reverend the Overseers of the said College, laid before them at their Sessions November, the 15th 1717. and November, 13th 1718. To Grant and Order an additional Brick-Building to Harvard-College, for the Reception and Accommodation of the Tutors and Students there; and most Generously from time to time to Allow, Grant and Order, to be Paid out of the Publick Treasury, to the Committee Appointed for the Effecting the said Building, such Sums of Money, as in your Great Wisdom and Goodness you saw necessary, for so great and good a Service.

    And Whereas it hath Pleased Almighty God (to whose Honour and Glory, our Fathers first Founded the said College, & who has made it a singular Blessing and Honour to the Province unto this day) so far to smile upon your Pious Expence in this Additional Building, and to Prosper the Faithfull Cares of the Worthy Gentlemen of the Committee appointed to Oversee the same, as that we now see with Joy a fine and goodly House Errectd and Finished, such as doth every way answer the then Views and Proposals, of the Honorable and Reverend the Overseers your late Memorialists, and will be a lasting Monument, if GOD please, of the Just Regards of the Present Government for the Support of Religion and Learning amongst us in time to come.

    We the President and Fellows of the College, do therefore hold our selves Indispensibly Obliged, from the Relation we stand in to the College, as well as the affection we bare to the Churches of our Lord Jesus: First of all to give Thanks unto Almighty GOD, who has inclined and Led the Govenment into and thro so great and Noble a Work, and then also to make our acknowledgements to your Excellency and Honours for this great Benefaction to the College, Beseeching the Lord GOD of our Fathers, graciously to Accept of, and abundantly to Reward unto his People, this their Offering to his Name.

    And as to our selves, who have the Pleasure and the Honour, to Address your Excellency and Honours upon so happy Occasion, we beg Leave to say that under the Influence and Assistance of the Divine Grace in our respective Capacities according to the Trust reposed in us, shall always Exert our selves as we are in Duty bound, to Preserve and advance that Society, in the principles and practice of Piety, and Loyalty, and all Vertue, as well as in good Literature, which we know will be the most acceptable acknowledgment from,

    May it please Your Excellency and Honours,

    Your most Dutiful and Obedient Servants,

    John Leverett,

    In the Name of the President, and Fellows of Harvard-College.224