277 Reply of the House to Sever and Welsteed

    In the House of Representatives August 7th 1723.

    Read, and in answer to the Petition of Nicholas Sever and William Welsteed the following vote passed Vizt:

    Whereas a Comittee appointed by this Court at their Session in July, 1722 to Consider a Memorial of the Overseers of Harvard Colledge refering to the enlargement of the Foundation of that Society, did upon Mature Consideration of the said Memorial and the said College Charter of 1650 which their present Constitution, Report the following resolutions and Conclusions to be put in practice by the Corporation, as being in the Comittees opinion more Beneficial to that Society than an Enlargement of the Foundation.

    1. 1 That it was the Intent of the said College Charter That the Tutors of the said College, or Such as have the Instruction and Government of the Students there, shall be Fellows and Members of the Corporation of the said College, Provided they exceed not five in Number.
    2. 2dly That none of the said Fellows be Overseers.
    3. 3dly That the President and Fellows of said Colledge or the Major part of them are not warranted by the said Charter of the Colledge to fix or Establish any Salary or Allowance for their Service without the Consent or Approbation of the Overseers.

    And Whereas the Comittee report was Accepted, and it was resolved by Both Houses that the Corporation for the future practice Accordingly; But the Governors Consent thereto being signified and Declared with a proviso, which (as we humbly Conceive) is not According to Usage, and the said resolve thereby in some Measure rendred ineffectual, Wherefore in order that the said Resolve (so Necessary to the Well being of the Society) may obtain the Good and Beneficial Ends and Effects Designed thereby Resolved That the same be and hereby is revived and Declared to be the rule for the future Proceedings of the Corporation of Harvard College.

    In Council, August 7, 1723. Read, Sent up for Concurrance

    A True Copy Attest

    John Clark Speaker

    J. Willard Secretary

    Papers relating to the Fellowship Controversy, No. 20 (the Matthews Papers). This is a copy taken from the Ewer mss at the New England Historic Genealogical Society.