- – XXIX. and philosophy chambers, and covering the walls of the CHAPTER latter with a rich paper; " for "an Account of London and its Environs, in six volumes,"" Calasio's Hebrew Lexicon, in four volumes," and "a curious coralline, in its natural bed." The entire value of these donations certainly did not greatly exceed, and was probably less than, the actual loss sustained, according to the statement of Treasurer Storer, by Mr. Hancock's long denial of the rights of the College, and withholding its property. ceding de a duty. From respect to the high rank which John Han- The precock attained among the patriots of the American velopement Revolution, it would have been grateful to have passed over in silence the extraordinary course he pursued in his official relations to Harvard College, had truth and the fidelity of history permitted. But justice to a public institution which he essentially embarrassed during a period of nearly twenty years, and also to the memory of those whom he made to feel and to suffer, requires that these records of unquestionable facts, which, at the time when they occurred, were the cause of calumny and censure to honorable men, actuated in their measures solely by a sense of official fidelity, should not be omitted. In republics, popularity is the form of power most apt to corrupt its possessor, and to tempt him, for party ends or personal interest, to trample on right, or set principle at defiance. History has no higher or more imperative duty to perform, than, by an unyielding fidelity, to impress this class of men with the apprehension, that, although through fear or favor, they may escape the animadversions of contemporaries, there awaits them, in her impartial record, the retribution of truth. CHAPTER The finances of the College affected by changes in public affairs. Daniel Henchman. CHAPTER XXX. Daniel Henchman. - Edward Kitchen.- Ezekiel Hersey. - John Barnard. Nicholas Boylston. Theodore Atkinson. - John Winthrop. -The other Benefactors of the College, during the Provincial State of Massachusetts. - Aids extended to the College by the Legislature; Grants of Money, the Erection of Buildings, and Donations of Land. Retrospective Survey of the Finances of the College. — Its successive Treasurers, Thomas Danforth, John Richards, Samuel Nowell, Thomas Brattle, William Brattle, John White, Edward Hutchinson, Thomas Hubbard, John Hancock, Ebenezer Storer.- Their Accounts. - Amount of Funds of the College, accumulated while Massachusetts was a Province. THE embarrassments consequent on the war of the Revolution, and the new principles and influences, which ensued upon the change in the relations of Massachusetts from a dependent Province to a sovereign State, affected also the finances of Harvard College, and its dependence on the legislature. Before tracing the progress of the institution under these new auspices, some instances of individual bounty and legislative patronage require to be noticed, and the early finances of the College to be reviewed. Daniel Henchman is the earliest benefactor, whose munificence remains unacknowledged. Although a native and inhabitant of Boston, few traces are found of his life, and those obscure and traditionary. It is only known, that he acquired wealth, and a character for intelligence and integrity, in the business of a stationer; that he was distinguished for zeal in promot XXX. ing all pious and charitable designs; and that he held CHAPTER successively the appointments of Deacon of the Old South Church, in Boston, overseer of the poor, and lieutenant-colonel of the militia of Suffolk County, at a period, when those offices were considered as among the high honors of society. Thomas Hancock, founder of the Professorship of Hebrew and other Oriental Languages in Harvard University, entered mercantile life under his patronage, married his daughter, and, at his death, in 1761, received under his will, as residuary legatee, the larger portion of his great estate. In April, 1742, Mr. Henchman gave to Harvard College one hundred ounces of silver, and, in October, 1747, two hundred and fifty pounds, old tenor, the income to be given to the Hollis Professor, "so long as he shall be a member in full communion with some Congregational or Presbyterian Church, and shall profess and teach the principles of the Christian religion, according to the well-known confession of faith, drawn up by a synod of the churches in New England." On failure of either condition, "the annual interest was to be given by the President and Fellows of Harvard College to some deserving student of the said College, whose parents are not able to bear the charge of his public education, and who shall be approved by the pastors of the Old South Church, in Boston, for the time being, preference being given first to a child of this town of Boston." In 1758, Mr. Henchman gave to the College an additional sum of upwards of sixty-six pounds, lawful money, without annexing any condition. Concerning the life of Edward Kitchen, but little Edward information can now be obtained. He was a distinguished merchant of Salem, characterized by piety and benevolence, who was called to drink deeply of Kitchen. XXX. CHAPTER the bitter waters of affliction, by the loss of his wife and all his children. In the distribution of his estate, at his death, which occurred in 1766, he forgot neither the advancement of religion, the instruction of the Indian natives, nor the interests of science. He bequeathed one hundred pounds, lawful money, to Harvard College. Ezekiel Ezekiel Hersey, of Hingham, distinguished for the amount and wise appropriation of his bounty, was born in 1708, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1728. He commenced his medical studies under Dr. Dalhonde, a French physician of Boston, who was opposed to inoculation for the small-pox, when introduced by Dr. Boylston. Young Hersey, however, did not imbibe the prejudices of his instructor, but was among the first who submitted to the preventive process. He entered upon the profession of a physician and surgeon in his native town of Hingham, soon acquired great popularity, and his practice extended over the counties of Plymouth, Norfolk, and Barnstable. His intellectual powers were strong, his manners pleasing, and his professional attentions assiduous and faithful. To the rich his charges were proverbially moderate, and to the poor his services were ever ready, and often gratuitous. Yet he attained great wealth, according to the estimate of his contemporaries, and was among the most beloved and honored of the distinguished men of that period. Dr. Hersey took an active interest in the early patriotic efforts of the colonies, and was often chairman of committees, which Hingham raised, in unison with other towns of Massachusetts, for concerting measures in defence of the liberties of the country. His eloquence is said to have been "most persuasive," pow XXX. erfully infusing into other minds his own enthusiasm. CHAPTER But he lived not to witness the independence of his country. He died universally lamented, in December, 1770. Dr. Hersey bequeathed one thousand pounds, lawful money, to the President and Fellows of Harvard College," the interest thereof to be by them appropriated towards the support of a Professor of Anatomy and Physic, and for that use only."* Barnard. One of the most constant and devoted friends of Rev. John this seminary was the Rev. John Barnard. He was born in Boston, in 1681, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1700. He commenced his studies for the ministry under the direction of Cotton Mather, but soon manifested that his spirit was more congenial with that of the Rev. Benjamin Colman, whose friendship he cultivated and retained through life. In 1707, Mr. Barnard was appointed, by Governor Dudley, chaplain of the army sent against Port Royal. His temperament being naturally ardent and fearless, he exposed himself to dangers, while in that service, not strictly within the scope of his professional duties. After the failure of the expedition, he visited England, where he preached with acceptance, and availed himself of the opportunities his residence in that country afforded, to improve his taste and style by a studious observation of the best models of pulpit eloquence. On his return to Massachusetts he renewed his intimacy with Dudley and Colman; but the former was out of favor with the popular party in politics, and the latter, with the prevailing party in religion. Mr. Barnard attributes his failure in a settlement at Roxbury to an opinion circulated, that he was a par * See Appendix, No. XXIV. |