CHAPTER deposited in an alcove in the library, "distinguished by the name of Hancock in golden letters." XXVI. Two individuals of the name of Hollis appeared among those benefactors of the College, whose munificence was exerted to repair the loss of its library. Timothy Hollis, who gave twenty pounds sterling for this purpose, died at an advanced age, in 1791. Possessing an ample fortune, he was distinguished, like other members of his family, for an attachment to the principles of civil and religious liberty, and for liberal contributions for their extension. The declaration of Independence and the war of the Revolution probably prevented the institutions in America from being afterwards objects of his bounty. Thomas Hollis, the third benefactor of that name, is distinguished in the records of Harvard College as of Lincoln's Inn. He was born in London in 1720, and, being educated as the heir of the great estates of his father and uncle, he passed some years of his youth and early manhood in travelling on the continent of Europe. Although he took chambers at Lincoln's Inn, and commenced the study of the law, he never entered on its practice, but apparently regarded the acquisition of that science as a preparation for usefulness in the legislative councils of his country. His biographer intimates, that this design was laid aside from his being unwilling to make the sacrifice of principle required to obtain a seat in Parliament. His life was passed in literary pursuits, and in active endeavours for the extension of civil and religious freedom. By patronizing the publication of the works of Milton, Sydney, Locke, and those of writers of a kindred spirit, and by distributing them, as donations, to the principal libraries of Europe and America, he XXVI. Republican ciples. manifested his republican principles, and thus became CHAPTER obnoxious to high royalists; being considered as encouraging the tendency to independence, which at that in his prinperiod began to appear in the colonies. There was certainly foundation for this opinion; since he not only transmitted to America works adapted to inspire the love of liberty, but also caused the writings of Dr. Mayhew, "The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved," by James Otis, and "A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law," by John Adams, to be printed and circulated in England, at his own expense. donations. acter. The attention of Mr. Hollis was first attracted to- His first ward Harvard College by the munificence of his father and uncle to this institution. In 1758, by transmitting the works of Milton and forty-five volumes of tracts to the library of the College, he commenced a succession of donations, which he continued during the remainder of his life. Many of the volumes he be- Their charstowed were splendidly bound, and the covers stamped with a characteristic emblem, or device. Some are marked by a liberty cap, or an owl, holding in its talons a pen, with the motto "By deeds of peace"; others by the effigy of Liberty, holding in her right hand her cap, and in her left a spear. On the blank leaves and margins he frequently inserted sentiments he wished to circulate, or remarks illustrative of the author. When the Corporation of Harvard College solicited his picture, he replied; "The effigies, which you desire may be seen at this time, in your library, feature by feature; though, indeed, it would require an exact eye and some time to cull out and put those features together;" "meaning," says selecting and purchasing books, CHAPTER his biographer,*" that his principles might be culled XXVI. from the books he sent, Milton, Sydney, Locke, Molesworth, &c., and from the short manuscript notes he was accustomed to insert in the blank leaves." Mr. His care in Hollis not only carefully selected the best editions, but often personally superintended the packing of the volumes he gave; and, when a great number he had prepared were destroyed by fire,† at his bookbinder's, he immediately commenced another collection which he soon sent to the College. He subscribed two hundred pounds sterling towards the restoration of Harvard Hall, and his contributions towards the library were unremitted. The interest of Hollis in this seminary was probably strengthened by his intimacy with Dr. Mayhew, for whose talents and character he entertained the highest respect and admiration. In a letter written to Edmund Quincy,‡ the intimate friend of Dr. Mayhew, soon after the death of that eminent clergyman, and dated Pall-Mall, October 1st, 1766, Mr. Hollis thus states the motives of his benefactions towards Harvard College. "I confess to bear affection towards the people of North America, those of Massachusetts and Boston, in particular, believing them to be a good and brave people; long may they continue such! and the spirit of luxury now consuming us to the very marrow here at home, kept out from them! One likeliest mean to that end will be, to watch well over * Memoirs of Thomas Hollis, (by Archdeacon Blackburne,) Vol. I. p. 332. † Ibid., p. 335. A merchant of Boston, the elder brother of Josiah Quincy, Junior, and one of the early political writers in favor of American liberty. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1752, and died in 1768, in the thirty-fifth year of his age. XXVI. and his laborious College their youth, by bestowing on them a reasonable, manly CHAPTER education; and selecting there to the wisest, ablest, most accomplished of men, that art and wealth can obtain; for nations rise and fall by individuals, not numbers, as I think all history proveth. With ideas of this kind have I worked for the public library at Cambridge, in New England, neither caring too exactly to remember how the last best library in all America was lost there, nor sparing towards it expense, labor, or time. It is certain, the last winter I spent in town against inclination, health, and conveniency, on account of the Stamp Act; and this summer, with much preceding time, time, the most valuable of all things, -on account of that library. If any good hath followed from this procedure, or should follow from it, I shall be content." his dona The donations of Mr. Hollis to Harvard College Amount of during his lifetime exceeded fourteen hundred pounds tions. sterling; and at his death, which occurred in January, 1774, at Corscombe in Dorsetshire, England, he bequeathed to it an additional sum of five hundred pounds sterling. CHAPTER British troops in Boston. CHAPTER XXVII. Arrival of the British Troops in Boston. Legislature remove to Cambridge and take Possession of the College Halls. Rev. Samuel Locke chosen President.- Political Relations of the Seminary. Governor Hutchinson addressed by the Corporation. — His Reply. - He visits the College. - Proceedings on that Occasion. — Rev. Nathaniel Appleton made Doctor of Divinity. — Classes arranged alphabetically. Death of Treasurer Hubbard. - John Hancock chosen Treasurer. Motives to that Appointment. Mode of perpetuating the Memory of Benefactors. - Samuel Locke resigns the Presidency. THE death of President Holyoke occurred at a period when the state of the Colonies indicated the approach of a great political crisis.* In November, 1768, two British regiments of infantry and a part of a regiment of artillery were landed at Boston. A military guard was stationed in King (now State) Street, and its cannon were pointed at the door of the State House, (now the City Hall,) in which the legislature of the Province were accustomed to hold their sessions. In May, 1769, the House of Representatives declared, in a message to Governor Bernard, that "an armament by sea and land investing this metropolis, and a military guard, with cannon, pointed at the very door of the State House, where this assembly is held, is inconsistent with that dignity, as well as * Hutchinson, Vol. III. p. 212. |