XXVIII. obnoxious, and whose dissatisfaction was countenanced, CHAPTER if not excited, by men connected with the government of the institution. The three upper classes obtained, under some pretence, leave for a general meeting; and, on the day it was called, James Winthrop, the librarian, came into the hall at breakfast-time, and addressed the students on the subject of their proposed meeting in language somewhat equivocal, assuring them, "that, if their complaints were well founded, with firmness and union they would succeed, but, if without foundation, they would be severely punished." His address was received as it was intended to be, and the students, having assembled, passed resolutions, and a memorial to the Corporation, charging President Langdon with "impiety, heterodoxy, unfitness for the office of preacher of the Christian religion, and still more for that of President." There was not a shadow of foundation for any one of these charges, except the last, of which the spirit in which this insolence was received, may be considered as an evidence. These resolutions were passed unanimously, and twelve students, selected from the three upper classes, were appointed to wait upon President Langdon, and invite him to resign his office. Being ignorant of his unpopularity, this unexpected application affected him so deeply, that he instantly resolved to abandon an institution, in which services deemed by him faithful and zealous were so unjustly appreciated. The interview was on Saturday, and, on the next Monday, he detained the students after morning prayers, and told them he should resign, remarking, at the same time, that his family would be thrown destitute on the world, and intimating that resolutions of a favorable character might be of service to him. This conduct subdued XXVIII. Vote con CHAPTER their rebellious spirits; and at a subsequent meeting, they passed directly opposite resolutions, with like unanimity, excepting only his unfitness for the office of President. Such is the outline of facts stated in letters by members of the University at the time these events occurred, to account for the suddenness of Dr. Langdon's resignation. It was the opinion of the students, that Winthrop acted in coincidence with the wishes of men of higher influence, which was strengthened by the fact that one of the tutors was an active coadjutor in promoting the excitement. Nothing on the College records, however, indicates any loss of authority by the chair, when in the possession of Dr. Langdon, except a vote of the board of Overseers, passed in December, 1781, before the induction of President Willard. This vote recommends the officer elect "to take care to support the honor of the chair, support of by exercising that power and authority respecting both government and instruction, with which the Constituchair. tion vests the President, and which his predecessors in that office, before the war, have exercised, for the good order and benefit of the University." The implication in this vote, that, since the war commenced, the chair had lost somewhat of its ancient authority, may be indeed wrested into the suggestion, that the occupant of it during the war had failed in the duty of exercising and supporting it. By a letter from Treasurer Storer to Dr. Langdon, dated on the 20th of October, 1781, it appears that he had expressed some resentment against the Corporation. On which Storer remarks, that there was no cause for such a feeling, "either against the Corporation as a body, or individually," that they had expressed their concern, that he should have so suddenly come to the cerning the the honor of the President's XXVIII. determination to resign, without asking their advice, CHAPTER which "I am persuaded," he adds, "would have been to have deferred your intention to some future time." It is probable, that Dr. Langdon became subsequently aware, that the students had been made the instruments of others, possibly of men connected with the government of the institution, and that the feeling of self-distrust, which led to his resignation, had been succeeded by feelings of a very different character. President Langdon was about fifty-seven years of age, when his connexion with the seminary was thus abruptly dissolved. He survived that event seventeen years, and became the pastor of a church in the vicinity of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In 1788, he was chosen a delegate to the Convention of that State, was a leader in its debates, and had great influence in removing the prejudices, which then prevailed, against the Federal Constitution. At the age of seventy-four, in November, 1797, he terminated a life well spent, honored for piety, private virtues, and extensive knowledge. President death and Langdon's character. CHAPTER CHAPTER XXIX. Financial Embarrassments of the Corporation. - Popularity and Influence of John Hancock, when elected Treasurer of the College.— Incompatibility of his Political Engagements with the Duties of his Office. - Dissatisfaction of the Corporation. Their Correspondence with Hancock relative to the Settlement of his Accounts. -He departs as a Delegate to the Continental Congress. He causes the Books and Papers of the College to be transported to Philadelphia. — The Overseers appoint a Committee on the Financial State of the College. They advise the Corporation to demand a Return of their Papers, by a Special Messenger. Hancock returns them, and pays over Part of their Funds; - retains the Residue, and does not settle his Accounts. The Overseers vote, that it is expedient to elect a resident Treasurer, in place of Hancock. Letter of the Corporation, intimating to Hancock the Expediency of his Resignation. He retains the Office. Consequent Embarrassments. Ebenezer Storer chosen Treasurer. — Unsuccessful Attempts to obtain a Settlement of Mr. Hancock's Accounts. He is elected Governor of Massachusetts. Subse quent Proceedings. His Death. A Settlement finally made by his Heirs. His Benefactions to the College. THE embarrassments of the Corporation of Harvard XXIX. College, during the presidency of Langdon, were not embarrass confined to the dangers and effects of the revolutionthe College. ary war. They were greatly increased by the extra Financial ments of ordinary and wayward conduct of their Treasurer, John Hancock. Some of the most agitating questions respecting the College, at that period, relate to the official connexion of this distinguished individual with the seminary. The transactions, out of which they arose, are spread through its records for twenty years, XXIX. Mr. Hantion to the Treasurer. cock's elec office of and, as it is impossible to omit an account of them, CHAPTER it is due to all concerned, that a full and exact statement should be here given. In 1773, when Mr. Hancock was elected Treasurer by the Corporation, his polished manners, wealth, liberality, and patriotism had rendered him the most popular man in the Province. By fulfilling the promise* of his uncle, Thomas Hancock, and by his own added bounty, he had acquired the praise of a generous benefactor to the College; and to connect his name and influence with its affairs was generally considered as a master-stroke of policy. But, except the security to the funds of the institution, which apparently resulted from the amplitude of his fortune and his personal integrity, Mr. Hancock did not possess any peculiar qualifications for the office of Treasurer; for, his wealth having been derived from the bounty of a relative, he had not acquired the character of a man of business. His mind was absorbed in politics, and he had not held that office a year, before he was chosen a delegate to the Provincial Congress, which met at Watertown, and of which he was soon elected President. He continued in this station until April, 1775, and, in the ensuing June, he went to Philadelphia as a delegate from Massachusetts, and was immediately raised to the presidency of the Continental Congress. The Corporation of the College began early to perceive the incompatibility of the political engagements of Mr. Hancock with his duties as Treasurer of the institution; and a wish for his resignation, could it be obtained without offending an individual, whom cir * See above, p. 143. Incompati political en bility of his gagements with its duties. |