"He retained his vigor of body and strength of mind to an uncommon degree in his advanced age, and continued to perform all the duties of his function, with his usual punctuality, till about ten months ago; when it pleased the sovereign Ruler of the universe to visit him with a severe disorder, which soon reduced him to a very languid state, and left no hopes of his recovery. Till about ten days before his death, he was able to walk about, but after that was entirely confined to his bed. Through his long sickness he discovered great patience, and a resignation to the divine will; and we doubt not, that patience had its perfect work, and that he is now gone from this world of sickness and pain, to the heaven of rest; where his labors are at an end, and his works follow him."

*

"The funeral was attended yesterday in the afternoon, by the honorable and reverend Overseers and Corporation of the College, the honorable House of Representatives of the province, a great number of ministers from various parts of the country, and by many other gentlemen of distinction. The attendants upon the funeral being too numerous for the College chapel, the corpse was carried to the meetinghouse; where a Latin oration, suitable to the mournful occasion, was delivered by Professor Sewall, a prayer made by the Rev. Mr. Appleton, and the solemnity there closed with a funeral anthem, by the undergraduates of the College. The corpse preceded by the tutors, librarian, resident graduates, and undergraduates, was carried round one of the squares in the lower part of the town, thence to the College, and

* June 6, 1769.

through a part of the yard, to the burying-ground, where it was deposited. Thus were committed to the dust the remains of that truly excellent man- President Holyoke may those who attended this solemnity, not content themselves with having paid the funeral rites, but continue to adorn his memory, by following his amiable example!" 1

1 Mass. Hist. Coll. VIII, First Series. pp. 70-75.

CORRESPONDENCE

OF THE

HON. PAINE WINGATE WITH THE AUTHOR.

[The Correspondence, which took place between the Hon. Paine Wingate and the Author, has been occasionally referred to by the latter as one of his authorities; and a few extracts have been given from it. But upon further examination it was found to contain some additional facts of an ancient date in relation to the University, which would be of no small interest to the sons of Harvard; an interest, which is heightened by the circumstance of their being furnished by the eldest surviving graduate; who, at the great age of ninety-two years, writes a firm hand, and has a freshness of recollection, and a vigor of intellect, which fall to the lot of few men. The following additional extracts from the Correspondence will, accordingly, be read with peculiar interest by every one who takes an interest in the Institution which is the subject of it.]

FROM JUDGE WINGATE TO MR. PEIRCE.

"Stratham, January 25, 1831.

"You express a wish to have from me some account of conducting Commencements whilst I was in College. You will recollect the length of time since I graduated, and the treacherous memory of a man ninety-two years old, and will not expect a very minute or correct account. It is now thirtyfive years since I have attended a Commencement, and I may possibly write to you things which are familiar to every one who has been at College. I do not recollect now any part of the public exercises on Commencement day to be in English,

excepting the President's Prayers at opening and closing the services. Next after the Prayer followed the Salutatory Oration in Latin, by one of the candidates for the first degree. This office was assigned by the President, and was supposed to be given to him who was the best orator in the class. Then followed a Syllogistic Disputation in Latin, in which four or five or more of those who were distinguished as good scholars in the class, were appointed by the President as Respondents, to whom was assigned certain questions which the Respondents maintained, and the rest of the class severally opposed, and endeavoured to invalidate. This was conducted wholly in Latin, and in the form of Syllogisms and Theses. At the close of the Disputation, the President usually added some remarks in Latin. After these exercises the President conferred the degrees. This, I think, may be considered as the { summary of the public performances on a Commencement day. I do not recollect any Forensic Disputation, or a Poem or Oration spoken in English whilst I was in College. I well remember that about the year 1757 or 1758, the exercise of the Forensic Disputation in English was introduced and required of the two senior classes. And I think it likely, that about the same time it became a part of Commencement exercises. I have no written minutes to assist my memory. I once had a valuable collection of College Theses and Masters' Questions, which used to be printed annually. But some of my domestics have destroyed them."

FROM THE SAME.

"Stratham, Feb. 15, 1831.

"You inquire of me whether any regard was paid to a student on account of the rank of his parent, otherwise than his being arranged or placed in the order of his class?

"The right of precedence on every occasion is an object of importance in the state of society. And there is scarce any thing which more sensibly affects the feelings of ambition than the rank which a man is allowed to hold. This excitement was generally called up whenever a class in College was placed The parents were not wholly free from influence; but the

scholars were often enraged beyond bounds for their disappointment in their place, and it was some time before a class could be settled down to an acquiescence in their allotment. The highest and the lowest in the class was often ascertained more easily (though not without some difficulty), than the intermediate members of the class; where there was room for uncertainty whose claim was best, and where partiality no doubt was sometimes indulged. But I must add, that although the honor of a place in the class was chiefly ideal, yet there were some substantial advantages. The higher part of the class had generally the most influential friends, and they commonly had the best chambers in College assigned to them. They had also a right to help themselves first at table in Commons, and I believe generally wherever there was occasional precedence allowed, it was very freely yielded to the higher of the class by those who were below.

"Your next inquiry is, whether there was a more marked subordination of the students to their officers, and of the lower classes to the upper ones in former times, than at present? This is a question which I should not be willing positively to decide; but if I am permitted to give my opinion, I should say that there was a better spirit of subordination prevalent in society, and in College in particular, in my day, than is now generally to be observed. You ask me to mention some forms of respect then in use. It was an established custom in College while I was an undergraduate, that all the scholars should be uncovered, or take off their hats in the College yard, when the President or any of the tutors were present, or were passing through. And at all times the freshmen were to keep their hats off in the yard, unless when it rained. The resident graduates and all the senior classes were allowed to send the freshmen on errands as they saw fit; only the sophomores were liable to have the freshmen taken from them by their seniors.

"The last question you ask of me is more difficult to answer than any of the former. You very modestly suggest that it is your idea, that there was less of the genius of Republicanism in College before the American Revolution than there has been since; and wish, if that was my idea, I would give you some