University that confers them); in a word, by means of which we conceive, a most fatal blow will be given to the interest of learning in this country, and all this at a time, when the spirit of learning seemed to be reviving among us, and to appear more than it has in some former years (which may be attributed in part, to your Excellency's encouragement, and your smiles upon the College), and at a time, when, from the increase of our numbers and wealth, and the extension of his Majesty's dominion in America, there was ground to hope, that our College would soon emerge from its comparatively low and infant state, and acquire all the endowments, privileges, and dignities of an University! (21.) These, Sir, were our hopes; and such as these are now our apprehensions of what will be the inevitable, the fatal consequence of founding another College as has been proposed. And while we view things in this light, as we cannot but view them, your Excellency will indulge us in expressing such apprehensions as these, with all the concern, the warmth, and pathos, that decency will permit. And upon the whole, we cannot but with great importunity, though with all proper respect and deference, make the two following requests to your Excellency. (22.) One is, that you would not permit the aforesaid Charter of a College in Hampshire to issue, or take effect, since your Excellency lately gave us to understand that it was not irrevocable; and even invited us freely to assign our reasons and objections against it. (23.) The other is, that you would not assist or encourage, but rather discountenance those persons who sued for said Charter, in any endeavours which they may hereafter use to obtain another, whether here or elsewhere, for the like ends and purposes. (24.) Which requests we the rather hope your Excellency will be pleased to grant, not only since, as head of the Board of Overseers, of which we have the honour to be members, you will have a very peculiar and tender concern for the interests of the College, in whose behalf we more immediately intercede; but also since, as Governor of the Province, you will naturally have at heart the good of the whole: which we cannot but consider as closely connected with the prosperity of that Society, and consequently with the prevention of a College, or collegiate school, in the County of Hampshire. Boston, March 18th, 1762. W. BRATTLE, by order. No. XX. (p. 162.) THIS BODY OF LAWS FOR HARVARD COLLEGE WAS MADE BY THE PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS THEREOF, AND CONSENTED TO BY THE OVERSEERS OF SAID COLLEGE, Anno Domini 1734. CHAPTER I. About Admission into the College. 1. Whoever upon examination by the President, and two at least of the Tutors, shall be found able extempore to read, construe, and parse Tully, Virgil, or such like common classical Latin authors, and to write true Latin in prose, and to be skilled in making Latin verse, or at least in the rules of Prosodia, and to read, construe, and parse ordinary Greek, as in the New Testament, Isocrates, or such like, and decline the paradigms of Greek nouns and verbs, having withal good testimony of his past blameless behaviour, shall be looked upon as qualified for admission into Harvard College. 2. Every candidate for admission shall procure and keep by him a true copy of the College Laws, respecting his duty and privileges, which being signed by the President and major part of the Tutors, shall be his admission into the college. 3. None shall be admitted into the College, until his parent, guardian, or some other, pay five pounds to the Steward towards defraying his future College charge; and also give bond to the steward with security to his satisfaction in the sum of forty pounds to pay College dues quarterly as they are charged in the several quarter-bills, viz. the steward's, the glazier's, and the sweeper's; said bill being first signed by the President, and one at least of the Tutors. And in case of death or removal before College charges rise to the sum of five pounds, the Steward shall return the remainder to him that gave the bond. 4. None shall be admitted fellow commoner, unless he first pay one hundred pounds to the College Treasurer, for the time being; being for the use of the College; and every fellow commoner shall pay double tuition-money. 5. Fellow commoners shall have the privilege of dining and supping with the fellows at their table in the hall, and shall be excused from going on errands, shall have the title of Masters, and shall have the privilege of wearing their hats as masters do, but shall attend all duties and exercises with the rest of the Class, and be alike subject to the Laws and Government of the College; and shall sit with their own Class, and in their place in the Class at the worship of God in the hall and meeting-house. 6. Every scholar, in the first quarter-bill made up after his admission, shall be charged six shillings to the use of the College for Gallery money. CHAPTER II. Concerning a Religious Virtuous Life. 1. All scholars shall behave themselves blamelessly, leading sober, righteous, and godly lives. 2. The President shall constantly reside at Cambridge, and (unless necessarily hindered) shall pray in the hall morning and evening, and read some portion of the Old Testament in the morning, and of the New in the evening (when there is no repetition or theological exercise), and he shall expound some portion of Scripture ordinarily once a week, or oftener, if he can conveniently attend it. And when the President cannot attend prayers in the hall, one of the Tutors shall pray, and also read some portion of Scripture, they taking their turns by course weekly; and whenever they shall do so for any considerable time, they shall be suitably rewarded for their service. 3. All persons of what degree soever, residing at the College, and all Undergraduates, whether dwelling in the College or in the town, shall constantly and seasonably attend the worship of God in the hall morning and evening. 4. If any Undergraduate comes tardy to prayers (without reasons allowed by the President or the Tutor that calls over the weekly bill), he shall be fined two pence each time; and if he is absent from prayers (without reasons as aforesaid), he shall be fined four pence a time. 5. Tardiness at, or absence from, divinity and philosophical public lectures in the hall shall be punished as tardiness at, or absence from, prayers in the hall. 6. All the scholars shall, at sunset in the evening preceding the Lord's Day, retire to their chambers, and not unnecessarily leave them; and all disorders on said evening shall be punished as violations of the Sabbath are. And every scholar shall on the Lord's Day carefully apply himself to the duties of religion and piety. And whosoever shall profane said day by unnecessary business, or visiting, walking on the Common, or in the streets or fields, in the town of Cambridge, or by any sort of diversion before sunset, or that in the evening after the Lord's Day shall behave himself disorderly, or any way unbecoming the season, shall be fined not exceeding ten shillings. And if such scholar shall not reform after being privately admonished, he shall be further punished by public admonition, degradation, or expulsion. 7. If any scholar shall be absent from public worship in the meeting-house, on either part of the Lord's Day, without giving sufficient reason, he shall be fined three shillings. And if bodily infirmity or any other necessary occasion prevents his attendance on said worship, he shall notify his Tutor, and in his absence the President or some other Tutor at the ringing of the first bell, otherwise his absence shall be esteemed groundless. And whoever shall come tardy to the public worship, shall be punished six pence, or otherwise at the discretion of the President or one of the Tutors, not exceeding two shillings. Also whoever shall be guilty of loose or vain behaviour, or of playing or sleeping at the public worship, or shall go out of the meeting-house before the public worship is ended, shall be punished from one to five shillings, as the circumstances may be, according to the discretion of the President or one of the Tutors. 8. Inasmuch as complaints have been made of disorders in the meeting-house, by scholars going thither before the ringing of the second bell; it is therefore ordered, that no Undergraduates shall go to the meeting-house on the Lord's Day, before the ringing of the second bell; and whoever shall transgress this law, shall be punished by the President or one of the Tutors not exceeding two shillings. 9. Undergraduates shall in their course repeat at least the heads of the forenoon and afternoon sermons on the Lord's Day evenings in the hall; and such as are delinquent shall be punished by the President or one of the Tutors, not exceeding three shillings. 10. All profane and irreverent behaviour at prayers or public divinity lectures in the hall, shall be punished after the same man ner with irreverence at the public worship in the meeting-house. The Divinity Professor to have an equal power with the President or Tutors, of punishing such offenders at his lecture. 11. All scholars shall show due respect and honor in speech and behaviour, as to their natural Parents, so to Magistrates, Elders, the President and Fellows of the Corporation, and to all others concerned in the Instruction or Government of the College, and to all superiors, keeping due silence in their presence, and not disorderly gainsaying them; but showing all laudable expressions of honor and reverence that are in use; such as uncovering the head, rising up in their presence, and the like. And particularly Undergraduates shall be uncovered in the College Yard when any of the Overseers, the President or Fellows of the Corporation, or any other concerned in the government or instruction of the College are therein, and Bachelors of Art shall be uncovered when the President is there. CHAPTER III. Concerning Scholastical Exercises. 1. That the scholars may furnish themselves with useful learning, they shall keep in their respective chambers, and diligently follow their studies; except half an hour at breakfast; at dinner, from twelve to two; and after evening prayers till nine of the clock. To this end, the Tutors shall frequently visit their chambers (especially in their several districts) after nine o'clock in the evening and at other studying times, to quicken them to their business. 2. If any Undergraduates are absent from their chambers in studying time, or after nine o'clock in the evening (unless they give sufficient reason for it), they shall be punished by the President or any of the Tutors, not exceeding two shillings. 3. The Undergraduates shall be brought forward by their respective Tutors, in the knowledge of the three learned Languages, viz. Latin, Greek, and Hebrew (excepting, as to the Hebrew, those that shall be obliged to attend the Hebrew Instructor), and also in the knowledge of Rhetorick, Logick, natural Philosophy, Geography, Ethicks, Divinity, Metaphysicks, and in the elements of the Mathematicks. And the Tutors shall take care to instruct their pupils in such authors as the President and major part of the Tutors shall agree upon; excepting Ethical and Theological authors shall be such only as shall be allowed by the Corporation. |