w jm '«£>-'<, w* ivJi ■jZr-VX VSR Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from Microsoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/earlyhistoryofbrOOguilrich ' w \ ^^^t^^t-- First President of Brown University - From a Portrait painted in 1770 EARLY HISTORY OF BROWN UNIVERSITY, INCLUDING THE Life, Times, and Correspondence of President Manning. 1756- 1791. By REUBEN ALDRIDGE GUILD, A. M., LL. D. LIBRARIAN EMERITUS. HIC LOCUS AETATIS NOSTRAS PRIMORDIA NOVIT, ANNOS FELICES, LAETITIAEQJJE DIES. HIC LOCUS INGENUIS PUERILES IMBUIT ANNOS ARTIBUS, ET NOSTRAE LAUDIS ORIGO FUIT. HIC LOCUS 1NSIGNES MAGNOSOJUE CREAVIT /LUMNOS. — Ntclhcm. Providence, 1897. Published by Subscription. Edition Limited. Copyright, 1896. By Reuben Aldridge Guild. All rights reserved. Printed by Snow & Farnham. TO THE ALUMNI OP irouitt SMvergity THIS WORK IS RESrECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR. 329930 ILLUSTRATIONS JAMES MANNING, THE AUTHOR, HOPEWELL ACADEMY, JOHN GANO, WILLIAM ROGERS, DAVID HOWELL, COLLEGE EDIFICE AND PRESIDENT'S HOUSE, SAMUEL STENNETT, ....... FIRST BAPTIST MEETING-HOUSE, SOLOMON DROWNE, SAMUEL STILLMAN, JOHN RIPPON, CALEB EVANS, ISAAC BACKUS, Page 6 * 10 ' 40 ' 64 « 69 ' 157 ' 159 ■ 226 ' 246 « 344 ' 374 ' < 388 ' 529 PREFACE At the annual meeting of the Corporation of Brown University, held in September, 1844, a resolution was unanimously passed request- ing Professor Gammell to prepare " an adequate history of the origin and progress of the University." Want of sufficient material was with- out doubt the reason why the facile pen of the Professor of Rhetoric and History was not employed on this important and much needed work. Three years later the author, immediately on graduating, entered upon his long professional career in connection with the Library. At first he was an assistant under the late Professor Charles C. Jewett. In March, 1848, he succeeded him in the Librarianship of the University. One of his earliest efforts as Librarian was to complete a file of the annual catalogues. Afterwards, by means of circulars and otherwise, he made a collection of pamphlets, manuscripts and docu- ments illustrative of the history of the College. As a result he published, in 1864, a large duodecimo volume of five hundred and twenty-three pages, entitled, "Life, Times and Correspondence of James Manning and the Early History of Brown University"; and three years later a handsome quarto volume entitled, "History of Brown University, with Illustrative Documents." These works have long been out of print, the number of copies of the latter having been limited to three hundred and ten, and the stereotype plates of the for- mer having been destroyed in the breaking up of the long established house of Gould and Lincoln, of Boston. At the Commencement in 1893, the author resigned his position as Librarian, after a continuous and uninterrupted service of forty-six 2 PREFACE. years. Since that time he has been employed upon the present work. It was his original intention, in accordance with the circulars sent out, to include in this first volume a history of the Library, an account of the Revivals in College, and an account of the Portraits in Sayles Memorial Hall. These will appear in the second volume. In their stead he has revised and rewritten his Life of Manning, enlarging upon the early history of the College, and devoting entire chapters to sub- jects of special interest, among which may be mentioned the origin of the College, the Charter, the First Commencement, the Contest for the final location, the early College Laws, the history of the First Baptist Church, and the building of the present spacious and beautiful meeting- house "for the public worship of Almighty God, and also for holding Commencement in." The Correspondence of Manning, who was a lead- ing man in Providence during all the trying scenes of the War of the Revolution, and undoubtedly stood at the head of the denomination to which he was attached, are republished in full, together with additional letters which have come to light during the past thirty years. They furnish an admirable illustration of the efforts put forth by our fathers under the auspices of the College, and the Warren Association, in behalf of civil and religious freedom. Interspersed throughout the book are sketches of Manning's associates and pupils, and of his correspondents, some of whom were among the leading Dissenters in England, and were specially friendly to the American cause during the war. This first volume, which is complete in itself, is now given to the public, among whom are two thousand graduates, with the author's best wishes for the prosperity and continued growth of his beloved Alma Mater. R. A. G. Providence, September 1, 1890. FIRST PREFACE 1864= A century has elapsed since Brown University was founded, and nearly three quarters of a century have passed away since the death of Dr. Manning; yet no extended history of the one or life of the other has heen published. This neglect to record the honors, the struggles, and triumphs of the founder, so to speak, of the venerable seat of learning, with the early history of which his own history is so closely identified, must be ascribed, in part, to the almost habitual indifference which Baptists have thus far manifested to the characters and the fame of their fathers and departed worthies. "It is mortifying," says a writer 1 in one of the earlier numbers of the Christian Review, "that we have allowed men like Clarke and Callender, Backus and Manning — each of them an honored and true-hearted advocate of the faith which we profess, at a time when this faith was despised and derided over the greater part of New England, — to pass away so nearly from the memory of men. They were all scholars, who com- pared well with the foremost of their time. Some of them, also, have linked their names with the history of the country, by the services they rendered in the days of her early settlements, and her subsequent struggles for national independence. But no one of them has found among their own brethren a biographer to set forth their labors and sacrifices, and to delineate their characters in connection with the peculiar faith which they professed. Their lives, in some instances, at least, were filled with important events, which illustrated the civil and religious character of the age to which they belong. They were made beautiful, too, by their simple manners, their all-enduring faith, their deep devotion to truth. It is sad to think that their memory has so nearly perished, and it is humiliating to think that this would have been permitted in no other denomination than our own." In 1815, twenty-four years after Dr. Manning's death, a brief sketch of his character and life by the late John Howland, Esq., was published in the Rhode Island Literary Repository. It comprises sixteen pages, and consists chiefly of personal recollections. Mr. Howland, although his calling was humble, possessed original and vigorous powers 1 Prof. Wm. Gammell. 6 FIRST PREFACE. The undertaking was entered upon with great diffidence. It has been continued from year to year, under all the disadvantages of accumulated public and professional duties, and amidst frequent interruptions. Historical accuracy, and not literary excel- lence, is all, therefore, to which the author has been able to aspire. Sincerely wishing that he had possessed greater skill and more ample leisure for the performance of the task to which his position as Librarian seems naturally to have assigned him, the work, with all its imperfections, is herewith submitted to the public, in the hope that it may prove acceptable to the general reader, and especially useful to the College, and to the religious denomination under whose auspices the College was founded. R. A. G. Brown University, September 1, 1864. Brown University and Manning, CHAPTER I. 1756-1763. Origin of the College — Baptists a century and a half ago — Principles at variance with those of the standing orders — Six colleges in existence at this time — Hopewell Academy and the Philadelphia Association — Isaac Eaton — Distinguished graduates of the Academy — Success of the Academy inspired the friends of learning in the denomination to found a college — Morgan Edwards the prime mover in the matter — Sketch of his character and life -*- Inclined to Toryism during the War of the Revolution — Two sons William and Joshua — Extracts from the funeral sermon of the latter preached in 1854, giving particulars relating to his father — Recantation of Toryism in 1775 — Extracts from the funeral sermon of Morgan Edwards, preached hy the Rev. Dr. William Rogers, in 1795 — Peculiarities — Meeting of the Philadelphia Association, Oct. 12, 1762, when the moderator, Morgan Edwards, made the motion to found a college — Difficulties in the way of such an undertaking — Urgent need of an educated Baptist ministry — Colleges in existence generally unfriendly to Baptists — Extract from Backus's history — James Manning esteemed a suitable leader in the new enterprise — Beginnings in the history of Rhode Island College, now Brown University, found in connection with the Philadelphia Association — Extracts from the records showing a continued interest in the Institution — Manning's birth and parentage — First pupil of Isaac Eaton at the Hopewell Academy — Conversion and baptism — Benjamin Miller his pastor — At the age of twenty admitted a mem- ber of the Freshman class in the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University — Extract from Maclane's history relative to the founding of the College — Samuel Davies and Samuel Finlay Presidents — Letter from Oliver Hart on death of Da vies — Laws and Customs of the College — Manning's Classmates— Diploma — Licensed to preach — Marriage to Margaret Stites — Account of the Stites family — Ordained and set apart as an Evangelist — Letter from Oliver Hart inviting him to settle in South Carolina — Sketch of his brother-in-law, Rev. John Gano. Brown University owes its origin to a desire on the part of mem- bers of the Philadelphia Association, 1 to secure for the Baptist churches an educated ministry, without the restrictions of denominational influence or sectarian tests. The distinguishing sentiments of the Baptists, it 1 The oldest Baptist Association in America, founded in 1707. 8 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. may be observed, were at variance with the religious opinions that pre- vailed throughout the American colonies. They advocated the supremacy of the Bible as the only authoritative rule of faith and prac- tice in religious concernments, freedom of worship, liberty of con- science, the entire separation of church and state, believers' baptism by immersion, and a converted church membership ; — principles for which they had earnestly contended from the days of Roger Williams. The student of history will readily perceive how they thus came into conflict with the ruling powers. The pages of Backus 1 and Semple 2 abound in instances of individual oppression and of relentless persecu- tion. In Massachusetts and Connecticut they were taxed for the support of churches of the standing order, and upon a refusal of the payment of rates, their lands, homes, and goods were seized and sold, and they themselves were imprisoned. In Virginia the laws against Dissenters bore heavily and mainly against the Baptists, who suffered imprisonment, accompanied by fines, whippings, and other penalties. Throughout the land they appear to have been subjected to contumely and reproach. In the words of Manning they were " poor, despised and oppressed." This prejudice and opposition against the Baptists, or Anabaptists as they were termed in derision, was very naturally shared by the colleges and academies then in existence. 3 In the year 1756, there was founded at Hopewell, New Jersey, under the auspices of the Philadelphia Association, an academy " for the education of youth for the ministry." Among the early records of the Association appears the following, under date of October 5th, this being the time of the annual meeting : — " Concluded to raise a sum of money toward the encouragement of a Latin Grammar School, for the promotion of learning among us, under the care of the Rev. Isaac 1 History of New England with particular reference to the denomination of Christians called Baptists. Vol. 1, 1777 ; Vol. 2, 1784 ; Vol. 3, 1796. Reprinted by the Backus Historical Society, 2 vols. 8vo. Newton, Mass., 1871. 2 History of the Baptists in Virginia. 12mo. 1810. Recently reprinted by the Southern Baptist Publication Society. 3 There were six colleges in the Colonies when the charter for Rhode Island College was granted, viz.: Harvard, founded in 1638; William and Mary, 1692; Yale, 1701; College of New Jersey, or Princeton, 1746; University of Pennsylvania, 1753; and Columbia, 1754. 1756-1763. AND MANNING. 9 Eaton, and the inspection of our brethren, Abel Morgan, Isaac Stelle, Abel Griffith, and Peter B. Van Home." Mr. Eaton was the son of the Rev. Joseph Eaton, of Montgomery, Pennsylvania. At an early age he began to preach, and when twenty-four years old took charge of the church in Hopewell. This was in November, 1748. Rich blessings were the result of his pastorate, which ended only with his life, twenty- six years after -his ordination. 1 He at once became prominent in the Association, and thus the way was opened for what proved to be the great work of his life. To him, therefore, says a distinguished writer, 2 belongs the honor of being the first American Baptist to establish a semi- nary for the literary and theological training of young men. For this work his natural endowments of mind, his rare personality, his varied attainments in knowledge, and his genuine piety, happily qualified him. Under his wise management and able instruction, the academy had a prosperous existence for eleven years. During this period many, who afterwards became eminent in the ministry, received from him their education. Among them may be mentioned his first pupil, James Manning; Hezekiah Smith, "the great man of Haverhill," and the distinguished Chaplain of the Revolution ; Samuel Stillman, the eloquent preacher of Boston; Samuel Jones, who was informally invited to succeed Manning in the Presidency of Rhode Island College ; John Gano, Manning's brother-in-law, the fearless Chaplain, and "a Prince among the Baptist hosts of Israel"; Oliver Hart, the beloved pastor and patriot of Charleston, South Carolina ; Charles Thompson, the Valedictorian of the first graduating class under Manning; William Williams, also of this class, the founder of an academy in Wrentham ; Isaac Skillman, of Boston, a member of the famous " Committee on Grievances"; John Davis, of Boston, the first agent of the churches of the Warren Association ; David Jones, the eminent pastor, patriot 1 The tablet erected to his memory, first in the meeting-house, and now in the cemetery of the Hopewell Church, has this inscription : — "To the front of this are deposited the remains of Rev. Isaac Eaton, A. M., who for upwards of twenty-six years was pastor of this church, from the care of which he was removed by death, on the 4th of July, 1772, in the forty-seventh year of his age." " In him with grace and eminence did shine The man, the Christian, scholar, and divine." 2 Prof. William Goddard, LL. D. See memoir of President Manning. 2 10 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. and chaplain ; and John Sutton who accompanied Manning on his first visit to Rhode Island in behalf of the College. Not a few of the Hope- well Academy pupils distinguished themselves in the professions of medicine and law. Of this latter class was the Honorable Judge Howell, a name familiar to the students of Rhode Island College, and to the statesmen and jurists of his day. Benjamin Stelle, who was graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1766, and afterwards established a Latin School in Providence, was also a pupil of Mr. Eaton. His daughter Mary, it may be added, was the second wife of the Hon- orable Nicholas Brown, the well-known benefactor from whom Brown University derives its name. Dr. Stites who educated his nephew Stephen Gano, and John and Richard Stites, all brothers-in-law of Manning, are included in the list of Hopewell graduates. The house in which the sessions of the academy were held is still standing, and is regarded as an object of interest to the historian and antiquary. It is on the Bound Brook Railroad, near the Calvary Church, and not far from the "Old School Baptist Church" edifice, in which the descend- ants of the people to whom Mr. Eaton ministered, are accustomed to meet for worship. The structure is a plain substantial building in good condition. The accompanying engraving is taken from a cut in Cook's "Story of the Baptists." 1 The success of the Hopewell Academy inspired the friends of learn- ing in the denomination with renewed confidence, and incited them to establish a college. "Many of the churches," says a contemporary, "being supplied with able pastors from Mr. Eaton's academy, and being thus convinced, from experience, of the great usefulness of human literature to more thoroughly furnish the man of God for the most important work of the Gospel ministry, the hands of the Philadelphia Association were strengthened, and their hearts were encouraged to extend their designs of promoting literature in the Society (denomina- tion), by erecting, on some suitable part of this continent, a college or 1 The Story of the Baptists in all Ages and Countries. By Rev. Richard B. Cook, D. D. l2iuo. Baltimore, 1884. The thirty-third thousand of this popular and instructive history was published in Springfield, Mass., in 1889. a < < o 1756-1763. AND MANNING. 11 university, which should be principally under the direction and govern- ment of the Baptists. At first some of the Southern colonies seemed to bid fairest to answer their purpose, there not being so many colleges in those colonies as in the Northern ; but the Northern colonies having been visited by some of the Association, who informed them of the great increase of the Baptist societies (churches) of late in those parts, and that the Rhode Island Government had no public school or college in it, and was originally settled by persons of the Baptist persuasion, and a greater part of the Government remained so still, there was no longer any doubt but that this was the most suitable place in which to carry the design into execution." The foregoing extract, which appears in an appendix to President Sears's Centennial Discourse, 1 is taken from a rough sketch on file among some papers belonging to the Hon. Judge Howell, which were placed in the author's hands many years ago by a descendant, the late Gamaliel Lyman D wight. Dr. Sears attributes the paper to the Rev. Morgan Edwards. Whether from his pen, or that of Judge Howell, which latter seems quite probable, the writer was evidently familiar with all the facts pertaining to the origin and early history of the College. Mr. Edwards, whose name in this connection is henceforth prominent, was the pastor of the Baptist Church in Philadelphia, now called the First Church, to which he had been recommended by the Rev. Dr. Gill and others of London. He was a native of Wales, and was born on the 9th of May, 1722. His early education was obtained at the schools of Monmouthshire, and at a suitable age he was placed at the celebrated Bristol Academy, under the instruction of the Rev. Dr. Bernard Foskett. 2 Upon leaving the academy he preached for seven years to a small congregation in Boston, Lincolnshire, pursuing meanwhile his theological studies. He became a proficient in Hebrew and Greek, and made the Old and New Testaments in their original tongues his constant companions, deeming them to be, using his own 1 Celebration of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Founding of Brown University, Septem- ber 6th, 1864. 8vo. Providence, 1865. See pp. 62-64. 2 For a biographical sketch of Dr. Foskett, see Rippon's Baptist Register for the years 1794-7, Vol.2. 8vo. Lond., pp. 422-31. 12 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. words, the " two eyes of a minister." On the first day of June, 1757, he was ordained pastor of a Baptist church in Cork, Ireland. Here he remained nine years ; and here he married his first wife, whose maiden name was Mary Nunn. He arrived in Philadelphia on the 23d of May, 1761, and at once entered upon the duties of his American pastorate. Being now in the prime of life, and possessed of superior learning and abilities united with uncommon perseverance and zeal, he became an acknowledged leader in various literary and benevolent undertakings, devoting to them freely his talents and his time, and thereby rendering essential service to the denomination to which he was attached. He was the moving cause of having the minutes of the Philadelphia Association printed, publishing first, at his own expense, tables exhibit- ing the original and annual state of the associating churches. He journeyed from New Hampshire to Georgia, gathering facts for a history of the Baptists; and these "Materials,", as he termed them, penned or printed, are the most valuable records of the kind extant. "In his day," says Cathcart, "no Baptist minister equalled him, and since his day no one has excelled him." This may be a somewhat exaggerated statement, having special reference doubtless to his historical labors. It shows the estimation in which he is held by a former Phila- delphia pastor, and the author of the "Baptist Encyclopedia." The great enterprise in which Mr. Edwards engaged, and the one with which his name will be forever associated, was the founding of Rhode Island College. In this he appears to have been the prime mover. His activity in procuring from the State Legislature a charter, and his exer- tions in procuring in England and Ireland the first funds for the endowment of the " Infant Institution," he deemed to his latest days to be the greatest service he had ever rendered for the Baptist cause. This statement is made by the Rev. Dr. William Rogers, in a funeral discourse which he preached on the 22d of February, 1795. l Dr. Rogers was a member of the first graduating class of the College, and Mr. 1 This discourse was first published in Rippon's Baptist Register for the years 1794-97, Vol 2. 8vo. Lond., pp. 308-14. A portion of it is given in " Documentary History of the University," pp. 167-171. 1756-1763. AND MANNING. 13 Edwards's successor in the pastorate at Philadelphia. In his "Materials towards a History of the Baptists in Pennsylvania," published in 1770, Mr. Edwards speaks of himself, quoting his own words, as having " labored hard to settle a Baptist College in the Rhode Island Govern- ment, and to raise money to endow it ; which he deems the greatest service he has done or hopes to do for the Baptist interest." In the same work, after speaking of his endeavors to make the combination of Baptist Churches universal upon this continent, he adds : — "And should God give me success herein, as in the affair of the Baptist College, I shall deem myself the happiest man on earth. ' ' During the Revolutionary struggle Mr. Edwards sympathized with the mother country, where nearly forty years of his life had been spent, and where he had secured substantial aid for the College. Hence his influence was greatly impaired, and his affections were for a time alien- ated from his brethren in the ministry, who, to a man, were ardent patriots. According to Cathcart, who has published a volume entitled, "The Baptists and the American Revolution," he was the only Tory in the ministry of the American Baptist Churches. His Toryism, how- ever, was rather a matter of principle than of action, yet it served to bring him into disrepute. Having a Welsh temperament he could hardly restrain his speech, and in the beginning of the war he made use of expressions which gave great offence. His family, too, was identi- fied with His Majesty's service, one of his sons being an officer in the English army. He married for his second wife, according to Dr. Rogers's statement, a Mrs. Singleton of Delaware, in which state he resided many years, upon a plantation which he had purchased. At a meeting of the Committee of White Clay Creek, held at Mr. Henry Darby's house, in New York, Aug. 7, 1775, Mr. Edwards was present and signed a recantation of his Tory principles, which was voted satis- factory. After the war he occasionally read lectures in Divinity in Phil- adelphia and other cities, but he could never be prevailed upon to resume the work of a Christian minister. He died at Pencader, Newcastle County, Delaware, on the 28th of January, 1795, in the seventy-third year of his age. The universal testimony of those with whom he was 14 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. associated, and who knew him intimately was, that he was "a great and a good man." 1 Mr. Edwards left two sons, William and Joshua. The former was a pupil in Manning's Latin School at Warren, removing with the School to Providence in 1770. At the second Commencement of the College, the account states, " the business of the day being concluded, and before the assembly broke up, a piece from Homer was pronounced by Master Billy Edwards, not nine years old." He was graduated from the College in 1776. Sympathizing with his father in his attachment to the land of his birth, he espoused the cause of George III. in the great Revolutionary struggle. Eventually he became a British officer with the rank of colonel. After the war he resided in London. On his way to Cork from Bristol to see about the settlement of his mother's estate, he in some way perished, as nothing was ever heard from him afterwards. Joshua was born in Philadelphia, Dec. 29, 1769. On arriving at manhood he spent some time in England, being in the posses- sion of an ample estate. Returning to this country he married and settled in New Jersey, where he died in 1854, at the advanced age of eighty-five. A son of his, Rev. Morgan Edwards, an eccentric Baptist preacher and evangelist, was living some years ago in Burlington, Iowa. In a correspondence with him the writer received an account of his life, and copious extracts from a sermon preached at his father's funeral in 1854. These extracts give new and interesting particulars respecting his grandfather, Morgan Edwards. No apology need be offered for publishing in this connection some of these extracts : — Morgan Edwards was a native of Wales. In early life he embraced Baptist princi- ples (his parents were of the Church of England), and having studied in the academy of the pious Dr. Foskett, he completed his theological course under the three great Bap- tist divines and scholars, Dr. Stennett, Dr. Llewelyn, and Dr. Gill. The Baptist con- gregation in Philadelphia, having lost its first minister, the Rev. Jenkin Jones,! and iSee letters from Rev. Francis Pelot and Rev. Oliver Hart, addressed to Hezekiah Smith. ! Mr, Jones was born about 1690, in Wales, and came to this country in 1710. He took charge of the First Church of Philadelphia, May 15, 1746, at the time the church was reconstituted. Pre- vious to that time the Philadelphia body was only a branch of the Lower Dublin Church, of which Mr. Jones had been pastor for twenty-one years. He died July 16, 1761. See Cathcart's Encyclo- paedia. 1756-1763. AND MANNING. 15 being composed mostly of Welsh people, he was importuned to come to America. . . . He was a man of learning and enterprise and public spirit. He projected the establish- ment of a college for the Baptists, and went to England and Ireland to solicit funds for the erection of Brown University, at Providence, Rhode Island. In this he was largely successful, and so that Institution owes its existence in a measure to him. He lost his wife (daughter of Joshua Nunn, of Cork, Ireland), soon after the birth of her eighth child, suddenly, but not unexpectedly to her, for she had lived for years under the impression that at that time she would die. The effect upon him was dis- tressing. He was seized with the impression that he now understood a dream he had fifteen years before, and that it intimated to him the year, and perhaps the day of his own death. He preached and printed a sermon expressing his expectation that his end was nigh, but he lived after this twenty-five years. 1 A distinguished Quaker min- ister, Pemberton, came to him and said: — " Thy dream will come true — this year is the death of thy ministry." It was so; — he resigned the pastoral office and never preached regularly afterwards, though occasionally he lectured, as he called the read- ing of sermons. "When the Revolution commenced, being a man of note and very sarcastic, and having declared himself bound by his oath of allegiance to maintain the king's cause, he became very unpopular. The Committee of Safety ordered him to be secured as a dangerous person. Colonel Miles, the Chairman of the Committee, took Mr. Edwards privately to his house and hid him, and then expedited the officers with the warrant for his apprehension. Orders went at once to Philadelphia, to examine his son Joshua as to the place of his father's concealment. He knew nothing of it. This must have been some time after Morgan Edwards's recantation, as Joshua was at that date only five years and nine months old. The following extract from President Manning's diary, is of interest, show- ing Mr. Edwards's relations to Manning, Samuel Jones and Colonel Miles : — " Philadelphia, Tuesday, Aug. 10th, 1779. Mr. Edwards, in company with Jones and myself, set out for Colonel Miles. Distance iDr.R^gers gives the title of this remarkable discourse as follows: — "A New Year's Gift; a sermon preached in this house, January 1, 1770, from these words, This year thou shalt die." It passed through four editions and naturally attracted much attention. The excellent Geo. White- field, Dr. Rogers adds in a note, had a similar delusion in respect to a child whom he named John, before its birth, who, he believed and predicted was to be a preacher of the everlasting gospel, but who instead died in infancy. The full title of this discourse, which I give from a copy in the College Library, reads as follows: — "A New Year's Gift. Being a sermon delivered at Philadel- phia, on January 1, 1770; and published for rectifying some wrong reports, and presenting others of the same sort ; but chiefly for the sake of giving it another chance of doing good to them who heard it. By Rev. Morgan Edwards, A. M., Fellow of Rhode Island College, and minister of the Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Printed by Joseph Crukshank, in Second Street." 16 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. L thirteen miles. Arrived in the evening, and he and lady next morning from town. He has a most elegant seat, gardens, meadows, etc., and a most remarkable spring, which turns three wheels in one fourth of a mile from its source. Spent three days very agreeably, and on the 13th set out for town, Mr. Edwards returning with Mr. Jones." The following is Mr. Edwards's recantation, which we take from Dr. Armitage's history : — At a meeting of the Committee of White Clay Creek, at Mr. Henry Darby's, in New York, Aug. 7, 1775, William Patterson, Esq., being in the chair, Rev. Morgan Edwards attended and signed the following recantation, which was voted satisfactory, namely: — "Whereas, I have some time since frequently made use of rash and imprudent expressions with respect to the conduct of my fellow-countrymen, who are now engaged in a noble and patriotic struggle for the liberties of America, against the arbitrary measures of the British ministry ; which conduct has justly raised their resentment against me, I now confess that I have spoken wrong, for which I am sorry and ask for- giveness of the public. And I do promise that for the future I will conduct myself in such a manner as to avoid giving offense, and at the same time, in justice to myself, declare that I am a friend of the present measures pursued by the friends of Ameri- can liberty, and do approve of them, and, so far as is in my power, will endeavor to pro- mote them." The extracts from the funeral sermon of Joshua Edwards, further state, that when he was about ten years old his father married the widow of Washington Nathaniel Evans, a wealthy proprietor of the Welsh Tract in Delaware, and that he went to reside on her property in Newark. This was in the year 1780. Previous to this, according to Dr. Rogers, he had married for his second wife a Mrs. Singleton, of Delaware. The remains of Morgan Edwards, Dr. Armitage states, were at first buried in the Baptist meeting-house, La Grange Place, between Market and Arch Streets, Philadelphia. They now rest in Mount Moriah Cemetery. Dr. Rogers, who in 1772 succeeded Mr. Edwards as pastor of the church in Philadelphia, preached the funeral sermon to which we have referred, from the text selected by the deceased, in 2 Cor., vi. 8 : — " By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report ; as deceivers 1756-1763. AND MANNING. 17 and yet true." The following extracts may fitly close our account of the first " mover " in the enterprise of founding a college : — Honor Mr. Edwards certainly had, both in Europe and America. The College and Academy of Philadelphia, at a very early period, honored him as a man of learning and a popular preacher, with a diploma, constituting him a Master of Arts ; this was fol- lowed by a degree ad eundem, in the year 1769, from the College of Rhode Island, being the first Commencement in that Institution. In this Seminary he held a Fellowship, and filled it with reputation, till he voluntarily resigned it in 1789; age and distance having rendered him incapable of attending the meetings of the Corporation any longer. He also met with dishonor; but he complained not much of this, as it was occasioned by his strong attachment to the Royal Family of Great Britain, in the beginning of the American war, which fixed on him the name of a Tory ; this I should have omitted mentioning, had not the deceased expressly enjoined it upon me. For any person to have been so marked out in those days was enough to bring on political opposition and destruction of property; all of which took place with respect to Mr. Edwards, though he never harbored the thought of doing the least injury to the United States by abetting the cause of our enemies. He had the oversight of this church for many years ; voluntarily resigned his office when he found the cause, which was so near and dear to his heart, sinking under his hands, but continued preaching to the people till they obtained another minister, the person who now addresses you, in the procuring of whom he was not inactive. After this, Mr. Edwards purchased a plantation in Newark, New Castle County, State of Delaware, and moved thither with his family in the year 1772; he continued preaching the Word of Life and salvation in a number of vacant churches till the com- mencement of the American war. He then desisted, and remained silent till after the termination of our Revolutionary troubles, and a consequent reconciliation with this church ; he then occasionally read lectures in divinity in this city, and other parts of Pennsylvania; also in New Jersey, Delaware, and in New England; but for very particular and affecting reasons could never be prevailed upon to resume the sacred character of a minister. Dr. Rogers speaks of Mr. Edwards as a "peculiar but worthy man." His leaving the ministry after preaching the remarkable ser- mon to which we have referred, his sympathy with the English in the Revolutionary struggle, and his impulsive methods of speech and action, doubtless created distrust in the minds of his brethren, and impaired for 3 18 BROWN" UNIVERSITY Chap. I. the time his usefulness. Dr. Rippon, of London, in a letter to President Manning, asks, in reference to the apostasy of Winchester, a former Baptist minister of Philadelphia, — "Is it true that Morgan Edwards has printed a book in vindication of him ? " To this Manning, under date of Aug 3, 1784, replies : — "Mr. Morgan Edwards has not printed in vindication of his principles, but he read me a manuscript, more than a year since on that subject, which he did not own though charged with being the author. He did not deny it, whereby he was entreated not to add the printing of this to the long list of imprudent things which had so greatly grieved his friends and injured his reputation. ' ' On the 12th of October, 1762, the annual meeting of the Philadel- phia Association was held in the meeting-house of the Lutheran church, on Fifth Street. Here, in the quaint language of the record, "the sound of the organ was heard in the Baptist worship." The Rev. Mor- gan Edwards presided as Moderator, and the Rev. Abel Morgan served as Clerk. Of the twenty-nine Churches belonging to the Association, eighteen were represented by delegates, including not a few prominent and influential pastors and laymen, whose praises have been recorded by the pen of a master 1 in his "Annals of the American Pulpit," and more recently in the "Baptist Encyclopaedia." The seats of the spacious house were filled with devout men and women, who engaged with delight in the exercises of the prolonged sessions. A spirit of calmness and deliberation breathed in their consultations, and peaceful unanimity characterized all their determinations. Such is the tenor of the customary "Pastoral Address," or, as it is now called, the "Circu- lar Letter." 2 It was at this memorable meeting of the Association that a motion was made by the Moderator for the establishment of a Baptist college. No formal action was taken, so far as the records show, but the matter was without t doubt thoroughly discussed, and the co-operation and i Rev. Dr. William B. Sprague. Vol. 6. Baptists. 8 A copy of the minutes of the Philadelphia Association from 1707 to 1807, edited by the Rev. Dr. A. D. Gillette, and published by the American Baptist Publication Society, 8vo, Phila.,1851, is in the Library of the University. Also a set of the original minutes in several quarto volumes. These minutes contain the Pastoral Addresses. 1756-1763. AND MANNING. 19 assistance of prominent brethren were pledged, notwithstanding the difficulties and obstacles in the way of an enterprise of such magnitude and importance. "The first mover for it in 1762," says Edwards, 1 " was laughed at as the projector of a thing impracticable. Nay, many of the Baptists themselves discouraged the design, prophesying evil to the churches in case it should take place, from an unhappy prejudice against learning." Well might the Baptists as a body have hesitated to engage in so difficult and responsible an undertaking. The country at large was still, so to speak, in its infancy, with a population of less than three millions. Only one hundred and forty-two years had elapsed since the Pilgrims set foot on Plymouth Rock, and but little more than a century and a half since Smith and his adventurers landed at Jamestown. In the time intervening there had been exhausting wars with the Indians, and an incessant struggle for the bare necessities of living. In the Northern colonies shelter had to be sought from the storms and frosts of a rigorous climate. Food had to be gained mainly by the sweat of the brow, out of a soil in many parts not overfruitf ill, and everywhere needing labor and care. Farms had to be enclosed, roads to be built, and the nameless wants incident to a new settlement, in a country separated from civilized Europe by the broad Atlantic, to be supplied. All these things pressed heavily and sorely upon a people, but few of whom were blessed with wealth, leaving them little time and still less means for books and schools and colleges. The Baptists, espec- ially, were poor. In the New England colonies they numbered at this time, according to Backus, but thirty-nine churches, including both General and Particular Baptists. The twenty-nine churches connected with the Philadelphia Association represented the colonies of Pennsyl- vania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. There were also churches in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, which afterwards formed the Charleston Association. It is within bounds to state, that in all the thirteen colonies there were at this time less than seventy regularly constituted churches, with a total 1 " Materials for a History of the Baptists of Rhode Island." See Staples's Annals of Providence, page 519; Collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society, Vol. VI., page 348. 20 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. membership of perhaps five thousand. What could such a people do towards the establishment of a higher seat of learning? — without wealth, and without social or political influence ; in many places, as we have already stated, fined, scourged, and imprisoned for their religious opinions, and everywhere, save in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Rhode Island, "scorned," and like their Divine Master, "rejected of men." On the other hand, churches of the Baptist faith were rapidly multi- plying. The good sense and better judgment of the people, notwith- standing the perversion of schools and learning by the " Standing Order," demanded ministers who, in addition to the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, possessed the aids of literary and scientific culture. The Academy at Hopewell, although eminently prosperous and success- ful, was yet but a preparatory school. The two colleges of New England, Harvard and Yale, were controlled exclusively by the Congre- gationalists, and were especially unfriendly at this period to Anabaptists and " New Lights," or revivalists. The College of New Jersey, at Princeton, had been established by Presbyterians, while Columbia of New York, William and Mary of Virginia, and the University of Pennsylvania were under Episcopal control. These were the only American colleges in existence at the time of which we speak. Not- withstanding the indifference of some and the opposition of others, there were pastors of strong faith and determined will, like Morgan Edwards, Samuel Jones, Isaac Sutton, Abel Morgan, John Gano and Isaac Eaton, and influential laymen like Mayor Stites, of Elizabethtown, and John Hart, of Hopewell, the signer of the immortal Declaration, who were ready to embark in the proposed enterprise. "And hereby," says Backus, referring especially to the " travels and labors of our Southern fathers and brethren," in New England, "the Philadelphia Association obtained such an acquaintance with our affairs, as to bring them to an apprehension that it was practicable and expedient to erect a college in the colony of Rhode Island, under the chief direction of the Baptists, wherein education might be promoted, and superior learning obtained, 1756-1763. AND MANNING. 21 free of any sectarian religious tests. Mr. James Manning, who took his first degree in New Jersey College in September, 1762, was esteemed a suitable leader in this important work." 1 From the foregoing accounts we see clearly, that the " beginnings in the history of Rhode Island College, now Brown University, are found in connection with the Philadelphia Association. Pausing in our narrative, we may introduce here the following extracts from the records of the Association, showing a continued interest in the Institu- tion which it had been instrumental in bringing into being : — 1764. Agreed, To inform the churches to which we respectively belong, that, inas- much as a charter is obtained in Rhode Island Government toward erecting a Baptist College, the churches should be liberal in contributing toward carrying the same into execution. 1766. Agreed, To recommend warmly to our churches the interest of the College, for which a subscription is opened all over the continent. This College hath been set on foot upwards of a year, and has now in it three promising youths under the tuition of President Manning. 1767. Agreed, That the Rev. Isaac Eaton, and John Hart, Esq., executors of Mrs. Hobbs's 2 will, be allowed to pay fourteen pounds toward the education of Charles Thompson, student in Rhode Island College, out of the interest of the legacy left by said Mrs. Hobbs for the use of the Association in Philadelphia. Agreed, That the churches be requested to forward the subscription for Rhode Island College. 1769. We received pleasing accounts from Rhode Island College. Seven commenced this Fall. The colony has raised twelve hundred pounds toward the build- ing, which will be begun early in the Spring. About one thousand pounds, lawful currency of New England, have been sent us from home (Great Britain) toward making up a salary for the President ; and all the ministers of the Association have implicitly engaged to exert themselves in endeavoring to raise money for the same purpose. Resolved, That the moneys which may be raised in the Provinces of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, shall be put to interest in those Provinces, and not taken out of either, except the interest, which shall be subject to the order of the College to pay the President's salary, and for no other use. The persons appointed for receiving the donations are : in New York, the Rev. John Gano; in the Jerseys, John Stites, Esq.; in Pennsylvania, the Rev. Morgan Edwards. They are to see that the securities be 1 History of the Baptists. Edition of 1871. Vol. 2, pp. 137 and 347. - Mrs. Elizabeth Hobbs, widow of John Hobbs, who died March 26, 1767, aged upwards of eighty- years. She left a legacy of £350 for the education of pious youths for the ministry, and also a hand- some bequest to the Hopewell Church of which she was a member. See article by Dr. S. S. Cutting, in the Examiner for Dec. 1, 1864. 22 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. sufficient, and that the bonds, mortgages, etc., be deposited with the Treasurer of the College. Voted, That fourteen pounds, Jersey currency, be given to Mr. Thomas Ustick, towards defraying his expenses at the College. Entries like these continue to appear in the records. In 1774, the Charleston Association proposed a plan for raising funds, which was adopted by the Philadelphia Association, and also by the Warren. This plan was, in the language of the records, " recommending to every member to pay sixpence sterling, annually, for three years successively, to their Elder, or some suitable person ; this money to be paid to the Treasurer of the College." At the same time, says Benedict, the Rev. Messrs. John Gano, of New York, and Oliver Hart and Francis Pelot, of South Carolina, were appointed to address the Baptist Associations throughout America, and urge their co-operation in these efforts to raise funds for the College. The war which soon afterwards broke out, arrested of course these efforts. We may be amused, as we read such records, at the gravity with which an organized body of men could recommend the payment of so small a sum as sixpence, toward endow- ing an institution of learning, especially when we contrast it with the princely benefactions of later days. They illustrate what has already been stated respecting the poverty of the country at large, and espec- ially of the Baptists. Mr. James Manning, who, according to Backus "was esteemed a suitable leader in the important work of erecting a college in the Colony of Rhode Island," was born on the 22d of October, 1738, in Piscataway, Middlesex County, New Jersey. This was originally a part of the " Elizabethtown Grant," so-called, and hence his birthplace is sometimes called Elizabethtown. The story of his life is the history of the College. Concerning his parentage and ancestors we have had until recently but little authentic information. Of late years Mr. Oliver B. Leonard, City Clerk of Plainfield, New Jersey, whose wife is a descendant of the Mannings and the Stelles, has made a careful study of the colonial history of his state, and of the beginnings of Baptist history in America. Through his researches in probate courts, town 1756-1763. AND MANNING. 23 records, deeds, conveyances, church registers and family Bibles, he has been enabled to ascertain the genealogy and history of the families to which he is related, the results of which he has kindly placed at the writer's disposal and for which grateful acknowledgments are hereby tendered. James, the father of the subject of our sketch, was a prosperous and intelligent farmer, who owned a plantation between Plainfield and New Brunswick, his farm being watered by the little stream known as Cedar Brook. His residence was not far from the little village of Brooklin and Samp town, adjoining the lands of Nathaniel Drake and Benjamin Laing. He was the son of James and Christiana (Laing) Manning, and the grandson of Jeffrey, one of the earliest settlers in the Piscata- way township. His will, which is on record in the Prerogative Court at Trenton, is dated Dec. 26, 1766. It names as executors his sons Jeremiah and Joseph, and his son-in-law Joseph Tingley, and mentions his children in the disposition of his real estate, all of whom were living excepting a daughter, Mrs. Woodruff. Grace, the mother, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Drake) Fitz Randolph, was one of thirteen children, most of whom married and reared large families. Judging from the character of him whose life we are considering, and from the fact that most of her children became members of the church before they had attained their majority, she was a woman of superior moral and mental endowments ; one who exemplified in her daily life the happy and sanctifying influences of the Christian religion. James thus enjoyed all those advantages which are derived from the watchful care of sensible, well-to-do, and religious parents. To their counsel and example he was indebted for those principles of right conduct, and those cultivated moral sensi- bilities, which saved his youth from frivolity and vice, and to which, ere he had attained to manhood, God was pleased to add the regenerating influences of his Holy Spirit. His maternal grandparents, it may be added, lived in Piscataway township, and belonged to the Baptist church. His grandfather died in 1750, leaving by will fifty pounds to each of his surviving daughters, Grace, Prudence and Rebecca, and 24 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. giving his land to his sons Ephraim, Jeremiah, Paul, Thomas, and Joseph. Seven children constituted the family of James and Grace Manning, viz. : Christiana, who married Joseph Tingley, and lived in Samptown ; Jeremiah, who was thrice married, and lived in Bonham and afterwards in Bordentown ; Enoch, who married Janet Edgar and died in Feb- ruary, 1791 ; Joseph, who in 1777 was elected a ruling Elder in the Scotch Plains Baptist Church, and was thrice married; John, who married Sarah van Pelt and settled on a farm in Somerset County ; a younger sister, who married a Woodruff and died previous to 1766 ; and James, the President of Rhode Island College. These are all men- tioned by him in his diaries and correspondence. Concerning young Manning's school-boy days, but little can now be ascertained. He probably enjoyed better advantages than most lads of that early colonial period. Elizabethtown, then the chief city of New Jersey, and the centre of comparative wealth and refinement, was but ten miles from his home. Here Dickinson resided, the first president of the College of New Jersey, and here were the beginnings of that now celebrated school of learning. Five miles to the south of him was New Brunswick, the present capital of Middlesex County, and the seat of Rutgers College. Whatever schools he attended, it is certain that he was thoroughly taught the elementary branches of knowledge. He was an accomplished reader, an excellent penman and a good speller. His manuscript writings furnish abundant evidence of his proficiency in this latter useful, though too often neglected, "rudiment." These may be regarded as matters of trivial importance, yet they show that he did not neglect his early opportunities for instruction. At the age of eighteen he left the parental roof to prepare for college at the Hopewell Academy, under the instruction of Mr. Eaton, being, it is said, his first pupil. Here under the guidance of his faithful and beloved teacher, he became the subject of renewing grace. How much the prayers of pious loved ones at home contributed towards his conver- sion, and how great an influence was thus exerted upon the destiny of multitudes in his after career, eternity alone will reveal. A striking 1756-1763. AND MANNING. 25 instance of the importance of prayer in behalf of colleges and academies is here presented. Little did the principal of the infant academy realize how greatly the interests of learning and religion were to be affected by the conversion to God of this promising youth. In the sub- sequent relations of Manning to the Latin School, the College and the Church, both at Warren and at Providence, the results of his academic training at Hopewell are clearly recognized. Having finished his preparatory studies, he returned to his home where he made a public profession of religion. He was baptized by the Rev. Benjamin Miller, who had been for many years pastor of the Scotch Plains Baptist Church. Mr. Miller was a native of Scotch Plains, who had been converted under the preaching of the celebrated Gilbert Tennent, and by him encouraged to enter the ministry. He was ordained on the 13th of February, 1748. Here he continued until his death in 1780, a good, laborious and successful minister. "Never," said the Rev. John Gano, who preached his funeral sermon, "did I esteem a ministering brother so much as I did Mr. Miller, nor feel so sensibly a like bereavement as that which I sustained by his death." This is high praise, coming from one who was an acknowledged leader in the Baptist denomination. It is pleasant to note thus the religious influences that surrounded the future President. Soon after his baptism, Manning, being now twenty years of age, was admitted into the College of New Jersey, now Princeton Univer- sity, as a member of the Freshman Class. This flourishing institution of learning had been founded in 1746, under the auspices of the Synod of New York, 1 representing, it is well known, that branch of the Presby- 1 Ex-President Maclean, the learned historian of the college (2 vols., 8vo, Phila., 1877), thus writes : — " The first efforts for the erection of a college in New Jersey have an intimate connection with the first schism in the Presbyterian church. This schism began in 1741, with the separation of the Presbytery of New Brunswick from the Synod of Philadelphia. It was consummated in 1745, by the withdrawal of the Presbytery of New York, from the same Synod, then the only one; and by the organization of a new Synod, under the title of The Synod of New York, in the autumn of that year." Jonathan Dickinson, of Elizabethtown, the first president of the college, had been the acknowledged leader of the old Synod of Philadelphia, and he became no less the leader of the new Synod now formed. He was the intimate friend of Whitefield, who, on one occasion, visited him and preached in his parish. " He," says Sprague in his 'Annals,' " had more to do with origi- nating the College of New Jersey than any other man." 4 26 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. terian church, which sympathized, as did in general the Baptists, with Whitefield and Tennent, and aided in the promotion of revivals. 1 The first location was Elizabethtown, whence it was removed to Newark, where it remained eight years. In 1756 it was removed to Princeton, its present location, where Nassau Hall, one of the largest and finest structures of the kind in the colonies, had been erected for its use. This afterwards served as a model for our present "University Hall." At the time of Manning's entrance to college, the institution had no presiding officer. President Burr had died on the 24th of September, 1757. His successor, Jonathan Edwards, lived only five weeks after taking the oath of office. The Rev. Samuel Davies, who was the fourth president, was a man distinguished for his wisdom, piety and eloquence. Indeed, he has been regarded, and justly perhaps, as the prince of American preachers. His patriotic sermons, when a pastor in Virginia, are said to have produced effects as powerful as those ascribed to the orations of Demosthenes. 2 It was to him, doubtless, that Manning, and his classmate, the celebrated Hezekiah Smith, of Haverhill, were largely indebted for the model and inspiration of that popular and effective style of preaching, which make them pre-eminent among the Baptist divines of their day. Mr. Davies, after a most successful career of eighteen months, as president of the college, died in February, 1 It has been stated, says Maclean, that the College owes its origin to the expulsion of David Brainard and John Cleaveland from Yale College in consequence of their attending meetings of the " New Lights," as revivalists were then called. It is a significant fact that three of the men who were most conspicuous in their sympathy with and efforts for Brainard, and in labors to promote revivals, were Jonathan Dickinson, Aaron Burr and Jonathan Edwards, the first three presidents of the College. 2 His " Sermons," to which are prefixed a sermon on his death, by his successor, Samuel Finley, and another discourse on the same occasion, together with an Elegiac Poem to his memory, by the Rev. Dr. Thomas Gibbons, were published in London, in five octavo volumes. A fine copy, second and third editions, is in the Library of Brown University. Mr. Davies spent the early part of his professional life in Virginia, preaching to destitute churches in Hanover County, maintaining the cause of the Dissenters, and laboring persistently to secure the religious liberties of his people against the bigotry : and tyranny of their oppressors. He was thus a warm friend of the Baptists. The distinguished Patrick Henry, who was born in Hanover County, was one of his hearers, and an enthusiastic admirer of him and his opinions. In 1753 Mr. Davies had been chosen by the Synod of New York, at the instance of the Trustees of the College, to accompany the Rev. Gilbert Tennent to Great Britain to solicit benefactions for the young institution. This service he performed with singular spirit and success. 1756-1763. AND MANNING. 27 1761. The following letter from the Rev. Oliver Hart, whose acquaint- ance Manning had formed while a student at the Hopewell Academy, may fitly be introduced in this connection. Mr. Hart was a leading Baptist at the South, the founder of the "Charleston Baptist Associa- tion," and also of " The Religious Society " to aid pious young men in their studies for the ministry, one of whose beneficiaries was the famous Dr. Stillman, who afterwards labored so efficiently with Manning and Smith, in efforts to advance the interests of Rhode Island College : — Charleston, April 17, 1761. My Dear Friend : — I received your kind letter of the 1st of March, ult., together with President Davies's sermon on the death of his late Majesty, — for which favors I return my most unfeigned thanks. You intimate that you have written me several letters heretofore. I received only one of them as near as I can remember, about two years ago, and to which I returned an answer by the first opportunity. I lament with you (and surely all the friends of Zion must mourn) the loss of the justly celebrated President Davies. Oh, what floods of sorrow must have overwhelmed the minds of many, when it was echoed from house to house and from village to village, as in the dismal sound of hoarse thunder, Presided Davies is no more! Oh, sad and melancholy dispensation! Arise, all ye sons of pity, and mourn with those that mourn. And thou, my soul, let drop the flowing tear while commiserating the bereaved and distressed. Alas for the dear woman, whose beloved is taken away with a stroke! May Jesus be her husband, her strength, and her stay. Alas for the bereaved children! May their father's God be their God in covenant. Alas for the church of Christ ! Deprived of one of the principal pillars, how grievous the stroke to thee! But Jesus, thy head and foundation, ever lives. And thou, Nassau Hall, lately so flourishing, so promising, under the auspicious management of so worthy a president — what might we not have expected from thee! But alas! How is the mighty fallen in thee! How doth the large and beautiful house appear as a widow in sable weeds! And thy sons, lately so gay and pleasant, as well as promising and contented — how do they retire into their apartments, and there with bitter sighs, heavy groans, and broken accents, languish out, My Father, My Father! — the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof! But I can write no more. Yours affectionately, Oliver Hart. 28 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. President Davies was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Samuel Finley, who entered upon the duties of his office in July, 1761. By him Man- ning was taught in his senior year, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. He was a man of extensive learning, and remarkable for sweetness of dis- position and politeness of behavior. In the early years of his ministry he had labored with Whitefield and Tennent, in promoting the great revival of religion which was at that period so remarkable throughout the country. While a pastor at Nottingham, in Maryland, he had established an academy which acquired a great reputation. Under his instruction many youths received the rudiments of learning and correct moral sentiments. In his religious opinions he was called a Calvinist. Other instructors of Manning were Tutors Halsey, Treat, Ker, and Blair, all of whom afterwards became eminent clergymen. The last named, Dr. Samuel Blair, was in 1767 elected to the presidency of the college. He, however, declined the appointment. Such were the men to whom the future President was indebted for his academic and collegiate training. That they exerted a most important influence in developing his character, and in determining his subsequent career, no one will deny. Among the requirements for admission to the College of New Jersey was one obliging every student to transcribe the laws and cus- toms thereof, which copy, being signed by the president, was to be in testimony of his admission, and to be kept by him while in college, as a rule of his good behavior. Among the Smith papers is a copy of these laws, which are published in full in the life 1 of Smith, as an illus- tration of the colonial times. "Laws," says Montesquieu, "in their most extensive sense, are the necessary relations arising from the nature of things. In this sense, all beings have their laws, the Deity his laws, the material world its laws, the intelligences superior to man their laws, man his laws, the beasts their laws." No apology need be required for introducing at this point extracts from these laws, espec- i" Chaplain Smith and the Baptists; or, Life, Journal, Letters and Addresses of the Rev. Heze- kiah Smith, D. D., of Haverhill, Massachusetts, 1737-1805." By Reuben A. Guild. 12mo. Phila., Amer. Bap. Pub. Soc, 1885. 1756-1763. AND MANNING. 29 ially as they formed the basis for the government and discipline of Rhode Island College : — Laws of the College of New Jersey. None may expect to be admitted into the College but such as having been examined by the President and Tutors, shall be found able to render Virgil and Tully's Orations into English ; to turn English into true and grammatical Latin ; and so well acquainted with the Greek as to render any part of the four Evangelists in that language into Latin or English, and give the grammatical construction of the words. Such as are candidates for the degree of Bachelors, shall at some convenient time, before the public Commencement, submit to a strict and critical examination, before the President and as many of the Trustees as can conveniently attend, and any other gen- tleman of liberal education as shall see cause to be present ; and upon their approbation, may expect to be admitted to the honors of the College. Those who have prosecuted their studies for three years, after obtaining their first degree, if they have not been scandalous in their lives and conversation, shall be admitted to the degree of Master of Arts. The President, or in his absence one of the Tutors, shall, morning and evening, read a portion of the Holy Scriptures, and pray with the students. Every student shall be obliged to give his attendance at all such religious exercises, and those that absent themselves, for every offense shall be punished in a fine of two pence, proc., 1 and those who do not timely attend, one penny, unless detained by sick- ness, or some other excuse as shall be deemed sufficient. The students on every Lord's Day shall attend Divine Service in some place of public worship ; which, if they without sufficient excuse omit, shall be punished in a fine of four pence, proc. j 1 and shall pay a religious regard to the Lord's Day by keeping in their rooms and not visiting, or admitting others into their company. And it is judged expedient and hereby ordered, that no student be out of his room on the evening next after Saturday, or next after Lord's Day, except for religious purposes, or some neces- sary occasion, under penalty of four pence for every offense. None of the students shall frequent taverns, or places of public entertainment, or keep company with persons of known scandalous lives, who will be likely to vitiate their morals. Those that practise contrary to this law, shall first be admonished, and if they still persist in such dangerous company, shall be expelled the College. None of the students shall play at cards, or dice, or any other unlawful game, upon the penalty of a fine not exceeding five shillings proc. for the first offense ; for the sec- ond public admonition ; for the third expulsion. 1 Proclamation money, six shillings to the dollar. 30 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. None of the students shall he ahsent from their chamhers without leave first obtained from the President or one of the Tutors, unless half an hour after morning prayer and recitations, an hour and a half after dinners, and from evening prayer until seven o'clock, on the penalty of four pence proc. for each offense. If any scholar shall persist in the careless neglect of his studies, and shall not make suitable preparation for the stated recitations and other scholastic exercises appointed for his instruction, after due admonition he shall be expelled. Every student shall be obliged to pay for his tuition in the College the sum of fifteen shillings proc. every quarter. 1 Every one that is admitted to the honor of a degree shall pay thirty shillings proc. to the President of the College. The Tutors shall frequently visit their pupils in their chambers, to direct and encourage tbem in their studies, and see that they are diligently employed about their proper business. No scholar shall be allowed to make any treat or entertainment in his chamber on any account, or have any private meals, without having first obtained leave of the President or Tutors. No jumping or hallooing or boisterous noise shall be suffered in the College at any time, or walking in the gallery in the time of study. No scholar shall spread abroad anything transacted in this house, which being pub- licly known may tend to injure the credit of this Institution or disturb the peace of the members. Every student shall pay four pence per quarter for study, rent, sweeping their room, and making their beds. And such as smoke or chew tobacco, five pence ; and one shilling for incidental charges. Customs. Every member of the College shall treat the authority of the same, and all superiors, in a becoming manner, paying that respect that is due to every one considered in his proper place. Every scholar shall keep his hat off about ten rods to the President and five to the Tutors. Every Freshman sent on an errand shall go and do it faithfully and make quick return. Every scholar shall rise up and make obeisance when the President goes in or out of the hall, or enters the pulpit on days of religious worship. When he first comes into the company of a superior, or in speaking to him, he shall show him respect by pulling off his hat. 1 The yearly dues for tuition at Brown are now one hundred and five dollars, which is more than ten times the amount required at Princeton in the days of Manning. 1756-176;?. AND MANNING. 31 If called or spoken to by a superior, if within hearing, he shall give a direct and pertinent answer, with the word, Sir, at the end thereof. If overtaking a superior, or met by him going up or down a pair of stairs, he shall stop, giving him the banister side. . No Freshman shall ever wear a gown. No member of College may appear abroad dressed in an indecent or slovenly man- ner, but must be entire and complete. No member of the College shall wear his hat in the College at any time, or appear in the dining room at meal time, in the hall at any public exercises, or knowingly in the presence of any of the authorities of the College, without an upper garment, and having shoes and stockings tight. The reader of these Laws and Customs will not fail to observe that college students in colonial days were accustomed to habits of obedi- ence, and of strict subjection to authority. While at Princeton, Man- ning occasionally returned to Hopewell and assisted Mr. Eaton in the instruction of the pupils under his care. Concerning his student life our information is very limited. He was remarkable for diligence and attention to his studies, — habits which gained for him a reputation for superior scholarship. In Rhetoric, Eloquence, Moral Philosophy, and the Classics, he especially excelled. He was fond of athletic exercise, and devoted many of his hours for recreation to manly and invigorating sports. 1 "Sana mens in sano corpore," may have been his motto. In his conduct we may well believe that he was uniformly regular, thus maintaining a good standing with the officers of the college, and securing the friendship and esteem of his fellow students. He was graduated on the 29th of September, 1762, with the second honors of his class. This class consisted of twenty-one, and included some excellent scholars, who afterwards distinguished themselves in 1 In his youth, says Judge Howell, who knew him well, he was remarkable for his dexterity in athletic exercises, for the symmetry of his body, and gracefulness of his person. Had he lived in our day he could easily have been captain of a base-ball nine or of a foot-ball club. In his maturer years he weighed upwards of three hundred pounds. Concerning his bulk the Hon. Wm. Hunter, one of his pupils, thus writes : — " His motions and gestures were so easy and graceful, that ordi- nary observers thought not of his immense volume of flesh, and those who criticised, admired the manner in which it was spontaneously wielded. I do not know that he had ever read Hogarth's Analysis of Beauty, but he moved in his line of grace." 32 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. their several professions and walks of life. Among them may be men- tioned the Rev. Hezekiah Smith, his life-long intimate friend, known as "the great man of Haverhill," and a distinguished chaplain in the War of the Revolution ; Ebenezer Hazard, who was the first Postmaster- General of the United States, after the adoption of the Federal Consti- tution, and published in two large quarto volumes a valuable collection of documents relating to American history; Jonathan Dickinson Ser- geant, a member of the Continental Congress, and the first Attorney- General of Pennsylvania ; Rev. Joseph Periam, for several years a Tutor in the college, distinguished for his attainments in Mathe- matics and Metaphysics; Hugh Alison, a Presbyterian minister; and Hon. Isaac Allen who was the Valedictorian. An account of the Com- mencement is given in the Pennsylvania Gazette, and published in full in Maclean's Historj^. The exercises were introduced by "an elegant salutatory oration," in Latin, by Manning. A copy of this oration, in the well known hand-writing of the author, is in our posses- sion. But for its length it would have been published, not as light or interesting reading, but as an illustration of the scholarship of the man, and the customs of- the college. The parchment for his Bachelor's degree reads as follows : — Praeses et Curatores Collegii Neo-Csesariensis omnibus et singulis has literas lec- turis Salutem in Domino. Notum sit quod nobis placet auctoritate Regio Diplomate commissa Jacobum Manning candidatum primum in Artibus gradurn constitutum examine sufficiente praevio approbatum titulo graduque artium liberalium Baccalaurei adonare cujus sigillum comminus Collegii Neo-Csesariensis huic membranse affixum nominaque nostra subscripta testimonium sint. Datum Aulse Nassonicae in Nova Csesaria Samuel Finley, Prseses. tertio Calendas Octobris Anno JErse Richard Treat, \ Christi Millesimo Septingentesimo Israel Read, i Sexagessimo secundo. Caleb Smith, \ „ Samuel Woodruff, ( William C. Smith, I R. Harris, / 1756-1763. AND MANNING. 33 Reference has already been made to Manning's conversion at the Hopewell Academy, the special object of which institution was " the education of youth for the ministry." The influence of principal Eaton, and the example of such preachers as presidents Davies and Finley, combined with his own natural talents and inclinations, could hardly fail to turn his thoughts towards the ministry as his own profession and calling. Soon after graduation he was regularly " licensed ' ' by the church of which he was a member. The following documents, mostly found among the Gano papers in the possession of the late Mrs. Eliza B. Rogers, will repay careful perusal : — The Church of Jesus Christ, meeting together at the Scotch Plains, in the County of Essex, and Province of New Jersey, professing Believer's Baptism, Laying on of Hands, Eternal Election, Final Perseverance, etc. And heing met this first day of December, Anno Domini, 1762, have unanimously agreed to call James Manning, A. B., a member in full communion with us, to the trial of his ministerial gifts in this church, at our next meeting of business, or on the first convenient opportunity next following. Signed by us at our meeting of business, Benjamin Miller, Pastor. December 1, 1762. Recompense Stanburg, Elder. Samuel Drake, Elder. Samuel Doty, Elder. William Darby, Deacon. The "trial " was satisfactory, and a license to preach was cordially voted him two months later, as appears from the following carefully prepared document : — The Church of Jesus Christ at the Scotch Plains, maintaining the doctrine of Believer's Baptism, Laying on of Hands, Eternal Election, Special Vocation, and Final Perseverance, having called our loving brother, James Manning, A. B., to the trial of his ministerial gifts ; and finding upon his improvement in preaching full satisfac- tion; — we do hereby call and license him to preach publicly amongst us as often as opportunity shall present; — And also we recommend him as one sound, regular, and qualified to preach the Gospel wherever he may have a legal call, either in our sister 6 34 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. churches or associations, praying that the Divine blessing may be with him, and accom- pany his labors, to the glory of God, and the spiritual good of immortal souls. Signed at our meeting of business, February 6, 1763. Benjamin Miller, Pastor. Recompense Stanburg, Elder. Samuel Drake, Elder. Samuel Doty, Elder. William Darby, Deacon. On the 23d of March following, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Stites, daughter of John Stites, Esq., of Elizabethtown. He had corresponded with her while a student in college. Under date of Aug. 23, 1759, he writes, urging upon her attention the subject of personal religion. This letter, which has recently come to light, we here present in part, as an illustration of the author's fervent piety and zeal, and as a part of his early life : — Affectionate Friend. Amongst the various pursuits of mankind, religion is the most noble, the most exalted, and the most worthy of our highest regard in efforts to obtain ; notwithstand- ing all the scoffs and jeers of an ungodly world. Seeing then, my dear Friend, that there is no greater happiness in this world, and no other way to arrive at happiness in the world to come, than by believing the record which God gave of his Son, and giving up ourselves to God wholly and unreservedly through a glorious Mediator, how watch- ful should we be, how earnestly should we cry day and night, that God would pardon all our sins, and receive us as righteous in his sight, through the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. The writer goes on to describe the nature of conversion, and the danger of those who neglect salvation, closing with an urgent, personal appeal. "Whether his friend responded to this appeal is nowhere stated ; she certainly did not make a profession of religion until some twelve years after her marriage. The father of Miss Stites was a prominent and wealthy lay member of the Baptist Church, and for several years Mayor or Chief Magistrate of Elizabethtown. His place of residence was Connecticut Farms, a 1756-1763. AND MANNING. 35 delightful agricultural village four miles from Elizabethtown, and in his day a part of that borough. Some time previous to 1749, a num- ber of families from Connecticut had purchased a large tract of land and divided it into farms of a convenient size, giving this village its present name. Washington, it is said, when passing through this sec- tion, pronounced it the "garden of New Jersey," on account of its beauty and fertility. Here was the Stites home, which, before the dis- asters of the war, and while the owner was in affluent circumstances, was the centre of an abundant hospitality. Here Manning and his wife were always welcome guests. Concerning the ancestry of the Stites family but little can be ascer- tained. William, the father of John, moved from Hampstead, Long Island, to Springfield, a small village in Essex County, six miles from Elizabethtown. This was in 1727, as appears from a date on his tomb- stone in the old burying ground. He had a son named William who resided in Elizabethtown, to whom Manning refers as his M uncle " under date of 1779. ! John was the oldest son. From the few facts at hand concerning him, it is evident that he was a man of ability and of widely extended influence. In the minutes of the Philadelphia Association, under date of 1769, it is recorded that he was appointed by that body to receive donations in the Jerseys for Rhode Island College. His three sons were all educated at the Hopewell Academy. Furthermore he was the father-in-law of two of the most prominent men in the Baptist denomination. He died in 1782, as appears from a letter to Judge Howell, dated November 19th, in which Manning speaks of Dr. Dayton as "the acting Executor of his father-in-law's estate." 2 The mother's maiden name does not appear. She died in 1784, two years after her husband's decease. In a letter to Dr. Smith, dated July 3d, Manning speaks of his wife as having sailed on the 27th ultimo, " to enjoy the last interview with her dear Mamma, just about to leave us by a consump- tion." 3 1 Manning and Brown University, page 280. 2 Ibid, page 292. » Ibid, page 336. 36 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. Seven children constituted the Stites household, viz., Mary; Heze- kiah, a physician who resided at Cranberry, and died in 1797 ; Sarah, who married the Rev. John Gano ; Margaret, who married Manning ; John, a physician, and afterwards a merchant, to whom Manning in his correspondence refers as a resident of New York ; l and Richard, the youngest, who was one of the first graduates of Rhode Island Col- lege ; he was killed in battle at Long Island, being captain of a com- pany under Gen. Nathanael Greene. Manning's marriage proved a source of great domestic felicity. The wife possessed those elegant accomplishments and superior qualities which well accorded with her husband's character, and happily fitted her for the discharge of duties inseparable from public positions of honor and usefulness. She was also lovely and attractive in person, if one may judge from her portrait, which hangs beside that of her husband in Sayles Memorial Hall. 2 The blessings of offspring were, however, denied them. She survived her beloved companion many years, and after a long and retired widowhood, died in Providence, Nov. 9, 1815, at the advanced age of seventy-five. At the time of their marriage she was not, as has already been stated, a professor of religion. During a pow- erful revival under her husband's preaching, in 1775, she became a hopeful convert, and was received into the fellowship of the Baptist Church. The joys and consolations of a well-grounded hope in Christ thus comforted her in her bereavement, soothed her declining years, and cheered her djdng hours. On the 19th of April, a few weeks after his marriage, Manning was publicly ordained and set apart for his chosen work, as a preacher and an evangelist. The sermon on the occasion was preached by his brother-in-law, the Rev. John Gano, who had but recently been settled over the newly-constituted Baptist Church in New York. His teacher and spiritual guide at the Academy, the Rev. Isaac Eaton, gave the 1 Manning and Brown University, page 355. 1 This portrait was bequeathed to Brown University by Miss Maria Benedict, a daughter of Rev. Dr. David Benedict, and a niece of Mrs. Eliza B. Rogers, whose property she inherited. Dr. Man- ning's portrait was bequeathed by Mrs. Manning, in her will, recorded November, 1815. 1756-1763. AND MANNING. 37 charge, and his beloved friend, the Rev. Isaac Stelle, 1 of Piscataway, made the ordaining prayer. By the following letter from the Rev. Oliver Hart, it appears that he was invited about this time to settle in Charleston, South Carolina, as assistant pastor of the Baptist Church. This invitation, fortunately for the interests of learning and religion in New England, he felt obliged to decline, having already entered upon the great educational work, to which his future was to be consecrated : — Charleston, June 20, 1763. Dear Mr. Manning: A few days ago I had the pleasure to forward a call to you, from this church, to come over and assist me in breaking the bread of life to the dear people of my charge. I hope enough has been said to induce you to come over to this " delightful region," if 1 may use your own words. Since I wrote you last, I have received letters from Mr. Gano, who informs me that you are married, ordained, and not settled; and that you intend a journey to the eastward before you settle anywhere. I assure you that this gives me hope that you will settle to the southward, seeing you are not yet engaged. I congratulate you on your having entered into a new state of life, and hope you will enjoy all the comforts which the married state can afford. I welcome you into the vine- yard of the Lord as one of his laborers. You are now an ambassador for the King of Kings. I doubt not but that a sense of the importance of the work lies with weight upon your mind. Well, he who is the Lord our righteousness is also the Lord our strength. I have only to say, I hope God will send you upon an embassy to this place, where you will be welcomed to my heart, to my house, and to my people, and where you will have a hopeful prospect of doing much good. Remember me in kind love to your other self. Tell her I wish her joy in her new state, and hope for the pleasure of saluting her in Charleston, where many who3e ambi- tion will be to make her happy will rejoice to see her. If the call should happen by any means to miscarry, pray look upon this as one, and do not engage until you receive a duplicate of that already sent. I wish you great grace, and am Yours in Jesus, Oliver Hart. 1 Mr. Stelle was the son of Benjamin Stelle, a worthy magistrate, who for many years was pastor of the Piscataway Church. Upon the death of his father in 1759, Isaac succeeded to the pastoral office, continuing in it until his death in 1781. His son Benjamin was educated at the Hopewell Academy, and graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1766. He came to Providence soon after- wards and established a Latin School, as is learned from a letter of President Manning to David Howell. The late Hon. Nicholas Brown, as has been previously noted, married a daughter of Mr. Stelle for his second wife. 38 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. I. An account of the Rev. John Gano, to whom Mr. Hart here alludes, and whose name so frequently recurs throughout these pages, who was so intimately associated with Manning in his efforts to promote the cause of sound learning and ministerial education, may fitly close this chapter. He was regarded by Baptists in his day as a " star of the first magnitude," a "prince among the hosts of Israel." Possessed of superior natural talents and a great knowledge of human nature, he adapted himself with singular readiness to the varied circumstances of his eventful life. His ancestors were Huguenots. Francis Gerneaux, as the name was originally spelled, was his great-grandfather. He escaped from the island of Guernsey during the bloody persecution that arose in consequence of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and, arriving in this country, settled at New Rochelle, where he died at the extraordinary age of one hundred and three years. John was born at Hopewell, New Jersey, July 22, 1727. He was therefore Manning's senior by eleven years and upwards. His parents were eminently pious, and from his earliest years he was faithfully instructed in the great principles of religion. At the age of twenty-eight he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Stites, who proved to be a most agreeable com- panion, and an efficient auxiliary to his usefulness. Eleven children — seven sons and four daughters — were the fruits of this union; one of whom, Dr. Stephen Gano, was for a period of thirty-six years (1792- 1828), the honored and efficient pastor of the First Baptist Church in Providence. In June, 1762, the First Baptist Church in New York, consisting of twenty-seven members dismissed for this purpose from the Scotch Plains Church, was organized, and Mr. Gano became its pastor. Here he continued for a quarter of a century, excepting the time he was absent from the city in consequence of the war. During his ministry the church was greatly prospered, receiving by baptism upwards of three hundred members. Mr. Gano early espoused the cause of his country in the contest with Great Britain. At the commencement of the war he joined the standard of freedom in the capacity of Chaplain to General Clinton's New York brigade, and by his preaching and example contributed not a little to 1756-1763. AND MANNING. 39 impart a determined spirit to the soldiers. Though his duties were peaceful he did not shun scenes of danger. Headley, in his " Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution," says : — " In the fierce conflict on Chatter- ton's Hill, Mr. Gano was continually under fire, and his cool and quiet courage in thus fearlessly exposing himself, was afterwards commented on in the most glowing terms by the officers who stood near him. " In speak- ing of his conduct on this occasion he himself modestly says : — " My sta- tion in time of action I knew to be among the surgeons, but in this battle I somehow got in the front of the regiment, yet I durst not quit my place for fear of dampening the spirits of the soldiers, or of bringing on myself an imputation of cowardice." Headley further states that when he " saw more than half the army flying from the sound of cannon, others abandoning their pieces without firing a shot, and a brave band of six hundred maintaining a conflict with the whole British army, filled with chivalrous and patriotic sympathy for the valiant men that refused to run, he could not resist the strong desire to share their perils, and he eagerly pushed forward to the front." Mr. Gano continued in the army till the conclusion of the war. On the 19th of April, 1783, Washington proclaimed peace from the "New Building" at Newburg, and the patri- otic Chaplain, in the presence of the Commander-in-Chief, offered up a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to the Almighty Ruler of the Universe. In 1788 Mr. Gano left his Society in New York, and removed to Kentucky. He died at Frankfort, in 1804, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. Hon. Charles S. Todd, formerly Ambassador from the United States to Russia, in a communication to the Rev. Dr. Sprague, says : — "Well do I remember the venerable and imposing appearance which he used to make, as he walked the streets, and how everybody respected him, both as a Christian gentleman and a minister of the Gospel." "He was in person," says the Rev. Dr. Furman, " below the middle stature, and, when young, of a slender form ; but of a vigorous constitution, well fitted for performing active services with ease, and for suffering labors and privations with constancy. In the more advanced stages of life his body tended to corpulency. His presence was manly, open, 40 BROWN UNIVERSITY. Chap. I. and engaging. His voice was strong and commanding, yet agreeable, and capable of all those inflections which are suited to express either the strong or tender emotions of an intelligent, feeling mind. ' ' Memoirs of Mr. Gano, written principally by himself, were published in a small duodecimo form in 1806. This is now a very rare book, and much sought after. He was one of the first trustees of Rhode Island College, and as such rendered good and efficient service. Cathcart has a fine likeness of him in his "Baptist Encyclopaedia," from which the accompanying portrait is taken. John Gano. CHAPTER II. 1763-1769. Manning's first appearance in Rhode Island in behalf of the College — Stopped at New- port while on a voyage to Halifax — Accompanied by Rev. John Sutton, afterwards an assistant to the Rev. Samuel Winsor of Providence — Motion for the College made to prominent Baptists, and a meeting to discuss the subject held at Col. John Gard- ner's house —Account of Colonel Gardner — Sketch of the proposed College pre- sented by Manning at an adjourned meeting, and the Hon. Josias Lyndon and Col. Job Bennet appointed to draw a Charter to be laid before the next General Assem- bly — Designs of the friends of the College nearly frustrated by "secret contri- vances " — After three sessions of the General Assembly, Charter finally granted at an adjourned session, held in East Greenwich, on the last Monday in February, 1764 — Manning and Edwards present at these sessions — Charter now the Constitu- tion of Brown University — Remarkably liberal in its provisions — Necessary to locate the College in the beginning where the President could receive a support as the Pastor of a Church — Warren the place selected — Members of the church in Swansea about to form a separate church in Warren — Preparations made to build a meeting-house — Manning received a call dated Feb. 17, 1764, " to come over from New Jersey and settle amongst them " — Arrival in Warren — Formation of the Baptist Church, Nov. 15, 1764 — Covenant — Imposition of Hands — Call of the Church to Manning — Latin School commenced — First meeting of the Corporation held in New- port in 1764 — Second meeting held in 1765 — Manning elected President — Brief account of the members — Extracts from the records — First student, William Rogers, of Newport, matriculated — Sketch of his character and life — Letter from Isaac Backus to the Rev. Dr. Gill, of London, commending Manning as a teacher of youth and the President of the College — Extract from Backus's history — Letter from Manning to David Howell about to graduate at Princeton, inviting him to come to Warren — Sketch of the life and character of Howell, the first Tutor and Professor of the College — Morgan Edwards requested by the Corporation to go to England and solicit funds for the College — Account of his mission — Subscription book preserved among the Library archives — Parsonage-house built by a lottery — Formation of the Warren Association in 1767 — Plan drawn by Manning — Records of the early meet- ings — Noah Alden — Efforts put forth in behalf of religious freedom — Standing Committee on Grievances — Manning's prominence both in the Warren and the Phil- adelphia Associations — Circular Letter by Manning — Meeting of the Corporation for 1769 held in Warren— First Commencement— Red-letter day in the history of the College — Candidates dressed in American manufactures — Stamp Act — Discussion of American Independence a prominent feature of the Commencement exercises — Description of the first Latin sheet or broadside — Alphabetical arrangement of the 6 42 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. names of the candidates in contrast with that of Harvard — Brief biographies of members of the graduating class — Oration of William Rogers — Sketches of Richard Stites, James M. Varnum, William Williams, and Charles Thompson — Thompson's Valedictory Address. During the year that elapsed after his ordination and marriage, Manning traveled through the Colonies, in order to ascertain from per- sonal observation the real state of religion, and to prepare himself for the great work upon which he had now entered. No record is left to indicate the extent or to exhibit the incidents of his journeyings. From his "Narrative," which we shall give in full in connection with the his- tory of the charter, and from subsequent events, it appears that he sailed to Halifax, and from thence returned through the New England Colonies, attending the several sessions of the Rhode Island Legislature during the discussions upon the charter, visiting Providence, his future home, and also Warren, where he was soon to be settled as a pastor. He was accompanied, it is stated, by the Rev. John Sutton, a member of the Scotch Plains Church, and an early graduate of the Hopewell Academy. 1 Several years previous to this time Mr. Sutton had preached and baptized converts in Newport, Nova Scotia. He was afterwards, says Edwards, settled in Nova Scotia from 1766 until 1770. On his return to the Jerseys, after his settlement, he stopped at Providence, where he was an assistant to the Rev. Mr. Winsor six months, preach- ing for the church " to good acceptance." This we learn from the records, and also from Knight's "History of the Six Principle Bap- tists." 1 This statement was made to the author many years ago, by the Rev. Dr. Benedict, and other members of the Gano family. It probably came from Mrs. Manning, who resided with her nephew, Dr. Gano, after the death of her husband. She died in 1815. It is more than probable that she also accompanied her husband on this voyage to Halifax. In the sketch of the College found among the papers of Judge Howell, and given in Appendix B to President Sears's Centennial Discourse, it is stated that John Sutton accompanied Manning on his voyage to Halifax, touching at Newport, in the summer of 1763. (See Centennial Discourse, pages 63-64.) Among the Manning papers is a let- ter from the Rev. Oliver Hart, of South Carolina, Nov. 14, 1764, in which he refers to a letter from Rev. Mr. Simpson, in answer to a call from the people at Halifax. This letter Mr. Hart sent to Manning, with a request that he would forward it in the " best and speediest manner you can." It is evident that Manning's visit to Halifax in the summer of 1763 had reference in some way to the Baptist interest in that place. 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 43 In the month of July, 1763, the vessel in which they had embarked for Halifax stopped at Newport, Rhode Island. It was at this time, says Manning, using his own words, that he " made a motion to several gentlemen of the Baptist denomination, whereof Col. John Gardner, the Deputy Governor was one, relative to a Seminary of Polite Litera- ture, subject to the government of the Baptists. The motion was prop- erly attended to which brought together about fifteen gentlemen of the same denomination to the Deputy's house." Who these " fifteen gentlemen of the same denomination" were we have no means of positively knowing. Among them without doubt were the three pastors of the Baptist Churches, Edward Upham, Gardner Thurston, and John Maxson. Colonel Gardner was surely present, for the meeting was at his house. So also the Hon. Josias Lyndon and Col. Job Bennet, for they were appointed a committee to draw up a charter and present it to the Legislature. Governor Samuel Ward, so his biographer states, was present. So doubtless were Doct. Thomas Eyres, a graduate of Yale, and the first Secretary of the Corporation, Simon Pease, Peleg Barker, John Tanner, John Warren, and John Tillinghast. These were all Baptist Trustees and Fellows, and were present at the first meeting of the Corporation in 1764. Colonel Gardner, beneath whose hospitable roof was held this first meeting in Rhode Island relative to the College, was a man venerable in years and prominent in society, being not only Colonel and Deputy Governor, but also Chief Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature, now called the Supreme Judicial Court. He was a son of Joseph and Catherine (Holmes) Gardner, and a descendant of the celebrated Rev. Obadiah Holmes, who was publicly whipped for his religious opinions by the authorities at Boston. He died in 1764. The inscription on his tomb in the New- port graveyard reads as follows : — To the memory of the Honorable John Gardner, Esq., this tomb is dedicated. He changed this life for one more glorious, on the 29th day of January, 1764, in the 69th year of his age. His death was to the community the loss of a useful and worthy member; to his disconsolate wife and numerous offspring a loss irreparable. He was a loving and indulgent husband, as well as a tender and affectionate parent, and remarkable for 44 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. his affable and courteous deportment to all men. While young he devoted himself to the service of his country, in which he was advanced to many posts of the greatest trust, which he discharged with honor and fidelity. He was early received into the Baptist Church, in the communion of which he remained a worthy member till his death. His life was exemplary, and few men had a more extensive charity for Christians of every denomination. In his last hours he bore his sickness with patience and resignation, a glorious presage of his future happiness. And we trust that he is now at rest in the mansions of bliss, with his Redeemer and the spirits of just men made perfect. In accordance with the suggestion of Colonel Gardner, Mr. Man- ning was requested to draw a sketch of the design, and the meeting was adjourned until the day following. "That day came," says Man- ning, "and the said gentlemen, with other Baptists, met in the same place, when a rough draft was produced and read, the tenor of which was, that the Institution was to be a Baptist one, but that as many of other denominations should be taken in as was consistent with the said design." This appears to have met the approval of the brethren present, "and accordingly," Manning continues, "the Hon. Josias Lyn- don and Col. Job Bennet were appointed to draw a charter to be laid before the next General Assembly, with a request that they would pass it into a law." The " next General Assembly" met by adjournment in Newport on the first Monday in August. The manner in which the designs of the friends of the College were nearly frustrated by what Backus terms "secret contrivances and some other attempts against it," will be shown in detail in a succeeding chapter. After two sessions of the General Assembly held in South Kingstown, one in October, 1763, and one in January, 1764, and after much opposition on the part of cer- tain Congregationalists and their friends, a charter reflecting the liberal sentiments of the Colony, and of the Baptist denomination at large, was finally granted, at an adjourned session held in East Greenwich, on the last Monday in February, 1764. "After much and warm debate," says Judge Jenckes, " the question was put and carried in favor of the charter by a great majority." The final result was largely due doubt- less to the personal influence of Manning and Edwards, who it appears were present at these several sessions. Manning, the future President, 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 45 was now twenty-five years of age, of a fine, commanding appearance, and polished address. He was known as a superior scholar, having recently been graduated from Princeton with the second honors of his class. His physique was large and imposing, his person was graceful, and his countenance handsome and remarkably expressive of sensibility, dignity, and cheerfulness. He possessed, moreover, a voice of extraordinary compass and harmony, to which, in no small degree, may be ascribed the vivid impression which he made upon other minds. His manners, too, were those of a refined gentleman, combining ease without negli- gence, dignity, grace, and politeness without affectation. Mr. Edwards, the "first mover" in the enterprise, is described by all his biographers as a man of wonderful magnetic influence, inspiring with enthusiasm all with whom he came in contact. Such were our leaders at this crisis in the history of the College. How much influence Bishop Berkeley, whose name has been mentioned by prominent writers in this connec- tion, had in the matter, does not to the writer's mind yet appear. He had resided in Newport thirty-two years previous to this time, from Feb- ruary, 1729, until September, 1731, with the pious intention of convert- ing the American Indians to Christianity by means of an Episcopal college to be established in one of the Bermuda islands. This charter, which gives to the Baptists, or as they are further desig- nated, "Anti-Pedopaptists," the control, or in the words of Manning, " the lead in the Institution," is now regarded as the "unalterable consti- tution of Brown University." However severely it may be criticised by the Baptists of to-day for its remarkable, and in the minds of some, excessive liberality, it is very evident that no other charter could have been obtained one hundred and thirty-two years ago ; and furthermore, that no strictly sectarian college could have succeeded, at least for the time being, under the exclusive patronage of a despised and oppressed denomination, having only seventy regularly organized churches in all the thirteen colonies, with a membership of perhaps five thousand. Our fathers were wise in their day and generation ; and they well deserve our gratitude and praise, for their wise and persistent efforts to found an institution of learning. 46 BKOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. II. But though the Colony of Rhode Island had been selected for the College, and a charter reflecting her liberal and well known sentiments in religious concernments had been secured, no town stood at first pre- pared to welcome it in its infant state, without students, without funds, and with no certain means of support. To the projectors and friends of the enterprise it seemed necessary and desirable that it should be located where the President, like the revered principal of the Hopewell Academy, should be the pastor of a church, in order that he might thus be the better able to rally around him the friends of the College, and by preaching obtain for himself and family a support. The three churches in Newport were already provided with competent pastors, viz., the Rev. John Maxson, who was a Seventh-day Baptist, the Rev. Edward Upham, who was a graduate of Harvard College, and the Rev. Gardner Thurston, whose meeting-house and congregation, according to Edwards, were the largest of any connected with the denomination in New England. The church at Providence, although founded by Roger Williams, and the oldest Baptist church in America, 1 had never been accustomed to contribute liberally toward the support of a pastor. In point of fact it did not believe in paying for preaching. With only one hundred and eighteen members, living widely apart, with a small and uncomfortable meeting-house, opposed to singing in public worship, and clinging to many prejudices and customs, which it after- wards threw off under the enlightened teachings of Manning, it offered but feeble encouragement in the outset to a seat of learning. Moreover, it was already provided with a pastor, the Rev. Samuel Winsor, son of a former pastor of the same name who had been ordained in 1733. Together they two, father and son, had the oversight of the church for thirty-seven years. 1 This has been the claim of the church and society from the beginning. In the words of a com- mittee appointed to review the claims of the Newport Church to priority of date : " The priority, in age, of the First Church, in Providence, has been asserted by the unanimous voice of Baptists and others. The story has been told by father to son, and handed down through thousands of the families of this State and land, without change. The earliest chronicles have recorded it. It has been woven into every history which was ever written of the State, or of the denomination." Cal- lender, Hopkins, Edwards, Stiles, Backus, Arnold, Staples, the records of the church and the records of the society, all are at one on this point in our ecclesiastical history. 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 47 Warren, a thriving town on an arm of the Narragansett Bay, ten miles from Providence, seemed to meet all the requirements in the* case. Here were nearly sixty Baptist communicants, the majority of whom were members of the venerable church in Swansea, three miles away. 1 With this church they and their forefathers had in former years found association and comfort. Under the care of the Rev. Jabez Wood, it was now, according to Backus, in a declining state. The population of Warren was moreover rapidly increasing, and it became obvious that the time had arrived when these communicants could best secure their religious welfare by forming themselves into a separate and independent body, instead of continuing as a branch of the mother church. *' Papers,' ' says Spalding in his centennial discourse, 2 " have recently come to light which make it clear, that as early as 1762, before the College was pro- jected at Philadelphia, the purpose had been formed to build a meeting- house in Warren." One of these papers, dated Feb. 14, 1763, is a bill against " the meeting-house " for dragging a stick of timber "through the great swamp." The house, says Morgan Edwards, writing in 1771, "was erected in 1763, on a lot fifty rods square, purchased by the con- gregation." Ministers, according to Edwards, occasionally visited the place and baptized, particularly Rev. Gardner Thurston, who may have communi- cated these facts to Manning on his visit to Newport in the summer of 1763. There are no records to show when Manning first visited Warren. Perhaps he made it his home during the several sessions of the Leg- islature, when the charter was under discussion, preaching as opportu- nities offered. The members of the Legislature from Warren, it may be added, were prominent members of the Baptist congregation. It is certain that he received his call to Warren just previous to the final vote at the session in East Greenwich. The records state that "the congregation at Warren gave the Rev. James Manning a call to come 1 The oldest Baptist Church in Massachusetts. Founded in 1663 by the celebrated John Miles, who, in 1662, was ejected from the living in Ilston, in Wales, by the Act of Uniformity. 2 Centennial Discourse on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the First Baptist Church in War- ren, R. I., Nov. 15, 1864. By A. F. Spalding, A. M., Pastor of the Church. 8vo. Providence, 1865. 48 BKOWN UNIVEKSITY Chap. II. over from New Jersey and settle amongst them." This was dated Feb. 17, 1764, and signed by their Committee, Sylvester Child, Ebenezer Cole, and John Wheaton. This call Manning accepted: Accordingly we read in Hezekiah Smith's diary, 1 under date of Wednesday, April 11, 1764: — "With Mr. Manning and his wife embarked for Newport, in Rhode Island, with Captain Stephen Wanton. Arrived on Friday." Mr. Manning proceeded at once to Warren, leaving Mrs. Manning for the time in Newport. Again we read in the diary, under date of Sat- urday, April 21st: — "Went to Warren with Mrs. Manning, Esquire Coles, Captain Wheaton, and Mr. Lillibridge." A parsonage house was built for the pastor later on. His zeal and eloquence soon attracted a large and flourishing congregation. The fruits of his ministry were apparent, and believers in Christ were publicly baptized. In a few months it was unanimously agreed by all who desired to come into fel- lowship as a church in Warren, to have a covenant or plan of union, the church in Swansea, says Spalding, dismissing twenty-five members for this purpose. On the fifteenth day of November, 1764, a church of fifty-eight members was duly organized and constituted. By previous appointment, they had engaged the Rev. John Gano, of New York, the Rev. Gardner Thurston, of Newport, and the Rev. Ebenezer Hinds, of Middleborough, to assist in the proposed undertaking. The day was kept in the solemn exercise of fasting and prayer. "In the forenoon," says the record, "Mr. Thurston preached a sermon, and after a short intermission of service, the people returned, and Messrs. Gano, Man- ning, and Hinds, each made a prayer suitable to the occasion, after which the church covenant, previously prepared by Mr. Manning, was presented and read." This covenant, the original of which, in Manning's handwriting, was in the possession of the Rev. J. P. Tustin, at the time of the dedication of the new church edifice, we copy from an appendix to Mr. Tustin's discourse : — 2 1 Chaplain Smith and the Baptists, page 42. 3 Discourse delivered at the Dedication of the new Church Edifice of the Baptist Church and Society in Warren, May 8, 1845. By Josiah P. Tustin, Pastor. 18mo. Providence. H. H. Brown, 1845. 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 49 Whereas we, unworthy sinners, through the infinite riches of free grace, as we trust, Drought out of darkness into the marvellous light of the gospel, and the grace of it, transformed into the kingdom of God's dear Son Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour, and made partakers of all those privileges which Christ purchased with his precious blood, think it our duty, and the greatest privilege we can enjoy here on earth ho walk in all the commandments and ordinances, not only for our own comfort and peace, but for the manifestation of the glory of God and for the mutual help and society of each other ; and as it hath pleased God to appoint a visible church relation, to be the way and manner whereby he is pleased to communicate to his people the blessings of his presence, a growth in grace, and furtherance in the knowledge of our Lord God — We, therefore, this day, after solemn fasting and prayer for help and direction, in the fear of his Holy name, and with hearts lifted up to the most high God, humbly and freely offer up ourselves a living sacrifice unto him who is our God; in covenant, through Jesus Christ, to walk together according to his revealed Word, in visible gospel relation, both to Christ our only head and to each other as fellow-members and brethren of the same household of faith. And we do humbly engage, that, through his strength, we will endeavor to perform all our respective duties toward God and each other, and to practise all the ordinances of Christ, according to what is and shall be made known to us in our respective places ; to exercise, practise, and submit to the government of Christ in this church. And we declare that it is our mind that none are properly qualified members of this Christ's visible church, but such as have been wrought upon by the grace of God, deliv- ered from their sins by the justifying righteousness of Christ, and have the evidence of it in their souls, have made profession thereof, that is, of a living faith in Christ, and have been baptized by immersion, in the name of the Holy Trinity. Further, it is our mind, that the Imposition or Non-Imposition of Hands upon believers, after baptism, is not essential to church communion, and that where the image of Christ is discerned, according to the rules of God's word, and those previous duties but now mentioned are submitted to according to gospel rules, we are ready to hold communion with all such walking orderly in the church of Christ. And now we humbly hope, that although of ourselves we are altogether unworthy and unfit thus to offer up ourselves to God, or to do him any service, or to expect any favor or mercy from him, yet that he will graciously accept of this our free-will offering, in and through the merits and mediation of our dear Redeemer, and that he will employ and improve us in his service to his own praise, to whom be all the glory both now and forever. Amen. This covenant may be regarded as the creed or constitution of the 7 50 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. church. The paragraph relating to the Imposition or Non-Imposition of Hands upon believers after baptism, deserves consideration. The doc- trine of "Laying on of Hands," referred to in Hebrews vi. 2, was prac- tised, it appears, by the Scotch Plains Church, and by all the churches in Rhode Island at this time, they being called Six Principle Baptist churches. When in 1652 some of the members of the Providence church withdrew from the parent body, under the leadership of Thomas Olney, they were called Five Principle Baptists, because they rejected the doc- trine. Manning did not believe in the rite, and yet, with a large Christian charity, he yielded to its practice as a non-essential when requested. "This rite," says Spalding, 1 " which so troubled the Rhode Island churches, now generally conceded to have been connected with the supernatural gifts of the Holy Ghost, was quietly laid aside, and has never disturbed our church. At a meeting one month after its formation, the records say, 'Mrs. Sarah Throop came under the Imposi- tion of Hands, being conscious of duty.' Few, if any other instances of the rite are on record." After the members had signed the foregoing covenant, " they were asked by the Rev. Mr. Manning, ' ' continues the record, " whether they, in the presence of that assembly, viewed that as their covenant - and plan of union in a church relation, which question was answered by them all in the affirmative, standing up " ; after which three of the brethren, Samuel Hix, Amos Haile, and John Coomer, in behalf of the church, presented to Mr. Manning a call to become their pastor. The call was read publicly by Mr. Gano, and formally accepted by the pastor elect. The solemnities of the day were closed by a sermon from Mr. Gano, who reminded both pastor and people of their respective duties, and urged the mutual performance of both, from those important motives which the nature of the relation requires. Manning's first call, it will be observed, was from the congregation, "to come over from New Jersey and settle amongst them." His second call was from the church. We present it in full as an interesting part of our narrative : — 1 Centennial Discourse, page 15. 1768-1769. AND MANNING. 51 The Church of Christ in Warren, in the Colony of Rhode-Island, haptized upon a personal profession of faith, holding the doctrines of regeneration, perseverance in grace, etc., heing constituted and organized a church this 15th day of Novemher, 17G4, present to the Rev. James Manning, late of Nassau Hall, in New Jersey, their Christian salutation : Reverend and Dear Sir: Inasmuch as God in his Providence hath seen fit to give us an opportunity of being constituted a church of Christ, that we may according to the pattern showed us in the Gospel, partake of the ordinances which Christ hath left in his church, and walk together as brethren in Christ, and his Apostles having instructed us that ordained pas- tors are those that are to feed his people with knowledge, and administer ordinances amongst them, we do this day unanimously request that you would accept this our call to the work of a pastor over and amongst us, having been fully satisfied heretofore of your call and ordination in the work of the ministry in a regular church of Christ in Elizabethtown, East Jersey, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Benjamin Miller. And as we are of the opinion that they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel, we do here declare our intention to render your life as happy as possible by our brotherly conduct towards you, and communicating our temporal things to your necessities so long as God in his Providence shall continue us together ; your acceptance hereof we humbly hope will be a means under the Divine blessing of our mutual furtherance and growth in grace. Thus we prefer our request and subscribe your brethren, John Eastobrook, \ Benjamin Cole, ] Sylvester Child, t , , ., \ In behalf John Child, \ Ebenezer Cole, /of the whole > John West, \ William Eastobrooke. / The first step taken by Manning in reference to the College was to open a Latin School, with an ultimate view to college instruction. This School, which soon became flourishing, he continued to teach personally 1 See Tustin's Dedication Discourse, pp. 171-173. 52 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. or superintend for many years, in connection with his professional duties as pastor of the church and President of the College. It was removed to Providence in 1770, and, upon the completion of the build- ing now called University Hall, to rooms in that building. In 1810 a brick house for its accommodation was erected by friends of the Col- lege, under the direction of a committee of the Corporation consisting of Thomas P. Ives, Moses Lippitt, and Thomas L. Halsey. It is now called the University Grammar School, and is taught by the principals, Emory Lyon and Edward A. Swain, they having the entire control and responsibility of its management. This School has been from the begin- ning an efficient auxiliary to the College or University. In a manu- script volume belonging to Manning, which has recently come into our possession, are the following entries, which are of special interest in this connection : — " William and Daniel Rogers returned to School Novem- ber 17, 1765. Samuel Ward returned November 28, 1765. John Den- nis, John Coomer, and Joseph Rogers began School the 1st day of May, 1766. Reuben Mason began May 5, 1766. William Bradford and Samuel Miller, May 12, 1766. Richard Stites began the 20th of June, 1766. August 11, 1766, received of Dr. William Bradford three Spanish milled dollars, it being for one quarter's schooling for his son William, Jr. James Manning." The first meeting of the " Corporation for founding and endowing a College or University within the Colony of Rhode Island and Provi- dence Plantations in New England in America," was held at Newport, on the first Wednesday in September, 1764. At this meeting the fol- lowing gentlemen, twenty-four in number, as appears from the records, were present, and qualified themselves by taking the oath prescribed by the charter; namely, Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Hon. Joseph Wanton, Hon. Samuel Ward, John Tillinghast, Simon Pease, James Honeyman, Nicholas Easton, Nicholas Tillinghast, Daniel Jenckes, Nicholas Brown, Joshua Babcock, John G. Wanton, Rev. Edward Upham, Rev. Jere- miah Condy, Rev. Gardner Thurston, Rev. John Maxson, Rev. Samuel Winsor, Rev. James Manning, Josias Lyndon, Job Bennet, Jr., Eph- raim Bowen, Edward Thurston, Jr., Thomas Eyres, and Peleg Barker. 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 53 The Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq., was chosen Chancellor, John Tilling- hast, Esq., Treasurer, and Doct. Thomas Eyres, Secretary. The form of a certificate, authorizing persons to receive donations for the College, was adopted, and also the form of a receipt therefor. A "Preamble" was adopted, setting forth the nature and design of the Institution, and its need of funds. Committees to receive subscriptions for the College were appointed throughout Rhode Island, in the Southern and Western parts of the continent, and in the states of Massachusetts and Connecti- cut. Committees were also appointed to provide a seal for the use of the Corporation, and to assist in digesting and recording the proceed- ings of the meeting. The second annual meeting of the Corporation was held in the Colony House at Newport, on the first Wednesday in September, 1765. At this meeting Manning, in the quaint language of the records, was formally appointed " President of the College, Professor of Languages and other Branches of Learning, with full power to act immediately in these capacities at Warren, or elsewhere." It would seem from the phraseology of this vote, that there was in the minds of the Corporation an uncertainty in regard to the permanent location of the College. This appears prominent in the records of all future meetings, until the removal to Providence. Manning's friend and classmate from Haverhill was present at this meeting, and was elected a member of the Board of Fellows. He was now on his way to New Jersey, in company with one of his parishioners, Capt. John White. His journal reads as follows : — "Tuesday, September 3d, 1765. We went to Newport and stayed at Col. Bennet's till Saturday. Wednesday and Thursday I was with the Corporation, which sat upon the College business, and on Thursday I was elected one of the Fellows. Mr. Manning was chosen President the same day. We, although but a part of the Corporation, subscribed for the building and the endowing of the College, nineteen hundred and ninety-two dollars." 1 Whatever else may have been lacking in these early days, there was evidently no lack of faith on the part of the guardians and friends of the College. 1 Chaplain Smith and the Baptists, page 97. 54 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. It is interesting to observe the character and standing of the men, who, at this second and most important meeting of the Corporation, formally elected Manning President of the Institution which, under the auspices of the Philadelphia Association, he had happily succeeded in founding. Of the four religious denominations recognized in the char- ter, the Congregational] sts alone were unrepresented. The reason for this will be apparent in the progress of our narrative. The Episcopa- lians were represented by Governor Joseph Wanton and the Hon. James Honeyman, both residents of Newport, and gentlemen of culture, wealth, and high social position. The former was elected Governor in the year 1769. Previous to this he had been Deputy Governor. He continued to fill the office from year to year, with great acceptance, until 1775, when he was suspended by the General Assembly for disloyalty. Mr. Honeyman was the son of the Rev. James Honeyman, Rector of Trinity Church, Newport. He was an able lawyer and a prominent politician, filling many high offices. In 1742 he was appointed " King's Attorney." For many years he was Advocate General of the Court of Vice Admiralty for the Colony, having been appointed to this office by the British Government. The Quakers or Friends were represented by the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Nicholas Easton, John G. Wanton, and Edward Thurston, Jr. No name is more prominent in the history of this period than that of Hopkins, and few men of any period have exerted so wide an influence upon the destinies of the country. For nearly forty-five years, as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Associate and Chief Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature, Governor of the State, and Representative to Congress, he was engaged in some kind of public official duty. His name appears among the signers of the Declaration of Independence. 1 The office of Chancellor, to which he was elected at the first meeting of the Corporation, he held until his death, in 1785, a period of twenty-one years. He was a warm personal friend of Manning, and by his unwearied zeal, extensive learning, and genuine love of litera- > " Stephen Hopkins, a Rhode Island Statesman," by William E. Foster, is a noble contribution to our biographical literature. It forms a part of the series of " Historical Tracts " published by Sidney S. Rider. 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 55 ture, proved a most efficient coadjutor in all the plans and efforts of the latter for the advancement of the interests of the College. We shall have frequent mention of him in succeeding chapters. In a letter to Dr. Rippon, of London, Manning, referring to his decease, describes him as ' ' for many years Governor of the Colony, and one of those distin- guished worthies who composed the First Congress. He was one of the greatest men our country has reared." Mr. Wanton was an opulent merchant of Newport, and related by blood and marriage to the wealthi- est and most |>opular families in the Colony. The name of Nicholas Easton appears in Arnold's History of Rhode Island, as a member of the General Assembly from Middletown, in the year 1776. He was a physician, and a direct descendant of Governor Nicholas Easton, one of the pioneer settlers of Newport. Mr. Thurston, who also represented the Quakers, continued a Trustee eighteen years, and served on impor- tant committees. He was a descendant of Edward Thurston, of New- port, who was treasurer of the Colony from 1709 until 1714. The latter had two sons, Edward, who died Nov. 14, 1735, and Gardner (born Nov. 14, 1721, died May 23, 1802,) who was pastor of the Third Baptist Church. Edward, who died in 1735, had a son named Edward, who was born about the year 1732. This must be the one whose name appears in the early records of the Corporation as Mr. Edward Thurston, Jr. The remaining twenty-one members of the Corporation who were present at this meeting were Baptists, seven of them being Fellows. They were from the towns of Newport, Providence, Warren, and West- erly in Rhode Island, and from Boston, Haverhill, Middleborough, New York and Philadelphia. Manning, as the elected President, was chair- man of the Board of Fellows, and guided, we may suppose, the delibera- tions of the body. The duties of a Fellow which Hezekiah Smith now assumed, he conscientiously discharged with rare ability and zeal. For a period of forty years, or until his decease, he attended the annual meet- ings of the Corporation, and also the Commencements, having been absent, as appears from his diary as well as from the College records, but twice in all that time. And this, too, although he lived seventy miles away, and was obliged in every case to come and go, either on horseback 56 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. or in his own chaise. In the year 1769, by special vote of the Corpora- tion, he left his home in Haverhill and travelled eight months in South Carolina and Georgia, soliciting funds for the Institution. During the war, when the College was closed, he was with the American army as a Brigade Chaplain, and was present in important battles. Washington corresponded with him and gave him his confidence and respect. His diary 1 from 1762 when he was graduated, until 1805, when he died, is a most important record of the times in which he lived, and invaluable for historical illustration and research. He was an acknowledged leader among the Baptists, and a prominent man in the community. The Rev. Samuel Stillman, who at first had been a Trustee, was at this meeting elected a Fellow. This office he also held until his death, a period of forty years. He, too, was punctual in his attendance upon all the meetings of the Corporation, cheerfully exerting his great influence in aid of the various interests of the College. In January of this year he had been installed as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Boston. He was a man of learning and culture, and as a preacher exceedingly popular, having, it is asserted, no superior in New England. Among his admirers were President Adams, General Knox, and John Hancock, the latter of whom was for a time a member of his congrega- tion. No clergyman of the day, it is said, was so much sought after by distinguished strangers who visited the New England metropolis. In the early times there was a "Commencement sermon" at the close of the day, and crowds of people were wont to flock to the spacious Bap- tist meeting-house to hear "the great man of Haverhill," or the "elo- quent Stillman of Boston." Doct. Thomas Eyres, the first Secretary of the Corporation, was the son of Rev. Nicholas Eyres, and a graduate of Yale College. He was a practising physician, and a member of Mr. Thurs- ton's church. The Rev. Edward Upham, pastor of the First Church in Newport, was a graduate of Harvard College, in the class of 1721. Doct. Joshua Babcock was a leading man in Westerly, and had held various public offices of responsibility and trust, including that of Judge 1 See " Chaplain Smith and the Baptists." 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 57 of the Superior Court of Judicature. In 1775 he was appointed Major- General of the Rhode Island militia. Morgan Edwards was also present as a member of the Board of Fellows. Of the twenty-two Baptist Trustees, as the charter provides, fourteen, according to the record, were present at this meeting, viz. : The Hon. Samuel Ward, Nicholas Brown, Col. JobBennet, Judge Daniel Jenckes, the Rev. Gardner Thurston, the Rev. John Maxson, the Rev. Samuel Winsor, the Rev. John Gano, the Hon. Josias Lyndon, John Tillinghast, Peleg Barker, Simon Pease, Nicholas Tillinghast, and the Rev. Isaac Backus. Ward, the political opponent of Hopkins, and the popular Gov- ernor of Rhode Island during the years 1762, 1765, and 1766, was one of the most influential members of the famous Congress of 1774. His life, written by Professor Gammell, is published in Sparks's American Biography; Brown was the oldest of the " Four Brothers," whose names are so prominent in connection with the early history of the College, and the growth and development of the town of Providence ; ' Lyndon was a resident of Newport, and a man of influence. In 1768 he was elected Governor by an overwhelming majority of nearly fifteen hundred ; Ben- net was the intimate friend of Manning and Smith, frequently enter- taining them beneath his hospitable roof. In the list of Judges his name frequently appears as Associate Judge of the Superior Court. He was now a prosperous merchant, doing business, according to adver- tisements in the Newport Mercury, on Thames street, and having the military title of Colonel ; Jenckes was one of the most influential men of Providence. A sketch of him will be found in a subsequent chapter on the charter ; Thurston has already been mentioned as the pastor of the Second Baptist Church, having, according to Edwards, the largest Baptist congregation in New England. He was, it is stated, an inti- mate friend and associate of the learned Dr. Stiles ; John Tillinghast was the first Treasurer of the College, serving three years until 1767, when he was succeeded by Colonel Bennet ; Gano has already been 1 For a biographical sketch of these brothers, including the inscriptions on their several tomb- stones, see " Manning and Brown University," pp. 143-176. 58 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. mentioned as Manning's brother-in-law, and one of the great "lights" in the Baptist denomination ; Backus, who was soon to be prominent as the historian of New England, and the agent of the Baptist churches, in connection with the " Committee on Grievances " of the Warren Asso- ciation, was now the popular and useful pastor of a church in Middle- borough. We shall frequently have occasion to refer to him in the progress of our narrative. The following are extracts from the records of this meeting : — Resolved, That a seal for the College he procured immediately by the Rev. Samuel Stillman, at Boston, with this device : — Busts of the King and Queen in profile face to face; underneath, George III., Charlotte; round the border, the seal of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in America. At the next annual meeting Mr. Stillman's account was presented and allowed, and the sum of ten pounds and thirteen shillings was ordered to be paid him by the Treasurer. The seal was of silver. Con- tinuing our extracts : — Resolved, That Nicholas Brown be appointed to receive subscriptions for the College in Providence. Resolved, And the Secretary is hereby directed to preserve the seniority of the respective members in both branches of this Corporation, by inserting those re-elected immediately after those who have legally qualified themselves within the time limited, and afterwards those chosen at this meeting, and so from time to time. Resolved, That Rev. John Gano be requested and duly authorized to receive sub- scriptions in any part of America. Resolved, That Rev. Hezekiah Smith be appointed to receive subscriptions at Haver- hill, and Mr. Solomon Southwick at Dartmouth. Resolved, That Honorable Samuel Ward, Honorable Joseph Wanton, Jr., James Honeyman, Esq., Rev. Edward Upham, Rev. Gardner Thurston, Mr. Edward Thurs- ton, Jr., and the Secretary (Doct. Eyres) be a committee to transact the necessary affairs during the recess of this Corporation. Here we have the beginnings of the Executive Committee, which has always been a prominent feature of the Corporation. 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 59 • The day previous to the annual meeting which we have here described, Tuesday, September 3d, Manning matriculated his first college student, William Rogers, a lad of fourteen, from Newport. This we learn from an interesting paper in his hand-writing preserved on file, entitled, "A Matriculation Roll of the number of students in Rhode Island College, with the time of their admission, up to 1769." The second student matriculated according to this document was Manning's brother-in-law, Richard Stites. The entry reads, "Richard Stites, entered June 20, 1766, from Elizabethtown, N. J." From Sept. 3, 1765, until June 20, 1766, a period of nine months and seventeen days, young Rogers was therefore the only student in College, constituting the entire Freshman class. He was graduated with honor in 1769, and afterwards attained to distinc- tion as a preacher, a chaplain in the army, and a man of letters. If, among her "first fruits," Trinity College, of Dublin, may boast of her Archbishop Usher, and Harvard College of her Dr. Woodbridge, Rhode Island College may also boast of her Dr. Rogers, as the first student who enrolled his name upon her records, and as one whose character and life reflect the highest honor upon his revered instructor and the Institu- tion over which he presided. A brief biographical sketch may not be regarded as inappropriate in this connection : — William Rogers. William, the second son of Capt. William and Sarah Rogers, was born in Newport, Rhode Island, on the 22d of July, 1751. Having finished a preparatory course of study under the care of the Rev. Aaron Hutchinson, a Congregational minister of Grafton, Massachusetts, he entered Rhode Island College at the early age of fourteen, one day previous to the meeting of the Corporation when Manning was elected President. He was graduated in 1769, having for his subject an oration on benevolence, in which, says the reporter, "among other pertinent observations, he particularly noticed the necessity which that Infant Seminary stands in for the salutary effects of that truly 60 BROWN" UNIVERSITY Chap. II. Christian virtue." 1 After graduating he engaged for awhile in teach- ing in the place of his birth. While thus employed, during the year 1770, he became a subject of renewing grace, and was baptized by the Rev. Mr. Thurston, being received as a member of the church, his biographer states, "by prayer, and the Imposition of Hands." This fact is mentioned as an illustration of the views and usages that then pre- vailed in the Baptist churches of Rhode Island. Very soon he gave evidence of talents that would qualify him for enlarged usefulness. President Manning, in referring to the first graduates of the College, in a letter to Dr. Stennett, of London, under date of June 5, 1771, thus writes respecting Rogers : — " One of the youth, graduated at our first Commencement, who is thought to be savingly brought home by grace, has joined Mr. Thurston's church in Newport, and appears eminently pious. As soon as his age will admit, for he is quite a youth, he will be called to the work of the ministry, with hopes of his making a distin- guished figure in the pulpit. He bears the greatest resemblance to Mr. Hezekiah Smith of any person I know, and I hope he will make such another son of thunder." His reading from this time on was chiefly on theological subjects, though he still indulged, to some extent, his taste for scientific studies. In August, 1771, he was called and licensed to preach, by the church of which he was a member ; and in December following, in consequence of earnest solicitations from Morgan Edwards, and others, he relinquished his charge as principal of the academy in Newport, and removed to Philadelphia. Here he continued preaching on probation until March, 1772, when he received a unanimous call to succeed Mr. Edwards as pastor of the Baptist Church. He accepted the call, and was ordained on the 31st of May following, not yet having attained his majority. The sermon on the occasion was preached by the Rev. Isaac Eaton, of Hopewell, from the words : — "And who is sufficient for these things ? " It proved to be the last sermon that Mr. Eaton ever preached, while the text was the first upon which Mr. Rogers preached. It pleased the i The orations of this graduating class are preserved in manuscript, and are in the possession of the writer. Mr. Rogers's Oration, and the Valedictory Address are given at the close of the present chapter. 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 61 Lord graciously to bless his labors among this people, and before the close of the year he baptized upwards of thirty, mostly young persons, including Miss Hannah Gardner, a highly accomplished young lady of eighteen, whom he afterwards married. He continued his labors as a pastor until the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, when patriot- ism led him to engage in the service of his country. The General Assembly of Pennsylvania, having in March, 1776, voted three battalions of foot for the defence of their Province, appointed Mr. Rogers their Chaplain. In June, 1778, he was promoted to a Brigade Chaplaincy in the Continental army, which office he continued to hold until June, 1781, when he retired from military service alto- gether. 1 He was in intimate relations with the prominent actors of the Revolution, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the Command- ing General. He was an honored member of the Masonic Fraternity, and frequently addressed them on public occasions. 2 In March, 1789, he was appointed Professor of Oratory and Belles-Lettres in the College and Academy of Philadelphia ; and in April, 1792, he was elected to the same professorship in the University of Pennsylvania. He received the degree of Master of Arts in 1780, from Yale College, and also from the College of New Jersey six years later. From the University of Pennsylvania he received, in 1790, the honorary degree of Doctor in Divinity. The following pleasant account of Dr. Rogers, as given by an English gentlemen, in a letter dated New York, June 25, 1793, we take from Evans's Life of Richards. 3 The writer was travelling through the country with a view to final settlement. The extract serves to illus- trate Rogers's social character, and also gives an agreeable view of Gen- eral Washington in his private relations : — 1 His " Journal of a Brigade Chaplain in the Expedition against the Six Indians, under command of Major-General John Sullivan," with notes by the publisher, Sidney S. Rider, constitutes No. 7of Rhode Island Historical Tracts. Small 4to. Providence, 1879, pp. 136. s He delivered a Fourth of July Address before the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati, of which he was a member, in 1789 ; which address was printed in full in the Providence Gazette, January 2 and 9, 1790. A prayer before the same Society, delivered Feb. 22, 1800, was published by particular request. It is advertised in Rippon's Baptist Register, Vol. 3, page 202. 3 Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Rev. William Richards, LL. D., by John Evans, LL. D., of Islington. 12mo. Chiswick, 1819. 62 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. After travelling through an extreme pleasant country, we arrived at Philadelphia, and waited on Dr, Rogers. Dr. Rogers is a most entertaining and agreeahle man, and received your letter with much pleasure. We were with him a great part of the time we remained in the city, and were introduced by him to General Washington. The General was not at home when we called, but, while we were talking with his private secretary in the hall, he came in, and spoke to Dr. Rogers with the greatest ease and familiarity. He immediately asked us up into the drawing-room, where was Lady Washington and his two nieces. When we were seated, the General called for wine and cake, of which we partook, he drinking our "health, and wishing us success in all our undertakings." The General asked us a number of questions respecting the situation of things in Europe, to all which we answered, you may be sure, in our best manner. It is his general custom to say little ; but on this occasion we understood he was more than usually talkative. He made one remark, which, under the circumstances in which it was delivered, has a peculiar energy — "that we had chosen a happy country , and one large enough!" After sitting about half an hour, we retired, highly gratified with having conversed with the first character of the age. The last years of Dr. Rogers were spent in dignified retirement, and in the diligent cultivation of pious and devout feelings. He was con- nected with various benevolent organizations, and during the years 1816 and 1817 was a member of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania. He died in Philadelphia, April 7, 1824, at the age of seventy-three. The First Baptist Church, as a testimony of its veneration and regard, erected a handsome monument to his memory. As a preacher, says the late Dr. Sharp, 1 he was highly evangelical, advocating and ably defend- ing the doctrines of the Reformation as held by a Watts, a Doddridge, and multitudes of others. Notwithstanding his attachment to evangeli- cal principles, he was remarkably liberal in his feelings, for he truly loved all good men. In illustration of this, it may be stated, that during one year, soon after the close of the war, he received invitations from three very important churches, and of as many different denominations, in the states of Maryland, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, either to sup- ply the pulpit steadily, or to settle as pastor. One of these invitations was from the Episcopal Church of St. John's, in Providence. The invi- 1 Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit, Vol. VI. 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 63 tation was given, of course, with a proviso, as will be seen by a refer- ence to Updike's History of the Narragansett Church. Dr. Rogers was of the middle size, and in his habits and manners was more than ordinarily refined. In seasons of relaxation he was agreeably facetious. He was very active, and walked with the agility of youth, until within a few weeks of his decease. In the circle of his family he was almost worshipped. A fine picture of him, executed by his daughter, Miss Eliza J. Rogers, from an original portrait by Rembrandt Peale, graces the collection in Sayles Memorial Hall. He was twice married. His first wife, a daughter of William Gardner, died of the yellow fever, in 1793. His second wife, who survived him, was a daughter of Joseph Marsh, of Philadelphia. A younger brother, Daniel, a pupil of Manning's Latin School in Warren, was a successful merchant in Newport. He died in August, 1792, in the fortieth year of his age. An obituary notice, copied from the Provi- dence Gazette, is published in Rippon's Register. Another brother, Robert, was graduated from the College in 1775. He was an officer in a Rhode Island regiment during the war, and afterwards was principal of a classical school in Newport. Washington Allston was one of his pupils. For twenty years he was secretary, treasurer, and librarian of the Redwood Library, and from 1788 until his death in 1835, a period of forty-seven years, he was a Fellow of Rhode Island College, afterwards Brown University. A son of his, William Sanford Rogers, of Boston, founded in 1870 a scholarship, and dying two years later, bequeathed to Brown University the sum of fifty thousand dollars to found the " New- port-Rogers Professorship of Chemistry. ' ' This he did, as he expressed it in his will, in memory of his father and his uncle who had both been graduated from the College. Thus the memory of the first student will forever be perpetuated in the annals of science. The following advertisement, which we take from the Newport Mer- cury of June 20, 1768, may fitly close this sketch. It shows the posi- tion of the father of the first student of the College, and contains an allusion to Judge Gardner's house, where the first meeting for the founding of the College was held : — 64 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II, William Rogers, of Newport, on the north side of the Parade, opposite the Town School House, takes this method to acquaint his customers and others, that he has newly supplied his shop with a very large and general assortment of English and India goods, directly from London, via Boston; which he will sell as cheap as can he had at any shop in the Government, for cash : — And he will take in pay for any of said goods tryed tallow, hayherry-wax, striped flannel, and tow cloth, at cash price. N. B. Said Bogers has to sell, a large double house and lot, situated on the north side of the Parade, opposite to Governor Lyndon's, forty feet front and forty-five feet deep, on a cross street, next to the late Deputy Governor Gardner's ; with another house on said lot sixteen feet front on said cross street, and forty feet long, which he will dis- pose of at very reasonable terms on good security. For further particulars inquire of said Bogers. The accompanying portrait of Dr. Rogers is taken from an engraving in Rippon's Baptist Register, and is dated April, 1797. In the super- scription he is styled "Professor of English, and the Belles-Lettres, in the University of Pennsylvania." A letter addressed by Backus to the Rev. Dr. Gill, of London, an extract from which we here present, illustrates Manning's position at this time, as a pioneer in introducing polite literature or learning among the Baptists of New England. The writer was already known as an author, having commenced publishing his discourses and controversial tracts as early as 1754. Gill was the acknowledged leader among his brethren throughout Great Britain. As a learned commentator on the Old and New Testaments his reputation was world-wide : — One grand objection made use of against Believer's Baptism, has been that none but ignorant and illiterate men have embraced the Baptist sentiments. And there was so much color for it as this, namely, that ten years ago there were but two Baptist minis- ters (Jeremiah Condy, of Boston, and Edward Upham, of Newport,) in all New England who had what is called a liberal education ; and they were not clear in the doctrines of grace. But three others have lately come from the Southern governments ; namely, Mr. Samuel Stillman, who is settled in Boston ; Mr. Hezekiah Smith, who has had remarkable success in Haverhill, where he has gathered a large society; and Mr. James Manning, who is settled at Warren, R. I. And as the Baptists have met with a great deal of abuse from those who are called learned men in our land, they have been not a little prejudiced against learning itself; but, latterly, there has been considerable alter- William Rogers, 1763-1769. AND MANNING. . 65 ation in this respect. A charter was obtained from the General Assembly of Rhode Island in February, 1764, incorporating a number of Trustees and Fellows, for founding and endowing a College for the education of youth (of which you will be likely to hear more in due time) ; and this Corporation, at their annual meeting, last September, chose the aforesaid Mr. Manning President. He has commenced a school, which appears in a likely way to increase fast. But as there are scarce any books suitable for such busi- ness to be sold in that Colony, he has thought of sending to London for a quantity ; and as he is unknown there, he requested that I would write a few lines in his favor. Therefore, my dear sir, if my poor testimony may be thought worthy of any notice, I desire that you would mention to Mr. Keith, to whom he has thoughts of sending, that, from near two years' acquaintance with him, I am well satisfied that he is a man of piety, integrity, and ability, who will make conscience of fulfilling his engagements. I remain, sir, your humble servant, Isaac Backus. Another extract from Backus may not be regarded as inappropriate in this connection, as it throws light on the early history of the College. In his examination of nine sermons preached by Joseph Fish, of Ston- ington, against Baptists and Separatists, he shows the difference between true and false learning. 1 In answer to the charge made by Mr. Fish, that a learned and able ministry was held by them in light esteem, he replies : — Several who have formerly sent their sons to college have been disappointed, as the clergy have found means to draw them over to their party ; which has discouraged others from sending their sons. And the Baptists in general have been so much abused, by those who boast of their Learning, that it is not strange if many were prejudiced against such men ; yet they have had some that the world calls learned men, from the beginning; and lately have begun a College of their own which bids fair to increase. (The charter for it was granted in February, 1764, by the General Assembly of Rhode Island Colony ; and Mr. James Manning, of Warren, is now President thereof.) But I hope they may never imagine to confine Christ or his church, to that, or any other human school for ministers. 1 "A Fish caught in his own Net. An Examination of Nine Sermons, from Matt.xvi. 18. Pub- lished last year by Mr. Joseph Fish, of Stonington, wherein he labors to prove, that those called Standing Churches in New England, are built upon the Rock, and upon the same principles with the first fathers of this country; — And that Separates and Baptists are joining with the Gates of Hell against them. By Isaac Backus. Pastor of a Church of Christ in Middleborough." 12mo. Boston. Printed by Ecles & Gill, 1768, pp. 129. 9 66 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. The first of the letters from Manning's pen that have been pre- served was written to Miss Stites while he was a student in College, a brief extract from which is given in our first chapter. The second is specially interesting, as indicating the way in which the Honorable David Howell came to be so intimately connected with the College. We give it entire. He was now a member of the Senior class at Princeton, and about to graduate from that institution : — Sir: — I some time ago received a line from you by Mr. Stelle, in which you requested my advice relative to your destination when you have done with college. I was glad to find that you had not yet determined upon any place or employment, because I was desirous that you should make a visit to these parts before your settle- ment. But to give advice, without having some prospect of advantage, I should think imprudent ; and indeed the matter is important, for if it should not succeed according to your wishes, you might entertain hard thoughts of me. However, at present it appears to me that you cannot do better than to visit Rhode Island. The success Mr. Stelle has met with encourages me. He has a Latin school in the town of Provi- dence of nearly twenty scholars, and may have more if he finds himself able to manage them. I believe he gives good satisfaction, and is much esteemed by the gentlemen of the town. I thought when he came here that he would much more readily have found employ in Newport; and although the people there were for making the attempt, yet he chose first to see Providence, whither I accompanied him. They would not, however, consent that he should go back, but immediately employed him ; so that if you are disposed to keep a school, I imagine one may easily be obtained in Newport. I would gladly invite you to come and live in my family, if the infant state of our College could promise you proper encouragement ; but at present it is hardly to be expected, although in the revolution of a year it will doubtless need more help. Upon the whole, I think if I were in your circumstances, as near as I can judge, I should come ; and I would advise you to see me before you engage anywhere. A taste for learning is greatly upon the increase in this Colony. Mr. Stelle can give you a more particular account of matters in these parts, as he will be with you at Commencement ; and if you can get your affairs in readiness, he will be your company over. After telling you my family is well, as also your friend Stites, etc., I bid you farewell, wishing you the best blessings of heaven, and that I may have the pleasure of waiting upon Mr. Howell at the house of Sir, your humble servant, James Manning. Warren, July 14, 1766. 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 67 Agreeably to President Manning's advice, Mr. Howell came to War- ren, and was at once associated with him as Tutor in the College. In 1769 he was appointed Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philoso- phy, which position he occupied until the breaking up of the College in consequence of the Revolutionary War. In addition to the regular studies of his professorship, he taught the French, German, and Hebrew languages. For thirty-four years he was Professor of Law, although he never delivered any lectures in connection with this department of instruction. He was fifty-two years a member of the Board of Fellows, and for many years was Secretary of the Corporation. He was thus intimately connected with the College during a large portion of his protracted life. On several occasions, after President Manning's decease, he presided at the College Commencements, and delivered to the graduating classes Baccalaureate addresses, which were greatly admired. He practised law in Providence for many years, and was regarded as the leading member of the Rhode Island bar. Under the Confederation he was a member of Congress, and he subsequently filled, with great ability, several high offices, civil and judicial. In 1812 he was appointed United States Judge for the District of Rhode Island, and this office he sustained until his death, in 1824. " Judge Howell," says Professor Goddard, "was endowed with extraordinary talents, and he superadded to his endowments extensive and accurate learning. As an able jurist, he established for himself a solid reputa- tion. He was, however, yet more distinguished as a keen and brilliant wit, and as a scholar extensively acquainted not only with the ancient, but with several of the modern languages. As a pungent and effective political writer, he was almost unrivalled ; and in conversation, what- ever chanced to be the theme, whether politics or law, literature or theology, grammar or criticism, a Greek tragedy or a difficult problem in mathematics, he was never found wanting. Upon all occasions which made any demands upon him, he gave the most convincing evi- dence of the vigor of his powers, and of the variety and extent of his erudition." 1 To all this may be added extraordinary physical powers, 1 Memoir of Rev. James Manning, page 6. 68 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. and a majestic, dignified presence. Such was the intimate friend and early academical associate of Manning. The following are in brief his various titles and positions, as given in the recently published "Historical Catalogue " of the University: — He received the degree of A. B. from the College of New Jersey in 1766 ; the degree ai A. M. from Rhode Island College in 1769, and from Yale University in 1772 ; the degree of LL. D. from Rhode Island College in 1793 ; he was Tutor, 1766-69 ; Professor of Natural Philos- ophy, 1769-79 ; Professor of Jurisprudence, 1790-1824 ; Acting Presi- dent, 1791-92 ; practising Lawyer in Providence ; Member of the Congress of Confederation, 1782-85 ; Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island, 1786-87 ; Attorney General, 1789 ; Commis- sioner for settling the boundaries of the United States ; District Attor- ney ; United States Judge of Rhode Island District, 1812-24 ; Member of the Board of Fellows, 1773-1824 ; Secretary of the Corporation, 1780-1806. He was born in New Jersey, January 1, 1747 ; died in Providence, July 21, 1824. Mr. Howell married Mary, only daughter of Jeremiah and Waitstill (Rhodes) Brown. One of his daughters, Waitstill, was married to Ebenezer Knight Dexter, who, dying without issue, left his large estate to his native town. The Dexter Asylum, Dexter Training Ground, Dexter Lots, and the Dexter Donation Fund, are the enduring memo- rials of his munificence. The city erected a monument to his memory in the North Burial Ground, on the spot where his remains are interred. Through the generosity of a private citizen, the Hon. Henry C. Clark, a statue of Ebenezer Knight Dexter has recently been erected on the Dexter Training Ground. The following in reference to Tutor Howell appears in the records of the annual meeting of the Corporation for September, 1767 : — The Reverend President's conduct for the year past, and his engaging Mr. David Howell as a Tutor, is approved of, and the amount of his account for engaging him was allowed, heing twenty-five pounds, lawful money, which was ordered to be paid. David Howell. 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 69 The following appears as a part of the record for September, 1768 : — Resolved, That Mr. David Howell be a Tutor of the College. Voted, That the salary of Mr. Howell as Tutor be £72 lawful money, and that he collect the tuition money as it becomes due as part of said salary. Voted, That the sum of £23 lawful money be paid by the Treasurer to President Manning for the board of his Assistant. At the annual meeting of the Corporation held in Warren, Sept. 8, 1769, as appears from the records, " Mr. David Howell was elected Pro- fessor of Philosophy in this College." The accompanying likeness is from a portrait in Sayles Memorial Hall. This portrait was copied by J. S. Lincoln from one by Col. John Trumbull in the picture of "Washington resigning his Commission to Congress," in the Rotunda of the Capitol at Washington. Trumbull painted from a sketch from life taken in 1793. The Latin School was now flourishing, and already there were six members of the college class. These facts, and the coming of Mr. Howell to Warren to identify himself with the infant Institution, inspired Morgan Edwards with renewed confidence, and led him to leave his family and church for a time, and devote himself to the raising of funds in the land of his birth and education, for the payment of the President's salary. In accordance with an offer to this effect, a special meeting of the Corporation was held in Newport, Nov. 20, 1766, when it was voted : — " That the Reverend Morgan Edwards be requested and duly authorized to go to Europe and solicit benefactions for tins Institution, and that the thanks of this Corporation be returned him for his generous offers." It was also voted at this meeting, "That the President return the thanks of this Corporation to Dr. Thos. Llewelyn (of London) for his donation of a pair of Globes for this Institution. The following "authorization" for Mr. Edwards we copy from the records : — By the Honorable Samuel Ward, Esquire, Vice-Chancellor, and the Reverend James Manning, President ©f the College or University in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America. To the 70 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. Reverend Morgan Edwards, A. M., of the City of Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsylvania, Greeting: — "Whereas, The General Assembly of the Colony aforesaid, did, by an act passed at their session held on the last Monday in February, 1764, incorporate certain persons therein named into one body corporate and politic; and granted them a charter, authorizing and empowering them and their successors to found, endow, order, and govern a College or University within said Colony, as in and by the said charter, refer- ence thereto being made will fully and clearly at large appear: And whereas, the Cor- poration of said College or University, reposing special trust and confidence in your abilities and integrity, and convinced of your disinterested zeal and ardor for promoting and completing the design of the General Assembly, did, at their meeting held by authority of, and agreeable to their charter, at Newport, in the said Colony, on the day of the date hereof (Nov. 20, 1766,) unanimously resolve, that you, the aforesaid Morgan Edwards, should be requested and empowered to proceed to Europe to solicit and receive donations for the aforesaid purpose : These are therefore to authorize and empower you to proceed with all convenient speed to Europe, and in any part of his Majesty's dominions, or elsewhere, to urge, solicit, and receive from the friends of use- ful literature, and other well disposed persons, donations and benefactions for the founding and endowing the College or University aforesaid : For all which donations and benefactions you are to be accountable to the Treasurer of said Corporation for the time being ; your reasonable charges and expenses in soliciting the same being first deducted. In testimony whereof, etc. With this authorization duly signed, and the seal of the Corporation affixed, Mr. Edwards set out on his mission in the month of February following. .He returned during the latter part of 1768, having been absent from home nearly two years. From his account which he pre- sented to the Corporation, it appears that he obtained for the College the sum of X888 10s. 2d. sterling, or about five thousand dollars ; which, he remarks in his narrative, was succeeding "pretty well, con- sidering how angry the mother country then was with the colonies for opposing the Stamp Act." On this point he thus writes to Manning, under date of London, April 26, 1768: — "Your newspapers, and letters from your Government, published in other papers, have hurt me much. You boast of the many yards of cloth you manufacture, etc. This raises the indignation of the merchants and manufacturers. I 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 71 have been not only denied by hundreds, but also abused on that score. My patience, my feet, and my assurance are much impaired. I took a cold in November, which stuck to me all winter, owing to my tram- poosing the streets in all weathers." An account of these subscriptions forms an interesting chapter in the "Documentary History of Brown University," (pages 148-171). The original subscription book is preserved among the archives of the Library. It was presented to the Library in the year 1849 by Joshua Edwards, a son of Morgan, through his pastor, the Rev. Richard Webster, of Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania. The donor was then living, though upwards of eighty years of age. The signatures, it may be remarked, are genuine. Among them we notice the subscriptions of the Hon. Thomas Penn, of London, £20; Thomas Llewelyn, Esq., £31 10s. ; Samuel Roffey, Esq., £21; Benjamin Franklin, £10 10s. ; Benjamin West, <£10 10s. ; the Rev. Doctors Gill, Stennett, Gifford, and Gibbons ; Thomas Hollis and Timothy Hollis ; Hugh and Caleb Evans of Bristol, etc. It is an interesting fact that Mr. Edwards's first subscriptions were obtained in Ireland, in the towns and cities of Cork, Waterford, Dublin, Belfast, Lisburn, Antrim, Ballymony, Coleraine, Londonderry, Newry, Westmeath, and Ormond. 1 The meeting-house to which reference has been made, which was erected before Manning's call to Warren, served a most important pur- pose in bringing together beneath its roof the friends of religion and learning. And now a parsonage was needed, not only for the accom- modation of the pastor and his family, but also, as in the case of the parsonage at Hopewell (a cut of which is given in our previous chapter), for the use of the pupils of the Latin School, and the students of the *At the semi-annual meeting of the American Antiquarian Society, held in Boston, April 24, 1895, Dr. Samuel S. Green read an able and instructive paper on " The Scotch-Irish in America," showing that after the English Revolution of 1688, a steady stream of Scotch Presbyterians had poured into Ireland, and that large numbers of these Presbyterians emigrated in the eighteenth century to America. Dr. Green showed that these emigrants constituted an important part of our population, and that they had always been on the side of popular education and religious liberty. In the remarks that followed the reading of this paper, the writer referred to the subscriptions for the College obtained in Ireland by Morgan Edwards. See Proceedings of the Society, Vol. 10, pages 7-8. 72 BEOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. College. A popular method of raising money for religious, charitable, and educational purposes in these early times, not only in Rhode Island but throughout all the colonies, as legislative records amply show, was by means of lotteries, duly sanctioned and properly managed. Grad- ually they came to be managed by knaves and speculators, for private ends, and eventually, in accordance with the changed sentiment of the public respecting them, they were abolished. It is interesting to read the following notice which Mr. Tolman, in his recent "History of Higher Education in Rhode Island," 1 has copied from the Newport Mercury for Oct. 5, 1767 : — Scheme of a Lottery granted by the General Assembly of the Colony of Rhode Island, etc., for raising one hundred and fifty pounds lawful money ($500), to be applied towards finishing the Parsonage house belonging to the Baptist Church in Warren, and rendering it commodious for the reception of the pupils who are or who shall be placed there for a liberal education. . . . It is hoped that the extraordinary expense of that infant society in building a new meeting house and parsonage house, as far as the build- ing is advanced, together with the immediate necessity of room for the pupils under the care of the Rev. Mr. Manning, and the great encouragement for the adventurers, there being but little better than two blanks to a prize, will induce those who wish well to the design speedily to purchase the tickets. It was about this time that Manning conceived the plan of uniting the Baptist churches of New England in an association, in order to promote their harmony and growth, to resist more successfully acts of oppression on the part of the "Standing Order" in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and especially to disarm his brethren of all existing preju- dices against human learning, to which Backus in his letter to Dr. Gill refers, and thus to advance the best interests of the College over which he presided. The Baptists of Rhode Island at this time, with the excep- tion of the church in Warren, were called "Six Principle Baptists," and were united in an organization called the " Rhode Island Yearly Meeting." Knight in his history 2 states that this Meeting, in 1764, the i United States Bureau of Education. Circular of Information. No. I. 1894. * History of the General or Six Principle Baptists in Europe and America. Published under the patronage of the Rhode Island Yearly Meeting. By Richard Knight, Pastor of the church in Scituate. 8vo, Providence, 1827. 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 73 date of the College Charter, consisted of the following churches, viz. : Providence, Newport, Swansea, North Kingstown, Richmond, Tiver- ton, Rehoboth, Groton, New London, Smithfield, Scituate, Warwick, South Kingstown, Cumberland, East Greenwich, Cranston, Coventry, and perhaps some others. In the process of time some of these churches have become extinct, while others have ceased to maintain their peculiar organization. It was Manning's wish to unite all the churches of his faith and order in an association similar to the one in Philadelphia, of which he was a member, which was simply advisory in its character, having respect to the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom by spreading through the churches an account of the welfare and prosperity of each. The undertaking was of no ordinary magnitude. The government of Baptist churches had been from time immemorial, as now, of the inde- pendent form, each particular church having an exclusive right of juris- diction over its own members, electing and dismissing its own officers, and transacting all its business by final issue within itself, without appeal to any power on earth, either civil or ecclesiastical. It had always been the belief of the Baptists that civil government, however desirable and necessary for civil purposes, had nothing to do with Christ's kingdom, which is spiritual, and not of this world, and nothing to do with the visible church, which is subject to Jesus Christ alone as the head thereof. Hence they regarded all synods, conventions, asso- ciations, and councils to decide religious controversies, revoke acts of particular churches, inflict censure, form platforms, and prepare articles of faith, as useless and antagonistic to the independency of the churches ; as having more or less respect to the civil state, and so par- taking too much of the carnal wisdom of this world. Outside of Rhode Island they had suffered too much from measures adopted at such councils and conventions of the Congregational ministers of Massachu- setts and Connecticut, to be easily persuaded to meet in the form of a permanent organized body, lest perchance they might seem to be following the example of their Congregational brethren. From the journal of Hezekiah Smith it appears that Manning was 10 74 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. in Haverhill, Boston, Newport, and other places in the spring of 1766, conferring with his brethren in the ministry, and that in August fol- lowing Smith spent a week in Warren. Naturally the matter was pre- sented to the members of Manning's church. The first official mention of an association appears in the records of the church under date of Aug. 28, 1766, when it was voted, "That an association be entered into with sundry churches of the same faith and order, as it was judged a likely method to promote the peace of the churches." Doubtless the matter was discussed during the meeting of the Corporation held in Newport the month following. The next meeting of the Corporation was held in Newport Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1767. Mr. Smith records in his journal : — Sat with the Corporation of the College till Thursday. Thursday evening preached in Mr. Thurston's meeting-house, from Solomon's Song, 1:4. Sat. Sept. 5. Preached in Mr. Maxson's pulpit, from John 31 : 20. Sabbath, Sept. 6. In the forenoon I preached in Mr. Upham's pulpit, from Rom. 5: 1, in the afternoon in Mr. Thurston's pulpit from Solomon's Song, 5 : 2, and in the evening again for Mr. Thurston. Mon. Sept. 7. Went to Warren. Tues. 8. Met with a number to form a regular association. Mr. Gano from New York preached a sermon upon the occasion at the opening of the meeting. Wed. 9. Mr. Manning's church at Warren, Mr. Hinds's at Middleborough, Mr. Alden's at Bellingham and ours at Haverhill, formed an association. The same evening I preached from Prov. 3: 17. Manning, Smith, Noah Alden 1 , and Ebenezer Hinds, four illustrious names, deserving for this act alone to be held by the denomination in grateful and lasting remembrance ! i The Rev. Noah Alden, whose name frequently occurs in connection with Smith, Manning, and Stillman, was a lineal descendant from the famous John Alden of Plymouth. He was born in Middleborough, in 1725. In 1753 he became a Baptist, and shortly afterwards he was ordained as pastor of a church in Stafford, Conn. In 1766 he was installed as pastor of a church in Bellingham, where he remained until his death in 1797. " He was," says his biographer, Dr. Fisher, " for many years one of our most distinguished and honored ministers, and his name deserves to be held in grateful remembrance." He frequently presided at the meetings of the Warren Association, and rendered good service in the cause of religious freedom. He was a delegate to the Convention which met in September, 1780, for the purpose of framing a new State Constitution, and moved to have the third article of the famous Bill of Rights, which was at first intended to give rulers power in religious matters, recommitted. " The motion," says Backus, " was concurred with, and he was elected the chairman of a committee of seven upon that Article." He thus became in one 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 75 Mr. Backus, who was chosen Clerk, thus commences the minutes of the meeting : — Whereas there hath of late been a great increase of Baptist churches in New England, which yet have not such an acquaintance with each other and orderly union together as ought to be, it has been thought by many that a general meeting or associa- tion might be a likely means to remove this evil, and to promote the general good of the churches. Therefore a number of elders, being occasionally together last year, did appoint a meeting at Warren, in Rhode Island Colony, on Sept. 8, 1767; and sent an invitation to others of their brethren to meet them there, to confer upon these affairs. Accordingly a considerable number of elders and brethren met at the time and place appointed ; and Elder John Gano, from New York, opened the meeting with a suitable sermon, from Acts xv. 9. Eleven churches were represented at this meeting by pastor and delegates, as follows ; namely, Warren — Rev. James Manning, and brethren Benjamin Cole and Daniel Brown ; Second, Rehoboth — Rev. Richard Round, and brethren Samuel Bullock and Daniel Bul- lock ; Haverhill — Rev. Hezekiah Smith, and brethren Jacob Whittier and Jonathan Shepard ; Norton — Rev. William Carpenter ; Belling- ham — Rev. Noah Alden ; First, Middleborough — Rev. Isaac Backus ; Second, Middleborough — Rev. Ebenezer Hinds ; Cumberland — Rev. Daniel Miller ; First, Boston — Dea. Josiah Colburn; Second, Boston — Brother Philip Freeman ; Attleborough — Brethren Abraham Bloss and Joseph Guild. There were also present from the Philadelphia Associa- tion, Rev. Messrs. John Gano, Abel Griffith, and Noah Hammond. Mr. Gano was chosen moderator, and, after looking to Heaven for guidance and direction, they proceeded to the business before them. The occasion, as we may well suppose, was one of unusual interest. Although the delegates in attendance " generally manifested," says the historian, " a good will toward this attempt for promoting the union sense the author of a provision in the Massachusetts Constitution, which was greatly in advance of the governments of his time, and was characterized by Dr. Paley in his Political Philosophy, published in 1785, as the best arrangement for the legal maintenance of a clergy that had yet been proposed. The Rev. Dr. Edward E. Hale, in an instructive discourse upon the Centenary of the Massachusetts Constitution, delivered in January, 1880, has drawn especial attention to this fact. Mr. Alden was also a prominent member of the Convention that in 1788 adopted the Constitution of the United States. The name of Ebenezer Hinds frequently occurs in the pages of Backus. 76 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. and welfare of the churches, most of them thought they were not pre- pared to join an association." Four only of the churches represented were ready to make the venture. The others hesitated, through fear perhaps of some usurpation of authority, by the associated body, over the particular churches composing it. Moreover, they were not alto- gether satisfied with the sentiments and plan of organization adopted at this time, which were substantially those of the Philadelphia Asso- ciation. These were afterwards modified by President Manning, and in 1769 were adopted as a final basis for organization and action. As such they have been continued with few changes down to the present time. They read as follows : — Sentiments Touching an Association. 1. That such a combination of churches is not only prudent, but useful, as has appeared even in America by the experience of upwards of sixty years. Some of the uses of it are, union and communion among themselves ; maintaining more effectually the order and faith once delivered to the saints ; having advice in cases of doubt, and help in distress; being more able to promote the good of the cause, and becoming important in the eye of the civil powers, as has already appeared in many instances on this continent. 2. That such an association is consistent with the independency and power of particular churches, because it pretends to be no other than an advisory council, utterly disclaiming superiority, jurisdiction, coercive right, and infallibility. 3. That an association should consist of men knowing and judicious, particularly in the Scrip- tures. The reasons are obvious : such men are the Attest to represent communities who profess the Scriptures to be the only rule of faith and practice in religious matters, and who expect that every advice, opinion, or direction they receive from an associa- tion be Scriptural. They should be skilled and expert in the laws of their God, as counsellors are in the laws of the land ; for that is the ground of the church's applica- tion to them. Plan of the Association. 1. The Association to consist only of messengers chosen and sent by the churches. These messengers to be their ministers (for a reason given in sentiment 3), together with some judicious brethren. Their expenses to be borne by the churches which send them. 2. With the messengers the churches send letters addressed to the Association. In these letters mention is made of the messengers, and their authority to act for their 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 77 churches ; also of the state of the churches touching their peace ; their increase by baptism, and by letters dismissive and commendatory from other churches ; touching their diminution by death, excommunication, and dismission to other churches, and the present number of members. If any questions are to be put to the Association, any advice to ask, or business to propose, these are to be expressed in said letters. 3. All matters to be determined in this Association by the suffrage of the messen- gers, except what are determinable by Scripture: such matters are never put to the decision of votes. All that speak are to address the moderator, who is to take care that none be interrupted while speaking, and that no other indecorum take place. 4. Churches are to be received into this Association by petitions setting forth their desire to be admitted, their faith, order, and willingness to be conformable to the rules of the associated body. "When a petition is read, and the matter ripened for a vote, the moderator states the question. Suffrage being given in favor of the petition, the said moderator declares that such a church is received into the Association, in token of which he gives the messengers the right hand of fellowship, and bids thern take their seats. 5. The Association to meet annually, at Warren, on Tuesday next after the first "Wednesday in September, 1 at two o'clock in the afternoon, and to continue till business be finished. It is to be opened with divine service : after which a moderator and clerk are chosen ; the letters from the churches are read; the names of the messengers are written, that they may be called over at after meetings ; then business is attended to, and minutes thereof made ; a circular letter to the churches is prepared and signed, and a copy of it sent to every church, containing the minutes of the Association, the state of the churches, when and by whom vacancies are to be supplied, who is to preach the next Association sermon, and whatever else is needful for the churches to know. 6. A connection to be formed and maintained between this Association and that of Philadelphia, by annual letter and messengers from us to them and from them to us. 7. The faith and order of this Association are expressed in a confession put forth by upwards of a hundred congregations in Great Britain, in the year 1689, and adopted by the Association of Philadelphia in 1742. Some of the principles in said Confession are : — The imputation of Adam's sin to his posterity ; the inability of man to recover himself ; effectual calling by Sovereign grace ; justification by imputed righteousness ; immersion for baptism, and that on profession of faith and repentance; Congregational churches and their independency; reception into them upon evidence of sound conversion, etc. 1 "And as the annual Commencement at our college is on the first Wednesday in September, and some who come to it from a distance would desire to attend the Association also, it was appointed to be on the Tuesday after the Commencement." Backus's Church History, "Vol. 2, page 409, edition of 1871. 78 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. The meeting of the Association for the year 1769, coming after the first Commencement of the College, was rendered unusually interesting by the presence, as messengers from the Philadelphia Association, of Samuel Jones, who had rendered essential service in remodeling and preparing for the Legislature Dr. Stiles's first draft of the charter, and who was the first choice of prominent members of the Corporation in 1791, to succeed Manning in the Presidency; also John Davis and Morgan Edwards, who had but recently returned from England. " Many of the letters from the churches," says Backus, "mentioned grievous oppressions and persecutions from the Standing Order, espec- ially the one from Ashfield, where religious tyranny had been carried to great lengths." Whereupon petitions to the General Courts of Massachusetts and Connecticut for redress were prepared by a commit- tee of seven, of which the Rev. John Davis acted as chairman. The same having been read and approved, Messrs. Samuel Stillman, Philip Freeman, Philip Freeman, Jr., John Proctor, and Nathan Spear, all of Boston, were chosen a committee to present them. Stillman and Spear, it may be added, were members of the Corporation. The following proposal and plan to collect grievances, which we copy from the manuscript minutes of Backus, was also read at this meet- ing and approved: — Whereas, complaints of oppressions occasioned by a non-conformity to the religious establishment in New England have been brought to this Association ; and whereas the laws obtained for preventing and redressing such oppressions have, upon trial, been found insufficient (either through defect in the laws themselves or iniquity in the exe- cution thereof) ; and whereas humble remonstrances and petitions have not been duly regarded, but the same oppressive measures continue: This is to inform all the oppressed Baptists in New England that the Association of Warren (in conjunction with the Western or Philadelphia Association) is determined to seek remedy for their breth- ren where a speedy and effectual one maybe had. In order to pursue this resolution by petition and memorial, the following gentlemen are appointed to receive well-attested grievances, to be by them transmitted to the Rev. Samuel Stillman, of Boston ; namely, the Rev. Hezekiah Smith, of Haverhill, the Rev. Isaac Backus, of Middleborough, Mr. Richard Montague, of Sunderland, the Rev. Joseph Meacham, of Enfield, and the Rev. Timothy Wightman, of Groton, in Connecticut. 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 79 The efforts put forth by Manning and his associates in behalf of sound learning and civil and religious freedom, through the agency of the Warren Association, will be further illustrated in successive chap- ters. Those who may wish to consult fuller and more detailed accounts are referred to Backus's History, Hovey's Memoir of Backus, and "Chaplain Smith and the Baptists," the latter work giving in full the laws of Massachusetts relating to "Anabaptists " from 1728 until Man- ning's time. Gradually the Association won the confidence of the denomination, until in a few years it had extended over New England. By its means mutual acquaintance and harmony were promoted ; the weak and the oppressed were relieved ; errors in doctrine and in practice were exposed and guarded against ; warnings against false teachers in religion were published ; feeble and destitute flocks were provided with preachers ; the College was materially aided and strengthened ; students were encouraged to study for the ministry, and the Gospel was preached in destitute places. During the period of the Revolution it presented able addresses in behalf of civil and religious freedom to the Governments of Massachusetts and Connecticut, and to the Continental Congress. Although, says Arnold, in his History of Rhode Island, it no longer has that intimate connection with the University which at first existed, and the growth of Baptist churches in New England has given rise to numerous other associations of a similar character, the parent body still continues to exert a widespread and beneficent influence over the objects of its charge. The minutes 1 of the Association show that Manning, during the whole period of his connection with it, was one of its most prominent and useful members. By his counsels and personal influence he first 1 The manuscript minutes of the first four meetings of the Warren Association are among the Backus papers, from which they were carefully copied by the late Rev. Silas Hall, a graduate of the College in the class of 1809. To his kindness in placing them at our disposal we are greatly indebted. The minutes were first printed in the year 1771, since which time they have been published without interruption down to the present date. A set, including the aforesaid manuscript minutes, from the meeting of the Association in 1767 down to the present time, is in the College Library. The years 1780 and 1783 are copied from a set in the possession of the late Mr. John Carter Brown ; other- wise the set is complete. 80 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. called it into being. As has already been stated, he drew up the plan of its organization. In the years 1776, 1781, 1784, and 1787, he pre- sided over its deliberations as Moderator. In 1778 and in 1787 he preached the introductory sermon. In 1785 he made the opening prayer. From year to year we find his name on various important com- mittees. He was likewise prominent as a member of the Philadelphia Association, rarely failing, especially during the latter part of his life, to attend its sessions, although thereby subjected to great trouble, expense, and loss of time. He was once clerk, twice moderator, and three times the preacher at its annual meetings. We close this portion of our narrative with the following Circular Letter, presented by him to the Warren Association, and by them adopted at its third meeting in 1769. It affords a happy illustration of the author's temper and spirit, and of his peculiar fitness to guide and instruct his brethren. Circular Letter by Manning. The Elders and Messengers of several churches belonging to the Association, met in Warren, in the Colony of Rhode Island, etc. To the several churches they represent, greeting. Dear Brethren: — We have had the pleasure of meeting your representatives at the Association, who in general have brought us good news from the churches. We rejoice to see that the Son of man is pleased to walk in the midst of his golden candle- sticks, the churches, to dispense his blessings to his people, and to attend the Word of the kingdom with divine power to the salvation of sinners. Come ! help us to magnify the Lord for his unspeakable mercy and goodness ! Yet we find that the enemies of truth are busily employed in endeavoring to subvert it, and in vexing and oppressing those who stand up for the cause of God. Brethren, we sympathize with you under your afflictions, while we call to mind the declaration of your ascended Head to his beloved flock whom he left behind, — In the world ye shall have tribulation. Yet how refreshing is what follows, — But be of good cheer , I have overcome the world. Those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Let not the powers of the world, who set themselves to oppose, discourage you. Search for the mind of Christ in his Word ; which being discovered, pay a sacred regard thereto. Call no man master on earth ; and remember that the followers of Christ carry their cross in imitation of their Divine Master. Brethren, suffer us, however, to beseech you to use all proper means to obtain relief from the burdens imposed upon you, by taking heed to the general plan which we 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 81 as a body propose to pursue. But while you attend to human means, let your cries be incessant to Him who hears and who will redress the cries of the oppressed. Pray for those who despitefully use you. Remember that love enters deeply into the spirit of our holy religion ; and that the glorious Founder thereof has given us the most striking example of it in living and dying for his enemies. Walk soberly and inoffensively toward those without ; and let your conduct prove that it is the power of truth, the force of conscience, that makes you Baptists, and not an affectation of singularity. And as you are persuaded that you have been taught by the Spirit of God, so let your light shine before others that you may win them to the truth. In the meantime, carefully guard against any designs to ensnare you, or to engage you in any combination with them that may eventually prove to the detriment of the cause. Finally, may the Lord Jesus afford you his presence, and bless you with abundant increase in all grace, to the glory of his great name. The sixth annual meeting of the Corporation was held in Warren, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 1769, at which were present twenty-one Trustees and seven Fellows. The first vote recorded reads as follows : — "Voted, That the meeting-house at Warren be fitted up at the charge of the Corporation, in the best manner the shortness of the time will admit, for the reception of the people to-morrow, the day of Commence- ment." This is the house which we have already described, erected in 1763, a small unpainted building, forty-four by fifty-two feet, with a four-sided hip roof, surmounted at the top and centre with a belfry, in which was placed a ship bell, the rope of which hung directly down in the centre of the middle aisle. There was no tower or porch, the front door on the east side leading directly into the audience room. The galleries at this date were not finished. The " fitting up " referred probably to the erection of a platform or stage for the speakers. We find in the records of this meeting the only allusion thus far to the President's salary: — "Ordered, That the Reverend President be paid £50 lawful money, by the Treasurer, out of the interest of the moneys remitted from Europe, as an allowance in part for his services." This vote was subsequently explained more fully by the report of a committee of five appointed to "examine into the state of Mr. Presi- dent Manning's account with the College," They report, in the lan- 11 82 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. guage of the records, " That the said President hath served the Society (College) for three years past and hath received no compensation for the same ; and as by a vote of the Corporation the sum of <£50 lawful money was ordered to be paid the Reverend President out of the inter- est money supposed to be due, we do report it as our opinion, that the said sum ought not to debar him from being recompensed in a more ample manner whenever it shall be in the power of the Corporation to do the same." It was understood, of course, in the beginning that the President would derive his support from the Latin School, and from the church of which he was to be pastor, the infant College having no funds. The first Commencement was held in the meeting-house on Thurs- day, Sept. 7, 1769. This has always been regarded as a red-letter day in the history of the College. Four years had now elapsed since the President, with a solitary pupil, commenced his collegiate duties as an instructor. Through toils, and difficulties, and opposition even, he had quietly persevered in his work, until the Seminary under his care had won its way to public favor. And now his first pupils were about to take their Bachelor's degree in the Arts, and go forth to the duties of life. They were young men of promise. Some of them were destined to fill conspicuous places in the approaching struggle for inde- pendence ; others were to be leaders in the church, and distinguished educators of youth. Probably no class that has gone forth from the College or University in her palmiest days has exerted so widely extended and beneficial an influence, especially in the Baptist denom- ination, the times and circumstances taken into account, as this first graduating class of seven. The occasion drew together a large con- course of people from all parts of the Colony, inaugurating what proved to be a State holiday in the history of Rhode Island. " And as each recurring anniversary," says the historian, "of this time-honored insti- tution of learning calls together from distant places the widely-scat- tered alumni of Brown University, we do but renew, on a more extended scale, the congratulations that crowned this earliest festival." 1 The per- 1 History of Rhode Island, 1636-1790. By Hon. Samuel Greene Arnold, LL.D. 2 vols., 8vo. New York, 1859-60. See Vol. 2, p. 299. 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 83 formances of the day excited universal admiration. " We can readily imagine," says an early graduate, 1 "how the beautiful and benevolent face of President Manning was radiant with smiles on this occasion ; with what joy he beheld the first fruits of his anxieties, and labors, and prayers ; with what glowing eloquence he pours forth, at the throne of grace, the pious effusions of a grateful heart, invoking the blessing of God upon the future efforts of the friends of the infant Institution, and filling every heart with emotion, if not every eye with tears, as, with the affection of a friend and the solicitude of a father, he commended to the care of Heaven those who were about to depart from him, and, at a period of no ordinary moment, to enter a world of temptation and trial." The following account of this " first Commencement," taken from The Providence Gazette and Country Journal, needs no apology for its insertion here. It will be read with special interest by those who have attended the Commencements of a later day. First Commencement. 1769. On Thursday, the seventh of this instant, was celebrated at Warren the first Com- mencement in the College of this Colony ; when the following young gentlemen com- menced Bachelors of Arts ; namely, Joseph Belton, Joseph Eaton, William Rogers, Richard Stites, Charles Thompson, James Mitchel Varnum, and William Williams. About 10 o'clock a. m., the gentlemen concerned in conducting the affairs of the Col- lege, together with the candidates, went in procession to the meeting-house. After they had taken their seats respectively, and the audience were composed, the President introduced the business of the day with prayer ; then followed a salutatory oration in Latin, pronounced with much spirit, by Mr. Stites, which procured him great applause from the learned part of the assembly. He spoke upon the advantages of lib- erty and learning, and their mutual dependence upon each other; concluding with proper salutations to the Chancellor of the College, Governor of the Colony, etc., par- ticularly expressing the gratitude of all the friends of the College to the Rev. Morgan Edwards, who has encountered many difficulties in going to Europe to collect donations for the Institution, and has lately returned. To which succeeded a forensic dispute, in English, on the following thesis ; namely, " The Americans, in their present circumstances, cannot, consistent with good policy, 1 Hon. Judge Pitman, class of 1799. See Alumni Address, 1843. 84 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. affect to become an independent state." Mr. Varnum ingeniously defended it, by- cogent arguments handsomely dressed ; though he was subtly but delicately opposed by Mr. "Williams ; both of whom spoke with emphasis and propriety. As a conclusion to the exercises of the forenoon, the audience were agreeably enter- tained with an oration on benevolence, by Mr. Rogers ; in which, among many other pertinent observations, he particularly noticed the necessity which this infant Seminary stands in of the salutary effects of that truly Christian virtue. At three o'clock p. m., the audience being convened, a syllogistic dispute was intro- duced on this thesis: "Materia cogitare non potest," — Mr. Williams the respondent; Messieurs Belton, Eaton, Rogers, and Varnum the opponents, — in the course of which dispute, the principal arguments on both sides were produced towards settling that crit- ical point. The degree of Bachelor of Arts was then conferred on the candidates. Then the fol- lowing gentlemen (graduated in other colleges), at their own request received the hon- orary degree of Master in the Arts; namely, Rev. Edward Upham, Rev. Morgan Edwards, Rev. Samuel Stillman, Rev. Hezekiah Smith, Hon. Joseph Wanton Jun. Esq., Mr. Jabez Bowen, and Mr. David Howell, Professor of Philosophy in said College. The following gentlemen, being well recommended by the Faculty for literary merit, had conferred on them the honorary degree of Master in the Arts ; namely, Rev. Abel Morgan, Rev. Oliver Hart, Rev. David Thomas, ReV. Samuel Jones, Mr. John Davis, Mr. Robert Strettle Jones, Mr. John Stites, Rev. James Bryson, Rev. James Edwards, Rev. William Boulton, Rev. John Ryland, Rev. William Clark, Rev. Joshua Toulmin, and Rev. Caleb Evans. 1 A concise, pertinent, and solemn charge was then given to the Bachelors by the President, concluding with his last paternal benediction, which naturally introduced the valedictory orator, Mr. Thompson, who, after some remarks upon the excellences of the oratorial art, and expressions of gratitude to the patrons and officers of the Col- lege, together with a valediction to them, and all present, took a most affectionate leave of his classmates. The scene was tender, the subject felt, and the audience affected. The President concluded the exercises with prayer. The whole was conducted with a propriety and solemnity suitable to the occasion. The audience (consisting of the i The writer of this account has failed to give the names of all who received honorary degrees on this occasion. They may be found in the triennial catalogues. Most of them were prominent mem- bers of the Philadelphia Association. Samuel Jones and Robert Strettle Jones were instrumental in securing the charter of the College ; the former was thought of as Manning's successor in the Presi- dency. Stites was Manning's father-in-law. Ryland and Evans were prominent English Baptists who afterwards became benefactors of the College. The names of Toulmin, Clark, Boulton, James Edwards, and Bryson, are given in Morgan Edwards's list of subscriptions. 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 85 principal gentlemen and ladies of this Colony, and many from the neighboring govern- ments), though large and crowded, behaved with the utmost decorum. In the evening, the Kev. Morgan Edwards, by particular request, preached a ser- mon; 1 especially addressed to the graduates and students, from Phil. iii. 8: "Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord ; " in which, after high encomiums on the liberal Arts and Sciences, the superior knowledge of Christ, or the Christian Science, was clearly and fully illustrated in several striking examples and similes; one of which follows: — "When the sun is below the horizon, the stars excel in glory ; but when his orb irradiates our hemisphere, their glory dwindles, fades away, and disappears." Not only the candidates, but even the President, were dressed in American manufac- tures. Finally, be it observed, that this class are the first sons of that College which has existed for more than four years ; during all which time it has labored under great disadvantages, notwithstanding the warm patronage and encouragement of many worthy men of fortune and benevolence ; and it is hoped, from the disposition which many discovered on that day, and other favorable circumstances, that these disadvan- tages will soon, in part, be happily removed. The Providence Gazette and Country Journal, a weekly paper, in the columns of which appeared the foregoing account of Commencement, had been established by William Goddard, in October, 1762, mainly it is stated, through the influence of Governor Hopkins, in opposition, per- haps, to the Newport Mercury, established in 1758, which for some rea- son had become the vehicle for the expression of loyalist sentiments, antagonizing the positions taken by the patriotic leaders of Boston and Providence. 2 Mr. Hopkins was present at this Commencement as Chan- cellor of the Corporation, and undoubtedly wrote the account. The allusion to the fact that both the President and the candidates "were dressed in American manufactures," is significant. The famous Stamp 1 The custom, thus inaugurated by Morgan Edwards, of having a sermon on the Wednesday even- ing of Commencement, was continued down to the beginning of Dr. Wayland's administration, when the " President's Levee " took the place of the Commencement sermon. The usual preachers in Dr. Manning's time were Dr. Stillman, of Boston, and Dr. Smith, of Haverhill. In later times Dr. Baldwin frequently preached. " It is not known," says Foster, " how direct an agency Governor Hopkins had in securing Wil- liam Goddard as its publisher ; but from the very first issue of this paper, until the very end of the ■Governor's career, under each one of its successive publishers, his share in it was continuous." See Stephen Hopkins a Rhode Island Statesman. Vol. 2, p. 48. 86 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. Act, everywhere denounced, went into operation on the 1st of Novem- ber, 1765. "The fatal day," says Arnold, 1 "dawned upon a nation united in their determination of resistance. Not a stamp was to be seen. Everywhere the distributors had resigned, some by force, and others of their own free will. The wheels of every government in America were stopped at once. Commerce was crushed, law was annulled, justice was delayed, even the usages of domestic life were sus- pended by this anomalous and terrible act. Not a ship could sail, not a statute could be enforced, not a court could sit, not even a marriage take place, that was not in itself illegal, so far as the British Parliament could make it so ; for every one of these acts required the evidence of stamped paper to establish its validity." Non-importation agreements- were at once entered into by the leading merchants in America ; and a combination for the support of American manufactures, and to increase the supply of wool, by ceasing to consume lamb or mutton, was soon afterwards formed. The "Forensic Dispute" between Varnum and Williams, on the question of American Independence, was also significant. Nowhere in all the colonies was patriotism earlier developed and more outspoken than in Rhode Island. As soon as it was known that the Stamp Act had passed both Houses of Parliament and received the royal approba- tion, the minds of both the Governor and the people were made up to disregard its provisions. The officers appointed to superintend the exe- cution of the law were hanged in effigy at Newport. The cruisers in the bay became subjects of popular jealousy and hatred, on account of their scrutiny and arrogance. During the summer of 1765 the Maid- stone sloop of war lying in the harbor of Newport impressed some sailors belonging to the town ; whereupon a mob seized a boat belong- ing to the Maidstone and burnt it in a public square. Repeated inci- dents like this served to array the feelings of the people more decidedly against the officers of the Crown. The day before the Stamp Act was to take effect, all the royal governors, says Arnold, with Fitch of Con- 1 History of Rhode Island. Vol. 2, p. '203. 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 87 necticut, took the oath to sustain it. Samuel Ward, " the Governor of Rhode Island, stood alone in his patriotic refusal." 1 Organizations under the name of "The Sons of Liberty," and "The Daughters of Liberty," sprung up everywhere, and meetings were held in all the towns. Thus the spirit of resistance to England gained ground from day to day, and popular demonstrations for freedom became frequent. On the 19th of July, less than two months before Commencement, the British armed sloop Liberty, Capt. William Reid, which had needlessly annoyed all the coasting craft in search of contraband traders, had been boarded by a mob, dismantled, scuttled, and her boats carried to the upper end of the town and burnt. This has been justly claimed as among the earliest, in point of time, of the acts of open resistance to British power, which terminated in the final separation of the colonies from England. It was followed, three years later, by the destruction of the schooner G-a&pee, when the first blood was shed. An account of this memorable Commencement, and especially of the discussion of American Independence, which constituted the promi- nent feature of the exercises, was given by the writer in a paper read before the Rhode Island Historical Society, Dec. 17, 1883, and after- wards published as a part of Volume VII. of its Collections. The manuscript containing this discussion, and also the orations, in the hand- writing of Charles Thompson, the valedictorian, came into the writer's possession many years ago, soon after the publication of " Manning and Brown University." It is not a little remarkable that what leading statesmen were slow to perceive and cautious to advance, even so late as 1775, and 1776, was clearly set forth in almost the very arguments of the Declaration, by a young Baptist pupil of President Manning and Tutor Howell, as early as 1769, in the little town of Warren, before a crowded and approving audience. Mr. Varnum presented in an eloquent and attractive manner the arguments used by the Royalists, or Tories, as they were afterwards termed, for the preservation of peace. The following extract from the i Bancroft's History of the United States. 88 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. closing part of Mr. Williams's address, illustrates the views and patriotic feelings that prevailed in Rhode Island at this early period : — Their menaces might terrify and suhjugate servile, timid Asiatics, who peaceahly prostrate their necks to be trampled on by every bold usurper. But my auditors, you have not so learned the principles of liberty. You know liberty is our birthright, and if this is taken away, we may in part adopt the language of Micah, " What have we more?" Besides, how unreasonable is it, that this wide extended continent, formed by nature for a kingdom of its own, should pay homage to the diminutive island of Britain, but a mere speck upon this huge globe? I have, as before observed, no aversion to a friendly alliance, a close union with Britain, provided we could enjoy that liberty wherewith God has made us free. But to purchase their friendship at so dear a rate as owning them our masters, is worse than madness ; it is patricide. How could we answer it to the manes of our ancestors, should those venerable shades meet, accost, and call us to account for such conduct ? How can we answer it to posterity, who must drag out a painful life in slavery? Nay, how shall we answer it to ourselves, when the gall- ing yoke of slavery bears heavy on our necks ? On the other hand, view the liberty, the transporting liberty of America. View millions basking in its beams, and gratefully acknowledging their obligations to the venerable names that now stand as pillars to support our rights. View America, the largest and happiest empire on earth, the land of liberty, the seat of science, the refuge of religion. But my point is gained ; your countenances indicate the patriotic feelings of your breasts, and with one voice you declare that America shall be free. A Latin sheet or broadside, fifteen by nineteen inches, handsomely printed on good stout paper, was circulated through the house. This with the Latin salutatory, and a Latin syllogistic dispute, served to give the little College a genuine academic flavor, impressing the minds of the hearers, doubtless, with an appearance of superior learning. This cus- tom of distributing a Latin broadside at Commencement, containing, in addition to the names of the Chancellor, President, Faculty, and Grad- uating class, theses in Latin on grammar, rhetoric, logic, mathemat- ics, physics, ontology, pneumatology, theology, ethics, and politics, was continued from year to year, with slight changes or variations until 1795, when an "Order of Exercises," in English, was substi- tuted for the programme. The Latin theses, however, were printed 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 89 and circulated in octavo form, with the order of exercises, down to nearly the close of President Messer's administration. A complete set of these broadsides, order of exercises, and theses, collected by the writer, is among the treasures of the Library of the University. The following is the text of the heading of this first broadside, which we introduce as an illustration of "ye early days." The size of our page will not admit of an exact reproduction of the original : ' — Benevolentissimo Ac eximia virtute, doctrinaque utilissima praeclito, viro, STEPHANO HOPKINS, ARMIGERO, Collegii hujusce, intra Coloniae Insulae Rhodiensis Fines, Cancellario ; Admodum Reverando aeque ae Honorando Jacobo Manning, Praesidi, Omnibus artibus liberalibus scientiisque, et pietate praesigni induto, cujus sub moderamine sequentia philosophemata sunt defendenda ; Totis Curatoribus et Sociis eruditissimis, hujusce Academiae Observantissimis ; Doctissimo pariterque dignissimo Davidi Hoell, ejusdem Seminarii Tutori ; Denique, omnibus desiderio scientiae afflatis, ubicunque in terrarum orbe, tarn Eccles- iarum Pastoribus, quam Reipublicae bene meritis, paecipue" nostro Collegio faventibus ; Theses hasce (Numine fausto) Juvenes, in artibus initiati, defensuri, Josephus Belton, Gulielmus Rogers, Jacobus Mitchel Varnum, Josephus Eaton, Richardus Stites, Gulielmus Williams. N. B. Nomina alphabetice Carolus Thompson, Summa observantia. D. D. D. C. Q. disposita sunt. Under the names of the graduating class the reader will notice the ^ following: — "N. B. Nomina alphabetice disposita sunt." In the older colleges a different practice had prevailed. In all the Harvard cata- logues previous to 1773, says Sibley, 2 the graduates in each class are arranged, not in alphabetical order, but according to their social posi- 1 A photographic fac-simile of the original sheet or broadside, which served as a programme at this first Commencement, was published in the Mercury and Gazette ( No. 3 ) which was the official organ of the "Rhode Island Days of Auld Lang Syne," Providence Opera House, April 6th-llth, 1896, the same being under the auspices of the Colonial Dames and Daughters of the American Revolution. 2 Catalogues of Harvard University. By John Langdon Sibley. See Proceedings of the Massa- chusetts Historical Society, 1864-1865. 12 90 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. tion or family rank. Judge Wingate, writing to Librarian Peirce, respecting the excitement which was generally called up when a class in college was "placed," says, "the scholars were often enraged beyond bounds for their disappointment, and it was some time before a class could be settled down to an acquiescence in the allotment." The higher part of the class, those whose names came first in the earlier cat- alogues, generally had the most influential friends ; and they commonly had the best chambers in college assigned them. They also had a right to help themselves first at the table in commons. "I think," Judge Wingate concludes, " that the government of the college, in my day, was a complete aristocracy." A practice similar to this prevailed when families were seated in church. Democratic, liberty-loving Rhode Island, which had, in face of the ecclesiastical laws of the Massachu- setts Bay touching the erection of meeting-houses, been without a house of worship for sixty years, would not be likely, in the beginnings of its first and only College, to follow the aristocratic rulings of Harvard and Yale. Hence the alphabetical arrangement thus publicly announced. • The same note appears in the early Latin or triennial catalogues. The following brief biographies of the members of this first gradua- ting class, may fitly close this chapter of our history. Concerning Joseph Belton, who heads the list in the programme, we have thus far no definite information. Like many other patriotic young men of his time, he may have enlisted in the service of his country and per- ished in battle. He was from Groton, Connecticut, and was matricu- lated, as appears from the document to which reference has already been made, on the 4th of November, 1766. Joseph Eaton, the next on the list, was also matriculated in November, 1766. He was from Hope- well, New Jersey, and was the son of the Rev. Isaac Eaton, founder of the Academy. In Edwards's "Materials towards a History of the Bap- tists of New Jersey," published in 1792, we find this paragraph : — " Mr. Eaton's (Rev. Isaac) wife was Rebecca Stout, by whom he had many children ; some died single ; but Joseph, David, and Pamela, married into the families of the Turners, Potts, and Humphreys, and have raised him eight grandchildren." In the list which Edwards gives of the 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 91 graduates of Hopewell Academy, he speaks of Joseph Eaton as a physician who practiced his profession, and died some time previous to the year 1790. Of William Rogers, the "first student," we have already given a sketch. His "Intermediate Oration on Benevolence" is preserved among the papers of the valedictorian, Charles Thompson. Our read- ers will thank us for giving it a place in the pages of the present work : — Oration on Benevolence. by william rogers. When I look around, and behold the smiling visage and splendid appearance of this polite and learned assembly; when I reflect on this auspicious day, as also on the honor, the distinguishing honor, you are pleased to confer on this seat of the Muses, by afford- ing an attentive ear to the broken accents of her eldest though infant sons ; gratitude excites me to applaud the noble principle which inspires your generous minds. "While you recur to the rapturous sensations of your own breasts to judge of the genuine ope- rations of the subject contained in the sequel ; I flatter myself you will consider my inexperience and youth, and make all due allowance for these disadvantages. Con- vinced that the wise and unprejudiced will receive with approbation the feeble efforts of an honest heart, I shall enter on my agreeable task, cheerfully relying on your can- dor and indulgence. The subject to which I would solicit your attention is Benevo- lence — a subject which affords a prospect infinitely variegated by the tenderest pro- ductions of a refined nature — a prospect that courts the attention and attracts the admiration of all that are in anywise capable of the tender feelings of humanity. Benevolence is that amiable virtue which prompts us to wish well, and perform kind offices to others. Friendship is but the offspring of benevolence, and contracts its views within a narrower sphere. But this disdaining to be circumscribed by any limits, diffuses its agreeable influence to the remotest corners of society. The source from whence this engaging virtue is derived is heaven itself. It originally proceeds from the grand parent of every species of goodness. The exalted nature of seraphic beings is peculiarly adapted to this agreeable flame. It there buds in eternal youth. It there shines with growing splendor, in a soil peculiarly calculated to cherish such a divine production. It filled the lofty emporium with ambrosial fragrance only, until divine munificence sowed the seeds, or rather transplanted Benevolence in full maturity into human nature. And surely it was infinitely fit such a generous plant should be cultivated in every soil productive of rational beings. But Lucifer, in whom malice against the king of heaven had totally extinguished this celestial spark, envying man's 92 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. superior felicity, and the possession of that inestimable inheritance which he could never hope to regain, made one dreadful effort to erase it forever from the heart of man ; and had succeeded in his foul design had not the seasonable interposition of a superior power defeated his infernal project. This noble principle is composed of the more rational feelings of an immortal mind. It towers above the classes of private connections, whether natural or acquired ; and considers man as a social being, a part of a grand whole, formed for a reciprocation of interests ; partaker of a common nature ; subject to all the vicissitudes of a weak, defenseless constitution ; and dependent on society for mutual assistance. It views him as not made for himself, not independent of others ; and therefore prompts him to a sensible regard for the happiness of mankind. When any scheme is projected for public utility, with what alacrity does it afford the best assistance ! When a friend, an acquaint- ance, or even a stranger is in distress, it listens with profound attention to the melting strains of calamity. Sympathy operating, it extends a generous hand and grants a kind relief. When liberty, the dearest property of man is invaded, when tyranny advances with menacing gigantic strides, and threatens to trample under foot the sacred rights of the people, and erase the very foundation of civil society ; regardless of private happi- ness, attentive to the prosperity of the whole, and the fate of posterity, with what zeal, with what vehemence is this principle exerted and displayed! Before I dismiss this agreeable subject I must beg liberty to observe that Benevo- lence shines most conspicuous when it proposes the greatest public utility. As the pur- poses of education, therefore, are the most noble and perfective of our rational nature, I am constrained to mention the great obligation this infant Seminary is under, to many gentlemen in this Assembly, whose laudable zeal for the good of society, has excited them to take it by the hand, and conduct it through oppositions it must of necessity have met with in its feeble state. Under your patronage it now shines in gentle glories ; and we confidently trust, it will in some future period, tower with superior eminence. Then with what deep felt joys, with what pleasing' veneration will this Colony, will North America recognize the memory of its first benefactors. Finally, my worthy auditors, I may recommend this principle, as absolutely requisite to constitute the gentleman, the sage, and the Christian; as that which fills the mind with those purer joys, which not only bear a distant resemblance to, but in their nature are the same which glow in the breasts of kindred spirits above. Let us therefore catch, and as we catch, increase the blaze, until it shall re-enkindle, or rather burst out, and mingle flames in the pure element of love. 1763-1769. and manning. 93 Richard Stites. Richard Stites, as has already been stated, was the brother-in-law of President Manning, being the youngest son of John Stites, Esq., mayor of Elizabethtown. He was born at Connecticut Farms in 1747, being therefore twenty-two years of age at the time of his graduation. He was prepared for college at the Hopewell Academy, and matricu- lated by President Manning, on the 20th of June, 1766, as his second student. A copy of his Latin salutatory, which the Gazette states was pronounced with much spirit, and procured him great applause from the learned part of the assembly, is preserved with the other orations. Immediately after graduating, he entered upon the study of law, and on the 2d of May, 1771, as appears from the records, he was admitted to the bar. He practised in Elizabethtown. On the 12th of May, 1776, he married Sarah, daughter of John Dennis, of New Bruns- wick, at that time state treasurer. Several months previous to this he had been commissioned as captain in Heard's brigade, General Nathan- ael Greene's division of the Continental Line. During the disastrous battle on Long Island, August 27, 1776, he was severely wounded, and taken to his home, where he died a few days afterward. In March fol- lowing a son was born, Richard Montgomery Stites, who was eventually placed in President Manning's care, and by him htted for college. He was graduated in 1792, one year after Manning's death. A grandson named Richard Montgomery Stites, a civil engineer by profession, is now living in Morristown, New Jersey. To him we are specially indebted for these particulars respecting his ancestor. James Mitchel Varnum. James Mitchel Varnum was born in Dracut, Massachusetts, in the year 1749. He was graduated therefore at the age of twenty. While a student at Cambridge, he had developed a remarkable capacity for learning, and although, as his biographer states, somewhat dis- sipated in his habits, made liberal acquisitions in general knowledge and literature. He was especially attached to mathematical science 94 BROWN UNIVERSITY CiiAr. 11. and delighted in its pursuit. Why he should have left the venerable halls of Harvard to connect himself with the infant Seminary at Warren, has always seemed to many a mystery. Perhaps the solu- tion of it may be found in Quincy's History of the University. In April, 1768, the author states, there were serious disturbances at Har- vard. Tutors's windows were broken, other outrages were commit- ted, and lives even were endangered. Three under- graduates were expelled, others were rusticated, and several ring-leaders gave up their chambers and left the college. Mr. Varnum may have been one of this number. The date of his admission at Warren, May 23, 1768, favors this view. Furthermore, he may have become dissatis- fied with the Senior instruction at Harvard. President Holyoke, who had been in office since 1737, was now an old man, in his eightieth year, and in feeble health. Indeed he died the year following. On the other hand, he had probably heard through Hezekiah Smith, who was then preaching at Haverhill with wonderful power and success, and was a welcome visitor at his father's house in Dracut, of the remarkable gifts of President Manning, and of his associate instructor, Tutor Howell. After graduating, Mr. Varnum taught for a while a classical school ; and to this period of his life he ever afterwards referred as a season of special benefit. In the year 1771 he was admitted to the bar, having studied law in the office of Oliver Arnold, Esq., then the Attorney General of the Colony. Soon afterwards, he established himself in the town of East Greenwich, where he rapidly rose to distinction in his profession, his great talents securing for him an extensive practice. Two years previous to this time he had married a daughter of Cromel Child of Warren, whose acquaintance he formed while a student. The following extract from the "Memoirs of Elkanah Watson, or Men and Times of the Revolution," presents a pleasing description of his powers of eloquence at this period : — Mr. Varnum was one of the most eminent lawyers and distinguished orators in the colonies. I first saw this learned and amiable man in 1774, when I heard him deliver « 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 95 a Masonic oration. Until that moment I had formed no conception of the power and charms of oratory. I was so deeply impressed, that the effect of his splendid exhibi- tion has remained for forty-eight years indelibly fixed upon my mind. I then com- pared his mind to a beautiful parterre, from which he was enabled to pluck the most gorgeous and fanciful flowers, in his progress, to enrich and embellish his subject. Lavater would have pronounced him an orator, from the vivid flashing of his eye, and the delicate beauty of his classic mouth. Mr. Varnum had a decided taste for military life, and in 1774 was commander of the "Kentish Guards," a company which, from its acquirements in military tactics, became the nursery of many distin- guished officers during the Revolutionary War. Among them may be mentioned Major Whitmarsh, Col. Christopher Greene, and Rhode Island's greatest general, Nathanael Greene, who was second only to Washington. The prominent part which Varnum had taken in the colonial controversy induced him, upon the breaking out of hostilities, to offer his services to the Government. He was at first a colonel in the American army, but in February, 1777, Congress promoted him to the rank of brigadier-general. He continued in the army several years, and saw some service, commanding a brigade in Sullivan's expedition on Rhode Island. He was a good disciplinarian, and invaluable in council. He wielded a vigorous pen, commanding a rich flow of elo- quence, embellished by the ornaments and graces of rhetoric. While in command at Taunton, he addressed an admirable letter to the chief officer of the Hessians in Rhode Island, and sent it in by a flag. The letter was a transcript of his views on the great controversy with England, and was considered an able argument on the subject. It was subsequently published in England, and reflected much credit on the author. In 1779 he resigned his commission, and returned to his former profession. The Legislature, in consideration of his national services, and the more effectually to secure them in defense of the State, elected him Major-General of the militia of Rhode Island, an office to which he was annually re-elected during the remainder of his life. In 1780 he was appointed a delegate to the Congress of the Con- federation, and again in 1786. As that body sat with closed doors, his 96 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. voice could not be heard by the public ; but his name often appears in the published journals of the proceedings. The great forensic effort of General Varnum was in the celebrated case of Trevett against Weeden, in the fall of the year 1786. The General Assembly, at its May session, with a wilful blindness unparal- leled in the annals of civilization, had emitted the enormous sum of £100,000 in paper bills, making them "a good and lawful tender for the complete payment and final discharge of all fines, forfeitures, judg- ments, and executions of every kind and nature whatsoever." It also passed acts making it criminal to refuse said bills in exchange for arti- cles of merchandise, and depriving their opponents of the sacred palla- dium of Britons, the trial by jury, and furthermore rendering them, even though freemen, ineligible to any office. In the case referred to, John Trevett, of Newport, had purchased meat of John Weeden, a butcher, and tendered to him bills of the emission of the May session of the Legislature in payment ; which bills Weeden refused. Where- upon a complaint was made and filed, in accordance with the acts of the General Assembly, before Paul Mumford, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The court consisted of Paul Mumford, Chief Justice, and Joseph Hazard, Thomas Tillinghast, and David Howell, associates. When the case came up for trial, the whole public was in a state of feverish excitement. The merchant closed his store, the farmer left his fields, the mechanic his workshop, and all congregated in and around the Court-house to await the final issue. If the complaint was sustained, then would they be prostrated in utter ruin, and the com- merce and business of the State be effectually destroyed. Varnum proved himself equal to this emergency. By his resistless eloquence he stemmed the tide of power and misrule, and successfully vindicated the claims of equity and justice. The Court adjudged that the amended acts of the Legislature were unconstitutional, and so void. The tyranny of the demagogues was thus overthrown, and the State was saved. In the year 1787 General Varnum was appointed by Congress one of the judges of the Northwestern Territory, and in the following spring entered upon his duties. But disease had enfeebled his body, 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 97 and his race was nearly run. He died at Marietta, Ohio, on the 10th of January, 1789, at the early age of forty. His funeral was conducted with great solemnity and respect. A long procession of mourners — private citizens, civil and military officers, gentlemen of the Order of the Cincinnati, and Free Masons — followed his remains to the grave. His memory is yet fragrant in the annals of Rhode Island. A younger brother, Joseph Bradley Varnum, we may add, also served as brigadier-general in the war, and was afterwards prominent in Massachusetts politics. He was a member of the State Senate, House of Representatives, and Council. For sixteen years he was a member of Congress, serving two terms as Speaker of the House ; and from 1811 until 1817 he was a member of the United States Senate. He was also a prominent and useful member of the Baptist church in Dracut. William Williams. William Williams was born in Hilltown, Bucks County, Pennsyl- vania, in the year 1752. His father emigrated from Wales, and settled in this country as a farmer, accumulating a handsome property. The son was fitted for college at the Hopewell Academy. He came to War- ren in November, 1766, and was the fourth student whom the President matriculated. In the autumn following his graduation he married a daughter of Col. Nathan Miller, of Warren. Mr. Miller was a prominent citizen, and in 1786 was Dr. Manning's colleague as a member of the Continental Congress. For several years Mr. Williams remained in Warren and engaged in teaching, — an employment for which his talents and inclinations especially qualified him. During a revival of religion under the preaching of Mr. Thompson, Manning's successor in the pastorate, he was converted, and in September, 1771, was baptized by his classmate and received as a member of the church. In the year 1773 he removed with his family to Wrentham, Massachusetts, where he opened an academy, which soon attained to high distinction among the literary institutions of that day. He is supposed to have had under his care nearly two hundred youth, about eighty of whom he fitted for 13 98 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. his Alma Mater. Not a few of these became distinguished in profes- sional and political life ; among whom may be mentioned the Rev. Dr. Maxcy, successor to Manning ; the Hon. David R. Williams, Governor of South Carolina ; and the Hon. Tristam Burges, LL. D., Professor of Oratory and Belles-lettres in Brown University, and for many years a distinguished Representative in Congress. Mr. Williams also con- ducted the theological studies of young men with a view to their enter- ing the ministry. 1 On the 3d of July, 1776, he was publicly ordained as pastor of the Baptist church in Wrentham, — an office which he held for nearly half a century. Though strictly evangelical in his doctrines, he was not regarded as a popular preacher. Quite a number of his early manuscript sermons are among the archives of the College library. They are written in a plain, legible hand, and exhibit marks of careful prep- aration. Mr. Williams, says his biographer, 2 " was not a man greatly to attract or impress the multitude in any way, but by a steady course of enlightened and Christian activity, he accomplished an amount of good for his denomination, which fairly entitles him to a place among its more distinguished benefactors. He diffused a spirit of improvement, a love of intellectual culture, throughout the circle in which he moved, and no doubt his influence will continue, and find new channels through which to flow down to posterity, long after the last of his surviving contempo- raries shall have passed away." Mr. Williams continued to be engaged as teacher and preacher until the close of life. From 1789 until 1818, a period of twenty-nine years, he was an honored member of the Board of Fellows of the College. He was present in 1804, when the name of the College was changed to Brown University. During the war, when the College building was occupied as a barrack for the militia, and afterwards as a hospital for the French troops, the library was removed to Wrentham and placed in his keeping. Messrs. Smith, Stillman, Baldwin, Gammell, and other Baptist ministers were frequent visitors at his hospitable home on their * One of his pupils in theology was the lamented Rev. William Gammell, of Newport, father of the late Professor William Gammell. *Rev. Dr. Abial Fisher. See Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit, Vol. VI. 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 99 way to and from Providence. In his diary, under date of Friday, July 10, 1772, Mr. Smith writes : — " Went at Mr. Williams's request to Wrentham to hear his scholars examined and pronounce their orations." In 1785 the Warren Association held its sessions in his meeting-house, and again in 1802. He died on the 22d of September, 1823, aged about seventy-one years. A daughter of Mr. Williams died in Wrentham, in 1867, at the advanced age of ninety. In her last moments she enjoined it upon those around her to see that her father's pine table was given in charge to Samuel Warner, Esq., for Brown University. Tins belonged to her father when he was a student at Warren. Its capacious drawer, he used playfully to remark, contained all the books that belonged to the College during the six years that it was located in that town. The table is now kept as a precious memento on the third floor of the new Library Building. The contrast between it and its surroundings is striking and very suggestive. We append to this brief sketch a copy of Mr. Williams's "parchment," which is carefully preserved among the archives. It differs from Presi- dent Manning's " parchment" as given in the previous chapter: — Omnibus ad quos praesentes Literae pervenerint salutein. Notum sit quod Collegii in Anglicana Rhodiorum Providentiatiumque Colonia inter Nov. Anglos in America Soci- orum Ordo Gulielmo Williams juveni probo et ingenuo, in omnibus Humanitatis Litera- rumque Studiis in nostra Academia instituto, et Examine sufficiente previo approbato Baccalaurei Gradum decrevit, publicis in Comitiis apud Warren in Colonia supradicta habitis Die Septimo Septembris Annoque Domini Millesimo Septingentessimo Sexages- simo Nono. In Cujus Rei Testimonium Sigillum Collegii huic Membranae affixum Nom- inaque nostra subscripta sunt. Jacobus Manning, Praeses. David Hoell, Phil,, Prof. Thomas Eyres, Secretarius. Charles Thompson. Charles Thompson, the valedictorian of the class, was born in Amwell, New Jersey, April 14, 1748. He, too, was fitted for college at 100 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. the Hopewell Academy, coming to Warren with Belton, Eaton, and Williams, and being matriculated with them in November, 1766. Having the ministry in view and being of age, he commenced preaching while a student. When the College was removed to Providence, President Manning was persuaded to remove also with his undergraduates. This was in May, 1770. In the autumn following, Mr. Thompson was called to preach at Warren as a candidate for settlement. The year following he was ordained as pastor of the church. 1 About this time he mar- ried a daughter of Sylvester Child, one of the leading citizens of the town. A great blessing attended the ministry of Mr. Thompson, so that during the four years of his pastorate the membership of the church was nearly doubled. But when the War of the Revolution broke out, its sad effects were specially visible among his people. He was at once appointed a chaplain in the American army, which office he held till 1778, a period of three years. While at home on a visit, the English troops came up to Warren, and on the morning of May 25, 1778, burned the meeting-house, parsonage, arsenal, and several private dwellings, and carried away Mr. Thompson as a prisoner. He was confined at Newport; but in about a month was released, by what means he never knew. He afterwards preached at Ashford, Connecticut, until 1779, when he became pastor of the church in Swansea. During his ministry of twenty-three years at this latter place, there were several extensive revivals of religion : one immediately after his settlement, when 1 The following account of his ordination is taken from the Providence Gazette for July 6, 1771. President Manning, it will be observed, took no part in the exercises. For some years there was a coolness on the part of the church toward him because of his decision to go with the College to Providence : " On Wednesday last (July 3) was ordained to the work of the ministry at Warren in Bristo 1 County, by the unanimous choice of the Baptist church and congregation in that town, the Kev. Charles Thompson, A.B., the first son of Rhode Island College that has yet engaged in the sacred office. Rev. Ebenezer Hinds, of Middleborough, began the solemnity with prayer, and preached an excel- lent sermon on the occasion to a polite and crowded auditory, from 2 Tim., 2 : 15 : ' Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.' Rev. Noah Alden, of Bellingham, delivered the charge, Mr. Hinds gave the right hand of fellowship, and Mr. Alden concluded with prayer. The whole was conducted with that solemnity and order which the importance of the occasion demanded, and afforded the highest satisfaction to every one present, particularly to the patrons and friends of the College." 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 101 seventy-five persons were baptized and added to the church ; one in 1789, when fifty persons were baptized ; and a third in 1800, of still greater extent, which resulted in the admission to the church of a hundred new members. He died in Charlton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, on the 4th of May, 1803, in the full confidence of passing to a better world. In consequence of the poverty and distractions of the times his pecuniary support was small, so that he was obliged to labor with his own hands, keep store, and instruct scholars, in order to obtain a living for himself and family. "Mr. Thompson," says his biographer, 1 "was tall, spare, and of a fine figure. The expression of his countenance was indicative at once of a vigorous intellect, and an amiable disposition. He placed a high value upon time, and improved all his hours to good purpose. In his family, and in the church, he was a model both of kindness and firm- ness. As a preacher he held a very high rank. He had a voice of great compass, and its tones were sweet and commanding. He had great depth and tenderness of feeling, and he often wept with his people, while he occasionally addressed them in a voice of thunder. His sermons were carefully studied, and sometimes written, but his manuscript was never seen in the pulpit, and his language was generally such as was supplied to him at the moment. He had a deep sense of his responsi- bility, and feared not to proclaim, in all fidelity, the whole counsel of God. The church he fed with the bread of life, so that under his minis- try they were instructed and rendered holy. " He was also very successful in the instruction of youth, being fully master of everything which he attempted to teach. He may indeed be regarded as having been an accomplished scholar, as well as a devout Christian, and an able and a successful preacher. Such talents as he possessed could not be hid ; he was often called upon to preach on pub- lic occasions, and multitudes, besides the people of his own particular church, were benefited by his faithful labors. At his death, well might it be said, 'A great man has fallen in Israel.'" 1 Rev. Dr. Abial Fisher. See Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit, Vol. VI. See also Tus- tin's Dedication Discourse in Warren. 12mo. Providence, 1845. 102 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. 1R The original of Mr. Thompson's valedictory address, in his own handwriting, was presented to the writer some thirty years ago by Miss Louisa H. Thompson, daughter of Capt. John B. Thompson, grand- daughter of Doct. William Thompson, and great-granddaughter of Rev. Charles Thompson, the author. They all resided in Warren, the latter, as has already been stated, having been for four years pastor of the church. The subject of the Oration, it will be observed, is " The Oratorial Art," of which President Manning's entire professional life was a happy illustration. Manning himself was a splendid pulpit orator, and taught oratory both in his Latin School and in the College. It was in view of this fact, doubtless, that the first Professorship, founded by the Hon. Nicholas Brown, when the College received its present name, was a '* Professorship of Oratory and Belles-lettres." THOMPSON'S VALEDICTORY ADDRESS. " The Oratorial Art." To gratify and procure the favor of an audience, at once so respectable and candid as I have the honor now to address, will he acknowledged by all to be the rational ambi- tion of a benevolent heart. It will therefore be unnecessary to inform you, that I feel an increasing ardor to entertain in the most agreeable manner this assembly, whose characters demand veneration and esteem, no less than their countenances promise that candor and indulgence which reason pleads for on the present occasion. You are not ignorant, gentlemen, that a finished composition is the production only of a long series of studies, joined to a continual exercise in that branch of learning; neither of which is compatible with the short time of our academic course, mostly taken up as it is in attention to the languages, arts, and sciences requisite to lay a foundation for this. On the other hand, the few accomplished speakers who have graced the desk, the Senate, House, and bar, will naturally suggest to you the almost unsurmountable difficulties that attend a tolerable degree of perfection therein, even where the Parent of Nature has laid a foundation in the gift of a happy genius. These things being duly weighed, I promise myself your benevolent attention to this my immature and juvenile exhibition, relying that the goodness of my subject and well meant effort will in a great measure, if not entirely, atone for my want of ability and injudicious execution. The subject upon which I would glance, by way of introduction to the part assigned me by the Rev. President, in the exercises of this day, is of supe- 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 103 rior moment, and lias consequently had, not only the eulogies of the wise and the learned from age to age, but can boast of feats as glorious as any of the whole circle of the arts and sciences. After this hint need I tell you, I mean the Oratorial Art, or that irresistible energy accompanying truth delivered by men thoroughly acquainted with the human heart, and those springs of action the passions of human nature, to- gether with the avenues that lead to them, and the means of awakening and exciting them in the most effectual manner. This truly useful and popular art is by no means to be considered independent of, or detached from the other parts of liberal learning, but in a close connection with every branch of polite erudition, or rather as the collected force and perfection of them all. For though logic, mathematics, metaphysics and philosophy furnish knowledge for, and add strength to, the mind, yet these are rather calculated for entertainment in solitude, and, separate from a proper method of communicating our ideas, would be as superfluous to society as elaborate volumes on those different subjects in a language perfectly unintelligible. Man was formed for society, and is consequently furnished with organs by which to communicate his thoughts to others, and enable them to receive advantage from his researches ; but, as a bare representation of our ideas by those terms stipulated to stand for them is found inadequate to this end, the great Author of Nature, to remedy this defect, has furnished us with a variety of tones, looks, and gestures, which, by the help of the living voice, render the speaker's heart transparent, and enable him to print his own ideas on the hearer's mind in the most indelible characters. To undertake an enumeration of the rules of this art, or to point out the means by which we may arrive at a competent acquaintance therewith, had I the ability, would far exceed the brevity of my present design. Let it suffice, then, to evince by a few considerations, that Oratory may with justice be styled the mistress of the arts, and therefore merits the most vigorous pursuits of those ambitious of honor. Amongst the almost infinite variety of animals which surround this globe, the power of 3peech is granted to none but man. It is highly reasonable, therefore, to conclude that this, in conjunction with his soul, is characteristic of his superior dignity. Consequently to rate this prerogative high, and carry it to the greatest perfection possible, is alto- gether rational. The more it is cultivated and perfected, the more we exceed the brutal world, and approach those blessed beings who communicate their knowledge with infinite intuitive rapidity and ease. But in the illustration of this proposition, I shall principally confine myself to those unspeakable advantages with which it is and ever has been attended, in doing which I must lead your minds back to those great originals of Greece and Rome ; for a mod- erate acquaintance with those ancient republics will at once demonstrate how highly 104 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. they rated the talent of speaking well. It was the grand object in view in their public educations; therefore their youth were put under the tuition of the ablest masters, who, together with teaching them the rules, might exhibit practical lessons, by pro- nouncing before their pupils ; — a method more effectual than all the rules in the world to teach an art, which principally consisted of a due management of the voice, counte- nance, and gestures of the body. This, together with the repeated corrections of those judicious doctors, both guarded them against contracting vicious habits of pronuncia- tion, and enabled them to renounce those already contracted. Neither was it deemed sufficient to have studied and declaimed under one master only, although the most skilful of the age. And this, doubt not, was of unknown advantage, both to Demos- thenes and Cicero, in forming them for those exalted spheres in which they afterwards moved. Oh! could you but for a moment transport yourselves to Athens, and in imagination there behold that oracle of Greece, that prince of orators ascend the rostrum, sur- rounded by the gaping multitude; could you hear the terrific thunder of his voice, and see the light flash from either eye, while all the members of his agitated body proclaim the huge emotions of his mind ; could you hear him discharge those thundering volleys of execration on the devoted head of an usurping Philip, that invader of Grecian lib- erty. — Anon he bursts upon his audience like a hurricane. By his moving figures he storms their very hearts, and paints their dangers in such striking colors, as throws the theatre into consternation and transport, impatient to snatch their arms, resist, fight, bleed, conquer. Cuuld you, I say, for once be admitted to such an interview, you would cease to wonder at the prodigious influence of that renowned patriot over his fellow citizens ; — for his eloquence had gained him universal empire over the hearts of his auditors, so that he could with equal ease lead them on ardent and intrigued to the most hazardous enterprises, or recall them from prosecuting ill con- certed schemes. It was this which caused Antipater, Alexander's successor, to say, that but for Demosthenes, he had taken Athens with less difficulty than Thebes; and that his powerful words had done more towards disconcerting his designs, than the most formidable army without them; a declaration similar to this averring that Demosthenes was the only enemy he had at Athens. From which we see, that those powerful enemies deemed his eloquence a more certain defense for his country than brazen walls. And may we not with propriety conclude, that had there been a succes- sion of Demosthenes, Athens had remained until now. But I must leave this native land of science, this university of the world, and pay a visit to her rival sister Italy, where the arts were imported from Greece, and which was no less indebted to this guardian genius for her grandeur and imperial dignity. What but polite literature, of which my theme is a principal ingredient, raised Rome 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 105 from a troop of shepherds accidentally packed together upon the hanks of the Tiher, to that height, that summit of glory and renown, and bequeathed her the appellation of mistress of the world, holding even Britain an obscure province of its wide extended empire! This land of liberty (for arts and sciences flourish in no other soil), produced an exuberant crop of orators, who stood as so many bulwarks to defend the sacred pal- ladium of Roman liberty ; — amongst whom the immortal Cicero shone as the moon amidst the lesser stars : whose superior talents were so repeatedly and successfully employed in the Forum, as well for the defence of his friends, as against the common pests of society, endeavoring to emperil the State in civil discord, that they might climb to empire on its ruins. How did he marshal all his forces against a daring Catiline, a wicked Clodius, and an ambitious Cresar, and by his energetic eloquence, like an overwhelming flood, sweep among the combined enemies of the State, or like a wide expansive conflagration burn up their best concerted measures, that he might leave Rome free! More than once did his powerful voice snatch Rome from the jaws of destruction. — As a recompense for which he wore the highest honors of the State, and that at a time when other young gentlemen just began to enter upon public life. Time would fail me to enumerate the long list of great orators who were so many pil- lars to support their respective commonwealths, and whose fame will only be extin- guished with the stars. After what has been said I have time only to mention our British worthies who have shone in this way ; for nothwithstanding our general inat- tention to speaking, there are and have been instances among us, though rare, of heroes, who, by the force of good eloquence, have successfully served both church and state. "Would it not trespass on your patience, I could instance a British Minister, who, by availing himself of this power, and employing it in his country's cause, from comparative obscurity raised himself in a few years to the first honors of the State, became the idol of the people, and by the power of his voice made distant thrones tremble. Need I tell you that the heralds of Life who have been happy in this talent, have by turns, with such energy and force of expression, painted the joys of heaven and the horrors of the infernal world as to enrapture and transport their audience on the one hand, while on the other, their voice like peals of thunder assail the astonished ear and their words, quick as lightning, pierce their inmost souls, producing a momentary conviction, by such striking representations of virtue and vice, as force even the vicious to revere the former and in some measure hate the latter. In short, that honor and promotion are sure to attend but a moderate proficiency therein, need no other proof than an acquaint- ance with facts, which are incontestable. So that this may be justly esteemed the most effectual means of extensive utility, as well as the most certain road to preferment ; than which what other arguments can be conceived necessary to engage persons of all characters to admire and pursue it. 14 106 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. II. But finally, if there should be any in this assembly so rude in knowledge, so unac- quainted with human nature, as to imagine that this art was taught and practised as an engine to destroy the force of reason, to subject mankind to the tyranny of passion, and enable wicked designing men more effectually to put into execution their mischievous designs, they cannot be judged worthy a serious refutation. The judicious knows it only offers itself a handmaid to reason, and presupposes the application of sober reason- ing to the intellect; that the constituent qualifications of an orator will not admit such an abuse of it ; and that mankind in their present state are so much more powerfully affected by their eyes and ears, than by any dispassionate application to the under- standing only, as to render it of the least importance. It would require no exertion of genius to prove this by the most convincing arguments, did not my time and your patience require that I should close the part assigned me by taking an affectionate leave of this respectable audience. And first of all, to you, honored sir, with those other active members of the Corpor- ation of Rhode Island College, as well Trustees as Fellows, our cordial gratitude and thanks are due for your disinterested and early attention to the founding and endowing this seat of learning, where, under your patfonage, we have been favored with access to the liberal arts and sciences, and with delight have tasted those intellectual pleasures which they abundantly afford. Permit us incessantly to pray, that your endeavors to promote and perfect this laudable design, may meet with abundant success, and that these in company with your other benevolent actions, may follow you, where they shall meet the rewards of your benevolence. Gentlemen, in the name of my class, I bid you farewell. Reverend Sir : The tender and parental concern you have manifested in forming our morals, both for our present and future happiness, the unremitted attention to the means of our improvement, together with other peculiar favors conferred on us, attach us to your person and interest by all the ties of humanity. "We beg leave, therefore, in this public manner to present you our most humble acknowledgments, and though they compose an inadequate offering, yet you will please accept them, as a sure token of the deep felt sense of our many obligations. The thought of removing from under your paternal inspection fills our hearts with pungent sorrow. But since this day is about to effect it, you will allow us to supplicate the Father of all Consolation, to communicate all necessary supplies, that your vigorous efforts for the good of society may be crowned with abundant success, and yourself reap the rich reward of your virtue. Reverend Sir, we bid you an affectionate farewell. To you, our worthy and respected Tutor, we next present our sincere acknowledg- ments and unfeigned thanks, for the many signal expressions of your affection, but principally for your indefatigable and assiduous attachment to our improvement in 1763-1769. AND MANNING. 107 useful sciences. The many inexpressible favors received from you in this way, have rendered and ever will render your memory dear to us. For success in your present laudable employment, and that you may largely share the rewards of your every vir- tuous and benevolent action, is our hearty desire, while we bid you farewell. To use arguments to stimulate you, my fellow students who have not yet completed your education, in the pursuit of knowledge, would be a superfluous labor, since you have already tasted its delectable sweets and drunk at the uncorrupted fountains of antiquity. The ardor apparent by your conduct, in the pursuit of truth, promises, nay assures you success. And if from our short experience we may be allowed to judge, we promise you increasing pleasure through every step of your scientific journey. "With ardent wishes for your prosperity, we bid you adieu. Neither are we wanting in gratitude to the respectable inhabitants of this town, for your humane and courteous treatment during the time of our residence amongst you. With ineffable pleasure shall we remember our connections in Warren when far removed from hence. And as we are now about to leave you, in the name of my class I bid you farewell. The singular honor conferred upon us, by the generous attendance of this polite and learned assembly, rendered more brilliant by that dignity and lustre which sparkle from the modest fair, excite us to return our thanks while we take our leave of you. And must this day dissolve that society, that amicable society, which for years has subsisted in this place? Must we now, my dear classmates, launch out into the world, and enter upon our new untried scenes, where, unassisted by each other's counsel, we must shift as we can on the rude sea of life ? How painful the thought ! How intol- erable ! Perhaps never more to see the faces of the persons who compose the greatest joys of our life. What do I not feel for to-morrow ! I can readily excuse a tear, and should be stupid if I did not echo a sigh for the past scenes of pleasure and mental delight through which, hand in hand, we have walked. Now all rise fresh to view and painfully augment the pangs of parting. But I cease to pursue the tender story. Permit me to take one more affectionate look, and rally all my resolution, while I bid yOU FAREWELL. CHAPTER III. 1769-1770. Final location of the College — Morgan Edwards's account — First mention of the sub- ject in the Corporation records — Meeting of the Corporation in 1769 — Plans for a building in Warren, and committee appointed — Vote of the Church in Warren offering the use of the meeting-house on Commencement occasions — Notification for special meeting of the Corporation to consider proposals from East Greenwich — Motion to have the College in Providence — Meeting of the Corporation in Newport, Nov. 14, 1769 — Three days' session — Extract from the records — Voted that the College edifice be at Providence, provided Newport does not raise a larger subscripton than Provi- dence — Arguments presented to the Corporation in favor of Providence, East Green- wich, and Newport — Increasing interest in the contest — Diary of Dr. Stiles — Cita- tion for another meeting of the Corporation to be held in Warren, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 1770 — Caucuses and town meetings on the subject held in Providence and Newport, and hand bills circulated — Anonymous letter to Nicholas Brown from President Man- ning — Account of the meeting in Warren — Final action at ten o'clock Thursday night in favor of Providence by a vote of twenty-one to fourteen — Letter from Man- ning to Hezekiah Smith giving an account of the meeting — Account by Moses Brown — Party in Newport disappointed — Sharp letter in the Newport Mercury — Four of the fifteen members from Newport voted for Providence — Names of the other seventeen members of the Corporation who voted for Providence — Names of the fourteen who voted for Newport — Summing up of the controversy by Chancellor Hopkins — Unreasonable enmity of the people of Newport to Providence — Move- ment for another College, to be located at Newport — William Ellery the leader — Article in the Newport Mercury cited — Action of the General Assembly — Special meeting of the Corporation held in Warren, April 25, 1770, and remonstrance pre- pared — Most important document — Settles points in controversy respecting the ori- gin of the College — Account of a seal prepared in anticipation of another college — Some special considerations which influenced in the final vote — Providence, a Bap- tist town — Letter from Moses Brown to President Wayland, giving reasons why the committee on location selected the home-lot of Chad Brown — Extract from the record of deeds describing the lot — Building committee — Nassau Hall, Princeton, selected as a model for the edifice — Manning's relations with the Church at Warren — Decides to go with the College to Providence — Action of the Church — Diary of Dr. Stiles — Howland's recollections of Manning and the College in 1770— Extract from Professor Goddard's memoir. Up to this date (1769) says Edwards, "the Seminary was for the most part friendless and moneyless, and therefore forlorn, insomuch that a college edifice was hardly thought of." But after the frequent remit- 1769-1770. BROWN UNIVERSITY. 109 tances from friends in England and Ireland, and the general interest awakened by the first Commencement, "some began to hope, and many to fear, that the Institution would come to something and stand. Then a building and the place of it were talked of, which opened a new scene of troubles and contentions, and that had well nigh ruined all. Warren was at first agreed upon as a proper situation, where a small wing was to be erected in the spring of 1770, and about eight hundred pounds raised towards effecting it. But soon afterwards some who were unwilling it should be there, and some who were unwilling it should be anywhere, did so far agree as to lay aside the said location, and propose that the county which should raise the most money should have the College. Then the four counties went to work with subscrip- tions. That of Providence bid high for it, which made the county of Newport, which is jealous of Providence on account of trade, exert itself to the utmost. However, Providence obtained it, which so touched the jealousy and piqued the pride of the Islanders, as to make many of them enemies to the Institution itself. The same is too much the case with the other disappointed counties. Nevertheless, by the adventurous and resolute spirit of the Browns, and some other men of Providence, the edifice was begun in May, 1770, and roofed by the fall of the year. The next summer the inside was so far finished as to be fit for the recep- tion of scholars." The account of the final location of the College, to which the writer has devoted thirty-eight pages of a previous work, 1 forms an important and deeply interesting chapter in the early history of Rhode Island. The vote of the Corporation appointing James Manning President and Pro- fessor, and authorizing him " immediately to act in those capacities at Warren or elsewhere," shows that there was in the beginning an uncer- tainty in the minds of members of the Corporation as to the permanent location. The first mention of the subject in the records appears under date of September, 1768, and reads as follows : — Voted, That the Hon. Josias Lyndon, Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Hon. Samuel Ward, the President, Nicholas Easton, Esq., Rev. Russell Mason, and Nicholas Brown, Esq., be 1 Documentary History of Brown University. 110 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. a committee to examine what place is most suitable to fix the college edifice upon, and to make report to the next annual meeting. Voted, That the next annual meeting be at Warren. Ordered, That the Secretary do notify the next annual meeting at Warren six weeks successively previous to their meeting, by an advertisement in the Newport and Providence newspapers, and that 'tis proposed to take into consideration a suitable place for erecting a college edifice. Agreeably to the foregoing votes, the Corporation met at Warren, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 1769, the day before Commencement, and after the transaction of routine business, adjourned until seven o'clock the next morning. At this adjourned meeting the committee made the follow- ing report : — We, the subscribers, being appointed to consider of the most suitable place to erect the College edifice on, are of opinion that said edifice be placed in some part of the county of Bristol ; and that a committee be appointed to point such a place as shall be most convenient and be had upon the best terms. "Whereupon," the record adds, "the Corporation voted generally to accept said report, and it was accepted accordingly." Resolved, That Sylvester Child, Esq., Mr. John Brown, Capt. John Warren, and Mr. Nathan Miller, be a committee to purchase materials, agree for a suitable place to erect the edifice on, to take a deed for the same in behalf of the Corporation, and carry said building into execution as soon as they can ; and that any three of them be a quorum ; and that they be empowered to solicit and receive subscriptions. Neither Brown nor Miller were at this time members of the Corpora- tion. The former, although the leading man in the erection of the building, laying the corner stone, supervising the construction and mak- ing up the accounts, was not made a Trustee until 1774. The latter was never a member of the Corporation. At an adjourned meeting held Friday morning, September 8th, at seven o'clock, it was Resolved, That Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq., Mr. Joseph Brown, and Rev. John Davi3 be a committee to draft instructions and prepare a model of the house proposed to be 1769-1770. AND MANNING. Ill erected, to be directions, by the approbation of the Corporation, for the committee appointed to carry the same into execution. Resolved, That Archibald Campbell, Esq., be added to the committee for placing the college edifice. At a subsequent stage of the meeting the committee to draft instruc- tions reported : — 1. That a suitable place be procured for erecting the College edifice on the easiest terms, and that the title be indisputable ; and that proper and sufficient deeds of con- veyance for said land be taken for the Corporation. 2. That the building do not exceed sixty-six feet long, and thirty-six wide, and three stories high. That it be a plain building, the walls of the best bricks and lime, the win- dow and door frames of red cedar ; that there be a cupola for a bell ; that the first build- ing be so situated as to be one wing of the whole College edifice when complete ; and that there be a cellar under the whole. , 3. As there is a want of time at present, that a committee be appointed to furnish the committee for building with a complete draught of the whole building. i. That the committee for building procure the best materials on the best and easiest terms. 5. That the committee for building make provision this year, that the workmen may begin in the next. In accordance with the third recommendation of the foregoing report, it was Voted, That the Chancellor, the President, and Mr. Joseph Brown be a committee to prepare a complete model of the building according to the report of the above com- mittee, and deliver the same to the committee for building. Voted, That the committee for building be empowered to draw upon the Treasurer for money from time to time to carry on said building, and that they render accounts to the Corporation at each of the meetings ; which the Secretary is hereby ordered to notify successively in the public prints for three weeks before this meeting. What funds were in the hands of the Treasurer for building purposes at this time is nowhere stated. In the diary of Hezekiah Smith, under date of Thursday, Sept. 5, 1765, when he was elected a member of the Board of Fellows, we read as follows: — "We, although but a part of 112 BKOWN UNIVEESITY Chap. III. the Corporation, subscribed for the building, and the endowing of the College, nineteen hundred and ninety-two dollars." It was in reference, doubtless, to this meeting of the Corporation and the question of final location, that the church at Warren, immediately after Commencement, came together and Voted, That the meeting-house of this town he and is for the use of the Corporation and President at Commencement times ; and oftener, if wanted by either, only so as not to interfere with Divine worship ; Provided, that the College edifice he founded and built in the County of Bristol ; and that the parsonage-house in said Warren be for the use of the President, so long as the President be our minister. 1 Hardly had the Corporation adjourned before efforts were made to have the College established in East Greenwich, County of Kent. Soon after the meeting the following citation appeared in the Provi- dence and Newport papers : — This is to notify the members of the Corporation of the College within this Colony, that application has been made, by the gentlemen of the County of Kent, setting forth that they have opened a subscription for founding and endowing said College, on condi- tion that the edifice be erected in the County of Kent ; and desiring an opportunity of assigning their reasons to the Corporation for a reconsideration of the vote at their last meeting, for erecting the edifice in the County of Bristol. This is therefore to desire all the members of the said Corporation to meet at the Court House in Newport, on Tues- day, the 14th of November next, at 10 o'clock, a. m., to hear such propositions as shall be laid before them, relative to placing said edifice, and transacting any other necessary business ; at which time and place the gentlemen concerned in procuring subscriptions for the different places are desired, by themselves or their committees, to appear, pre- sent their several subscriptions, and offer their reasons in favor of the respective places. By order. Thomas Eyres, Secretary. October 18, 1769. The first motion to have the College in Providence came, so far as can be learned, from Mr. Moses Brown, the distinguished founder of the Friends' School, or Quaker College. In a letter to his brothers, JTustin's Historical Discourse. at the Dedication of the new church edifice. 12mo. Prov., 1845, page 126. 1769-1770. AND MANNING. 113 Nicholas, Joseph, and John, dated Newport, Oct. 23, 1769, he thus writes : — I had yesterday, on the road, a full conversation with Mr. Sessions on affairs of the College. His objections are such to Warren, that he says he cannot encourage it if set there, but if it could be erected at Providence, he would give one hundred dollars, and engage to procure one or two scholars from the country ; and should there be a vacancy in the Corporation, he would, if desired again, accept a place therein, and as a member do all he could for the College. And when we consider the number of advantages which Providence has over Warren, I am much inclined to think that it is yet within our reach. Agreeably to the citation in the papers, a special meeting of the Corporation was held in the Court House at Newport, on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 1769, at which were present five Fellows, including the President, and twenty- three Trustees. During this meeting, which was continued three days, the claims of Warren, East Greenwich, Providence, and Newport were thoroughly advocated and discussed. Wednesday morn- ing it was resolved : — "To recede from the vote of the last meeting to erect the College edifice in the County of Bristol. ' ' In the afternoon of the same day it was voted : — " That the business of the Corporation be not postponed for a distant adjournment." Thursday morning, the last day of the meeting, it was resolved : — That the place for erecting the College edifice be now fixed ; but that nevertheless the committee who shall be appointed to carry on the work, do not proceed to procure any materials for the same, excepting such as may be easily transported to any other place, should another hereafter be thought better, until further orders from this Cor- poration, if such orders be given before the first day of January next. And that in case any subscription be raised in the county of Newport or any other county equal or superior to any now offered, or that shall be offered, and the Corporation be called together in consequence thereof, that then the vote for fixing the College edifice shall not be esteemed binding ; but so that the Corporation may fix the edifice in another place, in case they shall think proper. It was then voted, "That the College edifice be at Peovt- dence ; that the President, Job Bennet, Esq., Mr. John Brown, Capt. John Warren, and Mr. John Jenckes be a committee to fix a 15 114 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap III. suitable place for building the edifice ; that the Chancellor, Mr. John Brown, Capt. John Warren, and Sylvester Child, Esq., be a committee to carry on the building of the College edifice." Mr. Brown, as has been observed, was not at this time a member of the Corporation. Mr. Jenckes was the only son of Judge Daniel Jenckes. Judge Jenckes died in 1774, when his son succeeded him as a member of the Board of Trustees. Governor Sessions, in accordance with Mr. Brown's suggestion, was made a Trustee in 1770. His views in general in regard to a suitable place for the location of a seminary of learning, which it appears were presented at this meeting of the Cor- poration in Newport, have been preserved on file. The reader who consults the "Documentary History" will find them, as there pre- sented, entertaining as well as instructive. Mr. Sessions gives five reasons why Providence should be preferred to either Warren or East Greenwich. His third reason, that "the town should be large and populous, so that on Commencements, or other public occasions, the large number of people that usually attend may be agreeably enter- tained and provided for, ' ' shows that the Commencement at Warren, and the large number of friends and strangers who crowded the little town of less than one thousand inhabitants on that occasion, made an impression upon his mind. His final argument, that "a college should not be erected where communication is liable to be interrupted by a hard frost or high and contrary winds," thus "cutting off all supplies of fuel, provisions, and other necessaries, and preventing mutual inter- course," suggests a marked contrast to the facilities of communication in these days of telegraph and telephone, of steam and electric locomo- tion. The memorial from East Greenwich, which appears to have been presented on the last day of the meeting, is signed by William Greene, Nathanael Greene, Jr., Preserved Pearce, and Charles Holden, Jr. Chief Justice Greene, whose name appears at the head of the commit- tee, was in 1778, elected Governor of the State, which office he held eight years. He was chosen a Trustee of the College in 1785, as the successor of Governor Hopkins, deceased. It seems hardly necessary 1769-1770. ' AND MANNING. 115 to add that the second name upon the list is that of one who afterwards became the distinguished Major-General of the American Revolution, and was now about to take his first lessons in public life as a member of the General Assembly from Coventry. Mr. Pearce, or Major Pearce, as he was called, was at this time a member of the Assembly from East Greenwich, while Mr. Holden, a few years later, represented the town of Warwick. The arguments urged by the memorialists were : first, that East Greenwich was situated nearly in the centre of the Colony ; secondly, that the Government would be more likely to take the Col- lege under its care and protection at East Greenwich than elsewhere ; and thirdly, that the town of East Greenwich was well situated for pleasantness, surrounded with a country abounding with every neces- sary supply, having a post-office and easy communications, while Providence, it was urged, though well calculated for trade, was too large and populous for a college. The memorial from Providence, which was presented on the second day of the meeting, is signed by John Cole, Moses Brown, and Hay- ward Smith. Mr. Cole, who was postmaster, had been for several years a member of the General Assembly, and since 1762 had been chairman of the Town Council. Mr. Brown, it is needless to add, was one of the leading citizens of the town. The first reason urged in behalf of Providence was, that the inhabitants had generously sub- scribed for the Institution eight hundred pounds, or nearly twenty- seven hundred dollars ; and that their conditional subscription amounted to six thousand two hundred and sixty dollars more ; secondly, that the intention of the charter was to found a college or university upon the most Catholic principles subject to the control of the Baptist denomination at whose expense it would be chiefly supported, and that Providence had every advantage for free public worship and liberty of conscience ; thirdly, that the situation of the town was central ; that it had four public school-houses ; a public library ; all the materials necessary to erect the buildings ; and " two printing offices, which will much contribute to the emolument of the College, there being thus published a weekly collection of interesting intelligence, which not only 116 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. tends to the enlargement of the minds of the youth, but will give them early opportunities of displaying their genius upon any useful and speculative subjects, and which must excite in them an emulation to excel in their studies." The argument of the memorialists based upon the "two printing offices," has at least the merit of novelty. Whether the " early opportunities of displaying their genius ' ' thus afforded the students, would be recommended by the Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature in these later days, or be satisfactory to the learned readers of the Providence Journal, we will not attempt to say. John Milton's "Speech for the Liberty of Unlicensed Printing" may possi- bly have had something to do with the suggestion of this argument. From all that appears, the reliance of Providence in the contest for the College now in progress, was not so much upon the generous sub- scriptions of its citizens, as upon their disinterested zeal and the perfect religious freedom which prevailed among them, so entirely in harmony with the spirit of the College charter, and in accordance with the prin- ciples upon which the Colony had been founded. Providence contained about this time, according to Dr. Stiles's estimate, "five hundred dwell- ing-houses, and about four thousand inhabitants, or half as big as New- port." . . . " I estimate one hundred families real Baptists; one hun- dred and forty political Baptists and nothingarians ; one hundred and forty Mr. Snow's congregation, two-thirds Baptists, one-third Presbyte- rians ; sixty Pedobaptist Congregationalists ; forty Episcopalians ; twenty families, Quakers, a few Sandemanians, and about twenty or forty persons, Deists." 1 The prevailing religious sentiment, it will thus be seen, was largely Baptist, and hence in sympathy with a Baptist col- lege. In Newport, on the contrary, there was an Episcopal element, the many revenue officers and servants of the Crown residing there, and not a few of the princely merchants being attached to the Church of England. There were also two flourishing Congregational churches, the first under the care of Samuel Hopkins, the founder of a new school of theology, and the second under Ezra Stiles, whom the historian i Extracts from Dr. Stiles's diary, under date of Nov. 13, 1771, and Aug. 25, 1772. See Appendix to President Sears's Centennial Discourse, pages 100-101. 1769-1770. AND MANNING. 117 Greene designates as "the most learned American of his day." The main opposition to the College in the beginning, as will be seen in our chapter on the charter, came from the Congregationalists ; and they continued for many years to show an unfriendly spirit, as the pages of Manning, Backus, and Smith throughout show. The increasing interest taken in the location of the College by the various contending parties, and the general views and considerations which influenced their actions, may be readily inferred from a well writ- ten article which appeared in the Neivport Mercury, under date of Nov. 20, 1769 ; in which the writer, after dwelling upon the reputation of the island for health and pleasantness, and the advantages of the Red- wood Library which the professors and students might enjoy, shows that the interests of the town would be greatly promoted by ' ' boarding and supplying so many persons coming from abroad and spending their money among us." In the diary of Dr. Stiles, under date of Jan. 3, 1770, is an important entry: — Dr. Eyres visited me this morning to discourse about the place of the Baptist College. He tells me that Providence has subscribed £3,090, lawful money, of which about £2,200 is truly conditioned that the College edifice be erected there ; but, of the £800 they had before subscribed unconditionally, they had the subscription papers in their own hands , and refused to deliver them, holding in this manner about £500 conditioned. Dr. Eyres said that the Newport subscription was about £2,700, but said they did not choose to mention the amount exactly, nor how much conditionally. The case is this : — Mr. Red- wood and some others have said they would give largely in case it was here ; but that Providence, by artifice and stratagem would eventually get it there ; and yet would not subscribe, but will undoubtedly give liberally. So there is a real uncertainty. They are endeavoring to get a meeting of the Corporation but Providence opposes it. Mr. Manning, the President, is for Providence. From a letter addressed by Messrs. Nicholas, John, and Moses Brown to their brother Joseph, then in Newport, it appears that the Providence subscriptions at the close of the year 1769, had reached the sum of £ 3,424, lawful money, or about twelve thousand dollars. The friends of the College in Newport now redoubled their exertions, and raised a sum larger than had been raised in Providence. Notwithstand- 118 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. ing the exertions of the Browns to "stop the meeting," a citation for the Corporation to meet at Warren on the 7th of February, 1770, was published in the papers of the day, signed by three Fellows, namely, Joshua Babcock of Westerly, Thomas Eyres, and Henry Ward of Newport : — Whereas, the county of Newport hath raised a larger sum than any that hath yet been offered to the Corporation of the College in this Colony, to be paid to the Treas- urer upon condition that the College edifice be erected in the town of Newport : — This is therefore to notify members of the said Corporation to meet together at Warren, on Wednesday, the 7th day of February next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, to take into consideration any proposals that may be made for placing the College edifice, and to transact any other necessary business. At which time and place, the persons con- cerned in procuring subscriptions are desired to attend, by themselves or their com- mittees. From this time on, the interest in the question of location increased from day to day. Letters were written to parties in the country, hand- bills were posted throughout the two towns, caucuses were held, and the matter was discussed in the shops and on the corners of the streets. On the Monday previous to the final meeting of the Corporation, the following handbill was circulated : — Providence, Monday, Feb. 7, 1770. The inhabitants of this town and county are desired to meet at the Court House, this afternoon, at two o'clock, to hear and consider of some effectual plan for establish- ing the College here. As this is a matter of the greatest consequence, and the Corpora- tion is to meet on Wednesday next, a general attendance is earnestly requested. In accordance with this call, a large number of the inhabitants assembled at the place designated, and the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq., was chosen Moderator. John Cole and Moses Brown were continued a committee to lay the subscriptions before the Corporation, and the following gentlemen were added thereto, viz.: — Hon. Darius Sessions, John Andrews, Joseph Nash, David Harris, Daniel Tillinghast, John Jenckes, Amos Atwell, Joseph Bucklin, Jeremiah Whipple, Esq., and Knight Dexter. 1769-1770. AND MANNING. 119 The following spirited letter from President Manning, addressed to "Mr. Nicholas Brown, in Providence," shows that he was a skilful tactician, and that he used his great influence in favor of Providence. It gives an animated view of the nature of the contest, and of the earnest determination of the parties at issue : — Sir: — The time is now at the doors when it will be determined whether Providence or Newport shall have the College ; and as I think that the former is the fittest place for it, I would give you a gentle hint, that you may be prepared in the best manner to stand your ground. I expect Newport will exceed you in the largeness of their subscriptions, for they gave bonds last week for three thousand two hundred pounds, and had not rendered the subscriptions from Block Island, South County, nor from the Eastern shore, in all which places there was money subscribed for Newport. Neither can I tell whether the Warren subscriptions were contained in that bond. Besides, they were still subscribing in Newport. Redwood has at last subscribed his five hundred pounds sterling, etc. Now, as I am a friend to the College, and think your place the best for its settlement, I would advise you to get every farthing you can subscribed. But if, when you come to compare notes, you should fall behind them, they will make a great noise if you take in your unconditional subscriptions and plead your agreements for materials, etc., etc. Now, as I think you have the good of the College at heart more than they, it will stand you in hand to demonstrate this in the clearest light ; and this you can do by proffering to build the College yourselves, without even taking their unconditional subscriptions in Newport. Say nothing about the President's house ; but consult how large a house you can build, and finish two stories with your own money, in as short a time as you possibly can accomplish it, and engage to finish the rest as fast as wanted; for here you know you may have your own time, since boarding can always be had in town, and many will always choose to board there. So that the President can help you here to sufficient time to pick up money from other parts, or even enable you to finish the other rooms with the rent of those that are finished. Two advantages will result from such a proposal. First, you will throw your unconditional subscription out of their light, and give it its full weight in favor of Providence. Secondly, you can here make all the advantage to yourselves, from lying handy to the materials ; the whole weight of this will be thrown directly into your scale, and you can promise just as much more than they can, as the edifice can be erected cheaper with you than them, and as you will prosecute it with more spirit and do the bargaining and work with less expense. Here, too, you will have the advantage of them, as you have made out bills of every- thing, and bespoke the materials and workmen, and can push it immediately into exe- 120 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. cution. You might reason a month on these advantages and not make some dull souls see the force of it, so well as you can demonstrate it in this way in ten minutes. And I think you will he equally as safe in this way as in giving honds, and it must weigh much with the gentlemen who have the welfare of the College at heart. Besides, you will take them here at unawares. Give up the other subscriptions in the Colony to the Corporation, and let them dispose of them as they think best, and it will be a wonder if they don't find out by next May session, that there will be necessity of a house for the President, and very probably will lay it out that way. If you fall in with this pro- posal, it will be proper for four, five or six of you to oblige yourselves to the performance under a proper penalty. What I have heretofore said is to secure you against the first onset ; but if you should be driven from your post, the next thing is to secure your retreat. If, therefore, your vote should be receded from, your hopes must lie in divid- ing the members between the four places ; for it would be imprudent to fight Newport singly. It is possible you may have address enough to get Providence and Greenwich highest here, for the Newport members who favor you at heart, may vote for Warren and Kent without having their hopes torn down ; and if the contest should finally fall between you and Kent, you may guess how it would terminate by the last meeting ; and in this way I think all your members in Newport who favor Providence, may vote for it without incurring any damage ; — I mean at your final issue. I think you could beat Kent with greater ease than Warren or Newport; but of this you are the best judge, being an experienced soldier. There will many attend the meeting from Newport, for their spirits are very high in the cause. Proposals, too, will doubtless be made for an accommodation half way. But how great a sum will be offered for this is uncertain as yet. But should I persist in spilling ink and spoiling paper longer you may be weary of reading my jargon, and be solicitous to know my name, which at present I choose not to reveal. But am, to all intents, Your Friend, if not Humble Servant. N. B. You will excuse the omission of date, as it is quite unnecessary. In accordance with the citation in the papers, the Corporation met in the Baptist meeting-house in Warren, Wednesday morning, Feb. 7, 1770. Thirty-five members were present, as follows : — Fellows : — The President , Rev. Edward Upham, Rev. Samuel Stillman, Doct. Thomas Eyres, Joshua Babcock, Henry Ward, and Jabez Bowen, Jr. (7.) 1769-1770. AND MANNING. 121 Trustees : — The Chancellor, Hon. Samuel Ward, Hon. Josias Lyndon, Hon. Joseph Wanton, Jr., Rev. Russell Mason, Rev. Gardner Thurston, Rev. Samuel Winsor, Rev. Isaac Backus, Rev. John Maxson, Nicholas Brown, Joseph Brown, William Brown, Joseph Russell, George Hazard, Peleg Barker, John Warren, Nathan Spear, Nicholas Cooke, Sylvester Child, John Tanner, Thomas Greene, Ephraim Bowen, Edward Thurston, Jr., John G. Wanton, Daniel Jenckes, Job Bennet, James Helme, and Darius Sessions. (28.) The meeting, which was largely attended by friends outside of the Corporation, was continued from Wednesday morning until a late hour Thursday night. Subscriptions and securities were finally offered from the town and county of Newport, amounting, according to the records, to £4,558 14s., lawful money, the greater part being expressly con- ditioned that the College be placed in said town. From the town and county of Providence were offered subscriptions and securities amount- ing to £4,399 13s. The final vote was as follows : — "Whereas, The Corporation have fully heard committees from the counties of New- port, Kent, and Bristol, upon their application for a repeal of the vote of this Corpora- tion on the sixteenth day of November last, passed for locating the College edifice in the town of Providence, and maturely considered the several sums offered, and all the arguments produced by all the parties concerned, and thereupon the vote being put — Recede or not — it passed in the negative, twenty-one to fourteen. It is therefore Resolved, That the said edifice be built in the town of Providence, and there be CONTINUED FOREVER. We have thus given somewhat in detail an account of the final location of the College, compiled mainly from the original records. The following letter from Manning to his friend Hezekiah Smith, who was now collecting funds for the Institution in South Carolina and Georgia, gives a very animated account of this memorable meeting : — Warren, Feb. 12, 1770. Reverend Sir : — Last week I received a letter from you of the 2dult., in which you inform me of your success at Georgia, and your expectations from the South 16 122 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. province. All your friends here rejoice that you succeed so well in getting the need- ful for the College. " Great luck to you," as said Mr. Francis in his prayer. I thought it strange that I had no letter hy Captain Durphee from you or Mr. Hart, as I wrote by him to you both. Last week I received a letter from Nelson, at Haverill, and he gives me a pleasing account of matters there. Had not his modesty forbid, I imagine he would have told me that the people were well suited with him. "We had another meet- ing of the Corporation last Wednesday, when there were thirty-five members present. They were called to consider proposals from Newport in favor of setting the edifice in that town, as they had raised by subscription £4,000, lawful money, taking in their unconditional subscription. But Providence presented £4,280, lawful, and advantages superior to Newport in other respects. The dispute lasted from Wednesday last, ten o'clock a. m., until the same hour on Thursday p. m. The matter was debated with great spirit, and before a crowded audience. The vote was put, Recede or Not? It went Not, by 21 against 14. You asked me in your last whether it had not raised a party in the government. I answer no ; but it has warmed up the old one something considerable. I was greatly censured by people in Newport for not joining to call a meeting about the first of January, and a great noise was made because I would not act contrary to an express vote of the Corporation at the meeting on the 10th of November. But at our last meeting the house gave me liberty to attempt a vindication of my conduct, and after hearing me through in the matter, they came to a vote, nemine contradicente, that they saw no reason why I should be blamed in this matter, and that they approved of my conduct. In the course of the debates there was some- times undue warmth, but, upon the whole, it subsided, and all parties seemed much more unanimous then I expected, in the after business. Many of the gentlemen of Newport said they had a fair hearing, and had lost it ; but their friendship to the Col- lege remained, and they would keep their places, pay their money, and forward to their utmost, the design. The College edifice is to be on the same plan as that of Princeton, built of brick, four stories high, and one hundred and fifty feet long. I wish I had a draught to send you, but it is not in my power. They determine to have the roof on next fall, and to cover it with slate, as they are now able. Now if we can get it endowed, we shall be compos voti. This I hope you will in part accomplish. I have thought of going to the Jerseys in the Spring. If I should I cannot go to Haverhill the first of May ; for I must consult my westward friends in a matter of so much conse- quence as moving or not moving with the College. If I go to the Jerseys, it will probably be about the middle of April. Religion is upon the revival in these parts. Messrs. Stillman and Spear were up from Boston, and Backus from Middleborough. It is said that the eight ministers at the Corporation meeting were all for Providence. This I will not assert, however. But I believe the Baptist Society in general are not 1769-1770. ANB MANNING. 123 dissatisfied at the determination. I could tell you a long tale if I had time, but can only tell you that we have twenty-three scholars, eighteen of whom are matriculated. Mrs. Manning joins in love to you, Mr. and Mrs. Hart, &c. Your unworthy brother, and servant in the Gospel, James Manning. The following account written by Mr. Moses Brown, on Friday, February 9th, the next day after the adjournment, deserves to be read in this connection : — Warren, Feb. 7, 1770. The Corporation met, swore in George Hazard, and chose Darius Sessions as one of the Trustees. The gentlemen from Newport kept off from laying before the Corpora- tion their reasons for asking a remove until after candle-light, and after we insisted that they should lay these subscriptions on the table. They handed a bond from sundry persons for £3,100 lawful money, being £10 more than our former bond. We insisted then that as that did not amount to so much as ours, with the land, that they should give up their claim, agreeable to promise, but after some debate adjourned about 10 o'clock in the evening to 9 o'clock in the morning. When met they presented two papers, but insisted on knowing the amount of our subscription, which we had before told them was to the amount of the bond, and the unconditional subscription of £800 besides. At length Henry Ward took me out towards the door, and declared these were all they had, and that they had no orders to go any higher, and proposed if we would not lodge any further subscriptions, they would lay down their papers, and proceed to trial accordingly. We agreed. William Ellery then lodged the papers before held, and would not deliver to anybody, being one bond for £150 lawful money, and one other for £300. When we came to foot our sums, we had about £226 more than they, ours being £4,175. Hereupon they delayed by many evasions proceeding to business, and insisted for adjournment to dinner; after which the meeting met, and after waiting three- quarters of an hour, Samuel Ward, Doct. Babcock, Henry Ward, and others, came in and presented a security for their unconditional subscription, which they said was £508, 14s. and a bond for £500 more. All this time no subscriptions were produced, they alleging that they had left them at home ; and none were finally produced. By this last bond they exceeded our subscriptions, land and all, about £385. Whereupon it was thought advisable to lodge the last subscription we had to make use of upon this occasion, amounting to £226, with the Treasurer, not caring to trust the vote, they being so much ahead, especially as they insisted that our unconditional subscription ought not to tell anything ; whereby they would be about £1,235 over us. This reduced it, so that reckon- 124 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. ing the whole of their sum and the whole of ours, they were £158 more than we. "We presented a calculation in the arguments, of the amount of the huilding if at Newport, more than if at Providence, amounting to £574 lawful money, which we insisted should be added to ours, leaving a balance in our favor of £415. The vote came on after long litigation and argument, both Kent and Warren putting in their claims. The vote was, Repeal or not. It passed in the negative by twenty-one to fourteen votes. So the merits of the Newport arguments made by Henry Ward, and others, replied to by self, Governor Hopkins, and others. Moses Brown. February 9, 1770. The following letter, published in the Newport Mercury, under date of Monday, Feb. 12, 1770, and written by one who attended the meet- ing, shows as Manning states, that the old party " was warmed up some- thing considerable." It is introduced as an illustration of the spirit of the times, and of the manifold difficulties which our pious fathers had to encounter in founding, locating, and endowing the College : — Mr. Southwick: Without favor or affection I expect you will insert the following, or say no more about the liberty of the press. Last Wednesday I attended the Corporation of the Providence College, for Rhode Island is out of the question, held at Warren, to consult and determine what town or county had raised the largest subscription, when it was evident to the greatest fool present, which was perhaps myself, that the town of New- port's subscription exceeded that of Providence, six or seven hundred pounds, lawful money, and, I believe on a just calculation, the difference would be more ; and yet, pursuing the arithmetic practised by a late session of Parliament in the affair of the Middlesex election, between Wilkes and Luttrell, that is, by the force of bribery and corruption, proving two to be more than four, the vote was carried for Providence. Astonishing! That four men of this place, some of whom had absolutely pretended to be friends of this town, and had subscribed a small sum for having the College placed here, should act such a low, base part, as to be duped by a set of men, who for twenty years past have, on every occasion, manifested the most inveterate malice against this town and island. The Rev. President has abused and sold, for a mess of pottage, the people of Warren, who have exerted themselves in a most extraordinary manner to serve him ; and yet, forsooth, he must have a vote of the Corporation to exculpate him ; but I observed a large number who held their hands very close to their bodies, and did not make the least motion to raise them in his favor. However, he is what he is, a wolf 1769-1770. AND MANNING. 125 in sheep's clothing, and will, doubtless, instruct youth in the way they should walk — after him. I hope, Mr. Printer, you will have a true list of the voters on each side at the meeting of the Corporation, in season for your next; as these things ought to be made public, that the people may not be hoodwinked ; the publication of which will be greatly to the honor of some gentlemen, and to the lasting disgrace of some others. I am yours, etc., An Enemy to all Hypocrites, and those who betray the Interests of this Town. Following the above is what the writer terms " a plain and incon- testable account of facts" pertaining to the final decision; in which the amount of subscriptions and securities offered by Providence is stated . to have been £4,399, 13s., and from Newport £4,558, 14s., leaving a bal- ance in favor of the latter of £159, Is. This agrees with the records. Manning, on the contrary, states that Newport " raised by subscription, £4,000 lawful money, taking in their unconditional subscription ; but Providence presented £4,280 lawful, and advantages superior to Newport in other respects." Mr. Moses Brown, it will be observed, gives a bal- ance in favor of Providence of £415, reckoning the cost of the building as being less at Providence than at Newport. The facts are all plainly stated. The difference in the amounts is evidently, as in the case of the "higher criticism," so called, of to-day, one of interpretation. There may, furthermore, have been a difference in the valuation of the land offered as a part of the Providence subscriptions. It would not be unfair, perhaps, to ascribe to William Ellery, who, according to the state- ment of Moses Brown, was present at the meeting in Warren, this caus- tic article in the Mercury. From beginning to end he showed himself a bitter and determined enemy of the College. • We shall see more of his opposition before we reach the close of our narrative. Of the thirty-five members of the Corporation who were present at this meeting in Warren, eleven were from Providence, and fifteen from Newport. The four members from Newport who voted "Not," on the question of final location, whom this writer in the Newport Mercury designates as " hypocrites," who betrayed the interests of the town, con- 126 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. signing them to "lasting disgrace," were, according to Manning, 1 the three Baptist ministers, viz. : Messrs. Upham, Maxson, and Thurston. The fourth member was without doubt Col. Job Bennet, Treasurer of the College from 1767 until 1775. He was a wholesale merchant on Thames street, dealing in cloths, West India goods and lumber, and renting houses, of which he owned a number. He had been an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, and was now an active and influential member of Maxson's church. Manning and Smith were very intimate with him, stopping beneath his hospitable roof whenever they visited Newport. In the account of subscriptions for the building up to March 11, 1771, his name appears for £64, 4s. lawful money, or two hundred and twelve dollars. This is the largest sum paid by any subscriber out- side of Providence. It is interesting to know who were the members from Providence, and also who from other towns voted "Not " at the final decision. The Providence members were as follows : — Chancellor Hopkins, Doct. Jabez Bowen, Doct. Ephraim Bowen, Judge Jenckes, Nicholas Brown, Joseph Brown, Joseph Russell, Thomas Greene, Hon. Nicholas Cooke, Hon. Darius Sessions, and Elder Samuel Winsor. The other Baptist ministers were Stillman from Boston, Backus from Middleborough, Mason from Swansea, and President Manning. Nathan Spear, a prom- inent Baptist layman from Boston, and Sylvester Child, a member of Manning's church in Warren, also voted " Not." These, with the four from Newport, make up the "twenty-one " voters in favor of Providence. 2 The Hon. Chancellor Hopkins, who presided over the Board of Trustees, thus states the case of the two rival claimants, presenting in a clear and concise manner the controversy from the beginning : — The zeal and spirit of the people here, more than at Newport, for promoting the College is certainly most evident: — First, by the unconditional subscription, which, in i Letter to Smith. " It is said that the eight ministers (Baptists) at the Corporation were all for Providence." * The following members of the Corporation voted for Newport, viz. : Doct. Thomas Eyres, Henry Ward, Hon. Samuel Ward, Hon. Josias Lyndon, Hon. Joseph Wanton, George Hazard, Peleg Barker, John Warren, John Tanner, Edward Thurston, Jr., John G. Wanton, Hon. Joshua Babcock, of Westerly, William Brown, of Swansea, and James Helme, of South Kingstown. 1769-1770. AND MANNING. 127 Providence, was nearly double to that in Newport ; whereas, if their zeal for the Institu- tion had been equal to ours, the number of the people and their abilities compared, their subscriptions ought to have been much more than double to ours. And, as this was coolly transacted in both towns, before any kind of strife was begun or emulation was raised about the place where the College should be erected, it is the strongest proof imaginable that the ardor of the Providence people, while no by-ends biased, was infi- nitely greater than that of the gentlemen of Newport. Again, if we consider the conditional subscriptions of both towns, we shall evi- dently find the same superiority in the Providence people's zeal for the College, for this subscription was set on foot and principally filled in Providence, from the very laudable motive of promoting the Institution and putting it in a condition that the College edifice might be erected somewhere, and not with the least view of circumventing any other place, as some have too uncharitably represented. We first with grief observed the very little progress of the unconditional subscrip- tions, after the Commencement, and that there was very little hope, within any reason- able time, that a sum in any degree equal to erect a building, which might be tolerably decent and useful, would be obtained. This being also observed by the late ingenious Mr. Campbell, induced him to promote a conditional subscription in King's County 1 and Kent, which, as soon as we had knowledge of, we also encouraged, in hopes that it might have answered the purpose arrived at. But when that had been fully tried, we found that the sum likely to be raised by it would be altogether inadequate to the design in hand. Things being in this situation, and after divers consultations had about it, we at length determined to open a conditional subscription in Providence, which filled beyond our warmest expectations, and seemed to promise that a College edifice might be soon erected. This subscription we offered to the Corporation at their meeting in November last, and they then approved of it. But some gentlemen of Newport perceiving a probability that the College might be erected at Providence, were moved by their unreasonable enmity to that town, to do that which the good of the Institution itself could never have induced them to do. They accordingly desired that time might be allowed to the people of the town and county of Newport, to see if they could not raise a larger sum for the College than any that was then offered ; and accordingly the time they asked was allowed, so long as not to delay carrying on the building longer than the 1st of January past. Yet, although they have taken near double the time allowed them, and the generous and public-spirited Mr. Abraham Redwood hath given more than a fifth part of the whole sum, yet their 1 Washington County was incorporated as King's County, June 16, 1729. The name was changed to Washington County, Oct. 29, 1781. 128 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. whole subscription doth not exceed ours, from which it is quite plain that their zeal for the College, even when whetted by their aversion to Providence, has fallen greatly short of ours in the conditional subscriptions also. From all which reasons, with some others too invidious to mention, but which will naturally occur to all who are acquainted with the proceedings in this matter, it must be very evident the College edifice will be much sooner built and the Institution much more encouraged and supported, if it be left in the care of the people at Providence, who have from the beginning shown so much zeal and attention to it, than if it should be removed and put under the care of those people of Newport who have shown so little regard for it in any other light than in making a matter of contention about it. The Chancellor alludes to the " unreasonable enmity ' ' of the people of Newport to Providence. It is a matter of history that there had long existed an unpleasant state of feeling between the two towns ; and it is evident that this feeling entered into the contest respecting the final location of the College. The famous Ward and Hopkins con- troversy commenced in 1755, and continued for thirteen years with all the bitterness of the most partisan strife, served, doubtless, to stimu- late the zeal and passions of the parties contending for the College. Governor Ward, who was an active member of the Corporation, repre- sented the people in the southern counties of the State, while the voters in the northern counties supported his more successful rival. The reasons " too obvious to mention " which determined the final vote, can readily be inferred by the readers of our narrative. The decided pref- erence of the President for Providence, as indicated in his anonymous letter to Nicholas Brown, doubtless had great influence with his friends, especially with those of his own religious denomination. And now comes another phase of this celebrated contest which the writer would gladly omit ; but historical accuracy and a desire to state all the facts require the details. In circumstances like these the sup- pressio veri, as President Sears happily remarks in his Centennial Dis- course, would be as culpable in the historian as the suggestio falsi. The decision, says Edwards, to locate the College at Providence, " touched the jealousy and piqued the pride of the Islanders, so as to make them enemies to the Institution itself." The opponents at once moved for nm-ino. and manning. 129 another college to be located at Newport. In a letter to Manning, Edwards adds: — When the College "had a locality and the beginning of existence at Providence, did they not, with some misled Baptists, attempt to get another college to destroy yours?" The leader in this movement appears to have been William Ellery. This we learn from Dr. Stiles. In his diary, under date of Feb. 23, 1770, we read : — "Mr. Ellery came to discourse about the charter of another college, on the plan of equal liberty to Congregationalists, Baptists, Episco- palians, Quakers." And April 1, 1770, he adds: — "There is now pending before the General Assembly of Rhode Island, a petition for a charter for a college here in Newport, since the first Rhode Island College is fixed at Providence. College enthusiasm ! ' n Judge Staples, in his "Annals of Providence," thus states the case : — « One of the results of the location of this Institution at Providence, was an application to the General Assembly, by another set of petitioners, for another college. At the February session, 1770, a charter for an academy and college, to be located at Newport, passed the Lower House of the Assembly by twenty majority. The applica- tion was not favorably received in the Upper House, where it was either rejected or indefinitely postponed." It was neither rejected nor indefi- nitely postponed, but referred to the next session, through the influence, perhaps, of Judge Jenckes and Moses Brown, two of the Representatives to the General Assembly from Providence. A writer in the Newport Mercury for March 12, 1770, who signs himself CD., after speaking of the want of good schools, which the inhabitants of the town had long felt, and of their efforts to have the Baptist College here, frustrated "solely by the unwearied pains taken to represent it as a party scheme," proceeds to give a concise account of the affair as follows : — A plan was then formed for founding a good school, the principal design of which was to educate the youth in the most necessary branches of learning, especially in the English language, in writing, in arithmetic, and in such sciences as are most useful in 1 Quoted by President Sears, in his Centennial Discourse, page 100. Dr. Sears was permitted to consult the Stiles Papers, from which he has made several quotations. 17 130 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. a maritime town. But as there are generally about forty scholars here, who study the learned languages, several of whom (if it could be done with cheapness and con- venience) would probably be educated in the higher branches of learning, it was thought best to enlarge the plan, and form a seminary to consist of a college and a school together ; the more especially as the conferring such literary honors upon the pupils as they should merit, would be an inducement to gentlemen without the Colony to bring up their children upon this healthy and delightful spot. A charter was accordingly drawn and agreed upon ; by which the government of this seminary is equally divided among the four leading denominations of Christians in the Colony ; and every possible precaution taken to preserve that equality forever. This charter was presented to the General Assembly at the last session and granted by the Lower House ; but was by the Upper House referred to the next session. As some of the gentlemen who were managers for the town, have been unjustly accused of being actuated by party views, in pressing the Upper House to a concur- rence with the Lower House, instead of consenting that the petition should be referred ; and as this present attempt to establish a seminary of learning here, pregnant with so many advantages to the town and Colony, must inevitably meet with the same fate as the former, if it be thought that some of the principal undertakers in it have nothing in view but the interest of a party, it is necessary to give an account, and explain the true reasons of their conduct. After every argument that could be suggested, was made use of to induce the Upper House to a concurrence with the Lower House, it was proposed by some of the mem- bers to refer the petition to the next session. Upon this the managers for the town very justly observed, that the referring the petition was absolutely, to all intents and purposes, the same as a non-concurrence. For it is the known and established rule and practice of the Parliament of Great Britain, and of every Assembly upon this continent, that all business begun by one branch of the Legislature, and not concurred with by the other branch or branches at the same session, dies of itself. And, if ever revived, must originate anew, and receive the concurrence and assent of all the branches, at the same session ; otherwise it cannot pass into a law. The reasons why this rule should never be departed from, are so clear, that they need not be mentioned. Exceptions, it is true, there have been in this Colony, owing to the loose and hasty manner in which business has sometimes been done. But even here, this rule hath been generally adhered to; the contrary practice having always been esteemed irregular. And in cases of importance, when votes have been by one House referred to the next session, they have, in consequence of an application of the other House, upon this rule been acted upon and finished the same session. It was further observed to the Upper House, that a reference would prove, at least, as fatal as an absolute non-concurrence. For, if the 1769-1770. AND MANNING. 131 vote of the Lower House, passed at February session, should he concurred with by an Upper House to he chosen in May following, when the Lower House, who originated and passed the vote, would be dissolved, and there would be a perfect new Assembly, no one would imagine that such a concurrence would make a regular and legal act. And therefore it could not be supposed, that any gentlemen in their senses, if they weighed the matter, would expend large sums of money upon so uncertain and preca- rious a foundation, as a charter so obtained. The generous disposition that prevails for establishing a seminary of learning here, which will prove beneficial not only to the present, but to all future generations, must give a sensible pleasure to every friend to the town and the Colony. There is the highest reason to expect that the General Assembly, at their next ses- sion, will grant the Charter. To give weight to our application, a handsome subscrip- tion will be necessary, and accordingly one will be opened the day after proxing for General Officers. It is put off until that time, to prevent any appearance or suggestion of party motives in prosecuting so noble an undertaking. Why the General Assembly did not grant the Charter, as the writer of the article says there was " the highest reason to expect," at its next session, which was held in Newport on the first Wednesday in May suc- ceeding, may be best explained by the following action of the Corpora- tion : — At a special meeting held in Warren, 1 on the 25th of April, 1770, it was, as appears from the records, Resolved, That this Corporation make application to the General Assembly and pray that a petition now before the Assembly for granting a charter for another college may be rejected. a The following citation for this meeting appeared in the Providence Gazette for April 7, 1770: — " This is to notify the members of the Corporation of the College in the Colony to meet together at Warren, on Wednesday, the 25th of this instant, April, to take into consideration sundry matters of importance, very interesting to the Institution, which will he laid before them. James Manning, President. Edward Upham, \ Thomas Eyres, > Fellows. Jabez Bowen, Jr., ) 132 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. Voted, That the Chancellor, the President, the Hon. Darius Sessions, the Rev. Samuel Stillman, Col. Joh Bennet, and the Secretary, he a committee to draw a memorial to the General Assembly pursuant to the preceding resolution. The record continues : — The committee appointed to prepare the remonstrance to the General Assembly pre- sented a draft, which being twice read, and approved, the Secretary is directed to make a fair copy, sign it, and deliver it to the committee which will be appointed to present it to the General Assembly. Voted, That the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Hon. Samuel Ward, Hon. Darius Sessions, Col. Job Bennet, Moses Brown, Judge Daniel Jenckes, John Tillinghast, Oliver Arnold, and James Mitchel Varnum, be, and they, or the major part of them are appointed a committee to present to the General Assembly and enforce the said remonstrance. This memorial or remonstrance, which we are happy to be able to present to our readers, is preserved on file among the College papers. On the back of it, in the handwriting of President Manning, is the following : — " Copy of a Remonstrance of ye Cop n to ye G. Assembly against a new college. 1770." The handwriting within is probably that of Stephen Hopkins, chairman of the committee. It is an exceedingly valuable official document, inasmuch as it settles points in regard to the origin of the College which have sometimes been dis- puted, giving the reasons why it was founded, stating clearly, in con- nection with previous narratives or accounts, by whom it was founded, when it was founded, and where the plan originated. Two of the committee, it will be observed, Doct. Eyres and Colonel Bennet, belonged in Newport. Governor Sessions was a Congregationalist from Providence. Chancellor Hopkins was a Quaker. President Manning, the second one named on the committee, was familiar, of course, with all the facts in the case. Chancellor Hopkins, it may be added, the chairman of the committee to prepare the remonstrance, and also chairman of the committee to present it to the General Assem- bly and enforce it, was appointed one of the Representatives from Providence to the following May and October sessions. The other 1769-1770. AND MANNING. 133 three Representatives were Judge Daniel Jenckes, Moses Brown, and Benjamin Man : — To the Honorable the General Assembly of the Colony of Rhode Island, to sit at Newport on the first Wednesday in May, 1770: — The Remonstrance of the Trustees and Fellows of the Corporation of the College in said Colony humbly sheweth : — That, the several denominations of Baptists residing in most of the British North- ern Colonies are, taken collectively, a considerable body of Christians ; and these people, having of late years taken into consideration, that there are no public semina- ries for the education of youth, where those of that persuasion can enjoy equal freedom and advantages with others, were thereby induced to form a resoluton to erect a col- lege, and institute a seminary for the education of youth somewhere in North America, to be effected chiefly, if not altogether, by the application, and at the cost and expense of the Baptist churches. That, having proceeded thus far, they began to enquire after the most convenient place for executing their design ; and, on deliberation, finding that the Colony of Rhode Island was first settled chiefly by Baptists, that a very considerable part of its inhab- itants are still of that persuasion, and that a universal toleration of liberty of con- science hath from the beginning taken place in it, they had great hope it would prove a proper place for founding a College, and in which the infant Institution might be most encouraged ; and accordingly applied to the General Assembly of said Colony for a charter of incorporation, which they thankfully acknowledge was freely granted them. That, in forming this charter care was taken, that notwithstanding the burden of expense was to fall chiefly on the Baptists ; yet, no other Christian society should be excluded from the benefits of it ; and accordingly, a sufficient number from each of the principal of them were taken in to be Trustees and Fellows in the Corporation as might be able to take care of, and guard their interest in it, in all time to come. And the youth of every denomination of Christians are fully entitled to, and actually enjoy, equal advantages in every respect, as the Baptists themselves, without being burdened with any religious test or constraint whatsoever. That, since granting the charter aforesaid, several considerable men among the Baptists have taken great pains, as well in Europe as America, to solicit benefactions for endowing said College, and have collected considerable sums for that purpose ; and many others of the same Society have been very large contributors toward the expense of erecting the College edifice. All this being known and understood, we confess our surprise at the thoughts of 134 BROWN UNIVERSITY Ohap. III. those who are pleased to look upon this as a very contracted plan ; and this surprise becomes a real concern on being informed, that a petition hath been set on foot, and subscribed by a great number of persons, praying the General Assembly to grant another charter for instituting a college within the said Colony, different and separate from that already granted and established, and pretended to be on a more liberal and Catholic plan ; and our concern is increased to a real anxiety on perceiving the General Assembly entertained the said petition with somewhat of approbation. Permit us therefore to remonstrate, that, as we had firm reliance on the lasting faith and credit of the Legislative Body of the Colony of Rhode Island, that faith and credit hath by us as a Corporation been asserted and pledged, in most parts of England and Ireland, and in many parts of America ; and, on that foundation large sums of money have been given, and more subscribed, toward this Institution. That, should a charter be granted for erecting another Corporation of the same kind in this Colony, all those who have been benefactors to this will think themselves deluded and deceived ; not- withstanding we have acted under the faith of the Government ; and all those that hereafter might become benefactors will be discouraged and hindered. That, the granting of our charter, being for erecting and endowing a College in the Colony of Rhode Island, must, rational and justly, be considered as exclusive of any other college being erected within it. Therefore, your remonstrants humbly pray that you would be pleased to counte- nance and encourage the present Institution and College in this Colony, and not per- mit, or suffer, any other to be set and established to rival and ruin it. And your remonstrants will ever pray. This remonstrance, presented and " enforced " by such men as Stephen Hopkins, Daniel Jenckes, and Moses Brown, proved effectual. The charter for another college was not granted. The manuscript of the proposed charter, in the handwriting of Dr. Stiles, was for a long time in the possession of the late Dr. David King, of Newport, a grad- uate of the University, and for thirty years the honored President of the Newport Historical Society. He died in 1882, leaving behind a large and costly collection of books on English and American history. Into whose hands the manuscript has since fallen, we are not informed. The writer has an impression of the college seal, which was made in anticipation of the granting of the charter. It is in size like a silver dollar. In the centre is the English crown, surmounted by the cross, with several devices underneath. Around the centre are the Latin 1769-1770. AND MANNING. 135 WO rds: — "Sig. Col. Cust. Rhod. Ins. et Prov. in Nov. Ang." The seal was for many years in the possession of the Rev. Dr. Wyatt, for- merly Rector of St. Paul's Parish, Baltimore, from whom it came into the hands of his son, Charles H. Wyatt, Esq., Attorney-at-law." l The final decision to locate the College at Providence, although a wise one, as the result has proved, seems unaccountable aside from the considerations already adduced, in view of the relative importance of the rival towns. Providence was comparatively a small town, while Newport, with its eleven thousand inhabitants, was the second city in New England, and the centre of opulence, refinement, and learning. "She had," says the historian, 2 "seventeen manufactories of sperm oil and candles, five rope-walks, three sugar refineries, one brewery, and twenty-two distilleries of rum, an article which in those days was deemed essential to the health of the sailor and the soldier, and all hard working men. Her foreign commerce found employment for nearly two hundred ships, and her domestic trade for between three and four hundred coasting craft. A regular line of packets kept open her communications with London for passengers and mails. Her soci- ety had never lost the intellectual impulse given it by Berkeley." Doct. Waterhouse, in a newspaper article published in 1824, which has been frequently quoted, describes "the Island of Rhode Island, from its salu- brity and surpassing beauty before the Revolutionary War so sadly defaced it," as " the chosen resort of the rich and philosophic from » The following letter from Mr. Wyatt may be of interest in this connection: — Baltimore, Dec. 18, 1888. Mb. R. A. Guild, Librarian Brown University, Providence, R. I. My Dear Sir : — Enclosed I send you an impression taken from an old seal now in my posses- sion, which I am led to think may be an old seal of Brown University, and should be glad to know from you if this is a fact. From boyhood I remember this seal as being in or upon the desk of my father, the Rev. Dr. Wyatt, for many years rector of St. Paul's Parish, Baltimore, and of its being used as a paper weight. Of its history I know nothing, and cannot imagine how it came into his possession. If it should prove to be the seal of the University, and there is any interest attaching to it, I should be glad to send it to them. If it is not, you may be able to tell me where it orig- inated. Yours respectfully, Charles Handfield Wyatt. 1 Greene's " Short History of Rhode Island," page 203. 136 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. nearly all parts of the civilized world." Among the arguments advanced by the Newport contestants in favor of the College, was the advantage to be derived by the professors and students from the Redwood Library, which, at this early period, was the second library in the country, con- taining choice books in the arts and sciences, and especially rich in classi- cal and theological lore. Dr. Stiles was for many years the librarian, and from its precious stores he gathered much of the knowledge for which he was so justly renowned. Providence, on the other hand, had no such literary advantages. But her situation was more convenient, and in case of a rupture with the British Government, she was much less exposed to an invasion or attack. Her inhabitants, too, were more patriotic than the inhabitants of Newport. 1 Moreover, the great apostle of civil and religious freedom had found a shelter from oppression in Providence ; here he founded a colony and a church ; and here his lib- eral Baptist sentiments had always prevailed. And so the well known preferences of the President, and the "Baptist Society " at large, the great influence of Stephen Hopkins, and the resolute and adventurous spirit of the Browns and the Jenckes carried the day. The College was removed to Providence, and, in May, 1770, the corner stone of the building now known as "University Hall," was laid. The committee appointed, in the language of the records, "to fix a suitable place for building the edifice," consisted of John Brown, John Jenckes, Joseph Russell, Job Bennet, and John Warren, any three of them to constitute a quorum. The first three resided in Providence ; the last two in Newport. The lot finally selected by this committee comprised originally about eight acres, and included the "home-lot" of Chad Brown, the great ancestor of the Brown family in Providence, who was an elder in the church, and according to tradition, the " first Bap- tist elder in Rhode Island." Mr. Moses Brown, in an interesting let- 1 " There was still another class of readers whom Stephen Hopkins had in mind, in sending out to the public these carefully considered arguments. (The Rights of Colonies Examined, etc.) It was that of the Loyalists, whose numbers were at this time (1765) really formidable. They were specially numerous in Newport and the Narragansett County." See Foster's " Stephen Hopkins a Rhode Island Statesman," Vol. 2, page 59. 1769-1770. AND MANNING. 137 ter to President Wayland, under date of May 25, 1833, thus writes concerning this lot : — 1 "When the fixing of the College edifice here was firmly settled, rather than at Warren, Newport, or East Greenwich, which all claimed the preference, our house, then composed of four hrothers, viz. : Nicholas, Joseph, John, and Moses Brown, concluded to take charge of building the necessary buildings, purchasing land for the same, etc. At that time gardens and buildings were to be purchased and removed, besides the site for the College ; for we then knew the lot from Main street to the neck road on the east was the original home-lot of our ancestor, Chad Brown, of whom we had the tradition that he was the first Baptist Elder in Providence. Doct. Edwards, when collecting materials for the history of the Baptists here, and examining all the elderly people he could find here, on which business I accompanied him, was informed that Chad Brown was the first elder, although Roger Williams, being a preacher before he came here, was a preacher and continued it here for some time. Richard Scott says he was with him in the Baptist way three or four months, when Roger left them and went in a way of seeking. Roger's testimony respecting Chad Brown I have under his own hand, in a plea of his before the Court of the four New England Colonies, saying, " Chad Brown a wise and godly soul (now with God), with myself brought the first twelve and the after comers to a oneness by arbitration." Chad and his wife were buried in their own lot near the northwest corner of the now town house, and had a large square monument of granite over them, till by the request of the town to widen that street, their bones were taken up and interred in the North Burying Ground, and head and foot stones were erected over them by the town. I saw their remains when taken up. His son, John Brown (his eldest), was also a preacher, but not an elder, and was the father of James Brown, long a Baptist elder until his death. Thou may see by all this, our family had an interest in promoting the Institution now called Brown University, besides the purchase of the name by my worthy nephew, Nicholas. The following extract from the Record of Deeds, book 19, page 108, presents a clear and accurate account of the southern half of the original college premises : — To all people to whom these presents shall come: We, John Brown and Moses Brown, both of Providence, in the County of Providence and Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, merchants, send greeting : — Know ye, that we, the said John and Moses Brown, for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred and thirty 1 Documentary History of Brown University, page 207. 18 138 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. dollars, to us in hand already paid by the Trustees and Fellows of the College or Univer- sity in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England in America, the receipt whereof, by a discount out of the sums we have severally sub- scribed to the College, we do hereby acknowledge, have given, granted, bargained, sold, aliened, enfeoffed, conveyed, and confirmed, and by these presents do give, grant, sell, alien, convey, and confirm unto said Trustees and Fellows, and to their successors and assigns forever, one certain piece or parcel of land lying in the town of Providence, bounded . . . which said piece of land contains about four acres, and became the property of us, said Moses and John Brown, by a deed of bargain and sale from Samuel Fenner, of Cranston, who received it as one of the legatees of Daniel Abbott, Esq., late of said Providence, deceased, who received the northerly third part thereof from his father, Daniel Abbott, by descent, who purchased the same of James Brown, who received it of his brother John Brown, the present grantor's great-grandfather, who received it by descent from his father Chad Brown, who was one of the original proprietors after the native Indians of whom it was purchased, and is the middle part of that which was his house-lot or home-share of land so called ; the other two-thirds being the middle part of the original house-lot or home-share of George Rickard, since called John Warner's, which part was conveyed by the said Rickard to the said Chad Brown, from whom it descended to his aforesaid son John, who conveyed it to his brother, Jeremiah Brown, who conveyed the same to the aforesaid Daniel Abbott the elder, from whom it descended to Daniel Abbott the younger, and became Samuel Fenner 's as aforesaid : the whole of this piece of land making the southern half of the lot and highway leading to it whereon the College edifice is now erecting. The northern half of the original College premises, consisting of about four acres of land, was purchased by the Corporation, as per deed recorded in the aforesaid book, page 106, of Oliver Bowen, of Provi- dence, one of the legatees of the aforesaid Daniel Abbott, Esq., for the sum of four hundred dollars. Mr. Abbott, says the record, " took it by descent from his father Daniel Abbott, who received two-thirds part of it, being on the north side, from Robert Williams, by deed of gift, who purchased it by deed of bargain and sale of Robert Morrice, who pur- chased of Daniel Abbott the first, who was an original proprietor after the native Indians. The other third part the second named Daniel Abbott purchased by deed of bargain and sale from his brother John Brown, who took it by descent from his father Chad Brown." It will thus be seen that Chad Brown originally owned, or came into the posses- 1769-1770. AND MANNING. 139 sion of all the land which constituted the original college premises, with the exception of a small portion which at first belonged to Daniel Abbott. The following appeared in the Providence Gazette for March 31, 1770 : — Monday last (March 26th) the gentlemen of the committee for determining on a place to erect the College edifice within this Colony, met here, when after viewing several spots proposed, unanimously agreed upon the lot lately helonging to Daniel Abbott, Esq., deceased ; and accordingly on Tuesday (March 27th) a number of workmen began to break the ground, in order to lay the foundation for that seminary of learning. The " committee to carry on the building of the College edifice " con- sisted of Stephen Hopkins, John Brown, John Jenckes, John Warren, and Sylvester Child, any three of them to be a quorum. The first three resided in Providence ; Warren belonged in Newport, and Child in Warren. This committee prosecuted its work with remarkable energy and zeal. In the Providence Gazette for Feb. 10, 1770, only two days after the adjournment of the Corporation, appears the following : — The Corporation of the College established by charter in this Colony, met the 7th instant at Warren, in order to consider the claims of the several parts of the Colony concerning the location of said College. All parties being fully heard, and their sub- scriptions, bonds, and deeds lodged, it was put to vote, whether to recede from their former vote of the 16th of November last, or not. Which passed in the negative, twenty- one to fourteen ; and therefore said College edifice was voted to be built in Providence, according to the draft then exhibited, and there to remain forever. Therefore all persons in the country, who have been so public spirited as to become subscribers to this valuable Institution, are desired to call on us, who are a committee for the building of said College, and take memorandums in writing to procure timber, plank, boards, joists, etc., etc., as we may agree ; as said building will begin as soon as may be in the spring. Stephen Hopkins, \ John Brown, > Committee. John Jenckes, ' At the meeting of the Corporation held Sept. 7, 1769, the Chancel- lor, the President, and Mr. Joseph Brown were appointed a " committee to prepare a complete model of the building." Naturally the commit- 140 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. tee took for its model, Nassau Hall, in Princeton, where President Manning had been educated. This was regarded as the finest building of the kind in the country, as it was, in point of fact, the largest. Its dimensions were fifty-four by one hundred and seventy-six feet ; it had a projection of four feet in front and twelve feet in the rear ; it had three stories and a basement ; and the middle was surmounted by a cupola. Ground was broken for its erection July 29, 1754, and the roof was raised in 1755. It was named Nassau Hall in honor of King William the Third, a branch of the illustrious House of Nassau. After the final vote on the location of the College, the "draft was exhibited," whereupon it was " voted, that the College edifice be built according to the following plan, viz. : — That the house be one hundred and fifty feet long, forty-six feet wide, with a projection of ten feet on each side (10 by 30) ; and that it be four stories high." Meanwhile the President was prayerfully considering the sundering of his connection with the church which he had been instrumental in founding ; an event in which his tenderest and best feelings were involved. This was his first pastorate. For six years he had faithfully proclaimed to the people the glorious truths of the Gospel, and broken to them the bread of life. Many, through his agency were becoming wiser and better for time and for eternity, and how could he find it in his heart to leave them ? They were attached to his ministry, had con- tributed liberally towards his support, and earnestly desired his continu- ance with them. On the other hand, the College which he had served so faithfully was still in its infancy, with an uncertain future. For four years it had been without funds, and he had been compelled to rely upon his Latin school and the Church for the support of himself and family. It is true the Corporation had voted him, at the recent Com- mencement, the sum of £50, lawful money, to be paid him " out of the interest money supposed to be due " from the subscriptions obtained in England. Again the times were perilous, and should a war with the » mother country ensue, what would be the fate of an institution of learning, concerning the location of which there had been such conten- tion and strife ? 1769-1770. AND MANNING. 141 One of the final acts of the meeting which decided the location of the College, was to appoint all the Baptist ministers present, namely, Messrs. Upham, Backus, Stillman, Thurston, Maxson, Mason, and Winsor, "a committee to wait upon Mr. President Manning, and inform him of the hearty approbation we have of his conduct, care, and government of the College, and request him still to sustain the office he hath discharged with so much honor, and to go with the Col- lege to Providence when it shall be removed. And that they treat with the Congregation of which the President is Pastor, and inform them of this request, and endeavor to procure their consent to his removal ; and that report be made to the next Corporation meeting." "This cautious delicacy," remarks Professor Goddard, "with which the Corporation interfered with President Manning's existing rela- tions," presents a somewhat grateful contrast to the unceremonious and otherwise questionable modes of procedure, which, under similar circumstances, are now sometimes adopted. In his letter to Smith, which we have given in connection with this meeting, Manning writes : — "I must consult my Western friends in a matter of so much consequence as moving or not moving with the College." One of his Western friends to whom he would naturally first write was the Rev. Morgan Edwards. Mr. Edwards's reply is given in part by Judge Howland : — l I cannot help being angry with you when you talk of another President. Have you endured so much hardship in vain? We have no man that will do so well as you. Talk no more, think no more of quitting the presidency, unless you have a mind to join issue with those projectors and talkers who mean no more than to hinder anything from being dono. If you go to Providence, the Warren people may have a supply; if they were willing to part with you, it is likely the College would have no reason to covet you. At the special meeting of the Corporation held in Warren, April 25, 1770, it was voted, 1 Biographical sketch of the Rev. James Manning. See the Rhode Island Literary Repository for January, 1815. 142 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. III. That the President of the College he allowed a salary of one hundred pounds, lawful money, out of the Corporation treasury, and that the time of payment he computed from the last Commencement; that the Institution he removed to Providence, and that the students at their return, after this vacation, do assemble in that town with their proper officers ; that Joseph Russell, David Harris, Esq., and Mr. Daniel Tillinghast, they, or the major part of them, he a committee to hire a suitable habitation for the President in Providence, till one can be built for him, and that it be at the charge of the Corporation. Neither Harris nor Tillinghast were members of the Corporation. The President had now made up his mind to go with the College, and had probably so expressed himself previous to the foregoing votes. He at once handed his resignation to the church, "to the wonderment of his people, he being greatly admired and renowned." This is the language of the records. Truth compels us to state that the good pastor's resignation was not well received by his people, that the church positively refused to give its assent to his leaving, and, according to the records, seriously contemplated putting him under discipline. We copy from the records the following : — February 4, 1770. This evening the church met and had a conference with Mr. James Manning, as they had once before within three months, to know whether he was deter- mined to leave the church and follow the College to Providence ; and he satisfied the church that he would not. But it was requested of him that, if he should alter his mind, he would give the church timely notice, and he promised he would give them timely notice. But, April 25th the Corporation met, and the next morning he gave his answer to serve as President of the College at Providence, and removed the 4th of May, without calling the church together to acquaint or advise with them, which doing of his is contrary to his promise with the church. May 31. The church met as usual. Treating about Mr. Manning leaving the church, it was agreed that Bro. Ebenezer Cole should write to Mr. Manning to come to our church meeting the last Thursday of June next, to give his reasons why he left the church. June 28. The church met as usual ; Mr. James Manning came, but gave the church no satisfactory reason why he left the church destitute of a pastor or elder. In this connection we may give an extract from the diary of Dr. 1769-1770. AND MANNING. 143 Stiles, as quoted by President Sears. Under date of May 5, 1770, he thus writes : — i The Baptist College was last week, or week before, removed to Providence, and the Browns and Jenckes intend to turn off Elder Windsor and put in President Manning for their minister. Upon the Corporation insisting on an answer from Manning respecting his removal, he applied to his church and congregation at Warren for dis- mission from his pastoral relation to them. This they utterly refused. He, however, the same day answered the Corporation that he would go, and has violently rent him- self from his church. On Friday, May 4, 1770, as the church records of Warren state, President Manning, with Professor Howell, and the students, left Warren, and commenced the College in Providence. " On Dr. Man- ning's taking up his abode here," says Howland, 1 "he lived in the old house of Benjamin Bowen, which stood on the lot at the foot of Bowen Street, on which Mr. S. K. Richmond's brick house now stands. Mr. Howell was unmarried and boarded. The students boarded in private families, at one dollar and a quarter per week. There they studied, and at certain hours met in one of the chambers of the old brick school-house, with the officers, for recitation." This house, which is on Meeting Street, is still standing, and was long known as the house for the Meeting Street colored school. It is at present used for a ward room. Mr. Howland's recollections are so interesting that we cannot refrain from giving another quotation : — In May, 1770, one month after my arrival, the College which had been located in Warren, was removed to Providence. . . . There were only four in the Senior class. The Commencements for the first five years were held in Mr. Snow's meeting-house, that being then the largest in the town. Governor Wanton always attended from Newport, till Governor Cooke succeeded him. He headed the procession with the President. The Governor's wig, which had been made in England, was of the size and pattern of that of the Speaker of the House of Commons, and so large that the shallow crowned hat could not be placed on his head without disturbing the curls. He there- iLife and Recollections of John Howland. By Edwin M. Stone. 12mo. .Providence, 1857, page 159. 144 BEOWN UNIVERSITY. Chap. III. fore placed it under his left arm, and held his umbrella in his right hand. This was the first umbrella ever seen carried by a gentleman in Providence, though they had been some time in use by ladies on a sunny day. Governor "Wanton was the most dignified and respectable looking man we had ever seen. The white wig of President Manning was of the largest dimensions usually worn in this country. We close this chapter with another quotation from the chaste and appropriate memoir of Professor Goddard: — l Dr. Manning now entered upon a theatre of enlarged and responsible action. The College was yet in its infancy, and demanded his paternal supervision ; its funds were scanty, and needed to be recruited ; its actual system of discipline and instruction was imperfect, and required not only to be improved, but to be adapted to the new circum- stances under which it was hereafter to be administered. To these important objects he devoted himself, with patience and energy, and with that spirit of self-denial which is essential to the success of great enterprises, and which great enterprises are apt to inspire. In the beneficent work of establishing, within the little Colony of Rhode Island, "a public seminary for the education of youth in the vernacular and learned languages, and in the liberal arts and sciences," he was aided by the efficient co-opera- tion of the Rev. Messrs. Edwards, Smith, Stillman, Backus, Gano, and others of his clerical brethren. It is, however, perhaps not too much to say, that, but for the enlight- ened zeal and substantial liberality of a few Baptist laymen, citizens of Providence, the College would have been slow in winning its way to general repute. These public- spirited men, though strangers themselves to the discipline of schools of learning, knew how to prize the benefits of high intellectual culture. Though self-educated, they were without a particle of hostility to the distinctions of learning, or of that affected con- tempt for learned men with which the uncultivated sometimes seek to console their deficiencies. Moved by a generous ardor, they determined that their children and the children of their contemporaries should enjoy, to the remotest generations, opportuni- ties for intellectual improvement denied to themselves. "Well have they been repaid for their efforts in this good cause. Their activity and enterprise in the accumulation of wealth are now well-nigh forgotten ; but still fresh is the memory of all their deeds in behalf of science and letters and religion. » Memoir of the Rev. James Manning, D. D., with biographical notices of some of his pupils. Originally published in the American Quarterly Register. Pamphlet. 8vo. Boston, 1839. CHAPTER IV. 1770-1771. Hezekiah Smith appointed by the Corporation to solicit subscriptions for the College in South Carolina and Georgia — Credentials — Sketch of Smith — Account of his mis- sion — Letter from Oliver Hart — Action of the Corporation on Smith's final report — Vote of the Corporation in favor of the children of Jews — Corner stone of the College edifice laid — Progress of the building — Extracts from Corporation records and the Providence Gazette — Report of Nicholas Brown & Co. in behalf of the Building Com- mittee, March 11, 1771 — Account of receipts and expenditures — Report of the auditing committee — Hon. Nicholas Cooke — Further extracts from the records respecting the building — Manning's correspondence — Samuel Stennett, of London — Manning's letter and Stennett's reply — Hollis family — Eliphalet Smith — Samuel Shepard — William Gordon — Rev. Joseph Snow — Commencements held in Snow's meeting-house — Account of Commencement for 1770 — Meeting of "Warren Associa- tion in Bellingham, Tuesday after Commencement — Appeal to the Baptists pub- lished in Providence Gazette — Committee on Grievances — Hezekiah Smith chosen agent to the Court of Great Britain to seek redress from oppressions on the part of the Standing Order — Circular Letter for 1770 — Ascribed to Manning — Dr. Stennett's influence with His Majesty's Commissioners in disallowing acts of oppression in the Province of Massachusetts Bay respecting Ashfield — Extracts from "Acts and Resolves" — Backus on the repeal of the Ashfield law — Letter from Manning illus- trating his methods of discipline — Letter to Smith — Letter to John Ryland — Ryland's reply — Rev. Dr. John Ryland — List of men" recommended for College honors — Bitterness of the "New England Presbyterians," or Congregationalists, towards the College — Letter to Stennett — Trials and discouragements in connec- tion with the College — Account of Commencement in 1771 — Smith's diary — Presi- dent's address to the graduating class — Letter to Thomas Llewelyn — Bristol Academy — Letter from Nicholas Brown to Hezekiah Smith — Affair of the Ga3pee — John Brown — Letter to Ryland — Lotteries— Latin School — Commencement for 1772 — Smith's diary — Account of Commencement from Providence Gazette — Corpo- ration records — Need of funds — Letter to Ryland — "Inveterate enmity of the New England Clergy " —Donation to the Library from Dr. Gill— Letter to Stennett — Manning attends a remarkable funeral in Swansea — Esek Brown. At the annual meeting of the Corporation held in Warren, Wednes- day, Sept. 6, 1769, and adjourned from day to day until the 8th, it was Voted, That the Rev. Hezekiah Smith be desired by this Corporation to solicit benefac- tions for their use in the Southern and Western Provinces of this Continent or elsewhere, 19 146 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. and that suitable credentials be given him for this purpose, signed by the Chancellor, and President, with the seal of the Corporation annexed. The following is a copy of the "credentials," from a rough draft on file: — By the Honorable Stephen Hopkins, Esquire, Chancellor, and the Reverend James Manning, President of the College or University in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America. To the Reverend Hezekiah Smith, of Haverhill, in America, Greeting : — Whereas, the General Assembly of the Colony aforesaid, taking into consideration the many advantages derived to society from educating youth in useful literature, did grant a charter incorporating the persons therein named in a body politic, and empow- ering them to erect, found, and endow a College or University in said Colony: — And whereas, the said Corporation from the smallness of their funds, have found themselves under a necessity of requesting the generous assistance of the friends of religion and learning without the said Colony: — And whereas, the said Corporation at their annual meeting at "Warren, on the first Wednesday in September, instant, being well convinced of your affection and regard to the said College or University, and of your integrity and ability, did unanimously appoint and request you to solicit and receive benefactions in any part of America for the benefit of the said Institution. These are, therefore, to empower and authorize you, the said Hezekiah Smith, to receive all such charitable donations as shall be made in America, for the>erecting, founding, or endowing the said College or University ; assuring the donors that their benefactions shall be religiously applied by the said Corporation to the purposes they shall direct. In testimony whereof, we, the said Chancellor and President, have hereunto set our hands, and caused the seal of the said College or University to be affixed, this [L. S.] eighth day of September, in the ninth year of the reign of His Most Sacred Majesty, George the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, etc. Anno Domini, 1769. By order, Stephen Hopkins, Chancellor. James Manning, President. Mr. Smith, whose relations with Manning down to the close of life were those of the greatest intimacy, and whose name frequently occurs 1770-1771. AND MANNING. 147 throughout these pages, was born in Hampstead, Long Island, New- York, on the 21st of April, 1737. In his youth he became pious, and at the age of nineteen joined the Baptist Church in Morristown, New Jersey, then under the pastoral care of the Rev. John Gano. He com- menced his classical learning at the Hopewell Academy, entered the College of New Jersey at Princeton, and was graduated in 1762 in the same class with Manning. After leaving college he travelled through the Southern Provinces, partly in order to recover his health, which had become somewhat impaired by a too close confinement to his studies. In a single year he rode on horseback upwards of four thou- sand miles, and preached two hundred sermons, often to crowded and deeply affected congregations. He thus laid the foundations of lasting friendship with the Rev. Messrs. Hart, Pelot, and others of a kindred spirit, whose intercourse and correspondence proved a delight to him in his, riper years. On Tuesday, Sept. 20, 1763, he was publicly ordained at Charleston as an evangelist, and set apart for the work of the Christian ministry. The Baptist Church in Haverhill, Massa- chusetts, gathered through his instrumentality, was organized on the 9th of May, 1765, and he was chosen the pastor. Here he labored as an educator, a zealous patriot, and an earnest and effective preacher of the Gospel during a period of forty years, or until his death, which occurred Jan. 22, 1805. During the War of the Revolution he served as Chaplain, and was present at the battles of Bunker Hill, Long Island, and Stillwater, and also at Saratoga, when Burgoyne surren- dered to the American forces under General Gates. For a full account of his life, see "Chaplain Smith and the Baptists." Mr. Smith left home on his important mission for the College, Oct. 2, 1769, and returned June 8, 1770, having been absent from the people of his charge a little over eight months. He travelled exten- sively through South Carolina and Georgia, preaching as he had oppor- tunity, and prosecuting with energy and zeal the work to which he had been appointed. His fervid piety, his eloquence, his commanding pres- ence and genial manners, made him everywhere a welcome guest, and enabled him to overcome opposition and indifference. He succeeded 148 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. in collecting about twenty-five hundred dollars, most of which was expended upon the College building, agreeably to a suggestion made by Manning in his anonymous letter to Nicholas Brown, published in the preceding chapter on the location. In a letter to Dr. Stennett, dated June 7, 1770, Manning writes : — " Our brother, Hezekiah Smith, of Haverhill, has collected and obtained subscriptions in South Carolina and Georgia, from whence he has just returned, to the amount of about <£500 sterling." The following is from the Providence Gazette for Jan. 13, 1770 : — We hear the Rev. Hezekiah Smith has collected three hundred pounds sterling in South Carolina, for the College intended to he erected in this Colony. This sum, we are told, would have heen more than doubled, had it not been for a proposal lately made there to found one in Charleston. The high opinion that people abroad entertain of this Institution, which they manifest by their benevolent donations, cannot but excite the same commendable spirit in those of ability in the more adjacent polonies, particularly in this, and stimulate them to imitate actions so truly laudable. The following, taken from a Charleston paper, dated Oct. 26, 1769, shows that his mission was regarded with somewhat of distrust, and perhaps with disfavor, by not a few of the good people of the South : — In the sloop Sally, Captain Schermerhorn, from New York, who arrived here last Friday, came no less than forty-five passengers ; amongst them, John Smith, Esq., and Mrs. Smith, of New York; Capt. Elijah Steel, Mr. Thomas Ivers, of this place; and the Rev. Hezekiah Smith, who, we hear, is commissioned to solicit benefactions towards establishing a College at Warren, Rhode Island Government, while such a necessary institution is entirely neglected here. Surely, charity should begin at home. According to the account submitted by Mr. Smith to the Corpora- tion, at the annual meeting held in Providence, Thursday, Sept. 6, 1770, he had collected of " sundry benefactors " in South Carolina and Georgia, as per special account rendered and remitted to the Treasurer at various times, .£2,523-8-6, South Carolina currency, £5 being equal to £1 sterling. This would be, as already stated, about twenty- 1770-1771. AND MANNING. 149 five hundred dollars ; a large sum of money in those early days of poverty and distress. While the £888 10s. 2d. sterling, obtained in England and Ireland by Mr. Edwards, was constituted a permanent fund for the support of the President, the money obtained by Mr. Smith Was expended in supplying the immediate needs of the College. This we infer from the fact that in 1775, when Colonel Bennet resigned his office as Treasurer, the permanent funds amounted to but £1,349 14s. 8d., lawful money, or about forty-five hundred dollars. Of the balance of subscriptions due, amounting, according to Mr. Smith's report, to XI, 316 17s., only a small part was ever collected ; the dis- turbances of the times and the war with England that ensued probably preventing. A small duodecimo manuscript of twenty-six pages, in the hand- writing of Mr. Smith, is on file among the College archives. It is enti- tled, "An exact list of benefactions, etc., to the Rhode Island College, collected and got subscribed in South Carolina and Georgia, by Heze- kiah Smith." It gives not only the names of benefactors, with the several amounts subscribed, but also the names of others upon whom Mr. Smith called, with remarks added, such as, "No money," " Doubt- ful," "Probable," "Call again," "Out of town," " Go thy way for this time," etc. This interesting document, which the writer published in 1867 in his "Documentary History of Brown University," was obtained through the late Rev. Ebenezer Thresher, of Dayton, Ohio, a graduate of the University in the class of 1827. The following letter from the Rev. Oliver Hart, shows how Mr. Smith was received at the South, and how he performed the delicate and responsible duties of his mission : — Charleston, April 17, 1770. Dear Mr. Manning: As our good friend Mr. Smith is now almost ready to embark for your Northern clime, I embrace the opportunity of sending you a few lines, which I hope you will accept as a superadded token of my unfeigned regard. I am sorry that Mr. Smith is obliged to leave us so soon. His labors have been acceptable to my people universally, and many others have constantly crowded to hear him. Some, I trust, have received advantage by his faithful preaching. Two young men were to see him last night under 150 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. soul concern. May the good work be carried on in their hearts, and may we yet hear of many more being awakened to a sense of their lost state by nature. As to his endeavors to serve the College, they have been indefatigable, and his success has been more than equal to what could have been expected, all things considered. I am sure he has merited the grateful acknowledgments of the Corporation. No man could have done more, and few would have done so much as he has, to serve the Institution. He has met with much opposition, and borne many reflections, but none of these things have dis- couraged him. I heartily wish the benefactions of this Province may greatly promote the welfare of the College. Great grace be with you. I am, yours, etc., Oliver Hart. After the reading of Mr. Smith's account, the Corporation Voted, That the accounts presented by the Rev. Hezekiah Smith, of the donations and subscriptions by him received in the Provinces of South Carolina and Georgia be accepted, and that the Corporation highly approve of his conduct, and return him their hearty thanks for his great and generous services. Voted, also, That as Mr. Smith was long absent from his people -in the service of the Corporation, and his salary in that time would have amounted to sixty-six pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence, that the Corporation would willingly make up that sum to him ; but as he generously refuses to receive anything on that account more than a remission of his subscription of forty dollars to the College, the said subscription is accordingly remitted, and the Corporation gratefully consider the remainder of said sum which he would have received for his salary, as a donation to the Institution. The sum of twenty pounds having been reported as a subscription from Mr. Moses Linds, a Jewish merchant, of Charleston, it was there- upon Voted, That the children of Jews may be admitted into this Institution, and entirely enjoy the freedom of their own religion without any constraint or imposition whatever. And that the Chancellor and President do write to Mr. Moses Linds, of Charleston, South Carolina, and give him information of this resolution. We resume now our account of the College building. The names of the Building Committee, as given in the previous chapter, were the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, John Brown, John Jenckes, Sylvester Child, and Capt. John Warren. "The gentlemen appointed for carrying on 1770-1771. AND MANNING. 151 the building of the College edifice," says the record, "appeared before the Corporation and generously offered to do the same without charg- ing any commissions therefor." These gentlemen were the " Four Brothers," Nicholas, Joseph, John, and Moses Brown, who, after the final vote on the location, "concluded to take charge of building the necessary buildings, purchasing land for the same, etc." This we learn from the letter from Moses Brown to his "esteemed friend, Francis Wayland." 1 The following from the Providence Gazette of May 19, 1770, may be regarded as an official statement of the laying of the corner stone, which, according to Mr. Howland, was at the bottom of the cellar wall, in the southwest corner of the building : — Monday last (May 14) the first foundation stone of the College ahout to be erected here, was laid by Mr. John Brown, of this place, merchant, in presence of a number of gentlemen, friends to the Institution. About twenty workmen have since been employed on the foundation, which number will be increased, and the building will be completed with all possible dispatch. Tradition adds that Mr. Brown, in accordance with the customs of the times, generously treated the crowd with punch, in honor of the joyful occasion. Doct. Solomon Drowne, an early graduate of the College, in his diary, gives one or two interesting items: — "March 26, 1770. This day the Committee for setting the spot for the College met at the new Brick School House, when it was determined it should be set on the hill opposite Mr. John Jenckes, up the Presbyterian Lane. March 27. This day they began to dig the cellar for the College. May 14. This day the first stone was laid for the foundation of the College." The work now proceeded rapidly, and the enthusiasm of the people appears to have been very general and intense. As in the building of the Tabernacle of old, contributions of labor and materials were freely given. The progress of the building was greatly accel- lerated by the disturbances in Boston, and the consequent interrup- tions of business, enabling the Committee to secure from that place an ample supply of skilful workmen. As early as June 7, 1770, Man- 1 See Moses Brown's letter to Francis Wayland in previous chapter, page 137. 152 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. ning writes : — " The building proceeds faster than could have been expected, its magnitude considered, which is one hundred and fifty by forty-six, with a projection in the middle of ten feet on each side (east and west sides, ten by thirty feet), for the public rooms. It is to be four stories high, with an entry of twelve feet through the middle of each, and is to be built of brick. The town of Providence itself has nearly provided for the building, as they have raised by subscription near four thousand pounds, lawful money, at six shillings per dollar. The beneficence of a few Baptists in this place, their fortunes consid- ered, is almost unparalled." At the annual meeting of the Corporation, held on Thursday, Sep- tember 6, 1770, it was Voted, That the Corporation do approve of what the committee for building the Col- lege and the President's house have done in that business. That they be empowered to cause the stones on the College land to be made into a wall ; to fill up the holes from whence said stones were dug ; to remove and repair the barn on said land ; and to make such other improvements thereon as shall be thought by them necessary. The following vote will be read with interest, showing the great crowd of people that attended the exercises of the first Commencement at Providence : — Voted, That the thanks of the Corporation be given to the Rev. Mr. Snow and his society, for the use of the meeting-house yesterday, and that they repair all damages that were occasioned by the throng, and that the President and the Committee for carrying on the building of the College edifice do perform the same accordingly. From the report finally rendered, it appears that Benjamin Mann was paid by the Committee four shillings and eight pence " for setting seven squares of glass in Mr. Snow's meeting-house, broke at Commence- ment." The following appeared in the Gazette for September 15th : — The Corporation of the College in this Colony, at their last session, observing the extraordinary forwardness of the College edifice and the immediate necessity of money to defray the expenses, as the timber for the fourth floor is now on, take this oppor- tunity to request the severallsubscribers immediately to pay their subscriptions to the 1770-1771. AND MANNING. 153 treasurer of the Corporation, or the Committee for carrying on the building, or any others who may be empowered to receive the same. Another notice from the Building Committee appears in the G-azette for Jan. 19, 1771 : — The Committee for building the College desire all persons who are subscribers to pay their subscriptions immediately, as the workmen are now daily calling for their money. As advertising is attended with expense to the College, it is earnestly requested that it need not be repeated. N. B. Some inch and quarter plank and floor boards are yet wanted, and will be received in lieu of money, if brought immediately. The building had now approached completion, and a full account of the receipts and expenditures up to March 11, 1771, was presented by- Nicholas Brown & Co. in behalf of the Building Committee, at the Corporation meeting in September following. The amount expended for the President's house and the College edifice, for the two buildings were carried on together, was according to this account, two thousand eight hundred and forty-four pounds, five shillings, three and one-quar- ter pence, lawful money, equal to about ten thousand dollars. This original account of "sundry supplies "and " sundry subscriptions " is now on file. It is an exceedingly interesting document, written in a large, plain hand, and filling sixteen pages of folio ledger paper. Some of these items of expenditure are curious and interesting, illustrating the progress of the buildings, and throwing light on the habits and cus- toms of our fathers : — 1770. Jan. 1. To cash paid Robert Currie, for passage of Joseph Brown, Jonathan Hamman, and Zeph. Andrews to Cambridge, to view the colleges, 12 dollars £3 12 " " To cash, Joseph Brown paid the expenses in said journey 2 16 To John and Moses Brown's horses to Samuel Fenner's to purchase the lot for the College, and from thence to Jonathan Randall, Esq., and then to Fenner's again, in all seven miles 5 3 " " To John Brown's horse and ferriage to Elisha Burr's, in Rehoboth, to contract for brick, nine miles 3 7 20 Chap. 3 [V. l 6 l 6 15 6i 1 4 154 BROWN UNIVERSITY 1770. Jan 1. To Nicholas Brown's horse to Jeremiah "Williams " "To cash paid for the postage of a letter to the Corporation. . April 2. To cash, Zeph. Andrews paid for expenses in Boston, besides what Joseph Brown paid " 7. To postage of a letter from the Architect of Philadelphia,. " 17. To paid Wm. Compton for calling a meeting of the sub- scribers 2 6 " " To paid ditto for his attendance at a meeting at the Court House, and bill 3 00 " " To refuse boards judged by Hammon to be worth, to stick boards on, etc 4 " " To one-quarter-load of wood of N. B. to lay boards on 1 6 " May 17. To 3 qts. rum, allowed Cole & John Jenckes 1 8 " 24. To 3 pts. rum allowed John Jenckes for the scow men 6 10 11 25. To Town scow two days fetching stones 6 " May 25. To one-half day's work of Earle's negro 1 6 " " To cash paid Comstock for one-half day's carting with three creatures 3 " June 1. To paid Henry Paget, Esq., for twelve and one-half days' work of his negro Pero, and bill at 3s 1 17 6 ' ' 9. To one wheelbarrow, new, but broke to pieces in the service . 10 6 " 19. To paid James and Abraham Littlehale for one month's work of each at 30s., at the foundation 3 " " To one pail allowed A. Cole for the people to carry water to drink in 1 6 " " To \ gall. West India rum for the digging of the well 1 9 " " To 1 qt. ditto allowed by John Jenckes 1 " 21. To \ gall, ditto at twice for the well 2 " 28. To \ gall, rum for the well diggers 1 1 " " To 1 gall. "West India rum when laying the first floor 3 6 " Aug. 2. To 2 galls, ditto and 2 lbs. sugar, second floor 8 " 6. To 3 pints ditto allowed Simmons for " extraordinary ser- vices" 1 6 " 21. To 2 galls, good rum and 2 lbs. sugar when raising the President's house 9 8J " 25. To 4 galls. West India rum, very good and old, and 1 lb. sugar, third floor 15 1\ " Sept. 14. To 4 galls, ditto and 1 lb. sugar, fourth floor 14 7 1770-1771. AND MANNING. 155 1770. Sept. 14. To 1 pt. ditto allowed the carpenters gratis 7 " Oct. 9. To 7| galls, old West India rum and 2 lbs. sugar when raising the fifth floor 1 8 4 " 13. To 3 galls. West India rum when raising roof 10 6 1771. Jan. 7. To cash paid Oliver Bowen for the College land, the remain- der, £30 15s. 7d., paid by John Jenckes, the whole £84.. 53 4 5 " " To 5 acres land bought of Samuel Fenner, at 90 dollars per acre, is £135 ; to one year's interest, 8s. 2d 143 2 " Feb. 7. To 1 box glass for President's house 3 3 " " To paid Benjamin Mann, for setting seven squares glass in Mr. Snow's meeting house, broke at Commencement.. . 4 8 " March 8. To paid Ebenezer Leland, for painting the College and President's house 9 From the foregoing account, it will appear, that the amount paid for the original College lands, comprising about eight acres, was two hundred and nineteen pounds, or seven hundred and thirty dollars ; being ninety dollars per acre, for what is now valued at one dollar and upwards per square foot. The last item is for painting. It was hoped that the building would be ready for the students in the fall. Dr. Stiles, however, in his diary for November, 1771, thus writes : — " On Monday I went to visit the College, where five or six lower rooms are finished off. They have about twenty students, though none are yet living in the College edifice." A few more extracts from the records touching the College edifice, and we pass to other subjects. The auditing committee of the accounts presented by Nicholas Brown & Co. thus reported : — We, the subscribers, being appointed by the Corporation of the College at their meeting in April last, to audit the accounts of the Committee for building said Col- lege : — Have, in obedience to said order, carefully examined their respective accounts, with the several vouchers thereto annexed ; and we find a balance from the subscribers for building said College due to Nicholas Brown & Co., of six hundred and twenty- three pounds, five pence, and one farthing, lawful money, agreeably to the above account current. And here upon this occasion, we think it our duty to inform all the benefactors to 156 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. this Institution, that the materials for said College, appear to us to have been pur- •chased, collected, and put together with good judgment, prudence, and economy; and that this Committee, for this great application, disinterestedness, and activity, are justly entitled to the thanks of every one who wishes well to so arduous and important an undertaking. Nicholas Cooke, Darius Sessions, Joseph Russell. Providence, March 11, 1771. Which report, being read, was unanimously accepted and ordered to be recorded. Ordered, That the Secretary give a fair copy of the above report to each of the Com- mittee for purchasing materials and building said College, as a testimony of their entire approbation of their conduct. The Hon. Nicholas Cooke, whose name here appears as chairman of the auditing committee, took his engagement as a Trustee in 1769. Backus states that "he was a Baptist himself, though in communion with a Congregational church." The Rev. Dr. James G. Vose, in his "Sketches of Congregationalism in Rhode Island," says that Mr. Cooke's name appears on the records of "Father Snow's Church," now the "Beneficent Church," in February, 174T. In the account which Backus in his third volume gives of Manning, we find the fol- lowing, which illustrates the peculiar condition of some of the Provi- dence churches in the early days : — "And when Governor Cooke was chosen member of the College Corporation, and some scrupled whether he could properly be denominated a Baptist, because he was a member of a Congregational church, he informed them that he was ever a Baptist on principle, and was baptized by immersion, and should have joined the Baptist Church in Providence, if such doctrine had been preached therein then as there was now." "Baptism by immersion," Dr. Vose adds, in his history of the Beneficent Church, 1 " was frequently practised by Father Snow ; and the Providence River, then much wider and purer 1 12mo. Boston, 1894. See page 103. uu OO D o X OO z uu g OO uu Du Q z < LU y uu 5 uu O UU -J .J O u 1770-1771. AND MANNING. 157 than now, witnessed many such scenes on either bank, from the shore in front of the First Baptist Meeting-house to that on or near the site of the present City Hall. Many of the early members, and some in later times were thus baptized." Nicholas Cooke's name appears as one of the subscribers for the erection of the College building to the amount of forty-five pounds, or one hundred and fifty dollars. Thursday Sept. 3, 1772. Voted, That the tiles for covering the College edifice shall be retained for that use. Whereas, a sum of money is immediately wanted to defray the expense of slating the College edifice, it is Resolved, That the Rev. John Gano be appointed to solicit donations for that purpose in this or the other colonies ; and that he be requested to proceed upon that business as soon as may be. Voted, That the sum of five dollars be taken for the use of each room in the College edifice annually, from those who live in them. Thursday, Sept. 2, 1773. Voted and Resolved, That the offer of the Secretary (Doct. Thomas Eyres) be accepted, that he would pay the interest of one hundred dollars for three years to any gentleman who will advance said sum towards finishing the rooms in the College edifice, after the balance in Mr. Howell's hands was expended, the Corporation being security for the original sum. The accompanying engraving presents a southwest view of the Col- lege, together with the President's house and garden. It was photo- graphed from a painting in the possession of the family of the late Presi- dent Messer. College, Prospect, and Waterman streets were not laid out when the painting was made. The older graduates will remember the well at the southeast corner, from whence such cool refreshing water was drawn. The stone walls on the east and north are the walls to which Manning refers in his "trying experiences," as narrated by Dr. Water- house. "I made," says Manning, "my own garden, and took care of it, and repaired my dilapidated walls." The little building south of the house is the barn where he kept his horse, with which he was accus- tomed to journey during vacations. The little tower on the hill in the distance must be the "signal post," or beacon, erected in 1775, pursu- ant to the recommendations of Congress, for the purpose of giving 158 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. notice to the surrounding country, in case of an attack on the town. It was fired on the 17th of August. Its light, says Staples, was seen in Newport, New London, Norwich, Pomfret, Prospect Hill in Cam- bridge, and in almost all the towns within the same distance from Prov- idence. The following extract shows that Mr. Gano, Manning's brother-in- law, was specially active in advocating the interests of the College : — Thursday, Sept. 8, 1774. Voted, That the thanks of the Corporation he presented to the Rev. John Gano, for his having used his hest endeavors to promote a suhscription for this College in the Southern colonies ; — that the manner in which he has proceeded is approved hy the Corporation ; and he is hereby requested to proceed upon the same business in any other places and methods which he shall judge most beneficial towards the advancement of the College ; and the Secretary is ordered to give him a copy of this vote. One of the characteristic votes passed at the meeting of the Corpo- ration in 1770, reads asfollows : — " Voted, That the Chancellor, the President, and the Secretary, be a Committee to authorize any gentle- man to take and collect subscriptions in any part of the world." "It is to be hoped," President Sears playfully remarks, "that the same liberal spirit in regard to receiving subscriptions, will always be mani- fested in this University." Perhaps it was this vote that encouraged Manning to secure by correspondence the co-operation and assistance of friends in England. For this purpose the line of packets owned by the Browns, and running regularly to and from London, afforded good facilities. In pursuance of this plan, which he continued through life, he now addressed a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Stennett, whom we shall presently mention, as chairman of the committee to act in conjunc- tion with the Standing Committee on Grievances. Dr. Stennett was for thirty-seven years the faithful and affectionate pastor of the Baptist church in Little Wild Street, London, and was regarded as one of the most eminent ministers of his own denomination. His various con- nections with Protestant Dissenters generally, and with members of the Established Church, gave him an opportunity to commend Baptists on Samuel Stennett. 1770-1771. AND MANNING. 159 occasions when they required special aid. One of his constant hearers was the philanthropist, John Howard, whom Burke has so highly eulo- gized. George III., it is said, was on terms of intimacy with him, frequently calling at his house on Muswell Hill. He was remarkable, says his biographer, for the ease and suavity of his manners, for the good breeding, the polished language, and the graceful ways of the true gentleman. As a scholar and an author, he had no small repute. His Works, edited by the Rev. William Jones, were published in 1824, in three octavo volumes. These works, says Ivimey, display the author's proficiency in Greek, Latin, and the Oriental tongues, and establish his reputation for learning and genius. His father, Dr. Joseph Stennett, his grandfather, Joseph Stennett, his great-grandfather, Edward Sten- nett, his brother, Joseph Stennett, and his son, Joseph Stennett, were all Baptist ministers. The accompanying portrait is from an engraving in Rippon's Bap- tist Register. To the Rev. Dr. Stennett. Providence, June 7, 1770. Reverend and Dear Sir: Although unknown to you, I take the freedom to trouble you with reading a letter from an unworthy friend. I was urged to this partly by the desire of our common friend, Mr. Henry Williams, merchant of New York, and partly because I have often heard that you are a lover of our nation, and are engaged to further the interests of the Baptist Society ; as also that you may be informed of the state of our College, the inter- ests of which I am told you have at heart. Of this the late very acceptable present of your two volumes of Sermons is an additional proof. I heartily wish that your example may be followed by others of our friends who have written for the public. It was resolved, after long deliberation, to place the College edifice in the town of Providence, in this Colony, as most conducive to the ends of its institution. This, how- ever, has been attended with considerable difficulty ; but I forbear to trouble you with the recital of our little affairs. The foundation of the College is now laid, and the building proceeds faster than could have been expected, its magnitude considered, which is one hundred and fifty by forty-six, with a projection in the middle, of ten feet on each side, for the public rooms. It is to be four stories high, with an entry of twelve feet through the middle of each, and is to be built of brick. It will contain fifty-six rooms in all. The town of Providence itself has nearly provided for the building, as 160 BEOWN UNIYEKSITY Chap. IV. they have raised hy subscription near £4,000, lawful money, at six shillings per dollar. The beneficence of a few Baptists in this place, their fortunes considered, is almost unparalleled. I should rejoice to find many elsewhere like-minded. "We should then see the College properly endowed, as well as founded. This we must expect from abroad. Added to the sum collected by Mr. Edwards in Europe, our Brother Hezekiah Smith, of Haverhill, has collected and obtained subscriptions in South Carolina and Georgia, from whence he has just returned, to the amount of about £500 sterling. It would be happy for us if we could find in England a family of Hollises 1 to patro- nize our college ; but I fear the Baptists are not to expect such an instance of public spirit in their favor, although I have heretofore indulged such hopes, and am yet unwilling to give them up. Two young men have already engaged in the ministry who have been assisted by this Institution, and both from their beginnings give promise of usefulness. Their first attempts have thus far been highly acceptable to the public. May the Lord of the har- vest thrust out many more faithful laborers. In this part of the world the field for labor is very large, while the faithful and well-furnished laborers are truly few. To my great satisfaction, I lately received certain information of the conversion to Baptist princi- ples of a young Presbyterian minister, eminent for his piety and success as a preacher. The manner in which this was, by Divine Providence, brought about, is somewhat sin- gular. He was preaching upon John xiv. 15, when truth was let into his mind with such vividness as compelled him to open the nature of the ordinance of baptism so clearly as to convince the church, of which he was pastor, that believer's baptism by immersion only is a divine institution. In consequence of this, they sent a messenger to me to come and administer the ordinance to both minister and people, the most of whom expect immediately to submit thereto. As they, however, are more than one hundred miles distant from me, and near Mr. Smith, 2 he has engaged to supply my 1 Concerning the Hollis family, who for nearly a century continued their henefactions to Harvard College, we may here state in hrief , what Pierce and Quincy have given at length in their histories of the University. Thomas Hollis, the father of the " benefactor," was horn in 1634, and died in 1718. His son, called, hy reason of his donations to Harvard, Thomas Hollis, 1st, died in 1731. A second son, Nathaniel, died in 1738. A third son, John, was a partner in business with his brother Thomas. Thomas Hollis, 2d, son of Nathaniel, died in 1735. The total amount of the benefactions of this family up to this date, " exceeded," says Quincy, "£6,000 currency of Massachusetts, which, consid- ering the value of money at that period, and the disinterested spirit by which their charities were prompted, constitutes one of the most remarkable instances of continued benevolence upon record." Thomas Hollis, 3d, was born in 1720, and died in 1774. His donations to Harvard College during his lifetime exceeded £1,400 sterling. Timothy Hollis died in 1791, at an advanced age. He gave £20 sterling for the library. Thomas Brand Hollis, the last of the benefactors, was born in 1719, and died in 1804. His Memoirs were published in 1808, in two handsome quarto volumes, by his friend the Rev. John Disney. 2 Rev. Hezekiah Smith. In his diary, we find the following : " Wednesday, June 13th. Went to Deerfield, and preached from Acts xi. 23 : " Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, 1770-1771. AND MANNING. 161 place. I am also told that God is doing marvellous things in Virginia and North and South Carolina amongst the Baptists, bringing multitudes to suhmit to baptism accord- ing to Christ's instructions. And we are not quite forsaken in New England. In several towns on Cape Cod God is at work, although in general we have reason to cry, " Our leanness, our leanness ! " My situation in the centre of American intelligence, especially as I have travelled through, and have correspondents in, most of the principal towns, furnishes me with an opportunity of knowing almost everything interesting to the Baptists, of whose affairs, should you be disposed to hear, you may depend upon receiving the best accounts I can collect, whenever you lay your commands in this way. However agreeable the like from you would be respecting affairs in Britain, yet, amidst your more important connections and engagements, the utmost I presume to ask is your indulgence for interrupting you by this tedious epistle, and beg leave to subscribe, Dear sir, your most unworthy brother, James Manning. To this letter Dr. Stennett thus replies : — London, Aug. 10, 1770. Reverend and Dear Sir: I received your favor of June 7th, and take this opportunity of returning to you my sincere thanks for it, and of assuring you that a correspondence with Mr. Manning, for whose character, before I received this expression of his friendship, I had great respect, will afford me a particular pleasure. I write by Mr. Gordon, 1 a minister of the Independent persuasion of this city, who intends settling in America. He is a very sensible and worthy man, and has ample recommendations with him. His political was glad, and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord." After the sermon I examined the Rev. Eliphalet Smith and a number of his hearers for baptism. Thursday, 14th, I preached in Mr. Smith's meeting-house from Col. ii. 11, 12. After sermon I bap- tized fourteen persons, whose names are as follows : Rev. Eliphalet Smith and his wife Nancy, Dea. Wadley Cram and his wife Elizabeth, Samuel Winslow and his wife Jane, James Philbrick and his wife Elizabeth, Jeremiah Present, Moses Clough, William Tirrill, Hannah Polsiper, Nancy Folsom, and Isaac Blasdel, of Chester, the rest of Deerfleld, who the same day were embodied into a Baptist church. A good day it was, indeed. The goings of the Lord were very evident." Two days after- wards Mr. Smith baptized seven persons, one of whom was Dr. Samuel Shepard, who, in 1771, was ordained as pastor over the church at Stratham. Mr. Stillman, of Boston, preached the sermon, Mr. Smith gave the charge, and President Manning the right hand of fellowship. Dr. Shepard became a very active and highly honored minister of the Baptist denomination. A sketch of his life appears in Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit. He was converted to Baptist sentiments, it seems, by reading Norcott's work on Baptism. 1 William Gordon, D. D. He settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and afterwards wrote a history entitled "The Rise, Progress, and Establishment of the Independence of the United States of America," published in 1778, in four octavo volumes. For a more extended notice of Gordon, see later on. 21 162 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. speculations in favor of America, and some little misunderstanding with his people, occasioned by his not knowing how conscientiously to baptize all the children of those who attended his ministry, have engaged him to leave us, and spend the remainder of his life with you. Where he shall settle I believe he has not himself determined, but I imagine somewhere about Philadelphia or New York. Should he take a tour your way, I have no doubt he will meet with a friendly and brotherly reception at Providence. I was educated at the same academy with him, and have a great esteem and affection for him. Indeed, he is well known and esteemed by all denominations here. I am glad your College is in such forwardness, and that the design, which is truly important, meets with so much encouragement among our friends on your side of the water. The groundless prejudices which have a long time prevailed among many good people of our persuasion, will, I hope, in time subside ; and nothing will con- tribute so much to the removing of them as the zeal, good behavior, and, with the blessing of God, success of the first young persons you send out into the ministry. I look upon it as a very kind Providence that hath set you at the head of this College ; and as I am sensible you must have many difficulties to contend with, so I heartily pray you may have strength according to your day. The success you have already met with is a circumstance which I doubt not affords you no small encouragement, and I hope you will still, my dear sir, meet with a great deal more. I shall rejoice to help forward your design in any way that I am able. But you are sensible we have not a great deal of wealth in our denomination, and few of the Baptists, as I hinted before, are very warm advocates for learning. Dr. Llewelyn is your very good friend, and I am persuaded would be glad of an acquaintance with Professor Manning. I speak not from any intimation on his part, but from the particular knowledge I have of bis character, and his good dispositions towards your plan. We have had a great loss in Mr. Roffey, 1 who died in April last, and through whose further good offices I hoped your College would have been considerably benefited. But God will, I hope, raise up friends. I cannot now be so particular as I wish, as I write in a hurry. By the hand that conveys this I have written to Mr. Stillman, of Boston, whom I have, I fear, wearied with a very long scrawl. I rejoice in the agreeable account you have favored me with, of the success of the Gospel in many parts, and that the truth with respect to baptism prevails. May the knowledge of Christ and of His ways spread far and wide. We are i Mr. Roffey, it appears, was a benefactor of Rhode Island College. From the records we find that at a meeting of the Corporation held at Newport, Nov. 16, 1769, it was voted " That the thanks of this Corporation be transmitted to Mr. Samuel Roffey, for his generous benefaction to this Institution, by the Secretary." 1770-1771. AND MANNING. 163 not without some instances of the power and grace of God among us ; and I think the interest in many places revives. New associations of ministers and congregations are lately set up in the country where there were none before. As to Dr. Moore's scheme, he has met with considerable success, though as yet but little has been collected among the Baptists. I believe about £1,000 is raised ; we have obtained also £1,000 of the King. Trustees are appointed for the management of the moneys collected, among whom, of the Baptists, are Mr. Stead, Dr. Llewelyn, and myself, who consider ourselves as particularly obliged to look after the interests of our friends in Nova Scotia. As to political matters, my time will allow me to say but little now. The sov- ereignty of Parliament over all the British dominions seems to be the great object of Government ; and yet I believe they would be glad to have peace and harmony restored. I made use of the argument of policy, as well as of the goodness of the cause itself, in favor of the discussion in Nova Scotia, and it was duly attended to. I hope the dis- couragements the Baptists have lately met with in America are removed, and their grievances in some degree at least redressed. I am sure, however, it would be good policy, to say no more of it, in the other denominations with you, to treat them well. And our friends, I hope, see the importance and reasonableness of taking every united step that our divine religion teaches, before they proceed further. But I must not run on any further at present. It will, I assure you, my dear friend, afford me a very sensible pleasure, to hear from you quickly, and often ; and you will oblige me much by favoring me with all the news you can. My sincere Christian regards to Mr. Hezekiah Smith, for whose char- acter I have a high esteem, and all inquiring friends. I am, dear sir, Your very affectionate friend and brother, Samuel Stennett. The first Commencement in Providence was held in the meeting- house of the Society, now known as the Beneficent Congregational Society, on the west side of the river. This house, as Mr. Howland states, was the largest in town, and the congregation was largely Baptist in sentiment, two-thirds being Baptist, according to Dr. Stiles, and one- third Presbyterian. The Pastor, Rev. Joseph Snow, had formerly been a deacon in Mr. Cotton's church. In 1743, he with others, constituting at the time, according to Staples, a large part if not a majority of the church, seceded from the First Congregational Society, having become what were termed "New Lights" or Separatists. This was at the 164 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. time of the great awakening throughout New England, in consequence of the labors of Whitfield, when multitudes like Backus left the Stand- ing Order, and afterwards joined themselves to the Baptists. A new society was formed, a house of worship was built on the lot where the present house stands, and in 1747 Mr. Snow was ordained as the pastor. This relation he continued to sustain to a beloved and united people for many years. Hezekiah Smith, whenever he visited Providence, was accustomed to preach part of the time for Dr. Manning, and part of the time for Mr. Snow. In 1793 Mr. Snow and his adherents withdrew from the Beneficent Congregational Church and formed what is now known as the Richmond Street Church. He died in 1803 in his eighty-ninth year. Dr. Stephen Gano, of the First Baptist Church, preached his funeral sermon. All subsequent Commencements were held in Mr. Snow's meeting- house, until the completion of the new Baptist meeting-house, in 1776. At this first Commencement in Providence but four young men were graduated, one of whom, Hon. Theodore Foster, represented Rhode Island for thirteen years in the Senate of the United States, and at his death left many fruits of antiquarian research connected with Rhode Island history. For the following account we are again indebted to the Providence Gazette: — Providence, Sept. 8, 1770. On Wednesday was celebrated here the second Commencement in Rhode Island College. The parties concerned met at the court-house, about ten o'clock, from whence they proceeded to the Rev. Joseph Snow's meeting-house, in the following order: First the grammar scholars ; then the under classes, the candidates for degrees, the Bache- lors, the Trustees of the college, the Fellows, the Chancellor, the Governor of the Colony, and lastly, the President. When they were seated, the President introduced the business of the day by prayer; then followed the salutatory oration in Latin, by Mr. Dennis, and a forensic dispute, with which ended the exercises of the forenoon. Those of the afternoon began with an intermediate oration on Catholicism, pro- nounced by Mr. Foster; then followed a syllogistic disputation in Latin, wherein Mr. Foster was respondent, and Messieurs Nash, Read, and Dennis, opponents. After this, the degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred on Messieurs John Dennis, Theodore Foster, Samuel Nash, and Seth Read ; and the degree of Master on the Rev. Isaac Eaton, 1770-1771. AND MANNING. 165 Messieurs William Bowen, Benjamin West, David Williams, Joseph Brown, and Abel Evans ; also on the Rev. Messieurs Hugh Evans, Daniel Turner, Samuel James, Benja- min Beddome, Benjamin Wallin, John Reynolds, and Isaac Woodman. To which suc- ceeded a valedictory oration by Mr. Reed, and then a charge to the graduates. The business of the day being concluded, and before the assembly broke up, a piece from Homer was pronounced by Master Billy Edwards, 1 one of the grammar school boys, not nine years old. This, as well as the other performances, gained applause from a polite and crowded audience, and afforded pleasure to the friends of the Institution. But what greatly added to their satisfaction, was an opportunity of observing the forwardness of the college edifice, the first stone of which was laid not longer since than the latter end of May last, and 'tis expected the roof will be on next month. It is a neat brick building, one hundred and fifty feet by forty-six, four stories high, with a projection in the middle of ten feet on each side, containing an area of sixty-three feet by thirty, for a hall and other public uses. The building will accommo- date upwards of a hundred students. Its situation is exceedingly pleasant and healthy, being on the summit of a hill the ascent easy and gradual, commanding an extensive prospect of hills, dales, plains, woods, water, islands, etc. Who hath despised the day of small things ? In a previous chapter an account has been given of the formation of the Warren Association through the agency of Manning, and of the steps taken at the anniversary meeting in 1769, to seek a remedy for the oppressive measures pursued by the Standing Order in Massachu- setts and Connecticut. This was to be done by petition and memorial, accompanied by full statements of grievances through a committee, of whom the Rev. Samuel Stillman, of Boston, was the chairman. The next meeting of the Association was to be held in Bellingham, in September, 1T70, the Tuesday after Commencement. In accordance with the course now recommended, the following from this committee appeared in the Providence Grazette for Aug. 11, 1770. It also after- wards appeared in the Boston JEvening Post : — To the Baptists in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, who are and have been oppressed in any way on a religious account : It would be needless to tell you, that you have long felt the effects of the laws, by which the religion of the government in which you live is established; your purses 1 Son of the Rev. Morgan Edwards. He was graduated in the class of 1776. 166 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. have felt the burdens of ministerial rates, and when these would not satisfy your enemies, your property hath been taken from you and sold for half its value. These things you cannot forget. You will therefore readily hear and attend, when you are all desired to collect your cases of suffering and have them well attested ; such as taxes you have paid to build meeting-houses, to settle ministers and support them, with all the time, money, and labor you have lost in waiting on courts, feeing lawyers, etc. And bring or send such cases to the Baptist Association to be held at Bellingham, the Tuesday next after the first "Wednesday in September, when measures will be reso- lutely adopted for obtaining redress from another quarter than that to which repeated application hath been made unsuccessfully. Nay, complaints, however just and grievous, have been treated with indifference, and scarcely, if at all, credited. "We deem this our conduct perfectly justifiable, and hope you will pay a particular regard to this desire, and be exact in your account of your sufferings, and punctual in your attend- ance at the time and place above mentioned. At this meeting of the Association in Bellingham, Mr. Smith pre- sided as moderator, and Mr. Stillman acted as clerk, after having preached the Introductory Sermon. The records, which exist only in manuscript, read as follows in reference to the matter of " oppression " and "redress " : — A committee was chosen to seek redress of all grievances of the Baptists, consisting of the Rev. Samuel Stillman, Rev. Hezekiah Smith, Rev. John Davis, Rev. Isaac Backus, Rev. Noah Alden, Philip Freeman, Philip Freeman, Jr., Nathan Plimpton, and Richard Gridley. The Rev. Hezekiah Smith was chosen agent to the Court of Great Britain, to act in conjunction with the Rev. Dr. Samuel Stennett, Rev. Benjamin Wallin, and Thomas Llewelyn, LL. D., of London. This committee, which was continued from year to year, \vith changes in the membership, was long known as the Committee on Grievances, or the Standing Committee of the Baptists for New England. In accordance with the notice in the papers, the following cases of suffering were reported, viz. : From Ashfield ; two cases from Prince- ton, Worcester County ; two cases from Berwick, York County ; also from Douglass in Worcester County ; from Colchester, New Hamp- shire ; from Montague, Hampshire County ; and three cases from 1770-1771. AND MANNING. 167 Enfield in Connecticut. The Circular Letter 1 for this year reads as follows : — Circular Letter of the Warren Association. 1770. The Elders and Messengers met in association at Bellingham, September 11th, 12th, and 13th. To the churches they represent, and all others of the denomination of Baptists, send greeting: "We met in peace, and upon reading the letters from the several churches, found that they were generally at peace among themselves, some of them having had considerable additions, — the number of which, in all the churches, amounts to fifty-six. "We find that God hath not left himself without a witness, but is still carrying on the work of grace in the churches. We would not despise the day of small things ; yet at the same time desire you to unite in solemn prayer to the great Head of the Church, that he would hasten the time when converts shall come as the clouds, and fly as doves to their windows. Oh happy period, which God in his wisdom has given us reason to expect, when the whole world shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord! We have however to inform you, dearly beloved, that some of our churches are sorely oppressed on account of religion. Their enemies continue to triumph over them ; and as repeated applications have been made to the courts of justice and to the general courts for redress of such grievances, but as yet have been neglected, it is now become necessary to carry the affair to England in order to lay it before the King. It is there- fore warmly recommended to you to endeavor to collect money to defray the expense which will arise from such a proceeding. Should you not contribute to this matter, some of our brethren must unavoidably be ruined as to this world ; especially our brethren at Ashfield, some of whose lands have been taken from them and sold for a trifle. Brethren, make the case your own, and then do as you would be done by. We also recommend to you to search for promising gifts among yourselves, and bring them to the trial, as there is a great want of ministerial help in the churches. In fine, brethren, live in love; preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace; keep your garments unspotted by the flesh, and may the God of peace and love be with you. P. S. — The churches are requested to be expeditious in sending their contributions to the Rev. Samuel Stillman, of Boston, who is appointed treasurer, and to take his receipts. If our agent, Mr. Hezekiah Smith, should not go to England, the money 1 This letter was found among the Smith papers and printed for the first time in " Life, Times, and Correspondence of Manning." The authorship is not positively known, although it has been ascribed to Manning. It was the custom in the early days before the minutes were printed, for pastors and delegates to secure a manuscript copy of the Circular Letter and read it to their churches on returning from the Association. 168 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. will be returned when demanded. It is also requested that the churches will unite in keeping the first Thursday in October next as a day of fasting and prayer, to entreat God to favor our undertaking to obtain liberty of conscience, and to save our property, and consequently our families, from ruin ; also that He will be graciously pleased to revive religion, and to deliver our nation from its present difficulties. Had Mr. Smith gone to London as agent of the Association, he would without doubt have had a cordial reception among his English brethren. His multiplied cares and increasing responsibilities obliged him eventually to decline a service which required so much time and labor ; and at the meeting of the Association in 1771, the Rev. John Davis was appointed in his place. That he corresponded with Dr. Stennett, and that the committee of which Dr. Stennett was chairman, succeeded in aiding the cause of truth, and in removing oppression, may be seen from the following taken from "Acts and Resolves of the Province of Massachusetts Bay," Vol. 4, page 1045 : — Wednesday, May 22, 1771. At a meeting of His Majesty's Commissioners for Trade and Plantations. Present. Mr. Eliot, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Whately. Read a memorial of Dr. Stennett, praying their Lordships to recommend to His Majesty to disallow an Act passed in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in June, 1768, by which the Antipedobaptists and Quakers are compelled to pay to the support of a different persuasion. Their Lordships thereupon read and considered said Act, and it was ordered that the draught of a representation to His Majesty should be prepared, proposing that it may be disallowed. At the Court of St. James, the 31st day of July, 1771. Present. The King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Whereas the Great or General Court or Assembly of His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, did in June, 1768, pass an Act which hath been transmitted, entitled as follows: — viz.: An Act in addition to an Act entitled an Act for creating the New Plantation called Huntstown in the County of Hampshire into a town by the name of Ashfield. Which Act, together with a representation from the Lords' Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, thereupon having been referred to the consideration of a Committee of the Lords of His Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council for Plantation Affairs, the said Lords of the Committee did this day report as their opinion to His Majesty that the said Act ought to be disallowed. His Majesty taking the same into consid- eration, was pleased with the advice of His Privy Council to declare his disallowance 1770-1771. AND MANNING. 169 of the said Act ; and to order that the said Act he and it is herehy disallowed and rejected: — Whereof the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's said Province of the Massachusetts Bay for the time heing, and all others whom it may concern, are to take notice and govern themselves accordingly. Backus, in speaking of the rejection by the Legislature of a bill to repeal the Ashfield law, says : — "And what a cloud was hereby brought over an oppressed people ! On the side of the oppressors was power, but they seemed to have no helper. But, behold ! In a Boston paper of October 21, (1771,) it was declared that the King in Council had disannulled that law. What a surprise did this occasion ! How could so despicable a people get access to the throne, and obtain such an act, especially in so short a time ! " The following letter was originally published in Staples's Annals of Providence. It affords a good illustration of the early discipline of the College under the care and management of its first President : — Providence, Dec. 12, 1770. Sir : — You may think it strange that I, a stranger to you, should address you by this epistle ; hut you will excuse me when I give the reason ; which is, an information that I have received that one Scott, a youth under my tuition, some time ago riding through Smithfield, in company with one Dennis, of Newport, rode up to, and in a most auda- ciously wicked manner, hroke the windows of the Friends' meeting-house in said town, of which meeting I understand you are clerk. Upon the first hearing of this scanda- lous conduct, I charged him with the fact, which he confessed, with no small degree of apparent penitence ; whereupon I thought good to inform you, and hy you the meeting, that they shall have ample reparation of damages and such other satisfaction as they shall think proper ; heing determined to punish with the utmost rigor all such perverse youth as may he intrusted to my care, as I hold such hase conduct in the greatest detes- tation. You will he so good as to let me know when the first meeting of business is held, that I may send him up to appear before them, and make not only reparation, but such a confession before the meeting as shall be fully satisfactory. I choose to mortify him in this way, and should be very glad that some of the heads of the meeting would admonish him faithfully and show him the evil of such doings, if this would be agree- able to them; but I speak this, not to direct them in the matter, but what would be agreeable to me. When this is settled, we shall discipline him with the highest punish- 22 170 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. ment we inflict, next to banishment from the society, and with that if he does not com- ply with the above. The youth has been but few months under my care, is a child of a respectable family in Kingston, Massachusetts Bay, and had his school-learning in New Haven. I am sorry for his friends, and that it happened to fall to my lot to have such a thoughtless, vicious pupil ; but I am determined this shall be the last enormity, one excepted, of which he shall be guilty while under my care. I hope the meeting will inform me how he complies with these injunctions, if they think proper to take these or any other methods. Please, by the first opportunity, favor me with a line in answer to the above requests, and you will do a favor to A real friend, James Manning. Mr. Thomas Lapham, Jr., in Smithfield. The young man, Judge Staples adds, appeared before the meeting, according to the direction of the President, made a suitable acknowl- edgment of what he had done, paid the damage done to the windows, received some wholesome admonition and advice, and returned to his College duties, it is to be hoped, a better man. Whether his associate was the Dennis who was graduated the September previous to this occurrence, we are not informed. It is certain that he was not a youth over whom Manning at this time had special control. Manning thus writes to his friend Smith, of Haverhill. As we have before remarked, he uses not unfrequently the term Presbyterians for Congregationalists. This perhaps was natural, coming as he did from the Jerseys. Edwards and others did the same. The two denomina- tions are far more distinct at the present day than they were a century ago. Newport, May 1, 1771. Dear Sir: I perceive, by an application made to a neighboring Baptist church, that the people in Richmond, in Hampshire Government (I mean the Baptist church there), are in great distress on account of the taxes for the clergy ; and so are the Baptists in sundry other towns thereabouts. The charter gave a farm to the first settled minister in that town ; and Mr. Balow, the Baptist minister, was the first, though a Friend speaker was there before him. Now the Friends have united with the Presbyterians, and voted the farm for the use of the town. Upon the whole they seem troubled much, and some are likely to be totally ruined by the Presbyterians. Now if you can lend any aid or assist- 1770-1771. AN© MANNING. 171 ance, you will do them a singular favor ; and I have been urged to write to you, that, if possible, you might make interest with the Governor, or some of the great men, to redress these grievances. I received a letter from Mr. Edwards, dated March, which informs me that he has a law of New Hampshire which obliges the Baptists to pay their ministers, — that is, Presbyterian ministers, — and he is greatly afraid they will fall into the snare. Pray do your utmost to prevent the Baptists from taking the benefit of that law ; for the Presbyterians will triumph in that case. Mr. Rogers, the bearer, will give you information of my affairs, and other matters in these parts ; so that nothing remains but to desire you with Mrs. Smith to pay us a visit soon, to whom with yourself I give my sincere love, and remain, sir, Your very loving friend, James Manning. The following letter was the commencement of a correspondence with the Rev. John Ryland, of Northampton, England, a graduate of the Bristol Academy under the care of the celebrated Bernard Foskett, and for many years principal of a flourishing academy. Mr. Ryland was a distinguished scholar as well as a Baptist preacher, and was held in high esteem by Dr. Johnson and other eminent men of his time. He published "Contemplations on the Beauties of Creation," in three volumes octavo, "Essay on the Advancement of Learning," and various sermons and pamphlets. He died in 1792. Providence, June 1, 1771. Reverend Sir: By the Rev. Morgan Edwards, last year, I was directed to draw upon you, the first of June, for five guineas, which you proposed to contribute annually to the support of the President of Rhode Island College during life, if your circumstances would admit of it. I drew accordingly in favor of Messrs. Joseph and William Russell, merchants of Providence ; and, according to my instructions, have done the like this year, in favor of the same gentlemen. Your zeal for the welfare of this young Seminary, discovered in this as well as many other instances, has gained you the high esteem of all the true friends of the College here ; but the particular favor done me herein has laid me under the strongest obliga- tions of gratitude, of which I hope not to be unmindful, in any instance, when in my power to express a proper sense of them ; and at present I can only do this by the strongest expressions of thankfulness, and fervent prayer to God that he would abundantly reward your beneficence in this and in the life to come. 172 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. I was particularly obliged in your favoring me with the patterns of the regular Greek and Latin nouns and verbs, etc., and find it tbe most easy method of leading boys into a general notion of grammar in a short time. The College in this place con- sists of twenty-three youths, five of whom are to leave us in the fall; though we hope to have some additions at that time. The Institution calls for the vigorous exertions of all its friends, as well on account of the smallness of its funds as the unreasonable opposition made against it by Pedobaptists ; especially the New England Presbyterians in general, who express the greatest bitterness on every occasion. The part I have had to act in the matter has exposed me to numberless difficulties hitherto ; although I am cheerful under the hopes of its rising, at some future period, to be the joy of its friends and the denomination, as well as the mortification of its ungenerous enemies. The state of religion in New England is at a low ebb in general, except in a few places, amongst which Mr. Stillman's of Boston is one, where there have been lately large additions to the church. Should there be any gentlemen of your acquaintance in Eng- land on whom diplomas might be well bestowed, we should always be glad to be advised thereof, and confer them accordingly. Forgive this unsolicited scrawl, and believe that it had its birth in the unfeigned gratitude and real friendship of, sir, Your humble servant, James Manning. To this letter Mr. Ryland thus replies : — To MY WORTHY FRIEND, Mr. JAMES MANNING, President of Rhode Island College: Reverend and Dear Sir: — I received your letter in due course by the post from London, and took care to pay your draft on me for £5 5s. when it came for payment, which it did in the beginning of December. "Where it lodged all that time after you drew it, I know not. Be assured that I have the interests of your College deeply at my heart ; and in order to serve it I have picked out the enclosed list of scholars, for whom I solicit some of your academical feathers, to the end that we may attach as great a number of active and learned men to your Seminary as we can. Who knows but some of them may do you more service in the long run than we can at present imagine? I am determined to send over some names every year as long as I live ; but be assured I shall not recom- mend one that shall be a dishonor to your College, if I know it. Have you had a short account of the ministers and churches of the Baptist denom- ination in England? If not I shall take care to send it. At present I would just observe that we have about two hundred and fourteen churches and ministers. About twenty-four ministers, perhaps twenty-six, can read the original languages in which 1770-1771. AND MANNING. 173 the Bible was written. Amongst them I have a son* (John), nineteen years of age, who was called to the ministry last year. He read his Greek Testament into English all through before he was nine years old, and is very ready at Hebrew, Latin, and French. Grace called him at fourteen years of age. I baptized him when he was about fifteen, and we received him into the church. He proves a good, zealous boy, and the people of God love to hear him preach. He has ventured to publish a volume of poems on experimental religion, the whole edition of which, five hundred, has gone off in less than a year. If I can procure a copy, I will send you one for your public library. Perhaps it may be a stimulus to some lazy student on your side of the water. My opinion, I am persuaded, is the same with yours, "that young boys and students need all sorts of motives to keep them in a steady, regular, resolute pursuit of learning and religion," and for this purpose academical honoTs were wisely instituted; and 'tis for this reason I desire for my brethren in the ministry who desire it the honors of your College, in order to incite others to the same diligence. I am sorry to say it, but 'tis too true, that above one hundred and seventy Baptist ministers in England have been kept from reading the Hebrew Bible and Greek Testament more by laziness and cowardice than by the difficulty of attaining it. I want to rouse these sluggards into diligence, and for that purpose I earnestly beg your assistance. N. B. Out of ten thousand clergy, we have seventy or eighty that preach the gospel. The Presbyterians are almost all gone off to Socinianism. "We have a few in London that are excellent men; namely, Dr. Langford, Dr. Trotter, Geo. Stephens, A. M., Mr. Hunter, and the Rev. Mr. Spilsbury. I cannot at present give you an exact list of our Independent ministers in London and the country, but shall try to send you an account. Let me be sure to hear from you four times a year ; that is to say, once every quarter. WORTHY MEN OF LEARNING AND CHARACTER WHO DESERVE THE HONORS OF RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE. I. Of the Established Church of England. These are f 1. Augustus Montague Toplady, A. B., Rector of Broad Hemburg, most excellent Devon. men as • 2. Henry Foster A. B., Curate to the Rev. Mr. Romaine. scholars 3. John Newton, Curate of Olney; a man of uncommon wisdom, and divines. I and a fine writer. i This son, the Rev. Dr. John Ryland, received the honorary degree of A. M. at the Commence- ment in 1772. He assisted his father in the management of his school, and eventually became pastor of the Baptist Church in Northampton. In 1792 he became President of the Baptist College at Bristol. For upwards of thirty years he was the most eminent Baptist minister in the west of England. He died May 25, 1825. His funeral sermon, preached by Robert Hall, is regarded as one of the choicest specimens of pulpit eloquence in our literature. 174 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. II. Independents. 1. William Porter, minister in Camomile Street. 2. John Stafford, successor to Dr. Guise. 3. John Pye, minister at Sheffield, Yorkshire. 4. William Hextall, successor to Dr. Doddridge, at Northampton. 5. Moses Gregson, at Rowell, Northamptonshire. 6. Joshua Symmonds, at Bedford. Preaches in John Bunyan's pulpit. 7. Rev. James Jennings, at Islington, near London. 8. Samuel Wilton, at Tooting, in Surrey. III. Particular Baptists. 1. Robert Day, of Wellington, Somersetshire. 2. John Brown, of Kettering, Northamptonshire. 3. John Ash, of Pershore, Worcestershire. 4. John Poynting, of Worcester. 5. Benjamin Fuller, of Devizes, Wiltshire. (An old, rich, learned man, that can leave £100 to the college.) 6. John Oulton, of Rawdon, in Yorkshire. 1 The "bitterness of the New England Presbyterians in general'* towards the College, and the " unreasonable opposition made against it by Pedobaptists," to which Manning in his letter to Ryland here alludes, are illustrated in the letter addressed to him by his friend Morgan Edwards, which is published in our concluding chapter on the Charter. The writer supposes the President to have expected the friendship and help of the Congregationalists had not the Baptists complained of oppressions and threatened to carry their complaints to the King. He adduces facts to show that their opposition was from the beginning, and not of recent origin. Mr. Edwards has been accused of undue warmth, but the reader must admit that a little severity of expression was justifiable under the circumstances. These ecclesiasti- 1 The seventeen names mentioned in the above list all received the honorary degree of A. M. at the annual Commencement of the College in 1773 and in 1774. (See Triennial Catalogue.) It does not, however, appear that Mr. Ryland's good wishes in regard to the benefit which the College might thereby derive were ever realized, at least to any great extent. The unhappy feeling engen- dered by the War of the Revolution was, probably, the cause of this apparent neglect or indifference. The College, moreover, was closed from 1776 until 1782, and correspondence between the two countries ceased. 1770-1771. AND MANNING. 175 cal oppressions and this sectarian bitterness towards the College were in keeping with the opposition and unfriendliness experienced by Roger Williams and his free Colony in the early days. It is pleasant to note that all this has now passed away; — if recalled to remembrance throughout the pages of the present narrative, it is only in the spirit of kindness, "as impressive admonitions to the fuller exercise of that charity which beareth all things." As matters of history, they must of necessity appear conspicuous in any faithful account of Rhode Island College, or of the life and times of its first President. The following letter to the Rev. Dr. Stennett gives a pleasing account of Manning's feelings in view of the responsibility of his position as head of the College and pastor of the Church : — Providence, June 5, 1771. Reverend and Dear Sir: Your most agreeable favor of Aug. 10th, 1770, came to hand the 19th of January, 1771, after our ships had sailed for London ; and consequently I have had no opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of it before. There are two ships from this town which make two voyages a year to London, besides others from the Colony, by which letters will have a safe conveyance. The captains' names are Shand and Gfilbert. I mention this that there may be the most direct conveyance. I thank you for the expressions of kindness and respect in your letter, and am as desirous as before to keep up a correspondence as often as opportunity will admit. Mr. Gordon, the gentleman by whom you wrote, has never called on me, nor can I hear any direct account of him since his arrival in America. Your good wishes to the College are very acceptable, and we doubt not your readiness to contribute all in your power to its future growth and increase. The popularity, usefulness, etc., of our first sons, is to me an object truly desirable ; but these things I leave to the wise conduct of the supreme Governor of the Church. One of the youth, 1 graduated at our first Commencement, who is thought to be savingly brought home by grace, has joined Mr. Thurston's church in Newport, and appears eminently pious. As soon as his age will admit, for he is quite a youth, he will be called to the work of the ministry, with hopes of his making a distinguished figure in the pulpit. He bears the greatest resemblance to Mr. Hezekiah Smith of any person I know, and I hope will make such another son of thunder. I am constrained to think that Providence placed me at the head of the William Rogers. 176 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. College ; but for what end I cannot divine, I hope for good ; for iny ease and worldly advantage it could not certainly be, for I have been constrained to forego these, and many more things desirable in life, on this account; and in the discharge of my office here I have found my way strewn with thorns hitherto. Dr. Llewelyn's friendship for the College is highly satisfactory to us. He has it in his power, and, we have reason to believe, in his heart, to do it great service. I should highly prize a correspondence with a gentleman of his merit, were a door properly open for it; but to address him with a letter, uninvited, and without particular cause for so doing, might be deemed too great forwardness in me. I therefore choose to defer it at present. We were sensibly affected at the news of Mr. Roffey's death, as he promised usefulness to the public; but God can raise up men to carry on his own cause, in an unexpected way. The government is upon His shoulders ; therefore we ought to rejoice. But nothing gives one such satisfaction as the account you give me of the success of the Gospel in England. I firmly believe there are yet glorious days for the church militant, and that the doctrine of believer's baptism will prevail in proportion to the prevalence of the religion of the heart. I do not imagine this only from my own sentiments that it is an important and glorious ordinance of the Lord Jesus, but from facts ; for I have observed for some years past that in this country it has been invaria- bly the case where there has been a powerful moving of the Spirit of God upon the minds of men. I will give you a recent instance. God has been doing wonders in Virginia and North Carolina within these few years past. Thousands have been hope- fully converted to God in these two provinces; and my Brother Gano, who travelled through these provinces last summer and fall, informs me that not less than two thou- sand have been baptized by immersion, upon profession of their faith. And it has been observed there, that persons were no sooner brought into the glorious liberty of the Gospel than they followed the example of their Divine Master by going down into the water ; and that, too, where the name of Baptist was scarcely known. This work, I am told, still continues, and extends five hundred miles in length through the country. Truly, light has risen to those who were in the region and shadow of death ; for when I travelled through that country about ten years ago, I thought as Abraham did of Zoar, that the fear of God was not in that place. 1 To me it seemed to be the rendezvous of devils. But what cannot God do ? This indeed is all my consolation when I view the unpromising appearance of religion in many places, — that God not only can, but will work, and none shall let or hinder it. 1 As has already been stated, Manning spent the year succeeding his graduation travelling through the colonies, with a view, doubtless, of ascertaining the best place for a college, and on whom he could rely for support. In going to South Carolina, where his friend Hart was settled, he would of course pass through "Virginia, as he here states in his letter. 1770-1771. AND MANNING. 177 There is a gradual increase of the work of religion in sundry places in New England. Mr. Smith, I am told, is still marvellously owned in his labors, and that he was lately called to administer baptism to numbers at a distance from where he resides, and to constitute two or three Baptist churches. I can say but little of my success in the vineyard of the Lord, although I hope there are some promising appearances of conviction amongst us. The last Lord's Day there appeared an unusual solemnity in the assembly, and I trust God enabled me, though a worm, to speak with some happy degree of zeal and earnestness in warning souls of their danger; and if flowing eyes may be thought a presage of the return of wanderers to God, I am not without hope of some seals of my ministry. But alas my unprofitableness ! — my unworthiness to be employed in so sacred a work! If ever one soul is converted by my instrumentality, it will clearly appear that the excellency of the power is all of God. But I cease to trouble you with my unprofitable complaints, and proceed to give you some short account of the dispute between Baptists and Presbyterians in the provinces of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, and Connecticut ; in the latter of of which, I am told, some of our brethren are now in jail for ministerial rates, and in the other two many are forcibly despoiled of their property for the same purpose. The Presbyterians, I believe, are determined, when they have the power, to use it against us to prevent our growth ; for no effectual remedy can yet be obtained, though it has been carefully and industriously sought. They are afraid, if they relax the secular arm, their tenets have not merit enough and a sufficient foundation to stand. This has been so plainly hinted by some of the committees of the General Court, upon treating with our people, that I think it cannot be deemed a breach of charity to think thus of them. However, I will not pretend to justify everything which has been said and done by Baptists during this controversy. I fear there has been too great warmth in some publications ; yet it is certain that there has been great provocation to write and speak some bitter things. However, I am far from believing that the cause of God requires acrimony in defending it, especially as the great Example of his people "reviled not again when he was reviled." Upon the whole, it is very uncertain what will be the issue of the matter, whether we must address the throne of our sovereign for relief, or not. The contention has been improved as an argument against sending scholars from that denomination to our College. How long this will continue I know not ; but at present the clergy use all their endeavors to this purpose. I am glad to hear that there are three Baptists in the trust of Dr. Moore's fund, who will see that the money is appropriated according to the original proposal ; for our brethren of that denomination need good looking after in these matters, if we may judge from what has happened before. I suppose you have heard that Dr. Wheelock has obtained a charter for a college in 23 178 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. the province of New Hampshire, and about twenty thousand acres of land as an endow- ment from the Governor, and other gentlemen who are largely concerned in lands there. He has begun his business, and carried it forward with great rapidity. In short, from what I can gather, it is to be a grand Presbyterian college, instead of a school for the poor Indians. There were but two Indians there at school last fall, and they were Narragansetts from this Colony, brought up like us. Moreover, it is more than a hundred miles distant from any number of Indians. I have conversed with two intelligent gentlemen from that part of the country, and, from what I can gather, the money raised in England by Whitaker and Oakam will be as greatly prostituted as ever the fund for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts has been by another denom- ination of Christians. As to political matters, all is peace and quietness with us, though we hear that the city of London and the House of Commons have proceeded to great lengths in oppos- ing one another, and that the Lord Mayor and Alderman Oliver are committed to the Tower. We are anxious for the result of this procedure ; but hope that God will order all matters for the best, and bring good out of evil. We now proceed slowly with the College, as our succors from abroad fail. I hope we may have some more assistance from Great Britain as soon as may be. If your patience is not quite gone, permit me to request the favor of a letter by our vessels this summer, in which you need not fear trespassing upon my patience, though I have reason to fear I have upon yours, and therefore subscribe, what I am in truth, dear sir, Your very affectionate friend and brother in the Lord, James Manning. The reader who has followed the narrative thus far, will readily see that Manning, as President of the infant College, had been exposed, as he states in his previous letter to Ryland, " to numberless difficulties hitherto "; and that it was not for his "ease and worldly advantage " that " Providence had placed him at the head." He had "been con- strained," as he here writes to Stennett, "to forego these, and many more things desirable in life, on this account ; and in the discharge of the duties of his office he had found his way strewn with thorns hith- erto." The obtaining of the charter in the outset was a struggle against determined opposition ; the settlement of the vexed question of final location caused bitterness of feeling and alienation on the part of some who should have been his friends, which alienation was continued 1770-1771. AND MANNING. 179 during his lifetime ; the church in Warren never fully forgave him for leaving it to go with the College to Providence ; his relations with the church in Providence, as we shall see in our next chapter, caused in the outset a division, and led to the establishment of a new Six Principle church in Johnston ; and the College itself was persistently and bitterly opposed by the " Standing Order " in the adjoining States of Massa- chusetts and Connecticut. Moreover, his salary from the Latin school the College and the church combined, was meagre and insufficient for a generous support. Yet he faltered not in his work, and persevered bravely to the end. The third Commencement of the College, and the second held in Providence, occurred on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 1771. Among the Fel- lows present were Smith from Haverhill, Stillman from Boston, and Edwards from Philadelphia. It was at this time that Mr. Edwards, accompanied by Moses Brown, visited the elderly people of the town, and obtained information respecting Roger Williams and the Baptist Church, which he has embodied in his " Materials." Mr. Smith came, as was his usual custom, in his chaise, accompanied by his wife, to whom he had been recently married. The following from his diary may be of interest in connection with this Commencement week : — Wed., Aug. 28, 1771. Went to Nicholas Brown's in Providence. Lodged two nights there. Fri., 30. Went to Job Bennet's in Newport, where we stayed till Monday. Sat., 31. Preached for Mr. Maxson from John 18:36, and in the evening from John 13:11 in Mr. Thurston's meeting-house. Sab., Sept. 1. Preached for Mr. Thurston from Isa. 44:22. Mon., 2. Went to Warren and preached that evening in Mr. Thomp- son's pulpit, from 2 Cor. 5:19. Tues., 3. Went to Nicholas Brown's in Providence. Wed., 4. Attended Commencement. Thurs., 5. Met with the Corporation. Preached in the evening, from Rom. 3:25. Fri., 6, Sat., 7. At Providence. Sab., 8. Preached in the forenoon at Mr. Snow's meeting-house, from 2 Cor. 5: 19, and in the afternoon at Mr. Manning's meeting-house, from Ps. 19: 14. Mon., Sept. 9. Set out for Sutton. At this Commencement six young men took their Bachelor's degree. Thomas Arnold, who heads the list, became a distinguished lawyer of Providence and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He was also a Fellow of the College, and Secretary of the Corporation. Thomas 180 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. Ustick became a prominent teacher and preacher, being for twenty years pastor of the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Samuel Ward, a son of the Hon. Samuel Ward, served with distinction in the Revolutionary War as Major in the First Rhode Island Regiment, and afterwards, as Lieutenant-Colonel. At the close of the war he settled in New York, and became a prosperous merchant. From 1790 to 1800 he was a Trustee of the College. From the account of this Commencement in the Providence Gazette, we present an abstract from the President's address : — A concise, pertinent charge was then delivered to the graduates by the President, in which, besides many useful instructions and cautions, he remarked that this Institu- tion, though liberal and catholic in its foundation and government, despising the contracted views of a party, aiming at the good of mankind in general, and always studious to maintain a good agreement and harmony with others of the like nature, had not been so happy as to pass altogether without censure ; and that not only from the ignorant and pedantic, but even from some of those whose frienship it has sought, and would highly esteem, could it consistently be obtained. He concluded by request- ing their friendship and kind offices to that Seminary of learning in which they had received their education ; and with great energy exhorted them that if they could not, by their joint testimony of the generovis, free, and impartial manner in which they had been treated in the course of their studies, silence the unreasonable clamors of igno- rance and enmity, to give the world the same kind of proof of the usefulness of the Institution which some of its first sons now do, who fill public stations with honor to themselves and advantage to mankind. One of the " first sons" to whom Manning here alludes was the valedictorian, Thompson, who was now preaching in Warren as his successor in the ministry. Varnum, who had been teaching in East Greenwich, was now practising his profession as a lawyer. Stites was a lawyer in New Jersey, Williams was teaching in Warren, and Rogers was teaching and preaching in Newport. It is worthy of note that the President in a public baccalaureate address, speaks of the College as " liberal and catholic, aiming at the good of mankind in general," and appeals to the graduating class to silence if possible the " unreasonable clamors of ignorance and enmity," and to testify to "the generous, free and impartial manner in which they had been treated." 1770-1772. AND MANNING. 181 The following letter, addressed to Thomas Llewelyn, LL. D., presents an idea of the condition and prospects of the College, and especially of the Library, at this time. It affords an illustration of the author's skill in urging the claims of the Institution over which he presided, upon the attention of strangers of reputed benevolence and wealth. Mr. Llewelyn was a distinguished Cambro-British scholar of London. He published, in 1768, a History of the Welsh Versions of the Bible, and, in the following year, " Historical and Critical Remarks on the British Tongue." He died on the 7th of August, 1783, bequeathing to the Bristol Academy, where he pursued his early studies, his large and valuable library. 1 Dr. Gibbons was accustomed, says Rippon, to speak of him " as the first scholar among the Protestant Dissenters." Providence, Feb. 21, 1772. Dear Sir : I am emboldened to address you, botb from the recommendation of Dr. Stennett to do so, and from my knowledge of your friendship to the College in this town, of which you would doubtless be glad to know the state. The College edifice is erected on a most beautiful eminence, in the neigborhood of Providence, commanding a most charming and variegated prospect; a large, neat brick building, and so far completed as to receive the students, who now reside there, the number of whom is twenty-two. "We have the prospect of further additions ; yet our numbers will probably be small until we are better furnished with a library and philo- sophical apparatus. At present we have but about two hundred and fifty volumes, and these not well chosen, being such as our friends could best spare. Our apparatus consists of a pair of globes, two microscopes, and an electrical machine ; to this we are desirous of making the addition of an air pump, if one respectable can be purchased for £22 10s. sterling ; a sum which two young men informed me they intended to give towards an apparatus or the Library. If, therefore, it would not be too much trouble to inform me whether or not that sum is sufficient, I shall receive it as a particular favor ; for if not, we shall appropriate it to some other use. Our whole College fund consists of about £900 sterling, being the whole sum collected 1 In the second volume of Rippon's Baptist Annual Register, is a history of the Bristol Academy, to which is appended a copy of the table of benefactors in the Museum belonging to the Bristol Education Society. Under date 1784, we find the following : — " Thomas Llewelyn, Esq., LL.D., London (a legacy), consisting of his library, which cost more than £1,500 " sterling. 182 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. abroad; for no money collected without the colonies is made use of in the building, but solely applied in endowing it, with the strictest regard to the donors' intent. The interest of this sum is quite insufficient to provide for tuition, as two of us are now employed, and we stand in need of further help. May we not expect some further assistance from our friends in England ? Or must we conclude that the Baptists only are inattentive to their own cause, while seminaries of other denominations have the highest reason to extol their generosity ? Or is it because we use less industry to promote our common cause than others ? If so, what might another personal application to England do on this head, could we find a person among us, of public spirit, who could forego the mortification of a beggar, etc. ? Mr. Edwards happened in England at a most unfavorable juncture, or we should have expected far better success. If you imagine anything considerable can be done, we shall strive hard to obtain some person for this purpose ; if not, permit me to solicit your interest, where you may be able to serve the cause. We have had the earliest proofs of your regard for the infant College, and retain a grateful sense of your unsought favors. I shall take pleasure in communicating any intelligence in my power, whenever you please to lay your commands. My present situation is such as will furnish me with a general acquaintance with the state of the Baptist society in America, especially as I have travelled through the greater part, and hold correspondence with some in almost all the provinces. The ship by which this comes is bound directly back to Providence; and being owned by a zealous friend of the College, any books, or other things, should there be anything to send from any of our friends, would not only come directly, but free from the expense which might otherwise attend them. The jealous eye with which other denominations of Christians behold this infant Seminary, leaves us without hope of any assistance from any but Baptists ;* and I think if we could but unite, and the whole body lend a helping hand, we should be able, with- out great difficulty, to rear the tender plant to a degree of maturity which might greatly subserve the cause of religion, especially in our society. Craving your indulgence for giving you this interruption, and sincerely wishing,you every felicity in this and a future world, I remain, dear sir, Your unworthy brother and servant in the gospel, James Manning. 1 The candid reader of all histories of the times in which Manning lived, as well as the pages of Backus, the diary and letters of Hezekiah Smith, and the minutes of the Warren Association, will readily see why even so liberal an institution as the College, was looked upon generally with disfavor hy those who were outside of the Baptist denomination. 1770-1772. AND MANNING. 183 The following letter from Nicholas Brown to Hezekiah Smith will be read with interest, not only because of the expression of his views and feelings in regard to his own religious state, but because of his allusion to the efforts of the enemies of the College to prevent students from entering it. The letter is preserved among the Smith papers : — Providence, March 30, 1772. Reverend Sir: This may serve to acquaint you and Mrs. Smith that we have not forgotten you. We have received none of your favors since 28th September, by Mr. Manning ; yet we have no excuse for not writing to you before, except that of not having any particulars worthy your notice. Mr. Binney, 1 a worthy, humble, and meek young Christian, having been the evening with us, I engaged to forward these to you from Boston, as he is now going home the ensuing vacation. His conversation upon Christianity is really entertaining, and we sincerely wish, while we can say that we take knowledge of him that he has " been with Jesus," that the same might be said of ourselves. This knowledge we are still waiting for. I hope, in the day of God's power, it will be made manifest in us ; and I take this opportunity of requesting your fervent prayers that God will remove from us the veil of ignorance and unbelief, and that Christ in his fulness may be savingly applied to our souls through faith, which we believe to be the gift of God, as saith the Scriptures. It is a very dull time in religion here, though we have to rejoice that God has not left himself wholly without a witness. We are informed that in Swansea, among the Baptists in Messrs. Mason's and Martin's soci- eties, upwards of forty have been baptized since January came in. Some additions have been made to the Baptist churches in Newport. We have heard from Philadel- phia that Rogers was much liked there, and that his preaching has been blessed. Mr. Edwards has gone to Carolina. I hope he may be able to promote the collection of your subscriptions got there, as they are much needed. There is nothing new here about the College. The lower rooms have been finished, so that the scholars have live'd in them this winter. The enemies to the Institution are doing what mischief they can, by discouraging scholars from coming here, which fact ought to stir up every friend to exert himself to the utmost. Should be glad to hear of some boys coming here from your quarter. Mr. President is well, but his wife is poorly, with her old complaints. Pray let us hear of your welfare by every opportunity. Your most respectful and obedient servant, Nicholas Brown. 1 Barnabas Binney, who graduated in 1774. 184 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. And now occurred an event known in history as the affair of the Gaspee, which, from its boldness and the high character of its actors, — including the leader, John Brown, who laid the corner-stone of the College edifice and superintended the building, — attracted wide atten- tion. As a part of the history of Manning and the College, we have compiled from Staples, Lossing, Arnold, and other writers, the follow- ing brief account. To the late Hon. John Brown Francis, grandson of the principal actor, we are indebted for some particulars of this memorable transaction not found in the published narratives. In March, 1772, the G-aspee, a British armed schooner, first appeared in the waters of Narragansett Bay, having been dispatched hither by the Commissioners of Customs at Boston to prevent infractions of the revenue laws. Her appearance disquieted the people, and her inter- ference with the free navigation of the Bay irritated them. Thereupon a spirited correspondence ensued, between Deputy Governor Sessions and Governor Wanton on the one hand, and Lieutenant Duddingston and Admiral Montague on the other. On the 9th of June, 1772, Cap- tain Lindsey left Newport for Providence in his packet, the Hannah. The Gaspee as usual gave chase, but ran aground on Namquit, since called Gaspee Point, below Pawtuxet; the Hannah escaped, arriving safely at Providence about sunset. Captain Lindsey at once com- municated the fact of the grounding of the Gaspee to Mr. Brown, who thought this a good opportunity to put an end to the vexations caused by her presence. He immediately ordered the preparation of eight of the largest long-boats in the harbor, to be placed under the general command of Capt. Abraham Whipple, afterwards commodore, who was one of his most trusty shipmasters. Information of the enemy's situation was proclaimed by beat of drum ; and a man named Daniel Pearce passing along Main Street invited such of the inhabitants as were willing to engage in a perilous enterprise for the destruction of the Gaspee, to meet at the house of James Sabin, lately the residence of Richard J. Arnold, Esq. The boats left Providence between ten and eleven o'clock, filled with sixty-four well-armed men, and between one and two in the morning they reached the Gaspee. Two shots were 1770-1772. AND MANNING. 185 exchanged, one of which wounded Lieutenant Duddingston in the groin. This was the first British blood shed in the War of Inde- pendence. The schooner was now boarded without much opposition, and the crew and officers were compelled to leave with their effects, when it was set on fire and blown up. Mr. Brown was the last man to leave the deck, being determined that no one should carry from the vessel anything which might lead to the identification and detection of the parties. By so doing he narrowly escaped with his life, in con- sequence of the falling timbers and spars. When the news of this daring feat reached England, the King's proclamation was issued, offering a reward of one thousand pounds sterling for the arrest and conviction of the two leaders of the affair, and five hundred pounds each for any other of the offenders, with a free pardon, in addition, to any one concerned, except the two chiefs, who would implicate the rest. A commission of inquiry, under the great seal of England, was established, which sat from the 4th until the 22d of January, 1773. It then adjourned until the 26th of May, when it assembled and sat until the 23d of June. But not a solitary clew to the identity of the perpetrators of the deed could be obtained, notwithstanding they were well known to the people. The price of treachery on the part of any accomplice would have been exile from home and country ; and the proffered reward was not adequate to such a sacrifice. Moreover, those whose weak moral principles or strong acquisitiveness might have tempted them into a compliance with the terms of the proclamation, were bribed, it is said, to silence, by Mr. Brown and some of his associates. The principal actors, besides Mr. Brown, were Capt. Abraham Whipple, John B. Hopkins, Benjamin Dunn, Doct. John Mawney, Benjamin Page, Joseph Bucklin, Turpin Smith, Ephraim Bowen, and Capt. Joseph Tillinghast. Mr. Brown, says Governor Francis, afterwards deeply regretted this affair, so fool- hardy in itself, and resulting in so much needless apprehension to him- self and family. For a long time he was accustomed to sleep away from home, lest he should be arrested during the night. The first booming of the guns at Lexington and Concord filled his mind with 24 186 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. gladness. He was a stranger himself to fear, but he rejoiced when the anxieties and fears of others were merged in the open contest now commenced. History has given to the leader in this Rhode Island enterprise the fame which he so richly deserves. Notwithstanding these disturbances, the President continued his cor- respondence with his English brethren, and addressed the following letter to his friend Ryland. He had reason to know, as subsequent events proved, that among the Dissenters in England the Baptists especially were friendly to America, and heartily sympathized with the Americans in their seven years' contest with British power. This we shall see later on. To the Rev. John Ryland. Providence, May 19, 1772. Reverend and Dear Sir: On the 5th ult. I received your letter, as I judged from the contents, for it had neither your name nor any date to it. The contents gave me very great pleasure on various accounts, — as a testimony of your regard for me, the College, and the cause of religion in general, and especially for the zeal you discover in promoting the Baptist interests. The list of names you sent me shall he laid before the Faculty next September, and without doubt they will receive the honors of the College. We shall also be obliged to you for your proposed favor of sending us some names every year, and such, too, as are worthy of honor. I saw a paragraph in a letter to Rev. Isaac Backus, from Rev. Benjamin Wallin, of London, in which he intimated we had con- ferred degrees on some on your side of the water who would not do us honor. I shall therefore rely on you to pay particular regard to the literary qualifications of those whom you recommend, in order that our enemies may not have it in their power to reproach us on this head. I thank you for the hint given me concerning the number of our ministers and churches in Britain, and your offer of sending me a short account of them, which I have not seen. If there should be more than one on hand, it would gratify some of our friends if I could supply them. The present of the volume of poems will be very acceptable. Please to give my cordial love to the author, of whom I shall be mindful amongst others who deserve the honors of the College. I hope you will be happy in seeing him not only a faithful but successful laborer in Christ's vine- yard. You may assure yourself that I will contribute all in my power to assist in " rousing the sluggards," etc. If the Presbyterians have let go the faith, I hope it is to promote the primitive ordinances of the Gospel under the direction of a wise 1770-1772. AND MANNING. 187 Providence. I think this has been and now is the case in New England ; for many of the good people are following Christ into the water, who before quieted their consciences by the example of the fathers now with God ; but they cannot find the same reason when they view the clergy of the present age. In short, if you hear of a work of God's Spirit among the Presbyterians of New England, you will soon hear that a Baptist minister is applied to to baptize them. God has been and is still doing marvel- lous things, in the outpouring of his Spirit on some of our churches ; especially in Boston, Dighton, Rehoboth, Swansea, in the Bay Government, and in Warren, of this Colony, under the ministry of Mr. Charles Thompson, one of the first class that grad- uated at this College. I am told that near three hundred have been baptized in these places since last September. Mr. William Rogers, a member also of the same class, about twenty-one years of age, has been called to the ministry, and is preaching in Philadelphia, where God appears to own his labors to admiration. He is a pious, warm Christian, and a very popular preacher in that city. All these things encourage me to believe that God regards this College with a favorable eye ; especially as I have reason to hope that he has called by grace some who are now in College, since they came here, while others appear to be hopefully anxious about their salvation. I shall make free to draw on you again the 1st of June, by Mr. Edwards's instruc- tion, and continue to do so yearly until you forbid me. What think you of an applica- tion to England, by some suitable person, in order to augment our little and insufficient fund, as Mr. Edwards made but a partial application ; or would a well-concerted scheme of a lottery 1 to raise £1,000 or £2,000 sterling meet with encouragement by the sale of tickets in England? Some method must be adopted, unless some generous, able benefactors should arise to assist us. I shall write frequently and long ; and if you will do the same to me, you will greatly oblige, Yours, etc., ' James Manning. From the following notice, which was published in the Providence Gazette, it appears that President Manning still retained charge of the 1 Suggested perhaps by Mr. Manning's familiarity with the history of the College of New Jersey, the funds of which institution had been increased by lotteries which the legislatures of Connecti- cut, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey had granted for this purpose. Harvard and Yale Colleges, it may be added, were also aided by lotteries, the former even as recently as the year 1808. To show how common were lotteries in Rhode Island at this time, it may be stated, that, in the space of twenty-seven years, from 1752 to 1779, no less than fifty-four were granted by the General Assembly for the building of churches, parsonages, school-houses, bridges, streets, wharves, etc., as we find by looking over the " Colonial Records." See account of lotteries on page 72. For a very interesting account of lotteries in behalf of the Rev. Dr. Hopkins's church in New- port, the reader is referred to Professor Park's Memoir of the Life and Character of Dr. Hopkins pp. 113, 114. 188 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. Latin school, it being without doubt the same which he commenced at Warren eight years previous to this date. Thus, in addition to his labors as Pastor of the church and President of the College, he was engaged in teaching lads, directly or otherwise, the elements of knowledge, and in furnishing them, as also the College students, with school books, " at the lowest rate." Whereas several gentlemen have requested me to take and educate their sons, this may inform them, and others disposed to put their children under my care, that the Latin school 1 is now removed, and set up in the College edifice; where proper attention shall be given, by a master duly qualified, and those found to be the most effectual methods to obtain a competent knowledge of grammar, steadily pursued. At the same time, spelling, reading, and speaking English with propriety will be particularly attended to. Any who choose their sons should board in commons, may be accommo- dated at the same rate with the students, — six shillings per week being the price. And I flatter myself that such attention will be paid to their learning and morals as will entirely satisfy all who may send their children. All books for the school, as well as the classical authors read in College, may be had, at the lowest rate, of the subscriber. James Manning. Providence, July 10, 1772. Another Commencement was now at hand. The following from Smith's diary will be read with interest : — Mon., Aug. 31, 1772. Set out for my journey to New Jersey. Got the first night to Ames's in Dedham. Tues., Sept. 1. Got to my good friend's Nicholas Brown in Provi- dence, where I stayed till the Monday following. Attended the Commencement on Wednesday. Thursday met with the Corporation of the College. Friday 4, and Satur- day 5. Among my friends. Sab., G. Preached in the forenoon in Mr. Manning's 1 Where the Latin school was kept previous to this date we cannot positively state ; it is, how- ever, more than probable that it was in one of the chambers of the brick school-house on Meeting Street. The other chamber, as has already been stated was occupied by the officers and students of the College. This school-house, as appears from Staples's Annals of Providence, was built during the year 1768, partly by the town, and partly by subscription. By this compound arrange- ment the town owned the lower story, while the upper story was owned by the subscribers, among whom the friends and guardians of the College were largely represented. As we have remarked in a previous chapter, this school, commenced by Manning at Warren in 1764, was for a long time con- nected with the College or University. In 1810 the corporation erected a brick building for its accommodation, at an expense of fifteen hundred dollars. 1770-1772. AND MANNING. 189 meeting-house in Providence, from Prov. 1: 29, and in the afternoon from Luke 16: 31, in Mr. Snow's meeting-house. In the evening preached in the Baptist meeting-house at the Mills, which is about eleven miles from Providence, from Phil. 1 : 21. Mon., 7. Set out from Nath'l. Green's in Coventry, where I lodged, and got that day to Obadiah Stark's in Colchester, where we lodged, viz. : David Howell and myself, who is going with me to the Jerseys. Tues., 8. Went through Haddam, Durham, and to Walling- ford, where we lodged at Mr. Johnson's, the tavern keeper. Wednes., 9. Attended Commencement in New Haven, when and where we had Master's degrees conferred upon us by President Daggett. The Providence, Gazette gives the following account of this Com- mencement : — Providence, Sept. 5, 1772. On Wednesday, the 2d instant, was celebrated the anniversary Commencement of the College in this town. The gentlemen concerned in the business of the day, walked from the College Hall to the Rev. Joseph Snow's meeting-house. After prayer by the President, a Salutatory oration was pronounced, in Latin, by Mr. Russell ; next the Intermediate oration, by Mr. Howell, upon History, and then a Soliloquy by Mr. Appleton, on Solitude; which was succeeded by an oration on Agriculture, and the Pleasures of a Country Life, by Mr. Harris ; and an oration, the subject, Pride, by Mr. Greene, concluded the exercises of the forenoon. Mr. Varnum, one of the candidates for a Master's degree, first spoke in the afternoon, upon the Origin, Nature, and Design of Civil Government. Then followed a Latin Exegesis, by Mr. Howell, in support of this Thesis : — " Miracula extitisse humano testi- monio probari potest;" which was opposed by Messrs. Appleton, Greene, and David. Next, Mr. Stites, another candidate for a Master's degree, spoke an oration, the topic, Female Education : — After which the following young gentlemen were admitted to the degree of A. B., viz.: Joseph Appleton, Ebenezer David, Benjamin Greene, Joseph Harris, Elias Howell, and Joseph Dolbeare Russell. Ad eundem, Jonathan Williams, of Harvard College. To the degree of A. M., were admitted Joseph Eaton, William Rogers, Richard Stites, Charles Thompson, James Mitchel Varnum, and William Williams. Ad eundem, the Rev. Erasmus Kelly, of Philadelphia College ; and the Rev. John Ryland, Jr., of Northampton, in England, to the honorary degree of A. M. After the degrees were conferred, Mr. David pronounced the Valedictory oration, upon the Incomparable Advantages of Religion. The President then gave the Bachelors a charge, with great solemnity, and concluded with prayer. During the exercises, a profound attention was given by a sensible, crowded, and polite assembly. The candor and satisfaction which appeared in every countenance, 190 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. animated the young performers emulously to contend for that universal applause which they had the honor to receive. Concerning the members of this graduating class but little is now known. Appleton was from Ipswich, Massachusetts. He became a clergyman, and died in 1795. Greene was from Bristol; he died in 1824. Harris was from Smithfield ; he died in 1823. Howell was from Egg Harbor, New Jersey, being a relative of Hon. Judge Howell. Russell was from Providence. His father, Joseph Dolbeare Russell, appears under date of Newport, May, 1771, as a donor of books to the College Library. David, the valedictorian, was from Philadelphia. While a student in college, he was converted. After graduating he lived in Newport where he joined the Seventh Day Baptist church, and the year following he was ordained as a minister of that faith and order. During the war he was a Chaplain in the American Army, and was highly esteemed for his talents, piety, and zeal. He died in Pennsyl- vania while in the service, on the 19th of March, 1778. At the meeting of the Corporation, which was fully attended, it was Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Corporation that some suitable application he made to Great Britain for further assistance for this Institution. Voted, That the Honorable the Chancellor, Honorable Darius Sessions, the Reverend President, Doct. Jabez Bowen, and Mr. Nicholas Brown, be a committee to consider who may be a proper person to solicit donations in Europe ; and if the Reverend Presi- dent should be thought most suitable for the purpose, then to consider by whom the place of President may be supplied during his absence, and to consult such person upon the affair, and to lay their proceedings before the Corporation at their adjourn- ment. The need of funds must indeed have been urgent to have suggested the temporary absence in England of the head of the College, and the Pastor of the church at this juncture of affairs. The following letter, addressed to the Rev. John Ryland, gives an account of the greatest donation the Library had at that time received ; namely, the works of the Rev. Dr. John Gill, the distinguished com- mentator, and fifty-two folio volumes of the Fathers, presented through 1770-1772. AND MANNING. 191 Dr. Gill's executors. From this letter we learn that Manning was now receiving from the College a salary of £67 13s. 6d. The Corporation, it will be remembered, at the special meeting held in Warren, April 2, 1770, voted him a salary of ,£100 lawful money. The church in Provi- dence also voted him a salary of £50 ; thus making a total of $500. In addition to this he had the use of the " President's House," which was built in connection with the College edifice, and also what he could realize from his "Latin School." Providence, Nov. 12, 1772. Reverend and Dear Sir: I have not received an answer to mine of May 19th, 1772, yet am not willing to let this opportunity pass without a line. The Faculty conferred the degree of A. M., at our last Commencement on your son, the Rev. John Ryland, Jun. ; hut through my hurry, and absence from home since Commencement, I have not got his diploma written, and must therefore omit sending it until my next. Those other gentlemen you mentioned did not receive their degrees ; the Faculty chose to know whether they have been consulted personally, and wish to receive the honors of our College ; other- wise it might do us hurt instead of service. What suggested this reflection,' in part, was a paragraph in a letter from Mr. Wallin of London to Mr. Backus, which I saw, in which he seemed to insinuate that we had been too lavish of our honors. If these gentlemen would accept diplomas from us, we should give them with pleasure ; but we do not choose to give them to those who would not thank us for them, as I think has been the case with some even on your side of the water. With this I send you a catalogue 1 of those who have received the honors of the College from the first. Our last Commencement, I believe, acquired us considerable reputation amongst the literati in New England ; and had we not to combat with the inveterate enmity of the New England clergy, it would have added to the number of our scholars ; but they take unwearied pains to prevent any from coming if possible, and do not stick at the method of carrying their points ; but, thank God, they don't govern the world. Last month I returned from a journey through the western provinces, as far as Philadelphia. I found religion at an ebb in those churches in general, as is the case through the most of New England. Virginia is still in a flame, and hundreds are hopefully turning to God. I attended the Association at New York, and we had a very comfortable season. I herewith send you an Association letter. 1 This was the first " triennial catalogue," to which Dr. Stiles alludes in his diary. No copy of it, to the writer's knowledge, has been preserved. 192 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IV. I should be glad to know in what sense you give the five guineas which I have been directed to call upon you for annually. The reason is this : I have always rendered an account of it to the Corporation as a part of my salary from the College, which is £67 13s. 4d. sterling, annually, and some of the members have found fault with me for so doing, alleging that, as my salary is inadequate, I ought to consider it as a free gift, or so much over the above sum ; but this I would by no means do without an explicit account of your intention in the donation, according to which I shall be governed, and therefore I pray you to resolve me in this matter. By the last ship we received the works of the great and good Dr. Gill, with fifty-two folio volumes of the Fathers, etc., the gift of Messrs. George Keith and John Gill, the Doctor's executors. This is by far the greatest donation our little Library has yet had ; but I hope their generous example will be followed by others on your side of the Atlantic. Do you think it would be worth while for an American Indian, as we are generally deemed, to visit England, on the errand of collecting some more money for our College? For we really nee*d it. I have been mentioned, if my place in the interim could be supplied, for this purpose, provided the prospect promised anything worth while. 1 But the inattention of the Baptists to their own interests disheartens me greatly. I have written two letters to Dr. Stennett since I have had an answer, and I am afraid I have tired that good man with my nonsense, and that my letters have been mislaid or intercepted. Pray, have you heard of the Doctor's being addressed by Dr. Chauncey, of Boston, with a design to alienate him from the cause of the New England Baptists, by sending him reproachful accounts of them ? I was told by one of our brethren this was suspected to be the case, from some extraordinary steps taken by that society. If that should be the case I should be glad to know ; and if you are intimate with the Doctor, you may probably know through him. A minister of repu- tation gave me this hint but a few days past, or I would not have mentioned it, supposing them incapable of so low an artifice. I am told another 2 of my first class is to preach on trial next Lord's Day, which will make three of that class in the ministry. With great respect, I am, sir, yours to serve, James Manning. The President again alludes to "the inveterate enmity of the New- England clergy " towards the College, who, he states, took " unwearied » The President here refers to the vote of the Corporation passed at the recent meeting in September. 2 William Williams, now teaching at Warren. 1770-1772. AND MANNING. 193 pains to prevent scholars " from entering the Institution, and did not " stick at the method for carrying their points." But, he adds in right- eous indignation, " Thank God, they don't govern the world." The following is another letter to the Rev. Dr. Stennett : — Providence, Nov. 13, 1772. Reverend and Dear Sir : As I have sent two or three letters since receiving one from you, I should not now write, as I have nothing of importance to communicate, had not the Rev. Isaac Backus, of Middleborough, requested me, on the following account : He has been up to Ashfield not long since, and found that the Congregational clergy there, as well as elsewhere, have been very busy in collecting all the scandalous reports they can hear of; and as they think, from some circumstances, sending them to Dr. Chauncey, of Boston, in order to transmit the same to you, to prevent you from interesting yourself in their cause. I confess this is a suggestion which would seem to flow from a bad heart, desti- tute of charity, to a person who is acquainted only with the fair side of their character, but to those who are conversant with them in New England, that they should conceive such a design is far from being a thing incredible. Now if this is the case, I have author- ity from Mr. Backus, a man of unblemished reputation, to inform you that, so far as he could judge, from being on the spot and viewing the lands, etc., wrested from those poor Baptists, he verily thought their complaints were lighter than their grievances, and that their sufferings have been extremely great. And as Mr. Backus is appointed by the body of the Baptists in New England to collect materials for their history, he prays and doubts not but you will, through my hands, favor him with intelligence respecting this matter, by the first opportunity, that he may have it in his power to undeceive you if they have sent you these accounts. The state of the College is much the same as when I wrote last, as to numbers, and still wants powerful friends to patronize and endow it. Messrs. Keith and Gill, the Doctor's executors, by the last ship have sent us a set of the Doctor's works, and fifty- two volumes of the Fathers, etc.; which is the greatest donation our little library has yet had. I have visited the western provinces this fall, and find there but dead times in religion, except in Virginia, where God still continues to do wonders amongst the people ; though, as of old, by instruments to the eye of human reason very weak ; but God clothes them with power. I attended the Philadelphia Association, held in New York this year, and was very agreeably entertained with the company of a number of my fellow-servants, who seem zealous to promote the Redeemer's kingdom. One of them, Mr. David Jones, has been the last summer visiting and preaching to the western tribes of Indians between the Ohio and Mississippi ; and, like an apostle amongst the 25 194 BROWN UNIVERSITY. Chap. IV. Gentiles, was to set out on the first of this month, at his own charges to pay his inter- preter, and spend the winter among the natives. He says they give ear to the Gospel, and importuned him to come again. He thinks there is a great prospect of many turn- ing to God amongst them ; and who knows hut they may ? I helieve it is the first instance of the Baptists going among them for that purpose. The Association was highly pleased with the accounts he gave, and recommended it to the churches to set on foot a collection for him; but I fear he must exhaust his own little pittance, notwith- standing what they will do; for public spirit is a virtue rarely found in this country amongst good people. But lest I weary your patience, I subscribe myself, sir, Your friend and servant, James Manning. We close this chapter with an account of a remarkable funeral which Mr. Manning attended in Swansea, which account he himself prepared and published : — Last Friday departed this life, in the ninety-fifth year of his age, Esek Brown, Esq., of this town. As he lived beloved he died lamented by every one who had the honor of his acquaintance. In his long and painful illness, which he bore with truly Christian fortitude and patience, his constant prayer to Almighty God was that he might enjoy the exercise of his reason, and maintain under his change a true Christian magnanim- ity and patience, and that God in His infinite mercy would grant him a comfortable passage from this to a life of blessedness — in all of which, we have reason to believe, God answered his requests and prayers. He has left to mourn his loss, his widow, the only wife he ever had, aged ninety-one years, and with whom he had lived sixty-nine years in happy wedlock, besides a numerous offspring, the greatest part of whom attended his funeral. He had descended from him, eleven children, one hundred and twenty-two grandchildren, one hundred and seventy-seven great-grand-children, and three great-grand-children's children, in all three hundred and thirteen. He was upwards of sixty years a regular member of the Baptist church, and a member of the House of Commons of Massachusetts Bay forty-one years. He also sustained several other offices in the town with great fidelity and honor, and among all his connections in business through life, which were numerous and remarkable, he never had an action at law either for or against him. Remarkable to relate, the coffin in which he was buried was made out of whole boards sawed out of a black cherry tree which he brought in his own hand, on horseback, from Rhode Island, and set it out in the road before his garden wall with his own hands. He was an affectionate husband, a tender parent, a kind master, a good neighbor, and what crowns all, a pious Christian. He died on the 6th, and was interred on the 10th day of December, 1772. His funeral was attended by a vast concourse of friends, old and young, and by upwards of two hundred of his offspring. CHAPTER V. 1770-1775. Manning's connection with the Baptist church in Providence — Oldest Baptist church in America — Founded hy Roger Williams — Claims to priority of the church in Newport — Historians of the church; Stanford, Hopkins, Edwards, Hague, Caldwell, King — Erroneous statements of Dr. Whitsitt in Johnson's Universal Cyclopedia — Settlement of Providence in 1636 — Winthrop's record of the baptism of Williams — Ezekiel Holliman — Church founded in 1638 — Williams's baptism was by immersion — Coddington's statement to this effect — First church or society in Rhode Island Congregational — Hopkins's statement — Winthrop's reference to early religious meetings at Providence — Statement of Dr. Stiles — Hopkins's account of the forma- tion of the Baptist church — Letter of Hugh Peters giving notice of the exclusion of the members from the church in Salem — Hopkins's account authoritative — Roger Williams minister of a Congregational church, and then of the Baptist church, from which he soon withdrew — Statements of Stanford, Edwards, Backus, and Scott — Williams's change of views — No change in his views on baptism — Believer in and earnest advocate of the distinguishing doctrines of the Baptists throughout life — Absorbed in the grand idea of founding a free colony, and in the work of convert- ing the Indians to Christianity — Growth of the church — Chad Brown — Early con- troversy respecting the doctrine of Laying on of Hands — Williams, and Elders Brown, Wickenden, Dexter, and Tillinghast on one side, and Elder Olney on the other — Olney, with a few others, withdraws and founds a "Five Principle Church" — Statements of Edwards, Callender, and Backus — Account of Pardon Tillinghast and his statements — Controversy revived and compromise made in 1732 — Samuel Winsor — Condition of the church in 1770, when Manning came to Providence with the Col- lege — Howland's recollections — History of the church from this time on as com- piled by Stanford — Manning invited to preach for the church — Elder Winsor objects to his views in regard to Laying on of Hands and Singing in Public Worship — Views on this subject that then prevailed — Winsor withdraws with others and forms a Six Principle church in Johnston — Church applies to Gardner Thurston and Job and Russell Mason for advice — Manning appointed to preach and administer the ordinances — General meeting decides that the church in Providence, and not the seceding church in Johnston, is the original church — Manning's preaching followed by a revival — Meeting-house too small for the increased congregation — Steps taken to build a new one on a large scale, "for the public worship of Almighty God, and also for holding Commencement in" — Successive steps in the progress of the enter- prise — Extracts from the records — John Brown the committee-man on building — Expense in part defrayed by a lottery — House dedicated May 28, 1775 — Description of the building — Changes and additions down to the present time — Inscriptions on the bells — Engraving taken from Rippon's Register — Extract from Dr. Caldwell's Historical Discourse — Formation of the Charitable Baptist Society — Preamble by 196 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. Manning embodying the Baptist sentiment in regard to " Believer's baptism by- Immersion " — Benjamin S. Stelle clerk — Statement of principles — Closing extract from Arnold's Centennial Address, delivered May 28, 1875. The connection of President Manning with the Baptist church in Providence was a most important event in his life, and in the history of the church, to which he gave a new and lasting impulse. It was likewise an important event in the history of the College. On this account, therefore, we devote to it a special chapter of our present work. This church, which was founded by Roger Williams, has always been regarded as the oldest Baptist church in America. Its priority in age, "has been asserted by the unanimous voice of Baptists and of others. The story has been told by father to son, and handed down, through thousands of the families of this State and land, without change. The earliest chronicles have recorded it. It has been woven into every his- tory which was ever written of the State or of the denomination." Such is the language of a report prepared by a committee consisting of the Rev. Dr. James N. Granger, pastor, the Rev. Dr. Alexis Caswell, afterwards President of Brown University, and Professor William Gam- mell. The report was read in church meeting August 25, 1850, and to the Warren Association, September 12, 1850. It was a review of a report presented to the Association in 1849, claiming for the First Baptist Church in Newport the priority in age. On the 22d of November, 1850, the Rev. Samuel Adlam, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Newport, published a most remarkable pamphlet, entitled, "The First Church in Providence, not the oldest of the Baptists in America." In this pamphlet, and in the Associational letter of 1847, from the church of which the writer was pastor, it is claimed, that when Clarke, Coddington, and sixteen others, all Congre- gationalists, and most of them members of Mr. Cotton's church in Boston, settled at Portsmouth, seven miles from Newport, in the spring of 1638, they founded a Baptist church ; and that this therefore is the oldest Baptist church in America. The fact that this church in Ports- mouth was regarded by Cotton's church as composed of "our mem- bers," so the record reads, and that the Boston church sent a deputation 1770-1775. AND MANNING. 197 of three members 1 in 1640, remonstrating with them for communicating with Anne Hutchinson, "an excommunicated person," sufficiently dis- proves this claim. Newport, moreover, was not settled until May 1, 1639. The earliest date given for the Newport church by Callender, Stiles, Edwards, Backus, and others, is 1644. The history of the First Baptist Church in Providence during the first century of its existence, is involved in more or less of obscurity, there being no contemporaneous records. It has been preserved by tradition, and by such incidental statements and allusions as come to our knowledge by accident, rather than by any special care on the part of the church itself. More than a century ago the Rev. John Stanford, then acting as pastor, gathered such minutes as at that time could be found, and incorporated them in what is called the Book of Records. This account, from 1639 to the death of Manning, written by Mr. Stanford, was published by Dr. Rippon in his Baptist Register for 1801 and 1802, with an engraving of the meeting-house. It was afterwards incorporated by Dr. Benedict in his Baptist history. On the 20th of October, 1762, the Hon. Stephen Hopkins published in the Provi- dence G-azette the first number of his remarkable series of articles on "The Planting and Growth of Providence." In this number, and in succeeding numbers published in 1765, he gives a brief account of the origin and growth of the church. Being a direct descendant of Wil- liam Wickenden and Thomas Hopkins, two of the original members of the church, and intimately associated with the direct descendants of Roger Williams, who died only twenty-four years before the writer of the articles was born, his statements have been accepted as authorita- tive. In the year 1771 the Rev. Morgan Edwards, accompanied by Mr. Moses Brown, visited all the elderly people of the place, gathering 1 The three brethren sent by the church in Boston to the Portsmouth church, were Capt. Edward Gibbons, Mr. Hibbins, and Mr. Oliver. These commissioners made their return to the church in Boston, March 10, 1640. A full account of their report is preserved in a thick quarto MS. of great value, belonging to the Massachusetts Historical Society. It was written by Capt. Robert Keayne, the founder and first Captain of the famous Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. He gives the report which the several Commissioners made, in their own words. Large extracts from this MS. are published in Ellis's Life of Anne Hutchinson. See Sparks's American Biography, Vol. 16, page 328. 198 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. information and facts which he afterwards incorporated in his ' ' Mate- rials for a History of the Baptists in Rhode Island." This history, which now forms a part of the Collections of the Rhode Island Histori- cal Society, includes an account of Roger Williams, and the church which he founded. In the year 1839, two centuries after its founda- tion, the Rev. Dr. William Hague, then the pastor, collected into an elaborate discourse the principal facts in regard to the origin and growth of the church, and its successive pastors. This was published, making a duodecimo volume of one hundred and ninety-two pages. It is now a rare book. In 1877 the Rev. Dr. Samuel L. Caldwell, and Prof. William Gammell, were appointed by the church a committee to pre- pare a sketch of its history for publication b}' the Warren Association. This, with illustrative notes, makes a pamphlet of twenty-three pages. Sunday, April 28, 1889, was the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the formation of the church. The discourse in the morning by the pastor, the Rev. Dr. T. Edwin Brown, the historical discourse in the afternoon by the Rev. Dr. Samuel L. Caldwell, and the other exercises, were afterwards printed, making a handsome volume of one hundred and twenty- two pages. While these sheets are passing through the press, another history appears from the ready pen of the present pastor, the Rev. Dr. Henry M. King. It is published by the American Baptist Publication Society, and is entitled, "The Mother Church." The most that can be expected of us in a work like the present, is a brief narrative from the sources here enumerated of the early history of the church, with a continuation during the ministry of President Manning. And in the outset we allude to an article in the new edition of Johnson's Universal Cyclopaedia, which a writer in the Examiner terms "Astonishing Baptist history," being utterly at variance with the most important facts and statements in the histories above enumerated. In an article on Baptists by the Rev. Dr. William H. Whitsitt, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, under the division rt Baptists of America," the author thus writes : — In 1636, Roger Williams, who had been banished from the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, established a community at Providence, and set up a church. He preached with 1770-1775. AND MANNING. 199 zeal and regularity until March, 1639, when it was decided to make a new departure. "Williams, having become convinced of the error of Infant Baptism, concluded to obtain a rebaptism. Eleven others joined him in this step. Ezekiel Holliman bap- tized Williams, and then Williams baptized the rest of the company. The ceremony was most likely performed by sprinkling. 1 Dr. Whitsitt further adds : — In 1644 Williams returned from England with a charter for the colony. It is believed that Mr. Mark Lucar came over with him. ... In 1644 the church in Newport was organized with him as one of the most important members. This is believed to signify that they then received immersion at the hands of Lucar, and became for the first time a regular Baptist church in the sense now accepted. Probably the immersion of the Providence men followed in a short while. Under the division "First Period of American Baptist History," Dr. Whitsitt writes : — The earliest churches of Providence and Newport were both of the Particular Bap- tist persuasion, but the General Baptists shortly appeared upon the scene. In 1652 a General Baptist Church was formed at Providence by Chad Brown, Gregory Dexter, and William Wickenden, and in 1656 a similar church was established at Newport. . . . About the year 1718 the First Church in Providence, of which Williams was the founder, became extinct, and the General Baptist Church of the Browns triumphed over it. Speaking of the General Baptists and the Particular Baptists, and the gradual triumphs of the latter over the former, Dr. Whitsitt adds respecting the First Baptist Church of Providence : — The Gibraltar of the General Baptists, however, still held out; the church in Provi- dence had not yet been directly assailed. In 1770 the labor of taking this stronghold was begun. Manning succeeded to admiration ; in due time Samuel Winsor retired to Johnston with the original church, and the present First Baptist Church of Providence was founded in 1771. The generally received date of the settlement of Providence is June, 1636. The two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the planting of the 1 This statement of Dr. Whitsitt is simply an inference, of course, from the alleged later intro- duction of immersion among the English Baptists. 200 BKOWN UN1VEKSITY Chap. V. town was celebrated June 24, 1886, when an historical discourse was delivered in the First Baptist Meeting-house by the Honorable Judge Durfee, a graduate of Brown University, in the class of 1846. The first distinct record of any organic action as a church, appears in Winthrop's Journal, to which authoritative reference is made in all matters pertaining to early New England history. The writer was a warm personal friend of Williams, and a frequent correspondent after his banishment ; he knew therefore the facts in the case. Under date of March 16, 1639, we find the following : — At Providence things grew still worse ; for a sister of Mrs. Hutchinson, the wife of Scott, being infected with Anabaptistry, and going last year to live at Providence, Mr. Williams was taken (or rather emboldened) by her, to make open profession thereof, and accordingly was rebaptized by one Holyman, 1 a poor man late of Salem. Then Mr. Williams rebaptized him and some ten more. They also denied the baptizing of infants. The exact date of this important event is not known. It is gen- erally given as "some time earlier than March, 1639." The term last 1 The name is usually spelled Holliman. Why Winthrop should call him " a poor man late of Salem," and Hubbard " a mean fellow," does not appear. Probably it was on account of his so called heretical opinions. In the Records of the General Court of Massachusetts for the year 1638, are the following words, as quoted by Backus: — "Ezekiel Holliman, appearing upon sum- mons, because he did not frequent the public assemblies, and for seducing many, was referred by the Court to the ministers for conviction." This was the year when he came to Providence and became one of the original thirteen proprietors. This, too, was the probable year of the forma- tion of the Baptist church. Evidently he was a man of ability and influence, or he would not have been appointed by the Providence brethren to take the initiatory step in so important a matter as this new baptism. An ordinary man would hardly have been accused by the Massachu- setts Court of " seducing many." Mr. Holliman eventually removed to Warwick, where he held positions of trust, being for many years Commissioner from that town. He was born, according to Savage, in Tring, Hertfordshire, England. He married for his second wife Mary, widow of Isaac Sweet. She was a member of the church in Salem, from which she was excluded, as appears from the letter of Hugh Peters, pastor, dated July 1, 1639. He was one of the founders of Dedham, Massachusetts. Winthrop's Journal, under date of September 1, 1635, states that a town was then begun above the falls in Charles river. That was the day when twelve persons assembled for the first time as a town meeting. That town was Dedham. The next year, November, 1636, their num- bers had increased to nineteen. They then formed the town Covenant, so called, and petitioned the General Court for an enlargement of their former grant. Worthington, in his history of Ded- ham, gives the names of these nineteen petitioners, among whom was Ezekiel Holliman. The next year, 1637, he obtained leave to sell his lots. His name does not appear again upon the Dedham town records. 1770-1775. AND MANNING. 201 year used by Winthrop, strictly speaking, would be the year between March 25, 1637, and March 25, 1638, as the year then commenced on the 25th of March, and Winthrop's entry is dated March 16, 1639. Mrs. Hutchinson, according to the statement of Dr. Ellis, her biographer, was excommunicated from Mr. Cotton's church on the 22d of March, 1638. She left Boston on the 28th of the month for Braintree, and from thence proceeded to Providence, where she joined Clarke, Coddington, and others, for their new destination at Ports- mouth, near Newport. The year 1638, therefore, may fairly be assumed as the date of the founding of the church, although 1639 is the date which the church has been accustomed to take. That tins rebaptism of Williams and his associates was immersion has never, to the writer's knowledge, been questioned, except in the case of Dr. Whitsitt, who states that "the ceremony was most likely performed by sprinkling." Governor Coddington, who was the leading man among the Newport colonists, was at Providence with Clarke and others in 1638. It was through the influence of Williams with the Indians that he was enabled to obtain from them a deed of Aquidneck, now the Island of Rhode Island. Coddington was at that time a promi- nent member of the Boston church. Eventually he joined the Quakers ; and he was hence displeased with Williams on account of his controversy with George Fox. In a letter dated June 25, 1677, and published in "New England Fire Brand Quenched," he thus writes concerning the founder of the Baptist church : — "I have known him about fifty years, a mere weathercock, constant only in unconstancy. . . . One time for water-baptism, men and women must be plunged into the water ; and then throw it all down again." It is stated by Dr. Caldwell and others that there was no organiza- tion for religious purposes until more than two years after the date of the first settlement. Hopkins, however, who was in a position to know the facts, states to the contrary. In his first article on Providence, after speaking of the landing of Roger Williams and his companions on a neck of land lying between the mouths of Pawtucket and Moshassuck rivers, he thus writes : — 26 202 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. Upon this neck of land, given them by the beneficent Sachem (Canonicus), they settled themselves in the best manner their very poor, and truly deplorable circum- stances would admit of ; being quite destitute of every necessary, as well as conveniency of life, and entirely cut off from all communication with every part of mankind, except the savages. Even those with whom they had so lately left their native country for the same cause of religion, were now become their greatest persecutors and most cruel enemies. This settlement was the feeble beginning of the third New England colony, first planted in the year 1634, 1 by the renowned and worthy Mr. Roger Williams and his twelve poor suffering companions, namely, John Throckmorton, William Arnold, William Harris, Stukely Westcott, John Greene, Thomas Olney, Richard Waterman, Thomas James, Robert Cole, William Carpenter, Francis Weston, and Ezekiel Holliman. This small company Mr. Williams formed into a church, and on that occasion piously observed to his brethren, that the Providence of God had found out a place for them among savages, where they might peaceably worship God according to their consci- ences ; a privilege which had been denied them in all the Christian countries they had ever been in. In thankfulness for this greatest of blessings, he named the place where they were settled, Providence. As they were all fully sensible of the horrid mischiefs and atrocious sin of persecution, they established an universal liberty of conscience, as well for all others who should come and settle with them, as for themselves. And this natural right of all mankind has been inviolably maintained throughout the Colony to this day. Liberty of conscience being settled in this, and denied in the two neigh- boring colonies, soon brought more of those to join with them, whose faith did not exactly agree with the fixed standards there ; and in a short time afterwards there were added to the church at Providence, Robert Williams, John Smith, Hugh Bewit, William Wickenden, John Field, Thomas Hopkins, and William Hawkins. The little church which Mr. Hopkins here states Williams formed, was of course a Congregational church. No records, if they had any, have been preserved. Most of the company were members of the church in Salem, and they still considered themselves, says the historian Upham, "the minister of the Salem church, and a chosen band of his 1 This date should be 1636. Consequently the Colony was the fourth, and not the third. The same mistake was made by Callender , and also by Hubbard. These writers were misled doubtless by the language of Williams in his deed of 1661, in which he speaks of negotiations with the Narra- gansett Sachems in 1634, and in 1635. Theodore Foster, whose " Materials for a History of Rhode Island " are published in the seventh volume of the " Collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society" together with Hopkins's " Historical Account of the Planting and Growth of Provi- dence," gives the true date of the settlement. 1770-1775. AND MANNING. 203 faithful flock." Winthrop in his journal for December, 1638, speaks of "religious meetings" held at Providence "upon the week days," as well as on Sunday. These meetings were held at Roger Williams's house. The Rev. Dr. Stiles, who was pastor of the Second Congrega- tional church in Newport from 1755 until 1776, in a paper on file in the archives of the church, entitled " Memoirs of transactions in procuring a charter from the General Assembly, 1771," thus writes respecting this church and its successor : — The first church in Rhode Island was Congregational, and settled here in 1636, under Rev. Roger Williams, who administered the Lord's Supper and the Baptism of Infants hy sprinkling for the first three years ; till in 1639 he and his church renounced their haptism, and were haptized hy plunging, Brother Holliman first plunging Mr. Wil- liams, and then Mr. Williams in turn the rest, or most of them. Concerning the formation of the Baptist church, Mr. Hopkins writes in the columns of the Providence Gazette for 1765 as follows : — The first church formed at Providence hy Mr. Williams and others, seems to have heen on the model of the Congregational churches in the other New England colonies. But it did not long continue in this form, for most of its memhers very soon embraced the principles and practices of the Baptists ; and some time earlier than 1639, gathered and formed a church at Providence of that society, the principal members 1 of which were William Wickenden, the first elder, Chad Brown, Thomas Olney, Gregory Dexter, Ezekiel Holliman, Stukeley Westcott, etc. That this church was begun as early as I have placed it, is evident from a letter of the famous Hugh Peters, minister of Salem, to the church at Dorchester, dated the first of the fifth month (July 1st), 1639, in which he writes : * — Reverend and dearly beloved in the Lord: We thought it our bounden duty to acquaint you with the names of such persons as have had the great censure passed upon them in this our church, with the reasons thereof. . . . Roger Williams, and his wife, John Throckmorton, and his wife, Thomas Olney, and his wife, Stukeley Westcott, and his wife, Mary Holliman, and 1 Mr. Williams's name is not here mentioned by Governor Hopkins. It was taken for granted, of course, that he was the leader in this movement. Governor Winthrop so states it in his Journal. So also Callender, Stiles, Edwards. Backus, and other early writers. 2 This letter is published in full in Knowles's " Memoir of Roger Williams," pages 176 and 177. 204 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. widow Reeves. These wholly refused to hear the church, denying it, and all the churches in the Bay, to be true churches ; and except two, are all rebaptized. Yours in the Lord Jesus, Hugh Peters. There seems to have been but one society or meeting of the Baptists, formed in the English nation, before this at Providence, and that was in London, under the pastoral care of Mr. John Spilsbury, on the 12th of September, 1633. The second in England was in 1G39, gathered by Mr. Greene, and others. This first church at Providence, hath from its beginning kept itself in repute, and maintained its discipline, so as to avoid scandal, or schism, to this day ; hath always been, and still is a numerous congregation, and in which I have with pleasure observed, very lately, sundry descendants from each of the above named founders, except Holliman. Statements like these respecting the origin and continuity of the First Baptist Church, made by the leading man of his time, and a mem- ber of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, must have weight in the minds of all thoughtful readers. When he published his " Historical Account of the Planting and Growth of Providence," he had nearly reached the age of three-score years. He himself, as has already been stated, was a direct descendant of Wickenden and Hopkins, the former an elder in the Baptist church, and the latter a member of the original Congregational church. The pastor of the Baptist church, Samuel Winsor, with whom he was on terms of intimacy, was the great grand- son, on his mother's side, of Roger Williams. The idea that this church seceded in 1652, on account of the doctrine of Laying on of Hands, and that the original church founded by Williams, under the leadership of Thomas Olney, afterwards " went to pieces," according to the fanciful theories of some recent writers, would seem in view of Hopkins's account simply preposterous. In point of fact, Olney and a few others withdrew from the original body about the year 1654, as we shall see further on. Roger Williams, it will thus be seen, was the minister of the Con- gregational church in Salem, and the minister of those who came with him from Salem to Providence. He organized a Baptist church some two or three years after the settlement of the town, and is therefore 1770-1775. AND MANNING. 205 justly regarded as its founder. How long he retained his connection with the church can never, from the want of records, be definitely determined. Stanford, who in 1788 made up what are called the Records, says that he "held his pastoral office about four years, and then resigned the same to Mr. Brown and Mr. Wickenden, and went to England to solicit the first charter." Morgan Edwards says the first minister and founder of the church " was Roger Williams. He became their minister at the time they were settled in 1638, but in a few years resigned the care thereof to Rev. Messrs. Brown and Wickenden." 1 Mr. Edwards, it may be observed, gives 1638 as the date of the formation of the church. Backus, in his " History of the Baptists in New England," 2 says, " But the unruly passions of some among them, with other things, caused such scruples in Williams's mind, in about four months, that he refrained from administering or partaking of special ordinances in any church ever after, as long as he lived, though he would preach the gos- pel, and join in social worship with such as agreed with him, all his days." This is more in accord with the statement made by Richard Scott, a neighbor of Williams for more than forty years. He was at first a Baptist, but afterwards joined the Quakers. In a somewhat unfriendly letter, 3 growing out of the George Fox controversy, he thus writes : — I walked with him in the Baptist's way about three or four months, in which time he brake from the Society, and declared at large the ground and reason for it ; that their baptism could not be right because it was not administered by an apostle. After that he set upon a way of seeking, with two or three of them that had dissented with him, by way of preaching and praying. Winthrop, under date of July, 1639, writes that Williams soon * ' came to question his second baptism, not being able to derive the authority of it from the apostles, otherwise than by the ministers of England, whom he judged to be ill authority." 1 Materials for a History of the Baptists in Rhode Island. See " Collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society," Vol. VI., page 316. 2 Edition of 1871, Vol. 2, page 490. s See " New England Fire Brand Quenched," Part II., page 247. 206 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. Frbm these various testimonies, and the sentiments expressed in his "Hireling Ministry," a little work published in 1652, it is evident that Williams, soon after the organization of the Church, experienced a change in his religious views. He became, in the language of Scott a Seeker; "a term," says Professor Gammell, 1 not "inaptly applied to those, who, in any age of the Church, become dissatisfied with its pre- vailing creeds and institutions, and seek for more congenial views of truth, or a faith better adapted to their spiritual wants. He regarded all the churches of Christendom as, in some sense, in a state of apos- tas} r , and the clergy of every name, as having fallen from their priestly office, and lost their true apostolic authority, and he looked for a new commission to be given from Heaven, to restore the sacred succession of apostles, and re-establish on their primitive basis, the ordinances of the gospel." His mind, like the minds of many other good men of his day, became blind, as Professor Knowles expresses it, " by excess of light, ' ' while gazing at the glorious vision of the Apocalypse ; and he formed the conclusion that in the disastrous Antichristian apostasy, the general turmoil of the times, and the upheaval of the foundations of government and institutions, the true ministry and the whole organiza- tion of the church had gone to ruin ; from which, however, he believed they would be restored, and the Savior's Kingdom would come on earth. Such also were the views of his friend, Sir Henry Vane, the great Eng- lish statesman. Notwithstanding this change in his religious sentiments, Williams still believed in the doctrine of "Believers' Baptism by Immersion." In his " Christenings make not Christians," a discourse published in 1645, he speaks of a " baptism or washing in rivers, as the first Chris- tians and the Lord Jesus himself did." And in a letter to his friend, Governor Winthrop, 2 dated December 10, 1649, more than ten years after his immersion, he thus writes : — At Seekonk a great many have concurred with Mr. John Clarke and our Providence men ahout the point of a new baptism, and the manner by dipping; and Mr. John i Life of Roger Williams, page 200. See Sparks's American Biography. 2d series, Vol. IV. » Publications of the Narragansett Club. Vol. VI., page 188. 1770-1775. AND MANNING. 207 Clarke hath heen there lately (and Mr. Lucar), and hath dipped them. I helieve their practice comes nearer the first practice of our great Founder Christ Jesus, than other practices of religion do ; and yet I have not satisfaction neither in the authority hy which it is done, nor in the manner, nor in the prophecies concerning the rising of Christ's Kingdom after the desolations of Rome, etc. In regard to the other great doctrines held by the Baptists of his day, Liberty of Conscience, or Soul Liberty, the entire Separation of Church and State, the Supreme Headship of Christ in all spiritual matters, Regeneration through the Agency of the Holy Spirit, and a hearty belief in the Bible as God's Divinely inspired and miraculously preserved Word, and an all sufficient Rule for Faith and Practice, he was throughout life a sincere believer in them all and an earnest advo- cate of them, as his letters and published works abundantly show. In point of fact Williams was too much absorbed in the grand idea now growing in his mind, of founding a Colony, the first in the civil- ized world on the principles of civil and religious freedom, to give that attention to the church as pastor and preacher which he had been accustomed to give. Moreover his great mission, the one in the outset prominent in the minds of the early settlers of Massachusetts Bay, as their charter and other documents show, was the conversion of the Indians to Christianity. For this he labored for more than half a cen- tury, with a perseverance, a disinterestedness, and a zeal, almost with- out a parallel in the annals of missionary effort. 1 By the whole tenor of his life and conduct, says Callender, 2 " he appears to have been one of the most disinterested men that ever lived, and a most pious and heavenly minded soul." In view of all the facts here stated, the First Baptist Church may justly pride itself on its early origin, and on its connection with the illustrious Williams as its founder and first pastor. But though Williams soon relinquished the pastoral oversight of the church, devoting himself mainly to missionary efforts, and the develop- 1 See the writer's address before the American Baptist Home Mission Society, delivered in Philadelphia, May 27, 1892, and published in the Home Mission Monthly for October, 1892. The address is entitled, " Roger Williams, the Pioneer Missionary to the Indians." 2 Century Discourse, delivered March 24, 1738. See " Collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society," Vol. IV. 208 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. ment of a Colony or State, the original members, most of them, remained, and others were from time to time added to their number. The names of Chad Brown, William Wickenden, Thomas Olney, Gregory Dexter, and Pardon Tillinghast, have come down to us as those who served as elders. They were an unpaid ministry having gifts of "prophesying;" and they fulfilled the conditions required of them. The town was for many years a poor, straggling hamlet, con- sisting of less than one hundred houses or log cabins even as late as 1676, when all but five were burned by the Indians during King Philip's war. 1 Among these elders, tradition has given to Brown the priority, though the others were contemporaries with him. He was unques- tionably a man of superior abilities, professing practical wisdom and plain common sense ; and he served as arbiter in many of the difficulties occurring in the town. His house-lot, as has already been stated, included a part of the present College grounds. Many years after his death, which the colonists regarded as a public calamity, Williams wrote of him as " that noble spirit now with God.' ' In the writer's former life of Manning, thirty-three pages are devoted to an account of him and his descendants, one of whom, James Brown, was also an elder in the church. During the eldership of Chad Brown, there appears to have orig- inated a religious controversy, which was long agitated in the town, and indeed throughout the Colony. It had reference to the " Laying on of Hands," mentioned in the Sixth Chapter of Hebrews ; a doctrine which prevailed in the Providence church for more than a century. Roger Williams was a believer in the doctrine, referring to it in his published works 2 as a "light of the first institution," and "one of the foundations of the Christian religion." The principal leaders in this controversy were Brown, Wickenden, Dexter, and Tillinghast, on the one side, and Olney, who favored giving up the doctrine altogether, 1 Theodore Foster in his " Materials for a History of Rhode Island," states " that when the war of 1675 broke out, there were near an hundred houses in Providence, which were destroyed, except five which were garrisoned, when the town was burnt, in the war, on the 29th day of March, 1C7C." * Bloudy Tenent, 1643, page 21. Hireling Ministry, 1652, page 6. 1770-1775. AND MANNING. 209 on the other. Not succeeding in carrying his point, he with a few- others withdrew from the church and formed a new one, calling it the " Five Principle Baptist Church." There are no records extant upon the subject, and our only sources of information are the statements of Comer, Callender, Edwards, and Backus. Edwards thus states the case, as he received it from Elder Winsor and others in 1771 : — Some divisions have taken place in this church. The first was ahout the year 1654, on account of the Laying on of Hands. Some were for banishing it entirely, among whom Rev. Thomas Olney was the chief, who, with a few more, withdrew and formed themselves into a distinct church, distinguished by the name of Five Point Baptist, and the first of the name in the Province. It continued in being to 1715, when Mr. Olney 1 resigned the care of it, and soon after it ceased to exist. It is not certain when the active ministry of Pardon Tillinghast commenced. He was born in England in 1622, and admitted to citizenship in Providence, January 19, 1646, 2 receiving twenty-five acres of land. He was then in his twenty-fifth year. He lived to be ninety-six, continuing his ministry until his death in 1718. A fine mon- ument has recently been erected to his memory on his burial lot on Benefit Street, near the corner of Transit Street. Roger Williams speaks of him in 1672 as "a leading man among the people called Baptists, at Provi- dence." 3 Gov. Joseph Jenckes writes of him in 1730 as "a man exemplary for his doctrine, as well as of an unblemished character." 4 An original letter of his, dated July, 1681, 5 shows that the church of which he was the elder, was at that time "Six Principle." It was during his ministry, and after the church had lived without one for 1 Thomas Olney, Jun. He died, it is stated, "June 11, 1722, and was buried in his own field." His father, who was one of the original members of the church, died in 1682. Callender, writing in 1738, gives substantially the same account of this division. His statement is as follows: — "About the year 1653 or 1654, there was a division in the Baptist Church at Providence, about the rite of Laying on of Hands, which some pleaded for as essentially necessary to church communion and the others would leave indifferent. Hereupon they walked in two churches, one under Mr. Chad Brown, Mr. WickendenJ etc., and the other under Mr. Thomas Olney ; but Layingon of Hands at length generally prevailed." The churches holding to this rite were called " Six Principle Churches," and they are so called to this day. * Staples. Annals of Providence, page 61. * Geo. Fox. Publications of the Narragansett Club. Vol. V., page 320. * Backus. History of the Baptists, edition of 1871, Vol. II., page 23. 5 Guild. Documentary History of Brown University, page 208. 27 210 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. more than sixty years, that we first hear of a meeting-house, which was built at his expense, and given by him to the church in a deed dated April 11, 1711. 1 This house stood on the west side of North Main Street, near Smith Street, and is said to have been "in the shape of a hay-cap, with a fire-place in the middle, the smoke escaping from a hole in the roof." 2 It was during the ministry of Ebenezer Jenckes, a brother of the Governor, and James Brown, a grandson of Chad, that the more liberal sentiment of the church asserted itself in regard to Laying on of Hands, about which there had been in previous years so much controversy. A revival of religion was in progress in Newport, and Mr. John Walton, a young minister of liberal education, and a physician, had been invited to preach in Providence, with the hope of promoting one here also. He accepted the invitation ; but he was found ready not only to receive contributions for his support, as Governor Jenckes recommended, but he was also found guilty of the innovation of the "singing of Psalms," and the heresy of receiving to communion those who were " not under hands." Samuel Winsor, a grandson of Roger Williams and a deacon in the church, was the leader of the rigid party. At first, according to Backus, 3 there was a separation. A compromise was finally effected, and an agreement was signed by twenty-four of the prominent members of the church allowing the "Six Principles" to be the bonds of com- munion. This was May 25, 1732. Elder Brown died in October fol- lowing, and Winsor's party ordained him as Brown's successor in the ministry. An account of the revival of the old controversy, with the names of those who signed the covenant, is given in the writer's sketch of James Brown. 4 Such was the Baptist church at the time of Manning's arrival in Providence, May 4, 1770. It was one hundred and thirty-two years i The deed was not recorded until April 22, 1749. In a note or memorandum the donor, referring to the doctrine of Laying on of Hands mentioned in the deed, states that " the church of which he was the Elder was Six Principle." Mr. Tillinghast appears to have been a strenuous advocate of this doctrine. s Knowles. Memoir of Roger Williams, page 175. » History of the Baptists. Edition of 1871, Vol. II., pages 22-23. * Manning and Brown University, 1864, pages 152-155. 1770-1775. AND MANNING. 211 old dating from 1638 ; and yet, in a population of four thousand inhab- itants, with no other rival church or society for nearly a century, 1 it had but one hundred and eighteen members, many of them living in John- ston, Pawtucket, and other places remote from their house of worship. It had never paid its ministers for their services, and on principle was opposed to such a procedure. It was still vigorous for the doctrine of Laying on of Hands, in accordance with the views of its elders or pas- tors from the beginning ; and it refused communion to those who did not practice such doctrine. It held those liable to discipline who should "join in prayer without the bounds of the church," in accordance with the " agreement " of May 25, 1732. It discarded singing and music in public worship after the manner of the Quakers, and the early Baptists in England. And it was Arminian in sentiment, holding with the General Baptists to the doctrine of universal redemption. The celebrated antiquary, John Howland, came to Providence in April, 1770, just one month before Manning. He was then in his thirteenth year. Here he spent the remaining years of his protracted and useful life, dying in 1854, at the age of ninety-seven. He was always a keen observer of men and things, and in his • ' Life and Recol- lections " are recorded many events of local interest and value. Con- cerning the house and worship of the Baptist church at this time, he thus writes : — When I came to Providence there were five religious societies here. One was the old Arminian Baptist. Their meeting-house was ahout forty feet square, and stood on the lot now forming the corner of North Main and Smith Streets. At high water the tide flowed nearly up to the west end of the building. There were no pews. 2 From the front door opening on Main Street, an aisle extended to the pulpit, which was raised three or 1 The Society of Friends in Providence, according to Staples, was organized about the year 1704, when a meeting-house was erected for their worship. The First Congregational Society was formed about the year 1720 ; in 1723 their house of worship was erected on the corner of College and Benefit Streets. St. John's Episcopal Church was formed about the year 1722; in 1723 a house of worship was erected on the spot where St. John's Church now stands. Mr. Snow's meeting, now the Benefi- cent Congregational Church, was formed in 1743, by a separation |from Mr. Cotton's church, or the First Congregational. 2 This statement appears to be true only in part. There are papers, says Dr. Caldwell, among the files of the church, showing that in June, 1759, eleven years previous to the time Howland describes, there was an appraisal or sale of seventeen pews valued at £1,357. 212 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. four steps from the floor. On each side of the aisle benches extended north and south to the walls of the house, and there were benches in the gallery, which was entered by narrow stairs from a door on the south side of the house. It appears that it never had been the practice to settle an ordained minister over any particular church or society. 1 In this they resembled the Quakers. As settlements extended into the country, and other places had been procured where the neighbors could attend, one of the elders nearest the place usually preached. The elders were generally farmers, and had no salary or any other means of support but their own labor. They officiated in any place where there was a gathering, and the people did not know who was to speak till they saw one begin. They did not approve of singing, and never practised it in public wor- ship. "When more than one elder was present and the first had exhausted himself, he would say, " there is time and space left if any one has further to offer." In that case another and another would offer what he had to say; so there was no set time for clos- ing the meeting. As Elder Winsor's home was in Providence, 2 he generally appeared in his place every Sunday, so that this came to be called Elder Winsor's meeting. The house could not contain a large congregation, nor did the number present seem to require a larger house as they were not crowded, though many of them came in from the neighboring towns on horseback with women behind them on pillions. The time had now come for advance and enlargement. "A new- life within the church," says Dr. Caldwell, " responded to a new life outside ; the old period closes and a new one begins ; the church of Manning and his successors take the place of the church of Winsor and his predecessors. And that means a great change." The regular church records begin in April, 1775, preceded by a list of members admitted from December, 1774, during the great revival, to June 30, 1782, Prefixed to these records is a "History of the Baptist Church of Christ in Providence, Rhode Island, being the oldest Baptist Church in America." This is a brief summary of such events as could be collected respecting the history of the church for one hundred and fifty years from its foundation. It was prepared in 1789, as has already • Mr. Howland is in error so far as relates to the Baptist church in Providence. Their pastors, or elders, were severally ordained, the dates of their ordinations being given in the records and his- tory of the church. The pastor in 1770, Samuel Winsor, Jr., was ordained June 21, 1759. * His home was really in Johnston, three miles from the place of meeting. This was formerly a part of Providence, but it was incorporated as a separate township in March, 1759. See Rhode Island Census for 1885. 1770-1775. AND MANNING. 213 been stated, by the Rev. John Stanford, a preacher from England, who served as temporary pastor from March, 1788, to September, 1789. Mr. Stanford's original manuscript of twenty folio pages is preserved in the archives of the Society. That portion of the narrative which gives the details of Manning's connection with the church, we shall now freely use without apology, interweaving it with the present narrative in such form as may seem desirable. Rev. Samuel Winsor, Jr., was born November 1, 1722, in tbe township of Providence, and was ordained June 21, 1759. He continued his office with ease and some success till towards the year 1770, when he made repeated complaints to the church, that the duty of his office was too heavy for him, considering the remote situation of his dwelling from town. He constantly urged the church to provide help in the ministry, as he was not able to serve them any longer in that capacity, without doing injury to his family, which they could not desire." l Divine Providence had so ordered, that the Rev. James Manning, President of the Rhode Island College, was likely to remove from Warren to settle with the College in this town ; and which was esteemed favorable to the wishes of Mr. WinsOr and the church. However, at this juncture, Mr. John Sutton, minister, on his way from Nova Scotia to the Jerseys, arrived at Newport ; when Mr. Winsor and the church invited him to preach as an assistant for six months; which he did to good acceptance, and then pursued his journey. It must have been in November, 1769, when Mr. Sutton arrived at Newport on his way to Nova Scotia, and was invited by Mr. Winsor and the Church to preach as an assistant. A special meeting of the Corporation was held at Newport on the 14th of this month, when it was voted, "that the College edifice be at Providence." President Manning was at this meeting, as also Samuel Winsor, and the brothers, Nicholas and Joseph Brown. As a matter of course, it was expected from the vote, that the College would now be removed from Warren, and that Manning would accompany it to Providence. Mr. Winsor was anxious to be released from his pastoral duties, and the Browns and 1 Mr. Winsor appears to have been a farmer in comfortable circumstances. At the meeting of the Corporation in Warren on the final location of the College, he gave security for seventy-five acres of land, valued at £45, or $150, towards the erection of the College edifice. For this he was requested to give a deed " duly executed and recorded" to the treasurer." 214 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. Jenckes were equally desirous to secure the services of Manning. Meanwhile Mr. Sutton was secured as a substitute. We learn from Cathcart, that " Rev. John Sutton, with a company of emigrants from New Jersey, settled at Newport, Nova Scotia, in 1760, and there preached and baptized converts." He was a member with Manning of the Scotch Plains Church, and accompanied him, it will be remembered, in the summer of 1763, on a voyage to Halifax, during which they stopped at Newport, and made the motion for a college. Edwards states, in his " Materials for the History of the Baptists in New Jersey," that Mr. Sutton was afterwards settled in Nova Scotia from 1766 to 1770. This would include the six months that he was in Providence. Manning in a letter to Smith, under date of Nov. 18, 1790, alludes to ' ' Our friend Mr. Sutton settled nearly in the centre of Kentucky, and, in regard to worldly prospects more happy than ever he was," having purchased two hundred acres of good land, etc. The attention of the church and Mr. Winsor was now directed to Mr. Manning; and at a church meeting held at the beginning of May, 1770, Daniel Jenckes, Esq., Chief Judge of the Inferior Court, and Solomon Drown, Esq., were chosen to wait on Mr. Manning upon his arrival, and, in the name of the church and congregation, to invite him to preach at the meeting-house. Mr. Manning accepted the invitation and delivered a sermon. It being Communion day, Mr. Winsor invited Mr. Manning to partake with them, which the President cordially accepted. After this several members were dissat- isfied at Mr. Manning's partaking of the Lord's Supper with them ; but, at a church meeting appointed for the purpose, Mr. Manning was admitted to communion by vote of the church. Notwithstanding this, some of the members remained dissatisfied at the privilege of transient communion being allowed Mr. Manning; whereupon another meeting was called previous to the next communion day, in order to reconcile the diffi- culty. At said meeting Mr. Manning was confirmed in his privilege by a much larger majority. At the next church meeting Mr. Winsor appeared with an unusual number of members from the country, and moved to have Mr. Manning displaced, but to no purpose. The ostensible reason of Mr. Winsor and of those with him for objecting against President Manning was, that he did not make Non-imposition of Hands a bar to communion, though he himself had received it, and administered it to those who desired it. Mr. Winsor and the church knew Mr. Manning's sentiments and practice for more then six years at Warren ; those therefore who were well informed, attributed the opposition to the President's holding to singing in public worship ; which was highly disgustful to Mr. Winsor. 1770-1775. AND MANNING. 215 On this point the sentiments of the Friends or Quakers appear to have prevailed in the church, and singing was discarded as unauthorized by the New Testament. The same was true with other Baptist churches in Rhode Island. What diversity of opinion once existed touching that which is now regarded as an essential part of worship, and of universal practice, may be seen by reading the pages of Backus and Edwards, and by consulting the controversial works on this subject of Claridge, Keach, Marlow, Allen, Russell, and others, which were published in London at the close of the seventeenth contury, all of which may be found upon the shelves af the College Library. 1 It was about this time that singing was introduced among the English Bap- tists. Probably persecution had much to do with its general omission in their earlier religious assemblies. The Rev. Benjamin Keach, a cel- ebrated writer and preacher, introduced it in his church, and in 1691 published a work advocating the singing of " Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs." It met with bitter opposition. Some of his people on this account withdrew and founded the Maze Pond church, and pro- hibited singing in their worship. The difficulty increasing, it was resolved to refer the business to the next Associa- tion (Yearly Meeting of the Six Principle Baptist Churches) at Swansea. But when the case was presented, the Association, after a full hearing on both sides, agreed that they had no right to determine, and that the church must act for themselves. The next church meeting, which was in October, was uncommonly full. All matters relative to the President were fully debated, and by a much greater majority were determined in his favor. It was then agreed that all should sit down at the Lord's Table the next Sabbath, which was accordingly done. But at the subsequent communion season, Mr. Winsor declined administering the ordinance, assigning for a reason, that a number of the brethren were dissatisfied. April 18, 1771, being church meeting, Mr. Winsor appeared and produced a paper signed by a number of members living out of town, dated Johnston, Feb.. 27, 1771, in which they say: — Brethren and Sisters: We must in conscience withdraw ourselves from all who do 1 The curious on this subject may be interested in reading the titles of some of these works : — "Answer to Richard Allen's Essay to prove that Singing is a Christian Duty." By Richard Claridge. 12mo. Lond., 1697; " Singing proved to be a Holy Ordinance of Jesus Christ." By Rev. Benjamin Keach. 8vo. Lond., 1691; "The Controversie of Singing brought to an End." By Isaac Marlow, 12ino. Lond., 1696; " Brief Animadversions on Allen's Essay on Singing." By William Russell, M. D. 12mo. Lond., 1696. 216 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. not hold strictly to the Six Principles of the doctrine of Christ, as laid down in Hebrews vi. 1 and 2. At a church meeting held May 30, 1771, Mr. Winsor made a second declaration, that he withdrew from tha church at Providence, and that he should break bread in John- ston (an adjacent town), which he accordingly did the first Lord's day in June, and continued so to do. In the language of Knight, he, with Deacon John Dyer, and others, withdrew "and set up a separate church and communion." The num- ber of original members is stated to have been eighty-seven. These could not all have withdrawn from the Providence church, as that would have left but a small minority of thirty-one. Backus, who was inti- mate with Manning, and knew all the facts, thus states the case : — " Samuel Winsor succeeded his father in the care of the church, from 1759 until 1771, when he and a minor part of the church drew off, on account of differing sentiments concerning the doctrines of grace, and singing in public worship then introduced (which was a return to the first principles of the church), and he and his followers formed another church in Johnston." This church has long ceased to exist, but the records are preserved, and the building where they worshipped is still standing. The church remaining in Providence applied to the Rev. Gardner Thurston, of New- port, for ad\ ice. In consequence of advice received, it was resolved to apply to the Rev. Job and Russell Mason, of Swansea, to come and administer the Lord's Supper. Accordingly a letter was sent signed by Daniel Jenckes, Esq., Deacon Ephraim Wheaton, and others, bearing date June 10, 1771. To this letter the following answer was received: — Swansea, June 28, 1771. To the Brethren and Sisters in the town of Providence, not long since under the care of Elder Samuel Winsor, but now forsaken by him, we send greeting, wishing all grace, mercy, and peace may abound toward you all, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Whereas you have sent a request for one of us to break bread among you, we laid your request before our church meeting ; and there being but few members present, and we not being able to know what the event of such a proceeding might be at this time, think it not expedient for us to come and break bread with you. And whereas you have 1770-1775. AND MANNING. 217 received Mr. Manning into your fellowship, and called him to the work of preaching (he heing ordained), we know not but by the same rule he may administer the Lord's Supper. But whether it will be most expedient for you to omit the administration of the Lord's Supper, considering the present circumstances of the case, until the Associa- tion (Yearly Meeting), we must leave you to judge. No more at present, but desiring you would seek God for wisdom to direct you in this affair, hoping you will have the glory of God, the credit of our holy religion, and the comfort of his children at heart in all your proceedings. Farewell. Job Mason, ) -d ™ ( Elders. Russell Mason, I In consequence of the above advice, the church appointed a meeting to consider the propriety of calling President Manning to administer ordinances to the church; whereupon the following resolution was formed: — At a meeting of the members of the Old Baptist Church in Providence, in church meeting assembled this 31st day of July, 1771, Daniel Jenckes, Esq., moderator: Whereas, Elder Samuel Winsor, now of Johnston, has withdrawn himself, and a con- siderable number of members of this church, from their communion with us who live in town; and we, being destitute of a minister to administer the ordinances amongst us, have met together in order to choose and appoint a suitable person for this purpose. Upon due consideration, the members choose and appoint Elder James Manning to preach and administer the communion according to our former usage. To the above resolve Mr. Manning returned the following answer: — As the church is destitute of an administrator, and think the cause of religion suffers through the neglect of the ordinances of God's house, I consent to undertake to administer pro tempore ; that is, until there may be a more full disquisition of the matter, or time to seek other help; at least, until time may prove whether it will be consistent with my other engagements, and for the general interests of religion. This answer being accepted, Mr. Manning was appointed Pastor of the church pro tempore. The salary at first was <£50. In 1786 this was doubled, to provide a temporary supply, Mr. Manning being this year in Congress. In 1788 the salary was increased to .£150, one- third to be raised by pew tax, and the remainder by assessment on the private property of members of the church and society. At the General Meeting (Yearly Meeting) held September 20,1771, a question was put, " Whether those members who withdrew with Mr. Winsor, or those in Providence, 28 218 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. be considered the Old Church," whereupon the brethren meeting in Providence were acknowledged the Old Church ; but it was agreed that the Association (Yearly Meeting) would hold communion with both churches so long as they walked agreeably to the Gospel. 1 Thus commenced a relation, which, through various vicissitudes and trials, incident to the disturbed times that soon followed, continued, with credit to the Pastor and with great advantage to the church and congregation, down to a short period before Mr. Manning's death, in 1791. At first his preaching was not attended with marked results. But in 1774 a remarkable revival of religion attended his labors, as the * fruits of which one hundred and four persons were added to the church in the course of fifteen months. " It is delightful," says the Rev. Dr. Hague in his Historical Discourse, " to place ourselves in imagination amidst the scenes of that year, — to picture before us the able and faithful preacher who then officiated here as he stood up amidst the large assemblies of the people who thronged around him, listening, as they did, to the gospel with intense attention, as a message from the skies — the very word of God, which worketh effectually in them that believe, — to mark the lively interest which was kindled in every bosom and beamed from every eye, as one after another came forth ' on the side of the Lord,' and professed his faith in public baptism, — to con- template the fresh springs of spiritual life which were then opened in many a house when the family altar was first erected there, and parents and children bowed together to worship the Common Father and Redeemer in spirit and in truth." And now the little meeting-house, erected in 1726, was too small to accommodate the crowds that flocked to hear the "New Light" preaching of the eloquent and accomplished President of the College. A new house of worship was needed. The age of progress and improve- ment had indeed commenced. The resolute and enterprising spirit of 1 The appointment of Manning as pastor pro tempore of the church, and the formation of a new church in Johnston, naturally resulted in the alienation of Elder Winsor from the College over which Manning presided. He continued a trustee until 1791, although his name does not appear in the records of the Corporation as an attendant upon the meetings after 1770. He died in 1803. 1770-1775. AND MANNING. 219 the Browns had prevailed in the erection of the College building on the hill, and the same spirit was now manifest in the church. It was deter- mined to build another house, and with a view to the accommodation of the College, to construct it in such a style of elegance, and of such dimensions, as should surpass any edifice of the kind connected with the Baptist denomination throughout the country. In looking over the records of the Baptist Society we find that at a meeting held at the house of Mr. Daniel Cahoon, on Friday evening, February 11, 1774, it was Resolved, That we will all heartily unite, as one man, in all lawful ways and means to promote the good of the Society ; and particularly to attend to and revive the affair of building a meeting-house, for the public worship of Almighty God, and also for holding Commencement in. "That we will all heartily unite as one man." An enterprise commenced in this spirit could hardly fail of success. From the tenor of the resolution it appears that they had previously made a movement for a new house. According to Staples, the town in January, 1773, had granted the Society a lot, sixteen rods by twenty, to be laid out on the site opposite Steeple Street, where in later years the Cove was located. It is very doubtful, Staples adds, whether the Society had any intention of occupying this lot. The tradition is that it then had in view the lot on which the present house stands, which belonged to John Angell, being improved by him as an orchard. Angell was a rigid "Gortonist;" and it was thought that he would not sell the orchard to be used as a site for a Baptist meeting-house, upon any consideration. After the aforesaid grant of the town, the Society employed William Russell, who had been a prominent attendant upon the Episcopal wor- ship, to purchase the orchard with the ostensible purpose of erecting upon it a private mansion. Mr. Russell afterwards conveyed it to the Society, who thus obeyed the injunction, "Be ye wise as serpents." The next meeting was held three days later at the house of Joseph Brown, at which Manning was chosen moderator, and James Arnold clerk. At this meeting it was 220 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. Resolved, That a new lot be procured on which to build a new meeting-house, pro- vided one can be had on suitable terms ; that Mr. William Russell be requested to purchase a lot for the above purpose ; that this Society will abide by and perform what- ever contract or contracts the said Mr. Russell shall make, respecting a lot or lots, for the purpose aforesaid. Mr. Russell lost no time in executing his commission. The orchard was purchased at once and conveyed to the Society. Two days later, February 16th, another meeting was held at the house of Joseph Brown, Manning being moderator, at which it was Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be presented to Mr. William Russell, for his very acceptable and important services to the Society in purchasing a lot of land of Mr. John Angell for them. The old house and lot were sold at public auction to John Brown for .£420 lawful money. Of this sum £200 were paid to the new church in Johnston as its "rightful share" of the proceeds. The new and spacious lot, bounded by what is at present Thomas Street on the north, Benefit Street on the east, Waterman Street on the south, and North Main Street on the west, was in the very centre of the population of the town on the east side of the bridge at that time. Meetings in succession were now held, at which Manning continued to preside. A committee of two persons, Messrs. Joseph Brown and Jonathan Ham- mond, were appointed to go to Boston " as soon as may be to view the different churches and meeting-houses there, and to make a memoran- dum of their several dimensions and forms of architecture." Mr. Nicholas Brown was appointed to procure of Mr. Russell a deed of the lot. Mr. Joseph Brown, Jonathan Hammond, and Comfort Wheaton were appointed to make a draft of the house ; Messrs. John Jenckes, Nicholas Brown, Joseph Brown, and others to procure oak timber ; and John Brown was to buy for the society the whole or a part of Mr. Amaziah Waterman's land adjoining the society's premises. At a meet- ing held in the meeting-house, at which Mr. Manning was moderator, and Benjamin Stelle served as clerk, it was 1770-1775. AND MANNING. 221 Resolved, That a petition be presented to the Honorable General Assembly, praying that a charter containing certain privileges and immunities may be granted to said society. That the Rev. James Manning, Ephraim Wheaton, Nicholas Brown, David Howell, and Benjamin Thurber, be a commitee to draft a plan of a charter, and present the same to the society for approbation, as soon as may be. That Mr. John Brown be the Committee man for carrying on the building of the new meeting-house for said society. That Messrs. John Jenckes, Daniel Cahoon, Ephraim Wheaton, Nathaniel Wheaton, Daniel Tillinghast, Joseph Brown, William Russell, Edward Thurber, Nicholas Brown, Christopher Sheldon, and Benjamin Thurber, they or the major part of them, be a stand- ing committee, to assist and advise with Mr. John Brown, in locating and carrying into execution the building of the new meeting-house, and any other business that may be thought necessary during the recess of the society, and that said committee meet every Monday evening. Thus, while a large committee of eleven was chosen for assistance and advice, the carrying on of the building and the execution of the plans was wisely left to a committee of one. There was hence a unity of purpose, and a success in the final results, which a large and divided committee could never have attained. In this matter our fathers have left on record an example which societies of the present day may do well to imitate. It is pleasing to notice, in this record, the unlimited confi- dence reposed in the abilities and discretion of Mr. Brown. Had there been informers in those days of trial and peril, the large reward offered by the British government for the apprehension of the author of, or leader in, the destruction of the G-aspee, two years previous, might have seriously interfered with the plans of the society. In order to defray the additional expense of purchasing a lot and of building a house sufficiently large to accommodate the College, recourse was had to a lottery. This, as we have already remarked in a previous chapter, was in accordance with the universal practice of religious soci- eties, in Rhode Island and elsewhere, at this period. 1 The lottery was 1 It may be interesting to note the following items respecting lotteries, taken from Arnold's History of Rhode Island : — June 23, 1732, Lotteries suppressed by statute. Reason : " By these unlawful games called lotteries, many people have been led into a foolish expense of money." Nov. 222 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. divided into six classes, and the time and place of drawing each were notified in the Providence Gazette. Eleven thousand nine hundred and seventy tickets were sold, at prices ranging from two and one half to five dollars each. The sum proposed to be raised by this scheme was two thousand pounds lawful money, or about seven thousand dollars. The managers appointed by the General Assembly were Nicholas Brown, John Jenckes, William Russell, Benjamin Thurber, Edward Thurber, Nathaniel Wheaton, Daniel Tillinghast, William Holroyd, James Arnold, and Nicholas Power. In their announcement of June 25, 1774, they ask for the "cheerful assistance and encouragement of the public, especially when it is considered that this is the first time the Baptist society have solicited their assistance in this way, which they can assure them would not now have been the case had they not purchased as much more land, and designed a house as much larger than the soci- ety required for their own use (purposely to accommodate public Com- mencements), as will amount to the full sum proposed to be raised by this lottery." On Monday, August 29th, was the "raising" of the new meeting- house, due notice of which had been given in the papers. A large crowd assembled, and the occasion seems to have been a general holiday throughout the town, During the following year the house was so far completed that it was occupied by the society. It was opened for public worship on 28, 1744. Lottery system denounced by the legislature in 1732, now legalized. Scheme of £15,000 allowed for Weybosset bridge in Providence. Feb. 28, 1748. Lottery granted by General Assembly for paving streets of Newport. Jan. 3, 1749. For relief of Joseph Fox, a prisoner for debt in New- port. Feb. 24, 1752. For paving streets of Newport. Oct. 28, 1753. For finishing and furnishing court-house at Greenwich. Aug. 23, 1756. For repairing Fort George. Dec. 24, 1758. For rebuild- ing court-house at Providence, and for the public library. June 11, 1759. For erecting a Masonic hall at Newport. Feb. 23, 1761. For paving streets in Newport, and in Providence. Oct. 28, 1761. For building a meeting-house in Johnston, and for making a passage around Pawtucket Falls. March 29, 1762. For rebuilding stores on Long wharf, Newport. June 8, 1767. For a new steeple on Trinity church, Newport. Aug.19,1771. For a market-house in Providence. " This mode of raising money for all purposes, civil and religious," says Arnold " had now become so common, that scarcely a session of the General Assembly occurred without one or more of these grants being made." Oct., 1772. Lotteries for churches, including St. John's, Providence. June, 1774. First Baptist Church, Providence. March 24, 1777. In addition to the loan office, Congress had established lot- teries to raise funds to sustain the credit of the Continental bills. 1770-1775. • AND MANNING. 223 Sunday, May 28, 1775, when President Manning preached the dedica- tion discourse, from Genesis xxviii. 17, — "And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place ! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." On Tuesday, June 6th, following, the raising of the steeple, which occupied nearly four days, was finished. The plan of this most elegant piece of architecture was taken from the middle figure in the thirtieth plate of Gibbs's " Designs of Buildings and Ornaments, 1 representing the steeple of St. Martin's in the Fields, one of the finest churches in London. It measures one hundred and eight feet from the top of the tower, and one hundred and eighty-five feet from the ground to the top of the vane. The total height of the steeple is one hundred and ninety-six feet. The house itself is eighty feet square. The roof and galleries are supported by twelve fluted pillars, of the Doric order. The weight of the original bell was two thousand five hundred and fifteen pounds, and upon it was the following historic inscription : — For freedom of conscience the town was first planted ; Persuasion, not force, was used by the people; This church was the eldest, and has not recanted, Enjoying and granting, bell, temple, and steeple. The significance of the concluding line of this quaint inscription is apparent, when we remember that in England the Chapels of Dissenters were not, until within a recent period, allowed to have either bell or steeple. In the spring of 1787 this bell was broken in ringing, and was recast by subscription. The work was done at the Hope Furnace, and on the new bell, which weighed two thousand three hundred and thirty- seven pounds, was inscribed: — " This church was formed A. D. 1639, the first in the State, and the oldest of the Baptists in America." " For fifty-seven years," says Arnold, in his one hundredth anniversary address, "this bell continued on every week day to sound its peaceful 1 An old copy of this work, stated to be the one used in building the church, was lately in the possession of the Messrs. Tingley. The writer has been permitted to examine it at their marble works on South Main Street. James Gibbs was the most eminent successor of Sir Christopher Wren as a church architect, and St. Martin's is one of the most celebrated of his works. For an account of this church, see Knight's " London Illustrated," Vol. V., page 105. 224 BROWN UNIVERSITY ' Chap. V. reveille at sunrise, to signal the hour of noon, and at nine o'clock, like the English curfew, it 'tolled the knell of parting day,' while on Sun- days it called the people to the house of prayer and praise. It was remarkable for the clearness and sweetness of its tone." In March, 1844, it was broken and recast. The work was poorly done, and in September following it had to be again recast. There are two inscrip- tions on the bell at present. The first reads as follows : — " This church was founded in 1639, by Roger Williams, its first pastor, and the first asserter of liberty of conscience." On the opposite side is inscribed : — This bell was imported from England in 1775. Recast at Hope Furnace, E.. I., in 1787. Again recast, in Boston, 1844, By Henry N. Hooper & Co. With the first bell came also a clock, which, for generations, was to hold the position of "the town clock," for such it soon became. In May, 1786, Mr. John Brown was appointed a committee, as appears from the records, to apply to the Town Council for an allowance to the sexton for winding the clock. After having done service for a century it was stopped at noon, May 2, 1873, the black wooden dials with gilt figures were taken down, and a new clock with illuminated dials, the gift of Henry C. Packard, took its place. The main or front entrance of the building is on the west facing North Main Street. A door also opens on the north side, and another on the south, while fronting Benefit Street are two entrances. Thus on Commencement days and on other public occasions when the house is crowded, it can be readily and easily vacated. Mr. Joseph Brown, one of the " Four Brothers," and a member of the church, was the principal architect, and Mr. James Sumner superintended the erection of the steeple. 1 The entire expense of the house and lot was a little 1 Howland, in his Life and Recollections, states that in consequence of the Boston Port Bill, no vessel could enter the harbor. " The trade and business of the place of course was at an end, and hundreds of the inhabitants had to leave the town to seek a living elsewhere. Many of the mechanics and merchants came to this town, and a number of the carpenters and masons were employed to work on the First Baptist meeting-house, which was then building. One of them, Mr. Sumner, was the chief engineer in erecting the high steeple of that house, which has been much admired, and yet stands firm, though it quivered and trembled in the great September gale." 1770-1775. AND MANNING. 225 over £7,000, lawful money, or about twenty-five thousand dollars. When we consider the value and scarcity of money in those days, the perils and dangers of a war with the mother country then impending, and also the small population of Providence, we are amazed at the genius which could conceive, and the energy, enterprise, and skill which could successfully complete so great an undertaking. Even at the present day, after the lapse of nearly a century and a quarter, and the increase of the population to one hundred and sixty thousand, the venerable structure, with its tall, graceful spire, and its spacious enclosure, shaded by stately elms, constitutes one of the chief attrac- tions of the city. In the beginning and progress of this enterprise, we have an illustration of the remarkable influence which Manning must have exerted over the people of his care. We may here note in passing some changes which have been made. For many years the basement was let as a cellar, and the house was a long time in reaching a finished condition. In 1787 the steeple was painted, and three years later sixty pews were put in the galleries. In 1792, the Hon. Nicholas Brown, then a young man, gave two thousand dollars for a lot and parsonage, and his sister, Hope, gave the painting of the interior of the house, with the glass chandeliers. In 1802 the basement ceased to be let as a cellar, and was fitted up by the church for its use in worship. In 1807 a singing school was formed, and the next year the west gallery was altered so as to accommodate a choir. In 1834 the organ, which for seventeen years had been desired by many of the Society, was obtained through the munificence of Mr. Brown, who also presented the handsome clock which hangs below it. In 1832 the one hundred and twenty-six original square pews and the aisles that crossed from door to door were removed, and the present long pews, one hundred and forty-four in number, were constructed. The sounding board was taken away, and the high, old-fashioned pulpit gave place to one of modern style. Rooms were also made in the south- east and northeast corners of the basement for the infant school and Bible class. In 1837 the vestry was reconstructed. But by far the greatest improvement was in the years 1857-1858, when the grounds 29 226 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. were excavated and the lecture room was enlarged at a cost of twelve thousand dollars. Recently, during the ministry of the Rev. Dr. T. Edwin Brown, an addition was built on the east side of the house. Great changes have also been made in the grounds. The original lot was an apple orchard, to which was added the land adjoining on the south, belonging to Amaziah Waterman. In 1791 the whole land, which until then had remained open, was enclosed with a fence. In 1793 ten feet were thrown out on the east side to widen Benefit Street. For this the Society was allowed by the town two hundred and fifty dollars. In 1830 elm trees took the place of the poplars. In 1809 the yard was paved on the south side from the door to the gate. In 1852 a brick sidewalk was laid on the west front. In 1857 ten feet were taken from the south side to widen President, now Waterman Street. A strip was also taken from the west front on North Main Street. The straightening of North Main Street in 1868, led to a further alteration of the west line. The unsightly wooden buildings at the southwest corner of the lot, which had stood for nearly seventy years, were in 1857 taken down, and a broad, brick sidewalk was laid on the south line. The accompanying engraving, taken from Rippon's Baptist Regis- ter, represents the church as it was in 1789, before any material altera- tions had been made in the grounds or building. It first appeared in the Massachusetts Magazine for August, 1789. The dwelling on the north was the house of the first Nicholas Brown, 1 with whom Manning held such intimate relations. The lane as represented in the engraving is now Thomas Street. A fine steel engraving in the " Documentary History of Brown University," represents the church as it appears to- day. Sunday morning, May 28, 1865, just ninety years after the dedica- tion of the house, the late Rev. Dr. Samuel L. Caldwell, then pastor of i From the Record of Deeds at the City Hall, it appears that the Nicholas Brown dwelling, after the owner's decease, came into the possession of his brother, Moses, who in turn deeded it to his son, Obadiah, for a dwelling. It is now owned by Mrs. Thomas, widow of Hiram H. Thomas, and is occupied by the " Providence Art Club." First Baptist Meeting-House, 1770-1775. AND MANNING. 227 the church, preached an historical discourse which was afterwards pub- lished in pamphlet form. An extract from this discourse may fitly close the present account : — You can follow the eighty-two Commencements with which this house is associated in the memory of so many children of the College ; you would like to review the great public events which have here been commemorated, — the treaty of peace in 1783, the adoption of the Constitution in 1790, the death of Washington in 1800 ; the civic and religious occasions, when, in praise and prayer, when, in jubilee or humiliation, the people have here, as in some common temple, acknowledged the God of power and mercy. There are the common as well as uncommon days and Sabbaths ; the words of how many lips, once eloquent with authority and persuasion, now hushed in death. What a history is enclosed within these walls ! What a shadowy procession of persons and events going in and out here, — funerals and weddings and baptisms; sermons whose memory lingers yet, whose influence will never die ; and then the more spiritual and interior events and experiences which have passed through the souls of these three generations ; the souls which have here bowed to the authority of God, and melted into love before the Savior's cross here lifted up to faith ; the vows, uttered and unuttered, in which they have given themselves to God and to duty ; the viewless winds of the Spirit breathing here, and leaving blessed fruits which ripen glorious and abundant in the house not made with hands ! At a meeting of the Society held on the 2d of May, 1774, a committee, of which Manning was chairman, presented a draft for a charter, which was adopted, and officers were elected, viz. : Moderator, Nicholas Brown ; Treasurer, Daniel Cahoon ; Clerk, Benjamin Stelle. 1 The General Assembly met two days later and incorporated the peti- tioners as "The Charitable Baptist Society." This was the fifth church charter granted in the history of the Colony, the others being Trinity Church, Newport (1769), First Congregational, Providence 1 Mr. Stelle, as has already been stated, was the son of the Rev. Isaac Stelle, a graduate of the College of New Jersey, and in 1766 the teacher of a Latin School in Providence. His daughter, Mary Bowen, was the second wife of Hon. Nicholas Brown, his first wife, Annie Carter, having died June 16, 1798. The following, which we copy from the Providence Gazette for Aug. 25, 1770, is interesting as a part of the record of those early days : — "Benjamin Bowen and Benjamin Stelle continue to make and sell chocolate by the pound, box, or hundred weight, etc. At the well known Apothecary's shop, just below the church, sign of the Unicorn and Mortar." 228 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. V. (1770), Second Congregational, Newport (1771), and St. John's, Provi- dence, (1772). The preamble to this charter describes the petitioners as " being the oldest Christian church in the State or Colony, and pro- fessing to believe that water baptism ought to be administered by immersion only, and that professed believers in Jesus Christ, and no others, are proper subjects of the same." In this preamble, in which we see the guiding hand of Manning, are embodied two of the dis- tinctive dogmas of Baptist faith, viz. : the mode of administering the ordinance of baptism, and the qualifications essential in its candidates. The question as to priority of date, which we have discussed in the first part of this chapter, would seem to be settled so far as the belief of the Charitable Baptist Society, as here expressed, is concerned. At the first meeting of the Charitable Baptist Society after its incorporation, held on the 13th of June, there was presented a state- ment of principles deserving of notice. It is contained in the preamble to the "form of subscription for the purpose of raising a fund," and reads as follows : — Said charter doth not empower them to raise any monies for the uses specified other- wise than by voluntary subscriptions, contributions, legacies, and donations, which clause in said charter is most especially agreeable to the minds and principles of said Baptist church and congregation, they being the successors and descendants of the first Christian inhabitants of this Colony, who flee hither to enjoy, and to secure to them- selves and posterity, Religious, as well as Civil Liherty, more fully and amply than they could in any other part of the British dominions ; and being desirous therein still to continue and preserve inviolate that Religious Liberty, not only procured at so dear a rate for them by their pious ancestors, and transmitted down through many generations unto the present day, but also authorized and established by Jesus Christ, the Head and only Law Giver to His Church, and, being a natural right, which God himself, the Creator and Governor of the Universe, has bestowed on every individual of the human race, most fully, freely, and amply to enjoy the liberty of conscience and private judgment in whatever refers immediately to His worship, in that He hath assured us that each one must give an account for himself unto God. Here then, says Arnold, whom we gladly quote in conclusion : — We have a declaration of principles which, at this day, are readily enough assented to by nearly all the Christian churches, but which, a century ago, were no less distinctly 1770-1775. AND MANNING. 229 Baptist than are the doctrines referred to in the preamble of the charter. The volun- tary system, the support of public worship by free gift or self-imposed taxation, in contrast with the legal obligations elsewhere enforced, is here clearly set forth as a fundamental principle of the Baptist church. The doctrine of Soul Liberty, the crown- ing dogma of the Reformation, which came from Wittemberg to Rome, in the cloister and the camp had roused the spirit of all Europe, while yet its true significance was but dimly understood, is here declared to be a natural, God-given right, to enjoy which the ancestors of this church had fled from Puritan persecution, and which their pos- terity are pledged to preserve. This broad doctrine, in its theological aspect, belongs to the Baptists as a church, as, in its political application, it pertains to Rhode Island as a State. 1 In the clear and positive enunciation of these distinctive principles, Manning shows himself to have been a not unworthy successor of the immortal Roger Williams. 1 Address delivered before the Charitable Baptist Society on the one hundredth anniversary of the First Baptist Church, May 28, 1875. By Hon. Samuel Greene Arnold, president of the society. CHAPTER VI. 1773-1774. Manning's correspondence resumed — Letter from John Ryland — Augustus Toplady — Letter from Rev. Isaac Woodman — Request for a narrative of the College — Playful letter to Smith — Letter to Rev. Benjamin Wallin— Wallin's reply — Presents his works to the Library — Letter to Ryland — Detail of facts and instances of the ill- will of Congregationalists to the College— Ryland's memoranda and hints for Man- ning's use — Commencement for 1773 — Objections to — Remonstrance of the Senior Class — Diary of Solomon Drowne, a member of the class, beginning July 2, 1770, and giving detailed account of the Commencement exercises — Manning's charge to the graduates — Smith's diary — Meeting of the Corporation— David Howell elected a Fellow — Extract from Backus giving reasons why the Baptist churches refused to give any more Certificates to the power that oppressed them — Meeting of the War- ren Association in Medfield — Circular letter on certificates— Memoranda of Man- ning's journey during vacation — Letter from Oliver Hart respecting his son in College — Letter to Ryland— Letter to Wallin — Letter to Rev. Abraham Booth — Letters to Wallin. We now resume Manning's correspondence. The following is Ryland's reply to his letter of Nov. 12, 1772. It will be found inter- esting for the account which he gives of the Rev. Augustus Toplady, a distinguished divine of the Established Church, and for the sug- gestions which he makes in regard to the honors of the College : — Northampton, Feb. 9, 1773. Reverend and Dear Sir: I have enclosed a few hints for your notice and consideration. If they are of any service to you, or to the cause of religion and to your College of learning, I shall be ' glad. I have, in the midst of the cares of a family of about sixty persons, thrown out some thoughts concerning matters before us ; and as you know I bear you a hearty good-will, I am not in any pain how you may receive and relish them. If you are that man of sense and honor I conceive you to be, you will like my blunt friendship better than drivelling flattery and nauseous palaver. (Verba sit nenia; for it is not in Dr. Sam. Johnson's Dictionary.) I have filled a whole sheet of post-demy paper, so that you have rough and enough. The pamphlets and sheets which accompany this are a present to yourself, unless you 1773-1774. BROWN UNIVERSITY. 231 think it worth while to put them in your college library, or in the fire, just as you please. If you like my mode of correspondence, and take everything in good part, I shall soon hear from you. I am to you, and to the interests of religion and learning under your care, A hearty and zealous friend, John Ryland. Ryland's Hints for Professor Manning's Use. 1. In January, 1772, I sent a box of twenty-five books to the Rev. Morgan Edwards, at Philadelphia, by the favor and care of Mr. Daniel Roberdean, merchant, who was then in London, and abode at my old lodgings, Mrs. Stephens's, No. 11, in Great St. Hellen's ; and was about to return to America. In a letter to Mr. Edwards I desired him to present some of those books to Rhode Island College, but have heard nothing from him, nor have you mentioned one word about the books: 2. Mr. Wallin had no right to reproach your College as being too lavish of its honors, unless he meant himself, and himself only. 3. For me to ask any of those gentlemen I nominated in my letter, whether he would please to accept of a degree from your College, would spoil all the honor and delicacy of conferring it. Its coming unsought, yea unthought of, constitutes its chief excellence and acceptableness to men of fine feelings. For my own part, I would not have given you a single farthing, or so much as a thanks, for a feather, if I had it not in my power with the utmost truth to say, " I neither sought it, nor bought it, nor thought for a moment about it." (Dr. Gill's saying on having his diploma from Scot- land.) 4. By your withholding these honors from the men I so well knew to deserve them, and not one would have refused them, you have done your College damage in its tem- poral interests. My design was to serve you by attaching men of grace, learning, prop- erty, and influence to you. But if you do not choose it in my way, it shall be let alone ; for I assure you I never will ask one man whilst I live to accept of a degree. I could find men enough in Britain that have learning sufficient, who would snap at your honors for the sake of some low ends and purposes ; but their characters as divines, or their capacity or will to serve you, is nothing. In truth, I keep no such com- pany. I form no connection with them, nor will I whilst I live. On the other hand, the Rev. Augustus Toplady is the first divine of the Established Church, or indeed of any church in England or in Europe. He is a man of fortune, of high genius, and learn- ing. He is my intimate friend ; and let me tell you, as a secret, of a mark of his regard for me. He put it to my choice, in case of his death before me, which part of his library 232 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VI. I would have, the English, or the Latin and learned part. I chose the latter, and it is accordingly fixed. But I hope I shall never have the pain to accept them. He is a man of a prodigiously high spirit hy nature, hut 'tis so tempered and moderated hy grace, and a noble and generous disposition, as renders him one of the boldest cham- pions for the sublime truths of the gospel in the world. We have no writer amongst all our divines that comes near to him in energy and grandeur of thought, rich and daring imagination, masculine judgment, and glowing colors of style. He is about twenty- nine or thirty years old, but has been educated, from sixteen years of age, in all the grand essentials of the gospel. He had his classical education at Westminster School, and his academical at the University of Dublin ; owing to an estate falling to his mother in Ireland, and she being obliged to go over and possess it, she took her only son, at sixteen, with her. Dr. Thomas Leland was his tutor. But he had the good sense and piety to go to the Baptist meeting on Lord's Days to hear an able preacher, now dead, his name Rutherford; and every year, when Mr. Toplady came over to England, he had the boldness and wisdom to sit under the stated ministry of Dr. Gill. He is a gen- erous friend to Dissenters, especially to us poor Baptists. He commenced A. B. at Dublin. He scorns all honors, unless conferred like grace from heaven, — " unthought of, unimplored." My other friends are of the same complexion ; therefore I will never ask one of them to accept of a feather from your College. Mr. Isaac Woodman, of Sutton in Leicester- shire, is a prince in his spirit and conduct. He is the father of our Midland Associa- tion, and a wise counsellor to us all. He has such a degree of modesty that he will not wear the feather you sent him, and wishes not to have it known on this side of the water. But what then? Has he done you any damage or dishonor? No. All that know him will revere him as a man of wisdom, benevolence, and learning in the Greek language and philosophy. As to damage, I will tell you. He is a man of substance, and has a fine library; he has no children; and you will have half, if not the whole, for your College when he dies. Will this hurt you? Perhaps some money into the bargain. And thus I should have attached others to your interests; but you would not let me, in your wisdom. Just as if you knew men here better than I do, who have lived forty years amongst them. As to the five guineas I pay every year, 'tis for your- self and nobody else. 'Tis because I like your character, spirit, and principles. If you die, and another succeed you whom I should not approve, I will stop my hand. As to raising money by a lottery, I dislike it from the bottom of my heart. 'Tis a scheme dishonorable to the supreme Head of all worlds and of the true church. "We have our fill of these cursed gambling lotteries in London every year. They are big with ten thousand evils. Let the devil's children have them all to themselves. Let us not touch or taste. 1773-1774. AND MANNING. 233 I sent two books to the Kev. Mr. Stillman, at Boston, last summer, by Mr. Story, of Boston. One of the books is a present to the library of your College. It is entitled "An Easy Introduction to Sir Isaac Newton's Philosophy." It was written by one of the clearest and most condescending good-natured philosophers in the world for the use of my School, Mr. James Ferguson, Fellow of the Royal Society. It is adapted to your school-boys and junior students, to prepare them for larger treatises on the same subject. I should be glad to find it meet with the approbation of your learned Profes- sor of Philosophy. Agreeably to Ryland's suggestion, the College conferred on the Rev. Augustus Toplady the honorary degree of A. M. at the Com- mencement ensuing. In Manning's reply to Ryland, he speaks of Toplady's Treatise on Predestination, with his letter to John Wesley, deeming them " masterly performances." Mr. Toplady's works have been published in six octavo volumes, with an account of his life. These are to be found in the College Library. To the Christian public he is best known as the author of "Rock of Ages Cleft for Me," and "Deathless Spirit, now arise," regarded by many as two of the finest Irymns in the English language. The Rev. Mr. Woodman, whom Ryland describes as "a man of wisdom, benevolence, and learning," "a man of substance," with a fine library which he would probably bequeath to the College, now begins a correspondence with Manning, declining the honor conferred upon him at the Commencement in 1770, and discouraging him from coming to England to solicit funds : — Rev. Isaac Woodman to Manning. Thorp, near Leicester, Feb. 20, 1773. Reverend Sir : By the favor of Mr. Ryland I have seen the New York Association letter, and have had some account also of yours to him. I am glad Christ's interest under our denomi- nation has such a respectable footing in your parts, but sorry for the languor of religion in some places, whilst glad 'tis otherwise elsewhere. Amongst other things at the Asso- ciation, the respectful notice of Mr. Edwards gives me pleasure. As I am a well-wisher to the prosperity of the College, I would, if I could, advise to anything for its furtherance. If you were to come over, I fear your compass or scope 30 234 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VI. for soliciting visits would be very narrow. There is no reasonable hope of success where congregations are unable to support the interest at home, and where there may be a prejudice against literature : a common but not universal case amongst us. I think it would be in vain to attempt it, unless you have encouragement from London, Bristol, and a few more of our opulent congregations. But whether you come or not, I have long thought that a good printed narrative of the state of the College sent hither, to be disbursed by its friends, would be of service. I doubt not some fruit would spring from such seed scattered by skilful hands. You will be able, I hope, to let us know that our denomination in the Island, and especially the College, is loyal and obedient, disapproving the opposition made to Government in your neighborhood, if public reports of such opposition made, be indeed true. I am for liberty, regularly maintained. Should any such narrative be sent, or brought by yourself, it is to be hoped the list of those you have honored with degrees will not be put into every hand, or at least that those who particularly desire it may have their names omitted. I esteem the honors of the College, and am obliged to the Faculty for putting my name amongst your worthies ; pray please to present my grateful compliments ; but I must not own the title. 'Tis an honor I cannot support. For your sakes, therefore, as well as for my own, I must decline it. I ought to say indeed, in favor of my friends, whoever recommended me to your regards, they verily believed, I doubt not, that I was qualified; and it might have been so had I prosecuted my beginnings ; but an inveterate headache, of above thirty years' standing, has disabled me from making much addition to what I set out with when I left Bristol. I am a hearty friend to your cause. My silence has not been from carelessness or ingratitude, and much less from contempt. I desired Mr. Ryland to make my excuse. I am not able to show the regards I wish to discover; howbeit, I have friendly designs. But the honor you have done me would, if known, as it is not in my neighborhood, block up my way to serve you, which I have much at heart to do. I congratulate you upon your correspondence with and interest in Mr. Ryland. He is, I may say from long acquaintance with him, a worthy man, and a warm friend of the cause which he espouses. I do not know that you could have one more zealous in your affairs in all Old England. With sincere and hearty wishes that the honorable and important institution over which you preside may have its worthy ends answered in the furtherance of knowledge, virtue, and true religion, and yourself be greatly helped and blessed with all needful assistance in the good work of forming the minds of youth, I rest, esteemed and dear sir, Yours, affectionately, Isaac Woodman. 1773-1774. AND MANNING. 235 Manning's Reply. Providence, Nov. 26, 1773. Reverend and Dear Sir: Yours of Feb 20, 1773, came to hand last week, in company with several other agreeable letters from friends in England, to whom I write by this opportunity. I am heartily glad to hear your favorable disposition towards the College, and could heartily concur with you in your wishes for greater abilities to serve its interests ; though we have for our encouragement the commendation of the poor widow's contri- bution. I should think it a prodigy if all you English Baptists were friends to litera- ture, while the case is so far otherwise in America. But I think your good, zealous people are mistaken in striking against it, when kept in its proper place, — I mean in making it an handmaid to religion. I am sorry you are so scrupulous in point of confessing the honor we mean to confer on you, though you must be a better judge of the expediency of this, in your situation, than I can possibly be. But the infant state of literature in this new world, and the usages of the College here, lead us to conclude, from your known character, that you need not be so diffident of your abilities as to decline the feather, as our common friend, Mr. Ryland, calls it. The history of the rise, present state, etc., of the College, will be done in some man- ner, and sent to England next spring, unless Providence should prevent it; but I wish it could be done by an abler hand, or that I had more leisure than my present circum- stances will afford for it. I know how to sympathize with you in your inveterate com- plaint (of the headache) ; for, while I write, I am distressed with this pain. I highly prize Mr. Ryland's friendship, because I have found him a friend indeed. I revere his character, and place the highest confidence in him. The very small num- ber of friends and the great number of enemies the College has, requires the greater exertion of the few friends of which it can boast, in its favor. I hope to see it on a more respectable footing, should I live to an advanced age ; and if not, I hope posterity will reap great advantages from it. With the most hearty wishes for your highest wel- fare, I am, Your friend and servant in the gospel, James Manning. N. B. — I hope those who know the little Colony of Rhode Island, and especially the Baptist society in it, will find that, though firm in the cause of constitutional liberty, we are as loyal subjects as any of which his Majesty, King George, can boast. I wish I could tell you more agreeable news of the state of religion among us, but it is indeed a dark day. Enclosed I send you a form of bequeathment, which we make use of this way. At Newport I find one of which I had no knowledge before. J. M. 236 BROWN" UNIVERSITY Chap. VI. Concerning Mr. Woodman, and his suggestion in regard to a nar- rative of the College, Mr. Ryland, under date of Feb. 9, 1773, thus writes to Manning : — My good father in the ministry, and counsellor, Mr. Isaac "Woodman, is earnestly desirous (and with him I concur) to hear from you. A clear narration of the rise, progress, and present state of the College at Rhode Island, with an account of the methods of education in the languages, sciences, and divinity; the exercises of the students, and the character of those who have distinguished themselves by their dili- gence, improvement, and piety, — this we think to reprint and disperse through all England amongst our best and richest friends of all denominations, in order to solicit subsciptions and donations. Had you done this already, and sent about twenty honors to the men I named, a way would have been paved for your coming over and making your appearance and personal applications this next summer. But for want of these two preliminaries, you have prevented yourself from coming with a good prospect of success for this year. If you take our advice, and put it in our power to serve you by conciliating men's esteem and affection to your person and college, perhaps we can pave the way for you by next May come twelve-month, 1774 ; and may do Rhode Island some service. Among the Manning papers is one with the heading, "Rhode Island College. By President Manning." This we have published in our Documentary History. 1 It is not such a " narrative " as Woodman and Ryland in their correspondence suggest, being very brief. Most likely it was prepared for the Almanac and American Register, a little work published in New York, in the pages of which it appears. A copy of this Register for 1776, containing the account of the College, is in our possession. The following playful letter to his intimate friend, the Rev. Heze- kiah Smith, shows that Dr. Manning could be merry, as well as serious. Indeed, he was noted above most men for his genial companionship and rare social qualities. Providence, May 5, 1773. Reverend and Dear Sir : This is to give you the reason why I did not visit you at Haverhill, and invite you to come to Providence. I set out from Providence, intending to spend a week at Boston 1 Documentary History of Brown University, pages 19-20. 1773-1774. AND MANNING. 237 and Haverhill. We (for Mrs. Manning accompanied me) arrived at Boston Friday- evening, and proposed to set out for Haverhill on Monday; but that and several succeeding days proving rainy, and Mrs. Manning being very poorly, to our very great disappointment, mortification, etc., we were obliged to return to Providence without going further. Now, therefore, as I am tied to College, pray take Mrs. Smith, and the heir apparent, 1 and the new chaise, 2 and come and take your station for a week or two on the hill of Providence, where I will insure you excellent water, the best my house affords, and our good company. Pray, what more would you have ? If anything is in my power to render the visit still more agreeable, depend on it, you sha'n't be want- ing it. I have made a tour into the hither parts of Connecticut this vacation, and preached fifteen times in fourteen days ; seven of them in Presbyterian meeting-houses. What do you think of that? See what it is to be catholic like me, while you, with brandish- ing weapons, take the field of Mars like an old veteran that scorns to let his sword rust. Good success to you, if you must draw. I have received a packet from England, and our good friend Rev. John Ryland is angry enough because we did not give degrees to the gentlemen he recommended, and says that we have lost by it greatly. How happens it that not one scholar, through your influence, comes from you to our College? I fear you don't exert yourself. We have no late news from the westward. Friends here are generally well, and very desirous to see and hear Mr. Smith, as are your good friends at New London. Mrs. Manning joins in love to you and Mrs. Smith, as, also, to all our good friends at Haverhill, with, dear sir, Your unworthy brother, James Manning. Dr. Manning now begins a correspondence with the Rev. Benjamin Wallin, a prominent Baptist minister of London, and a gentleman of reputed wealth. He was also a religious writer of some note. " The Christian Life Described," "Discourses on various subjects," "Parable of the Prodigal Son," "Evangelical Hymns and Songs," and various other works by him are to be found upon the shelves of the College 1 Their infant son, born March 12, 1772. 2 It is said that Mr. John White, a wealthy merchant, was the only person in Haverhill in 1764, when Mr. Smith first went there, who owned a chaise. It was a large, heavy-wheeled, square- topped vehicle, used only "to ride to meeting in" on Sundays, and on great and important occa- sions. Later on Mr. Smith being a man of means and consequence, had a chaise, in which he was accustomed to journey from Haverhill to Providence and the Jerseys. Hence the allusion. 238 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VI. Library, a gift from the author. Under date of May 18, 1773, Manning thus writes : — Dear Brother : From Mr. Philip Freeman, of Boston, I received your agreeable present on the third inst., and having perused with much satisfaction the several pieces, especially the Tribulation, I am rejoiced to find that it is not " another gospel." Had I capacity, to which I make no pretentions, to examine Mr. Wallin's productions with the eye of a critic, I feel no disposition, be assured, to do it. I import annually a few books from London, principally for the youth under my care, and should have sent for some of your publications ; but as Mr. Backus has them by him, I have thus far deferred doing this, not wishing to interfere in any way with him. I should be glad to know whether you designed the books as a present to me personally, or to the College Library, that I may retilrn you thanks in a proper manner. In either case I am greatly obliged, and heart- ily thank you therefor. The executors of Dr. Gill have followed the laudable example of Dr. Stennett, and made us a present of his works, which we deem a most valuable donation. These acts encourage us to hope for similar favors from our friends in Europe. Should any benevo- lent person be disposed to make a useful donation to our Library and at a loss to know what books to choose, allow me to suggest the works of good Mr. Bunyan, than which none would be more acceptable. Mr. Edwards has been your substitute for the gentlemen as desired. Through Messrs. Stillman and Backus I learn that the Lord has visited you sorely in the loss of your only daughter. But you need not be told by me that God is a portion infinitely preferable to that of sons or daughters. I doubt not but you find already a strong attachment to this earth broken, and that God leads by the right way. The discipline of the rod is often necessary, at least to such perverse hearts as mine. Mr. Backus informs me that he has lately written to you, thus removing the neces- sity of my giving you a recital of affairs amongst us, or of detaining you longer than to crave your indulgence for obtruding upon you this letter, which assures you, dear sir, of the unfeigned affection of your unseen but very much obliged Friend and servant, James Manning. p. S. — This day received letters from several of the western provinces. Find that religion is at a low ebb in general there, as, alas, it is too generally amongst us. If busi- ness would permit, should rejoice to see a line from Mr. Wallin, by our fall ships. 1773-1774. AND MANNING. 239 Mr. Wallin's reply is so excellent in spirit, that no apology need be offered for its introduction into our present work : — London, July 30, 1773. Reverend and Dear Sir : Your respectful lines by Mr. Keith very much obliged me ; nor am I less indebted to your candor in perusing my endeavors, being sensible that they will not bear the eye of a critic. The disadvantages under which I was at length brought into a service con- scientiously declined in the very early part of my life, in consequence of which I deprived myself of an intended more liberal education, might plead some excuse ; and . were you to know by what solicitation and management I was prevailed on to repeat my visits to the press, you would rather pity than blame me, and cover my numerous defects with a mantle of love. I thought it a venture to possess one of your character with such feeble and imper- fect attempts, — they are at best only fit for children in Christianity, — how, then, could I think of proposing them to the most infant seminary of learning? Indeed, sir, they were intended only as an instance of respect to yourself, to be glanced at with the friendly disposition you express. It would have impeached your last, had not the ingen- ious discourses of my much esteemed brother, the Rev. Dr. Stennett, been universally admired among you. As to the works of that great man, the late Dr. Gill, who was truly a father, they may justly be accounted a considerable acquisition. I know not, upon the whole, an author more judicious and consistent. The compass of his writing is aston- ishing, from the labors of which he now rests until the Chief Shepherd comes, when it will appear that our endeavors for his name shall not be in vain. But seeing you intimate that it may not be unacceptable, I presume, though with some reluctance, to send all I can collect of my publications, which together make ten little volumes, and possibly five entire pieces, and five of sermons, addresses, etc. Also the ordination of Rev. A. Booth, who sends a volume of the sermons of his predeces- sor, the late Mr. Wilson, and his own " Reign of Grace," etc. These will not be the less welcome for being accompanied by all the works of Mr. Bunyan, agreeably to your suggestion. These I present, with my most respectful compliments, to every member of the College, including their worthy President, the Rev. James Manning. Have you, sir, any stated form of bequeathment? If not, permit me to move for a concise account of your institution, with a direction how to describe you in a will. Such a paper, neatly printed and disposed, may be useful. Be not sparing of copies to your friends. The difference In point of expense between one or two thousand is but trifling. As to my own works, most of them have been out of print for some years. They are chiefly practical, and all very plain. The hymns, more especially, need an apology. 240 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VI. They are no other than artless compositions, in which the substance of occasional dis- courses was drawn up in a suitable form. Such a one did not occur in our stated col- lection. At the time they were sung with peculiar satisfaction, the people being unac- quainted with the author ; but at length many of them were stolen and mangled, which induced me, at the instance of some, to print them, and so obviate any apprehen- sion of a conceit that they were deserving of public notice. It is my study, both in preaching and in writing, to lead to those inexhaustible treasures of wisdom and com- fort, the Holy Scriptures; hence the tone of my naked lines. I must observe further, that in order to make up the set, I was obliged to put in a volume containing my ser- mon on the experience of the saints, which was bound up in another. You will there- fore excuse a duplicate of them. It is long since I have heard from my very worthy and agreeable correspondent, the Rev. Mr. Backus. He usually much entertains me. I have often rejoiced at his accounts of the success of the gospel in your world, and am sorry to hear that at present in general it seems rather low. May the Lord of Jacob revisit it! Two things are threatening with us, — tbe growth of Anti-Trinitarians, in a variety of forms, for they cannot agree ; nor can I forbear to say that I think a dereliction of, or indifference to, the divine Sonship of our glorious Redeemer, has greatly contributed to the inso- lence of men against that foundation of the gospel. The other is a popular ignorance of the authority of Christ, in particular church fellowship, which some are bold enough to put on the footing of prudence and convenience among the disciples of Jesus. The one strikes at the doctrine, the other at the discipline of the gospel. But Zion is insured against the gates of hell. I am now in the eve of my ministry and life ; childless, and in a manner destitute of natural relation, having lost an excellent wife, two sons, and three daughters. It is good to be weaned from an undue attachment to the present state, but afflictions alone will not do it. My heavenly Father has been very gracious in helping me, I trust, to receive not only good at his hand, but also evil. He has given me a name and a place in his house better than that of sons or of daughters, and some spiritual children who are exceeding affectionate and dutiful. May your valuable life be long spared, and all your instructions succeed to the advantage of mankind, and especially to the spread of the truth and the prosperity of Jerusalem. I remain, reverend and dear sir, Your obliged and truly affectionate brother, Benjamin Wallin. 1773-1774. AND MANNING. 241 To the Rev. John Ryland. Providence, May 20, 1773. Reverend and Dear Sir: Yours of Feb. 9, 1773, came safely to hand, by the Charlotte, Capt. Jno. Rogers, about the 20th of April, containing your agreeable present of pieces, letters, etc., for all of which I scarce need tell you I heartily thank you. You need not for the future hesi- tate about sending anything to me in that way, or writing with the utmost plainness to one who believes not in the use of ceremony, even if he were master of it. To convince you that I am entirely suited with your plain dealing, I have embraced the earliest opportunity of returning an answer. Your friendship to the interests of the College and religion here is very cordially accepted by many besides myself; and though you thought we slighted your friend- ship, I can assure you it was not so meant; I shall be glad to gratify you, and testify our respect for any of your friends, on every occasion. But I come to particulars. The books ordered here from Mr. Edwards have not come ; neither have I heard of them, except by your letter, though I saw Mr. Edwards at Philadelphia last October. He must surely have forgotten it entirely. I have seen Mr. Backus since I received yours, and he thinks I mistook Mr. Wallin's meaning, and that he intended only himself. If so, I am sorry I mentioned anything of the matter. Indeed, Mr. "Wallin, in his last letter, which I have seen, intimated as much. I entirely agree with you respecting academical honors, and the mode of conferring them on gentlemen of taste ; and as you are fully satisfied that the gentlemen men- tioned would cordially accept them, you may be assured we shall take proper care of that matter next Commencement, and forward the diplomas as soon as possible. If we have been tardy, I know you will forgive us. An unforgiving friend is not worth having. Such I do not deem my very good friend, Dr. Ryland. I am heartily sorry that the College should sustain damage, through what we meant only for precaution, and hope, if so, that it will be only temporary. We beg you not to remit an iota of your zeal in attaching gentlemen of grace and learning, property and influence, to the Col- lege. For amongst all our good friends in Britain, we consider your opportunities in this way, together with your zeal, as placing you foremost. The character of the Rev. Mr. Toplady, which you have enlarged upon, is truly a rare one, and I shall think the College highly honored in his accepting a feather, and indeed in the least expression of his friendship. I am sorry to hear that pious Mr. Woodman is so exceedingly modest as not to choose to wear his feather ; but am glad ;to hear such a worthy character of him, and that he is so well disposed towards the College as to think of providing for it. May the 31 242 BKOWN UNTVEKSITY Chap. VI. Lord possess many others with the same spirit! I hope you may have it in your power to put many mure in the way of leaving us some love tokens, when they are better employed than in enjoying terrestrial goods. This is what I have hoped for, though hitherto I have not seen cause to expect much from it soon. I am much obliged to you for the annual contribution of five guineas. I have made free to draw a bill for them in favor of Mr. George Keith, of London, hoping that the Lord may enable me to conduct worthy the Gospel, so that you may not repent the donation. Your opinion of lotteries coincides with mine ; but some of our friends urged me to mention the subject, as they could not see a prospect of supplies in any other way. Besides, I believe there have not been such iniquitous methods used in this matter, with us, as in the State lotteries at home. They have been used to promote good designs. The book from Mr. Stillman we have received, though lately, as Mr. Story did not do his errand to Mr. Stillman faithfully. I have written to Mr. Edwards respecting the books in his hands, and expect an answer soon. Perhaps you may meet this in London. If so you need not mention the hint relative to Dr. Chauncey ; for I believe he has not yet forwarded anything of that nature. To give you a full detail of facts and instances of the ill-will of persons to the Col- lege 1 would require " centum ora etferrea vox," as sung the poet. Dr. Stiles, of Newport, gave as a reason to the Corporation for not accepting a place in the Faculty, the offense he should give his brethren should he accept it. The manner of obtaining the Charter, has, by the clergy of the Congregational society, been represented as highly iniquitous. (But the particulars of this affair you shall have as soon as the College history can be completed and sent to you, together with other particulars which you request.) Those gentlemen of that denomination who have spoken favorably of the Institution have been reprimanded, as I have been credibly informed, and that by a convention, for showing us so much countenance as to attend the Commencement. I was lately told by a worthy minister of that order in Connecticut, that one of the same order in this town, a sour man, had done the College amazing damage by representing us as bigots, and our sole design to be that of proselyting to the Baptist sentiments ; and that if they sent their children here they never could get into any employment in that Government ; so that he had it not in his power to send us the scholars to whom he taught grammar, i Mr. Ryland, in a letter to Manning, under date of Feb. 9, 1773, thus writes : " I wish you would give me a full detail of facts and instances of the ill-will of men to your Seminary. I would make use of them for its benefit and advantage, without hurting you in the least." 1773-1774. AND MANNING. 243 though he chose it. The same zeal has been used in the neighboring provinces, both by him and others ; and both parents and tutors have repeatedly told me that everything except violence has been used, and almost that in some instances, to prevent them from sending their children here. Some of them have boasted that they have pre- vented persons from coming who designed it ; and few scholars come but say every obstacle has been laid in their way to prevent them. The characters of the teachers, their abilities, and the character of the place even, have been aspersed to the highest degree for the same purpose. But I should tire you to recite a small part of our ill- treatment. They know that the low state of the College fund requires considerable tuition money to support the teachers, and that that depends on the number of scholars. If, therefore, they can prevent them from coming, they know they distress us. But, notwithstanding what I have said of our enemies, there are many valuable men in that society in these parts, some of whom are friendly to the College; but through their con- nections, or want of ability, few of them have it in their power to express their friend- ship. You may expect a particular account of our mode of education, and of the students, their characters, proficiency, piety, etc., when we send you an account of the rise, prog- ress, and present state of the College, which I intend to draw up as soon as I can, and forward it by the first opportunity. Our number of scholars is thirty, and amongst them are many pious, promising young men. Take them together, they are a set of well-behaved boys. I have a Latin school under rny care, taught by one of our grad- uates, of about twenty boys. Amongst those who have left us are three eminent Bap- tist ministers, their age considered, and another just entered on the work, who, I am told, promises as fair as any of the others ; one attorney-at-law, the most eminent at the bar in this Colony, etc., etc. I thank you for the list of ministers of the Church of England, and shall be glad to see that of the Calvinist Baptist ministers. What treatise upon fluxions do you deem the best ? The state of religion is generally at a low ebb amongst us. May the Lord revive it! Would your English people be scared at an American Indian? I remain, dear sir, your unworthy friend and brother in the Gospel, James Manning. Ryland's Memoranda and Hints for Professor Manning, at Rhode Island. 1. The Calvinistical Baptist ministers in England and Wales are about two hun- dred ; but I have given away my printed lists, and forgot to ask Mr. Wallin for some more. Be so good as to mention it to him. 2. I cannot yet procure a complete list of the Independent ministers and churches. 244 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VI. You know there are about thirty-two in London, and we have twelve or fourteen more in Northampton. 3. I suppose you know that it was Dr. Stennett that procured an order from Govern- ment to put a stop to the oppression of the Baptists near Boston. I have not a perfect idea of that affair. 4. Two young men, of good parts and sound knowledge of the learned languages, and men of eloquence and piety, are lately come into the ministry from Mr. Evans's academy in Bristol; namely, Mr. Biggs, just going to be ordained over the Baptist church at Wantage, in Berkshire, and Mr. Dunscombe, at Coat in Oxfordshire, whose ordination is to be at the same time. You will do well to mark them down as men of uncommon merit, worthy of your feathers in a year. 5. The sooner you send over a clear, short, printed account of your College, in its rise and present state, the better. I beg you would pay due and equal attention to our leading men, in presenting each with a copy, that no jealousy or pique against you may arise. You know our chief ministers. We have about thirty or forty that can read Greek. Let not one be forgot. If you know not all of them, I will inform you, or take the trouble of giving them a copy in your name. 6. As to your visit to old England, I shall be glad to see you, and will do you all the service I can ; but I wish you to attach some more of our ministers to your interest by your pretty baubles first, and also let your account of the College come six months before you. 7. As to your worthy mathematical professor, I wish him all possible success ; but I must not presume to assist or direct hirn with respect to the best book on fluxions. The students at our Cambridge use chiefly an abridgment of Sanderson's Algebra, an octavo, price six shillings; and then we have such a number of books on fluxions, so good that 'tis hard to say which is the best. There are four of great note ; namely, Maclaurin, Ditton, Thomas Simpson, and Emerson last of all, who is now living. He has published a noble course of mathematical learning, in about ten or twelve octavo volumes. He is an amazing genius in the north of England. His Mechanics, quarto, fourteen shillings, and Astronomy, six shillings, I have in my study. But the lovely humane philosopher, and my intimate friend, is James Ferguson, F. R. S. He has just now assisted me to complete my optical cards, which are engraving on copper plates. You will, I hope, approve of them, as the easiest introduction to Optics ever seen in the world. By the way, Ferguson drew up the book you have in your hands with my name to it ; for I could not persuade him to put his own, for fear of appearing ungrate- ful to Andrew Miller, bookseller, who had been his friend in time of need. • London. 1773-1774. AND MANNING. 245 CALVINISTIC BAPTIST MINISTERS IN ENGLAND WHO CAN READ THE GREEK TESTAMENT, ETC. 1. Samuel Stennett, D.D., 2. Benjamin "Wallin, 3. William Clark, 4. John Reynolds, 5. Abraham Booth, 6. Dr. Gifford, 1. Hugh Evans, 2. Caleb Evans, \ Bristol. 3. Mr. Newton, 1. Benjamin Beddome, Bourton, on the water, Gloucester. 2. John Ash, Preshore, "Worcestershire. 3. Joshua Symonds, of Bedford, who has lately altered his sentiments from a Pedo- haptist, and honestly is come into and submitted to believer's baptism ; for which he is abhorred and despised by the Independent ministers. Give him your best honors. 4. Daniel Turner, Abingdon, Berkshire. 5. Mr. Robinson, of Cambridge. 6. Philip Gibbs, of Plymouth. 7. Morgan Jones, of Hampstead, Hertfordshire. 8. Samuel James, of Hitchin, Hertfordshire. Now dying. 9. Isaac "Woodman, of Leicestershire. 10. John Brown, of Kettering, Northamptonshire. 11. Biggs and Dunscombe ; excellent scholars. 12. Robert Day, "Wellington, Somersetshire. 13. Benjamin Fuller, Devizes. 14. John Poynting, Worcester. 15. John Oulton, of Rawden in Yorkshire. 16. John Fawcett, of Wainsgate, Yorkshire ; now keeps a seminary. 17. Joseph Jenkins. 18. Benjamin Davies, in "Wales, keeps an academy at Abergavemry, about ten pupils. Give him a feather. 19. Mr. John Rippon, at Dr. Gill's meeting-house. 20. Ryland, Sen. 21. Ryland, Jun. 246 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VI. Among the papers on file in the College archives is one entitled, " A Remonstrance of the Senior Class of Rhode Island College to the respectable the President and the Professor of the same," bearing date Feb. 19, 1773. From this it appears that serious objections had been made to a Commencement for this year, on the ground mainly that the members of the class to graduate were not "orators." This objection was finally overruled, and the anniversary exercises of the College were held as usual. The following account from the diary or journal of the valedictorian, Doctor Solomon Drowne, is kindly furnished us by his grandson, the Rev. Dr. Thomas S. Drowne, of the class of 1845. The author was throughout life an intimate friend of President Manning, and as a physician, attended him in his last sickness. We shall make frequent mention of him in succeeding chapters. He served as surgeon in the Continental army from 1776 to 1780. From 1783 to 1834, a period of fifty-one years, he rendered his Alma Mater good service as a member of the Board of Fellows; and from 1811 to 1834 he was the Professor of Materia Medica and Botany in the University. He deliv- ered numerous addresses, some of which attracted attention, especially a funeral oration on Gen. James Mitchel Varnum, a eulogy on Wash- ington, and an oration in 1824 in aid of the cause of the Greeks. The accompanying likeness is from a photograph of a painting in the collec- tion in Sayles Memorial Hall. The diary begins with Drowne's examination for entrance into College. He was a native of Providence, it may be observed, his father, Solomon Drowne, being one of the committee to wait on President Manning upon his arrival from Warren, and invite him to preach for the Baptist church : — July 2, 1770. After examination in June, by the Rev. James Manning and Prof. David Howell, entered Rhode Island College. Began Horace, Longinus, and Lucian in October, and French in December. 1771. Recited with the first class that recited in the new College Building. Commenced Geography in January ; Xenophon in Febru- ary ; Watt's Logic in May; Ward's Oratory in June; Homer's Iliad in July; Duncan's Logic in August ; Longinus in October ; Hill's Arithmetic same month ; Hammond's Algebra and British Grammar in December. Appointed by his fellow students Presi- dent of a Society for mutual improvement, styled the " Pronouncing Society." 1772. Pronounced an eulogy on a fellow student. Began Ethics in January ; Euclid's Ele- Solomon Drowne. 1773-1774. AND MANNING. 247 merits in February, also Metaphysics, Trigonometry, and Cicero's De Oratore ; Martin's Philosophy in May ; Martin's Use of the Globes in August ; Hebrew Grammar in Decem- ber. 1773. During the latter part of March and beginning of April accompanied the Pres- ident on a tour to New London. Went by way of Plainfield, and returned by way of Ston- ington and Westerly, the President preaching in various places both going and coming. This is the tour to which Manning alludes in his letter to Smith under date of May 5, 1773 : — " I have made a tour into the hither parts of Connecticut this vacation, and preached fifteen times in fourteen days, seven of them in Presbyterian meeting-houses." Both he and Smith were accustomed throughout their lives to make tours of this kind. Wednesday, Sept. 1, 1773. At length the day, the great, the important day, is come. O may it prove propitious. Now we must pass from easy College duties into the busy, bustling scenes of life. At about ten o'clock, the Corporation being assembled, we walk in procession from the College Hall to the Rev. Mr. Snow's meeting-house, where the President introduces the business of the day by prayer, after which Nash addresses the assembly in a Latin Salutatory oration ; then follows an English oration, pro- nounced by Mr. Foster, upon the discovery, progressive settlement, present state, and future greatness of the American colonies ; which is succeeded by a syllogistic dispu- tation in Latin, wherein Litchfield is the respondent, and myself, Padelford, and Til- liughast, the opponents. After this, Tillinghast delivers an oration on politeness, which finishes the exercises of the forenoon. The afternoon exercises begin with an English oration for the Master's degree upon civil liberty, by Mr. Dennis. The degree of A. B. is then conferred on myself, Joseph Litchfield, Jacob Nash, Philip Padelford, and Henry H. Tillinghast; and the degree of A. M., on Messrs. John Dennis, Theodore Foster, Samuel Nash, and Seth Read; also on Doct. Thomas Eyres, Secretary of the Corporation, and late of Yale College; to which succeeded my valedictory oration ; and then a most solemn and pathetic charge by the President, to our class. The whole is concluded by prayer. To this account by Drowne we may add the following from the Providence Gazette : — The young gentlemen performed their respective parts with great propriety, which justly procured them the universal applause of a judicious and candid audience. This charge of President Manning, for which we are indebted to Henry T. Drowne, Esq., of New York, also a grandson of Doct. 248 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VI. Drowne, we are happy to be able to present to our readers. It shows the author's excellent good sense, and the value he put upon religion as the chief concern in life. It was first printed in the Documentary History of Brown University. Manning's Charge. You will naturally expect that I should express the same affectionate regard for your welfare, as for that of those who have hefore shared the honors of this College, hy giving you a parting charge. But if I thought you would expect and imagine I would give it as a mere thing of course, and with unfeeling formality, I should either entirely omit it, or endeavor to conceive it in such terms and utter it with such tones as would convince you of my earnestness. But even to suggest that you were all capahle of such unaccountable insensibility, would be highly injurious to your character, for which I publicly profess the most tender concern. With you I consider the scene now shifted, and you to have exchanged the retire- ment of a College, for the clamorous, or at least busy, scenes of life ; — for that agitated ocean on which, unless Providence is distinguishingly propitious, you may expect to find full exercise for all your abilities, and at last perhaps scarce weather out the storms, with honor and advantage, which will gather and thwart even a virtuous course. To lay down general rules and useful maxims for your future conduct, is a matter extremely easy; for you to adopt and apply them, untutored by experience, is not so easy. Experience is a kind of knowledge that is purely personal, and hence arise the numberless mistakes of inadvertent youth ; yet, from an attentive view of life, much may be learned from others, for causes similar will be productive of similar effects. The same course of action which has brought infamy on others, will involve you also; and the virtuous, useful life of others points you directly to that reputation which they have acquired. So far, then, success may be hoped for from wholesome lectures read to docile minds, and a suitable charge given to those who aim to tread the path of virtue and climb to solid reputation. The sagacious public will not only discern your quantity of capacity, but decide who of you have exerted yourselves to improve in knowledge; and, small as this class is, and numerous as the disadvantages under which it has labored are, I am not without hopes of seeing at least some of its members distinguish themselves amongst the sons of science. If a proper foundation has not been laid in your first studies to initiate you into the knowledge of letters, I believe you will do your instructors the justice to impute it to something else as the cause, rather than to their inattention to your inter- est or their duty. 1773-1774. AND MANNING. 249 And though a course of four years in College without forfeiting a standing hy vicious conduct is generally thought sufficient to entitle to a degree, yet something more than possessing a diploma must prove that you merit it. I, therefore, charge you to press forward with hasty steps in the road to knowledge, and if an immature age, a fickle and indolent temper, or hut a moderate capacity has distanced you in the race, let more confirmed age, future activity and redouhled diligence urge you on with a nohle amhition at once to even outdo yourselves, and agreeahly disappoint the expecta- tions of your friends. In forming your connections, as well as in all your undertakings, proceed with the utmost caution. The neglect of this has proved the ruin of thousands. Be slow to speak and swift to hear; he angry only when ahsolutely necessary, and then you will not he likely to exceed due hounds. Despise the narrow, contracted principle which actuates the selfish, and only think you deserve the character of men when you affec- tionately love and glow with ardor to promote the happiness of all mankind. Your personal wants are few, unless unnecessarily multiplied hy yourselves, and conse- quently you may expend much on the public. Remember that the lowest calling in life may be honored by a proper attention paid to the duties of it, and that the highest may be degraded by the neglect of them. Aspire not, therefore, to an exalted station without conscious worth to entitle you to it, and an unshaken resolution to support it. Despise as well those fetters of the mind forged by devoted bigots to opinion, as those for the body by tyrannic princes and legis- latures. Challenge the glorious prerogative of thinking for yourselves in religious matters, and generously grant to others without a grudge what you yourselves deem the dearest of all blessings. I have a right to expect your friendship for this College, and your strenuous exer- tions in its just vindication, while I interdict an ungenerous partiality. Make religion your first, your great, your only concern. Converse intimately with death by devout meditation. Read with the closest attention the Scriptures of God, and by their aid realize the awful realities of eternity. Make them alone the standard of both your faith and your practice. Refute the daring, licentious infidel with a holy life, without which the most holy profession is both utterly incredible and unavailing. And should any of you assume the character of a Christian preacher, I warn you to beware of touching this sacred ark with unhallowed hands. Remember the awful, ever memorable fate of those who offered strange fire ; such will yours be, except your hearts are purified with the faith of the Gospel. Finally, we must all meet at the tribu- nal of the Supreme Judge, to hear the decisive sentence according to our characters. May this, my dear pupils, be to you an introduction into everlasting joy. 32 250 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VI. Smith in his diary, writes thus of this Commencement week. He preached, it will be observed, the usual sermon Wednesday evening : — Mon. Aug. 10, 1773. Set out for Providence in Rhode Island Government. Got there on Tuesday. John Duncan went with me. Wed. Sept. 1. Attended the Com- mencement. Five took their degrees. Preached a sermon in the evening from Titus ii. 14. Thurs. 2. Met with the Corporation of Rhode Island College. Sab. 5. Preached a sermon in the Baptist meeting-house, from Luke iv. 18, and in the afternoon at Mr. Snow's meeting-house, from 1 John iii. 2. It was a funeral discourse. Mon. 6. Went to Attleborough. Tues. 7. Went to Medfield and met in Association, when it was determined by a great majority not to carry in any more certificates. At this meeting of the Corporation, which was attended by fourteen Trustees and six Fellows, Prof. David Howell was elected a Fellow in the room of the Rev. John Davis, deceased. This position he held until his death in 1824, a period of fifty-one years. During a part of this time, from 1780 until 1808, he served as Secretary. Among the votes passed, was one directing Edward Thurston, Jr., to procure from England a copper plate, agreeable to a form prescribed by the Fellow- ship for conferring degrees by diplomas, and that one hundred of said diplomas be struck off at the same time from said plate. From the records it appears that Capt. William Rogers, of Newport, father of the " first student," had bequeathed to the College the sum of <£200, lawful money. The salary of Professor Howell was increased to .£90, lawful money. In regard to "certificates," to which Smith in his diary refers, Backus, in his Church history thus states the matter : — In September,' 1772, the author was chosen an agent of the Baptist churches in Mr. Davis's room ; and the following events took place among them. Though their church in Chelmsford had given in certificates according to law, yet they were all taxed to parish teachers ; and in a cold season, Jan. 26, 1773, three of their society were impris- oned therefor at Concord, one of whom was eighty-two years old ; and they commenced a suit in law for recompense ; but their cases were long delayed. In Bellingham equal liberty was enjoyed, because there was none but a Baptist minister in the town ; but a number of his hearers who lived in Mendon were so much oppressed with taxes to other ministers, that in the three preceding years they estimated their damages at that 1773-1774. AND MANNING. 251 account at near fifty pounds. And these and other things heing laid before the Baptist Committee, May 5th, they advised their agent to write to all the churches, to consider whether it was not their duty to refuse to give any more certificates to the power that oppressed them, and to bring in their conclusions upon it to their next Association. The Association met in Medfield on the 7th of September, and con- tinued in session three days. Ebenezer Hinds, of Middleborough, was chosen Moderator, and William Williams, of Wrentham, Clerk. Eigh- teen churches were represented by pastors and delegates, and three more churches were added to their number. The debates upon the great questions of the day must have been full and spirited, although the meagre printed minutes of four duodecimo pages contain no allu- sion thereto. "It was determined by a great majority not to carry in any more certificates," for the following reasons, among others, as stated by Backus : — 1. Because it implies an acknowledgment that civil rulers have a right to set up one religious sect above another, which they have not. 2. Because they are not represen- tatives in religious matters, and therefore have no right to impose religious taxes 3. Because such a practice emboldens the actors therein to assume God's prerogative, and to judge the hearts of others. The Circular Letter has this paragraph : — But we are sorry to tell you, that some of our dear Brethren are denied the free enjoyment of that choice blessing, Liberty of Conscience, especially in this Province; having many of them had their goods violently taken from them to support a way of worship contrary to their conscience, while others in the year past have been impris- oned for the same purpose in a manner that was very inhuman. The vacation following Commencement Manning improved by visiting the churches in Massachusetts and Connecticut, riding in his chaise from place to place, and preaching as he had opportunity. The following memoranda of his journey are taken from Aitkens's Ameri- can Register and Calendar for 1773, a copy of which was preserved among the family papers and books of Manning. They serve to show that the author's preaching services were in request, and that he thus 252 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VI. commended the College which he represented to the good will of the denomination : — Memoranda of ye places and times I am to preach after I set out upon my journey 18th of September, 1773. At Attleborough, 2 o'clock; Medfield, Sabbath; Boston, Mon- day evening: Wareham, Tuesday; Ipswich, Wednesday to Friday; 4 o'clock at Elder Harriman's ; Sabbath at Haverhill ; Monday, 4 o'clock at Chelmsford ; Tuesday, 4 o'clock at Grafton ; Wednesday, 10 o'clock at Sutton ; 4 o'clock, at Charlton ; Thursday, 10 o'clock at Sturbridge ; evening at Brimfleld ; Friday, 1 o'clock, at Wilbraham ; Sab- bath at Springfield ; Monday, 10 o'clock, at Enfield ; South Brimfield, evening ; Tues- day, 2 o'clock, Woodstock; Wednesday, 10 o'clock, at Abington. President Manning, in his official relations, was not altogether unmindful of the wise man's injunction touching the rod. " John," to whom Mr. Hart refers below, was now, it seems a freshman in college. He had probably been one of Manning's grammar-school pupils. Whether he profited by the " discipline," we cannot say. As his name, however, appears among the graduates four years later, it is reasonable to draw the most favorable inferences. Charleston, Nov. 5, 1773. Dear Mr. President : I have hardly time to say, yours of the 6th Sept. ult., came to hand two days ago. I am now preparing for a journey into Georgia, very high up, in order to assist my good Brother Pelot in constituting a Baptist church. The Lord has greatly owned the labors of our young Bottford; many are converted, baptized, and are now waiting for the enjoyment of church privileges. This intelligence, I know, will be agreeable to you ; more so than the account you gave of my sad boy was to me. I am sorry John has con- ducted so as to give you so much trouble, and to forfeit the place he had under the man- agement of Mr. Manning. Had I been apprised of his unworthy conduct sooner, perhaps I should have remanded him back to Carolina; for I am not in such affluent circum- stances as to throw away money in the education of one who has no view to his own advantage. I thank you, however, for all the pains you have taken with him, and that you have made trial of the discipline of the rod. Let me entreat you unweariedly to exert your best endeavors for his advantage. Who knows but God may give him a turn ? I should be sorry he should return a worthless blockhead. When I return from my Georgia route, which will take me near a month, I shall use my utmost endeavors to remit you some more guineas. I have enough due me if I could collect it; but cash 1773-1774. AND MANNING. 253 was never so scarce in Carolina as at present. This is an unfavorable circumstance, both for you and for me. I should be glad to see an account of your late Commencement in print. Pray, how- goes on the great man of Haverhill ? I have heard nothing from him for a great while past ; and I hear almost as little about Mr. Stillman, or our affairs in Boston. How is Mr. Davis's place supplied? Has that church any minister? Could you not prevail on John to write to me? I have received but one letter from him for the space of twelve months, although I have sharply reproved him for his neg- lect, over and over again. With kind love to Mrs. Manning, I remain, Yours, with much esteem, Oliver Hart. To the Rev. John Ryland. Providence, Nov. 25, 1773. Reverend and Dear Sir : Yours J)y Capt. Shand I received last week. I am obliged to you for the number of Calvinist Baptist ministers in England and "Wales, and for information where I may procure a list of Independent ministers. I did not know before that it was Dr. Stennett who procured the repeal of the Ash- field law against the Baptists. I rejoice at the addition of Messrs. Biggs and Duns- combe to the number of laborers in the vineyard of our Lord. I shall remember and do honor to such worthy characters. I expect we shall be able to send over a printed account of the College the next spring, together with diplomas to those in England who were graduated the last fall. The reason of our being so tardy in this matter is, the Corporation, at their last meeting, ordered us to revise the form of our diplomas, and send it to England to be engraved in copper plate, and procure a quantity of good parchment, as we had none here fit to send abroad. Should you happen in London on the receipt of this, I should be glad to have you inspect the draught and design, and prescribe the best form of the plate, hands, etc. I shall pay due attention to the literary gentlemen you mentioned, when the account of the College is sent over, and am obliged to you for your proffered kindness in dis- tributing them. This I shall expect. I know not whether I shall ever have the pleasure of seeing your face in the flesh ; should my life be spared, though, it would be very agreeable. However, we shall omit nothing which is judged agreeable or necessary to pave the way for some future personal solicitation in favor of our College in England, should it be thought expedient. Am obliged to you for the account of books on fluxions and your optical card. I doubt not I shall approve of it when favored with a sight. 254 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VI. In company with yours I received a letter from that venerable man, Rev. Isaac Wood- man, together with another testimony of his good-will toward us. He writes like an experienced, modest father. This letter I must answer, though I am greatly paralyzed with a crowd of business, and cannot do it as I would be glad to do. Also Rev. Benja- min Wallin, of London, sent me an agreeable letter, accompanied with all he has pub- lished, in ten volumes, neatly bound and gilt, with the most valuable works of John Bunyan, in six volumes, the Reign of Grace, by William Booth, and Wilson's Ser- mons — all for the College library. These I esteem valuable presents. Enclosed I send you the Minutes of the. Association at Philadelphia, and that called the Warren Association, in New England. The last vacation I spent in riding three hundred and fifty miles, and preaching twenty-five times, to a number of our little Baptist churches and societies in New England ; many of which I had never visited before. Was cordially received, and importuned to repeat my visit as soon as might be. In general found religion to wear a promising aspect ; but in many places they met with great interruption from the Establishment in New England. I wonder how men by human laws can establish a religion, and then have the effrontery to call it Christ's kingdom! I should have sent to you before this for a number of your books, but understood you had sent some of them to Mr. Edwards, directed to me, which I have not seen. With my best wishes for your welfare, lam, sir, Your unworthy brother in the Gospel, James Manning. P. S. — I have seen Rev. Augustus Toplady's Treatise on Predestination, with his letter to Rev. Jno. Wesley, and deem them masterly performances, answering well the character you gave him. To the Rev. Benjamin Wallin. Providence, Nov. 25, 1773. Reverend and Dear Sir : Yours of July 30th, by Capt. Shand, together with the box of books, came safe to hand last week; for which I return you many thanks, as well in the name of the Corporation of our College as in my own. I have not had leisure to peruse many of the pieces since their arrival, but from my prepossession in favor of the author, and from what I have read of his works, I am confident they will be highly agreeable ; so that you might have spared everything said by way of apology for them on that account. I am, however, greatly obliged to you for the information you give concerning your entering the minis- try, your age, situation in the world, and in the church of God, etc., etc. Your present of the venerable Bunyan's works were not the less welcome for being accompanied with 1773-1774. AND MANNING. 255 the agreeable present from the Rev. Abraham Booth, of his Reign of Grace, and of Mr. Wilson's Sermons. I must trouble him with a letter, too. We expect next spring to send over a printed account of the rise and present state of the College, in which we shall give an account of the manner of donations to the College by wills ; but lest that should come too late, I here send the name by which it is known in law, and by which it is to hold donations, until some more distinguished benefactor shall give it a new one, for which the Corporation have liberty in the charter. " Item. I give to the Trustees and Fellows of the College or University in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England in America, the sum of ." The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, last year or the year before, prescribed a form of bequeathment to them, in which they say: " To be raised and paid by, and out of my ready money, plate, goods, and personal effects, which, by law, I may or can charge with the payment of the same ; and not out of any part of my lands, tenements, or hereditaments, and to be applied towards," etc. The particular design must be expressed, or it must be left to them to dispose of as they shall think proper. I suppose the statute of Mortmane, or that of 9th of George II., made this pre- caution necessary. But as our friends in Great Britain will be always able to advise with those who are skilled in these matters, they will put it out of the power of any to defeat their benevolent intentions, after they are gone to the eternal world. Pardon my being so particular on this point: the loss of sundry donations to the society above mentioned, published in their extracts, suggested the thought. When our account of the College comes, we shall not be sparing in numbers to be distributed, as our friends judge proper. I wonder that Mr. Backus is behindhand with you, as he is not commonly tardy in this way. He is an excellent man, and though unfurnished with the knowledge of let- ters, has been an eminent instrument in the hands of God to spread the truth in this country, as well by his publications as by his preaching. He has lately published an appeal to the public in favor of the Baptist society in New England ; and he is now col- lecting materials for the history of the Baptists. I will forward Mr. Edwards's list by the first safe conveyance. Your information of the low state of religion amongst us is but too true ! May the Lord in mercy visit us. I travelled this fall about three hundred and fifty miles, and visited many of the Baptist churches. In several places there were, I thought, evident marks of the power of God attending gospel means. While on that journey I baptized four persons. I am sorry to hear of the decline of vital godliness in old England, and of the prevalence of Anti-Trinitarianism, or, if you please, infidelity. I believe no arguments will effectually refute that, in men of corrupt minds, short of the power of divine grace, for a day of which I need not solicit you to help with your prayers. 256 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VI. I am glad to hear you express that happy degree of resignation to the will of God in your bereaved, afflicted state. Oh that blessed word! "Our light afflictions," etc. May Ood grant you an experience of its full import, make your last days your best, and late, very late, call you home from earthly labors to mansions of glory. This is the sincere prayer of Your most unworthy brother in the Gospel, James Manning. The following is a letter to the Rev. Abraham Booth, of London, proposing an "exchange of some letters." Mr. Booth was an eminent Baptist minister in his day, and ^,n author of no little celebrity. His " Reign of Grace," "Pedobaptism Examined," "Apology for the Bap- tists," "Essay on the Kingdom of Christ," and numerous other relig- ious and polemical writings, may be found upon the shelves of the Col- lege librarj^. Most of them were republished in 1813, in three octavo volumes, with a memoir of the author. An account of him, compiled from this memoir, is given in Rose's General Biographical Dic- tionary : — Newport, Nov. 26, 1773. Reverend and Dear Sir: The last week brought your agreeable present of the Reign of Grace, and the Rev. Mr. Wilson's Sermons, a present to our College library; for which the Corporation have ordered me, in their name, to return you their thanks ; an agreeable task, as it not only gives me an opportunity of expressing my gratitude for the donation, but opens a door for me to address a gentleman and brother in Christ whose character has often been represented to me in so amiable a light that I should think it a happiness to maintain a correspondence with you, if agreeable on your part. It gives me peculiar pleasure to find our friends in Great Britain mindful of this infant Seminary. It greatly needs and most cordially accepts their patronage, and wishes, too, an increase of benefactors. I hope in our turn we shall show all proper respect to all its friends who can justly have any claim upon us. Should it be agreeable to you, sir, to exchange some letters, you will always find me ready to execute your commands, as far as I am able. May you experience in your soul the dominion of that grace you have so agreeably described, is, dear sir, the devout wish of Your obliged but unworthy brother, James Manning. 1773-1774. AND MANNING. 257 Under date of May 25, 1774, we find the following brief letter addressed to the Rev. Benjamin Wallin : — Reverend and Dear Sir: Yours of February, now before me, was very acceptable, as also the two pamphlets; for which I return you my hearty thanks. Hope the separation in Dr. Gill's church, although attended with some circumstances in themselves disagreeable, may eventually prove to the furtherance of the gospel. Any apology in behalf of your production, dear sir, is perfectly unnecessary. Mr. Booth's piece has not yet come to hand. Please to make my compliments to him, and to any others who may inquire after your unworthy friend. Mr. Backus is now raking into the rubbish of time to collect materials for a History of the American Baptists, and prosecutes his design with great assiduity. *A very considerable number of Baptists were last winter imprisoned, for the non- payment of their rates to the Presbyterians, in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay; — very ill-timed, considering their contest with the British Parliament respecting the right of taxation, and the measures they might have guessed would have been pur- sued. But, alas! how blind are we to our own faults! I expect the account of the College will be complete this summer, and hope you may not be disappointed in the manner of its execution. We are not accustomed to write for the public eye. When done they will be forwarded to England with all speed. A grievous diarrhoea, for several months past, has put it out of my power to contribute my assistance, or it would have been more forward at this day. I heartily thank you for your good wishes for me and for the seminary, and hope the institution may prove a public blessing. Religion is in a flourishing state in several of the places around us, but low in Providence. May the Lord revive his own work. With sincere regards, I am, dear sir, Your unworthy friend, James Manning. *The Baptist committee are to meet at Boston to-morrow on this business. If no redress is granted from government, they will, I suppose, apply to the King and Council through their agents in London. We close this chapter with a letter to John Ryland, the last one which Manning was able to send him for more than two years : — Newport, May 27, 1774. Reverend and Dear Sir: Though I had no letter from you by the fast vessels, I cannot omit sending you a line. The College papers have been retarded by my indisposition through the past win- 33 258 BROWN UNIVERSITY. Chap. VI. ter. An obstinate diarrhoea, for several months together, took away almost all hopes that I should ever recover my health, and prevented my attention to business in a great measure ; but through the goodness of God I am happily recovered. The Anecdotes of the College will be drawn up and forwarded as soon as may be, and the other papers. But I could not get them ready by this opportunity. This spring I received from Phil- adelphia your " Cause of Deism Ruined Forever," etc. ; and, according to the directions, forwarded one to Harvard College, Mr. Stillman, etc. Return my hearty thanks for the one presented me, and, in the name of the Corporation, I present their thanks for that given to our College library. The College is in much the same state as when I wrote last. Religion is on the revival in some places in New England ; but great calamities seem to threaten us, in consequence of the dispute relating to taxation ; and the Lord only knows when this dispute will end. I think it incumbent on all who have any interest at the throne of Grace, to employ it, both in Britain and America, that God would pour out his Spirit on us all, and heal the breaches sin has made. I have taken the liberty to draw on Mr. Ryland, in favor of Mr. John Brown, for five guineas, as usual. My Brother Gano has returned to New York from a tour of six or seven months through the Carolinas. Have not yet seen him, but am informed that he brings good tidings respecting the state of religion. With great respect, I am, sir, Yours, etc., Jambs Manning. We find no further mention by Dr. Manning of his " Anecdotes ' ' or "Narrative " of the College. His ill health at this time, the cares and anxieties of a pastor in seasons of a revival, and the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, probably prevented the completion of his liter- ary undertaking. It is a matter of deep regret that his papers and let- ters were not more carefully preserved. CHAPTER VII. 1774. Murmurs of political discontent — War impending — Resolutions passed at town meet- ings — Commencement for 1774 — Cadets, Fusileers, and United Train of Artillery — Barnabas Binney's remarkable valedictory address, being a plea for religious liberty — Afterwards published — Other members of the graduating class — Letter to Thomas Ustick —Meeting of the Corporation — Donation of twenty pounds sterling from the estate of Dr. Bernard Foskett, of Bristol — Students entering the College required to transcribe the laws — Copy of the laws belonging to Enoch Pond, of the class of 1777, with the President's signature, now preserved on file — Laws and Cus- toms of Rhode Island College in 1774 in full — Vacations — Freedom of Conscience — First day of the week, or Sunday — Chancellor Hopkins — Freshmen to pay due respect to their Superiors — Speaking on the Chapel stage evenings — College edifice still in an unfinished state — Students to open their doors to the College officers — Required to speak in Latin in study hours — Freshmen required to kindle the fires — Religious basis of the College, and its liberal character seen in these "Laws and Customs" — Distinction between freshmen and seniors — Steward of the College — Rooms — Meals — Orders for the dining room — Beginning of commons — Efforts of Manning in resisting oppressions — Meeting of the Warren Association in Medfield — Resolve to send Backus to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia as the agent of the Baptist churches — Idea originated with Manning, and others, at the Com- mencement the week previous — Case stated by Backus in his diary — Plan adopted by the Association for aiding the College — Extract from circular letter prepared by Hezekiah Smith — Certificate given to Backus by the Association — Journey to Phil- adelphia — Account of the meeting in Carpenter's Hall, Oct. 14, 1774 — Members of the Continental Congress present — Conference opened by Manning, who read a memorial — Result of the Conference not satisfactory at the time — Resulted event- ually in good — Backus's appeal to the public — How this Conference of the Baptists with the delegates to Congress was regarded by their opponents — Memoranda of texts from which Manning preached during this journey to the Jerseys — Political measures adopted by this first Continental Congress — Approved by the General Assembly of Rhode Island at a special session in December — The patriotism of the Colony unsurpassed by that of any other Colony. And now the murmurs of political discontent began to swell and threaten, which were soon to break forth, sajs the historian, " in the war cry. of the Revolution." On the 19th of January, 1774, a town meeting was called in Providence, when resolutions were passed depre- cating "a tame submission to any invasion of American freedom;" 260 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VII. asserting that the duty imposed by Parliament on tea, was a tax on Americans -udthout their consent ; and pledging the corporation of the town, with other towns and colonies, in a resolute stand against this and every other unconstitutional measure, and forbidding the intro- duction of tea here while subject to a duty. At a meeting of the town held on the 17th of May following, it was resolved : — That this town will heartily join with the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and the other colonies, in such measures as shall be generally agreed on by the colonies, for the protecting and securing their invaluable natural rights and privileges, and trans- mitting the same to the latest posterity. That the deputies of this town be requested to use their influence, at the approaching session of the General Assembly of this Col- ony, for promoting a Congress, as soon as may be, of the Representatives of the General Assemblies of the several colonies and provinces of North America, for establishing the firmest union, and adopting such measures as to them shall appear the most effect- ual, to answer that important purpose. In accordance with these instructions the General Assembly, at the June session, appointed Stephen Hopkins and Samuel Ward delegates to a Continental Congress. This was the famous Congress which met in Philadelphia, to which we shall presently refer. Commencement this year was held for the last time in Mr. Snow's meeting-house. For the following full and interesting account we are again indebted to the Providence Gazette : — Wednesday last (September 7th) being the anniversary Commencement of the Col- lege in this town, the Hon. the Governor of the Colony, escorted by the Company of Cadets, under the command of Colonel Nightingale, preceded the usual procession from the College Hall to the Rev. Mr. Snow's meeting-house. After the President had introduced the business of the day by prayer, Mr. Jones pronounced the Salutatory Oration in Latin, upon the superior advantages which the moderns enjoy above the ancients, for good public speaking; after which Mr. Foster spoke in support of this Thesis: — " Theatrical exhibitions corrupt the morals of mankind, and are prejudicial to the State ; " which was opposed by Mr. Penniman. To this disputation, succeeded an oration, exposing the vulgar notions of apparitions, etc., spoken by Mr. Mann. An oration upon the necessity and great advantage of cultivating our own language, spoken by Mr. Dorrance, concluded the exercises of the forenoon. A syllogistic dispute, "An 1774. AND MANNING. 261 dictamina Conscientiae sunt semper optemperanda," introduced the exercises of the afternoon. The thesis was defended by Mr. Dorrance ; the opponents were Messrs. Binney, Foster, Jones, and Penniman; after which Mr. Ward, one of the candidates for the Master's degrees, pronounced an oration upon patriotism, in which were con- ; tained many judicious observations upon the present political circumstances of the American Colonies. The degree of Bachelor of Arts was then conferred upon Messrs. Barnabas Binney, John Dorrance, Dwight Foster, Timothy Jones, Jacob Mann, and Elias Penniman. The degree of Master in Arts was conferred on Messrs. Thomas Arnold, Ranna Cosset, Benjamin Farnham, Thomas Ustick, and Samuel Ward, alumni of the College. The Hon. Joshua Babcock, of Yale College, the Rev. Isaac Skillman, Mr. Benjamin Steele, of Nassau Hall College, and Mr. John White, Jr., of Harvard Col- lege, were also admitted to the degree of Master in Arts in this College. The Rev. David Jones, Rev. William Vanhorn, and Mr. William Tillinghast, were admitted to the honorary degree of Master in Arts. The President then addressed the Bachelors with a concise and pertinent charge, to which succeeded the valedictory oration, by Mr. Binney, being a plea for religious liberty, corroborated by ecclesiastical history, after which the President concluded the exercises of the day by prayer. V The account in the Gazette further adds, that " the Company of Cadets, in uniforms, made an elegant and truly military appearance, and both in the procession and manoeuvres, which they performed on the College Green, procured universal approbation, and convinced the spectators, that Americans are no less capable of military discipline than Europeans." This company, says Staples, had been incorporated in 1744, as an Artillery Company. In June, 1774, they assumed the name of the Cadet Company, by permission of the General Assembly, and were commanded by a colonel. At the same session, June, 1774, a Light Infantry company was also incorporated. Soon after this a Grenadier company was formed. This was chartered in October, and in December following, the Providence Fusileers, and another company of Artillery. In April, 1775, the Fusileers and Artillery were united and formed into the United Train of Artillery, which is a flourishing company to-day. The Gazette of Dec. 18, 1775, says : " Not a day passes, Sundays excepted, but some of the companies are under arms ; so well convinced are the people that the complexion of the times ren- ders a knowledge of the military art indispensably necessary." 262 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VII. Mr. Binney, who was graduated on this occasion with the valedic- tory honors of his class, was the son of Capt. Barnabas Binney, of Bos- ton. In early youth he discovered a ready and prolific genius, which gave promise of usefulness in the clerical profession. But the liberality of his ideas, says his biographer, rendered it difficult for him to attach himself to any particular sect, and hence he could never be prevailed upon to assume the vows and duties of a professed teacher of religion. He therefore perfected himself in the various branches of medicine, and finally established himself as a physician in the city of Philadel- phia. Here he died June 21, 1787. During the war, from 1780 to 1781, he was senior surgeon in the Continental army hospital. His son, the late Hon. Horace Binney, LL. D., ranked among the most distinguished lawyers and jurists of the Pennsylvania bar. His sister Avis, it may be added, was married in 1785, to Nicholas Brown, to whom we so frequently refer in these early annals. Mr. Binney's valedictory oration, which was immediately published, 1 was universally regarded as a splendid produc- tion. After the usual addresses, it discussed fully the politics of that eventful period, and was listened to with the most profound attention. The merits of this production were greatly enhanced in the delivery by the gracefulness of the orator, and the uncommon elegance of his manners. Judge Dorrance, of Providence, was a member of this class. He has the honor of being the first librarian of the College, having been appointed in his senior year. He was also a tutor two years, and from 1798 until 1813, a member of the Board of Trustees. Dwight Foster, whose name also appears in this connection, was a brother of the Hon. Theodore Foster, of the class of 1770. He settled as a lawyer in Brook- field, Mass., and acquired distinction in his profession. He was a mem- ber of Congress six years, and from 1800 to 1803 was a member of the United States Senate. 1 A copy is still preserved in the University library. The following is the title : "An Oration delivered on the late public Commencement at Rhode Island College, in Providence, September, 1774; being a plea for the right of private judgment in religious matters, or for the liberty of choosing our own religion; corroborated by the well-known consequences of priestly power; to which are annexed the valedictions of the class then first graduated. By Barnabas Binney, A. B. Boston : 1774." The oration, with the illustrative notes, makes a small quarto of forty-four pages. 1T74. AND MANNING. 263 The following letter, directed to " Thomas Ustick, schoolmaster, New York," has reference to this Commencement. Mr. Ward, we observe, delivered an oration for the Master's degree, but the other candidates for this honor took no part in the public exercises. Providence, May 30, 1774. Sir: — This is to let you know that Messrs. Ward and Arnold, your classmates, spent this evening with me to determine their Commencement exercises, and they desired me to ask you what you propose to do for Commencement, when you expect to be at Providence to prepare, etc., etc. These things you are desired to answer by the first opportunity. I had from Ashford in Connecticut, this day, an application for a Baptist minister. I mentioned you to them ; and desire you to confer with Mr. Gano on the subject, that he may bring over word, when he comes. Their start for a Baptist minister is a new thing ; but they subscribed last week near £500 lawful money towards building a meeting-house. The town is large and rich, and lam told that full one third have declared for the Baptists ; and that, in case they can get a minister of abilities, it is the general opinion that much above half the town will attend the meeting, though there are three parishes in it. The richest men are on our side, and they say they believe in supporting the minister handsomely. What say you of visiting them, at least, as soon as you can with convenience ? I want you to send me, by the first oppor- tunity, two dozen grammars, and I will satisfy you for your trouble. Show this to Mr. Gano, and tell him we expect him over very soon, and also Mrs. Gano and the children, to spend the summer with us. Tell them not to disappoint us. All are well with us, and at Middleborough. Mr. Hinds went from here this day. Enclosed I send two pro- posals, etc., which I received this evening from poor Boston. Please hand them to Mr. Gano, to use as he thinks proper. It is now almost midnight, and I can hardly see; besides, I have told Mr. Gano all I know in a letter written since I received any from him, or I would write him now. There are thirty-five or thirty-six students in College, and many of them fine young men. Tell friends they are remembered by James Manning. The meeting of the Corporation was held on the day of Commence- ment and adjourned until the next day, Thursday, September 8th. Among those present we notice the familiar names of Nathan Spear, of Boston, John Gano, Hezekiah Smith, Samuel Stillman, the brothers Nicholas and Joseph Brown, Job Bennet and Nicholas Eyres. Mr. John Jenckes was chosen a Trustee in the room of Judge Daniel Jen ekes, recently deceased. Mr. John Brown, "Merchant," was now chosen 264 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VII. Trustee in the room of William Brown, of Swansea, who resigned. The thanks of the Corporation were voted to Mr. Nathan Spear for his generous donation of ten pounds, lawful mone}' - , for the increase of Pro- fessor Howell's salary ; also to the Rev. Messrs. Hugh Evans and Benj. Beddome, of Great Britain, for their generous donation of <£20 sterling, out of the effects left in their hands "with discretionary powers " of the last will and testament of Dr. Bernard Foskett. Dr. Foskett was Principal of the Bristol Academy, where Evans, Beddome, John Ryland, Morgan Edwards, and other distinguished Baptist divines received their education. Among the requirements for admission to Rhode Island College in its early days was one obliging every student to transcribe the laws and customs thereof ; which copy, signed by the President, was to be the evidence of his admission, and to be kept by him while an under- graduate. This was the requirement of the College of New Jersey when Manning was a student, as we have stated in our first chapter. During the present year, 1774, fifteen, says Judge Pitman in his Alumni Address, entered the Freshman class ; eight of these were from the Latin School in Providence, under the tuition of the Rev. Ebenezer David, of the class of 1772, "one of the best instructors," says one of the eight, "I have ever known." One of this Class was the Rev. Enoch Pond, of Wrentham, Mass., who took his Bachelor's degree in 1777. Many years ago, after the publication of the writer's Life of Manning, a member of Mr. Pond's family sent to the Library his copy of the College Laws, with the corrections and signature of the President. The date on the cover is March, 1774. At the end is the following : — " Having perused the above I find them to correspond to the copy. James Manning, President." As Montesquieu well remarks, "the character of institutions, and alike of nations, is best known from their laws." Having in our first chapter introduced some of the " Laws and Customs " of the College of New Jersey, we now, making use of Mr. Pond's copy, publish for the first time the " Laws and Customs " of our own Rhode Island College, which naturally are based upon those of New Jersey. 1774. AND MANNING. 265 Laws and Customs of Rhode Island College, 1774. 1st. That the hours of study, between the fall and spring vacations, shall be from morning prayers, one hour before breakfast; from 9 o'clock A. H. until 12 o'clock; from 2 o'clock p.m. until sunset; and from 7 until 9 in the evening. Between the spring and fall vacations, one hour after morning prayers ; from 8 o'clock a. m. until 12 o'clock; from 2 o'clock p. m. until 6; and no one shall be out of his Chamber after 9 o'clock in the evening. These are similar to the hours of study during President Wayland's administration. 2d. That every student attend prayers in the Hall morning and evening, at 7 o'clock between the fall and spring vacations, and at 6 o'clock between the spring and fall vacations in the morning; and at 6 o'clock and sunset in the evening, during which they shall behave orderly and decently. These vacations, as specified in the laws of 1783, were as follows : — "From September 6th to October 20th ; from December 24th to Jan- uaiy 24th ; and from the first Monday in May three weeks ;" that is, six weeks vin the fall, four weeks in the winter, and three weeks in the spring. The summer term commenced about the first of June and continued until Commencement in September. In these later days it seems almost impossible to teach, preach, study, or even to do business during the warm season, when everyone who can hies to the mountains or seashore. In the catalogue for 1843, when the writer entered Col- lege, the announcement for vacations reads as follows : — "The first term begins on the Friday after Commencement (which was held on the first Wednesday in September) and continues until December 14th, fourteen weeks, when it is succeeded by a vacation of three weeks. The second term commences January 5th, and continues till April 4th, thirteen weeks, when it is succeeded by a vacation of four Weeks. The third term commences Maj r 3d, and continues to July 25th, twelve weeks, when it is succeeded by a vacation till Commencement." 3d. That every student attend public worship every First Day of the week steadily, at such place as he, his parents, or guardians, shall think proper; provided that any who do not attend with officers of instruction, produce vouchers, when demanded, of their steady and orderly attendance. 34 266 BKOWN UNIYEKSITY Chap. VII. N. B. Such as regularly and statedly keep the seventh day as the Sabbath, are exempted from this law, and are only required to abstain from secular concerns which would interrupt their fellow students. Here, again, we have "freedom of conscience." The law for the attendance on public worship during President Wayland's administra- tion, reads as follows: — "The right of Christians of every denomina- tion to enjoy without molestation their religious sentimeAts, is fully allowed; nevertheless, as the public observance of the Sabbath is a moral duty, at the beginning of each term every student shall designate to the President or other officer named by him, some place of public worship which he chooses to attend, and he shall attend such place of worship on the forenoon and afternoon of every First Day of the week." During subsequent administrations, the law reads thus : — " All stu- dents of this University are strictly required to attend public worship twice on the Sabbath. For this purpose each one shall report to the President at the beginning of every term, the church which he will attend." 4th. That no student boarding in commons, go out of the College yard on the First Day of the week, unless to public worship ; but that the whole of the day be observed by abstaining from all secular concerns, recreations and diversions. The First Day of the week, or Sunday, was no holiday in Manning's estimation. Later laws are similar. In the laws as published in 1835 we read : — "Every student is required on the Sabbath day to refrain from the usual exercises and diversions, from playing on instruments of music, except to perform a part in sacred psalmody, and from anything which is unbecoming the retirement and sacredness of the day." 5th. That when any student attends any religious society whatever, he behave with suitable gravity and decency. 6th. That no student read any book in study hours, excepting the classics, or those which tend to illustrate the subject matter of his recitations for the time being. 7th. That each one continue in his room in the hours of study, unless to do an errand, in which he shall be speedy: or to attend recitations. 8th. That no one enter another's room without first knocking at the door and obtaining liberty. 1774. AND MANNING. 267 9th. That no student make any stay in any room, or meddle with anything in it belonging to the'occupants, in their absence, without license. 10th. That each one attend recitation twice in a day, at such time and place as shall be appointed. 11th. That no one practise attending upon company in his room in study hours ; or keep spirituous liquors in his room without liberty obtained of the President. 12th. That no student at any time make any unnecessary noise or tumult, either in his room or in the entries ; but that each one endeavor to preserve tranquillity and decency in words and actions at all times. 13th. That no one, when in another's room, meddle with or examine his books and writings. 14th. That no one be absent from any collegiate exercises without first rendering his excuse to his instructors, or go out of the College yard in the time of study, without liberty. 15th. That if any one do damage to the College edifice, or the goods of others, he shall repair the same. 16th. That no student wear his hat within the College walls, excepting those who steadily attend the Friends' Meeting. 17th. Nor when speaking to, or is spoken to, or is in company with, any officers of instruction, except he is permitted by them to put it on. Chancellor Hopkins, who was Manning's constant adviser in all matters pertaining to the College, doubtless assisted in the framing of these Laws and Customs. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and attended their worship. 18th. That no one pass by any of the Corporation, or officers of the College, with- out showing them proper respect. 19th. That due respect be paid to those of a superior standing by inferiors, by giving them the precedence and choice of seats. This is in accordance with the laws of the College of New Jersey, which required Freshmen to go on errands, give the highest place to Seniors, if spoken to give a direct answer, with the word, Sir, at the end thereof, and to abstain from wearing a gown. See Chapter I., pages 30, 31. 20th. That each student treat the inhabitants of the town and all others with whom they converse with civility and good manners. 268 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VII. 21st. That each one observe strictly the rules of morality in general, transgressions of which shall he punished according to their nature and aggravating circumstances. 22d. That no one play at cards or any unlawful games, swear, lie, steal or get drunk, use obscene or idle words, strike his fellow students or others ; or keep com- pany with persons of a known bad character, or attend at places of idle and vain sports. 23d. That the conduct of each student with respect to morality or good manners in the vacation, shall be cognizable equally as when present at the College. 24th. That no student, during the time of recitations, suggest anything to his classmates ; or by any other means interrupt their attention. 2oth. That every evening two shall pronounce on the stage, beginning with the Senior Class, and proceeding down alphabetically through all the classes. This custom was kept up, with certain modifications, down to nearly the close of President Wayland's administration. In the writer's day it was customary for one member of the Senior, or Junior class, to deliver after evening prayers an original oration, or essay, on the stage. The Hon. Tristam Burges, in an address before the Federal Adelphi, thus alludes to this custom in his day : — " You all remember the ele- vated, advanced stage where the speaker took his stand, when, under the supervision of the authority, surrounded by the entire collegiate assembly, awed by the continued and pervading spirit of the hour and the occasion, he gave utterance to his own, so soon as the last echo of the voice of devotion had ceased to whisper in the ear of the listening audience. It was not to all the assembled Greeks, it was not at the Olympic Games that he spoke ; but the pupil who passed through this ordeal under the eye of Manning or Maxcy, has never since that time, with more anxiety prepared himself for any other, or gone through it with more fear and trembling." The laws for 1835 read: — " One stu- dent from each of the two upper classes shall declaim in the Chapel, every evening, immediately after prayers." 26th. That on the first Wednesday of every month, each student shall publicly pro- nounce an oration, which he shall have previously committed to memory. 27th. The Senior and Junior classes shall each of them write a Dispute every week and read the same, upon such subjects as shall be appointed them. Latin Syllogistic Disputes are to be kept up and duly cultivated. 1T74. AND MANNING. 269 28th. That no student make use of any boards, timber, or any other materials belonging to the College edifice, for any purpose whatever, without first obtaining lib- erty from the committee for that purpose. The College edifice was still in an unfinished state, and hence mate- rials, as here described, were stored in the building or packed up in the yard. 29th. That every student in College shall take particular care of fire, not carrying it needlessly out of their rooms in pipes or otherwise; that they carefully cover or quench their fires when they retire to bed or leave their rooms ; and that they cause their respective chimneys to be swept out every year. 30th. That no student stay beyond the limited term of vacation, or any other term allowed him to be absent from College. 31st. That a weekly bill be kept in rotation, beginning and proceeding alphabeti- cally, by all except the Senior class; in which shall be noted inattendance at prayers, unbecoming conduct there, or any breach of the laws of College, of which the monitor shall take strict notice. 32d. That a Quarterly Monitor shall be appointed, who shall take the weekly bills after they are examined, and take a particular account of all the transgressions which shall not be excused; and this bill shall be produced at the quarterly examination before the gentlemen who may attend the same, as matter of conviction against those who shall be tardy and deficient. He shall also collect the fines and deliver them to the President. 33d. And that none may imagine that the officers of instruction desire any benefit to themselves from the fines arising from the transgressions of the laws, it is declared that all the money so arising shall be converted into premiums, to be awarded to those who shall excel at the public examination, always observing that the premiums of each class shall be made up of the fines of the class. 34th. That no student refuse to open his door when he shall hear the stamp of the foot or staff at his door in the entry, which shall be a token that some officer of instruc- tion desires admission ; which token every student is forbid to counterfeit or imitate under any pretence whatever. The law of the College of New Jersey reads : — " The President, or Tutors, when not admitted into a room, may signify their presence by a stamp, which signal no scholar shall imitate on penalty of five shil- lings, proclamation money. (Six shillings to the dollar.) 270 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VII. 35th. That the Quarterly Monitor shall take an account of the fines imposed, and render his account and deliver the money to the President at each quarter day, which shall he proposed as premiums for each class at tbe end of the ensuing quarter. 36th. That in the hours of study no one speak to another in the College, or College yard, except in Latin. Were this rule enforced to-day, profound silence, in the words of a witty critic, would reign throughout the College halls. Latin, a cen- tury and more ago, received far more attention than now. This same rule is repeated in the laws enacted in 1783. Rule 27, it will be noticed, requires Latin Syllogistic Disputes to be kept up and duly cultivated. At most of the early Commencement exercises there was a Latin Dis- putation, and Latin Theses were printed in the programmes, as we have before stated, even until near the close of Messer's administration. The school first established by Manning in Warren was called a " Latin School." 37th. That the Freshmen Class, in alphabetical order, kindle a fire seasonably before morning prayers, in the room where they are attended, during the winter season. No wonder that the Freshmen sought to be promoted, and rejoiced when they were advanced to a higher class. One of the laws of the College of New Jersey required that " every Freshman sent of an errand shall go and do it faithfully and make quick return." One of the traditions of Rhode Island College, and of the University in the days of Messer, is that the Freshmen were expected to wait upon the Seniors. The custom, it is said, was broken up when a bright Fresh- man, having been sent by a Senior with a dollar bill to the store near by for some smoking tobacco and a pipe, returned with ninety-nine pipes and one cent's worth of i tobacco. 38th. That the penalties annexed to the foregoing laws shall be proportioned to the nature, circumstances, and aggravations attending the several offences. After private admonition the pecuniary penalties shall be from two pence, lawful money, to three shillings. The highest and last, excepting for absence from College, shall be six shil- lings, or a dollar, after which they shall be publicly admonished before the College and Corporation, which, proving ineffectual, the offenders shall be rusticated, or suspended, 1774. AND MANNING. 271 from all connection with the College, after which degraded, if judged necessary. For the last and concluding punishment they shall he totally and forever expelled from the College. 39th. As it is an incumbent duty on all the instructors of youth faithfully to guard and solemnly to warn them against the most distant approaches to vice and licentious- ness, as well as to inculcate the principles of virtue and religion ; and as infidelity, or the denial of the authenticity of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as appears from fact as well as from obvious reasoning, has a direct tendency to frustrate this most important design, the grand object in view of the founders of this Institution, as appears from the Charter, which enacts that Christians of every denomination shall, without the least molestation in the peculiarities of their religious principles, enjoy free liberty, etc.,— 40th. In order, therefore, that youth of every denomination of Christians, who have resorted or who may resort here for education, may not in any wise be molested in the free enjoyment of their peculiarities in religious sentiments and Christian faith, by ridicule, sneers, scoffing, infidel suggestions, or any other means which tend to harass, disquiet and render them uneasy during their residence at College. 41st. It is ordered and enacted, that if any student of this College shall deny the being of a God, the existence of virtue and vice ; or that the books of the Old and New Testaments are of divine authority, or suggest any scruples of that nature, or circulate books of such pernicious tendency, or frequent the company of those who are known to favor such fatal errors, he shall for the second offense be absolutely and forever expelled from this College. (Young gentlemen of the Hebrew nation are to be exempted from this law, so far as it relates to the New Testament and its authenticity.) The religious basis of the College in the days of Manning, as well as its liberal character, are plainly seen in these last laws, which in a later edition are classed as " Concerning a religious, moral, and decent behavior." The President evidently believed, with the Divine Teacher, in "Moses and the Prophets." The writings of men like Paine and Voltaire, which teach that "no book in the Bible was written before the exile," that all the books are compilations, and full of con- tradictions, and that " all the contradictions in time, place, and cir- cumstance, that abound in the books ascribed to Moses prove to a demonstration that those books could not be written by Moses, nor in the time of Moses," found no favor with him. It is a singular fact that at the present day, after the lapse of a century, views like those 272 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VII. above named are endorsed by scholars, writers, and even professed teachers of religion, as the results of the " Higher Criticism," so called, and openly taught in many of our colleges and theological schools. 1 42d. Whoever shall stay beyond the limited term of vacation, or the expiration of the time for which he had liberty to be absent, shall pay commons bill to the Steward in the same manner as though present, unless he shall bring a certificate from two reputable physicians, that his state of health would not admit the prosecution of his studies. 43d. Ordered that the Senior Class have authority to detain in the Hall after evening prayers, such of the under classes as they shall observe breaking any of the laws of College, and there admonish them of such offenses, as well as correct and instruct them in their general deportment, correcting their manners in such minute particulars of a genteel carriage and good breeding, as does not come within any express written law of the College ; which admonitions, corrections, and instructions the delinquents are to receive with modesty and submission, and punctually observe. N. B. — But as the present Senior class does not reside in College, this authority is committed to the present Junior class. The distinction between Freshmen and Seniors was quite obvious in the olden times. It is doubtful, to say the least, whether Freshmen of any College would to-day receive from Seniors, " with modesty and submission," such admonitions as are here described. These laws are dated March, 1774. "The present Senior Class" above referred to, consisted of six members, five of whom belonged in Providence, and hence resided at their homes. The sixth member, Barnabas Binney, belonged in Boston. Being a young man of note, he made it his home with one of the families in town. 44th. That the students who board in Commons, observe order in going in and out of the dining room, as of the hall ; that at the table each class sit together in alphabet- ical order, and while there behave decently, making no unnecessary noise or disturb- ance, either by abusing the table furniture, or ungenerously complaining cf the provisions, etc. Notwithstanding which, if any are dissatisfied they may mention it decently to the 1 See Prof. Howard Osgood's paper on the " Higher Criticism," before the Baptist Congress at Detroit, November, 1894. Proceedings, pp. 201-206. 1774. AND MANNING. 273 steward in private, and if he does not redress any supposed grievance, they may then apply to the President. 45th. Those who neglect to attend at the stated meal times, shall forfeit such meals, unless sufficientjeasons for their absence appear to the steward. 46th. That the steward take special care that the laws of the dining room he observed, and give immediate information to the authority of the College of all trans- gressions of the same. In order that the fines imposed upon the students may he duly collected, the quar- terly monitor shall, at the end of the quarter, render the account to the steward of uncollected fines; who shall collect the same, and upon the neglect or refusal of any one to pay, they shall not he permitted to advance into the next class, as in case of non-payment of tuition. The steward at this time, as stated by Manning in his Sketch of Rhode Island College, (published in our Documentary History, pp. 19- 21,) was Josiah Arnold. Concerning him we know nothing further. He was neither a graduate of the College nor a Trustee. 47th. In order to perpetuate the infamy of the transgressors of the laws, a book is purchased, in which shall be recorded all the punishments, except pecuniary, publicly inflicted on every delinquent, with the cause thereof ; and every student whose name shall be recorded therein, as a transgressor, shall be excluded from being chosen by the President or his class to any of the orations at Commencement ; provided, how- ever, that by extraordinary and continued reformation, the authority erase such cen- sures before the time of choosing orators. Concerning the Rooms, Stewards, and Commons. At a meeting of a number of the members of the Corporation, held in the College edifice, towards the close of 1773, it was proposed that the steward cause, All the rooms inhabited by the students who board in Commons, to be swept clean once every day, as also the entries. That he cause all the beds in said rooms to be decently made every day in the fore- noon. That he furnish three good meals of victuals per day sufficient for those who board in Commons, agreeably, or nearly so, to the following prescriptions: — 33 274 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap, VII. FOR DINNER EVERY WEEK. Two meals of salt beef and pork, with peas, beans, greens, roots, etc., and puddings For drink, good small beer and cider. Two meals of fresh meat, roasted, baked, broiled, or fried, with proper sauce or vegetables. One meal of soup and fragments. One meal of boiled fresh meat with proper sauce and broth. One meal of salt or fresh fish, with brown bread, for dinners. FOR BREAKFAST. Tea, coffee, chocolate, or milk porridge. "With tea, or coffee, white bread with butter, or brown bread toasted, with butter. With chocolate or milk porridge, white bread without butter. With tea, coffee, and chocolate, brown sugar. FOR SUPPER. Milk, with hasty pudding, rice, samp, white bread, etc. Or milk porridge, tea, coffee, or chocolate, as for breakfast. The several articles and provisions above mentioned, especially dinners, are to be diversified and changed as to their succession through the week, as much as may be agreeable; with the addition of puddings, apple pies, dumplings, cheese, etc., to be interspersed through the dinners, as often as may be convenient and suitable. All the articles of provision shall be good, genuine, and unadulterated. The meals are to be provided at stated times, and the cookery is to be well and neatly executed. That the steward sit at meals with the students, unless prevented by company or business, and exercise the same authority as is customary and needful for the head of a family at his table. That the steward be exemplary in his moral conduct, and do not fail to give infor- mation to the authority of the College against any of the students who may transgress any of the College orders and regulations ; and to this purpose that he keep by him a copy of the same. For the services above mentioned, that the steward be allowed and paid by every person boarding in Commons, one dollar per week; to be paid at the expiration of each quarter; if not, interest until paid. Ordered, That upon any person being entered into College, the steward take an obligation and sufficient security for the payment of his tuition, room-rent, board, and all College bills, and bills for necessary charges in this town, the said bills being approved by the President. 1774. AND MANNING. 275 Orders for the Dining Room. It is enacted by the authority of the College in Providence : That those who hoard in Commons, upon heing called to meals, shall immediately repair to the dining room without unnecessary noise ; and that the under classes always wait for those of the superior classes to go in first, provided any of them are in sight when at the door ; and that they ohserve the same decorum in returning. That the steward shall call on whom he thinks proper to ask a hlessing and return thanks at tahle, during which no student shall meddle with any of the provisions or tahle furniture, hut hehave with decency and sohriety. That the Senior class he divided, and some sit at one part of the tahle and others at another part ; and that they, or such others as shall he appointed, only shall call for what may be wanting at table ; and all others are forbid either calling or using any signs of calling, except decently mentioning to the above named what is wanted ; — and provided any person or persons shall use indecent gestures at table, or in anywise transgress the orders of the table, the Senior sitting at the head of the table shall imme- diately order him to sit next to him, that he may observe his or their future conduct and behavior. That the whole body be so divided as that a determinate number only, in succession through the whole, shall carve, this being done in alphabetical order; the one next to him shall distribute the meat and sauce, no one else being allowed to take them him- self; and the same person for the day shall pour out coffee, tea, etc., and put in a proper quantity of sugar. That no one pretend to make the least waste of provisions, or carry provisions, kitchen furniture, etc., out of the dining-room, without special liberty from the steward so to do. Next to the steward, the persons to call for provisions as above mentioned are required to admonish the above delinquents at table; which proving ineffectual, to forthwith communicate the name of the offender, his misdemeanor, etc., to the author- ity of the College. That the present Senior class do forthwith direct the students how to sit, and who shall begin to carve, etc. ; and cause the above orders, signed by the President and written in a fair hand, to be posted up in the dining room. It would seem from this closing paragraph, that this was the begin- ning of Commons. Doubtless this was the case, as the building had only been occupied recently, and was still in an unfinished state. Boarding at this time, Manning states in his Sketch, was "one dollar a week." 276 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VII. The correspondence of President Manning, as we have had occa- sion to state in previous chapters, abounds in allusion to the oppression of his brethren in Massachusetts and elsewhere, on the part of the "standing order." This oppression he felt called upon to resist to the extent of his ability. To his intelligent and active exertions in behalf of religious liberty, we of the present day and generation are greatly indebted for what we now enjoy as our birthright. To set forth in detail the efforts of Manning and his contemporaries in this direction, would require more space than can be allotted to our present work. For full information on the points involved in this controversy, the reader is referred to Backus's Church History of New England, to Professor Hovey's Memoir of the Life and Times of Backus, and to "Chaplain Smith and the Baptists." One effort of his demands special mention. During the present year, which was one of marked importance in the history of the country, the spirit of resist- ance to the unjust claims of England had greatly increased among all classes throughout the land, until it was at length determined to unite the separate colonies in defense of their rights. For this purpose a Congress of Delegates met in Philadelphia, on the 5th of September, 1774. This is known in history as the Continental Congress, to which Rhode Island, as we have already stated, sent as delegates Governors Hopkins and Ward. To this Congress it was resolved to send Mr. Backus, the agent of the Baptist churches in New England, to see if something could not be done to secure rights and liberties from the colonial governments at home, as well as from the English govern- ment abroad. The idea originated at the College Commencement. Backus in his diary thus states the case : — September 7th. Went over to Providence to Commencement. Met with Mr. Gano, of New York, and Mr. William Van Home, of South Hampton, in Pennsylvania. They, with Messrs. Manning and Hezekiah Smith, all were in earnest for me to go to the Association, and also to the Congress at Philadelphia, and represented that now was the most likely time to obtain our religious liberty that we had ever known. The Association met in Medfield, as it had the year previous, although the Baptist church in the place was not constituted until 1774. AND MANNING. 277 1776. Being central it was convenient for the churches. In the printed minutes, which are brief, we notice the following relating to the Col- lege : — "Adopted the plan proposed by the Association in Charleston, South Carolina, to raise a fund for Rhode Island College, viz., by recom- mending to every member to pay six pence sterling annually for three years successively to their elder, or some suitable person : This money to be paid to the Treasurer of the College." This shows a commenda- ble disposition. No large fund, however, was raised in this way. The members were too few and too poor to contribute largely to the support of an institution of learning. The Circular Letter to the churches was prepared by Hezekiah Smith. A part of it reads as follows : — And as it is a day of great affliction, when our civil rights are invaded, and our religious privileges also are in danger, we have concluded to recommend to you four days in the course of the ensuing year for fasting and prayer. The first on Friday hefore the last Lord's day in November ; the second on Friday before the last Lord's day in February; the third on Friday before the last Lord's day in May; the fourth on Friday before the last Lord's day in August. Nothing is said in the minutes respecting the Congress at Philadel- phia ; but the proposition to send an agent to represent the churches was entertained, and the following certificate was given Mr. Backus : — To the Honorable Delegates of the Several Colonies in North America, Met in a General Congress at Philadelphia. Honorable Gentlemen: As the Anti-pedobaptist churches in New England are now heartily concerned for the preservation and defense of the rights and privileges of this country, and are deeply affected by the encroachments upon the same which have lately been made by the British Parliament, and are willing to unite with our dear countrymen, vigorously to pursue every prudent measure for relief, so we would beg leave to say that, as a distinct denomination of Protestants, we conceive that we have an equal claim to charter- rights with the rest of our fellow-subjects ; and yet we have long been denied the free and full enjoyment of those rights, as to the support of religious worship. Therefore we, the elders and brethren of twenty Baptist churches, met in Association at Med- field, twenty miles from Boston, September 14, 1774, have unanimously chosen and 278 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VII. sent you the Reverend and beloved Mr. Isaac Backus, as our agent, to lay our case, in these respects, before you, or otherwise to use all the prudent means he can for our relief. John Gano, Moderator. Hezekiah Smith, Clerk. Mr. Backus, having thus been duly appointed by the Warren Asso- ciation, set out for Philadelphia on the 26th of September. His jour- ney occupied nearly a fortnight. This circumstance is here mentioned to show what travelling facilities were in those days, and what sacrifices were sometimes made by ministers who attended from a distance the meetings of the College and of the Associations. Upon his arrival in Philadelphia he immediately conferred with President Manning, and with the Philadelphia Baptist Association, then holding its sessions in that city. In the evening of October 14, says Backus, — There met at Carpenter's Hall, 1 Thomas Cushing, Samuel Adams, John Adams, and Robert Treat Paine, Esqs., delegates from Massachusetts; and there were also present James Kinzie, of New Jersey, Stephen Hopkins, and Samuel Ward, of Rhode Island, Joseph Galloway, and Thomas Miflin, Esqs., of Pennsylvania, and other members of Congress. Mr. Rhodes, Mayor of the city of Philadelphia, Israel and James Pemberton, and Joseph Fox, Esqs., of the Quakers, and other gentlemen; also Elders Manning, Gano, Jones, Rogers, Edwards, etc., were present. The conference was opened by Mr. Manning, who made a short speech, and then read the memorial which we had drawn up. This memorial, which may be found in Hovey's Memoir, after an eloquent plea in behalf of both civil and religious freedom, recounts in brief the various acts of oppression which the Baptists had suffered in the province of Massachusetts Bay, commencing with the charter 1 " On the morning of the 5th of Septemher, 1774, the ' old Congress,' as it is now familiarly known in our history, commenced its sessions, in Carpenter's Hall, in Philadelphia. The place but ill corresponded with the real magnitude of the occasion. No tapestry bedecked its walls, no images of sages and heroes of other days looked down upon the scene. Yet, to one who could read the future, it would have presented a simple grandeur, such as we may look for in vain within the majestic halls of the Capitol, and amidst the imposing forms of the Constitution."— Professor Gammell's Life of Governor Ward. 1774. AND MANNING. 279 obtained at the "happy restoration." What part Manning had in the drafting of it we cannot now determine. It was probably the joint pro- duction of several hands. The introductory plea and the closing remarks may very properly be attributed to his skilful pen. A copy was afterwards delivered to each of the delegates, together with Mr. Backus's "Appeal to the Public." 1 The result of the conference was not at all satisfactory, John Adams remarking that we might as well expect a change in the solar system as to expect that they would give up their Establishment; or, as he himself gives the account, 2 "they might as well turn the heavenly bodies out of their annual and diurnal courses, as the people of Massachusetts at the present day from their meeting-house and Sunday laws." This effort of Manning and his associates was nevertheless the means indirectly of accomplishing great good. It opened the minds of the people generally to a knowledge of their true position and principles, and prepared the way for the aston- ishing increase of the Baptists, 3 and for the remarkable spread of their sentiments throughout the land. Doubtless it was one of the important agencies which slowly and silently effected a change in the public sen- timent of Massachusetts herself, until, April 1, 1834, the Bill of Rights was so amended, that Church and State were separated in the old Com- monwealth, and "Soul Liberty," as maintained by Baptists of every age, was finally and perfectly secured. How this conference of the Baptists with the members of Congress was regarded by their opponents, may be seen by an extract from a letter of President Manning, dated Dec. 2, 1774, which we quote from Hovey's Memoir of Backus. The writer states that the following 1 The following is the title of this pamphlet, which Backus had prepared and published the pre- vious year : " An Appeal to the Public for Religious Liberty, against the oppressors of the present day. ' Brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.' Gal. v. 13. Boston : Printed by John Boyle, in Marlborough Street, 1773," pp. 62. A copy of this rare pamphlet is in the library of the University. 2 See Works of John Adams, Vol. II., p. 399. * In 1704, when the College was founded, the Baptists in all America numbered less than seventy churches, with perhaps five thousand members or communicants. The lapse of one hundred and thirtj'-two years finds them, with a single exception, the largest denomination of Protestant Christians in the United States, numbering nearly four millions of communicants, and represent- ing twenty millions of worshippers. 280 BKOWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VII. assertions in reference to said conference were made by the Rev. Dr. Stiles, viz. : — That the Baptists had made an application to the Congress against the Massachu- setts Bay ; that the delegates of that Province expected only a private interview with some of the Baptists ; hut instead of that, when they came they found a house full, etc. ; that they were attacked and treated in the most rude and ahusive manner ; that the Baptists pretended they were oppressed, hut, after all their endeavors, they could only complain of a poor fourpence ; that they were ashamed of their errand, and gave up their point, except one or two impudent fellows, who, with Israel Pemherton, abused them in a most scandalous manner ; that all the delegates present were surprised at and ashamed of them, and thought they complained without the least foundation, etc. Then Dr. Stiles added : — When ice have the power in our hands toe will remember them. In a copy of Aitken's American Register preserved among the fam- ily papers of Manning, we find the following memoranda of texts from which he preached during this journey in 1774 : — October 16th, at Philadelphia, John ix. 27; do., 2d Corinthians iv. 17; October 19th, at Nathaniel Drakes, John ix. 27; October 22d, at ye Short Hills, Acts viii. 8; October 23d, at Lyons Farms, Galatians ii. 19; do. John ix. 4; October 30th, at Newport, Gala- tians ii. 19; do. John ix.27; November 7th, at Providence, Isaiah liv. 15; do. Isaiah liv. 15; November 7th, at Mr. Foster's, Hebrews xii. 5. The principal measures adopted by this Continental Congress were : — "A Declaration of the rights of the Colonies, and a list of the infringements and violations of them ; " " An Address to the People of Great Britain; " "An Address to the Inhabitants of the Colonies they represented;" "An Address to the Inhabitants of the Province of Quebec;" and "A Petition to the King." They also signed "An Association," binding themselves and their constituents not to import from Great Britain or Ireland any goods whatever, or from any other country any goods the growth or manufacture of Great Britain or Ire- land, nor any East India tea from any part of the world after the first day of December. 1774. AND MANNING. 281 The delegates from Rhode Island arrived home after the close of the October session of the General Assembly. A special session was there- fore called, which was held on the first Monday in December, to which they reported. Their acts were approved, and the thanks of the Assembly were voted them for the "faithful and spirited discharge of the important trust reposed in them." The act of the town of Provi- dence on the 17th of May, instructing its representatives in the General Assembly to use their exertions to have a General Congress called, was among the earliest, says Staples, if not in fact the earliest, movement of any municipal corporation in favor of a Congress at this juncture of affairs. And the appointment of delegates by the General Assembly, Wednesday, June 15th, preceded the appointment of all the other del- egates. The proceedings of the June session of the General Assembly contain furthermore the earliest proposal for an Annual Congress by any colony or municipal corporation. The record of Rhode Island as a patriotic State or Colony is indeed unsurpassed by that of any other state or colony. 36 CHAPTER VIII. 1775-1779. Providence during the first years of the "War — Committee of Inspection, including prominent members of the Corporation, appointed by the town — Address to the inhabitants, March 1, 1775, in regard to the purchase and use of tea — Burning of three hundred pounds in Market Square — News of the battle of Lexington — Within two days a thousand men ready to march to the assistance of their brethren in Massachusetts — Special session of the General Assembly — Army of Observation appointed, and day of fasting and prayer — Governor "Wanton deposed from office for disloyalty — Next meeting for the annual election of officers held in Providence instead of Newport — Preamble and resolution of the General Assembly relating thereto — Richest men of the old families in Newport, Loyalists — Battle of Bunker Hill — Extra session of the General Assembly called — Minute men and inde- pendent companies drilled — Everywhere sights and sounds of war — Attack of the British on Bristol — Communication from the Senior class respecting the propriety of holding Commencement — Reply of President Manning and Professor Howell — No Commencement for 1775 — Prominent members of the class — Pardon Bowen — Robert Rogers — Meeting of the Corporation — Vote respecting Daniel Gano, John Hart, and William Edwards — January session of the General Assembly, 1776 — Address to the Continental Congress representing the inability of the Colony from its exposed situation to defend itself, and praying for assistance — Great distress in Providence — General Assembly in May repealed the Act of Allegiance to His Majesty — Virtually a declaration of independence two months before the National Declaration of Independence — National Declaration endorsed by the General Assembly, July 18th — Event celebrated in Providence July 25th — Commencement for 1776 celebrated in the new Baptist meeting-house — Account from the Providence Gazette — Prominent graduates — Meeting of the Corporation — Petition to the Gen- eral Assembly to continue the College funds in the treasury of the Colony — British troops land and take possession of Newport — College studies suspended from Dec. 7,1776, until May 27, 1782 — College edifice occupied for barracks and a hos- pital — Number of students up to this time — Letter to Ryland giving a vivid idea of the war — Letter to Benjamin Wallin giving an account of the revival of 1775 — Wallin's reply — Letter of sympathy to Miss A. Howard — Controversial letter to John Berridge on Infant Baptism and Sprinkling — War of the Revolution a Church war — Disloyalty of the Episcopal clergy — No Commencement for 1777 — Degrees conferred upon seven members of the Senior class — Students recommended to prosecute their studies at home — Manning's position in this hour of trial as a man of influence, and the Pastor of the church — Anecdotes respecting — Important Civil function — Deplorable condition of the State — Letter to Moses Brown — Letter to Thomas Ustick — Letter from Judge Howell resigning his position as Professor of Philosophy. 1775-1779. BROWN UNIVERSITY. 283 In pursuance of the recommendations of the Continental Congress, a committee of inspection was appointed by the town of Providence, consisting of eighteen of the prominent citizens. Among them we notice the familiar names of Jabez Bowen, John Brown, Joseph Brown, John Jenckes, Nicholas Cooke, and Joseph. Russell, all active members of the Corporation of the College. This committee met at the cham- ber of the Town Council on the third Wednesday of every month. At its first meeting they published a synopsis of the "Association,'* which the delegates to Congress recommended and signed. One of the articles of agreement by the "Association," had reference to the use of tea after the first day of March, 1775. As that day approached the committee issued an address to the inhabitants, beginning as follows : — We, the Committee of Inspection, of the town of Providence, hesides the notice we have already given for your exact conformity to the Association Agreement of the General Congress, think it our duty, at this time, when the first day of March is at hand, to remind you, in special, that in the third article it is solemnly agreed and asso- ciated, not to purchase or use any East India tea whatever, from and after the first day of March next. This measure, among others, was thought necessary to gain redress of those grievances which threaten destruction to the lives, liberty, and property of his Majesty's subjects in North America. In accordance with this address, the people assembled at five o'clock in the Market Place, on the second day of March, and burned some three hundred pounds of tea brought in "by the firm contenders for the true interests of America." A large fire was kindled, the tea, a tar barrel, Lord North's speech, Rivington's, Mill's, and Hicks's news- papers, and divers other ingredients entering into the composition of the bonfire. The bells of the several churches were tolled, and a large crowd assembled to testify by their presence their patriotism, and dis- position to conform to the recommendations of Congress. Such was the spirit which secured the liberty and final independence of the Colonies. 1 1 Staples's Annals of Providence, pp. 243-244. 284 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIII. News of the battle of Lexington, says Staples, reached Providence on the evening of the 19th of April. On the morning of the 21st, the several independent companies of this and the neighboring towns, and a body of the militia, in all about one thousand men, had either marched or were in readiness to march, to the assistance of their brethren in Massachusetts. This must have included nearly every available man in Providence and vicinity capable of bearing arms. Whether any of the students were included in this number we are not informed. Without doubt they were keen observers of passing events, and took an interest in all patriotic proceedings. Their utterances at the first Commencement in Warren, were in advance of the Declaration of Independence. A special session of the General Assembly was convened at Provi- idence on the 22d, three days after the battle of Lexington. At this session, the 11th of May was set apart "as a day of fasting, prayer, and humiliation," and the Governor was requested to issue a proclamation for the same. The Assembly also passed an act for raising an "army of observation" of fifteen hundred men, "for the preservation of the liberties of America." The Governor (Joseph Wanton) entered his protest against this act, as a measure, using his own words, that " will be attended with the most fatal consequences to our charter privileges." He refused to issue a proclamation for a day of fasting and prayer, and to sign the commissions of the officers of the troops voted to be raised by the Assembly. For this and other acts of disloyalty, he was subsequently deposed from office, and Nicholas Cooke, the famous war Governor, was appointed in his place. This act, says the historian, was without precedent. There was nothing in the charter which authorized the Assembly thus to depose a Governor, nor in any law previously enacted. But this was an age of revolution. The circumstances of the case justified the act ; and it was warranted by "the fundamental principles of the constitution " of this and every other free government. At this same special session, the General Assembly passed the fol- lowing preamble and resolution : — 1775-1779. AND MANNING. 285 Inasmuch as there is the most apparent urgent occasion that the General Assembly- should be holden in some place other than the town of Newport at the approaching annual election for the year 1775, It is therefore Voted and Resolved, That the General Assembly, for the election of general officers and for the transacting of such business as may be laid before them on the first Wednesday in May next, be held at the Colony House in Providence, and that the Secretary publish a copy of this vote in the next Newport News and Providence Gazette. The charter of the Colony required the May session of the Assem- bly to be holden in Newport, ' ' or elsewhere if urgent occasion do require ; ' ' and up to this time the May session had invariably been holden in Newport. The presence of British ships of war in the harbor may have been the "urgent occasion" which now required the change. Or it may have been the suspected disloyalty of Governor Wanton and of not a few of the other residents of the town. Howland, in his " Recollections," says : — Before the Revolution, as Providence increased in population and commerce, an unreasonable prejudice existed in Newport against it (Providence), and when the war began the richest men of the old families there were generally Loyalists. The case was different in Providence. Here there were none who took the side of the enemy. It was amidst scenes like these that the Baptist meeting-house was built, as we have seen in a previous chapter. It was publicly dedicated with appropriate services on the 28th of May. The battle of Bunker Hill soon followed. An extra session of the Assembly was at once called. Committees were appointed to take account of the arms and ammunition in the Colony, and report it to Congress. Saltpetre and brimstone were sent to the powder mills of New York. A signal post was established on Tower Hill, and a beacon at Providence, on Pros- pect Hill. The Colony was put upon a war footing, every man able to bear arms being required to hold himself in readiness for active service. A fourth of the militia were held for minute men, and drilled half a day every fortnight. The Independent Companies were drilled with them. The Army of Observation, which now numbered about seven- 286 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIII. teen hundred men, was placed under the command of Washington. Everywhere, says the historian, 1 were sights and sounds of war. On the 7th of October, 1775, an attack on Bristol was made by Captain Wallace, who anchored in the harbor with fifteen sail, bombarded the town for*an hour, discharging one hundred and twenty cannon. Much damage was done to buildings, the neighboring farms were plundered, and forty sheep were carried away. The British fleet at Newport being reinforced by four more vessels in search of supplies, Captain Wallace made a threatening demand upon the islands of Conanicut and Rhode Island for live stock. The following communication, which we copy from the Providence Gazette, sufficiently explains the position of affairs in reference to the Commencement for 1775 : — to the reverend president, honorable professor, and the rest of the honorable Corporation of Rhode Island College, — the dutiful petition of the Senior class : Most worthy Patrons : — Deeply affected with the distress of our oppressed coun- try, which now, most unjustly, feels the baneful effects of arbitrary power, provoked to the greatest height of cruelty and vengeance by the noble and manly resistance of a free and determined people, permit us, gentlemen, to approach you with this our hum- ble and dutiful petition, that you would be pleased to take under your serious consid- eration the propriety of holding the ensuing Commencement in a public manner, as usual ; whether such a celebration of that anniversary would be in conformity to the 8th Article of the Association formed by the grand American Congress, and which all the colonies are now religiously executing ; and that you would be pleased to signify unto us your resolution respecting the same, that we may govern ourselves accordingly. J.osiah Read, ) Committee Andrew Law, > in behalf of the James Fulton, ) Senior class. College in Providence, June 8, 1775. To this communication the President and Professor thus reply : — To the Committee of the Senior Class: Gentlemen: — Your dutiful and reasonable petition has been duly attended to; and permit us to assure you, that it gives us no small satisfaction that the present members i Short History of Rhode Island. By George W. Greene. 12mo. Providence, 1877. 1775-1779. AND MANNING. 287 of this Institution, and particularly the respectable Senior class, are so sensibly affected with the distresses of our country in its present glorious struggles for liberty. We rejoice that you are so ready to sacrifice that applause to which your abilities would entitle you at a public Commencement ; and though by this means you may be deprived of an advantageous opportunity to give proof of your abilities in pleading the righteous cause of liberty, for which your predecessors in this Institution have been justly cele- brated, yet you have hereby given us a convincing proof of your inviolable attachment to the true interests of your country. Be assured that we shall most heartily concur in this, and every other measure which has been, or may be, adopted by the grand Amer- ican Congress, as well as the Legislature of this Colony, in order to obtain the most complete redress of all our grievances ; and deem it the greatest honor to which a noble and generous mind can aspire, to contribute in any degree towards a restoration and reestablishment in our country of all those liberties and privileges, both civil and religious, which the Almighty Father of the universe originally granted to every indi- vidual of the human race, and which all ought to enjoy till bylaw forfeited; which reason claims, which the right of soil, obtained of the natives by free purchase, settles upon us ; which our charters insure to us, and which have been recognized by Great Britain, and guaranteed to us by the faith of the English nation. These inestimable rights and privileges our country has for many years enjoyed, — the source of its present wealth and strength, more than its fertile soil or healthy climate ; by the cruel and wanton invasion and violation of these, she now bleeds in almost every vein; and finally it is these that her noble sons, the illustrious American patriots, prompted as well as justified by the examples of heroes in all ages, are now prepared to defend, by the same means which have hitherto preserved the liberties of Great Britain, and raised to royal dignity the House of Brunswick. And though the din of arms and the horrors of a civil war should invade our hitherto peaceful habitations, yet even these are preferable to a mean and base submission to arbitrary power and lawless rapine. Institutions of learning will doubtless partake in the common calamities of our country, as arms have ever proved unfriendly to the more refined and liberal arts and sciences ; yet we are resolved to continue College orders here as usual, excepting that the ensuing Commencement, by the advice of such of the Corporation as could be con- veniently consulted, will not be public. James Manning, President. David Howell, Philos. Professor. College Library, June 9, 1775. In accordance with the decisions of the College authorities thus announced, and for the reasons assigned, there was no public Com- 288 BROWN UNIVERSITY Cha*. VIII. mencement, although the graduating class consisted of ten, — a larger number than any heretofore. The battles of Concord, Lexington, and Bunker Hill had electrified the public mind, and turned away its atten- tion from the literary performances of the stage, to the sterner duties of the field and the camp. A prominent member of this class was Pardon Bowen, who afterwards became one of the most distinguished physicians of Providence. He was an active member of the Rhode Island Medical Society, and for seven years served as its presiding officer. From 1817 until his death in 1826, he was a Trustee of the University. In this class also was Robert Rogers, who served in the war as second and first lieu- tenant in a Rhode Island regiment. He was afterwards principal of a classical school in Newport, and for twenty years was secretary, treas- urer, and librarian of the Redwood Library. He was elected to the Fel- lowship of the College in 1788, and attended, it is said, nearly every Commencement and meeting of the Corporation until his death in 1835. In this class also was Andrew Law, a clergyman, who in 1820, received the degree LL. D. from Alleghany College. The Corporation met as usual on the first Wednesday in September, and, a quorum not being present, adjourned for one week. At the adjourned meeting ten young men, members of the Senior class, were admitted to the degree of Bachelor in the Arts. It was voted, " That the president write to the parents of Daniel Gano, John Hart, and Wil- liam Edwards, informing them, that upon their sons applying at some future Commencement, and passing the usual examination, together with their bringing recommendations of their good conduct, they may be admitted to the honors of this College." These parents were, Rev. John Gano, Manning's brother-in-law, Rev. Oliver Hart, of Charleston, South Carolina, and Rev. Morgan Edwards, the founder, in one sense, of the College. At this meeting Mr. John Brown was elected treasurer, in place of Col. Job Bennet, who resigned after eight years of faithful service. At the January session of the General Assembly, 1776, William Bradford, deputy governor, Henry Ward, secretary, William Ellery, Joseph Brown, Henry Marchant, Sylvester Child, and Gideon Mumford, 1775-1779. • AND MANNING. 289 were appointed to draft " a suitable address to the Honorable the Conti- nental Congress, representing the inability of the Colony, from its situ- ation, smallness and poverty to defend itself," and praying assistance. Some extracts from the address drafted and adopted will be of interest to the reader in this connection. Describing the situation of the Colony the committee say : — Unfortunately, this Colony is scarcely anything but a line of sea coast. From Provi- dence to Point Judith, from thence to Pawcatuck river, is nearly eighty miles. On the east side of the Bay, from Providence to Seaconnet Point, and including the east side of Seaconnet until it meets the Massachusetts line, is about fifty miles ; besides which are the navigable rivers of Pawcatuck and Warren. On the west side the Colony doth not extend twenty miles, and on the east side not more than eight miles, from the sea coast above described. In the Colony are also included the following islands: — Rhode Island, about sixteen miles in length ; Conanicut nine ; Block Island nine ; Prudence seven; and the smaller islands, Patience, Hope, and Gould Island; all of which are cultivated and fertile, and contribute largely to the public expense. The greater part of the above mentioned shores are accessible to ships of war. After speaking of ship building and commerce as the principal sources from which the inhabitants derived subsistence before the war, the address adds : — The convenient situation of this Colony for receiving supplies from the other colonies for the Continental army near Boston, we suppose, was a principal reason why so great a number of the king's ships were stationed in our Bay. We have had for above seven months past, two ships of twenty guns, one of sixteen, a bomb ketch, and about eight tenders, who have made prizes of more vessels belonging to this Colony than have been lost by any other ; have put almost a total end to commerce ; have committed repeated depredations in different parts of the Colony ; have kept our coasts constantly alarmed, and obliged the inhabitants to keep almost constantly under arms. The once flourishing town of Newport, by the loss of trade, and consequent cessation of all busi- ness, instead of being able to contribute to the expenses of the war, hath been reduced to so deplorable a state, that we have been obliged to grant money out of the general treasury for the support of the poor, and many of the wealthy inhabitants have not only left the town but the Colony. Conanicut and Prudence, lately the scenes of the most wanton and savage desolation and barbarity, are deserted; New Shoreham, from its 37 290 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIII. situation, is rendered worse than useless to the Colony, and the other islands will no longer be of service to any but the enemy. * In May of this year, the General Assembly repealed the act entitled "An act for the more effectual securing to His Majesty the allegiance of his subjects in this his Colony and dominion of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations." The preamble of the repealing act is as fol- lows, as given in Staples's Annals, to which important work we are indebted for many of our facts during this eventful period : — Whereas, in all States, existing by compact, protection and allegiance are recip- rocal, the latter being only due in consequence of the former ; and whereas, George the Third, King of Great Britain, forgetting his dignity, regardless of the compact most solemnly entered into, ratified and confirmed to the inhabitants of this Colony, by his illustrious ancestors, and, till of late, fully recognized by him, and entirely departing from the duties and character of a good King, instead of protecting, is endeavoring to destroy the good people of this Colony, and of all the united colonies, by sending fleets and armies to America, to confiscate our property, and spread fire, sword, and desola- tion throughout our country, in order to compel us to submit to the most debasing and detestable tyranny ; whereby we are obliged by necessity, and it becomes our highest duty, to use every means, with which God and nature have furnished us, in support of our invaluable rights and privileges, and to oppose that power which is exerted only for our destruction. The act then goes on to repeal the act referred to in the title, requires the name and authority of the King to be omitted in all com- missions and judicial processes, and that of the Governor and Company of the Colony to be inserted in lieu thereof. New oaths of office were also prescribed by the same act, omitting allegiance to the King. This act, by its terms, severed the connection between this Colony and Great Britain. It is virtually, says Staples, a declaration of independence ; and it is believed to be prior in date to any act, of a similar character passed by any other colony. Congress did not make its famous Decla- 1 Staples's Rhode Island in the Continental Congress. Edited by Reuben A. Guild. 8vo. Provi- dence, 1870. Pp. 53-54. Great distress, says Arnold, prevailed among the poor, especially on the exposed islands in the Bay. Providence County received and provided for four hundred of the poor of Newport, who were removed to Providence. 1775-1779. AND MANNING. 291 ration of Independence until July following, two months afterward. The Assembly met to consider the same on the 18th of July. Of course the National Declaration received its sanction. The event was cele- brated in Providence on the 25th. The Governor and members of the Assembly were escorted by the Cadet and Light Infantry Companies to the Court House, where the repealing act of the Assembly and the Declaration of Independence were publicly read. A salute of thirteen guns from the Artillery, and the Continental ships in the harbor fol- lowed. A public dinner was provided, and spirited and appropriate toasts were given. This year Commencement was held as usual, and for the first time in the new Baptist Meeting-house. Nine young gentlemen were grad- uated, .and received their diplomas. The Providence Gazette, under date of Sept. 7, 1776, gives the following account : — On "Wednesday last, was celebrated the public anniversary Commencement of the College in this town ; the usual procession was from the College to the new Baptist meeting-house. The exercises of the day, being introduced by a prayer from the President, were the following, viz. : In the forenoon a Latin Salutatory Oration by Mr. Mann, upon the Calamities of War; an English Oration, by Mr. Thayer, upon the Advantages of Literature ; and another English Oration, by Mr. Cummings, satirising Toryism and Negro Slavery. In the afternoon, a Latin Syllogistic Dispute by Messrs. Thayer and Cummings, "An leges divinae aliquid ultra vires humanas ab hominibus exigunt?" An English Oration by Mr. Coe, upon the great importance and advantages resulting to the State, as well as individuals, from a good education of youth of both sexes; an Oration attempted in Hebrew, according to the modern pronunciation, without the vowel points, upon the advantages of the study of the languages, by Mr. Cummings; after which the following young gentlemen were admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Arts, viz. : Curtis Coe, Amasa Cooke, Abraham Cummings, Ebenezer Dutch, William Edwards, Daniel Gano, John Hart, John Preston Mann, and Jabez Thayer. After a pertinent and solemn charge, delivered to the Bachelors by the President, the Valedictory Oration was spoken by Mr. Dutch, upon Liberty, with some anecdotes from the present times. The young gentlemen performed their respective parts with much propriety, and to the entertainment and satisfaction of a numerous and polite assembly, who attended with the utmost decorum through the whole. 292 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIII. Coe, Cooke, Cummings, and Dutch, of this class, became clergy- men, and lived to a good age. Gano served in the war as lieutenant and captain, and afterwards settled in Kentucky as a pioneer. He died in Scott county, April 8, 1849. Mann of Attleborough, one of four brothers, became a physician and settled in Newport, where he was for years, says Daggett, the historian of Attleborough, a leader in social circles. He acquired wealth, and owned a handsome and extensive place which is still a fine looking residence. His acquaintance embraced the most distinguished persons of his time. At the meeting of the Corporation there were present fourteen Trustees and five Fellows. Smith and Gano were in the army serving as chaplains, and Stillman had hardly recovered from the ten months' siege of Boston, and the effects of British occupation. The Honora- ble Chancellor Hopkins being absent, (the Continental Congress was now in session,) the Honorable Darius Sessions, Esq., was elected Vice Chancellor. "In consideration of the great abilities, literary merit, and the many eminent services performed by Major-General Greene to this State in particular, and the Continent in general," so reads the record, it was " Voted, that the honorary degree of Master of Arts be conferred on him." Col. William Russell was elected a Trustee in the room of the Honorable Samuel Ward, Esq., deceased. Mr. Russell, it will be remembered, was the one through whose agency the lot for the meeting-house was purchased of John Angell. He was at that time, it is stated, a worshipper at the Episcopal Church. He was now regarded as a Baptist. The piety and eloquence of Manning drew largely from the other societies. The following item in the records is of interest : — Henry Ward, Esq., agreeable to appointment, presented the draught of a petition to the Honorable General Assembly, praying them to continue the College funds in the treasury of the Colony notwithstanding their vote of March 4th ; which draught being agreed to was presented to the Assembly by the whole Corporation in a body. And " the Corporation having waited upon the Honorable General Assembly, and being heard upon their petition, the prayer thereof was generously granted." This was the last public Commencement held during the war. For months the enemy's cruisers had swarmed in the Bay, interrupting the 1775-1779. AND MANNING. 293 trade and commerce of Providence. Their numbers increased as the season advanced, and on Saturday, December 7th, Sir Peter Parker, the British commander, with seven ships of the line, four frigates and a fleet of seventy transports, anchored in Newport harbor, landed a body of six thousand troops and took possession of the place. All was now in confusion, it being supposed that the British would march through Providence to Boston. Troops were massed throughout the town, martial law was proclaimed, College studies were interrupted, and the students were dismissed to their respective homes, as appears from the following notification of the President, published in the Providence Gazette : — This is to inform all the students that their attendance on College orders is herehy dispensed with, until the end of the next spring vacation; and that they are at liberty to return home, or prosecute their studies elsewhere, as they may think proper; and that those who pay as particular attention to their studies as these confused times will admit, shall then be considered in the same light and standing as if they had given the usual attendance here. In witness whereof, I subscribe, James Manning, President. Providence, Dec. 10, 1776. "The Seat of the Muses," in the expressive words of another, "now became the habitation of Mars." 1 From Dec. 7, 1776, until May 27, 1782, the course of studies was suspended, and the College edifice was occupied for barracks, and afterwards for a hospital by the American and French forces. For three years, says Staples, whose "Annals " we again quote, until Oct. 25, 1779, the British retained possession of Newport and the Island. Their presence kept the whole State in continual alarm. Excursions were frequently made by the tenders and small armed ves- sels to the neighboring islands, and to the main. To guard against these, it was necessary to maintain a chain of posts all around Narragansett 1 Dp to this time the number of College students had steadily increased from year to year. In 1769 there were thirteen students ; in 1770, twenty-one ; in 1771, twenty-five ; in 1772, thirty ; in 1773, thirty-three ; in 1774, thirty-four ; and in 1775, forty-one. These facts we learn from a paper pre- served on file by Judge Howell. 294 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIII. Bay. Though aided by some Continental troops, and by soldiers from the adjoining states, the inhabitants of Rhode Island were almost con- stantly engaged in keeping watch and ward. Providence, at the head of navigable water, was supposed to be especially in danger. The town exhibited the appearance of a camp. The College building was first used as quarters for the Artillery, and the grounds around it for a parade, and afterwards for a hospital for the sick soldiery. The ordi- nary business of the town was suspended. Many of the inhabitants removed to places of safety in the interior, and there was nothing but the din of arms, and the thrilling sounds of martial music, to break the silence that reigned in the streets. President Manning having thus far discharged his arduous and responsible duties with unwearied assiduity and the most gratifying success, now employed this interval of relaxation from Collegiate ser- vice in the labors of the ministry, and in various acts of social benevo- lence which the perils and distresses of that period in our national history prompted him to perform. A letter to his friend, the Rev. John Ryland, written a few days before the closing of the College, gives* vivid idea of the war, regarded by a Christian and a philanthropist : — Providence, Nov. 13, 1776. Reverend and Dear Sir: After a long interruption of our correspondence, an opportunity again offers of sending you a line, by some of our captive brethren, who have liberty to return directly to England. The bearer, Mr. Thomas Mackaness, partner with Mr. Thornton, can give you many more particulars of our affairs than I can by a letter. Since I wrote you last I have seen both glorious and gloomy days. The winter before last it pleased God to pour out his Spirit upon the people of this town in a most glorious manner. I believe about two hundred persons were converted within the space of a few months. I baptized more than half that number in less than a year. But the fatal 19th of April, the day of the Lexington battle, like an electric stroke put a stop to the progress of the work, as well in other places as here. Oh horrid war ! How contrary to the spirit of Jesus ! May you never be alarmed, as we have been, with the horrid roar of artillery, and the hostile flames, destroying your neighbors' habitations. These I have repeatedly seen and heard, sitting in my house and lying in my bed. I desire to bless God, these scenes of carnage always appeared shocking to me, and I feel no disposition to destroy or injure my fellow-men. May the Lord turn 1775-1779. AND MANNING. 295 the hearts of all to himself, and then I know war will instantly cease. The scene of action, in a hostile way, has been at the distance of more than two hundred miles from me this campaign, and I could wish it had heen more than ten thousand, if it must he at all. You will not think strange that the colleges have suffered greatly by this tre- mendous convulsion; though I believe we have not suffered more than our neighbors.. Our number is about thirty ; but the high price of everything amongst us, I fear, will drive some of the students away. For more than a year the state of religion has been truly lamentable, except in some places in Connecticut. But there are pleasing prospects opening in several places around us ; I think there are some favorable symptoms in my congregation. May the Lord increase them. There have been seven Baptist ministers ordained in New England since last April, and about that number of churches constituted within about a year. These are encouraging circumstances amidst our troubles. My dear Brother Gano 1 has suffered greatly by the war, and where he now is with his distressed, numerous family, I cannot learn, as I have never had a line from him since he was obliged to quit New York. There was a glorious revival of religion, last winter, at Hopewell in the Jerseys. Ninety were baptized and added to that church in seven months. I have heard nothing of the state of religion from the southward for a long time ; but I fear that politics and war have not promoted it. If they have, they have fared better than New England. Mr. Mackaness informs me that there is a glorious revival in many parts of England, especially in the Establishment. I heartily rejoice to hear the news. May the kingdom of the Redeemer come throughout the world! The gentlemen you recommended to me as worthy of the honors of the College were all graduated ; but as the communication was shut up their diplomas were never writ- ten ; and as I have but sliort notice of this opportunity, and as there is no parchment in the country, I could not forward them now. But I hope it may not be long before these obstructions are removed. I wish you great success in your labors in the Gospel, and many crowns of rejoicing in the day of Christ Jesus. If possible, let me have a line from you. If not, grant me an interest in your prayers at our Father's throne, that I maybe kept in the day of temp- tation, and be enabled to fulfil the ministry which I have received. With great respect, and many obligations, I remain, dear sir, Your unworthy brother in the Gospel, James Manning. 1 Rev. John Gano. He served as chaplain during the war, and hy his patriotic counsels and earnest prayers did very much to encourage the officers and privates of the American army. After the occupation of New York by the British, he retired with his family to a farm within five miles of Warwick, near the New Jersey line. Mr. Manning visited his family in May, 1779, as we learn from his diary or journal. / 296 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIII. The religious awakening to which Manning here refers we have already alluded to in a previous chapter. Backus states in his church history that Manning heard the celebrated Fristoe, of Virginia, during the sessions of the Philadelphia Association, in October, 1774, and that he returned home to preach with renewed zeal. The revival which fol- lowed is more particularly described in the following letter to the Rev. Benjamin Wallin, dated Nov. 12, 1776 : — Reverend and Dear Sir : It is long since I have had the pleasure of hearing from you, or an opportunity of writing to you, in consequence of the perilous times in which we live. But I hope, though Great Britain and America are at war, that the saints of God do not mean to wage war against each other, or suffer their love and affection towards each other in the least to abate, because a wise Providence has cast their lot in the respective contending countries. I do not think it the business of the ministers of Christ to meddle much with politics, as they are concerned to promote a kingdom not of this world. You will not, therefore, expect anything from me on this subject, except so far as the cause of the Redeemer appears to be affected by the alarming aspect of public affairs. In the beginning of the winter of 1774, it pleased the Lord in a most remarkable man- ner to revive his work in the town of Providence, and more especially among the people of my charge. Such a time I never before saw. Numbers were pricked to the heart. Our public assemblies by night and by day were crowded, and the auditors seemed to hear as for the life of their souls. It was frequently an hour before I could get from the pulpit to the door, on account of the numbers thronging to have an opportunity of stat- ing the condition of their minds, — some exulting in the love of God and speaking of a precious Jesus, and others bewailing their awful, ruined state, and asking, " What must I do to be saved?" My dear sir, never until now did I so effectually feel the insufficiency of instruments to afford the poor sinner the least help. How glorious now to view the all-sufficient Saviour! There I would stand pointing to him, and saying, " Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." This was all I could do. Never before did I experience such happy hours in the pulpit. Day and night my dear people resorted to my house to open to me the state of their souls, inso- much that it was with difficulty I could at any time attend to secular business ; and I think I may say with truth, that I had as little inclination as leisure for it, further than the absolute demands of duty required. And what added peculiarly to my happiness was, that the Lord visited the College as remarkably as the congregation. Frequently, when I went to the recitation-room, I would find nearly all the students assembled, and joining in prayer and praise to God. 1775-1779. AND MANNING. 297 Instead of my lectures on logic and philosophy, they would request me to speak to them of the things concerning the kingdom of God. But your experience in the service of the dear Redeemer will enahle you to form a more adequate idea of the concomitant circumstances of such a work of grace than I can here communicate. In a word, the mountains seemed to melt at the presence of the Lord ; the pride and haughtiness of man were laid low; and the Lord alone was exalted. In the space of ahout six months, I baptized more than one hundred persons. 1 Many were also added to the other churches of the town, who, I believe, were first added to the Lord. Thus the glorious work con- tinued, and rather increased, until the fatal 19th of April, when the affair at Lexington happened, which, like an electric shock, filled every mind with horror and compassion. "When one would have thought this would have promoted seriousness amongst us, it, strange to tell, operated the very reverse ; for since the fatal day languor and abatement of zeal for God seem greatly to have obtained, and instances of conversion to Christ are rare. Yet I hope our affairs are now somewhat improving. I have often labored to investigate the cause of the almost universal decline of vital godliness amongst us since the commencement of this unhappy war, but can find no other than that war is in its nature a hardening judgment. I have heard of and know many places where the Lord by his Spirit appeared to be at work when hostilities commenced, and in every instance the work immediately abated. In one instance only were they made the means of any considerable awakening. Yet, blessed be God ! the dews of divine grace have distilled gloriously in many places, and reformations are commencing. I know you will heartily join at the throne of grace that Christ's kingdom may so come in both countries, yea, in all the world, that war may cease from the ends of the earth. I expect Mr. Thomas Mackaness, merchant in partnership with Mr. Thornton, will hand you this. He has been a great sufferer by having been taken on his voyage to Quebec, in consequence of which he lost vessel and cargo. He can give further information concerning me, if you desire. With sincere regards, I am, dear sir, Your friend and unworthy brother, James Manning. The following reply, the last letter from Wallin ever received by- Manning, shows that war had not alienated all our English friends. This fact is delightfully evident in the correspondence of a later period : — i Among those who became religious at this time was Mrs. Manning, whom her husband baptized in the month of January, 1775. 38 298 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIII. Maze Pond, Southwark, Aug. 30, 1777. Reverend and Dear Sir: I embrace the opportunity of acknowledging your very acceptable favor, which came to hand in January last. Oh the wonders of Omnipotent love! Peace on earth and good-will to men, dispensed by the everlasting Gospel in a rebellious world, like the antediluvian, corrupt before God, and filled with violence! It is the Lord's doings and marvellous in our eyes. Your striking account of the heavenly visitation on the church and College over which you preside filled me with gratitude and joy, as it did my people, and indeed many others, ministers and respectable individuals, from whom I could not conceal the glad tidings. They proved as cold water to a thirsty soul. Dear sir, if you would have such good news a secret, you must not trust a man with it who wishes to spread abroad the salvation of God, that all who love it may have con- tinual occasion to glorify his name. Many thanksgivings redounded to the King of all grace upon a rehearsal of this glorious display of his mercy, — an evidence this of a genuine love among the saints whose lot is cast in the respective contending countries, originally united, now waging war, to the grief of all who wish well to Great Britain. What stronger proof of this divine grace than a free communication and an unfeigned great joy in each other's prosperity ! It would be pleasing to return a similar account from the mother country, but the state of religion is not so delightful and promising. Indeed, many preachers go forth, and the number of hearers increases, but it is not so strictly in the way of the Lord as I could wish. It seems to me vain-glorious, and in some respects tending to confusion, of which God is not the author. Among the Episcopalians who have any idea of gos- pel truth (though I think for the most part they are rather superficial), their way is to open a chapel, as they style it, and, having drawn an audience, they are fixed at a cus- tom-rate for their seats. On this plan many, and some of them sumptuous buildings have been erected, to which, by report, great numbers resort. I would hope by this means some may be led into a saving knowledge of Christ, and so far I rejoice ; yet I c annot but lament the tending and the effect of this carnal contrivance and vague kind of social religion to the accommodation of man and the neglect of all gospel order. A becoming zeal for this is now a matter of reproach with many among us, insomuch that the enlightened, who wish to be conformed to the positive institutions of the Redeemer, are under great discouragements, and few join the regular churches of any denomina- tion; so that a godly discipline in particular communion is in a manner out-of-doors. The consequence of all this will, I fear, be a greater declension from real and practical piety. The Baptists more especially are obnoxious to these popular gentlemen, of which a specimen has lately transpired in an abusive pamphlet, by a warm-spirited young clergyman. Irritated by some altercations on a late baptizing in the parish of 1775-1779. • AND MANNING. 299 his vicarage, he has fallen foul on me for my little address to the churches of the Con- gregational order, — the first edition of which you have in a volume of mine. This piece has nothing to do with the point in dehate, and, heing anonymous, was hy many ascrihed to a person of the Independent persuasion hefore the author was discovered. This man holds me up to the puhlic as a masterpiece of bigotry, and an enemy to all Pedobaptist communion, and at the same time pretends to much candor. This newly-adopted mode has already emboldened some froward men to set up for themselves, under the color of Protestant dissenters ; and, among them, lately, one Mr. Dawson, a Sabbatarian Baptist, not long since in New England. Alas! these men make a trade of religion! It likewise favors party divisions in church, too frequent, and which now for the most part end in grievous and shameful separations, to the prejudice of brotherly love ; it being the taste of the day to follow new societies and teachers. This is a melancholy case ; for we know by the disciples at Corinth that in this carnal spirit there is little regard to the power and grace of God in the increase of his church. As to my congregation, they are in general steady, and our church state gradually advances. Of late we have been favored with some remarkable instances of conver- sion ; among others, last month I baptized four young persons of one family, brothers and sisters in the flesh, the children of a deacon lately deceased, who was the second person that passed under my hands. This was in the year 1741. Their grandfather and grandmother were also valuable members of the church some years after I succeeded my honored father in the pastoral charge. The Lord will not fail, but may exceed the terms of his promise. His grace is not bound. You will not wonder at the joy of the brethren on this singular occasion. I fear the Papists take advantage of our civil and religious confusion. According to some there are alarming symptoms of their increase in our nation and cities. Indeed, unknown and disorderly societies but too much favor their design, while the political sentiments of many Protestants are a hindrance, at least, to their social prayers. But with our God nothing is impossible. May he pour out the Spirit from on high on both countries, and graciously restore our public tranquillity on an honorable and permanent foundation ; and may you, dear sir, enjoy many happy hours in the closet and in the pulpit, and again be employed in a field white for harvest, as in the year 1775. As for me, my age and infirmities promise little further capacity for usefulness. Infinite are the obligations upon me for the grace by which I have been sustained thirty-seven years in the arduous work of the ministry. Our great Divine Master doth not cast off his old servants ; yet the prayers of my brethren may subserve to a finish with joy ; a request, I am persuaded, you will not deny me. Having the honor of a place in your library, it seemed decent to present a copy of another attempt since my last. Parents, you know, sir, oft show their vanity in dress- 300 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIII. ing up their children. Excuse the uniform of the eleventh volume. It comes in expectation of the same kind reception with that of its preceding companions. If any hints concerning parables in general, or that in particular which is the subject in hand, prove pertinent and useful, the author flatters himself that some other pen may improve them to public advantage. For an increase of the church's prosperity and a period to the national trouble, we unite in our prayers to the Most High, with which I conclude. Dear sir, Your very obliged and affectionate brother, Benjamin "Wallin. P. S. — The copy on The Prodigal presented to the College with my most respectful compliments to the venerable members, if it be needful to mention so trifling a matter to them, was bound in readiness soon after the publication. My notice of this oppor- tunity was short, which it is hoped will apologize for the mourning dress of those directed to you and the other gentlemen, on whose candor in perusing them I rely. If by any means you can inform me of the arrival of these, it will be acceptable. Before the present interruption to our intercourse took place, I was in expectation of soon receiving a digested and authentic account of your College, which, I hope, will survive the civil commotions, and prove a flourishing seminary of learning under your direc- tion. If this design is carried into execution, I hope to be presented with some copies the first opportunity. The following letter, addressed to Miss A. Howard, in Scarboro, England, illustrates the peculiar tact and delicacy of Manning in his efforts to alleviate the distressed, and to give sympathy and counsel to the bereaved and unfortunate. In a footnote he remarks that the letter actually sent to Miss Howard was greatly altered and enlarged from this, which seems to be the first copy. Captain Bell, it appears, was taken with his vessel, by some of our cruisers, and brought into Provi- dence, where he died. He was engaged to be married to the lady in question, who, as will be observed, was an entire stranger to Manning. Providence, New England, Nov. 19, 1776. Dear Madam: I hope you will excuse the forwardness of a stranger in addressing a line to you, when I inform you of the amiable character given you by my dear unfortunate friend, 1775-1779. AND MANNING. 301 Mr. Thomas Mackaness ; as also from the sympathetic feelings of my heart under the distress which the news of the unexpected and truly lamentable death of the dear Cap- tain Bell must occasion, especially considering the endearing relation which, I am informed, he soon expected to stand in to you. Horrid war! What havoc dost thou make! To glut thy rage, must the youthful, amiable, virtuous, and what exceeds all these, must the singularly pious Bell fall a victim to thy relentless stroke ! Must the hearts of tender parents bleed ? Must more than half of all your happiness on earth perish? Must the dear bereaved church at Hull be bathed in tears? Must the tender orphans, his peculiar care, bewail the loss of their kindest benefactor, under thy unnat- ural domain? But why do I open afresh the wounds which, long ere this arrives, have often bled? You, doubtless, have oft portrayed the bliss of the intended conjugal relation, and recounted the joys of such a virtuous connection, which, by a stroke, is now all blasted, and you sit solitafy as one forsaken, and, in the plaintive strain of the sweet singer of Israel, cry, Lover and friend hast thou removed from me, and mine acquaintance into dark- ness. " I shall no more see good in the land of the living." But stop, my friend! Why these unavailing sighs ? For whom do you thus lament ? Is it for him who was so fully ripe for heaven, that earth was no longer for him a fit habitation, — for him whose heart and conversation were so in heaven, that the Redeemer chose to receive him to that society where, unmolested, he might sing those songs of praise, and give full scope to that ardor of spirit, which he had here so oft attempted, and so uniformly felt ? True, the loss to you is great ; but greater far, to him, the gain. And could you wish to disengage him from that blessed employment, — from that glorious society for which you long, and where you hope to bear a part in those anthems of praise to God and the Lamb forever? Can you desire that he, disengaged from every earthly clog, should again, for many painful years, groan under the weight of a body of death, and see the object of his highest love through faith's dim medium, as we do now, and mourn his absence from our Father's house, — and all this to gratify and assist you through this painful journey home to glory? No, madam ; both reason and religion forbid this selfish passion; and, painful as the thought of separation is, I know your generous soul can't wish it. You only mourn that you are left behind, and that our degenerate world has lost his bright example. But remember that he has left you in better hands, — that the swift-revolv- ing years will soon land you at the same peaceful haven, where not only he but Jesus waits to welcome travellers home. Instead of pensive sadness, then, cheer up, and, as the poet sung, let us go singing on. It will render the journey less painful ; and per- haps more than half the way is passed. Remember that now your attachment to heaven is stronger than ever. There your best friend, your kindred dwell, there God your Saviour reigns. May he grant you his divineipresence to support you under the sore affliction, and abundantly sanctify his hand to you, that you may be more and more prepared for 302 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIII. glory. Had I great interest at a throne of grace, you should not want a share of it ; for I think if joining in your sorrow and mingling a friendly tear will alleviate your grief, I have borne a part for you. Since the ship was taken and brought in here, I have often thought I should have been peculiarly happy had it been the will of Heaven to have spared the life of the clear man whose untimely death more than British friends lament. But here I find my want of submission to the will of God ; for I am only happy when from the heart I can say to God, Thy will be done. Probably I shall never see your face in the flesh ; but should this happiness be denied me, I hope to see you where there shall be no more sorrow nor sighing ; where God shall wipe away every tear from our eyes ; where we shall see, not only the dear man whom we lament, but all the saints on earth, with those uncalled as yet, with Abra- ham, Isaac, and Jacob, with the apostles and prophets, and the general assembly of those whose names are written in heaven, with Jesus, the mediator, a*t their head, and God the Judge of all. Oh! what a glorious day when we shall rise to this exalted sta- tion! My dear friend, let us, then, walk worthy of such a calling; that whether we are absent or present in body, we may be present with the Lord. And here, I recollect, we may have an interview; I mean at the throne of grace. Wishing you the highest pos- sible happiness, I subscribe myself, madam, Your friend and servant, James Manning. The following letter to the Rev. John Berridge, of London, shows Dr. Manning in the light of a controversialist. How skilfully he could handle the weapons of polemic warfare, will best be learned from its perusal. The pungency of its wit, the force of its argument, and the excellence of its style and spirit, amply compensate for its unusual length. Mr. Berridge, it may be added, was famous in his day as a preacher of the Whitfield stamp, and was classed among the friends and favorites of Lady Huntington. In this work he represents him- self as a physician conversing with his patient and prescribing for his disease. Thus the way is opened for a thorough discussion of practical and doctrinal Christianity, in language as plain and forcible, says a reviewer, "as was ever used by the dreamer of Bedford Jail." The work was republished in 1854 by Gould and Lincoln, with a short memoir of the author by Dr. Thomas Guthrie. 1775-1779. AND MANNING. 303 Providence, New England, Nov. 19, 1776. Reverend and Dear Sir: Lately, through the kindness of my friend Mr. Thomas Mackaness, of London, I had the perusal of the "Christian "World Unmasked. 1 Pray, Come and Peep. By John Berridge, A.M., etc." 8vo. Lond., 1773. I accepted the invitation, and found the hook in general corresponded well to the title-page, until I came to pp. 223-5, inclusive, when I peeped again, hut could not discover the least gleam of light, and therefore concluded the mask was in the way ; when lo ! I turned to my New Testament, and found that light which is concealed by a veil while we search the Old for New Testa- ment ordinances. Ay, Baptist, Baptist ; I thought you were a water-fowl when you referred to the pages. Well, be it so; if he can be an instrument to pick open your «yes a little wider, I hope you will have no objection to him on that account. You say, "I would hate no man, and do condemn no man for thinking differently in this matter." Now if you mean to place the emphasis on thinking, I think I shall not fare well for saying differently. However, as you have made very free with the Grazier, I hope I may with the Doctor, upon the same principle, without offense. You say that you have no doubt that infant-baptism is attended with the same blessing that infant-circumcision was formerly. Both the ordinances are of God's appointment, etc. Till now, I find you producing plain Scripture warrant for the glorious doctrines you advance. And must we only rely upon the Doctor's bare word for the truth of this last assertion? "What shall I say, then, to that voice I hear from Heaven, "This is my beloved Son, hear ye him," and that, too, in the presence of Moses andElias? Pray, Doctor, have me excused till you point me to the page where this great prophet authorizes you to say this. I have carefully examined the dispensatory, but can find no such prescription between the lids of it. You ask why Christian chil- dren may not be received into the church's fold by baptism, as were the Jewish by circumcision. Answer : The former was by God's special appointment, but not the latter. Surely, then, wide is the difference in their case. To say nothing is said lo for- bid them, is not sufficient to a truly Christian Protestant doctor ; for if it is necessary, totidem verbis, for the Scripture to forbid everything practised under the name of Chris- tianity, which is, notwithstanding, contrary to the true genius of the gospel, it would require a Bible ten times as large as Dr. Gill's Exposition of it. And then what should we field-preachers and the recruiting sergeants of the country do ? But pray, Doctor, is baptism a moral precept, or an institution purely positive ? If the latter, why need we wreck and torture our brains to find a reason for either mode or subjects, time or place, or anything further than what the New Testament simply informs us concerning 1 A copy of this work is in the writer's possession. It is probably the copy which Manning perused, as it was obtained through a member of his family. 304 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. Yin. it, as there is the only place where we should look for it? Or why need we he dis- tressed how little children should he brought to Christ, while he has not seen fit to teach us the way in which it should he done ? In the next paragraph, you say that children dying unbaptized are left to God's uncovenanted mercy ; and what that is, no mortal can tell. But I think I will under- take to tell what it is when the Doctor gives me a satisfactory account how baptismal water, through the grace of Christ, does wash away the guilt of original or birth-sin (so that dying before they can discern between good and evil, etc., they will be saved), consistent with the whole tenor of the rest of this performance, where the merits of Christ, applied by the Spirit of God, alone cleanses from sin ; especially at the top of page 223, where the Doctor asserts the right to pardon, and a claim to eternal life, are wholly treasured up in Christ, and only are attained through faith in him ; — I say, when the Doctor gives a solution of this Gordian knot, I will undertake the other part prom- ised. "Will the Doctor assert that infants, who are not capable of discerning between good and evil, are capable of believing in a gospel sense? If not, will he assert that they will be saved without a right to pardon, or any claim to eternal life, which are blessings treasured up in Christ ? I cannot see how this difficulty can be solved, without recourse to believing by proxy, which I think the Doctor will not recur to, lest the Grazier should learn the trick, and get the curate to believe, in his stead, that he might follow more agreeable business and yet be safe, and after all vanquish the Doctor with his own weapon. But if there is so much efficacy in baptism, it is a pity everybody should not partake of it. And pray, can anybody administer it that pleases ? or must he be a clergyman ? If so, alas ! what shall our poor American church-people do ? For since the King's naughty ministers undertook to enslave the colonies, the rebel congresses, conventions, committees, etc., have forbid the clergy to pray for the King, and they are so sulky that they will neither preach, pray, baptize, nor anything else. 1 And now 1 Perhaps Dr. Manning is too sweeping in his remarks touching the loyalty of the Episcopal clergy. It is certain, however, that there was ample foundation for such remarks. In the chapter of Staples's Annals devoted to ecclesiastical history, we find that the Rev. John Graves, who was the rector of the Episcopal church in Providence until July, 1776, declined to officiate after that period, because he could not be permitted to read the usual and ordinary prayers for the King, which he considered himself bound by his ordination vows to offer. The church was in conse- quence closed, most of the time, during the Revolution. Writers like Backus have termed the War of the American Revolution a "Church war," or in other words, a war carried on by the church party. It is certain that a large proportion of the " Loyalists," or, as they were called by Washington and his adherents, " Tories," were of the Episcopal faith. Thus, while the whole number of regulars enlisted for the Continental service from the beginning to the close of the struggle, as stated by Sabine, in his ''American Loyalists," was 231,959, Puritan New England equipped and maintained above one-half of this number, or 118,350. Most of the Episcopal clergy, this author states, " not only espoused the cause of the adverse side, but abandoned their flocks and the country." For a clear account of the relations of the Church of England to the American Colonies, see Thornton's " Pulpit of the American Revolution." 1775-1779. AND MANNING. 305 must the poor infants who may happen to die all perish through their ohstinacy, the wickedness of the congresses, and the King's ministers ? If this he the case, I hope the Doctor's patriotism will furnish the minority with a new argument, to urge at the next sitting of Parliament the repeal of the laws, and which must he very forcible, for I do not believe that administration ever intended to kill our souls. I know pious Lord Dartmouth will turn ahout ; for it is storied in America that he was very squeam- ish when they determined to kill only their bodies. I was glad, however, to find, with the Grazier, you were not " forgetting Jesus Christ to help out some defects," in which you put the grace of Christ together with " baptismal water, — especially as a man of a plain understanding might conclude the former quite sufficient of itself ; though the Doctor seems to have given baptismal water the preference, agreeable to the Grazier's method of discharging sinful debts, or paying a decent part of the shot himself, and leaving Jesus to discharge the rest of the reckoning. But how will this comport with the sentiment advanced in page 176: "It matters not at all whether the work be ritual or moral, while we seek to be saved by it. If we seek at all to be saved by any work of our own, we fall from grace." Pray, Doctor, is not baptism as much a work as circumcision ? On page 224 you quote God's declaration to Abraham, long before Jesus was given, " That an uncircumcised child shall be cut off from his people ; he hath broken my cove- nant" (Gen. xvii. 16), and say the covenant here spoken of is not the Sinai covenant, but the covenant of grace. Circumcision was the outward sign of this covenant to Abraham, as baptism is to us. The outward rite is different, but the covenant the same. This I compared with pp. 33, 144, where I find it thus written: " If you desire benefit from the covenant of grace, you must be baptized, and if you seek advantage from the covenant of works, you must be circumcised. A rite of initiation is appointed to both the covenants, and you cannot enter into both without partaking of the double rite." In a covenant of works a man must work for life by his own will and power," etc. " The tenor of this covenant is, do and live, transgress and die," etc. "In the covenant of grace all things are purchased for us, and bestowed upon us generously and freely. These two covenants are called the old and the new ; no more are noticed in Scripture ; and a suitable law respecting both is mentioned, — the law of works and the law of faith (Rom. iii. 27). All other laws are cobwebs of a human brain, such as the law of sincere obedience, the law of love," etc. And pray why not the law of infant baptism? Now if the covenant made with Abraham was the covenant of grace, and circumcision was the sign of it, why are we told that if we desire benefit from the covenant of works we must be circumcised? It cannot be because these two very different covenants have the same rites of initiation ; because the Doctor says their rites are different, unless the covenant of grace in Abraham's days is a covenant of works in ours ; for there are but two covenants, the old and the new, noticed in the Scriptures. 39 306 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIII. But I will leave you to compare these passages yourself, without further insisting upon their inconsistency, and come to the dernier resort: " That no harm can possihly arise from baptizing an infant." Stop, Doctor, stop; these expressions are very strong, — I fear much too strong. For did not the Doctor say, page 222, " That much people, who are strangers to the work of regeneration, suppose the new birth is only their bap- tism, and that every one is born again who is baptized? " And is it strange they should think so when they hear thanks returned to God on its performance, that it is so by the doctors appointed to that service ? Surely, to lead such multitudes into error in such an important article as that of regeneration, cannot be such a harmless thing, especially if Ave believe our Saviour's account of it (Johniii. 3). Besides, it makes great doctors con- tradict themselves when they write or talk about the covenants. If I were one of those doctors, I should think this was some harm. But, most of all, it is invading the kingly office of the great Redeemer; for I can see no reason why the merits of saints may not be mingled with the merits of Christ to save the Christian, as the laws or ordi- nances of men with those of Christ to rule and govern it. Shall we, like Uzzah, not trust the Lord v>holly with his ark, but must have a meddling finger ? I forbear to recite the following part of your sentence. I must mention one more evil which arises from baptizing infants, which is this: The practice constrains those servants of God who practice it often to wrest and explain away the plain, obvious sense of Scripture to vin- dicate it; especially to give such representations of the covenant of grace as mars its glory, and encourages the opposers of the glorious doctrines of grace in rejecting the pure gospel of Jesus Christ. This has often grieved my heart, and in no case more than in reading your book, where the glorious Redeemer is exalted in his office, nature and grace, and the pride of man stained, until you get hampered, I think with infant-bap- tism, which neither we nor our fathers are able to prove was ever the mind of Christ. Upon this principle I concluded to address to you a line ; not under the notion of a dis- pensation, but in a friendly way to hint at what I thought mistakes in your performance. You may probably esteem me rigid, from this specimen, and greatly attached to externals ; -but I think otherwise of myself. I think I love the followers of the Lamb, under whatever denomination they pass amongst men. I esteem them my brethren, and feel disposed to make all proper allowances for the prejudices uf education, and the weaknesses of human nature, knowing that I myself also am in the body, and pecul- iarly need the candor of my Christian friends. I hope, therefore, that the benevolence of my intentions will apologize for the rudeness of my manner. I shall always rejoice to hear that dear Mr. Berridge is alive for God, — is held as a star in the right hand of Jesus, and is honored with many seals of his ministry, even though he should continue to think and practise very different from myself relative to the mode and subjects of biptism; though I sincerely pray that you may be set entirely right in this matter. And blessed be God, he has left us a rule which is able to make wise unto salvation 1775-1779. AND MANNING. 307 through faith in Jesus Christ. May all our doctrines and practices be governed by that; and may the Spirit of truth lead us into all truth, and ever keep us humble, solely relying on the Lord for those supplies of grace and help which we always need. May the God of Blessing bless you. I am, reverend and dear sir, Your friend and servant in the Gospel, James Manning. On Wednesday, Sept. 3, 1777, the members of the Corporation, as appears from the records, met in the new Baptist meeting-honse, and conferred degrees upon seven members of the Senior class, who had been examined the day previous, in accordance with the following, which we take from the Providence Gazette. There was no Commence- ment : — As the term of vacation in the College is now expired, the students are hereby informed, that, in the present state of public affairs, the prosecution of studies here is utterly impracticable, especially while this continues a garrisoned town. It is there- fore recommended to them to prosecute their studies elsewhere for the present, to the best advantage in their power. The Senior class are desired to meet at the College, to pass their examination, and receive their degrees at the usual time, being the 2d day of September next, unless the College should be called together sooner. In behalf of the Corporation, James Manning. Providence, May 16, 1777. There was no further meeting of the Corporation held until May 5, 1780, when an attempt was made to revive the instruction of the College. The years following the breaking up of the College were seasons of great distress. Many families left the town, unable to obtain a sub- sistence. The records of the church show that members of influence and property, some of them warm personal friends of Manning, were really objects of commiseration. It was the delight of the Pastor, in this hour of trial, when members of his flock were scattered by the war, and the influences of literature seemed paralyzed, to aid the needy, and to throw the sunshine of Christian sympathy around the path of the afflicted. His knowledge of the world, his courtly manners, his Chris- tian meekness, combined with his extraordinary energy of character, 308 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIII. enabled him to move at ease in every class of society, and thus to pro- mote the good of all. The following instance of his humane disposition is thus related by Howland, in his brief memoir of Dr. Manning, pub- lished in the year 1815 in the Rhode Island Literary Repository : — He enjoyed the confidence of the General commanding in this department, and in one instance in particular had all the benevolent feelings of his heart gratified, even at the last moment, after earnest entreaty, by obtaining from General Sullivan an order of reprieve for three men of the regular army who were sentenced to death by that inex- orable tribunal, a court-martial. The moment he obtained the order revoking the sen- tence, he mounted his horse at the General's door, and, by pushing him to his utmost speed, arrived at the place of execution at the instant the last act had begun which was to precipitate them into eternity. With a voice which none could disobey, he com- manded the execution to stay, and delivered the General's order to the officer of the guard. The joy of the attending crowd seemed greater than that of the subjects of mercy ; they were called so suddenly to life from the last verge of death, they did not for a moment feel that it was a reality. In the same memoir Mr. Howland thus relates the history of an important civil function which was confided to Dr. Manning, and by him most skilfully discharged : — The repeated calls of the militia, while the enemy remained in this State (Rhode Island), operated with peculiar severity. In some districts the ground could not be planted, and in others the harvest was not reaped in season ; the usual abundance of the earth fell short, and he who had the best means of supply frequently had to divide his store with a suffering neighbor. In addition to this, laws existed in several States prohibiting the transport of provisions beyond the State boundary. The plea for these restrictions was that there was danger of the enemy being supplied ; but the real cause was to retain the provisions for the purpose of furnishing their State's quota of troops, as the war was generally carried on by the energy of the governments of the individual States. These restrictions came with double weight on the citizens of Rhode Island, as a great part of the State was in the possession of the enemy, and the remainder was filled with those who had fled from the islands and the coasts for safety. These restrictions and prohibitions were variously modified ; but under all their variations, which referred chiefiy to the mode of executing the law, the grievance was the same. The Governor and council of war of Rhode Island, wishing to give their language of remonstrance a power of impression which paper could not be made to convey, commissioned Dr. Man- 1775-1779. AND MANNING. 309 ning to repair to Connecticut, and represent, personally, to the government of that state our peculiar situation, and to confer with and propose to them a different mode of pro- cedure. The Doctor in this embassy obtained all that he desired ; the restrictions were removed, and, in addition to this, on his representation of the circumstances of the refu- gees from the islands, contributions, in money or provisions, were made in nearly all the parishes in the interior of Connecticut, and forwarded for their relief. Arnold, under date of Jan. 21, 1779, thus writes concerning this period : — The deplorable condition of the State was represented in a touching letter from Governor Greene to the Assembly of Connecticut: " The most obdurate heart would relent to see old age and childhood, from comfortable circumstances, reduced to tbe necessity of begging for a morsel of bread." Two thousand persons driven from the island of Rhode Island were scattered about, homeless and penniless through the State, but chiefly in Providence, dependent upon public or private charity. Deputy Governor Bowen and Dr. Manning were sent to represent the case to the Assembly of Connecticut and obtain leave to purchase grain in their behalf. A memorial to Con- gress was also prepared. The response to both of these appeals was noble. Connecti- cut allowed seven thousand bushels of grain to be exported to Rhode Island, and donations were secured in that State amounting to five hundred bushels of grain and £4,300 in money. The following letter to Moses Brown will be found specially inter- esting. It belongs to the Rhode Island Historical Society, which has kindly permitted us to copy it for the present work : — Providence, March 25, 1779. Respected Friend: The distress of the poor in this town for want of bread is so great, that unless some speedy provision can be made, I fear many must suffer extremely, if not perish. Upon looking into the matter I can see but one way to prevent it; and that is that those who have any more than for a present supply for their families should lend it to Capt. Peleg Clarke, to be immediately distributed, and to repay it on the arrival of the grain from Connecticut, which the depths of the roads prevent being brought until better weather. Clarke says he will do this, as soon as in his power. But all agree that unless twenty bushels can be got, such a distribution will be impracticable, so great is the number in distress. I have got ready five bushels of Indian corn, of Arthur Fenner, two bushels of rye ; and if you can do anything in this way, I should be glad if you would com- 310 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. VIII. municate it to Captain Clarke as soon as may be. It would be best to have the whole ground, and distributed at the Market House. I know I need use no arguments, but only recite the facts to a benevolent mind. I am yours, James Manning. In this connection we cannot refrain from quoting another anecdote of Manning, as an illustration of his readiness to use every opportunity to benefit the souls of his fellow-men. We find it in Stone's Life and Recollections of Rowland. In May, 1780, occurred "the dark day," so often referred to by the chroniclers of that period. 1 At noon all ordinary business was suspended. Fowls sought their roosts, cattle retired as at night, and men stood appalled at the dread appearances. "I went," says Howland, "into the street, where many persons were assembled, and among others Dr. Manning. A powerful man, but profligate, advanced up to the President, and said, ' How do you account for this darkness, sir ? what does it mean ?' The President, with great solemnity of manner, replied, 'I consider it, sir, as a pre- lude to that great and important day when the final consummation of all things is to take place.' " A letter which we find addressed to his friend and former pupil the Rev. Thomas Ustick, now in Ashford, Connecticut, shows that the College was uppermost in all his thoughts and plans, even though the fortunes of war had suspended its public exercises : — Providence, Nov. 17, 1778. Dear Sir: I am told that Mr. Kelly has entirely quitted Pomfret, to their great disappointment. There was a large gathering of people attended, and the prospect was encouraging of great good to be done there. In a letter to Brother Thurber, I mentioned the proba- bility of your supplying them, at least for the present, and perhaps of settling amongst them for life, if you and they are blessed together. Should that be the case, it would be a good place for a Latin school, a nursery for the College, which I wish you imme- diately to engage in, and endeavor to influence as many as you can of our people to educate their children. The present state of the Baptist society in New England i For an account of the " Dark Day," by Professor Williams, see Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Vol. I. See also Holmes's Life of Stiles, p. 265. 1715-1779. AND MANNING. 311 must convince us all of the importance of having men of education in all parts of the country. I am very sorry that I did not think to mention something of this to the Association: but I have written and am about writing to all our ministers capable of teaching Latin, to immediately engage in the business. I hope, from present appear- ances, that college orders may be again revived next spring. I think you ought at least to visit Pomfret and help them under their present disappointment, as I understand you do not preach statedly at Ashford, and that you are nearly convinced that it will not be best for you to settle at that place. With respects to you and yours, I remain, etc., James Manning. A letter from Judge Howell, resigning his place as Professor of Philosophy in the College, may fitly close this chapter : — Providence, March 11, 1779. Sir: — Having been impressed with a just sense of the honor conferred upon me in my appointment to the place of Professor of Philosophy in Rhode Island College, it becomes me, with much freedom and sincerity, to acknowledge it. I have ever admired the liberal and catholic plan of this College, and esteemed it worthy of the State that gave it birth and patronage, which has induced me for many years assiduously and cheerfully to contribute towards establishing it on a footing, with respect to credit and finances, which might entitle it to more able teachers. That our young Seminary had well-nigh attained this state of maturity, all circumstances conspired to afford us the most flattering prospect, beforeithe commencement of the present war. Although experimental philosophy was the direct object of my profession, yet other branches of learning were devolved upon me. How far my honest endeavors to initiate my pupils in the rudiments of classical learning, and instill into their minds the elementary principles of law, the parent of science, and my favorite theme, have been attended with success, and answered the good purposes of my appointment, is submitted to your honor, the Corporation, the sons of the College, and the public to determine. Having at length given over all hopes of a revival of classical instruction in this College during the continuance of the war, and not feeling disposed so far to take advantage of public munificence as to continue to avail myself of the emoluments of an office without discharging its duties, I have thought fit, not without weighty delib- eration, to resign the professorship. I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant, David Howell. Chancellor Hopkins. CHAPTER IX. JOURNEY TO PHILADELPHIA. April 29 — Sept. 29, 1779. Distressed condition of the people of Rhode Island in 1779 — Probable reasons for a journey to Philadelphia — Diary or Journal — Manning sets out from Providence Thursday, April 29 — Sunday, May 2, preaches at Mr. James Thurber's in the fore- noon, and at Mr. Thompson's in the afternoon — Thursday, May 6, Continental Fast — Preaches in the afternoon for Rev. Dr. Nathan Strong, of Hartford — Saturday, May 8, preaches to Seventh-day Baptists in Farmington — Description of the country — Sunday, May 9, preaches for Rev. Judah Champion, pastor of the Congregational church in Litchfield — Monday, crosses chains of tremendous mountains — Tuesday, May 11, preaches in the evening at Mr. Waldo's — Wednesday, 12, crosses Continen- tal Ferry — Thursday, 13, reaches the family of his brother-in-law, Rev. John Gano — Sunday, 16, preaches twice for Rev. Mr. Randall's people — Tuesday, 18, assists his nephews in planting — Sunday, 23, preaches again for Mr. Randall at Warwick — Monday, 24, sets out for the Jerseys — Reaches Mrs. Manning's home in the evening — May 27, visits Elizabethtown — Sunday, 30, preaches at the Scotch Plains Church — Meeting interrupted by the march of the American forces — Sunday, June 6, preaches with Mr. Stelle, to a large audience — Saturday, 12, preaches at the Scotch Plains Church — Sunday, 13, preaches again and administers communion — Sunday, 20, preaches at Lion's Farms — Monday, June 21. sets out for Philadelphia — In the evening preaches at Samuel Randolph's — June 24, visits Dr. Vankirk, and preaches in the evening — Visits John Hart, Esq., signer of the Declaration of Independence — Accounts of Grain and Indian Corn — June 27, tarries with Rev. William Van Horn at Southampton, and preaches — Fruit in this neighborhood cut off by the frost — Crops fine — Monday, June 28, reaches Pennepek, and tarries with Rev. Dr. Samuel Jones five days — Sketch of Dr. Jones — July 2, Manning arrives at Phila- delphia — Puts up at William Gof orth's — Calls on Samuel Davis, William Rogers, Mr. Watkins, Mr. Westcot, Dr. Rush, Mr. Moulders, Mr. Hart, and Robert S. Jones — Financial embarrassments of the country — Mr. Joseph Hart of the Executive Council spends the evening at his lodgings — July 3, breakfasts with Dr. Rush — Inquires of Mr. Collins, a member of Congress, relative to the money question — Dines at Mr. Redwood's with Hon. William Ellery — Sunday, July 4, preaches twice — General Spencer, a member of Congress, spends the evening with him — Monday, July 5, importuned by a Committee of the First Baptist Church to tarry with them a longtime — Sets out in the afternoon for Dr. Jones's — July 7, sets out for Borden- town — July 9, preaches in the evening — July 11, preaches at Cranberry — Sick with diarrhoea— July 13, preached at the Baptist meeting— July 16, sets out for Piscata- way — Mrs. Manning ill— July 17, preaches at Sabbatarian meeting— July 18, preaches for Mr. Stelle twice — July 19, returns to the Farms — Report concerning General Wayne and Stony Point — July 23, sets out for Hopewell— July 25, preaches 1779. BROWN UNIVERSITY. 313 twice and administers the communion — July 26, preaches in the afternoon — July 27, dines at John Hart's, Newtown — July 29, sets out again for Philadelphia — July 30, visits in town — Sees the prisoners taken at Stony Point — Aug. 1, preaches twice — Letters from friends — Aug. 5, call from Rev. Morgan Edwards — Aug. 7, visits Capt. Falkner, in company with Edwards — Aug. 8, preaches in town three times — Aug. 10, visits Col. Miles, in company with Edwards and Jones — Description of his country-seat — Weather — Crops — Aug. 14, preaches in the evening — Aug. 15, preaches twice, and attends funeral of a child — Aug. 16, sets out for Mr. Jones's at Pennepek — Finds Mr. Edwards there — Aug. 17, sets out for the Jerseys — Visits his family and friends — Sept. 8, sets out for Providence — Sept. 11, reaches the home of his hrother-in-law, Mr. Gano, and next day preaches twice at Warwick — Sept. 14, meets Lieut. Huhhel on the road, who had come from Newburgh with an invitation from West Point — Sept. 16, goes down to West Point by water in Lieut. Hubbel's boat — Description of the Fort and Grounds — Introduced to Surgeon McDugal — Dines at General Greene's quarters with his family — Is introduced *to General Washington, General Knox, Baron Steuben, the French Ambassador, and others — Returns up the river — Sept. 17, sets out from the Continental Ferry — Journey through Connecticut — Description of the country — Characterof the inhabitants — Manner of conducting town meetings — Ravages of the war — Reaches home, Sept. 29. The previous chapter presents a vivid idea of the general privation and suffering among the inhabitants of Rhode Island, and especially of Providence, during the year 1779. For nearly two years Narragansett Bay and all the island towns, at least one-fourth of the State, had been in possession of the enemy. External trade was almost entirely sus- pended, and the people were unable to procure any adequate supply of the necessaries of life. Nearly every able-bodied man was in service, either in the State militia or the Continental army, and even the negroes and Indian slaves were enlisted as soldiers. The price of labor and of all articles of merchandise was fixed by legislative decree. The taxes imposed by the State were enormous ; amounting this year to .£495,000, and in the year following to four times this sum. Paper money, which had greatly depreciated in value, was made a legal tender in the payment of debts ; and so easily was it counterfeited, that not even the Secretary of State could distinguish the genuine from the spurious. In addition to all this, the national cause had encountered reverses, Congress was reduced to a very low ebb, the ablest members having left it, and the pros- pect of independence and peace was overcast with shadows and doubts. It was in reference, perhaps, to this alarming state of the currency of 40 314 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IX. the country, and in the hope of further aiding by counsel or otherwise his distressed fellow-townsmen, that Dr. Manning set out on a journey to Philadelphia, visiting on his way his relatives in New York and New Jersey. In company with his wife, he left Providence on the 29th of April, returning on the 29th of September. He was thus absent just five months, having passed through the States of Rhode Island, Connec- ticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The following diary or journal was kept by him as they travelled from day to day. It abounds in historical incidents and allusions, and presents an excellent daguerreotype view of the author's private life. As an illustration of the times in which he lived, and of the general condition of society, it is an exceedingly valuable document. We have therefore devoted to it an entire chapter, illustrating it with such notes as seemed desirable for the better understanding of the text. As an evidence of Dr. Manning's popularity as a preacher, and of his love for this kind of work, it may be added that his services were called into requisition forty-eight times during his journey to Philadelphia and the Jerseys. He preached in meeting-houses of different denominations, in private dwellings, and even in stores and places of business, as the reader will observe. Manning's Journal. Set out from Providence, Thursday, 29th of April, at six o'clock p. m. Reached Col. Ahraham Winsor's in the evening; began to rain; were hospitably entertained; ten miles. Friday morning, 30th. A cold northeast storm; broke away at 8 o'clock A. m., but remained showery and very blustering. Travelled to Mr. John Brown's farm at Chepachet, six miles. Refreshed ourselves and horse, and proceeded to Capt. Corliss's, Killingly, twelve miles. The roads extremely bad. Spent the afternoon and evening, and the next forenoon of May 1, in visiting them and Mr. Jones's family. Set out after dinner and visited Gov. Sessions, who has a most excellent farm in good order. After tea travelled to Mr. Benjamin Thurber's in Pomfret, six miles. The roads better ; tarried over Lord's Day. Sunday, May 2. Preached at Mr. James Thurber's, three miles back, in the morning, and at Mr. Thompson's in the afternoon. Preached a lecture at Mr. B. Thurber's at five o'clock ; the house crowded and the audience very attentive and affected. Visited Paul Tew, Esq., at "Woodstock, Monday, May 3, a. m., and p. m. Mr. Cahoon's family, and dined; also Mr. Lee's, Thompson's, B. Lindsey's, and Esquire Frink's. Borrowed 1779. AND MANNING. 315 Mr. Lindsey's trunk ; left ours, a jacket, pattern for breeches, white gown, black wool hat, Hart's Hymns, and some valuable papers, in Mr. Thurber's care. Set out Tuesday morning, May 4, and visited Col. Nightingale, three miles. Spent the forenoon and dined. He lives most elegantly ; has a grand farm ; entertained its hospitably. Then proceeded to Mr. Jeremiah Brown's, two and one half miles ; ascended a tremendous hill, refreshed, and proceeded two and one half miles to Capt. Bowles's, Ashford. Tarried all night, well entertained, and set out on the morning of the 5th. Travelled six miles to Stephen Snow's, refreshed, and then reached Mr. Robinson's, a pious Baptist gentleman, who bids fair to be useful in the ministry, in Mansfield, passing through a corner of "Willington ; six miles. Were received with great kindness ; dined. Set out and reached an inn in Coventry, seven miles. Fed the horse, and travelled fifteen miles through Bolton into East Hartford, to the widow of Capt. Bidwell, a pious Baptist lady, and a good liver. "Were kindly entertained, tarried all night, and went on for Hartford. Three miles to meeting, it being Thursday, the 6th of May, the Con- tinental Fast ; but a severe northwest wind prevented our crossing the ferry for several hours. Passed at length, and put up at Bull's Tavern, opposite the town house; were unknown to them. In the afternoon went to Mr. Strong's 1 meeting, who insisted that I should preach, which I did to a very large and attentive audience. After service Mr. Strong took us to his house to lodge, and entertained us like a friend, and Capt. took our horse from the tavern and kept it well ; both insisting that we should call on them again on oxir way back, as did Mr. Smith. Till within ten or twelve miles of Hartford the way is in general mountainous and rocky, but the people live well by their industry, of which there are striking indications. The season at Hartford appears nearly or quite a fortnight earlier than at Providence. Except Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, the weather very blustering and cold, but no frost. The winter grain looks exceedingly promising, and a vast quantity of summer grain is put in ; abundance of land prepared for Indian corn ; the fruit not injured by frosts. Friday morning, May 7. Set out for Farmington ; reached Mr. Joseph "Woodruff's, ten miles, and tarried to- dinner ; kindly entertained ; then proceeded to a settlement of Seventh-day Baptists in the northwest part of Farmington, ten miles. Tarried at Mr. Covey's, where Ave were kindly treated, and preached Saturday, the 8th inst., to their society, to great acceptance; after passing the meadows four miles, the road rough, and an exceeding high mount of difficult ascent. The weather cold, and frost at night. The fruit here killed. After meeting proceeded through Farmington ; oated at Mr. Baldwin's tavern, 1 The Rev. Dr. Nathan Strong, pastor of the First Congregational Church. He graduated at Yale College in 1769, with the highest honors of his class. He was a remarkable man in his day, and exerted among his own denomination, especially, a very important influence. He originated the " Connecticut Evangelical Magazine," and in the organization of the " Connecticut Missionary Society" had a primary agency. He died in 1816, in the sixty-ninth year of his age. 316 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IX. and reached Mr. Philips's tavern at Litchfield at sundown. The whole of this way exceeding mountainous and rough, hut the land fertile and well improved ; fine fields of grain and good buildings all the way. The people here live exceeding well. One tedious mountain two and one half miles from Litchfield; the day warm; the distance thirteen miles. This town is situated on a cold hill, the water bad, and the season near a fortnight backward of Hartford. Good lodgings and entertainment at the tavern ; the landlady very agreeable. Sunday, Wi. "Was waited on by Mr. Champion, 1 the Congregationalist minister, whom I found to be a worthy, friendly man, and a good preacher. He invited me to preach, which I did in the afternoon, to a large audience, with great freedom and to good acceptance. The people solemn and attentive. After meeting called on Lawyer Reeve, who lives here. Dined with Mr. Champion; lodged with Dr. Smith; an agree- able, genteel family. Monday, 10th. Set off at 8 o'clock, accompanied three and one half miles by Mr. Champion, whose company was very agreeable. He insisted that if we ever came that way again we should make his house our home, as did Dr. Smith and Mr. Reeve. The road good this distance, but soon becomes exceeding rough, especially Mount Tom, a tremendous precipice near a mile long; at six or seven miles after this better to Rawmagin Iron "Works, in Washington, eleven miles from Litch- field ; Landlord Morgan's. After dinner set out to Bull's Iron Works, in Kent, ten miles, stopping to oat at TirriPs tavern, half way. Here we crossed successive chains of the most tremendous mountains I ever attempted to travel over, and which it was just possible to ascend. The whole distance over there is but a barren country, and the season very backward, until we come to the Works, where the soil and climate seem very different, as the season is much earlier. Refreshed at Landlord Beach's, a pretty good house; set off and arrived at Col. Morehouse's, four miles, in the evening. Had good entertainment and bed. The last stage a fine country, well improved, good buildings, and a good road. Passed Mr. Waldo's meeting-house, one half mile. This part of the country greatly divided in politics ; the Tories have done great damage by robbing, etc., in this neighborhood. The York line one-half mile this side of Bull's Iron Works. Through the mountains observed the grasshoppers as in summer. The country here full of good wheat fields, and also their first great preparations for a summer crop. Tuesday, May 11. Came to Mr. Waldo's, two miles; out of the road one half mile. Being both unwell and greatly fatigued, and our horse also, by yesterday's journey, concluded to tarry all day and night. This is in Dutchess County, Pawling'a Precinct. Between this and Bull's Works passed a considerable river, along the banks 1 Rev. Judah Champion. He graduated at Yale College in 1751 ; was ordained pastor of the church in Litchfield, Jtdy 4th, 1753; died in 1810. He preached the Connecticut Election Sermon in 1766, which was published. 1779. AND MANNING. 317 of which fine and pleasant. Had good lodgings. Mr. Waldo has a good tract of land, two hundred acres, patent land, the lease for three lives. At night preached at his house, from 2d Cor. iv. 17. The state of religion remarkably cold, and the congregation much divided in politics. Wednesday, 12th. Set out, after being very hospitably enter- tained, and crossed a tedious and long mountain, two miles, before we fully got up; the descent easy and the road fine to the westward ; the country full of good wheat fields. To Capt. Storm's, thirteen miles. Here a genteel tavern and good entertain- ment. The militia assembled to send every twelfth man to the frontiers against the Indians. Travelled five miles to Capt. Griffin's; fed my horse, and then five miles to Fishkill, and fed again. This but a small village, the buildings poor, and much injured by the troops. The whole of the road from Capt. Storm's remarkably fine, and the country good and well cultivated, especially with wheat. From hence to the Con- tinental Ferry the road and country not equally good as before. No horse-keeping at the Ferry. No wind, and the tide unfavorable. Two hands rowed over, and were rowing until quite dark; rained steadily: this had been threatened all day by small sprinklings. Had a pleasant day for travelling; but. now we are landed, in a dark rainy night, on a strange shore, and no tavern that had horse-keeping. With much difficulty found Col. Hansbrook's, but the kitchen people were in bed; were taken in, had good entertainment, horse-keeping, and a good bed. Thursday, 13th. Rose, but a storm from the northeast and a heavy rain determined us to tarry all day. The family very agreeable — high Whigs, and wealthy. Friday, Uth. Cleared away in the morn- ing; set out at eight o'clock, and passed through New Windsor, a small village, under . a disagreeable hill. The road bad here, as it is seven miles, to Mr. Cross's. Stopped and rested, but he not at home. From thence to Mr. Owen's, who married Lizzy Burden, six miles. There dined. From thence travelled seven miles, and at the tavern gave six shillings lawful money for two quarts of oats. From thence reached Mr. Gano's, 1 five miles, a little before night. He lives in a small log house, on a good farm, belonging to a refugee Tory, but much out of repair. Large quantities of wheat and rye on the ground along this road, which look tolerably well, but all the fruit killed by the frost in April. The cherry trees are again coming out in blossoms, though not full. Think there will be no fruit for twenty miles east of the river. Tarried Sat- urday, 15th. Sunday, Voth. Preached twice for Mr. Randall's people. A handsome congregation out, and very attentive. Monday, 17th, Visited Esquire Burt, a good liver and genteel people. Tuesday, 18th. Assisted the boys in planting, and dunging their farm; the 1 Rev. John Gano, his brother-in-law, pastor of the First Baptist Church in New York, but now engaged as chaplain in the army. His family resided here probably until the close of the war. In the summer of 1776 the British took possession of New York and its environs, which they evacu- ated Nov. 25, 1783. During this time moat of the loyal or Whig families were away from the city. 318 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IX. afternoon and evening was sick ; took a sweat, and was better. Wednesday. 19th. Nothing but a northeast storm prevents our setting out for the Jerseys. Mr. Gano had gone to the army before we arrived here, which is marching to the northward. This is a very hilly country, and much good meadow land. "Warwick lies within about five miles of the Jersey line. The mountains to the southeast are infested with Tory rob- bers, who greatly terrify the inhabitants ; thirty of them, or thereabouts, and their harborers, have been lately apprehended, and many more have fled, it is supposed to New York. A species of grasshoppers were discovered in the wheatfields by men of undoubted veracity. From Wednesday to Saturday rain continued from the northeast. Tarried till Sunday, 23d. Preached again at Warwick ; the audience crowded, and much affected. Had great liberty in preaching. After meeting set out and dined at Col. Hathhorn's, one mile on. Proceeded fifteen miles over the mountains to Col. Soward's and lodged. Met kind people, and good livers. The house here fortified against robbers, and all sleep armed. I rested scarce any all night, through the importunity of a troublesome insect. Monday, 2ith. Set off before sunrise, and reached Davenport's at Newfoundland to breakfast, ten miles ; was kindly treated. They refused anything for our eating, as they did at Col. Soward's. From thence, ten miles, we reached Esq. Tuttle's. Fed our horse, refreshed ourselves, and set out for Morristown, twelve miles, where we arrived, between four and five o'clock, at Arnold's tavern. This is an extremely hot day, and the travel- ling excessively tedious, as well on that as on account of the rocky mountainous country, which extends from Warwick within about three miles of Morristown. The greatest part of this country unsettled, and consequently in general, till within about ten miles of Morristown, all this part of the country full of grain. Set out about sun- down, and reached Mr. Stites's, 1 about 11 o'clock, very much fatigued. Found the old people somewhat indisposed, but all very glad to see us. From 25th to 27th, tarried at the farm; then went to Elizabethtown and tarried till the 28th at Brother Woodruff's. The town and suburbs less damaged by the enemy than I expected. 2 Sunday, 30th. Preached at the Plains, 3 but the meeting much interrupted by the march of the Pennsylvania line, under General St. Clair towards the North River.* 1 John Stites, Esq., father of Mrs. Manning. 2 On the 28th of February, 1779, a party of British troops, sent by Clinton from New York, landed at Elizabethtown Point, for the express purpose of taking " the rebel governor," as they called him, Livingston, whose residence was here at Elizabethtown. Not finding him at home, they seized his papers, burned a few dwellings, and departed for New York. •The Scotch Plains Baptist Church, of which Maning had been a member. * A large portion of Washington's army had been encamped, or hutted, as Hildreth terms it, at Middlebrook and vicinity, near Elizabethtown, during the previous winter and spring. The 'encampment broke up at this time; hence the disturbance of public worship caused by the marching of the troops northward, of which the Pennsylvania line under St. Clair formed a part. 1779. AND MANNING. 319 Went to Sister Tingley's, and tarried till Tuesday. Tuesday, June 1st. A tine rain on Monday ; went to Brother Joseph Manning's, 1 and tarried all night. Wednesday, accom- panied by him and wife, visited Uncle Joseph Randolph, and reached Jeremiah Man- ning's at Bordentown. Tarried till Friday, June 4. There heard the cheering account of the Charleston victory, 2 and the moving of the whole army to North River. After- noon crossed Crown Ferry, and lodged at Capt. Morgan's, Chester Quakers; ten miles. Saturday, 5th. Set out early, and reached Mr. Buckalaw's, two miles, to breakfast. Met with Messrs. Stelle 3 and Coles, 3 and proceeded to Bray's meeting-house. Mr. Stelle preached. Lodged at the widow Holmes's ; an agreeable family. Sunday, 6th. Mr. Stelle and myself preached. Had a large audience. Monday, 7th. Messrs. Coles and D. Jones * preached, and also had a large audience. Lodged this night at the widow Molly Holmes's ; a fine family. This is a most excellent part of the country for land and excellent crops ; but the shores are greatly infested, and the inhab- itants robbed, by Tories, who have fled to the enemy. Tuesday, June 8. In company with Messrs. Stelle and Jones came to Mr. Dennis's at Spotswood, to dinner, thirteen miles ; agreeable people. Nine miles to Brunswick, where at Capt. Dennis's we tarried Tuesday night. Wednesday, 9th. Crossed the river at the landing, and came to Uncle Ephraim's and tarried. Brunswick much injured by the British. Thursday, 10th. Visited Mr. Stelle, Aunt Manning, and tarried at Uncle Joseph Randolph's. Friday, 11th. Returned to the Farms ; found parents ill. Saturday, 12th. Preached at the Plains and returned. Sunday, 13th. Preached again, gave out the communion service, and tarried at Rev. Mr. Miller's. A fine rain this day, though the meetings not interrupted. 14th. Returned to the Farms. A great rain, followed by a succession of thunder-showers, to-day. Sister Tingley and Joseph Manning's wife came and tarried the night. Went to town, and brought sister Woodruff, upon the 15th. The season remarkably good, and the grain extraordinary, as well as grass, through the country. Wednesday, June 16. Fine weather. Rain in the afternoon. 17th, 18th, and 19th, tarried at Papa Stites's. Preached at Lyon's Farms, the 20th, two sermons. The people in the morning service very attentive and affected, and the meeting tolerably full. Returned, and on Monday, the 21st, set out for Philadelphia. Visited Messrs. Miller and Joseph Manning, and 1 Joseph Manning was a ruling elder of the Scotch Plains Church, having been elected to this office on the 10th December, 1777. 2 Referring to the invasion of Charleston by the British under Prevost, in May previous, and their repulse by the Continental troops and militia under Moultrie and Rutledge. 8 Rev. Isaac Stelle, pastor of the Piscataway Baptist Church, and Rev. Benjamin Coles, pastor of the church at Hopewell. *The Rev. David Jones, formerly of New Jersey, but now a distinguished chaplain in the army under General St. Clair. 320 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IX. dined. Preached, at 6 o'clock, with great freedom, at Capt. Samuel Randolph's, and tarried all night. Set out the 22d and visited Capt. "William Manning, Jacoh Martin, Esq., Major Edgar, and Benjamin Manning, Esq., who, with his lady, accompanied us to Brother Jeremiah Manning's, where we tarried. 23d. Accompanied with hrother and wife, kinsman and his, went to Mr. Stelle's ; thence to Brunswick. Heard Mr. Miller preach from the words of Hannah. Dined at Mr. Wall's. Called at Mr. Dennis's, and set out at four o'clock for Hopewell ; reached Mr. Barton's at nine o'clock in the even- ing. The day hot. Next day, 24th, visited Dr. Vankirk's, to see aunt, and preached at the meeting-house at six o'clock. But few out. Next morning, Friday, 25th, visited Messrs. Coles and Blackwell, and reached John Hart's, Esq., 1 at Newtown, two o'clock p. m. ; were detained the night by a seasonable heavy rain, and treated most hospita- bly. The weather most intensely hot. English grain the best and in the greatest quan- tity from Brunswick here that I ever saw ; but the Indian corn backward and poor in general, owing to the cold and wet of the former part of the season. 26th. Set out to Neshaminy Ford, but impassable by the great fall of rain. Went four miles up the creek to the bridge, which, being taken up, we were Retained till four o'clock p. m. at Mr. Cozens's, when the water subsided, and we passed. The road from Newtown here very bad, but the creek to Southampton good, where we reached, before sunset Mr. Van Horn's. 2 Found the family well. Stayed the 27th, and preached at the meeting-house. But few people out. Mr. Coles was expected. After meeting returned, and tarried till Monday. On June 4th a report prevailed in "Woodbridge that the British army at Charleston were totally defeated, with the loss of fourteen hundred killed and wounded, and seven hundred taken. Repeated reports somewhat similar, though not making their loss so great, have been constantly brought from the South ; but no official account confirming it has yet come to hand. 3 All the fruit nearly cut off by the great frost in these parts. The crops 1 A signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a prominent member of the Baptist church in Hopewell, of which Rev. Isaac Eaton was pastor. He gave to the society the land on which the meeting-house was erected. In 1865, a fine monumental shaft of Quincy granite was erected by the State in honor of his memory. In the dedicatory address upon the occasion by George Joel Parker, occurs the following : — " He was a true patriot. I am of the opinion, after a careful examination of the history of New Jersey during and immediately preceding the Revolutionary War, that John Hart had greater experience in the Colonial and State legislature of that day than any of his contem- poraries, and that no man exercised greater influence in giving direction to the public opinion which culminated in independence." 2 Rev. William Van Horn. He was born in 1746 ; educated at Dr. Samuel Jones's Academy at Pennepek ; ordained as pastor over the Baptist church at Southampton, Pa. ; honored with the degree of Master of Arts from the Rhode Island College 1774 ; and during the Revolutionary War was an efficient and honored chaplain. He died in 1807 in the sixty-first year of his age. s Reports then must have quite equaled if not excelled the exaggerated telegraphic reports during the recent Civil War. The simple facts as recorded in history are as follows : The British 1779. AND MANNING. 32! incomparably fine, but some fields near tbe river struck with the red rust, though but little hurt. Eye harvest begun, and wheat will be here this week. Monday, June 2%th. Set out and travelled to Pennepek, Mr. Jones's. 1 Arrived in the evening, and found the family well and glad to see us. Tarried here till July 2d. Spent the time agreeably in viewing the farm, its products, harvest, etc., and in con- versation. The season here extremely hot ; height of wheat harvest ; the grain struck with the red rust, though little injured, except the rye, which is much blasted. The greatest part of the harvest between here and Philadelphia, where we arrived at eleven o'clock A. m., July 2. Put up at Mr. "William Goforth's, and my horse across the way, in Second Street, between Race and Vine Streets. Visited Samuel Davis, but he was out of town; also Mr. Rogers. Called at Mr. Watkins's, then at Mr. "Westcot's; from thence to Dr. Rush's, 2 who treated me politely ; from thence called on Messrs. Shields in 1779 made a second invasion of South Carolina under General Prevost, and were eventually repulsed. On the 11th of May, Prevost with nine hundred regulars crossed the Ashley, leaving his main army on the south side of the river. During the forenoon Count Pulaski with his legion attacked the British advanced guard, and was repulsed with great slaughter. Prevost now advanced to the American lines, but in the night, after summoning the city to surrender, with- drew to James Island, fearing the approach of General Lincoln with an army of four thousand : men. On the 20th of June the British were attacked by about twelve hundred of Lincoln's men, and the assailants were repulsed. Loss about three hundred killed, wounded, and missing on each i side. Three days afterwards the British evacuated the island. (See Lossing's Field-Book, etc.) 1 Rev. Dr. Samuel Jones, one of Manning's intimate friends. He was three years his senior,, having been born in the year 1735. Of the church of Pennepek, afterwards called Lower Dublin, he was the honored and esteemed pastor upwards of fifty-one years. He was also an educator of youth, and in this latter capacity was greatly distinguished, being especially judicious and con- siderate to such young men under his care as had the ministry in view. On the death of Manning, in 1791, he was named by many of the Trustees and Fellows of the College as his successor in the presidency. (See letters of Stillman and Howell at the close of our thirteenth chapter.) He ren- dered important service as chairman of a committee sent to Newport from Philadelphia to prepare for the General Assembly a draft for the College charter. Dr. Jones was one of the most useful members of the Philadelphia Association. " Here," says Sprague in his Annals, " he is appointed to frame a system of discipline, and there to compile a book of hymns, and then to draw up a map representing the various associations ; one year he holds the office of moderator, and the next he writes the circular letter to the churches, and the next performs some other public service ; — indeed, it is impossible to look through the minutes without perceiving that he was always one of the master spirits of the body. Few men could manage more adroitly than he a difficult and involved case ; and sometimes, by a single suggestion, in a deliberative body, he would bring light out of the thickest darkness, and order out of the wildest confusion." In 1807 he preached the century sermon of the Association, which was pub- lished. He died Feb. 7, 1814, in the eightieth year of his age. Dr. Jones was a ready writer and a fluent speaker. In his person he is described as a large and firmly built man, six feet or more in height, weighing upwards of three hundred pounds, and every way well proportioned. His face was the very image of intelligence and good-nature ; which, with the air of dignity that pervaded all his movements, rendered his appearance uncommonly attrac- tive. He possessed an ample fortune, which he used with signal grace and hospitality. 2 Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence ; distinguished for his learning and piety, as well as for his great professional skill. He was educated at the College of New Jersey, graduating in 1760, two years before Manning. 41 322 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IX. and Moulders. Called at Mr. Hart's lodging, but he not within, which was also the -case at Mr. Robert S. Jones's. The evening of July 2, Mr. Joseph Hart, of the Execu- tive Council, spent at my lodgings. Saturday, July 3d. This morning came out a paper, in which Congress was handled pretty severely, under the signature of Leoni- das. 1 Breakfasted at Dr. Rush's, and received two hundred dollars, Dr. Finley's draft on him. Spent the forenoon chiefly in writing to Providence, by Mr. Ellery, who sets off this afternoon. Went to the State House. Met Mr. Collins, and inquired, without much satisfaction, what was on foot in Congress relative to the money. Dined at Mr. Redwood's with Mr. Ellery, and returned to my lodgings, where were Messrs. Shields and Conolly, who spent the afternoon with us. Lord's Bay, July Mh. Preached twice with some freedom ; the morning congregation thin ; more in the afternoon. Both church and society here in a broken state. The people urgent for my tarrying a considerable time, which did not suit my affairs. In the evening visited one of the members of the church near her end. Appeared to be in a happy frame of mind. Attended a religious society composed of Baptists, Presby- terians, and Church people. They appeared very serious, and somewhat engaged in 1 The financial embarrassments of the country were exceedingly great at this period, in conse- quence of the rapid depreciation of the paper currency, of which Congress had emitted, on the 1st of September, 1799, one hundred and sixty millions. A spirit of discontent, of speculation and of fraud was everywhere manifest. " The honest and patriotic were impoverished, while rogues and Tories grew rich." As an illustration of the perils and difficulties of this crisis, we print the following handbill, which was posted in the streets of Philadelphia about this time. Similar bills were posted in other cities. " FOB OUR COUNTRY'S GOOD. " The depreciation of our money, and the high price to which everything is got, is one and the same thing. We ask not who introduced the evil, how it arose, or who encouraged it. In the midst of money we are in poverty, and exposed to want in the land of plenty. You that have money, and you that have none, down with your prices, or down with yourselves ; for, by the ever- living and eternal God, we will bring every article down to what it was last Christmas, or we will down with those who oppose it. " We have turned out against the enemy, and we wish not to be eaten up by monopolizers and forestallers. MOVE ON COOLLY." " It gives me very sincere pleasure," writes Washington to his friend Reed, now President of Pennsylvania, "that the Assembly is so well disposed to second your endeavors in bringing those murderers of our cause, the monopolizers, forestallers, and engrossers, to condign punishment. It is much to be lamented that each State, long ere this, has not hunted them down as pests of society, and the greatest enemies we have to the happiness of America. I would to God that some one of the more atrocious in each State was hung in gibbets upon a gallows five times as high as the one prepared for Haman, No punishment, in my opinion, is too severe for the man who can build his greatness upon his country's ruin." When Washington wrote in this way, what, says Hildreth, was to be expected of the inconsiderate multitude? 1779. AND MANNING. 323 religion. Found General Spencer 1 at my lodgings, now a member of Congress. It being tbe Fourth of July, the anniversary of Independence, the chaplains of Congress preached suitable to the occasion, and Congress attended. High mass was celebrated and Te Deum sung at the Romish chapel. The gentlemen .of the town were invited by billets from the French minister to attend. I suppose these causes rendered the Bap- tist meeting thinner than otherwise. The lowering of prices by the committee is con- sidered by the town as a violent measure and only a temporary relief, but think it will share the fate of former State bills. 2 The suburbs of this city greatly destroyed by the English, but the body of it not much damaged. A fine rain on the night of the 4th of July. Some more apples in these parts than in the Jerseys, though but few. Monday, 5th. Breakfasted at Mr. Shields's, where a committee from the church met and importuned me to tarry with them some time, or come again and make them a longer visit. I gave them hopes of the latter after the four Sabbaths of this month. "Went to Mr. David Bowers's, and thence to Mr. Moulders's ; then to hear the oration at the Dutch church. The performance indifferent. Congress and the French Ambassa- dor present, and a large assembly. Here met Mr. Merchant, and called at his lodgings. Received an invitation to dine at Prof. Lawrens's, but we dined at Mr. Westcot's. Returned to our lodgings. Were visited by Messrs. Shields, Britain, and Gen. Spencer. Set out in the afternoon for Mr. Jones's, where we arrived in the evening. The weather intensely hot. Tuesday, 6th. Tarried at Mr. Jones's, and set out on the 7th for Bordentown. Dined at Bristol, and reached Mr. Alison's before night. Passed the ruins of Mr. Kirbright's buildings ; the river three-fourths of a mile wide ; the ruins of the vessels burned by the English on the east shore, as also the stores, and the dwelling-house of Mr. Joseph Borden, treasurer. 3 There met Mr. Stites, from Cran- 1 Joseph Spencer. He was born in Connecticut, in 1J14. He was a major in the colonial army in 1756, and was one of the first eight brigadiers appointed by the Continental Congress in 1775. He was appointed a major-general in 1776, and in 1777 was in command of the American forces on Rhode Island. After his resignation he was elected a delegate to Congress from his native State. He died in East Haddam, in January, 1789, aged seventy-five. * A short time after this (October 4th), a riot took place in Philadelphia in consequence of this attempt of a committee to regulate the prices of flour, rum, sugar, molasses, coffee, salt, etc. Robert Morris and other leading merchants refused to conform to the regulation. Wilson, Clymer, Mifliin, and their friends were threatened with banishment to New York, as abettors and defend- ers of the Tories. Soon afterwards (October 20th), a convention of the five Eastern States was held at Hartford, at which a plan was elaborated, which Congress adopted, regulating prices on the basis of twenty paper dollars for one of specie. Dr. Manning's visit to Philadelphia doubtless had reference to some measures of relief of this kind from the oppressive laws of Rhode Island and other States, passed by recommendation of Congress, which made paper money a legal tender. 3 On the 7th of May, 1778, six or seven hundred British troops left Philadelphia for the purpose of destroying vessels which were lying in Barnes's and Crosswick's Creeks at Bordentown. They burned two frigates, destroyed several smaller vessels, burned several residences and buildings on their return, and seized considerable property. 324 BROWN UNIVERSITY Chap. IX. berry, which detained us until Saturday, July 10th. Were hospitably treated by the family, Col. Hogland, Dr. Moore, Mr. Borden, and Mr. Kirbright. Preached on Friday evening, and set out in the morning for Cranberry, in company with Col. Hogland and Mr. Stites. Reached Cranberry to dine. Found the Doctor well, and glad to see us. Preached for Mr. Smith Sunday the 11th. The day rainy and few people out. At night had a severe diarrhoea, which continued the 12th, so that I kept house in much pain. 13th. The diarrhcea abated; the weather fine and cool, as there fell a vast quan- tity of rain on Lord's Day and evening, accompanied by abundance of thunder and lightning. This morning Mr. Stelle called on us on his way to Philadelphia, and informed us that accounts are received of the burning of New Haven by the British, and that they are destroying all in their way in that quarter. 1 Preached to-day at the Baptist meeting. Tarried the 14th and 15th. Still much indisposed. 16th. Set out for Piscataway, called at Brunswick, and reached Bonham Town. Mrs. Manning very ill since the 12th: scarce able to ride. My brother in great fear of the enemy. "Was interrupted till midnight by the seizure of a trunk of goods. 17th. Went to Mr. Ben- jamin Manning's. Left my spouse, and preached at the Sabbatarian meeting; return- ing to our lodgings at Benjamin Manning's, Esq. Sunday, July 18th. Preached for Mr. Stelle twice, dined at lodgings, and came on to Brother Joseph's. 19th. Returned to the Farms. To-day heard that the British fleet at Stony Point was taken by General Wayne, with five hundred prisoners. 1 Found our parents as well as usual, and tarried there, Mrs. Manning being very unwell, 20th, 21st, and 22d. Set out Saturday, July 23d, for Hopewell. Left my mare with Swan's horse. Called on Mr. Miller, who was in ill health. Stopped at Capt. Randolph's, dined at Benjamin Manning's ; called at Mr. Stelle's, but he was not at home ; met him at Mr. Hall's in Brunswick. Reached Mr. Prince's, at Rocky Hill. The day very hot and dusty, and my horse travelled hard and greatly fatigued. Distance thirty-two miles. Saturday, 2