CHAPTER XIX.

IN about a month after the death of President Wadsworth, it was voted by the Corporation that, "whereas the choosing of a President is a matter of great concern, it be proposed to the Honorable and Reverend Overseers, that they with the Corporation might spend some convenient time in prayer to God for his gracious direction in that important affair." It was also voted "that this Corporation do propose to proceed with all convenient speed to elect a successor in that office, and that this their purpose be laid before the Honorable and Reverend Board of Overseers at their next meeting for their counsel and consent."

These votes were laid before the Overseers, April 26th, 1737. The first vote was consented to, and it was decided that a meeting for the purpose proposed should be held on Wednesday the next week in the College Library; but instead of concurring in the last vote, the Overseers "counselled and advised" the Corporation to elect a president, after the meeting for prayer, on the same day.

The meeting was held according to appointment, on the 4th of May. The forenoon was spent in prayer. In the afternoon, "the Overseers having given their advice, by a Latin speech made by the Governor, to the Corporation about the general qualification of a President, the Corporation withdrew," and endeavoured to come to a choice twice; but were equally divided

between Mr. H. and Mr. G.," that is, Mr. Holyoke and Mr. Greenwood.

The Corporation then returned to the Overseers, and having informed them of their unsuccessful attempt and requested further time for deliberation, again withdrew. Before adjourning, the Overseers sent for them, and said, "that they expected the Corporation would present their choice of a President to them at their next meeting which would be on the 26th instant."

On the 20th of May the Rev. William Cooper was chosen President by the Corporation, and on the 26th was presented to the Honorable and Reverend Board for their acceptance; but a letter from him to the Overseers, in which "he took this first opportunity wholly to excuse himself from that honour and trust," being read at the same time, they voted "that the Corporation be advised forthwith to proceed to the choice of a President."

The Gentleman, on whom this honor was conferred by the Corporation, was graduated at Harvard College in 1712, was ordained, as colleague pastor with Dr. Colman, of the church in Brattle Street, Boston, in 1716; and died in 1743, in the 50th year of his age. He was respectable for his learning, and a most impressive, serious preacher. He married a daughter of the Hon. Samuel Sewall, and was father of the celebrated Dr. Samuel Cooper.

It was now, probably, that the venerable minister of Marblehead interposed, in the manner related by Dr. Eliot. According to this writer, who refers to a manuscript in his possession, "Father Barnard says, 'that he went to Governor Belcher, and asked him why they chose one Boston minister after another, and neg

1 Rev. Dr. Sewall's MS. Diary.

lected the man who was most qualified to fill the chair of that seminary, his worthy brother Holyoke. His Excellency answered, that it would be agreeable to him if he were assured of his orthodoxy, but suspicions had been spread of his being liberal in his sentiments. He told him, that he was more acquainted with him than any other person, and he knew him to be sound in the faith.'" 1

Whether in consequence of this interposition, or from any other cause, the Corporation soon elected the Rev. Edward Holyoke President by a unanimous vote, and on the 20th of June the choice was unanimously approved by the Overseers at one of the fullest meetings on record in the books of that board. A committee was appointed to inform the General Court of this election, and "to desire that the Court would please to consider of an honorable support for the said Mr. Holyoke and whatsoever else they may judge necessary to encourage and facilitate his settlement in said office." The Committee was also to desire Mr. Holyoke's acceptance of the office and the consent of his church to his removal from them to this important station.

The subject was taken up by the House of Representatives with all convenient speed; and on the 8th of June it was voted, "That the Treasurer of Harvard College be directed to lay before the House an Account of the State of their Treasury relating to the Donations and Moneys given them, which are not appropriated by the Donors; and also an Account of the usual and annual Payments and Dispositions of the Issues and Profits thereof, that so the House may act on the said Message with more Knowledge." "

1 Eliot's Biog. Dict. art. Holyoke.

2 Mass. Journ., 1737, p. 31.

An account of the state of the Treasury was accordingly presented to the House by the Treasurer of the College, the Honorable Edward Hutchinson, on the 15th of the same month. The next day the House assumed the consideration of Mr. Holyoke's support, and while they were in debate, the Committee of the Overseers again entered and communicated the following report which had been made to that board.

"The Committee of the Board of Overseers appointed for the purpose, according to the annexed vote, having been at Marblehead, and communicated to the Rev. Mr. Holyoke and his Church the Choice of him to the Presidentship of Harvard College; received for Answer, That the people under the pastoral care of Mr. Holyoke transacted their affairs in the way of a propriety, and therefore had agreed upon Monday the 27th of June instant for a meeting of that society, to give their answer; and the Rev. Mr. Holyoke did acquaint us that he was under strict covenant with his people not to part with them, unless the settlement of another minister was made in such manner as that his people might not suffer thereby, or be at the expence thereof, they being small and in danger of some division and difficulties upon his removal; and that if provision was made in this respect, his way would be more clear before him, and that he would with all convenient speed after the society's meeting, consider of and return his final answer to the motion of his removal.

WILLIAM DUDLEY,

In the Name of the Committee.

"At a Meeting of the Overseers June 16th, 1737. Voted, That the Committee appointed to wait on the

Reverend Mr. Holyoke and his Church, in reference to his acceptance of the choice made of him to be President of Harvard College, do wait on the General Court, and lay before them the Report now offered to the Board of Overseers."

HENRY FLYNT,

Curatorum Clericus."

The subject was then resumed and fully debated. The result of the whole was that, "In as much as the College derived their Constitution from the General Court of the late Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, and the Assembly of this Provincce have from time to time chearfully granted considerable sums of money for the erecting sundry buildings for the more commodious reception of the Fellows, Tutors, Graduates, and Students there, and have also lately built a convenient dwelling-house for, and furthermore have at all times readily afforded their aid and assistance in supporting of, the President as the matter required, and all this in expectation of, and dependance upon their close adherence to their Constitution, and so answering the great and good designs of founding said College, the House came into the following vote, viz.

"This House think it reasonable, that while the circumstances of the College shall require it, and they adhere to their Charter and Constitution thus given them, there be allowed to the President a suitable and ample support:

"And therefore it is Ordered, That there be and is hereby granted unto the Reverend Mr. Edward Holyoke to be paid out of the publick Treasury the sum of two hundred pounds of the bills of credit on this Province of the new tenour, over and above the rents of