"It may be (added Mr. Colman) the gentleman may be known to you, or may be related to you; and if it should so happen, I would pray you to give him my thanks, being one of the present Governors of the College, and [let] him see the following account of it.'

"In this [letter] Mr. Colman was directed by God to inform our benefactor, of whom and his principles he was utterly ignorant, That the sons of parents, Episcopal in their judgment, or Baptists, were equally received, instructed, and graduated in our little Academy, as well as those of our own Profession, Congregational or Presbyterian.'

"This, and some other things in Mr. Colman's letter, happened to sute and please Mr. Hollis, who was in judgment against Infant Baptism; but so catholic in his temper and practice, that he was member in full communion at Pinners-Hall in London, an eminent church there of the Congregational denomination.

"Mr. John Hollis was own brother to Thomas, our benefactor; and when he received Mr. Colman's letter he gave it to his brother, who immediately began his correspondence with Mr. Colman, telling him, that the account he had given him of the College pleased him so much, that he had sent over two hundred pounds more for the College towards the support of poor Students in it.' And Mr. Treasurer that year (1719) received six hundred pounds more, in addition to the first three hundred.

"Mr. Colman could not but return a very grateful acknowledgment for so great a bounty as nine hundred pounds received. But in his letter he happened to say, that if he could have imagined so great a bounty from any gentleman to the College, he should have wished it might have been a foundation for a Professor of Divinity, which should have borne the benefactor's name to all posterity among us, by the will of God.

"Mr. Hollis answered 'with wonder, that we had not a Professor of Divinity before that day,' and prayed to be immediately informed what would be a meet stipend or salary for one?'

"But before the Corporation's answer could reach him he had shipped off more goods to the College Treasurer, which arrived safely, to the sum of fifteen hundred pounds of our money.

"He then informed Mr. President Leverett and the Corporation, that his purpose was, if God pleased, to have ten Students in the College who should yearly and for ever receive ten pounds each; and would allow eighty pounds per annum for a Professor of Divin

ity; and ten pounds per annum to the Treasurer of the College for his care and trouble in keeping his accounts distinct; and five pounds more yearly for incidental charges or deficiencies. And then his bounty amounted to one hundred and ninety-five pounds per annum.

"Mr. Hollis at the same time wrote, in several letters, to Mr. Colman about a Professor of the Mathematics and of Natural and Experimental Philosophy, that it was much upon his heart to get one in our College; and within the compass of a few years he sent over moneys for this foundation also, and fixed his stipend also at eighty pounds per annum. And because this was an increase of Mr. Treasurer's labour, he added another ten pounds per annum for him. And so his bounty stands at two hundred eighty and five pounds per annum.

"But besides these noble foundations, he has added many other valuable gifts. His Apparatus for his Professor of Experimental Philosophy cost him one hundred and twenty (or fifty, I know not which) pounds sterling. His Hebrew and Greek types sent to the College cost him forty pounds sterling. But how much the many small boxes of books which he sent over to the library cost him, he himself only knew. I suppose the College may well estimate 'em at several hundred pounds our money. But many of these books he let us know were given by his friends, though all of his procuring for us. To all he added his Picture at the request of Mr. President Leverett and Mr. Colman.

"If the foregoing account may gratify our inquisitive friends, do honor to our deceased benefactor, stop the mouths of the envious, and stir up others to do good, hoping for nothing again, I shall not repent the little pains of this extract."

The Gentleman's Magazine for 1781, contains the following anecdote of Hollis :

"Mr. Hollis employed Mr. Pingo to cut a number of emblematical devices, such as the Caduceus of Mercury, the Wand of Esculapius, the Owl, the Cap of Liberty,' &c.; and these devices were to adorn the backs, and sometimes the sides of books. When patriotism animated a work, instead of unmeaning ornaments on the binding, he adorned with caps of liberty. When wisdom filled the page, the owl's majesty bespoke the contents. The caduceus pointed out the works of eloquence; and the wand of Esculapius was a signal of good medicines, &c.

"The different emblems were used on the same book when possessed of different merits; and to express his disapprobation of the whole, or parts of any work, the figure or figures were inverted. Thus each cover exhibited a critique on the book, and was a proof that they were not kept for show, as he must read before he could judge. Read this, ye admirers of gilded books, and imitate."

It should also be remembered with gratitude, that, not content with giving himself, Mr. Hollis procured valuable donations from others; and that, in addition to his unexampled liberality to the College, he contributed towards the promotion of charitable and religious objects in New England not less than £1000 sterling. At the same time his bounty was copiously and extensively diffused in his own country.

No. XVIII. (p. 238.)

The reader will have seen, in the note on page 238 of this history, an account of the Examination for admission into the University, in the year 1742, while President Holyoke was in office, as extracted from the MS. Diary of his son, the late Dr. Holyoke. The following paper is a specimen of the public Disputations at Commencement, during the same presidency.

[From "The American Magazine and Historical Chronicle. 1743, 1744." 8vo. Boston. 1744.]

QUESTIONS FOR THE CLASS OF 1740.

Quæstiones pro modulo discuti- Questions methodically to be endæ, sub Reverendo D. Edvardo Holyoke, Collegii Harvardini, quod est, Divina Providentia,Cantabrigiæ Nov-Anglorum, Præside. In Comitiis publicis a Laureæ Magistralis Candidatis: Pridie nonarum quintilis, MDCCXLIII.

I. An Fidei Confessio verbis merè humanis declaranda sit. Affirmat respondens

Thomas Prince.

II. An omnis Simulatio sit Viti

um.

Negat respondens

Benjamin Stevens.

III. An Solidorum Dissolutio in

Menstruis per Attractionem perficiatur.

Affirmat respondens

Samuel Gay. IV. An privata Utilitas, ultimus Actionum Moralium Finis esse debeat.

Negat respondens

Georgius Bethune.

discussed by the Candidates for the Degree of Master of Arts, in Public Assembly, under the Reverend Mr. Edward Holyoke, President of Harvard College, by divine Providence, at Cambridge in New England, on the 6th of July, A. D. 1743.

I. Whether a Confession of Faith may be declared in words merely humane ?

Affirmed by Thomas Prince. II. Whether every Dissimulation be a Vice?

Deny'd by Benjamin Stevens.

III. Whether the Dissolution of
Solids in corrosive Liquors be
performed by Attraction?
Affirmed by Samuel Gay.

IV. Whether Private Profit ought to be the chief End of Moral Actions?

Deny'd by George Bethune.