two last ages. He greatly studied the councils, general and provincial, and in them was thoroughly versed. He was considerably read in the common law of England, and in the municipal laws of his country. He was so well versed in the Jus Civile, the Institutes of Justinian, the Pandects, the Novella; and from the canons, the decretals of the Popes, he had obtained such a general knowledge of ecclesiastical law, that he would have honored a Doctorate in both laws.

"The labors of his office left a most contemplative mind but a few hours for reading. But he had a happy and advantageous method of reading: he always studied on a system, or arrangement with respect to some whole, and read to purpose. A voluminous library before him, he treated as a collection of reports, books delivering the knowledge and reasonings of the learned world, on all subjects of literature. He seldom read a volume through in course. Having previously settled in his mind the particular subjects to be examined, and what on any subject he needed to ascertain, he then pitched directly on the book or books, and those parts in them, which would elucidate the subject of his enquiry. He would thus, with discernment and dispatch, run over fifty volumes, if necessary, and select whatever they contained in point; and thus proceed, till he made himself master of the subject, generally passing unconcernedly over the rest, however attractive and interesting. He thus amassed and digested a valuable treasure of

erudition, having prosecuted almost all the variety of capital subjects in the whole circle of literature. "He was indefatigable in labors, both secular and scientific, for the benefit of the College; there being proof of the one, in his building a College edifice and Chapel; and of the other, in his frequent public dissertations on all kinds of literature.

"As to his person, he was not tall; yet, being thick set, he appeared rather large and bulky. His aspect was light, placid, serene, and contemplative. He was a calm, still, judicious, great man."

In a statistical account of New Haven, already referred to, Doctor Dwight thus speaks of President Clap. "His character was extensively given in a manner highly honorable to him, in an appendix to the life of President Stiles, from the Diary of that gentleman, by the Rev. Dr. Holmes, of Cambridge. As President Stiles knew him intimately, the character which he has given of him cannot be questioned. To him who reads his character, there will remain little doubt that he was the greatest man, who ever sat at the head of this institution.

"Mr. Richard Woodhull, who was five years under his administration, and was himself eminently distinguished for his learning and science, once gave me the following character of President Clap, in answer to some inquiries, which I made concerning this subject. If I were to give his character in concise terms,' said Mr. Woodhull, 'I should give it in this manner: In whatever

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company he was, and whatever was the subject of conversation, he appeared evidently to understand it more clearly, and more comprehensively than any other person present.' As Mr. Woodhull had, not long before, had a controversy with President Clap, he cannot be supposed to have been prejudiced in his favor. The only serious defect in his Presidential character was, that he was prone to consider boys as being men."

CHAPTER VI.

The Presidency of the Rev. Napthali Daggett, S. T. D.

THE disordered state of the College, at the time of the resignation of President Clap, produced deep solicitude in the minds of those, who had so long watched with paternal care over its interests. Doctor Daggett, as has been remarked, was appointed President pro tempore; but the Corporation were satisfied that a thorough reformation in academic studies. and government, was necessary, to revive public confidence, and restore the usefulness of the institution. The individual exertions of President Daggett, whose course of studies had been especially directed to the Theological department, would be of little avail, unless supported and sustained by Tutors of popular character, and who could add the embellishments of polite literature to the graver pursuits of the Students.

The Corporation were most fortunate in their selection. Mr. Ebenezer Baldwin, afterwards pastor of the church in Danbury, Mr. Stephen M. Mitchell, afterwards Chief Justice of the state, and Mr. Job Lane; who are justly styled, in the memoir of the Hon. Judge Trumbull, "very accomplished scholars," were chosen Tutors.

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After the vacation, the Students reassembled, and order was restored in the institution.

The management of the College, and particularly in the literary and classical departments, was chiefly confided to the Tutors; and they vindicated, with honorable zeal and talents, their just claim to the trust reposed in them.

The names of these gentlemen are mentioned, although in a secondary rank of academic power, as we are to trace to the period of their Tutorship, and in a great degree to their personal exertions, an important and salutary change in the course of Collegiate instruction. Although the condition of the institution did not justify immediate and radical innovation, on established usages, yet so far as prudence would admit, the Tutors encouraged the study of the English language, composition and oratory; and interwove, with severer scholastic exercises, the ornaments of polite and popular learning.

In this judicious manner, they prepared the way for that thorough change, in the course of instructions, which their distinguished successors in the Tutorship, Messrs. Howe, Trumbull and Dwight, were enabled to perfect. The era of this change was providential. Minds were then forming, which were destined to direct the energies of a young empire, and to give character and dignity to one of the noblest struggles recorded in history. Education more practical, and talents more popular, than belonged to a system almost monastic, were