to be taken, which can any way derogate from the legislative 1769. authority of Great Britain, his lordship subjoins, that he can take upon him to assure them, notwithstanding insinuations to the contrary from men with factious and seditious views, that his majesty's present administration have at no time entertained a design to propose to parliament to lay any further taxes upon America for the purpose of raising a revenue, and that it is at present their intention to propose in the next session of parliament, to take off the duties upon glass, paper, and colours, upon consideration of such duties having been laid contrary to the true principles of commerce.1

at R. Island

The first commencement of the college in Rhode Island was First comheld this year at Warren, in the county of Bristol. On the mencement petition of a number of respectable persons a charter for found- college. ing a seminary of learning had been granted by the general assembly of that colony in 1764; the incorporation was by the name of the "Trustees or Fellows of the college or university in the English colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations." The number of trustees according to the charter is 36;2 the number of fellows is 12; and a majority of both branches is necessary to the validity of an act, excepting the adjudging and conferring of degrees, which belong exclusively to the fellowship. The president must be a Baptist; but professors and other officers of instruction are not limited to any denomination of Christians. The charter, in the spirit of the other institutions of that colony, declares: "All the members of this institution shall for ever enjoy full, free, absolute, and uninterrupted liberty of conscience; and the places of professors, tutors, and all other officers, the president excepted, shall be free and open for all denominations of Protestants."3

The plan of an Indian charity school, founded some years Origin of previously at Lebanon, in Connecticut, was now extended, and Dartmouth college, a removal of it contemplated. Offers for its encouragement were made in several of the neighbouring colonies. The reverend Dr. Wheelock, its principal, with the advice of the board of trustees in England, accepted an invitation, made by the governor of

1 Parliamentary Debates, in 1776. General Conway, having read the entire Circular in the house of commons, that year, said, "If I understand the English language; if I understand common sense; here is the strongest renunciation of the right of taxation." See 12 April, 1770.

2 Of this number 22 are of the denomination called Baptists, 5 of the denomination of Friends, 5 Episcopalians, and 4 Congregationalists. This proportion is to continue in perpetuum.

3 Adams, N. Eng. 233-235. Morse, Geog. Art. RHODE ISLAND. In 1770, the college was removed to Providence, where, by the generous donation of individuals, principally of the town of Providence, a large and elegant building was erected for the accommodation of the students.

which receives a charter of incorpora

1769. New Hampshire and other gentlemen of that province; and the township of Hanover, on the eastern bank of Connecticut river, was finally determined on, as the most convenient situation for the school. The governor annexed to it a charter of incorporation for an university, which took the name of Dartmouth College from its benefactor, the earl of Dartmouth. Of this college Dr. Wheelock was declared the founder and president. A board of twelve trustees was constituted, with perpetual succession; and the college was endowed with a landed estate, amounting collectively to 44,000 acres.1

tion.

Colonial trade.

Greeks settle in

E. Florida.

The trade between Great Britain and her colonies on the continent of America, on an average of three years, employed 1078 ships, and 28,910 seamen. The value of goods exported from Great Britain, on the same average, was £3,370,900; and of goods exported from the colonies to Great Britain and elsewhere, £3,924,606.2

Dr. Turnbull brought over, in 20 vessels, a colony of 1500 Greeks and Minorcans, chiefly Greeks from Smyrna, and settled them in East Florida.3

1 Belknap, N. Hamp. i. 349-352. The first design of the Indian school was conceived by Mr. John Sergeant, missionary to the Indians at Stockbridge, at which place, after procuring benefactions in America and in England, he began a school for the education of Indian youths; but death prevented the full accomplishment of his plan. Mr. Wheelock revived it; and after receiving numerous benefactions, the largest of which was the donation of Mr. Joshua Moor, of Mansfield in Connecticut, it was denominated Moor's School. To increase the means of improvement, contributions were solicited in America, England, and Scotland. The money collected in England was put into the hands of a board of Trustees, of whom the earl of Dartmouth was at the head; and that collected in Scotland was committed to the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge. As an improvement on the original plan, several English youths were educated with the Indians. Dr. Wheelock removed his family and school to Hanover in 1770, at which time the number of scholars was 24, of whom 18 were white, the rest Indians. The first commencement was held in 1771, when the degree of bachelor of arts was conferred on four students, one of whom was the late John Wheelock, LL.D. the son and successor of the founder.

2 Wynne, ii. 427.

3 Stiles, Literary Diary, Oct. 24, 1772. This information was given to Dr. Stiles by Mr. William Penn, of Florida, who was acquainted with Dr. Turnbull. He also informed him, that Dr. Turnbull resided some years at Smyrna; that the Minorcans were Romanists, with a Romish priest; that the Greeks were of the Greek religion, with a Greek priest; that the doctor's lady was a Greek from Smyrna, but in religion, a Romanist; that there were only two episcopal clergymen in Florida, one at St. Augustine, and another with Dr. Turnbull; and that, in three years, the colony of 1500 was reduced to 500 souls.- -In the "Present State of the West Indies, 1778," under the article "East Florida," it is observed: "The few inhabitants are of all colours, among them we cannot help remarking the Greeks, who have been brought hither from the Archipelago." In the same volume it is said, that in 1769 the exports of West Florida amounted to £10,806; that in 1770 the ports of East Florida recceived 50 sloops, and fitted out 52; and that West Florida received 30 vessels, and fitted out 41.

West Florida contained about 6000 inhabitants.1 Philadel- 1769. phia contained 4474 houses.2

The American Philosophical Society, held at Philadelphia, Philosophi for promoting useful knowledge, was instituted.3

cal Society.

Philadel

The first course of instruction in chemistry, attempted in Chemistry America, was this year by Dr. Benjamin Rush, who about this taught in time was appointed professor of this branch of science in the phia. College of Philadelphia.*

The Monitor's Letters by Arthur Lee, on the controverted Monitor's question of colonial rights, were printed.5

Letters.

Abel Buell, of Killingworth in Connecticut, presented to the Types mangeneral assembly of that colony a memorial, "impressed with the ufactured. types of his own manufacture," soliciting assistance for erecting a foundery of letter types.6

wine.

The vine was successfully cultivated in Virginia. Richard Virginia Henry Lee sent a cask of wine of the last year's vintage, with a few bottles of older wine, "from our native grape," to Dr. Fothergill of London."

in the in

The peace of the recently settled back country of South Caro- Disorders lina was disturbed by men, who, under the name of regulators, terior of took upon themselves to try, condemn, and punish horse-thieves, S. Carolina. and other criminals. There was danger of a civil war; but the grievances of the people being redressed by an extension of the regular administration of justice to the new settlements, tranquillity was restored to the province. The circuit court law Courts of was passed this year; and the establishment of courts of justice esjustice at Ninety Six, at Orangeburgh, and Camden, removed the necessity which was an apology for the proceedings of the regulators.8

tablished.

The French planters upon the river Illinois made upwards Wine made of 100 hogsheads of strong wine from the wild grapes of the at Illinois. country.9

1 Wynne, ii. 349.

2 Pres. Adams, Lett. xvii. From 1769 to this year, Philadelphia contained from 31,318 to 35,000 inhabitants.

3 It was incorporated in 1780.

Ib.

4 Miller, ii. 391.-A plan for establishing a medical school in Philadelphia had been concerted several years before by Dr. William Shippen and Dr. John Morgan; and in 1764 Dr. Shippen commenced the first course of lectures upon anatomy, ever delivered in America. Thacher, Hist. Sketch.

5 Jefferson, Virg. Query xxiii.

6 Stiles, MS. Itinerary. In the course of a few years he completed several fonts of long primer, which were tolerably well executed. Thomas, ii. 547. 7 Life of R. H. Lee, i. 80.

8 Ramsay, Hist. S. Car. i. c. 6; and Chron. Table. The disorders began the preceding year. "Till the year 1770, there were no courts of justice held beyond the limits of the capital."

9 Alcedo, T. Art. ILLINOIS.

1769.

Deaths.

March 5. Massacre in Boston.

Edward Holyoke, president of Harvard College, died, in the 80th year of his age, and 32d of his presidency;1 Joseph Sewall, minister in Boston, in the 81st year of his age, and 56th of his ministry; and Thomas Foxcroft, in the 73d year of his age, and 52d of his ministry.3

1770.

4

THE inhabitants of Boston continued to feel it an indignity, to have soldiers quartered among them; and mutual insults and injuries prepared the way for a tragical event, that made a deep and lasting impression on the colonists. On the 2d of March, an affray took place near Gray's Ropewalk, between a private soldier of the 29th regiment and an inhabitant of the town; and the one was supported by his fellow soldiers, the other by his fellow citizens. On the 5th, the soldiers, while under arms, being pressed upon, insulted by the populace, and dared to fire; one of them, who had received a blow, fired at the aggressor,

1 President Holyoke descended from an ancient and honourable family in England. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1705; was for several years a tutor in the college, and a fellow of the corporation; and afterwards pastor of a church in Marblehead. In these stations he was distinguished for care and fidelity in the performance of his duties. He was a man of inflexible integrity, and of exemplary piety. He was very respectable for his general literary attainments; but for his knowledge of mathematics and natural philosophy he was eminent. He presided over the university with energy and wisdom; and appeared on public occasions with great dignity. In his attendance on the duties of the presidency, and in the general duties and offices of life, he was remarkably distinguished for punctuality and exactness. Dr. Appleton's Discourses the Lord's day after president Holyoke's funeral; and Professor Sewall's Oratio Funebris. In the last, his literary character is thus sketched: "In toto quidem literarum ambitu reluxit, in mathematica vero præsertim et philosophia naturali eminuit. Probè calluit linguas eruditorum, Latinam probissime."

2 He was the son of the first Chief Justice Samuel Sewall; graduated at Harvard College in 1707; and ordained pastor of the Old South church in Boston, as colleague with Rev. Mr. Pemberton, in 1713. Dr. Sewall possessed respectable abilities, and was a very good classical scholar. Upon the decease of president Leveret, he was chosen president of Harvard College; but he declined the appointment. He was a fellow of the corporation near 40 years; was a liberal benefactor to the college; and devoted much of his income to pious and charitable uses, He was a zealous and useful preacher, and delighted in the work of the ministry; " and when he grew venerable for his age, as well as his piety, he was regarded as the father of the clergy." Eliot and Allen, Biog.

3 He was the son of Francis Foxcroft, Esq. of Cambridge; graduated at Harvard College in 1714; and ordained pastor of the Fist Church in Boston, as colleague with Rev. Mr. Wadsworth, in 1717. Dr. Chauncy was settled as his colleague in 1727. Mr. Foxcroft was a learned and orthodox theologian, and a devout and useful preacher. He published many sermons, one of which was a Century Sermon, in 1730, entitled "Observations historical and practical on the rise and primitive state of New England, with special reference to the first church in Boston." Allen, Biog. Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. x. 164. Emerson, Hist. First Church, sect. 13, 14.

4 Near Fort Hill. The "massacre," as it was called, was in KING STREET.

and a single discharge from six others succeeded. Three of 1770. the inhabitants were killed, and five dangerously wounded. The town was instantly thrown into the greatest commotion. The drums beat to arms, and thousands of the inhabitants assembled in the adjacent street. The next morning, lieutenant governor Hutchinson summoned a council; and, while the subject was in discussion, a message was received from the town, which had convened in full assembly, declaring it to be their unanimous opinion," that nothing can rationally be expected to restore the peace of the town, and prevent blood and carnage, but the immediate removal of the troops." On an agreement to this measure, the commotion subsided. One of the wounded men died; and the four killed were buried in one vault, with the highest marks of respect.1 Captain Preston, who commanded the party of soldiers, was committed with them to jail; and all were afterward tried. The captain and six of the men were acquitted. Two were brought in guilty of manslaughter. The result of the trial reflected great honour on John Adams and Josiah Quincy, the council for the prisoners, and on the integrity of the jury.2

postpones

This disastrous occurrence in the capital infused additional Lieut. gov. spirit into the assembly of the province. Accumulated as the Hutchinson public business was, there had been but one session for 18 the assemmonths; yet the lieutenant governor postponed the assembly from bly to

1 Such an immense concourse of people attended the funeral, as to be obliged to go in ranks, six abreast; a long train of carriages, belonging to the principal persons in town, closed the procession.

2 Gordon, i. 199-210. Ramsay, i. 90, 91. Pres. Adams, Lett. i. Bradford, Mass. i. c. 9. Quincy's Life of Josiah Quincy, 31-66; where there is a very full and lucid account of the trial of captain Preston. A MS. Letter of Mrs. Gill, the wife of the late lieutenant governor Gill, and daughter of Rev. Thomas Prince of Boston, gives some interesting particulars of this melancholy occurrence. The letter was written at Boston to the Rev. Mr. Fuller of Princeton; and the original was put into my hands by his son Mr. Elisha Fuller. It is dated "Wednesday, March 7, 1770." It mentions "the horrors of Monday night. The bells rang an alarm about 10 o'clock that night, for the inhabitants to assemble. The cry was, The Soldiers were risen. And though we could scarce know the whole truth then, yet the fact was, they had fired on some people in King Street, killed several, and badly wounded others." On the margin is this note: "Blood lay in puddles in King Street yesterday.”—Mrs. Gill writes, that the inhabitants met first on Tuesday in Fanueil Hall, but in the afternoon "a legal town meeting was warned and assembled to the number of four thousand in the South Meetinghouse; that his Honor returned to their message, that one regiment should be sent to the Castle, the other stay in the town; that they voted it unsatisfactory, and that they would not admit a single soldier to keep in the place; that the commanding officers gave their word and plighted their honour, that not a single soldier or officer should be seen in the streets after dusk; that the main guard and all the other guards in town should be drawn in also; and that early this morning [Wednesday] they should begin to embark for the Castle, and both regiments should be kept there. The guards were called in immediately; the officers and soldiers confined to the barracks; and the night passed in peace."-For a minute account, see Hist. Boston, c. 48.

March;