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Harvard College.

Hon. JOHN ALFORD, Esq. of Charlestown, and one of natural history, by subscription of public spirited individuals, not yet completed. The late governor Bow DOIN gave £400 to the university, the interest of which is to be applied in premiums, for the advancement of useful and polite literature among the residents and graduates of the college.

In the year 1782, three medical professorships were established, viz. a professorship of anatomy and surgery; a professorship of the theory and practice of physic; a professorship of chymistry and materia medica. The funds of the two first were left by the late Dr. EZEKIEL HERSEY, of Hingham, his brother, the late Dr. ABNER HERSEY, of Barnstable, and the late Mrs. SARAH DERBY, widow of Dr. Hersey, of Hingham, afterward the wife and widow of the late Richard Derby, Esq. of Salem. The late Dr. JOHN CUMINGS, of Concord, added to the fund for the professor of the theory and practice of physic. The fund for the professor of chymistry and materia medica, was left by the late WILLIAM ERVING, Esq. All these professorships take the names of their founders.

For a number of years before the revolution, there were, generally, in the university from 180 to 190 undergraduates in the college. During the war, the numbers were much less, since the war, they have been gradually increasing, and now, 1804,

there are 220 undergraduates. Indigent students are much assisted in their education.

In 1639, a printing office was set up at Cambridge by Mr. Daye, at the charge of Mr. Glover, who died on his passage to America. The first thing here printed was the freeman's oath; the next an almanack made for New England by Mr. Peirce, mariner; the next the Psalms newly turned into metre, now obsolete, though once used in all the churches, and called, the New England Psalms.

At Kennebec, this year, the Indians being in want of food, determined to kill the English at the Plymouth trading house there, and seize the provisions. A number of them, to execute the business, entered the house in their usual manner, Mr. Willet, the master, being engaged in reading the Bible, his countenance more solemn than at other times, and not looking at them, nor noticing them, as they expected, they instantly retired and told their companions, their plot was discovered; who inquiring how that was possible; they replied, that it was certain, from Willet's countenance, and they supposed he had discovered it by the book he was reading; so the Plymouth people escaped without harm.*

In the spring of this year also, Rowley was settled. This was in consequence of the arrival of

* WINTHROT..

186

estates.

Rowley settled.

Mr. Ezekiel Rogers, with about twenty families, godly people, and most of them possessing good Mr. Rogers was a man of great note in England for his zeal, piety, and abilities; Mr. Ea ton and Mr. Davenport exerted themselves, therefore, to persuade him and his company to proceed to New Haven and settle with them. In conse. quence of these importunities, he made a partial engagement to comply; and sent on several persons to examine the place, who not finding every thing to their satisfaction, and he, feeling his responsibility to many persons of " quality in England, who depended on him to choose a fit place for them," consulted with the ministers of Massachusetts. By their advice, he and his "holy, humble people" took a place between Ipswich and Newbury, and these towns having granted some farms on this tract, Mr. Rogers's company purchased them at the price of £800. They then sent a pinnace to New Haven for their people, who had gone there, but Mr. Davenport, and Mr. Eaton, and their people were so zealous to obtain Mr. Rogers and his flock, that they detained the pinnace, and sent on a messenger with letters to obtain them if possible, even pleading his engagement. Mr. Rogers again desired the ministers to assemble; he laid before them his letters from New Haven; they determined that he was free from all engagements; according to this, he sent them his final answer, and proceeded with his

Character of its first Inhabitants.

197

plantation at Rowley, so called from Rowley, in England, where he had lived.

*.

This religious people then considered it a great privilege to settle so near Ipswich, four miles distant, on account of being able to attend the lectures of both towns. They were very industrious, being about sixty families, who soon erected as many houses. They were the first in North America, who made cloth, and here was the first fulling mill in New England. It stood just above the head of the tide on mill river; where now are mills. A cedar tenter post, which they brought out of England, is now perfectly sound. A number of years after, their cotton manufactures exceeded those " of all other towns."+ "of Even their children were distinguished for their diligence in spinning cotton..

No less diligent were this people in attending the ordinances of the gospel, and in gathering a church. Almost every individual among them was considered truly religious," meet to be a living stone" in the temple of the Lord. In 1644, churches were to be gathered at Andover and Haverhill; but the magistrates and ministers notified, desired that "from the remoteness of those towns, and their scarcity of houses," the meeting might be at Rowley, to which they both consented.†

Their minister, Mr. Rogers, was born at Weathersfield, in England, 1590. His father, Mr. RichJOHNSON ↑ WINTHROP

199

Character of Mr. Rogers."

ard Rogers," was a man who walked with God,” who would sometimes say, I should be sorry if every day were not to me as my last day. Ezekiel very early showed a sparkling wit, a correct judgment, and a capacity for learning. At thirteen years of age, he was "capable of preferment at the university." At twenty, he took the degree of master of arts. Leaving college, he became a chaplain in the religious family of Sir Francis Barrington. Here he was conversant with people of the first rank.

Mr. Rogers was celebrated both for his prayers and sermons; his strains of oratory were delightful. After he had lived five or six years in the family of Sir Francis, he bestowed on him the benefice of Rowley, in Yorkshire. He hoped that the evangelical and zealous preaching of Mr. Rogers, would awaken that drowsy neighbourhood. His church standing in the centre of several villages, a great assembly attended his preaching.

But while others were enlightened and encouraged, Mr. Rogers had little comfort in his own mind. He had many fears, and great distresses respecting his own experience of those truths, which he preached to others. He feared he was himself a stranger to that faith, repentance, and conversion, which he pressed upon others. He trembled lest his own heart was not duly impressed with those pathetic expressions by which he affected and moved others. His affliction was in