COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS.--COURSE OF STUDY.--POLICY OF
ADMINISTRATION.
Instruction at Dartmouth appears to have commenced in December
following the removal, with four classes in attendance.
In writing to Dr. Erskine, December 7, 1770, President Wheelock says:
"I am now removed into the wilderness with my family, and about thirty
students, English and Indians, who are all designed for the Indian
service." After referring to the erection of a house for his family,
and "another" for his students, he says: "I have also built a
school-house, which is convenient. My nearest neighbor in the town is
two and one half miles from me. I can see nothing but the lofty pines
about me. My family and students are in good health, and well pleased
with a solitude so favorable to their studies."
In President Wheelock's account-book, David Huntington, Thomas
Kendall, Ebenezer Gurley, Augustine Hibbard, James Dean, and Joseph
Grover, are charged with tuition from various dates, ranging from
December 7th to December 14th. The rate is _1s. 4d._ per week,
"deducting abscences." In Connecticut, the tuition, for classical
instruction in the school, had been _1s. 6d._ per week.
The following, from President Wheelock to a distant correspondent,
indicates sufficient patronage of the new institution:
"Hanover, December 3, 1770.
"Dear Sir,--Your son, with companion, are safely arrived. I've sent
back part of my students to Connecticut. I've just got studies fitted,
and made provision for the support of the rest of them. The great
difficulty in taking your son is the want of provisions in this
starved country. I send to Northfield and Montague for my bread, and
expect supply chiefly from thence."
The facilities for acquiring classical and scientific education appear
to have been substantially the same at Dartmouth, at the outset, as in
other American colleges of that period.
The discoveries of Newton and Franklin had a marked, if not
controlling, influence upon the thought of the eighteenth century.
No American college, perhaps, felt this influence more than President
Wheelock's Alma Mater, in which Franklin took a deep interest.
At the period of the founding of Dartmouth, we find that, in Yale
College, the Faculty consisted of Dr. Daggett, who was President, and
Professor of Divinity; Rev. Nehemiah Strong, Professor of Mathematics
and Natural Philosophy, and two or three tutors.
President Wheelock doubtless had his Alma Mater especially in mind, in
planning the curriculum of Dartmouth. He was himself Professor of
Divinity, as well as President. His first associate in instruction,
who acted in the capacity of tutor, was Mr. Bezaleel Woodward, who had
graduated at Yale College in 1764, during the presidency of Rev.
Thomas Clap, of whom his associate in the Faculty, the future
President Stiles, says: "In Mathematics and Natural Philosophy I have
reason to think he was not equaled by more than one man in America."
The fact that Mr. Woodward was subsequently, for many years, a highly
esteemed professor of Mathematics in the college, indicates that he
was a worthy pupil of his distinguished teacher.
There can be no doubt that the college was highly favored, in its
beginnings, in having a president who had been, while at college,
distinguished as a classical scholar, and in later life as an able and
a learned divine, aided by a younger teacher, whose scientific
attainments well qualified him for the duties of his position.
The first preceptor of the Charity School, at Hanover, was David
McClure, who had recently graduated at Yale College. He was an able
and a successful teacher. The various relations of the school and
college were so intimate at this period, that it is nearly impossible
to dissociate them. The word "school," as used by President Wheelock,
frequently includes the college.
Three of Dartmouth's first class were prepared for college at the
"Indian Charity School" in Lebanon, and passed their first three years
at Yale.
The following letter from an eminent teacher, referred to in a
previous chapter, addressed to President Wheelock, introduces their
only new classmate:
"Lebanon, August 10, 1770.
"Rev. Sir: The bearer, Samuel Gray, entered my school about two years
ago, and in that time has been about four months absent. He was well
fitted for college when he was first under my care, and having applied
himself with proper diligence to his studies, and being favored with a
genius somewhat better than common, has made a progress in his
learning answerable to his industry. He will be found upon examination
to be pretty well acquainted with Virgil, Tully, and Horace. He is
likewise able to construe any part of the Greek Testament. He parses
and makes Latin rather better than common. He has been through the
twelve first books of Homer, but, as 't is more than a year since he
recited that author, am afraid he has lost the greater part of what he
then understood pretty well. In Arithmetic, vulgar and decimal, he is
well versed. I have likewise taught him Trigonometry, Altimetry,
Longimetry, Navigation, Surveying, Dialing, and Gauging. He has been
through Martin's 'Philosophical Grammar' twice,--the greater part of
which he understands very well. He has likewise studied Whiston's
'Astronomy,' all except the calculations, which he doth not
understand. He is likewise pretty well acquainted with Geography and
the use of the globes. He went through Watts' 'Logic' last winter, but
having no taste for that study, or rather an aversion to it, he is not
so well skilled in that as in some other parts of learning. About a
year ago he went through so much of rhetoric as is contained in the
'Preceptor,' but suppose he has forgot the most of it. Upon the whole,
though he may not, perhaps, be so well versed in some parts of
learning as the class which he proposes to enter, yet if he applies
himself to his studies with proper diligence, he will be rather an
honor than a disgrace to any college where he shall be graduated. I
ought in justice to him to add, that he is an orderly, well-behaved
youth, and has conducted so well in my school ever since he has been
with me that I have never had the least difference with him on any
account whatever.
"I am, reverend sir, with much esteem,
"Your most humble servant,
"Nathan Tisdale.
"P. S. I have another pupil whom I shall offer for admission into your
college at the end of the vacancy [vacation], if I can fit him by that
time."
* * * * *
A portion of a letter from a somewhat distinguished clergyman and
teacher, Rev. Simeon Williams, of Windham, N. H., introducing several
prominent members of the class of 1774, is worthy of notice here,
although written in 1772. In connection with the reply, it throws
additional light upon the first prescribed course of study at
Dartmouth. After expressions indicating confidence that President
Wheelock will attend, faithfully, to the welfare of the young men, the
language is as follows:
"When they first came to my school they had read enough of Virgil and
the lower Latin classics, together with a sufficient knowledge of the
Greek Testament, to enable them to pass into any of the colleges as
Freshmen. But when their fathers informed me that they intended their
residence only for two years, and that they expected, if they were
under my care, I would qualify them in all the parts of the Freshman
and Sophomore years, so as they might with honor and ability enter the
Junior class, with mature deliberation, I undertook the arduous task.
The first year I confined their studies to Virgil, Cicero's
'Orations,' together with their improvement in Geography, Rhetoric,
and occasional declamations, etc. This second year they have been
reading Homer and Horace, Cicero de Oratore, and a part of Xenophon. I
have also carefully instructed them in all the four parts of Logic
from Doctor Finlay's 'Latin Compend,' expounding the same by familiar
lectures, for the most part extracted from Mr. Locke and Doctor Watts.
There is one kind of study which this last year they have been much
employed in,--I mean double translation,--their improvement therein
will appear to you by casting your eye on their various manuscripts. I
would observe to you that I have not introduced them to the knowledge
of mathematical learning, knowing it is most usual in colleges to put
them to those studies in the Junior year."
In reply President Wheelock says: "We have examined the youth you
sent, and find them deficient in several parts of learning which the
[Junior] class have made some proficiency in, viz., Mathematics,
Geography, and parsing Greek. They have studied Tullie de Oratore, and
Xenophon, and some in Homer, more than that class have done. On the
whole I have concluded to take them into that class, only with this
condition, that they recite those things in which they are deficient
with the Sophomore class while their own class recite other parts in
which they exceed them." The studies of the Senior year do not appear
to have differed materially from those of other colleges, of that
period. Jonathan Edwards was a favorite author in metaphysics and
theology.
President Wheelock in his "Narrative," for 1771, gives the following
lucid statement of the policy and aims of the school and college: "It
is earnestly recommended to the students both in college and school,
"1. That all the English students in the college and school treat the
Indian children with care, tenderness and kindness, as younger
brethren, and as may be most conducive to the great ends proposed.
"2. That they turn the course of their diversions and exercises for
their health to the practice of some manual arts, or cultivation of
gardens, and other lands, at the proper hours of leisure and
intermission from study and vacancies in the college and school.
"3. That no English scholar, whether supported by charity or
otherwise, shall, at any time, speak diminutively of the practice of
labor, or by any means cast contempt upon it, or by word or action
endeavor to discredit or discourage the same, on penalty of his being
obliged, at the discretion of the president or tutor, to perform the
same or the equivalent to that which he attempted to discredit; or
else (if he be not a charity scholar) to hire the same done by others,
or, in case of refusal and obstinacy in this offense, that he be
dismissed from college, and denied all the privileges and honors of
it.
"4. That no scholar shall be employed in labor in the hours of study,
or so as to interrupt him in his studies, unless upon special
emergencies, and with liberty from the president or a tutor.
"5. That accounts be faithfully kept of all the labor so done by them,
either for the procuring provisions for the support of the college and
school, or that which shall be for real and lasting advantage to this
institution; and such accounts shall be properly audited, and a record
kept of the same for the benefit of such scholars, if they should be
called by the providence of God to withdraw from their purpose of
serving as missionaries in the wilderness, or to leave the service
before they have reasonably compensated the expense of their
education.
"6. That such as are not charity scholars, but pay for their
education, may have liberty to labor for the benefit of the
institution at such times as are assigned to charity scholars, and the
just value of their labor be accounted towards the expense of their
support.
"7. That no Freshman shall be taken off, or prevented labor, by any
errand for an under-graduate, without liberty obtained from the
president or a tutor.
"_N. B._ Occasional errands and services for the college and school
are not designed to be accounted, nor their procuring fuel for their
fires, and things equivalent for their own and their chamber's use in
particular, nor anything which shall not be of real or lasting benefit
for the whole, unless in cases where they are incapacitated for labor,
and yet are able to perform such errands for or in the room of those
who can and do labor in their stead.
"Lastly. That this Indian Charity School, connected with Dartmouth
College, be constantly hereafter and forever called and known by the
name of 'Moor's School.'
"Moreover poor youth, who shall seek an education here, at their own
expense, may not only have the advantage of paying any part of that by
turning their necessary diversions to manual labor, but also, as all
that will be paid by such as support themselves will be disposed of
for the support of the Indian, or other charity scholars, therefore,
whatever clothing or provisions shall be necessary for the school will
be good pay at a reasonable price.
"His Excellency Governor Wentworth, among many other expressions of
his care and zeal to preserve the purity and secure the well-being of
this seminary against such evils as have been the ruin of, or at least
have a very threatening aspect upon others which have come within his
knowledge, has insisted upon it as a condition of location, to which
all the trustees have cheerfully subscribed, that wherever it should
be fixed, there should be a society of at least three miles square,
which should be under the jurisdiction of the college, that thereby
unwholesome inhabitants may be prevented settling, and all hurtful or
dangerous connections with them, or practices among them may be
seasonably discovered and prevented in a legal way.[28]
[28] The town of Hanover, at three different times within the next
twenty-five years, by their vote sanctioned this
incorporation of the "College District." But the plan was
never favorably regarded, apparently, by the New Hampshire
Legislature.
"As this institution is primarily designed to christianize the
heathen, that is, to form the minds and manners of their children to
the rules of religion and virtue; and to educate pious youth of the
English to bear the Redeemer's name among them in the wilderness; and
secondarily to educate meet persons for the sacred work of the
ministry, in the churches of Christ among the English; so it is of the
last and very special importance, that all who shall be admitted here
in any capacity, and especially for an education, be of sober,
blameless and religious behavior, that neither Indian children nor
others may be in danger of infection by examples which are not
suitable for their imitation. And accordingly I think it proper to let
the world know there is no encouragement given that such as are vain,
idle, trifling, flesh-pleasing, or such as are on any account vicious
or immoral, will be admitted here; or, if such should by disguising
themselves obtain admittance, that they will not be allowed to
continue members after they are known to be such; nor will it be well
taken, if, on any pretense whatever, any shall attempt to introduce or
impose any youth upon this seminary, whose character shall be
incongruous to, and militates against, the highest, chiefest, and
dearest interests of the first objects of it.
"And it is my purpose, by the grace of God, to leave nothing undone,
within my power, which is suitable to be done, that this school of the
prophets may be and long continue to be a pure fountain.
"And I do with all my heart will this my purpose to all my successors
in the presidency of this seminary, to the latest posterity; and it is
my last will never to be revoked, and to God I commit it, and my only
hope and confidence for the execution of it is in Him alone, who has
already done great things for it and does still own it as his cause;
and blessed be his name that every present member of it, as well as
great numbers abroad, I trust, do join their hearty Amen with me."