Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-09-10
From the Providence Journal of Friday
Commencement.


Every thing connected with the celebration
of CONNIE encement passed oil pleasantly and
happily. A larger number of graduates than
usual attended iIis anniversary, and the city
was crowded with strangers. The perfor.
mances Of the graduating class were not only
well written, but well delivered, aud were re-
ceived with great satisfaction by the audience.
The degree of B. A. was conferred upon the
following young gentlemen
/ Anthony, Bobbut, Benjamin, Chatin, Cha
pin, Coe, Cox, Cullen, Dawes, Jr Dicsman,
Durfee, Fletcher, Goddard Goddard Cover,
Greene, Jilson, Raymond Lopez, Metcalf
\ Morris, Mowry, Pearce, Prevaux, Rider, io-
gers, Smaller, Shurtlen, TopllH. Waterman,
Francis Wa, land, Jr., Weston, White.
/ The degree NJ. A. was conferred in course
upon the following gentlemen:
Il Andrew Croswell of class Of lS43, " X.
Lord, of class lSi3 Henry Day, Amory Gale,
James, Benjamin Gardner, Ftz Henry Weld,
Page, Miles, lIewes, Jones. Lyman Jewett,
Packard, of class Of lS42 Warren, OF class OF
1885 Cushman, A. B. Amherst, of class of
iSl3 John Webster, A. b., Dartmouth, of
class Of lsll Rev. Addison Packer, a. B',
Mlddlebury, of class of 1923 Andrew Dexter,
A. B Hamilton, of class Of lS43 l.. +. Wat
sou. ofclass Of 1910.
The honorary degree of Doctor Of Divinity
was conferred on Rev. Alvan Bond, of Nor
wich, Conn,-on Rev. Edwards Park,
Professor OF Sacred Rhetoric, in the Theologi-
cal Seminary AT Audover, Mass,,-Rev George
Burgess, of Hartford, Conn, and Rev. Baron
|. Stow, of Boston. The first three are graduates
of The College
Il The honorary degree Of Master Of Arts was
conferred on Rev. James n. Granger, Of Prov.
idence, aud on Wilkins updike, Esq, OF South
1 Kingstown
Il Comme ncement Dinner was servedas usual,
Il in Commons Hail. which was completely h'led
4 with the graduates aud friends OF thu insiiiI-
!. ton. After the dinner, psalm was sung to
II the tune of old hundred, the whole company
n joining, according 10 custom.
Il After the psalm, DR.. Way land called upon
|. Hon. William Hunter who delivered some
| highly interesting "reminiscences OF lhe late
II Governor Fenner, aud incidentally of College
Il life, at the time when Gov. Fenner was stu.
| dent, aud of the bench and bar of Rhode Is
/ land, when he entered upon the practice OF the
! law. Mr. Hunters remarks were listened to
\ with gratifed attention BY the company.
4 Professor Caswrll proposed as IA sentiment,
| "'rhe class of lS2l distinguished alike for
/ mercantile enterprise, professional cminence,
and for continued attachment to their Alma
Il Mater"
I In reply to this sentiment, Geo Russell, Esq,
| alluded 10 the changes in tho institution with.
Il in the quarter Of a century which had passed
! since he graduated. As an illustration Of the
| mode Of College life which prevailed ~ his
| dav, he related an anecdote Ihat occurred ~ II
4 year which should be blank, although be saw
| around him several gentlemen who could read,
| lly furnish the date The Freshmen Class of
| that year was ST. numerous that the accommo-
daiions provi for them III that hall were IN
\ sufficient, aud temporary table wasconslruct-
\ ed of boards placed upon p'anks, the ends oi
Il which projected through the window. One
L day, at dInnor; when the Freshmen were en-
| gagged in Daslicatlng against time, alter the
II manner which has distinguished Freshmen
immemorably, it happened, by some strange
accident, that heavy bomb fell from fourth
story window upon the proirudlng end OF the
| plank, causing dismay which could hardly
have been exceeded, had the bomb fallen and
exploded within the nall, but furnishing 4
beautiful illustration of the principle of the
lever, for while the dinner flew up To the cell
ing the astonished Freshmen fell down-to the
floor II was one indscriminate mass, commons
beef, potatoes, rice and molasses, Of course, ant
Freshmen. The scene was rich beyond de
scription in attitude and in gravy, and vii
never be forgotten by those who were favored
with a view of it. Now, continued Mr. Rus
SELL looking very poinledly TO the Professor o
Mathematics if any grave and reverend pro
, lessor should object that, in relating this anec
III
OF the present generation, he could only say lha
he presented the subject a. a fit one for phil
oSophical inquiry, for Notwithstanding In
; great pains which had been expended IN ih
investigation, it had never been discovered b.
, what accident the bomb happened to fall at tn
+ exact time that dinner was upon the table )
. and if such stern professor should still remai
unSa'isiied he should be compelled 10 conclud
that he was one of the Freshmen, and that tn
memory of excoraed elbows, thumped chin
y cut tongue and lost dinner was still ranking /
. his breast, and disqualified him from giving a
impartial consideration to the subject.
hlr, Russell spoke also of The happy chang
= which had taken place IN the morals oi The co
! lege. When he was a student hard drnkin
; was considered regular part Of the collegiat
n course, and however deficient they might be /
!, other respects, they were generally all deep !
i the unknown quantities. He warmly congIatr
= lated the college upon the change which ha
-, taken place in This respect
d Mr. Fay, of the same class, bore the same te
tmony to the improvement which had take
place in the morals of the college.
Speeches were also made by Rev. Mr.. Pacl
|. ard, Rev DR.. Burgess, John King>bury, Esq
: and others, and the dinner passed of mo-
10 pleasantly.
e. The Phi Beta Kappa Society listened TO a
!, II orallon, III the afternoon, from the Hon Sol'
a mon Lincoln, of bingham, Mass. The subjc
., II was "'rhc present aspect of Historical Ll,er
/; ture, and the duty Of American Scholars to cu
!, ltivatc it,"
8 The subject was happily chosen, and VIZ
r. briefly and well discussed
II In the evening. numerous party OF Iadl
aud gentlemen called to pay their respects 10 Il
President of the University.
The Celebration OF the Philcrmenan al
United Brothers Societies on Tuesday, =. N
W was very fully attended. The Grafton was
ir T.. p. Whipple, Esq, and no Grafton has bee
if received in tins city with more favor by the a
dience The subject was the relation OF autho
D. to their age to the public, TO booksellers, and
domestic and social life.
as y..