Litchfield enquirer., 1846-10-08

4 vi using genius
"r' 1rumbull Immediately sought his &C.
quaintance, and began an Intimacy, which
continued during their joint residence at
New Haven, and friendship terminated on
ly by death.
AT this period the learned languages,
mathematics, logic, and scholastic theology.
were alone deemed worthy of the attention
Of a scholar. They were dignifed with the
name of So1id Learning. English poetry
and the bellies lettres were called folly, non
sense and an idle waste of time. The two
friends were obliged to stem the tide of CEN
eral ridicule and censure. This situation
first called forth the satirical talents Of
Irumbull, in occasional humorous and no.
etical essays. Their party was soon in.
creased by the accession of several voung
men ofgenius; and material change was
eventually effected in the taste and pursuits
of the students.
In 1909, they began the publication of
series OF essays in the manner of tie Specta.
tor, in gazette printed i'll Boston, and Con-
tinued it several months They next COM
menced course of similar ESSAYS in The
newspapers printed at New Haven, which
they increased occasionally to more than
forty numbers
Yale College was founded in the year
100, by the donations Of a number of the
Congregational clergy and a Board of
Trustees was soon afe: incorporated by a
charter from the Legislature. 1t was de-
signed as religious institution for the ed
ucation of youth for the ministry. In 1893
the Rev Thomas Clapp was appointed Pres
ident and continued in office almost thirty
years. He was an accurate scholar in the
learned languages, particularly fond of the
Hebrew, and uncommonly skilled in geom-
etrical and astronomical calculations. By
his aid and influence, some Of the students
were induced to tuln their attention to these
subjects. About the year l740, a few men,
cultivation of polite literature, and produced
some successful essays in English poetry
But when they quilted the college they left
no successors; and the poem entitled, Phi.
losophic Solitude, by William Livingston,
afterwards Governor of New Jersey, is all
that remains TO the public, Of their produc-
tionS at that period. In 1868, the study Of
Algebra was first introduced by the tutors,
and made part of the collegiate exercises,
But Yale College had now become unpup-
ular among large proportion of the inhab-
itants of the colony. The trustees, relying
on their chart ter, claimed to be completely in
dependent of the government; and denied
its right Of visitation, or of any interference
with the management of the institution
They were charged with illiberaity towards
all denominations of Christians but their
own. Many civilians encouraged the stu
dents in opposition to their authority. A
petition was drawn and signed by almost ev-
cry mixer OF the higher classes, addressed
to the trustees, containing charges against
instructors, AMI praying for their dismissal
from Office. All authority and subordina-
ton were now at an end; the tutors abdica.
ted, and the scholars were dispersed during
the summer Of the year 1866. After holding
the commencement in September, the Pres,-
dent resigned his office. The professor of
theology was appointed president pro tempo.
re. Three very respectable gentlemen and
accomplished scholars were chosen to the
tu,orship; one of whom was Mr.. Mitchell,
since Chief Justice Of The State. After the
vacation the students were assembled, and
order was again established. The manage
ment of the institution fell almost entirely
into the hands of the tutors. They encour-
aged the study of the English gra INNER and
language, and excited some attention to
composition and oratory. But the state of
the college precluded any great or immediate
innovation in The usual course of instrnc-
ton.
In 1863, Mr.. Joseph Howe, afterwards
pastor of a church in Boston, was appointed
one of the tutors. He was not only good
classical scholar, but possessed an elegant
taste and considerable poetical talents
Besides the usual collegiate studies, he en-
ployed the class under his immediate care
in English compositions, instructed them in
the beau,ies Of style, and exercised them
frequently in public defamation. A relish
for polite literature became general among
the students.
In September l77l, all the tutors, except
Mr.. iiowe, resigned the Office. Messrs.
Trumtull and Dwight ere chosen 10 snip
ply the vacancies. From this period, every
effort was unanimously made, to cultivate
in that seminary, correct taste in style
and elCcution.
In l172, Trnmbull published the frs. part
of poem, which he entitled, the Progress OF
Dulness, designed to expose the absurd meth