New-York tribune., 1878-11-26
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
AMERICAN COLLEGES.


THE COLLEGE BOOK Edited by CHARLES F: RICH
ARDsON aud HENRY A. CLARK. 4tO, pO' 0Ss MUS"
ton, Osgood Co.
A suecinct historical and descriptive account "a
several of the older and more important coIlegdoe
,nstitutions in the United States is presented IN
this comprehensive volume. Many Oh the cn'p'el' %
have been prepared by officers of the respective
colIooos while others have been compiled by the
editors from authentic sources. The work contains
n copious store of information, set forth III an at
tractiye manner and possessing high degree OF IN
terest not only to the graduates of the institutions
described but TO all the friends of university educa
tion, and to a large class of general readers.
The first chapter from the pen Of Professor James
Rarr Ames. is devoted to Harvard University, whch
was founded by the General Court" oi MaSsa-
chusetts and hence was necessarily State eStao-
lishment Belonging to a communltywhere church
members alone were freemen and voters, IL was
also inevitably sectarian institution; It's currlc-
ulum was chiefly made up of the studies pursued
by candidates for the clerical profession; ana WIN
the avowed purpose of maintaining ana prOpaeaVine
q religious creed If we compare the college Oh TO-
day with the college of two hundred ana nlty
wears ago. we shall find that the three prominent
characteristics of the ancient institution have
vanished. 1t is no longer an institution OF the
State. An institution of any religious sect, OF a
university independent alike of Church and State
and devoted to literature and science and all the
liberal professions
The chapter on Yale College, by Mr.. w. l.. Kings
lev. in addition to its value as historical docu-
ment, abOunds with interesting personal notlces VI
several of the presidents, who have exerted Wlue
influence on pnblc opinion, both in their official
and private capacities President Stiles, VINO was
inaugurated in 177S entered upon his office with
great enthusiasm, but the dsordeTed state OF the
country on account of tho Revolutionary War pre-
vented HIM from carrying out his plans for the I'M
provement Of the college. A year after MS aceeS-
sion to the presidency, NewHaven was visited oy a
detachment of 5000 British troops, aud Tor some
hours the town was given up to the Tavages OF an
intoxicated sodery The college buildings mar
rowly escaped being burned. At the close OF the
war, the institution was unpopular in the State.
Complaints were made that it was entirely con-
troed by clergymen and that the course ofinstruc-
tion was arranged in the spirit of bigOtry. Pres-
dent STILES had labored from the first tOallay the
hostility. He could do nothing for the benefit OF
tbe college without additional funds. But 1t was
idle TO expect any assistance at that time from the
public treasury The president did his utmost win
prominent persons and with committees OF the leg
lslature TO aay their pTejudices, and excite theH
interest in favor of the college, But nearly to the
end of his official term he without success Az
last, however he carried his point, and in l792
legislative committee made report highly COM
mendiug the administration of the college. Great
credit is due to President Stiles for the WIS
dom and efficiency by which be succeeded III
restoring the college TO its historic place IN mar
mOny with the legislature and with all classes OF
people in the State. HIS character as scholar
moreover. gave reputation and dignity to the
- III nY
patriot during the war. He took special interest in
contemporary history, leaving voluminous journals
of current events from which subsequent historians
of the period have drawn valuable materials
Warmly attached to the college, he was truly
academic man, Thoroughly imbued with the spirit OF
the place and disposed to maintain all its tradl-
tons No officer of the institution ever labOred with
more zeal for its prosperity. The presidency OF Dr.
Dwight formed brilliant epoch in the history OF
the college. When he entered upon the Office 1795.
the country was beginning to recover from Its
prostration during the war, and a new era of
material pospeTity was approaching. He was
greatly aided in his efforts for the growth OF the
college by three young men, jeremiah Day, Ben
jamin Silliman, and James l.. Kingsley, who sub
seOuently attained distinguished eminence in
letters and science, and for more than half
century were faithful and devoted fellow-laborers
described by the writer in teri Of cordial and
affectionate remembrance, and is justly ranked
among the foremost xnen of the century in which
he lived.
The chapter on the College of New-Jersey, by
Mr. Frederick Vinton, is one of remarkable interest
on account of the large proportion of eminent men
who have occupied the presidential chair, ana OF
whom appropriate notices are given by the writer.
Among these the name of Jonathan Edwards is. OF
course conspicuous, although he died after brief
official course OF little more than month. MI
Vinton, with perhaps a touch of exaggeration,
though fortified In his opinion by other high
literary authorities, speaks Of President Edwards
rs "the cearest intellect the purest and most
exalted spirit in America" "The name OF Ed
wards" he remarks. has carried the name Of
Princeton where it had never gone; it draws
hither during their visits to America the most
advanced iutellects of Europe and when famous
universities shall exist in Tasmania and New
Zealand, sprgs will be cut in our low-walled cOun-
try to form groves of Academus there" The Presi-
dency of John WitherspOOn. which presents one of
the most noticeable features in the history OF
Nassau Hail. receives full justice at the hands of
the writer. DR.. WitherspOon was a native of Scot
land and, while still in early manhood. became
leader in the Scotch Kirk in opposition to the
Moderate party, or Latitudinarians, as they
were generally called. He was master OF
pungent humor, and brought his re-
markable powers of raillery and satire to the
support of orthodox religion. HIS writings were
suited to the taste of the New-Jersey Presbyterans
and in 1866 he received an invitation to the pres-
dency of the college. He declined the proposal at
first for domestic reasons but afterward changed his
mind and entered upon the Office in 176S. His ac-
cession called forth general congratulations He
found the college at low estate. He introduced
into its curriculum the Scottish mental philosophy
and sought to inspire taste for elegant literature
1t was not in his power to erect new buildings and