New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-20
PRINCETON AND THOMAS WREN
HoNoRS CONFERRED IN~17s3.
IN EScu1sHMAx WHO RELIEVED THE SUFFER-

kN ENGLIsHMAN WHO RELIEVED THE SUFFER-
INGs OF AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR.
The commencement exercises ut Princeton College in
September 1878, We're the last that were held during
the Revolutionary War. The battle at Princeton oc-
CURED in January 1777, when Nassau Hail. the college
structure was occupied by part OF the 10th Regi'
ment OF British Infantry and General Knox trained his
artillery upon it TO dis!odge them Up to l''9 inc
building was used alternately by the British and Ame-
can armies and after thai date its dapidated walls
were rebuilt by Hessian prisoners who had oeeh caueu
by the surrender Of General Burgoynes army az sara
toga.
In the autumn OF 1888 the commencement exercises
OF the college renewed. They were held IN the
Presbyterian church. reed for the occasion and were
attended by the Federal Congress, OF which Elias
Boudinot president. by General Washington and ms
staff Count Luzcrne, the Ambassador from France ana
Peter Van Berckel, the Ambassador from Holland.
platform had been erected around the pulpit WHICH, II
may be presumed appropriately caIpeted ana iur-
nished with srmchars IN the Iulpt sat John WitheT-
spoon the president OF the college, with General wash
ington his right hand, and surrounding 1t we're the
dignitaries Just named and the graduating Class Of
fourteen young one of these young men, named
Ashbel Green closed valedctor by addressing words
OF eulogy General Washington He has described the
scene in his autobiography as follows
The valcdlctory Grafton had been assigned to nc and
II concluded with an address 10 General Washington
need not tell You that both in preparing and deliver
rs i addressed him. for his modesty among the
qualities which so highly distinguished HIN.
Then came the comforting Of honorary degrees, the
first of which, announced IN the scotch broSuc 0: the
president was 'Sacrae Theologlac Doctor Thoma WIen
The gentleman whose name was thus published was a
non-conformist minister living in Portsmouth, EnS
land and II IS probable that only few Of the audience
had ever heard Of him. Congress had already, at the
request of Benjamin Franklin, given him vote OF
thanks for the assistance and sympathy with which lie
yyrpt ri
fined in Forton Prison. Portsmouth. who had been
captured on American privateers Honorable mention
was made of him in "The GentlenMn's Magazine Of
November, 1887:
When American prisoners were continually carried IN,
10 Portsmouth during tire late war, ana many OF rnem
were in the most wretched condition, ne IMr. Nichl
was srnc with compassion ana eT Hec es out
Of his own small fortune ana songnt tT m W. he
the distributor of the bountes that raised and this
work employed his attention for many years
The money collected by Mr.. Wren throughout Eng
land for the relief Of American prisoners amounted to
e3s15 us Cd Every Tuesday he visited the Forton
Prison and gave to each prisoner certain sum with
which to buy comforts Among these prisoners was
Timothy Conner. lie was one Of the crew OF inc
prlvateer brgantne Rising states, which sailed from
Boston on January &C. 1777, and was captured In the
Bay OF Biscay on April Is, by the British ship Terrible
of seventy four guns. On June IA he and thirty
seven shipmates were committed to Forton Prison.
Conner remained there until july 1873, and Kept
daily journal Of incidents occurring In the prison during
lbs confinement. Under date of January 13, l77e, he
wrote:
Mr. Wren and Mr. Duckett came and told MS that
the officers were 70 receive five shillngs and the men
two shings per week; and we were ID mavO sun
clothes as We stand in need OF from government love
likewise from dOnstonS, both o1cers ana men,
On April :, 1878, he went to the prison and paid
the officers eight shillings and the men two as
Corners Journal Soon after this the Journal
begins to record wrens weekly visits, always on
Tuesdays, for example:
Tuesday MAY 8. Mr. Wren and Mr.. Duckett came
and paid us our money no news o. our gong none.
Duckett and paid US our money. Nothing to eat
these two days but Sinking beef AZ the men IN the
beef back and threw ii into the cooks window ana eII
without any
II was these benefcent services to American seamen
in prison which Princeton College desired to recognize
when the honorary degree of s. T. D. was conferred on
the Rev rno Wren ss IN S on bT ySe Of
Congress- in the following letter, which is now printed
for the first time:
Sir aye had the oqS1T tG a
the Congress OF the United States OF America ana
Diploma of Doctor In Divinity from the College OF
The Sentiments which you are pleased to express
liberty to request that you will present TO the Honour
able Congress. in better manner than am able to
tinguished honor they have done me- receive this
testimony OF their appreciation with the highest sense
the pure result of their own goodness For tho ever
determined to do every thing in my power for the
relief of their captives yet not my efforts equal
TO my wishes. All possible assistance to men suffer
ing deeply and in such cause appeared 10 me TO
be in the strictest sense my duty. And the I'M
pulse Of that humanity which feel the attachment
10 that liberty which l adore, and the desire Of
succouring oppressed innosence, obtained full
qualification am the more affected with the acknowl-
edgements of that Honorable body which you
preside. Their Vote of Thanks to me, also acquires
additional value. IS the act Of men who had spirit
equal TO defence OF their rights. and perseverance
sufficient for the emancipation Of their country. Such
honours other men can Offer such honOurs no
other men possess.
pray the of you Sir TO convey the enclosed
70 the President OF the College at Princeton. And per-
nit me Sir to add that esteem myself greatly Obliged
by the very polite and friendly manner in which You
have communicated to me these high and undeserved
regards of your country
MAY your country Sir. be the seat OF freedom the
region of virtue and prosperity, and the asylum Of
the oppressed forever.
with sincere respect and esteem have the honour
70 be Honorable Sir Your very obliged and humble
servant THOMAS WREN.
To the Honorable Elias BOudinot EsQr