In May, 1761, the Doctor held his fourth commencement, when his first Bachelors, with some others, took their Master's degree. It was about this time that he published a valuable little tract, entitled, A Demonstration of the Reasonableness, Usefulness, and great Duty of Prayer; which he was earnestly desired to write, in answer to a paper that was handed about, attempting to prove that prayer, as it consists of petitions to the Almighty, is but an useless ceremony. As a sequel to this, he soon after published a Sermon on the Beauty of Holiness in the Worship of the Church of England, being a brief Rationale of the Liturgy. Thus, under his hea viest misfortunes, this faithful steward did not forget the obligations he was under to improve his talents for the promotion of religion; and during a course of the closest attention to the business of the college, he could find some time to employ more immediately in that service.

After this commencement the Doctor went to Stratford; and on the 18th of June he married Mrs. BEACH, the widow of his old friend and parishioner Mr. WILLIAM BEACH, before mentioned; to whose daughter, Mr. JOHNSON, his son, had been married many years. She was a lady with whom the Doctor had been intimately

acquainted, and whom he had greatly esteemed, for more than twenty years; and he was extremely happy with her, after his marriage, so long as it pleased God to continue her.

At the end of the vacation he returned to New-York; and soon after the Governors of the college had an opportunity of providing a mathe matical professor, the Archbishop having not been able to procure one. This was Mr. RoBERT HARPER, a gentleman educated at the uni. versity of Glasgow. With this assistance the President went on much more easily and agreeably than he had been able to do in the preceding year, and the several classes were better instructed. He held his fifth and last commencement in May, 1762.

Besides the sums raised by subscription, and the dividend of the lottery money, the college had at this time received a benefaction of five hundred pounds sterling from the society for the propagation of the gospel, and an estate of about ten thousand pounds currency, bequeathed to it by Mr. MURRAY. But after erecting the building, and other necessary expenses, its funds were low, and the Governors were obliged to expend annually part of their capital. The President had often proposed to solicit for a

collection in England, to augment the fund; but it had been neglected. However, JAMES JAY, M. D. who was about embarking for England, offering his service to promote there a collection for the college, the Governors were persuaded by the President to accept the offer, and Dr. JAY was duly authorised to proceed, Mr. Alderman TRECOTHICK, of London, and others, being joined with him in the commission. He was accordingly furnished with proper ad dresses from the Governors, in behalf of the college, to the King, the Archbishops, the two universities, and the society for the propagation of the gospel. When he arrived in England, he found that Dr. SMITH, the Provost of the college in Philadelphia, was there before him, engaged in the like design in favour of his college. Archbishop, who had most heartily espoused the cause of King's College, and was a great friend to the other, imagining that separate collections at the same time would injure each other, thought it would be best to join them together, and to apply to the King for a brief to go through the kingdom in favour of both of them. This measure was therefore adopted, and it was agreed to divide the profits of the collection equally between the two colleges. The

The

King, who had most graciously received the address from the Governors of the college in New-York, and had conferred the order of Knighthood on Dr. JAY, who was charged with the address, had given four hundred pounds for the use of that seminary; which royal donation was an appropriated benefaction, and therefore was a necessary exception from the general collection. His Majesty was also pleased to give two hundred pounds for the college at Philadel phia, referring it to Mr. PENN as its proper patron. This joint collection produced to King's College near six thousand pounds sterling, clear of expenses.

After waiting two years, a gentleman of Queen's College, Oxford, was recommended to the Archbishop as a proper person to assist Dr. JOHNSON in the management of the college, and who was willing to come over for that purpose, on condition of succeeding him as President after two or three years. This was the Rev. Mr. MYLES COOPER, of whom the Archbishop greatly approved, recommending him as a person well qualified in all respects, excepting that he was but about twenty-five years of age. Mr. COOPER arrived in the autumn of 1762, and was extremely acceptable to the President, and was

treated by him with the affection of a father. He was immediately appointed Professor of Moral Philosophy; and in a short time, by his good conduct, he gave a more effectual recommendation of himself to the Governors than he could possibly bring from other persons. The President had no thoughts of resigning immediately. His intention was to continue in the office at least till after the next commencement in May; but the unexpected and sudden death of Mrs. JOHNSON determined him to relinquish his situation at an earlier period.

Mrs. JOHNSON discovered during the course of her disorder, which was the small-pox, an exemplary patience, faith, and resignation, and expired on the 9th of February, 1763. After this Dr. JOHNSON continued about a fortnight in the neighbourhood of New-York, receiving the visits and condolence of his friends; he then sent his resignation to the Governors of the college, and went to Stratford, there to finish the remainder of his days.

The account of Dr. JOHNSON, for several years past, has been little else than the history of the college in New-York. His relation to it as President now ceased; but his affection for it continued with unabating vigour, and his en