"he shall see cause to appoint) caused memori "ter to recite the Assembly's Catechism in Latin, "and AMES's Theological Theses; of which, as "also AMES's Cases of Conscience, he shall make, 66 or cause to be made, from time to time, such 66 explanations as may (through the blessing of 66 God) be most conducive to their establish66 ment in the principles of the Christian Pro"testant religion."*

The students, being compelled to move in these literary and theological trammels, could make but small progress in useful science. And, indeed, had they not been thus circumscribed, their opportunities for improvement were inconsiderable. There were no books in the country but such as were imported with the first settlers, near a century before, and which were published before learning was methodised and refined from the rubbish and dross of the schoolmen. It was looked upon as time well employed, and, all things considered, perhaps it really was, for those who were desirous of making a figure in learning to draw up a synopsis or abridgment of some of those old English or Dutch systems which the country afforded. In this way

See Mr. CLAP's History of Yale College, p. 10.

Mr. JOHNSON was eminent; and he went so far as to venture upon drawing up a small but general system of all the parts of learning within his reach, in which the numerous scholastic distinctions and definitions were duly adjusted and arranged.

He was now thought an adept, and he himself had no small opinion of his own abilities as a scholar. But after a year or two he met with a book, which his curiosity prompted him to pur chase. This was Lord BACON's Instauratio Magna, or Advancement of Learning, and perhaps the only copy that was then in the country. He sat down to it with great eagerness; and as his love of knowledge and truth was his ruling passion, he endeavoured to divest his mind of all prejudice, and to study that great work with the utmost impartiality and candour. The careful reading of such a book soon brought down all his towering imaginations, and reduced him to a low opinion of his own abilities. In short, every thing appeared new to him, and he seemed to himself like a person, to use his own expression, "suddenly emerging out of the glimmer of twilight into the full sunshine of open day."

About this time some presents of modern books were made to the college library. The

collection sent over by Mr. DUMMER, who was: agent for the colony, amounted to 800 volumes; to which collection many eminent writers of the Church of England, both laymen and clergymen, contributed, by giving a set of their own works; particularly Sir ISAAC NEWTON, Sir RICHARD BLACKMORE, Sir RICHARD STEELE, Dr. BURNET, Dr. WOODWARD, Dr. HALLEY, Dr. BENTLEY, and Dr. KENNET. Mr. JOHN-SON then embraced, with inexpressible pleasure, the opportunity of reading the works of our best English divines, philosophers, and poets. Among other authors, he carefully read the works of the great Drs. BARROW, PATRICK, SOUTH, TILLOTSON, SHARP, SCOTT, WHITBY, and SHERLOCK. To one in his situation, all this was like a flood of day breaking in upon his mind.

Under these new advantages, one would imagine that the general literary state, both of the country and the college, would soon have put on a new and better appearance. Yet Mr. JOHNSON observes, that but very few discovered an inclination or curiosity to consult any of the abovementioned excellent writers, except Messrs. CUT-LER, ELIOT, HART, WHITTELSEY, WETMORE, BROWN, and himself. Mr. CUTLER was educated at Harvard College, in Cambridge, gradu

ated in 1701, and had Congregational ordination at Stratford in 1710, where he continued, in high esteem, as the parish Minister. Messrs. WETMORE and BROWN were Mr. JOHNSON'S class-mates at college: the others were young ministers in some of the neighbouring towns, and confined their reading chiefly to the writers in theology. Their common fondness for the new library often brought these gentlemen together, and occasioned them to enter into a particular acquaintance and correspondence with one another. Of these worthy associates, Mr. JOHN SON and Mr. BROWN entered into the closest league of friendship; and they joined together in studying the philosophers as well as the divines. They also read the classics in some of the best editions.

In 1715 the college at Saybrook was in no small danger of breaking to pieces. The scholars entertained so mean an opinion of their tutors, that they despised them, and refused to pay them any marks of respect, openly complaining that they could learn nothing from such teachers. At length most of them, one after another, went off, seeking for better instruction, which, indeed, it was difficult to find. Those belonging to the towns on Connecticut

River joined together, under the direction of Messrs. WOODBRIDGE and BUCKINGHAM, Ministers at Hartford, who were Trustees of the college. These two gentlemen being desirous of obtaining a removal of the college from Say brook to Weathersfield, in their own neighbourhood, persuaded Messrs. WILLIAMS and SMITH to set up a collegiate school at Weathersfield, to which all the young gentlemen above-mentioned speedily resorted; while some, who belonged to the towns on the sea-shore, put themselves under the tuition of Mr. JOHNSON, at Guilford.

This occasioned a general meeting of the Trustees. The majority of that board, together with Mr. SALTONSTALL, the Governor of the colony, were for establishing the college in NewHaven; but, as the academical schism was so great, they thought it expedient to refer the matter to the General Court (or meeting of the Governor, Council and Assembly), which was to be held at New-Haven in October, 1716.

Accordingly, when the matter came to a hearing before the General Court, it was found that a majority of both houses was for establishing the college in New-Haven; and during that very session an act of assembly was passed for that purpose. The Trustees, who approved of this