Colonial North America: Harvard University Archives

Monday. Dined with the Corporation, who this day [reverse?] their choice of a Steward in consequence of the popular clamor against his former political principles.

Tuesday. Mr Turel of Medford was [interned?]. This gentleman was very useful in his prime; had his peculiarities, and gradually wasted for several years before he left the world. He left a will by which the singularities of his [?] may, in some measure, be seen. In the evening the wind was [?] high, and a cry of fire from one of the College chimniys alarmed us all. But it happily did no damage.

Wednesday. A meeting was held at Dr Winthrops when Gordon was called to account for not attending prayer when ordered and admitted to a public acknowledgment. Draper was restored to his place.

Thursday, Rode to Bsoton [raund?] with Miss [P/D?]olly Denning. Took a quarter's Salary and 25£ for extra services. Dined at Mr. Wendell's from whence I was to to set off for Cambridge with Miss [Thaty?]; but a most violent storm prevented. Bought about 30 dollars worth of books more out of [Imiburt's?] Library.

Spent the evening at Mrs Eliot's and returned to my Uncles in the most dark and violent storm we have had this year.

Friday. Looked over some books of Mrs Wendell, at Boston and concluded to take a few volumes [of?] Mr Bower had estimated them: This general rule in nearly Lawful money for O.T. After dinner set out with Miss [Thaty?] Wendell for Cambridge: found the snow very much [lanked], the weather very windy and cold, but got home much safer than I expected. Found Miss Patty very unwell, but some better than she had been.

Spent the evening and the night till 2 o'clock in chatting with [Thurston?] Whiting who is [sertled?] at New-Castle in the Province of Maine and is a preacher somewhat popular. Found [fine?] a mixed medley of almost every thing. He appeard to have equal [portions?] of sense and of folly. Indeed I found him to be only a more enlightened [Tuk.?]

Saturday. It is remembered that this is a time more destitute of news or any important movements than any since the commencement of hostilities at the season of the year. Nothing seems to [engage?] the public attention, unless it be some [inenfiens?] by the Indian & some Britons & Americans upon the inhabitatants of Cherry valley, where all the cruelty of Savages has been exercised. Or unless it be the preparations or the enemy at N.Y & N Port to leave those places; & even those appear doubtful. Spent part of the evening with Patty Wendell, who was able to sit up

Sunday Dec. 13. Preached at Little Cambridge all day. Took sermon composed several years ago and of which I was almost [oftened.?] [Rhode?] over and returned on horseback in a rain storm without taking cold. My health and the weakness in my eye are very much recovered; by which I ought to be stimulated to improve them to the most advantageous purposes. Dr. Appleton was confined by a cold Monday.

Mr. Gannett and I selected, and with Dr. Kneeland we picked about 100 volumes of Books at Mrs Wendell's, which Mr {Gannett} & I bought at 15 per cent. abatement for [risque?] &c.

I tho't myself every happy in being able to read, nearly as much as I could find time for, without my glasses. Tuesday. Dined with the Corperation between 3 & 4 o'clock. Found the Overseers and and the Corporation were engaged in a dispute whether the former had a

right to negative the choice of a Stew ard: and that a Committee from each body were appointed to take the matter into consideration.

From this time to the Vacation, which began a fortnight before the stated time on account of the difficulty of pro curing both provisions & fuel, I spent chiefly in attending to matters of an academic nature.

Altho Dr Kneeland had been chosen Steward and apparently to the general satisfaction of those immediately concerned with College; yet there was such a clamor riased without doors and such spiteful [pieces?] were exhibited to the public that the Corporation saw fit to reconsider this vote. They also chose Steward Hastings to serve till another choice could be made.

Mr Gannett and I divided over books, and I began to barter with them and others, by which means I tho't most advisable for me to procure a library.

I bought a number of valuable

Volumes of Mr. Mason. I found that altho books [immediately?] from the Stores were very dear, much beyond the proportions of the price of preaching, yet that I could procure books second handed to more advantage than heretofore.

I continued preaching at Little {Cambridge} and engaged for the Vacations, upon the condition that they should keep me or my horse whichever I tho't proper and send my horse into Boston when I wanted him there.

Just before the Vacations some alterations were made in the manner of making up the quarter bill, and I [thout?] to very good advantage. These were chiefly [can?] suggested by the Treasurer and were conformable to his plan which always methodical and exact. The salaries also of all the gentlemen of ye College were raised to five times the standing sum for the past and [werent?] quarter. But as it was done by an appointment upon the Students and not paid [but?] collected from them we found we must be deprived of the use of our money till next

Spring which [lesend?] almost half the value of N. ____________

At the usual time of appointing the waiters, atthe public notice had been given, a sufficient number Did not petition; which to [ma?] was a convincing proof that the Scholars were never more independent and that the College [exquires?] were never more easily borne by the generosity of the students.

Power was given to each Tutor the Friday before the Vacation to permit any one that recited to him to go home, if the Tutor thought proper. By this means the major part of the Society were absent before the stated time arrived.

About the time the Vac. began Mr. Winthrop had one of his convulsive fits, fell in to the fire, burnt his leg and his foot which confined him to his chamber.

of this country as well as foreign ones encreased in price beyond the real Depreciation of the Currency, in proportion to the increase of Taxes and the risk of navigation. By this means, tho' the officers of the college were exempted from Taxation, yet they eventually paid taxes, in proportion to thier income, equal to the rest of the community. They did it eventually because they do not set a price on their own labour, while the Merchants, the Farmer, and the mechanic do on theirs.

On a comparison of the annual salary of the president with the annual grants to the professors, together with Dr. Langdons estimate of the deficiences on his salary, it will soon be seen how much the professors ought to receive, in order to make up their deficiences. I mention this, not so much from an expectation of their being made up, as to show that the Professors are not insensible of their sufferings. By the laws now in force, forty continetal paper dollars, or one of the last emission, are legally as valuable as a silver dollar, tho' it is well known that it will take seventy five Continentals, and a proportionable quantity of the other kinds, to purchase one of the last mentioned sort. For this reason I am apprehensive that, should the Court immiediately proceed to make full grants to the Officers of the College for their services for the year past, they will be in danger of receiving but forty parts in seventy five, of what they esteem themselves entitled to in equity. I submit it therefore to your better judgment, whether it will not be most expedient to imitate the Court of the last year, by making them a grant sufficient to purchase the nescesary supplies for the winter season; and to leave the full consideration of their services and exigenices, till it shall be determined whether the Tender Act, shall be repealed or not. Should that Act be repeal'd, I cannot but persuade myself, that the {honorable} Court will in their great wisdom & goodness see fit, from the principle of equity, to make their grants in full proportion to the difference of the current exchange of silver & paper: In this case the officers of the College will pay their full proportion of the public taxes, for it is a maxim founded in truth, "that the consumer pays all taxes." To prevent those officers paying taxes, it would be nescesary to increase their stipends, in proportion to the average rise of the prices of the commodities of home production. I have Sir express'd my sentiments to you without reserve, on a subject in which I feel myself deeply interested, both for my own sake, and that of the other professors in the University, relying on your candour & judgement, that such use only will be made of them, as may serve the interest of literature and of the persons who are devoted to its cultivation. With respectful compliments to Mrs Lowell & family,

I am sir your most obedient humble servant

Edward Wigglesworth

John Lowell {Esquire}

At a Meeting of the Corporation of Harvard College - July [?]th 1781

Vote 9th For the prevention of [disorder?] on Commencement day - voted that the {Honorable} Henry Gardner [esq?] & the {Honorable} Abraham Fuller [esq?] Justices of the Peace through the State, and Loammi Baldwin [esq?] Sherriff of the County of Middlesex be requested to give their attendance on that day, and to [pass?] the following night at Cambridge; and be informed that suitable Lodging will be provided for them

[?] [?] Wigglesworth, Senior Professor

The College Vote of [thanks?]. [a?] Commencement 1781