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EARLY HARVARD.

By the Rev. Josiah Lafayette Seward, A.M.


The valuable histories of Harvard University, by Quincy, Peirce, and
Eliot, and the wonderfully full and accurate sketches of the early
graduates, by John Langdon Sibley, the venerable librarian emeritus, are
treasuries of interesting information in regard to the early customs and
the first presidents and pupils of that institution. From these various
works we have gathered the following items of interest, which we will
give, without stopping at every step to indicate the authorities. Mr.
Sibley has preserved the ancient spelling, which is so quaint, that we
shall attempt to reproduce it.

October 28, 1636, the General Court of Massachusetts "agreed to give 400
(pounds) toward a schoale or colledge, whearof 200 (pounds) to be paid
the next yeare, & 200 when the worke is finished, & the next Court to
appoint wheare & what building." On November 15, 1637, the "Colledg is
ordered to be at Newtowne." On November 20, 1637, occurs the following
record of the General Court: "The Governor Mr. Winthrope, the Deputy Mr.
Dudley, the Treasurer Mr. Bellingham, Mr. Humfrey, Mr. Herlakenden, Mr.
Staughton, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Damport, Mr. Wells, Mr. Sheopard,
& Mr. Peters, these, or the greater part of them, whereof Mr. Winthrope,