ARTICLE VI.

REVIEW OF QUINCY'S HISTORY OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY.

By one of the Professors of Yale College.

The History of Harvard University, by Josiah Quincy, LL. D., President of the University. In two volumes. Cambridge: John Owen. 1840.

[Concluded from Vol. VI. p. 403.*]

FROM the unfavorable view given by President Quincy of the conduct of Governor Saltonstall, we felt some curiosity to see what representation was made of certain transactions relating to another Connecticut governor, in which, if there was any thing of questionable correctness, all the blame, we suppose, does not attach to any individual or any institution, either in the colony of Connecticut or of New Haven. We refer to the proceedings under Governor Hopkins's will. Edward Hopkins is reckoned in this work among the principal early benefactors of Harvard College. His "noble beneficence," says President Quincy, "stands in bold relief; exceeded by that of none of his contemporaries in original value, Sir Matthew Holworthy and William Stoughton, alone excepted; and, at the present day, greatly surpassing those of both, in amount and efficiency."+ How this bequest was made, the author has given no very particular and distinct account. Neither the will at large, nor any extract from it, is to be found in these volumes. We are told, however, that Governor Hopkins's will "is an interesting monument of private friendship and public spirit; and justifies the universal language of his contemporaries, who, in eulogizing his character, never fail to celebrate his possession of those

The following Errata have occurred in the previous sections of this Review. Vol. VI. p. 182, 1. 32, for "1649" read "1648”—p. 191, 1. 8, for "holydays" read "on days preceding the holydays"-p. 387, l. 11, for "them ?" read "them." † Vol. I. p. 168.

qualities, which make a man beloved. Then follows the following abstract. "To numerous friends and domestics he bequeathed legacies, amounting to four thousand pounds sterling; to institutions in Connecticut, for the promotion of religion, science, or charity, one thousand pounds sterling. For the advancement of the same noble objects in Massachusetts, the bequest of five hundred pounds, vested in trustees, was destined to find its sphere of usefulness in Harvard College, or its vicinity. After an unceasing flow of annual benefits for more than a century, his bounty now exists on a foundation of productive and well-secured capital, amounting nearly to thirty thousand dollars."* It appears afterwards, that this "legacy" was not readily paid, but was obtained by a decree in chancery, in March 1712-13, amounting to eight hundred pounds sterling; interest for a certain time having been allowed. A letter of the trustees of this legacy, to Lord Chancellor Harcourt, appears in the appendix of the first volume,‡ in which, says President Quincy, their "gratitude is expressed in very lively terms." There is likewise credited 1658," Edward Hopkins, of Hartford, a legacy payable in corn and meal, one hundred pounds."§

This account of what is justly called the "noble beneficence" of Governor Hopkins, we cannot but think in some respects erroneous, and in others defective. That the few corrections, which we have to apply, may be more intelligible, we shall first exhibit the leading facts of this case, according as they appear in the documents to which we have access.

Edward Hopkins was a London merchant, and came to New England in 1637, with Theophilus Eaton, the Rev. John Davenport, and their associates. After a residence of some months in Massachusetts, Mr. Eaton and Mr. Davenport founded a new colony at the West, to which they afterwards gave the name of New Haven; and Mr. Hopkins established himself at Hartford in the colony of Connecticut, where, from 1640 to 1654, he was elected governor every other year. Mr. Eaton was elected Governor of New Haven every year, from the founding of the colony to the time of his death. Between Governor Eaton and Governor Hopkins, there was a near family alliance; the latter having married Anne Yale,|| a step-daughter of the former.

* Vol. I. p. 170. + Ibid. p. 205. + lbid. p. 521. § Ibid. p. 507.

Governor Yale, from whom Yale College takes its name, was a nephew of Anne Yale.

Governor Hopkins was likewise a strong personal friend of Mr. Davenport, with whom he maintained, during his residence in Connecticut, a frequent and confidential intercourse. Somewhere about the year 1652, the precise time we have not ascertained, Governor Hopkins went to England, to settle the estate of a deceased brother. That he was expected to return soon, is evident from the fact, that he was once elected governor of Connecticut, after his departure. A short time only after his arrival in England, he was returned a member of Parliament, and was employed by Cromwell in several important public

trusts.

It had been, from the first, a favorite object with Mr. Davenport, of which Governor Hopkins must have been fully apprised, to establish a college in New Haven; and within two or three years after Governor Hopkins left the country, the legislature of this colony voted to found such an institution, and appropriated certain lands for its encouragement and support. Upon this, Mr. Davenport wrote to Governor Hopkins what had been done; and aware without doubt of his intentions, if such an institution should be begun, solicited his patronage of the new seminary. To the communication of Mr. Davenport Governor Hopkins replied, in a letter dated April 30th, 1656: "That which the Lord hath given me in those parts [New England], I ever designed the greatest part of it, for the furtherance of the work of Christ in those ends of the earth; and if I understand that a college is begun and likely to be carried on in New Haven, for the good of posterity, I shall give some encouragement thereunto."

Intercourse with England, at this time, was at long intervals; and before there was opportunity for another communication from Mr. Davenport, Governor Hopkins died. His death took place in London, March, 1637. On the 7th of the same month, he had made a will, with all the requisite formalities. In this instrument, after ordering various legacies to be paid out of his estate in New England, to his friends in Connecticut, he adds: "And the residue of my estate there, I do hereby give and bequeath to my father, Theophilus Eaton, Esq., Mr. John Davenport, Mr. John Cullick, and Mr. William Goodwin, in full assurance of their trust and faithfulness in disposing of it, according to the true intent and purpose of me the said Edward Hopkins, which is, to give some encouragement in those foreign plantations, for the breeding up of hopeful youth, both in the grammar school and college, for the public service of the coun

try in future times." In disposing of his estate in England, or as he expresses himself," this England," he first makes provision for his "dear distressed wife," she being in a state of hopeless mental derangement, leaving her in the care of her brother, David Yale. Afterwards, among other numerous bequests, he makes this: "My farther mind and will is, that within six months after the decease of my wife, five hundred pounds be made over into New England, according to the advice of my loving friends, Major Robert Tomson and Mr. Francis Willoughby, and conveyed into the hands of the trustees before mentioned, in further prosecution of the aforesaid public ends, which, in the simplicity of my heart, are for the upholding and promoting the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ in those parts of the earth."*

The trustees under the will immediately set about disposing of that part of the estate, which was in New England; and after paying the various legacies, they at one time supposed that there would be a residue of one thousand pounds. Difficulties, however, occurred in selling lands and in collecting debts; so that a considerable deduction must be made from this sum, in estimating the amount of the final receipts. From the proceeds of the estate, they established a grammar school in New Haven, which was considered a part of the college already instituted there, as before mentioned, a grammar school in Hartford, and another in Hadley, Massachusetts. Besides making these appropriations, they gave one hundred pounds for the benefit of Harvard College.

Anne Hopkins, the widow of Governor Hopkins, died the tenth of December, 1699;† having outlived nearly thirty years all the trustees under the will. John Davenport, the last surviving trustee, died in 1670. But before the death of all the original trustees, a new board was instituted by the survivors, and authorized to receive all dues from the estate, particularly the five hundred pounds payable six months after the death of the widow. Every thing else was done, which was thought necessary in "disposing "of the bequests of Governor Hopkins.

* These extracts are taken from an attested copy of the will, remaining among the Hopkins papers in New-Haven.

† Several dates which we have adopted differ somewhat from the corresponding dates in President Quincy's History, and Mr. Savage's Notes on Winthrop's Journal; but after comparison, we have preferred to follow the authorities before us.

These arrangements were supposed to be legal; and their legality has never been questioned in Connecticut.

On hearing of the death of Anne Hopkins, the trustees in New Haven took some measures to procure the five hundred pounds, to which they supposed themselves to have an undoubted claim. But in the mean time, Henry Dally, the executor and residuary legatee of Governor Hopkins had died, and his executor and the heirs at law alleged, that "after all the just allowances made, there were not assets sufficient to pay the five hundred pounds, etc." The new trustees seem to have been afraid to engage in a chancery suit, as they must have been at considerable expense, and the prospect of success was doubtful; and instead of taking prompt measures to ascertain the real state of their claim, suffered the time to pass in useless deliberation. In this state of things, in Michaelmas term, 1708, an information was filed by the attorney general in behalf of the society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts, against the executor of Dally and others; as this society had been induced to make an attempt to obtain Governor Hopkins's bequest of five hundred pounds for themselves. The news of this movement probably reached Cambridge in the course of a few months; as we are told by President Quincy, that "in June 1709, the corporation took measures to secure the legacy of Edward Hopkins."* He adds: "More than forty years had elapsed since the death of this benefactor, and his heirs interposed obstacles, which rendered the pursuit of the claim of the college troublesome and expensive, and final success dubious. Not deterred by these difficulties, the corporation appointed Henry Newman, of London, their agent, and remitted forty pounds sterling for the prosecution of their rights."

Mr. Newman was evidently an active and faithful agent; as, on the 9th of the following July, the cause came to a hearing; and reference was made to a master in chancery, without doubt at Mr. Newman's instance, " to take an account of the assets of the said Edward Hopkins's estate, liable to the said five hundred pounds, etc. ;"" and in case the said five hundred pounds should be recovered, it was ordered and decreed, that the same should be paid and applied to the school or college in New England for the breeding up of scholars there in the study of divinity, according to the will of the said Edward Hopkins, and in order

* Vol. I. p. 204.