Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

of these sciences. This domestic education rendered him fond of home and of the company of his parents; and led him to feel a livelier interest than is usual with boys of the same age, in the conversation of those who were older than himself. It also saved him from the school-boy coarseness and effrontery; often thought in this rough world a necessary, but by no means an ornamental, appendage of the youthful character.

His father was particularly fond of the society of men of education and intelligence; and his hospitable house, was the wellknown resort of gentlemen of this character. To no one of the family were they more welcome, than to his son. Even at this very early period of life, while listening to their conversation on the character of the great men of the age, both in the colonies and in Europe, a deep and lasting impression was made upon his mind; and he then formed a settled resolution, that he would make every effort in his power to equal those, whose talents and character he heard so highly extolled.

In his twelfth year, he went to Middletown, for the purpose of pursuing his studies, under the late Rev. Enoch Huntington, a gentleman of high classical attainments. He boarded in the family, and devoted himself to his books with unusual assiduity and success. Not content with the time regularly allotted to study in the school, he spent most of his leisure hours at home in intense application. So entirely was his mind absorbed by his books, that it was no uncommon thing for the members of the family to pass through his room, and even to call him by name, without being perceived by him. During his residence at Middletown, his conduct was marked with the strictest propriety, his manners were amiable and affectionate, his attention to his studies was intense and unremitted, and his progress in them rapid and honourable. When he left Middletown, he had acquired a very accurate knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages; and had read not only those classical authors, which were necessary for admission into College, but those also which were studied during the two first years of a collegiate life.

In September 1765, when he had just passed his thirteenth year, he was admitted as a member of Yale College. At that time, unfortunately, the freshman class had no stated tutor; but

were dependent for their instruction, sometimes upon one officer of college, and sometimes upon another: a state of things too irregular and unsettled to produce any substantial benefit to the pupils. During the winter, he had the misfortune to break his arm; and, for several months in the spring and summer, he was prevented by sickness from pursuing his studies. Near the close of the collegiate year, President Clap resigned his office; and the students for a short time were dispersed: a series of calamities, by which the year was in a considerable measure lost to him as a student. The discipline of College had been for several years chiefly annihilated. Loose opinions on morals, and religion, prevailed extensively in the country; and their pernicious influence was too obviously felt in the various seminaries of learning. Owing to the bad state of the college commons, the students had been indulged in the practice of providing entertainments at their rooms. This naturally produced a great degree of inattention to their studies, and gave rise to scenes of revelry and riot, in the highest degree injurious to the pursuits of literature. It is not surprising, that in such a state of things the practice of gambling had become unhappily prevalent in College. Under all these disadvantages, young Dwight gained consideraable reputation for genius and acquirements. His information and address rendered his society generally pleasing. It was courted, even by members of the higher classes; who strongly solicited him to join them in their pernicious amusements. But the instructions of his parents had made so deep an impression upon his mind, that no importunities of this nature could prevail upon him to engage with them in gambling. He was at length so far wrought upon, however, as to play for amusement; and, not being necessitated to study his lessons, gradually yielded to their solicitations, until much of his time was wasted in this manner. In no instance, however, did they influence him to play for money, or to stake even a farthing. Yet playing for amusement had so far become a habit, that when he returned to College, upon the commencement of his second year, he entered upon the practice with considerable ardour. From this danger he was fortunately rescued by the exertions of his tutor and kinsman, the Hon. Stephen Mix Mitchell, late Chief Judge of the Supreme

Court of Connecticut; to whom, for this and many other acts of kindness, shown him while a member of College, he ever after acknowledged himself to be most deeply indebted. During the sophomore year, he was badly poisoned; by reason of which he was confined at his father's house four months, and obliged to discontinue his studies during that period.

It is apparent, from the foregoing recital, that the two first years of his collegiate life, must have been in a great measure lost.

On commencing his Junior year, he devoted himself seriously to study. He was now fifteen: had lost a great part of the two preceding years, and had but two remaining, in which he might hope to redeem his loss, and lay the foundation for future usefulness and respectability. He entered on the studies of the year with great zeal, and pursued them with unremitting assiduity and perseverance. At that time, college-prayers were attended at half past five o'clock in the morning in the winter, and at half past four in the summer. He began the year by qualifying himself, every morning, to construe and parse a hundred lines in Homer before prayers. This lesson, which formed no part of the regular college-exercises, was, of course, acquired by candle-light; and his object in attending to it was, to render himself more thoroughly master of the Greek language, than he could expect to become in the common round of studies pursued by his class. The lesson, as he advanced, was gradually increased to a much larger quantity. His eyes being seriously affected by this intense application, at such unseasonable hours, it is not improbable that the foundation was thus early laid of that weakness in them, which caused him so much distress, during the remainder of his life.

In addition to the ordinary pursuits of the year, he devoted a considerable portion of his time to the improvement of his handwriting; and by dint of his own exertions, attained a degree of excellence in penmanship, that has rarely been equalled. So elegant, indeed, was his writing, that it was with difficulty distinguished from the handsomest engravings. We have seen several of the Diplomas which he wrote for his particular friends, VOL. I.

B

and think some of them decidedly more beautiful than the usual copper-plate impression.

This is the earliest period in which he is known to have paid any attention to poetry and music. The date of his first poetical composition cannot be precisely ascertained. Two or three specimens, however, are preserved, which bear the date of 1767, and, of course, were written when he was fifteen years of age. His attachment to music, particularly sacred music, was ardent. His voice was at once melodious and powerful; and his ear exquisitely discriminating. He began a collection of church music in the course of the year, but left it unfinished, probably because it interfered with his more severe and important pursuits.

This may with propriety be considered as the era of his excessive devotion to study, and the acquisition of knowledge. At the commencement of the year he formed a resolution, to which he faithfully adhered during the remainder of his collegiate life, to employ fourteen hours each day in close application to his studies. Such intense and unwearied diligence, with the aid of his natural genius, soon established his reputation as a scholar, and placed him among the first of his class. He received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the year 1769, when he was a little past seventeen years of age. At the Commencement, but a single appointment was made from the class which received the degree of Bachelors. Before giving it out, the President sent for Dwight and Strong*, and informed them that in the view of the officers of College they were at the head of the class, and equally deserving of the appointment; but as Strong was the elder of the two, it would be given to him at that time, and to Dwight when the class entered on the degree of Masters.

A short time after leaving College, he was employed to take charge of a grammar-school at New Haven. In this situation he continued two years, highly esteemed as an instructor both by his pupils and their parents. This was the commencement of that course of life, which, with very little interruption, he pursued for nearly fifty years: a course of life, in which Providence had peculiarly qualified him to excel. Probably few men have lived,

* The late Dr. Strong of Hartford.

who, in the same mode, have rendered more eminent services to mankind.

During these two years, he made great advancement in literature and science. His time was regularly divided, and occupied :-six hours in each day in school; eight hours in close and severe study; and the remaining ten hours in exercise and sleep.

In September, 1771, when he was past nineteen, he was chosen a tutor in Yale College. In this situation he remained for six succeeding years, performing its duties with distinguished success and reputation.

When he entered upon the office, more than half the members of his class were older than himself; and the freshman who waited upon him was thirty two years of age*. Notwithstanding a circumstance generally so disadvantageous, he proceeded in the discharge of his official duties with firmness and assiduity; and in a short time, gained a reputation for skill in the government and instruction of his class rarely known in the former experience of the College. It ought here to be observed that the study of the classics and of the mathematics had been for a number of years vigorously pursued, owing to the exertions of several superior men; and the discipline of the Seminary raised to a higher standard. His associates were men of distinguished talents; and by their united efforts the institution soon acquired a new and most important character. The study of Rhetoric had been, till then, in a great measure neglected. The period from 1771 to 1777, will ever be considered as forming an era in the history of the College. Through the exertions and influence of Howe, Trumbull, and Dwight, a taste for those pursuits was excited; the effects of which have been experienced to the present time. The "art of speaking" had previously been thought scarcely worthy of attention. Of so much importance, however, was it considered by these gentlemen, that they not only taught it to their respective classes; but, from time to time, went upon the College stage to enforce their precepts by their example. Poetry was cultivated by them, especially by Trumbull and Dwight, with all the enthusiasm of genius. It was in the first year of his tutorship, at the age of nine

* DAVID BUSHNELL, a man of strong mechanical genius, and the inventor of the Submarine Boat."

« ZurückWeiter »