8 - INTRODUCTION. 



cerning the constitution of the United States, and the several state constitutions, 

 and proposed to substitute tuition in the French language for the Greek. In 

 1828, the trustees of the college reported that they had prescribed two distinct 

 courses, the one embracing such classical studies as were usually pursued ; and 

 the other called the scientific course, substituting modem in the place of ancient 

 languages, and including instruction in mathematics, anatomy, physiology, law, 

 etc. Similar arrangements were about the same time made in the other collegi- 

 ate institutions, but the classical course has nevertheless continued to be the chief 

 form of instruction in these seminaries. The first president of Union College 

 was the reverend John B. Smith, D.D. He was succeeded in 1799 by the reve- 

 rend Jonathan Edwards, D.D., who died in 1801 ; when the reverend Jonathan 

 Maxcy, D.D. was appointed, who retained the place until 1804. In that year 

 the reverend Eliphalet Nott, L.L.D., succeeded to that office, which he yet retains. 

 Among the patrons of this institution were Robert Yates, Abraham Ten Broeck, 

 John Glenn, Stephen Van Rensselaer, Henry Walton, Joseph C. Yates, John Fry, 

 Jonas Piatt, Stephen N. Bayard, Theodore Romeyn, John V. Henry, PhiHp Van 

 Rensselaer, Guert Van Schoonhoven, James Emott, James Duane, Samuel Blatch- 

 ford, Jonas Coe, William James and Henry Yates. 



Hamilton College, at Clinton, was founded by the regents of the university in 

 1812, under the care of the reverend Asahel Backus, D.D. as president. His 

 successors have been the reverend Henry Davis, D.D., 1817 ; the reverend Se- 

 reno E. Dwight, D.D., 1833 ; the reverend Joseph Penny, D.D., 1835 ; and the 

 reverend Simeon A. North, A.M., who assumed that office in 1839. Among the 

 names of the distinguished patrons of the college are those of Simon Newton 

 Dexter and William H. Maynard. 



Geneva college was incorporated in 1825. Its first president was the reverend 

 Jasper Adams, D.D. He was succeeded by the reverend Richard Sharp Mason 

 in 1830 ; upon whose resignation in 1835 the reverend Benjamin Hale, D.D., 

 was appointed to that office. Among the prominent patrons of the institution 

 have been James Reese, Herman H. Bogart, William L. Dezang, John C. Spen- 



