Nations lately become Literary. 357 



ginning of the year 1753, an Act of Assembly 

 :was passed for the establishment of the College, 

 and making some provision, by a succession of lot- 

 teries, for its support. In October, 1754, a regu- 

 lar Charter of incorporation was obtained, and the 

 Rev. Dr. Johnson named therein as the first Pre- 

 sident. He entered on the duties of his office in 

 jthe month of July the same year, and held the first 

 Commencement in June, 1758, when eight young 

 gentlemen, alumni of the College, were admitted 

 to its honours. 2 



The Corporation of Trinity Church, in the city 

 of New-York, early countenanced this College, 

 and made a valuable donation to its funds. The 

 institution also received important aid from the 

 Honourable Joseph Murray," one of his Majes- 

 ty's Council, and Attorney-General for the Pro- 

 vince. He was a great friend to literature, and 

 left the whole of his estate, consisting of books, 

 lands, and other property, to the College. The 

 names of some other benefactors, but less conspi- 

 cuous than these, are to be found on the records 

 of the institution. 



From this period we may date the rise of a lite- 

 rary spirit in the province of New- York. It is 

 true, this spirit was possessed, for a long time 

 afterwards, by comparatively few individuals, and 



Connecticut, and received his education in Yale College, where he gra- 

 duated Master of Arts in the year 1745. He soon afterwards went to 

 England, and took orders in the Episcopal Church, and settled in the mi- 

 nistry, at Elizabeth-Town, New-Jersey, where he long maintained a high 

 character, both for talents and erudition. He was honoured with I 

 gree of Doctor of Divinity by the University of Oxford. His respectable 

 and useful life terminated in the year 1790. 



Z The names of these young gentlemen are, Samuel Verpi.axck, 

 Rudolpjiis Ritzema, Philip Van Cortlaxdt, Samcel Pro- 

 voost, Joshua Bloomer, Joseph Reed, Josiah Ogden, and Isaac 

 Ocden. 



a Joseph Mvrray, Esq. was a native, it is believed, of Great-Bri- 

 tain, and received his education there. The value of the estate whi ! 

 left to the College amounted to about ten th usand p unds New-York 

 currency, or twenty-five thousand doJJ 



