1 96 Nations lately brcorne Literary. [ClI. XXVI 



The course oi* instruction adopted in this college 

 was, in general, directed tov/ards those objects 

 Miiich were before mentioned as being most in 

 vogue in New England. Its establishment is an 

 important era in the literary history of Connec- 

 ticut. From this institution, as well as from the 

 sister college in Cambridge, many sons have been 

 sent, who have done honour to their alma mafer^ 

 and proved benefactors to the cause of liberal 

 knowledge. 



In 1714, the foundation of a library was laid 

 in this college. Jeremiah Dummer, esq., of Bos- 

 ton, then an agent in London, presented to it 

 more than eight hundred volumes of very valuable 

 books, part of which were purchased by himself, 

 and the rest obtained from his friends in, London. 

 Among the donors, on this occasion, appear the 

 names of some of the most conspicuous literary 

 and philosophical characters then living in Great 

 Britain *. These books, together with large ad- 

 ditions soon afterward made by governor Yalef 



thrir honours with a liberal hand, which has since so much in- 

 rreased, not only in the United States, but also throughout the 

 literary Avorld. 



* In the number of the contributors to this collection of 

 books for Yale college, we find sir Isaac Newton, sir Richard 

 Blackmore, sir Richard Steele, Dr. Burnet, Dr. Woodward^ 

 Dr. Halley, I>-. Bentley. Dr. Ken net. Dr. Calamy, Dr. Ed- 

 wards, the rev. Mr. Henry, and Mr. Whiston, who severally 

 presented copies of their own works. See the Account of Yale 

 College ill the Appendix to the rev. Mr. Holme's Life of President 

 Siilcs. 



+ Thomas Yale, esq., who had been governor of Fort St. George, 

 in India: for his repeated acts of genercsity to the college the. 

 tiusttcs cave it his name. 



