t22 Nations lately become Literary. [Ch. XXVt, 



mficence. Thomas Hancock*, esq., of Boston, 

 founded a professorship of oriental languages, and 

 continbuted generously to the enlargem<?nt of 

 the library. Nicholas Boylstone, and Edward 

 Hopkins, esquires, also deserve to be respectively 

 mentioned among the benefactors of this im- 

 portant seminary, and as enlightened friends to 

 literature and science. 



In the former half of the eighteenth century, by 

 far the greater portion of the book-printing done 

 in the American colonies was executed in Boston. 

 No where did so many original American publi- 

 cations issue from the press ; and no where was 

 so much enterprise manifested in republishing 

 European works. These w'orks, it is true, were 

 chiefly on theological subjects, and comparatively 

 few of a literary or scientific nature were circu- 

 lated among the people, by means of American 

 presses; but still the books which were edited 

 had a tendency to enlarge the public mind, and 

 to render a taste for reading more general. 



In Connecticut, at this time, literature and 

 science were on tlie whole gaining ground. The 

 appointment of the rev. Dr. Cutler f, as presi- 



* Thomas Hancock, esq., was uncle to the honourable John 

 Hancock, president of congress, and afterward governor oi_ 

 Massachusetts. The nephew, as well as the uncle, was also a 

 benefactor to the college. 



f The rev. Dr. Timothy Cutler received his education at Har- 

 vard college, where he graduated in 1701. In 1710 he was or- 

 dained and installed minister of a chmxh in Stratford, accor- 

 ding to the constitution of the churches in Connecticut. In 1719 

 he was chosen president of Yale college, and entered on the du- 

 ties of the office the same year. In 1722 he relinquished the ' 



