Sect. III.] United States (^ America. 225 



dent of Yale College, was an auspicious event to 

 that institution. He was a man of profound and 

 general learning in the various branches of know* 

 ledge cultivated in his day, particularly in oriental 

 literature, and presided over the seminary which 

 he was called to superintend, with dignity, use- 

 fulness, and general approbation. He was suc- 

 ceeded by the rev. Elislia Williams *, who was 

 inaugurated in the year 1 726. Under his admi- 

 nistration also the college flourished, especially 

 in the study of classic literature, logic, metaphy- 

 sics, and moral philosophy. Tiie successor of 

 president Williams was still more illustrious. 

 This was tlie rev. Thomas Clap -j-, who was chosen 



communion of the congregational church, and soon afterward 

 went to England, and took orders in the episcopal church. 

 He received the degree of doctor in diviniiAj from both the uni- 

 versities of Oxford and Cambridge. He became rector of Christ 

 Church, in Boston, in the year 1723, where he died in 1765. He 

 is represented to have been a man of strong natural powers, and 

 of extensive learning. He was well acquainted with classic lite- 

 rature, and was one of the best oriental scholars ever educated 

 in America. The rev. Dr. Stiles says, " he had more know-, 

 ledge of the Arabic than any man in New England beforb 

 him, except president Chauncey, and his disciple the first Mr, 

 Thatcher.** Dr. Cutler was also well skilled in logic, metaphy- 

 sics, moral philosophy, theology, and ecclesiastical history. 



* Mr. Williams was a good classical scholar, and well versed 

 in logic, metaphysics, and ethics. The rev. Dr. Doddridge, wlio 

 was acquainted with him in England, gave him this comprehen- 

 sive character. " I look upon Mr. Williams to be one of the 

 most valuable men upon earth. He has joined to an ardent 

 sense of religion, solid learning, consummate prudence, great 

 candour, and a certain nobleness of soul, capable of contriving 

 and acting the greatest things, without seeming to be conscious 

 <^f his having done them." 



t The rev. Thomas Clap was bora, at f^iJAuate, in Masiachu« 



