Sect. III.] United States of America. 245 



college was given in 1764. It was open for the 

 reception of students the next year at Warren. 

 The first commencement was held in 1769; and 

 in 1770 it was removed to the town of Provi- 

 dence, where a spacious building Avas erected for 

 the reception of the students, and which is consi- 

 dered as the permanent seat of the institution. 

 The charter of this college makes it necessary, that 

 the president should be a baptist ; and indeed the 

 institution has always been under the immediate 

 government of this denomination of Christians. 



Between the years 1 765 and 1 772 a revolution 

 took place in the taste of the students in Yale col- 

 lege. About this time the study of the mathema- 

 tics and of the ancient languages began to de- 

 cline, and that of belles lettres to be an object of 

 more attention than before. This revolution was 

 chiefly produced by the rev. Dr. Dvvight, who has 

 since held so conspicuous a place among the poets 

 and divines of America; by Mr. John Trumbull, 

 who also stands in the first rank of its native 

 poets; by the rev. Mr. Howe, afterward a respect- 

 able clergyman, and by some others, their con- 

 temporaries. These gentlemen, being instructors 

 in the college at this time; and having imbibed a 

 more predominant taste for polite literature than 

 had been common among their predecessors; en- 

 couraged among the students, both by precept 



to Warren, in Rhode Island, and there took charge of the college, 

 to the presidency of which he had been elected. In 1770 he 

 removed, with that institution, to Providence, and was soon 

 afterward chosen pastor of the baptist church in that town. 

 In this situation he remained till his death, which took place 

 in 1791. 



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