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large portion of his life, he 



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overseer of Harvard College, and in the year 1779, he was chosen 



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a fellow of the corporation of that University, in which office he 

 continued until the year 1786, when he resigned it on account of 

 his more public engagements. In the class of his most delecta- 

 ble cares, the exercise of his duties in this office may be consid- 

 ered as standing among the highest. He loved the society j he 

 was fond on all occasions of avowing his relation to it as his lit- 

 erary parent : And as a friend to his country and the interests of 

 religion and learning, he viewed it in a light still more import- 

 ant : He was unceasing in his efforts to serve it, and he contrib- 

 uted by very handsome donations during his life, to render the 



means of instruction there more useful ; and established by his 



wiU, a fund for rewarding those students who should be distin- 

 guished by their merit. 



m the year 1785, Mr. BowDom was chosen Governor of the 

 Commonwealth of Massachusetts : while he received honor from 

 this exalted station, he added to it dignity. No part of the du- 

 ties of his administration were neglected or carelessly performed. 



F \ 



In his correspondencies with the supreme council of the then con- 

 federated states, and with those of each of them, ho was regular 

 and punctual. No act or resolve of the legislature received his 

 approbation until he had attained a thorough knowledge of its 



object 



comprehended the design of its provisions, and was on the 



whole satisfied of its salutary effects. In his appointments to of- 

 fices of civil trust, he was careful and judicious, nor ever prosti- 

 tuted this important and delicate confidence, with which he was 

 entrusted by the constitution, by committing the care of the 



property, 



