8 INTRODUCTION. 
cerning the constitution of the United States, and the several state constitutions, 
and proposed to substitute tuition in the French language for the Greek. In 
1828, the trustees of the college reported that they had prescribed two distinct 
courses, the one embracing such classical studies as were usually pursued ; and 
the other called the scientific course, substituting modern in the place of ancient 
languages, and including instruction in mathematics, anatomy, physiology, law, 
etc. Similar arrangements were about the same time made in the other collegi- 
ate institutions, but the classical course has nevertheless continued to be the chief 
form of instruction in these seminaries. 'The first president of Union College 
was the reverend John B. Smith, D.D. He was succeeded in 1799 by the reve- 
rend Jonathan Edwards, D.D., who died in 1801; when the reverend Jonathan 
Maxcy, D.D. was appointed, who retained the place until 1804. In that year 
the reverend Eliphalet Nott, L.L.D., succeeded to that office, which he yet retains. 
Among the patrons of this institution were Robert Yates, Abraham Ten Broeck, 
John Glenn, Stephen Van Rensselaer, Henry Walton, Joseph C. Yates, John F ry, 
Jonas Platt, Stephen N. Bayard, Theodore Romeyn, John V. Henry, Philip Van 
Rensselaer, Guert Van Schoonhoven, James Emott, James Duane, Samuel Blatch- 
ford, Jonas Coe, Wilham James and Henry Yates. 
Hamilton College, at Clinton, was founded by the regents of the university in 
1812, under the care of the reverend Asahel Backus, D.D. as president. His 
successors have been the reverend Henry Davis, D.D., 1817; the reverend Se- 
reno E. Dwight, D.D., 1833; the reverend Joseph Penny, D.D., 1835; and the 
reverend Simeon A. North, A.M., who assumed that office in 1839. Among the 
names of the distinguished patrons of the college are those of Simon Newton 
Dexter and William H. Maynard. 
Geneva college was incorporated in 1825. _ Its first president was the reverend 
Jasper Adams, D.D. He was succeeded by the reverend Richard Sharp Mason 
in 1830; upon whose resignation in 1835 the reverend Benjamin Hale, D.D., 
was appointed to that office. Among the prominent patrons of the institution 
have been James Reese, Herman H. Bogart, William L. Dezang, John C. Spen- 
