Mr. Butler's Discourse. 



of independence, there were no seminaries within the colony, 

 in which any other than a very indifferent education could be 

 procured. The influence of that institution on the literary 

 character of the state, was truly wonderful ; for though the 

 whole number of students educated in the college prior to 

 1775, was but one hundred, many of them attained to great 

 distinction in their respective professions and in public life. 

 In reference to them and to their Alma Mater, the language 

 of the Roman poet would scarcely be too strong — 



Felix prole virum 



Laeta deum partu, centum complexa nepotes, 

 Omnes caelicolas, omnes supera alta tenentes. 



Of the elder born of this Titanian progeny, I give you as a 

 specimen — Robert R. Livingston, Gouverneur Morris, and 

 John Jay — each distinguished alike by his genius and erudi- 

 tion, and all illustrious in the annals of their country, for their 

 talents as writers, and their services as statesmen. (11) 



The revival of the college, and the establishment of other 

 seminaries, after the revolution, increased the number of our 

 writers; but until within the last fifteen years, though we had 

 great names at home, especially in politics, theology and ju- 

 risprudence, we had produced but few writers whose works 

 had acquired any celebrity abroad. Within the short period 

 I have named, a new era has commenced ; and New- York has 

 given to her sister states and to the world, many writers of 

 distinguished merit, who have illustrated and adorned va- 

 rious departments of science, history, moral and political phi- 

 losophy, polite letters and jurisprudence. (12) Two of them— 

 Irving and Cooper— have received from the highest authori- 

 ties in the old world, in reference not to one, but to several 

 successive productions in the most difficult branches of litera- 

 ture, the tribute of full if not of ungrudged admiration. From 

 the hands of another— also a native of our state, and like 

 them, nurtured in her bosom — Britain and Germany have re- 

 ceived a text-book on the complicated science of medical ju- 

 risprudence. If we should add to this list, several other living 

 authors, who though born and educated in New-England have 



