Valuable Manuscripts Given to College

Nine manuscripts having to do with the early history of Dartmouth have been placed in the archives room of the Baker library. They are the gift of Matt B. Jones '94. In writing Pres. Hopkins, Mr. Jones said that the valuable letters and papers have been in his possession for some years and now that the College has a suitable place in which to keep them, he wishes the manuscripts preserved in the archives room of the library. The papers, with a brief description by Mr. Jones of each, are:

1. Autograph letter signed, from Pres. Eleazar Wheelock to Colonel John Phillips of Exeter, a trustee, dated December 1, 1775, referring to funds received from Col. Phillips and to a dispute that had arisen relative to keeping a day of Thanksgiving.

2. Autograph letter signed, from Rev. David Macclure, a trustee, to Rev. Eleazar Wheelock, dated Portsmouth, March 4,1776, referring among other things to the seige of Boston, "once the faithful City but now full of murderers."

3. A letter in the hand of a secretary but signed by Eleazar Wheelock and containing annotations in his hand, addressed to the Hon. Theodore Atkinson, George Jaffrey, John Phillips, L.L.D., Samuel Phillips, Esquires, the Rev. David Macclure, Trustees of Dartmouth College, dated Dartmouth College, August 9, 1778, and asking them to attend at Commencement on the 26th of August, to consider important affairs of the College.

I believe this was the last meeting of the Trustees which Dr. Wheelock lived to call or attend. The next meeting in the spring of 1779 was held for the purpose of choosing his successor.

4. An autograph letter signed, from the Rev. Eden Burroughs, a trustee, to John Phillips of Exeter, dated Dartmouth College, June 9, 1779, and urging him to attend the next meeting of the Board of Trustees.

5. An autograph letter signed, from John Smith, Professor of Ancient Languages at Dartmouth College, to John Phillips, dated Dartmouth College, March 24, 1782, transmitting to Dr. Phillips "two dialogues; the Englishman and Indian and the Teatable Chitchat." These dialogues, in the hand of their learned author, are attached to the letter. Of these efforts the author says "The first mentioned dialogue was acted pretty naturally as a real Aboriginal defended the part of the Indian. The other incurred no censure; and passed for a humor."

I think it not improbable that these may represent the beginning of dramatics at Dartmouth College.

6. Autograph letter signed, from John Smith (as above) to William Patten of the Class of 1780, dated Dartmouth College, April 10, 1783.

7. Autograph letter signed, from Bezaleel Woodward to Hon. S. Phillips, Junr. Esqr. dated Dartmouth College, December 5, 1783, relative to legislation to quiet titles under conflicting New Hampshire charters and relative to President John Wheelock's trip to Europe to raise funds, referring to his relations with BenjaminFranklinand John Adams.

8. Autograph letter signed, from President John Wheelock to Hon. Samuel Phillips, dated Dartmouth College, July 25, 1785, referring to grant of land recently made to the College by the State of Vermont, and urging Mr. Phillips to be present at the annual meeting of the Trustees.

9. Autograph letter signed, from Bezaleel Woodward to Hon. John Phillips, dated Dartmouth College, May 17, 1788, relative to the lottery which was being operated to raise funds for the construction of Dartmouth Hall, and particularly to tickets purchased by Mr. Phillips. On a blank page of this letter is a copy of a reply sent to Professor Woodward by Mr. Phillips, dated Exeter, June 4, 1788.