John Wheelock's Laws of Conduct and Regulations for Students

... AND MANY DARTMOUTH YESTERDAYS

from a manuscript giving the detailed & formal code that governed the College early in its second decade

1. Of their Religion and morals -

That they shall attend on the worship of God morning and evening and upon Lord's day; and other days publicly appointed for that purpose seasonably and with reverence and decency (ie)-they s[h]all be in the Hall and at their places by the time the signal given for their coming together ceases, at least before the President or the person who is to porform the cervises enters the Hall, and shall remain there and behave with gravity and propriety and not leave their places til[l] the President Tutors Bachellors and all Senior Classes have gone out of th[e] Hall— And going out of the Hall tha[t] they have no playing or sporting or any noise clamor or loud talking; but shall regularly and orderly depart as soon as the servises are all over; and shall always carry their hats when going to meeting — That in cases of offence that are in their own nature private and may be consistently] be kept so, they are strictly to observe the rules of proceeding given by Christ in the 18 Chapter of Matthew

That they watch over themselves and one another in the use of all proper and appointed means and endeavours, to prevent a declention in religion, and promote their mutual edification in Christ Jusus, and by a holy and unblameable conversasion comend themselves to every mans conscience in the sight of God —

2. Of their conduct and behaviourtowards the President —

That the conduct and behaviour of the Students towards the Honou[r]able President be in every respect with that filial duty and esteem as the importance and dignity of his station requires (viz.) uncovering their heads at and within the distance of 4[*] rods from him; also when they enter his dooryard, when the weather dont render it inconvenient and when their hands are not necessarily otherwise employed — That they never speak of him, or to him, but in a manner savory of deference and respect That they stand when in his presence till they have permission to sit — That they wait for his liberty to speak when they would address him on any occassaion - That they deliver their sentiments with modesty and propriety and deliberatly — That they never controdict or enter into disputes with him; but propose their doubts grievances or arguments by way of decent intorogation - That they wai[t] when they return an errand to him for his liberty to withdraw — That they carry their hats when they wait on him, and use no indecent gestures in his presence —

3. Towards the Tutors —

That they treat the Tutors and Professors with a diference and respect be- coming their Office and relation to them (viz.) That they uncover their heads at and within the distance of three rods from them, when the weather don't render it inconvenient, and their hands are not otherwise necessarily emploued — That they enter not into controversy or dispute with them but purpose what they have to say by way of decent interrogation that they rise when a Tutor enters the room where they are and stand till he is seated with them or they have otherwise liber[ty] to sit — That they rise when spoken [to] by them and never interrupt them when s[p]eaking — That they be not talkative clamourous or noisy nor use indecent gestures before them — That they alway carry their hats when they visit one of their rooms That they punctually perform their orders (unless contradicted by the President) and always return their errands as soon as effected, and not withdraw without liberty - -

4. Towards Bachellors.

That they show becoming respect to Bachellors of Arts and all Graduates such as uncovering their heads in their presence and keeping them so till they are bid to cover them: rising when they enter or go out of their rooms, and conduct in all other respect agreeable to the relation they stand in to them

5. Towards one another —

That they behave with respect and kindness towards one an[o]ther avoiding every thing that is against the unity of the spirit or manifesting a want of friendship or contrary to the Gentleman or Christian — Junior Classes shall properly acknowledge the superiority of their Seniors by giveing them the right hand in walking or sitting &c — Freshmen when in the College or in the Hall and when they speak to siniors shall have their heads uncovered and when in their company shall wait to be bidden before they cover them, unless their be such reasons to the contrary as have been mentioned—Freshmen shall at times hereafter appointed for deversion do the necessary errands for all the senio[r] Classes who have themselves served a freshmanship (provided they are not sent more than half a mile) and shall faithfully perform & return the same —

It shall be the duty of the Tutors to inspect and form the manners of the three Senior Classes agreeable to the foregoing rules: and also to a decent and Gentleman like behaviour toward all men

It shall be the duty of the Senior class to inspect the manners of the Freshmen in a decent, comely, manly and Gentleman like behaviour towards men of all ranks and conditions;- and especially to a due observance of the foregoing and other good rules of behavour toward the Officers and studients of this College— And for this purpose shall have power to call them together or singly before them at such time and place as they shall think proper in the hours appointed for deversion — That the hours of deversion in the winter be as follows (viz.) from breakfast till shoolltime, and from dinner till shooltime and from the Supper till 7 oclock in the evening and saterday in the afternoon — In the summer the same except at evening the time of deversion shall be from 6 to 9 oclock — the rest shall be accounted as study time and the students shall then attend at their [rooms] except at such times as public Collegiate exercizes requires their attendance elswhere — And it shall be the duty of the Tutors so often as they shall judge necesary to inspect the students Rooms to see that the last mentioned rules be duly observed —

Whereas the practice of manual labor is in it self useful and reputable; and may in a special manner only serve the original design of this institution, as the instructing the natives that may come here for an education in that necessary art may quiatly conduce to their civilization and improvement therefore it is here by strongly recommended that the members of this seminary turn their diversion into that chanel as far as it may be done with convenence, at least that they neither by action or word do any thing to discountinance the practice of it in orthers —

Further more determined that there be nine weeks vacation in a year (viz) from Commencement 5 weeks and from the first mondy in May 4 weeks —

That the students pay twenty shillings quarterly for tuition and four shillings pr quarte[r] for study rooms in first story and middle garrets and 6[**] shillings for the rest and that the bills be made up and paid quarterly (viz. on the first Wednesday of September, December, March and June —

That all Independant Schollars shall at their entrance into College provide good and sufficient sureties for payment of their College expences during their abode there —

That Independant Schollars who shall be admitted after the usual term shall pay the same tuition money for the time elapsed as others of the class into which they are admitted and those who are absent the same as those present— And no one who is admitted after the usual time shall have the priviledge of sending Freshmen unless he serves himself a forth part of his remaining time in College —

That Students who neglect a punctual payment of their quarter bills to the satisfaction of the president and Tutors shall be liable to dismission for such neglect —

That those student who occupy rooms out of College pay study rent so long as rooms remain unoccupied in College —

That no scholar be admited to a degree till he has settled his College bills to the satisfaction of the board of trustees then present— That no student for the future may ordinarily expect to receive a degree at this College, unless he resides here the usual term of continuance from the time of his entrance — That a strict regard as possible be paid to merit — That examinations be strict and critical;- and that the idle, dissipated and vicious may not expect to be favoured with the honours of this College —

Some laws to prevent dissorder andimmorality —

That no student of this College be permitted to play at cards, Dice or any othe[r] unlawful game either in the College or any other place whatever, on penalty of a fine not exceeding twenty shillings for each offence at discretion of a President or a Tutor and if persisted in they shall be expelled — That no student board at a tavern or sit at a tavern unless when on a journey or with express leave obtained for it from the President or Tutors or by desire of a Parent or Guardian, on penalty of a fine of two shillings Lawful money — And any one being convicted of a breach of this law four times within the space of six weeks shall be publicly admonished — Nor shall any student of said College be at a Tavern after nine o clock in the evening on penalty of a fine of three shilling lawful money — That no student be absent from his study after nine o clock at night without liberty or such occasion as President or Tutors shall think sufficient on penalty of one shilling lawful money

That no scholar send for or procure any spiritious liquor without a permit from the President or a Tutor for which he shall apply in person unless especially detained at which time he may send for one by a Freshman by whom he shall assign the reason for not comming himself; and the purpose for which he desires such permit; and such premit shall specify the time and place to which liberty is grantd to have it procured —

That each student that neglects to attend publick prayers in the Hall morning and evening; and other public exercises of religious worship without such reasons for his neglect as shall be esteemed good and sufficiant by the President or a Tutor shall be dealt with by them in such a manner as th[e]y shall judge most suitable to convince him of the evil of such practical contempt of those divine ordinances; and if presisted in he. shall be admonished publick[l]y till all suitable means of reformation appears inaffectual, then he shall be dismised without honor as an unworthy member of this seminary — That if any student shall treat with disrespect any instituted worship of God or use endeavours to discredit any exercizes of social worship public or privit, which are properly and regulerly appointed or discourage others attending thereon being convicted by the authority of College shall be publicly admonished — All fines shall he charged and made up with the quarter bills —

Regulations respecting Collegiateexercizes the Library &c

Whereas the practice of having the weekly exercizes of the students in Oratory immediately after the evening prayers is found by experience to be inconvenient 'Tis therefore enacted that henceforth on wedesday to begin when the signal is given for study time in afternoon at which time all the students are required to attend for that purpose —

That there be at least two Orations delivered on each quarter day besides such other public exercizes as shall be occassionally appointed to be held on those days - The orations to be delivered on December quarter day by the Senior Class on March quarter day by the Junior Class On June quarter day by the Sophimore Class Also that there be an Oration in Latin on the Arts and sciences delivered by one of the Junior Class in the afternoon of the day in which the Freshmen Class shall be examined previous to the spring and fall vacations — Also that the Senior Class hold a forensic dispute in English on the first wendnesday of every month —

That each pay for books taken by him out of the Library as follows for the terms annexed viz.

For a Folio 6d which may be kept 4 weeks Quarto 4d - - - - 3 weeks Large Octavo 3d - - - 1 week Small Octavo 2d - - - 1 week any other book 1d - - - 1 week Pamphlet ½ - - - 1 week

And if any student shall keep any book longer than the times above mentioned he shall pay double that price so often as the term shall be repeated — and no student shall have more than two books beside Clasicks at a time except the Seniors who may take three (unless upon special occassions and with liberty) beside which they shall pay for any special damage any book may sustain while in their custody -

Regulations for the security of. theCollege building &c from damage

That all the students keep the rooms they respectively inhabit secure from damage — That if rooms that are unoccupied sustain special damage the cost of repairing shall be brought into contengent charges — If a student is known to have broke a window or to have done any other particular damage in the College!,] Hall or any other public building; he shall immediately git it repaired or be at double the cost of reparation —

If any student shall play ball or use any other deversion that exposes the College or Hall windows within 3 rods of either he shall be fined two shillings for the first offence 4 for th[e] 2d and so no at the discresion of the President or Tutors — It is earnestly recommended and injoyned upon the students that they observe neatness and cleanliness in their rooms and in their dress and avoid every practice in, upon or about the College that may be dissagreeable and offensive — 'Tis incumbent on every class at least and 'tis recommended that every room in College have a copy of these laws and regulations - The students also in school are required to pay a strict adherence to them unless inconsistent with any rules already given them amd obviously unapplicable to their situation as members of the School —

JOHS WHEELOCK President.—

[* Written first "six" (as it appears in another, earlier, version) and then changed to read "4."]

[** Originally entered as "7" and subsequently altered.]

President John Wheelock, whose youth(25 when he succeeded his father in1779) probably had much to do with hisstress on deference toward "authority"in the student rules he promulgated.