Princeton University - Bric A Brac Yearbook (Princeton, NJ)

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and tried to fulfill too many undertakings. Princeton owes him a great debt as one of her original founders, both as a planner, and trustee, and as a strong, able president in a crucial period. Burr ' s death in 1757 was followed by a succession of three short-lived presidents- Jonathan Edwards, Samuel Davies, and Samuel Finley. All were able men who con- tinued to strengthen the young college and served as inspirations to the ever-groAving student body. The trustees were at a loss to name a successor to Finley, for the critical situa- tion within the Presbyterian Church made the selection of an unusually capable man a necessity. The conflict between the Old Sides and the New Lights could virtually be resolved if the choice fell upon a man acceptable to both factions, and who, through his ability, could bring about com- plete reconciliation. The trustees turned to John Witherspoon of Scotland, an emi- nent religious and educational leader of that country, and announced his election in 1766. However, Witherspoon, despite the enticements of a £206 salar} ' , a free house, and land for pasturage, demurred. His wife had no doubt heard of the far- famed Jersey mosquito, for she felt her hus- band might soon die, and she be left alone in a strange land. The Trustees met once again and again they elected Witherspoon. This time, however, Benjamin Rush and Richard Stockton were able to persuade Mrs. Witherspoon that there would be lit- «L tie danger and she gave her reluctant con- sent. On August 7, 1768, the good ship Peggy arrived in Philadelphia, and off stepped the forty-six year old president- elect of Princeton. There he was met by many Presbyterian leaders, several students and distinguished citizens of the city. He was feted for several days in Philadelphia, and it was not until August 12 that he was met by the entire college body at the prov- ince line and escorted to Nassau Hall. Witherspoon found that his job en- compassed all phases of college life, and in his 26 years as president he worked un- tiringly as a teacher, leader, minister, ad- ministrator, author, statesman, and finan- cier. His period in Princeton ' s history is one of its most colorful and fruitfvil. The life of the college had already begun to center its interest on patriotic activities. In 1765, the graduating class ap- peared in American homespun in protest against the British Colonial Acts. It is tra- ditionally said that the twin sycamore trees still standing on the front campus were planted in this year in gratification over the repeal of the Stamp Act. As the Revo- lutionary fever spread it was reflected in the actions of the students. In 1770 they intercepted a letter from the merchants of New York which stated intention of violat- ing the Non-Importation Agreement. The students brought forth the public hang- man and he burned the letter as the bell of Nassau Hall tolled in the background. In September of that year, the seniors again giaduated in homespun. This inspired Benjamin Franklin to comment that he thought them more brilliant in their plain clothes than in . . .the borrowed plumage of the gayest butterfly in all the assembly. In 1774 the students staged their owti tea party in emulation of the larger af- fairs taking place elsewhere. They brought the tea out from the college storehouse and collected it from the local shops and taverns. Then they piled it at the foot of an effigy of Governor Hutchinson and the vhole mass was burned. Finally, the -ivar arri ' ed. Witherspoor tried to keep the college as a group, but th , enlistments and confusion made it impc sible.

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now felt that the reasons were actually more personal than because of legalistic objections. On May 21, 1746, Princeton met with the first of many fortuitous circumstances which were to characterize her history in coming generations. On that day Governor Morris died, and the aged John Hamilton succeeded him. Hamilton was under the influence of a group of advisers who fa- vored the granting of a charter to Dickin- son. Thus, on October 22, 1746, the char- ter was issued, and the seven trustees were granted authority to found a college with all the privileges usually customary for col- leges in our realm of Great Britain. To the house of Jonathan Dickinson, Princeton ' s first president, in Elizabeth came about 10 students in May, 1747. Using his library as a study, his dining room as a lecture hall, and his guest rooms as bedrooms, they began a course of in- struction designed to prepare them solely for the ministry. Just as they were getting established into a routine, Jonathan Dick- inson died. The students had to pack their belongings and move to the house of Aaron BuiT in Newark, who was elected to be the next president. Under Burr the college began to take shape. The students led a dull life by pres- ent standards. There were fines for those who missed prayer, and the adventurous student who was willing to undertake the boat trip to New York for the weekend was liable to expulsion. Card games, gam- bling, and dice throwing were serious of- fenses. The hours were long and the studies tedious. It soon became apparent that a sepa- rate building for the college would be necessary. Emissaries went through the Col- onies to collect funds, and in 1753, Prince- ton was chosen over New Brunswick as the location of the college, a fact which has, no doubt, confounded many of the town ' s later inhabitants. It was situated almost in the center of New Light influences. Besides this fact, Princeton contributed £1000, ten acres for a campus, and 200 acres of wood- land. To the astute and economically minded trustees this was indeed an offer which could not be overlooked. Robert Smith and William Shippen designed the building. The cornerstone was laid on September 17, 1754, and the work proceeded until in July 1 756 Edward Ship- pen wTote that Our college is almost fin- ished and looks exceedingly well. Shortly thereafter, the trustees decided to honor Governor Belcher, who had done much to aid the young college after he was elected to succeed Governor Hamilton. He was, however, either an unusually modest man or one with a profound sense of history, for he refused to accept the honor and sug- gested that the building be named Nassau Hall, after the royal branch of William III. Princetonians of succeeding years may be glad that the trustees acceded to his wishes. The pundits of later years were able to deride Nassau Hall with some fa- cility; what a fertile field they would have had with the name Belcher Hall to inspire them! In November 1756, the students moved into their new quarters. There they took up the same life they had left. The building had a large chapel complete with organ— a fact which shocked many Presby- terians. The cellar had a large kitchen in it, while the first floor provided recreation rooms and library space. The upper floors were used for living rooms. It was, in 1756, the largest academic building in America. Soon after he moved to his house on Nassau Street, President Burr died. Al- though still a young man, his work in and around Princeton had severely weakened him. He was in great demand as a minister. 10

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announced that the college would close, and the students left as rapidly as possible. Three days later Washington retreated through Princeton and the British moved into Princeton on December 7, 1776. Princeton ' s day of infamy preceded the nation ' s by 161 years, for this was the first day of the twenty days of tyranny, dur- ing which time the British forces despoiled the library and laboratory, broke the doors, and smashed the windows and furniture. However, on January 3, 1777 the Brit- ish marched off to Trenton to aid Corn- wallis. They were met by Washington on the outskirts of Princeton and completely routed. Some retreated toward Rocky Hill and New Brunswick while others barri- caded themselves in Nassau Hall. Setting a tradition for future Princeton artillery- men, the Revolutionary batteries adjusted on Nassau Hall with uncanny accuracy. The British put up a sporadic resistance, but gave up after a cannonball crashed through the chapel walls and took off the head of the portrait of King George II. That afternoon the Continental troops moved into the building. The Americans treated the college as badly as the hated British had, and com- pleted the destruction of the building. De- spite the unsanitary, demolished condition of the structure, it was later used as a hos- pital by the Continentals in 1777 and 1778. However, Nassau Hall was soon to ex- perience glories which tended to salve the wounds of war. President Witherspoon, representing New Jersey in Congress, had obtained a grant for the reconstruction of the college. Alumni and friends also gave aid. Despite the depreciation of currency by 1783 enough work had been completed so that the building became the Capitol of the United States. Congress, fleeing from a reactionary mob in Philadelphia, estab- lished the Capital in Princeton. Here, in August 1783, came Washington to report on the Army and to attend the graduation. In the Presbyterian Church, before a dis- tinguished audience, the class of ' 83 gradu- ated. Ashbel Green delivered an oration praising General Washington, and the fol- lowing day the General met Green in Nas- sau Hall and shook hands with him. Washington endeared himself to the Scotch president by presenting the college with 50 guineas as a token of my es- teem. The trustees appropriated the money to be used by Charles Peale for a portrait of Washington. The portrait now hangs in the Faculty Room in the frame which once held the decapitated picture of George II. After 1779, Samuel Stanhope Smith had played an increasingly important part in the leadership of the college. Wither- spoon was in Philadelphia representing the State of New Jersey, and could not de- vote his full time to the college. He did, however, continue to direct policy, and, under him, the library was built up, the faculty increased and strengthened, the standards raised, and the curriculum broad- ened. He showed considerable understand- ing of his students and their problems and