PREFACE. The following Idea of a Seminary of Learning, adapted to the circumstances of a young colony, was drawn up and published, at the desire of some gentlemen of NewYork, who were appointed to receive proposals relative to the establishment of a College in that province; and as it contains a pretty exact representation of what the author is now endeavouring to realize in the Seminary over which he has the honour to preside in another colony, he thought that it might be no improper introduction to the subsequent account of that Seminary. In a performance written in so early a period of life, and designedly offered as a plan for improvement, the reader will not look for perfection. In this edition, however, some redundancies are retrenched, and some faults corrected, into which, want of experience, hasty publication, and too easy assent, had drawn the author. corrections made from the fust edition sier this dans Hemsjoties, shed saving Beams! fon. To! her azun ing bright Science spreads and soft approaches to There new-teund - Shades; • Zoubitant, Stretching forth her hallow's Hands serener lands! To plant her laurels And, mod Has train, Peace, Justice Warbling String; ! - Tisey song and rend the thin M Goddess comes A. Gution comes to welcome Her prepare! l'oo's. Bscens, Gates Fountains, long hitnown to jame, Couselves of your future (1. in, PROLOGUE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN SPOKEN AT THE OPENING OF THE IT comes! it comes! the promis'd æra comes! Now Gospel Truth shall dissipate the glooms A) Or gently murmur back his ambrous pain! W And bid Castalian draughts refresh the soul!" & lave 'Tis done-woods, brooks, gales, fountains, all obey; And say, with general voice, or seem to say Hail Heaven-descended, holy Science hail! Thrice welcome to these shores, here ever dwell, Cimes; D With shade and silence, far from dire alarms; To thee we offer every softer seat, Each sunny lawn and sylvan sweet retreat; 1 Each flower verg'd stream, each amber-dropping grove, Each vale of pleasure and each bower of love,: W S Where youthful nature with stupendous scenes, Smit deep, I antedate the golden days, And strive to paint them in sublimer lays. Lays! P ק Behold! on periods, periods brightening rise,. On mossy Beds, by heavenly visions fir'd; W. Aloft they soar on Contemplation's wing O'er worlds and worlds, and reach th' eternal King!. Awak'd by other suns, and kindling strong A S With purest ardour for celestial song, Hark! other Homers, Virgils touch the string, And other Popes and Miltons, joyous, sing; Find other Twit'nams in each bowery Wood, Love Lo! the wild Indian, soften'd by their song, R O'er realms yet unexplor'd till time shall end; And life endearing knowledge cover all; Till wounded Slavery seek her native Hell, With kindred fiends eternally to dwell!] Not trackless deserts shall thy progress stay, must > itat Sequester'd vales, a at thy approach shall sing, And with the sound of happy labour ring; w Where wolves now howl shall polish'd Villas rise, And towery cities grow into the skies. "Earth's farthest ends our glory shall behold, seck Vorce dislant " 3 [* Tivese two lines from Pope's Winds 20 est, 200 |