and Kent, zealously interposed their claims to the advantage of which the county of Bristol had become the recipient; and it was not without a patient and formal hearing of all the arguments advanced in behalf of each of the competitors, that the Corporation, in the early part of the year 1770, decided that the said edifice be built in the town of Providence, and there be continued forever." The Corporation, at the same time, appointed a committee to assure President Manning of their cordial approbation of his administration of the affairs of the College, to request him to continue in office, and to transfer his residence to Providence, on the removal of the institution to that town. The same committee were also authorized to endeavor to procure of Mr. Manning's church and congregation their consent to his removal. The cautious delicacy with which the Corporation interfered with his existing relations presents a somewhat grateful contrast to the unceremonious and otherwise questionable modes of procedure which, under similar circumstances, are now sometimes adopted.

The result of all these proceedings may be anticipated. In the course of the year 1770, the first college edifice, now University Hall, was erected in the town of Providence; and at the expense, it is understood, exclusively of citizens belonging to the town and county of Providence. The edifice was not at once completed; but, in May, 1770, President Manning removed thither, together with his official associates, and the undergraduates of the College. The first Commencement at Providence was held on the first Wednesday of September, 1770, when a class of only four was graduated. Of this number was the late Hon. Theodore Foster, senator in Congress from Rhode Island for the period of thirteen years, and familiarly known for his spirit of antiquarian research, and for the zeal with which he collected materials for a history of that State.

Dr. Manning now entered upon a theatre of enlarged and responsible action. The College was in its infancy, and demanded his parental supervision. Its funds were scanty, and needed to be recruited. Its actual system of discipline and instruction was imperfect, and required not only to be improved, but to be adapted to the new circumstances under which it was hereafter to be administered. To these important objects Dr. Manning devoted himself, with patience and energy, and with that spirit of self-denial which is essential to the success of great enterprises, and which great enterprises are apt to inspire. In the beneficent work of establishing, within the little colony of Rhode Island, "a public seminary for the education of youth in the vernacular and learned languages, and in the liberal arts and sciences," he was aided by the efficient cooperation of the Rev. Morgan Edwards, the Rev. Hezekiah Smith, and others of his clerical brethren. It is, however, perhaps not too much to say, that, but for the enlightened zeal and substantial liberality of a few eminent Baptist laymen, citizens of Providence, the College would have been slow in winning its way to general repute. These public-spirited men, though strangers themselves to the discipline of schools of learning, knew how to prize the benefits of high intellectual culture. Though self-educated, they were without a particle of hostility to the distinctions of learning or of that affected contempt for learned men with which the uncultivated sometimes seek to console their deficiences. Moved by a generous ardor, they determined that their children and the children of their contemporaries should enjoy, to the remotest generations, opportunities for intellectual improvement denied to themselves. Well have they been repaid for their efforts in this good cause. Their activity and enterprise in the accumulation of

wealth are now well nigh forgotten; but still fresh is the memory of all their deeds in behalf of science, and letters, and religion.

The permanent establishment of the College in Providence inspired its friends with renewed confidence in its ultimate success, and stimulated them to fresh endeavors to increase its funds, and to enlarge its means of instruction. In all these endeavors, as it would seem from the records of the College, the President was conspicuous. He recommended to the Cor poration measures for the advancement of the College, and, in the laborious execution of those measures, he actively participated. As one among the many proofs of his desire to promote the interests of the institution over which he presided, and of the sacrifices which he was ready to make in that cause, we here record a fact communicated by the Hon. Asher Robbins :

"The President received a letter from England, soon after the peace in 1783, in which the writer gave it as his opinion, that if a person were sent out there, for that purpose, he might obtain donations to enlarge the funds of the College, and thereby extend its usefulness. This letter was communicated to the Corporation; and the only objection to the plan was the uncertainty of success, while the expense would be considerable. Whereupon, the President volunteered to go on this mission, asking only indemnity for his actual expenses, and offering to trust to the contributions for that indemnity. This project was, however, unhappily defeated."

Dr. Manning discharged the duties of his responsible office, with unwearied assiduity and with gratifying success, till the year 1776, when the college edifice became first a barrack for the militia, and afterwards a hospital for the French army commanded by Count Rochambeau. He was then compelled to suspend his collegiate occupations, till the close of the Revolutionary war in 1783. From 1776 to 1786, no degrees were conferred. This interval of relaxation from collegiate duty, Dr. Manning diligently employed in the labors of the ministry, and in various acts of social benevolence which the perils and distresses of that period in our national history prompted him to perform. The following instance of his humane disposition is related by the venerable John Howland, President of the Rhode Island Historical Society, in a short Memoir of Dr. Manning, published in the year 1815:

"He enjoyed the confidence of the general commanding in this department, and in one instance in particular had all the benevolent feelings of his heart gratified, even at the last moment, after earnest entreaty, by obtaining from general Sullivan an order of reprieve for three men of the regular army who were sentenced to death by that inexorable tribunal, a court martial. The moment he obtained the order revoking the sentence, he mounted his horse at the general's door, and, by pushing him to his utmost speed, arrived at the place of execution at the instant the last act had begun which was to precipitate them into eternity. With a voice which none could disobey, he commanded the execution to stay, and delivered the general's order to the officer of the guard. The joy of the attending crowd seemed greater than that of the subjects of mercy; they were called so suddenly to life from the last verge of death, they did not for a moment feel that it was a reality."

Dr. Manning is now to be exhibited in a new character, and in new relations. Hitherto we have seen him ministering at the altar, or dispensing the oracles of wisdom amid the shades of the academy. We are now to note his career as a patriot statesman. In the following paragraph, Mr.

Howland relates the history of an important civil function which was confided to Dr. Manning, and by him most skilfully discharged :

"The repeated calls of the militia, while the enemy remained in this State, (Rhode Island,) operated with peculiar severity; in some districts the ground could not be planted, and in others, the harvest was not reaped in season; the usual abundance of the earth fell short, and he who had the best means of supply frequently had to divide his store with a suffering neighbor: In addition to this, laws existed in several States, prohibiting the transport of provisions beyond the State boundary. The plea for these restrictions was that there was danger of the enemy being supplied; but the real cause was to retain the provisions for the purpose of furnishing their State's quota of troops, as the war was generally carried on by the energy of the governments of the individual States. These restrictions came with double weight on the citizens of Rhode Island, as a great part of the State was in the possession of the enemy, and the remainder was filled with those who had fled from the islands and the coasts for safety. These restrictions and prohibitions were variously modified, but under all their variations, which referred chiefly to the mode of executing the law, the grievance was the same. The governor and council of war of Rhode Island, wishing to give their language of remonstrance, a power of impression which paper could not be made to convey, commissioned Doctor Manning to repair to Connecticut, and represent, personally, to the government of that State our peculiar situation, and to confer with, and propose to them a different mode of procedure. The Doctor in this embassy obtained all that he desired; the restrictions were removed, and, in addition to this, on his representation of the circumstances of the refugees from the islands, contributions, in money or provisions, were made in nearly all the parishes in the interior of Connecticut, and forwarded for their relief."

The Articles of Confederation adopted by the United States in 1781, proved, as is well known, utterly inadequate to the purposes of government. Commercial embarrassments multiplied; the public credit was impaired; and the great interests of the nation, nay, even the whole political fabric was threatened with destruction. At this crisis of depression and alarm, Dr. Manning was, by an unanimous resolution of the General Assembly, appointed, in 1786, to represent the State of Rhode Island in the Congress of the United States. The story of this interesting event in the life of Dr. Manning is well told by Mr. Robbins, in the following extract from one of his letters to the author of this Memoir. It may not be amiss here to add, that these letters were written with no view to publication; but that we have been kindly permitted, by the distinguished writer, to use them for the purpose of illustrating the character of his departed friend :

"Though he had other merits and ample for this appointment of delegate, I have no doubt the dignity and grace for which he was so remarkable, smoothed the way to it. It took place in this wise. There was a vacancy in the delegation, and the General Assembly, who were to fill it, were sitting in Providence. No one in particular had been proposed or talked of: One afternoon, Dr. Manning went to the State-house, to look in upon the Assembly, and see what was doing. His motive was curiosity merely. On his appearance there, he was introduced on the floor, and accommodated with a seat. Shortly after, Commodore Hopkins, who was then a member, rose and nominated President Manning as a delegate to Congress, and, thereupon, he was appointed, and, according to my recollection, unanimously. I recollect to have heard Commodore Hopkins say (it

was at the house of his brother, governor Hopkins where I shortly after met with him,) that the idea never entered his head till he saw the President enter and take his seat on the floor of the Assembly; and that the thought immediately struck him, that he would make a very fit member for that august body, the continental Congress.

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Congress under the old Confederation sat, as you know, in conclave; no report of their debates was published; how far Mr. Manning mingled in them, therefore, I cannot say. I recollect his speaking of one in which he participated (the subject I have forgotten) on account of a personal controversy to which it gave rise between him and a fiery young man, a delegate from Georgia, by the name, as I think, of Houston. This young man in his speech had reflected upon New England and her people. Mr. Manning repelled the attack, and by way of offset, drew a picture of Georgia and her people. This so nettled the young man that in his passion he threatened personal violence. The next day he appeared in Congress with a sword by his side. This produced, at once, a sensation in that Body the symptoms of which were so alarming, that he thought proper to withdraw, take off his sword, and send it home by his servant. In the course of the day he took an opportunity to meet with Mr. Manning, and to make him an apology.

"He must have given himself much to business then, as he seemed to be master of all the important questions which had been debated, and could give the arguments, pro and con, offered by the different speakers.

"The famous Dr. Johnson of Connecticut was a member at the same time, with whom Mr. Manning became intimate, and of whom he always spoke with admiration. The Doctor once paid him the compliment of holding the pen of a ready writer, which Mr. Manning very highly valued as coming from such a man. It was upon an occasion of drawing up a report for a committee of which both were members, and which report the Doctor professed to be much pleased with."

On receiving the appointment of Delegate to Congress, Dr. Manning asked and obtained of the Corporation leave of absence from his collegiate duties, from March till September. During this interval, the Rev. Perez Fobes, at that time a Congregational clergyman of Raynham, Ms., and soon afterwards a Professor in the College, was appointed as Vice President. Dr. Manning returned at the time designated, and quietly resumed his clerical and collegiate duties.

tect.

Dr. Manning was an enlightened friend of social order and of all those paramount interests which it is the design of government to foster and proHe saw how inefficient the Confederation had become; and he feared that, unless a system of government, endowed with more energy, and founded on a popular basis, were established, the blessings of union and independence could not long be preserved. Hence, he was an earnest advocate for the adoption of our present national constitution. As evidence of the profound interest which he felt in the momentous question which, in the year 1788, agitated the country, we take pleasure in quoting from Mr. Howland's Memoir, the subsequent passage:

"Dr. Manning was extremely solicitous for ratification. He viewed the situation of the country with all the light of a statesman and a philosopher; and, as a prudent and well informed citizen, he took his measures accordingly. He had saved the college funds through the fluctuations and storms of one revolution, and he now saw them dissipated and lost forever, unless the new form of government should be established. He knew that several clergymen with whom he was connected in the bonds of religious union

were members of the convention, and that they were generally opposed to the ratification. He therefore repaired to Boston, and attended the debates and proceedings of the convention. His most valued and intimate friend, the Rev. Doctor Stillman, was one of the twelve representatives of the town of Boston in the convention, and zealous for the adoption; and in their frequent intercourse with their friends, who were members, they endeavored to remove the objections of such as were in the opposition; in this they were assisted by the Rev. Doctor Smith, of Haverhill, who was also a Fellow of Rhode Island College, and ardently attached to its interests; with the Rev. Isaac Backus, who was a Delegate from the town of Middleborough, and considered one of the most powerful men of the anti-federal party; they were not able to succeed. The question of ratification was finally carried by a majority of nineteen, after a full and able discussion. The writer of these sketches well recollects the cordial congratulations with which Doctor Manning greeted his friends on the decision of this convention, after his return from Boston."

In connection with the facts stated by Mr. Howland, we cannot forbear to add an incident mentioned in an interesting communication from Dr. Waterhouse to the Rev. Prof. Elton, of Brown University. On the last day of the session of the Massachusetts Convention, and before the final question was taken, governor Hancock, the President, invited Dr. Manning to "close the solemn convocation with thanksgiving and prayer." Dr. Manning, though, as Dr. Waterhouse thinks, taken by surprise, immediately dropped on his knees, and poured out his heart in a strain of exalted patriotism and fervid devotion, which awakened in the assembly a mingled sentiment of admiration and awe. The impression which he made must have been extraordinary; for, says Dr. Waterhouse, who dined in a large company, after the adjournment," the praise of Rev. Dr. Manning was in every mouth! Nothing," adds Dr. Waterhouse, but the popularity of Dr. Stillman prevented the rich men of Boston from building a church for Dr. Manning's acceptance."

After his return from Congress, Dr. Manning sustained no political office, and, with the exception of his patriotic mission to Boston, we do not learn that, during the remainder of his life, he engaged conspicuously in the politics of the times. For politics, however, he had a decided taste, imbibed, it is presumed, amid the exciting controversies of the American Revolution. With governor Hopkins, whom Mr. Robbins denominates, "a living library of political knowledge," Dr. Manning maintained a familiar and confidential intercourse. This association probably quickened the generous interest which he felt in the public affairs of his country—an interest entirely without acrimony or a feverish thirst for personal distinction, and which, it is believed, he retained to the last.

The connection of Dr. Manning with the First Baptist church in Providence, as their pastor, was an important event in his life. Unwilling to break the continuity of the preceding narrative, we have refrained, thus far, from noticing, particularly, this event which opened to Dr. Manning a new province of labor and usefulness.

The First Baptist church in Providence was planted, according to governor Winthrop, in the year 1639; and it is the oldest Baptist church in America. With its history prior to the year 1770, we have, here, no concern. At that time, the Rev. Samuel Winsor was its pastor. Residing at a distance from the meeting-house, and finding the duties of his office too arduous for him, he made known to his people his earnest desire to be released from services which he could no longer perform, without infringing