"The
governour prepared a Latin speech for instalment of the president. Then
took the president by the hand and led him down into the hall;... The
governour sat with his back against a noble fire.... Then the governour
read his speech ... and mov'd the books in token of their delivery. Then
president made a short Latin speech, importing the difficulties
discouraging, and yet that he did accept: ... Clos'd with the hymn to the
Trinity. Had a very good dinner upon 3 or 4 tables.... Got home very well.
_Laus Deo._" [Footnote: _Mass. Hist. Coll._ fifth series, vi. 209.]
Nor did Dudley fail to provide the new executive with fit support. By the
old law he had revived the corporation was reduced to seven; of this board
Leverett himself was one, and on the day he took his office both the
Brattles and Pemberton were also appointed. And more than this, when, a
few years later, Pemberton died, the arch-rebel, Benjamin Colman, was
chosen in his place. The liberal triumph was complete, and in looking back
through the vista of the past, there are few pages of our history more
strongly stamped with the native energy of the New England mind than this
brilliant capture of Harvard, by which the ancient cradle of bigotry and
superstition was made the home of American liberal thought. As for the
Mathers, when they found themselves beaten in fair fight, they conceived a
revenge so dastardly that Pemberton declared with much emotion he would
humble them, were he governor, though it cost him his head.
Pages:
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473