KNOWLES, ANTHONY & CO., PRINTERS,

PROVIDENCE, R. I.

PREFACE.

It is but an imperfect history of an Institution of Learning during a century, that can be presented in a single discourse. Topics which had been disposed of by others, on former occasions, have therefore been intentionally omitted. It so happened that the earlier history of the College still remained in great obscurity, and yet that abundant materials for illustrating it had recently been collected in the College Library. In these circumstances, it seemed fitting, on the occasion of a centennial celebration, to present a connected view of the origin of the College, of its growth, and so much of its early history as the limited time allotted to the exercise would allow. Accordingly, the first three presidencies—those of MANNING, MAXCY, and MESSER-were chosen as the subject of discourse. Other important and interesting topics, such as the characters and services of the venerable founders and of the chief benefactor of the College; of the more active men of the Corporation; of the prominent members of the successive Faculties of instruction, and of distinguished graduates, as well as the courses of instruction and modes of discipline, could receive but little attention.

The work of selecting and arranging the papers relating to President MANNING'S administration was greatly facilitated by the care which Mr. R. A. GUILD, the Librarian, had bestowed upon them, in preparing his excellent Life and Times of Manning, published about the time that the address, or rather the major part of it, was delivered. To him, in a great degree, is the public indebted for the collection and preservation of the 'Manning Papers."

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The Diaries, Letters, and other manuscript papers left by Dr. STILES were not seen by the writer, till after the discourse was pronounced, when, by the courtesy of the President and the Librarian of Yale College, they were thrown open to his inspection, and those parts of them relating to Brown University kindly pointed out. The effect of the perusal of this rich collection of manuscript volumes has been to modify some of the statements in the discourse relating to a certain passage in the Life of Dr. STILES, by the late Professor KINGSLEY. Justice to the memory of that excellent man, required such modification.

For the copious extracts made in the Appendix from the Correspondence of President MANNING, from the Records of the Corporation, and from other early documents, no apology will be required by the lovers of history. B. SEARS.

BROWN UNIVERSITY, Dec. 1, 1864.