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at his own expense, on his own estate and plantation, set on foot an Indian Charity School, and for several Dartmouth College years, through the assistance of well disposed persons Woodward. in America, clothed, maintained and educated a number of the children of the Indian natives, with a view to their carrying the gospel in their own language, and spreading the knowledge of the great Redeemer, among their savage tribes, and hath actually employed a number of them as missionaries and school masters in the wilderness for that purpose: and by the blessing of God upon the endeavours of said Wheelock, the design became reputable among the Indians, insomuch that a larger number desired the education of their children in said school, and were also disposed to receive missionaries and school masters in the wilderness, more than could be supported by the charitable contributions in these American colonies.

Whereupon, the said Eleazar Wheelock thought it expedient, that endeavours should be used to raise contributions from well disposed persons in England, for the carrying on and extending said undertaking; and for that purpose the said Eleazar Wheelock requested the Rev. Nathaniel Whitaker, now doctor in divinity, to go over to England for that purpose, and sent over with him the Rev. Samson Occom, an Indian minister, who had been educated by the said Wheelock. And to enable the said Whitaker to the more successful performance of said work, on which he was sent, said Wheelock gave him a full power of attorney, by which said Whitaker solicited those worthy and generous contributors to the charity, viz.

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The Right Honourable William, Earl of Dartmouth, the Honourable Sir Sydney Stafford Smythe, Knight, Dartmouth one of the Barons of his Majesty's Court of Exchequer, John Thornton, of Clapham, in the county of Woodward. Surrey, Esquire, Samuel Roffey, of Lincoln's Innfields, in the county of Middlesex, Esquire, Charles Hardy, of the parish of Saint Mary-le-bonne, in said county, Esquire, Daniel West, of Christ's church, Spitalfields, in the county aforesaid, Esquire, Samuel Savage, of the same place, Gentleman, Josiah Roberts, of the parish of Saint Edmund, the King, Lombard Street, London, Gentleman, and Robert Keen, of the parish of Saint Batolph Aldgate, London, Gentleman, to receive the several sums of money which should be contributed, and to be trustees for the contributors to such charity, which they cheerfully agreed to.

Whereupon, the said Whitaker did, by virtue of said power of attorney, constitute and appoint the said Earl of Dartmouth, Sir Sydney Stafford Smythe, John Thornton, Samuel Roffey, Charles Hardy, and Daniel West, Esquires, and Samuel Savage, Josiah Roberts, and Robert Keen, Gentlemen, to be trustees of the money which had then been contributed, and which should, by his means, be contributed for said purpose; which trust they have accepted, as by their engrossed declaration of the same, under their hands. and seals well executed, fully appears, and the same has also been ratified, by a deed of trust, well executed, by the said Wheelock.

And the said Wheelock further represents, that he has, by power attorney, for many weighty reasons,

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given full power to the said trustees, to fix upon and determine the place for said school, most subservient College to the great end in view; and to enable them underWoodward. Standingly to give the preference, the said Wheelock

V.

has laid before the said trustees, the several offers which have been generously made in the several governments in America, to encourage and invite the settlement of said school among them, for their own private emolument, and the increase of learning in their respective places, as well as for the furtherance of the general design in view.

And whereas a large number of the proprietors of lands in the western part of this our province of NewHampshire, animated and excited thereto, by the generous example of his excellency their governor, and by the liberal contributions of many noblemen and gentlemen in England, and especially by the consideration, that such a situation would be as convenient as any for carrying on the great design among the Indians; and also, considering, that without the least impediment to the said design, the same school may be enlarged and improved to promote learning among the English, and be a means to supply a great number of churches and congregations, which are likely soon to be formed in that new country, with a learned and orthodox ministry; they, the said proprietors, have promised large tracts of land, for the uses aforesaid, provided the school shall be settled in the western part of our said province. And they, the said right honourable, honourable, and worthy trustees, before mentioned, having maturely considered the reasons and arguments, in favour of the several places

proposed, have given the preference to the western part of our said province, lying on Connecticut river, as a situation most convenient for said school.

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And the said Wheelock has further represented a Woodward. necessity of a legal incorporation, in order to the safety and well being of said seminary, and its being capable of the tenure and disposal of lands and bequests for the use of the same.

And the said Wheelock has also represented, that for many weighty reasons, it will be expedient, at least in the infancy of said institution, or till it can be accommodated in that new country, and he and his friends be able to remove and settle by and round about it, that the gentlemen, whom he has already nominated in his last will, (which he has transmitted to the aforesaid gentlemen of the trust in England,) to be trustees in America, should be of the corporation now proposed. And, also, as there are already large collections for said school, in the hands of the aforesaid gentlemen of the trust in England, and all reason to believe, from their singular wisdom, piety, and zeal to promote the Redeemer's cause, (which has already procured for them the utmost confidence of the kingdom,) we may expect they will appoint successors in time to come, who will be men of the same spirit, whereby great good may and will accrue many ways to the institution, and much be done by their example and influence to encourage and facilitate the whole design in view; for which reason, said Wheelock desires, that the trustees aforesaid may be vested with all that power therein, which can consist with their distance from the same.

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Know ye, therefore, That We, considering the preDartmouth mises, and being willing to encourage the laudable College and charitable design of spreading christian knowWoodward, ledge among the savages of our American wilderness, and also that the best means of education be established in our province of New-Hampshire, for the benefit of said province, do, of our special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, by and with the advice of our counsel for said province, by these presents, will, ordain, grant, and constitute, that there be a college erected in our said province of NewHampshire, by the name of Dartmouth College, for the education and instruction of youth of the Indian tribes in this land, in reading, writing, and all parts of learning, which shall appear necessary and expedient, for civilizing and christianizing children of pagans, as well as in all liberal arts and sciences, and also of English youth and any others. And the trustees of said college may and shall be one body corporate and politic, in deed, action, and name, and shall be called, named, and distinguished, by the name of the Trustees of Dartmouth College.

And further, we have willed, given, granted, constituted, and ordained, and by this our present charter, of our special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, with the advice aforesaid, do, for us, our heirs and successors forever, will, give, grant, constitute, and ordain, that there shall be in the said Dartmouth College, from henceforth and forever. a body politic, consisting of Trustees of said Dartmouth College. And for the more full and perfect erection of said corporation and body politic, consisting of trustees of Dartmouth College, we, of our special grace, cer