The History of Dartmouth College

by Baxter Perry Smith

And further, of our special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, to the intent that our said corporation and body politic may answer the end of their erection and constitution, and may have perpetual succession and continuance forever, We do for us, our heirs and successors, will, give and grant unto the said trustees of Dartmouth College, and to their successors forever, that there shall be once a year, and every year, a meeting of said trustees, held at said Dartmouth College, at such time as by said trustees, or the major part of them, at any legal meeting of said trustees shall be agreed on. The first meeting to be called by the said Eleazar Wheelock, as soon as conveniently may be, within one year next after the enrolment of these our letters patent, at such time and place as he shall judge proper. And the said trustees, or the major part of any seven or more of them, shall then determine on the time for holding the annual meeting, aforesaid, which may be altered as they shall hereafter find most convenient.

And We do further ordain and direct, that the said Eleazar Wheelock shall notify the time for holding the first meeting to be called as aforesaid, by sending a letter to each of said trustees, and causing an advertisement thereof to be printed in the "New Hampshire Gazette," and in some public newspaper printed in the colony of Connecticut. But in case of the death or incapacity of said Wheelock, then such meeting to be notified in manner as aforesaid, by the Governor or Commander in Chief of our said province for the time being.

And We also, for us, our heirs and successors, hereby will, give and grant unto the said trustees of Dartmouth College aforesaid, and to their successors forever, that when any seven or more of the said trustees or their successors are convened and met together for the service of said Dartmouth College, at any time or times, such seven or more shall be capable to act as fully and amply to all intents and purposes, as if all the trustees of said College were personally present; and all affairs and actions whatsoever, under the care of said trustees, shall be determined by the majority or greater number of those seven or more trustees, so convened and met together.

And we do further will, ordain and direct, that the president, trustees, professors, and tutors, and all such officers as shall be appointed for the public instruction and government of said College, shall, before they undertake the execution of their respective offices or trusts, or within one year after, take the oaths and subscribe the declaration, provided by an act of Parliament, made in the first year of King George the First, entitled, "An Act for the further security of his Majesty's person and government, and the succession of the Crown in the heirs of the late Princess Sophia being Protestants, and for the extinguishing the hopes of the pretended Prince of Wales, and his open and secret abettors," that is to say, the president before the governor of our said province for the time being, or by one empowered by him to that service, or by the president of our council, and the trustees, professors, tutors and other officers before the president of said college, for the time being, who is hereby empowered to administer the same: an entry of all which shall be made in the records of the said college.

And we do for us, our heirs and successors, hereby will, give and grant full power and authority to the president, hereafter by us named, and to his successors, or in case of his failure, to any three or more of said trustees, to appoint other occasional meetings, from time to time, of the said seven trustees, or any greater number of them, to transact any matter or thing necessary to be done, before the next annual meeting, and to order notice to the said seven or any greater number of them, of the times and places of meetings for the services aforesaid, by a letter under his or their hands of the same, one month before said meeting. Provided always, that no standing rule or order be made or altered, for the regulation of said college, or any president or professor be chosen or displaced, or any other matter or thing transacted or done, which shall continue in force after the then next annual meeting of said trustees as aforesaid.

And further, We do by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, create, make, constitute, nominate and appoint our trusty and well beloved Eleazar Wheelock, Doctor in Divinity, the founder of said college, to be president of said Dartmouth College, and to have the immediate care of the education and government of such students, as shall be admitted into said Dartmouth College, for instruction and education; and do will, give and grant to him in said office, full power, authority and right to nominate, appoint, constitute and ordain by his last will, such suitable and meet person or persons as he shall choose, to succeed him in the presidency of said Dartmouth College; and the person so appointed by his last will, to continue in office, vested with all the powers, privileges, jurisdiction and authority of a president of said Dartmouth College, that is to say, so long as until such appointment, by said last will, shall be disapproved by the trustees of said Dartmouth College.

And We do also for us, our heirs and successors, will, give and grant to the said trustees of Dartmouth College, and to their successors forever, or any seven or more of them, convened as aforesaid, that in case of the ceasing or failure of a president, by any means whatsoever, that the said trustees do elect, nominate and appoint such qualified person, as they, or the major part of any seven or more of them, convened for that purpose, as above directed, shall think fit, to be president of said Dartmouth College, and to have the care of the education and government of the students as aforesaid. And in case of the ceasing of a president as aforesaid, the senior professor or tutor, being one of the trustees, shall exercise the office of a president, until the trustees shall make choice of, and appoint a president as aforesaid; and such professor or tutor, or any three or more of the trustees, shall immediately appoint a meeting of the body of the trustees for the purpose aforesaid. And also, We do will, give and grant to the said trustees, convened as aforesaid, that they elect, nominate and appoint, so many tutors and professors, to assist the president in the education and government of the students belonging thereto as they the said trustees shall, from time to time, and at any time think needful and serviceable to the interests of said Dartmouth College. And also that the said trustees, or their successors, or the major part of any seven or more of them, convened for that purpose as above directed, shall at any time displace and discharge from the service of said Dartmouth College, any or all such officers, and elect others in their room and stead as before directed. And also that the said trustees or their successors, or the major part of any seven of them which shall convene for that purpose as above directed, do from time to time as occasion shall require, elect, constitute and appoint a treasurer, a clerk, an usher and a steward, for the said Dartmouth College, and appoint to them, and each of them, their respective businesses and trust; and displace and discharge from the service of said college, such treasurer, clerk, usher or steward, and elect others in their room and stead; which officers so elected as before directed, We do for us, our heirs and successors, by these presents constitute and establish in their respective offices, and do give to each and every of them, full power and authority, to exercise the same in said Dartmouth College, according to the directions and during the pleasure of the said trustees, as fully and freely as any like officers in any of our universities, colleges, or seminaries of learning, in our realm of Great Britain, lawfully may or ought to do.

And also, that the said trustees or their successors, or the major part of any seven or more of them, which shall convene for that purpose, as is above directed, as often as one or more of said trustees shall die, or by removal or otherwise shall, according to their judgment become unfit or incapable to serve the interests of said college, do, as soon as may be, after the death, removal, or such unfitness or incapacity of such trustee or trustees, elect and appoint such trustee or trustees as shall supply the place of him or them so dying, or becoming incapable to serve the interests of said college; and every trustee so elected and appointed, shall, by virtue of these presents, and such election and appointment, be vested with all the powers and privileges which any of the other trustees of said college are hereby vested with. And We do further will, ordain and direct, that from and after the expiration of two years from the enrolment of these presents, such vacancy or vacancies shall be filled up unto the complete number of twelve Trustees, eight of the aforesaid whole number of the body of the trustees shall be resident and respectable freeholders of our said Province of New Hampshire, and seven of said whole number shall be laymen.

And We do further of our special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, will, give and grant unto the said trustees of Dartmouth College that they and their successors, or the major part of any seven of them which shall convene for that purpose as above directed, may make, and they are hereby fully empowered from time to time fully and lawfully to make and establish such ordinances, orders and laws, as may tend to the good and wholesome government of the said College, and all the students and the several officers and ministers thereof, and to the public benefit of the same, not repugnant to the laws and statutes of our realm of Great Britain or of this our province of New Hampshire (and not excluding any person of any religious denomination whatsoever from free and equal liberty and advantage of education, or from any of the liberties and privileges or immunities of the said College on account of his or their speculative sentiments in religion, and of his or their being of a religious profession different from the said Trustees of the said Dartmouth College), and such ordinances, orders and laws which shall as aforesaid be made, we do by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, ratify, allow of and confirm, as good and effectual to oblige and bind all the students and the several officers and ministers of said College. And We do hereby authorize and empower the said Trustees of Dartmouth College, and the president, tutors and professors by them elected and appointed as aforesaid, to put such ordinances, laws and orders into execution to all intents and purposes.

And We do further of our special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, will, give and grant unto the said Trustees, of said Dartmouth College, for the encouragement of learning and animating the students of said College to diligence and industry and a laudable progress in literature, that they and their successors, or the major part of any seven or more of them convened for that purpose as above directed, do by the President of said College for the time being, or any other deputed by them, give and grant any such degree or degrees to any of the students of the said College, or any others by them thought worthy thereof, as are usually granted in either of the Universities or any other College in our realm of Great Britain; and that they sign and seal diplomas or certificates of such graduations to be kept by the graduates as perpetual memorials and testimonies thereof.