e prepared for college at the
"Indian Charity School" in Lebanon, and passed their first three years
at Yale.

The following letter from an eminent teacher, referred to in a
previous chapter, addressed to President Wheelock, introduces their
only new classmate:

"Lebanon, August 10, 1770.

"Rev. Sir: The bearer, Samuel Gray, entered my school about two years
ago, and in that time has been about four months absent. He was well
fitted for college when he was first under my care, and having applied
himself with proper diligence to his studies, and being favored with a
genius somewhat better than common, has made a progress in his
learning answerable to his industry. He will be found upon examination
to be pretty well acquainted with Virgil, Tully, and Horace. He is
likewise able to construe any part of the Greek Testament. He parses
and makes Latin rather better than common. He has been through the
twelve first books of Homer, but, as 't is more than a year since he
recited that author, am afraid he has lost the greater part of what he
then understood pretty well. In Arithmetic, vulgar and decimal, he is
well versed. I have likewise taught him Trigonometry, Altimetry,
Longimetry, Navigation, Surveying, Dialing, and Gauging. He has been
through Martin's 'Philosophical Grammar' twice,--the greater part of
which he understands very well. He has likewise studied Whiston's
'Astronomy,' all except the calculations, which he doth not
understand. He is likewise pretty well acquainted with Geography and
the use of the globes. He went through Watts' 'Logic' last winter, but
having no taste for that study, or rather an aversion to it, he is not
so well skilled in that as in some other parts of learning. About a
year ago he went through so much of rhetoric as is contained in the
'Preceptor,' but suppose he has forgot the most of it. Upon the whole,
though he may not, perhaps, be so well versed in some parts of
learning as the class which he proposes to enter, yet if he applies
himself to his studies with proper diligence, he will be rather an
honor than a disgrace to any college where he shall be graduated. I
ought in justice to him to add, that he is an orderly, well-behaved
youth, and has conducted so well in my school ever since he has been
with me that I have never had the least difference with him on any
account whatever.

"I am, reverend sir, with much esteem,
"Your most humble servant,
"Nathan Tisdale.

"P.