pose, for each of said children,
L12 per annum for one year."[10]

[9] Agents of the Scotch "Society for Propagating Christian
Knowledge."

[10] For tribes represented in the school, and other donors to the
school and college, see Appendix.

CHAPTER III.

EDUCATION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.--ACTION IN REGARD TO A
COLLEGE.--TESTIMONIAL OF CONNECTICUT CLERGYMEN.--LEGISLATIVE GRANT TO
MR. WHEELOCK.

The importance of education to the welfare of any community, has been
duly appreciated by the people of New Hampshire from the earliest
periods of her history.

Such an item as the following is worthy of notice:

"At a publique Town Meeting held the 5: 2 mo. 58 [1658,] It is agreed
that Twenty pounds per annum shall be yearly rayzed for the
mayntenance of a School-master in the Town of Dover."[11] Harvard
College being in need of a new building in 1669, the inhabitants of
Portsmouth "subscribed sixty pounds, which sum they agreed to pay
annually for seven years to the overseers of Harvard College. Dover
gave thirty-two pounds, and Exeter ten pounds for the same
purpose."[12] Very few towns at the present day are as liberal, in
proportion to their ability.

[11] Dover Town Records.

[12] Adams's Annals of Portsmouth, p. 50.

Classical schools were established in all the more populous towns, and
these were furnished with competent teachers, who were graduates of
Harvard College, or European universities.

In 1758, in the midst of the din and tumult of the French war, we find
the clergy--ever among the foremost in laudable enterprise--making an
earnest effort for increased facilities for liberal education.

We give official records:

"The Convention of the Congregational Ministers in the Province of New
Hampshire, being held at the house of the Rev. Mr. Pike in
Somersworth on the 26th day of Sept. 1758: The Rev. Joseph Adams was
chosen Moderator." After the sermon and transaction of some business:

"The Convention then taking into consideration the great advantages
which may arise, both to the Churches and State from the erecting [an]
Academy or College in this Province, unanimously Voted that the
following Petition shall be preferred to the Governor, desiring him to
grant a Charter for said purpose:

"To his Excellency, Benning Wentworth, Esq., Capt.-General and
Governor-in-Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of New Hampshire
in New England. May it please your