and Mr. Dean sat out
on a mission to visit the Indians at Penobscott, and on the Bay of
Fundy, as they should find encouragement, agreeable to representations
heretofore made of a door open for service among them."

They had a good measure of success, in some respects, in this mission.

The following tribute to Professor Ripley is from the "Memoirs of
Wheelock."

"In the winter of 1786-7, the college experienced the loss of an
eminent instructor, the Rev. Sylvanus Ripley. He was suddenly called
from his labors, in the vigor of life and the midst of extensive
usefulness.

"After taking his degree in 1771, in the first class which received
the honors of the college, he continued with Mr. Wheelock as a tutor
in the college. In 1775, he was appointed master of Moor's Charity
School, and in 1779, upon the decease of Dr. Wheelock, he succeeded
him in the pastoral care of the church in the college, and soon after
was elected professor of Divinity. Professor Ripley was a learned man,
an orthodox divine, an evangelical and popular preacher. His eloquence
had nothing artificial or studied. His sermons were seldom written;
his manner was pleasing and winning, his words flowed as promptly and
readily in the pulpit as in the social circle."

Professor Ripley died at Hanover, February 5, 1787, of injuries
received in a fall from his carriage, while returning from a religious
service in a distant part of the town.

His wife was Abigail, daughter of Pres. Eleazar Wheelock.

* * * * *

Bezaleel Woodward, the first professor of mathematics in the college,
was the son of Israel and Mary (Sims) Woodward, and a descendant of
Henry Woodward of Dorchester, Mass., 1638, and Northampton, Mass.,
1639, where he was one of the "seven pillars" of the church formed
there in 1661. He was born at Lebanon, Conn., July 16, 1745, and
graduated at Yale College in 1764.

In 1767, Mr. Wheelock refers to him as an associate teacher, and "a
dear youth, willing to do anything in his power" to aid him. The
school is said to have been put on a college basis, in the matter of
study, in 1768, with Mr. Woodward as tutor.

The following letter addressed to President Wheelock illustrates the
versatile nature of his talents:

"Lebanon Sep^r 6^th 1770.

"Rev^d & hon^d Sir,

"Bingham arrived home well last week, and proposes to set out with two
teams about the 18^th Ins^t. We have all of us been endeavouring to
expedite t