*

President Kirkland had a singular felicity in addressing distinguished men and public functionaries on special occasions. He had the rare faculty of always saying the right thing in the right way, without obsequious deference or offensive flattery. Who that was present will not always remember the graceful manner with which, in his Election Sermon, delivered in 1816, he dismissed to the retirement of private life the venerable Chief Magistrate of the Commonwealth, and welcomed to the chair of State "a laurelled hero of the Revolution"? With what a mingled majesty and respect did he receive the President of the United States, Mr. Monroe, on his visit to Cambridge in 1817; and as he introduced to him the classes of the University, the flower of New England, with what an excusable pride did he say, "We present to your view that portion of the youth of our country now resident within our walls." And who that witnessed the scene and interview, can ever forget his dignified reception of the Nation's Guest in 1824, addressing him in words so appropriate and touching, that the heart of the veteran almost failed him, overpowered with emotion?

With what entire self-possession, with what an easy air, with what a careless grace, did he preside at the annual Commencements of the College. In the midst of the vast crowd that assembles on these occasions, all whose eyes were fixed on him with a reverent solicitude, he seemed wholly unconscious of their

* The two Governors were Strong and Brooks. The several addresses here referred to will be found in the Appendix.

notice, and as unconcerned as any of them. There was something in his air and manner that told you that he felt himself at home, and put you perfectly at your ease. When he addressed the Governor of the Commonwealth, or the Chief Magistrate of the Union, before conferring the degrees, you felt that the President of the University was, after all, the chief man in that presence. So self-possessed and unconcerned was he, that you felt no painful anxiety for him, as to how he would get through. He might falter, but he could not fail. The Latin flowed from his lips like his mother tongue; and you were confident, — such was his scholarship and good taste, such his readiness and felicity of utterance, — that should he forget the set form of words, from time immemorial used on these occasions, he could supply it, on the instant, with something as good, or better. The appropriate thought and the fit word would certainly come at last. The graduate felt that day that the President's paternal smile and benediction, as he conferred the degree upon him, was worth more than the parchment that he put into his hand; and that benignant smile, what Cambridge student, that has a heart, can forget it to his dying day?

Having thus presided, for eighteen years, with so much honor to himself, and so much benefit to the public, over the highest literary institution of the country, Dr. Kirkland is at length compelled to leave it. The remote cause of his retiring from office was a stroke of paralysis, which befell him early in August, 1827.* In

* He preached for the last time in this Church, April 15, 1827.

his letter to the Corporation he says, "Considerations, in my judgment imperative, induce me to resign the office which I now hold in the University; and I beg you to be persuaded that I quit this high and responsible station with the most sincere prayers for its future prosperity and advancement." It was on the 28th day of March, 1828, that he resigned the charge of the seminary which he had so long graced and blessed, and which is under greater obligations to him than to any other individual ever connected with it. His administration will be recorded by the historian of the College as the most successful and brilliant in its annals.

The Corporation, in accepting his resignation, expressed "their full sense of all the benefits conferred by him on the Institution over which he has presided for so many years with singular dignity and mildness, highly raising its reputation and increasing its usefulness by his splendid talents and accomplishments, his paternal care, and his faithful services." The Board of Overseers communicated to him, by a special committee, "their deep and grateful sense of the benefits which religion and learning have derived from his distinguished talents, his beneficent virtues, and his unwearied zeal in diffusing the advantages of education, and promoting the welfare of the University over which he has so long presided."*

* The Committee appointed to wait on the President and communicate this vote were the Hon. John Welles, the Hon. Judge Davis, LL. D. and the Hon. Thomas Welsh, jr.; and they were directed at the same time to "express to him the fervent wishes of the Board of Overseers

The resident officers and instructers of the University expressed to Dr. Kirkland their "deep concern and regret at the painful event of his separation from the College. We remember," they say, "with lively interest, the courtesy which has marked your conduct and rendered our personal intercourse pleasant during the term of your connexion with us as President of the University. We beg leave to assure you that you carry with you our warm regard, and our best wishes for the restoration of your health and for your future happiness. May the kind remembrances and attentions of your numerous friends, the affection and gratitude of those who have been under your care, and of the many who have been benefitted by your liberality, and the solace to be derived from a life devoted to religion and literature, support and cheer you through future years."

On the 1st of April, the President took leave of his pupils, in the College Chapel, in a brief and simple address, in which he expressed his wishes and prayers for their improvement and happiness, and concluded with saying, "I bid you an affectionate farewell. God bless you in time and eternity!"*

The members of the Senior class, who had been the longest under his care, and were soon to leave the seminary, said, in responding to this address, "We

for his restoration to health and for his future happiness." The Corporation also transmitted": an expression of their earnest wishes for his future health and happiness." The votes of the Corporation were passed on the 2d of April; those of the Overseers on the 8th of May. *This Address will be found entire in the Appendix.

Sir, imperfectly, but heartily,

we thank

thank you, you for the honors which your award has made more sweet, and we thank you for the reproof which has been tempered with love. We thank you for the benignity of manners which engaged our confidence, for the charities which secured our hearts. We thank you, Sir, for all the little unremembered acts' of your kindness and authority. We are deeply in your debt; but the obligation is not irksome; it is a debt of gratitude we are well pleased to owe, We should have been hapру, had your connexion with the University at least subsisted until we had been dismissed from its walls. We had all along hoped that we should go out into the world under your auspices, and that the parchment which was to entitle us to consideration, as having completed our academic course, might be signed by a name so well known to fame and to the respect of society. But it has been ordered otherwise; and we can now only assure you, Sir, that though you have ceased to stand to us in the relation of a President, there are other tender relations between you and us which will terminate but with life; and it is our prayer to God that your years may be very long protracted, amid pleasant recollections and troops of friends. We commend your health and fortunes into the charge of Him whose eye is upon them that fear him, who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” *

* This address is signed by Charles C. Emerson, Robert Charles Winthrop, and George S. Hillard, Committee of the Senior Class. At the next Academical Exhibition, which occurred on the 29th of April, in the Valedictory Exercises in July, and at the subsequent Commencement, the most affectionate and enthusiastic mention of the late President was made by members of the Senior and graduating Class.