The New Hampshire Gazette

PRINCETOWN. (in New Jersey) Oct. 2.

On Wednesday last his Excellency Governor Boone with the other Trustees, and a great Concourse of the learned and curious, from this and the Neighbouring Provinces, attended on the publick anniversary Commencement in the College of New Jersey. The Business of the Day begun with a salutatory latin Oration, pronounced by Mr. James Thompson, one of the Candidates for the Degree of Batchelor of Arts: which was succeeded by a syllogistic Dispute in Latin, on this Thesis, to wit, "Omnis Actus Dei rata et sapiens, ut nullus alius Acher que apiens se potuisset;" wherein the Respondent and his several Opponents manifested their Learning and Ingenuity: An intermediate English Oration, on the Blessings of Peace, delivered by Mr. Jabez Woodbridge, agreeably entertained the Audience, until the Introduction of an English Dispute, in the forensic Way, on the following Thesis, to wit, Neither Virtue nor Vice receive their proper Rewards, in this Life: The Respondent and Opponents gave a good Specimen of their Abilities, as publick Disputants. The forenoon Exercises were concluded with an animated English Oration on Benevolence, composed and delivered with great Propriety and Elegance, by Mr. David Rice.

The Rev. Mr President Finley having been initiated into his Office, since the last Commencement, thought proper to answer the Expectations of the Publick, by an Oration from himself... with this, the Entertainments of the Afternoon began; and the Composition Was made up with such purity of Diction; flowing and harmonious Periods: Pronunciation so exact and elegant; that no one but a great master of the Roman Language as this Gentleman is, could have effected it. With Pleasure the Patrons of this Seat of Musick, once more, behold the President's Chair so honourably filled.

A Syllogitick Dispute, In Latin immediately succeeded, on the Thesis, Malum Morale perfectionem hujus Mundi non tollit; which was well maintained by the Respondent; altho' ingeniously controverted by his Opponents. An Elocutionary forensic Dispute on the following Thesis, to wit, No man can be a complete Orator without a universal Acquaintance with the Arts and Sciences, having concluded the Exercises proceeding the graduation, the President descended from the Rostrum, and conferred the Degree of Batchelor of Arts on the following young Gentlemen to wit, David Caldwell, Lawrence Vanderveer, David Gillispie, Isaac Handy, Thomas Henderson, William Fauncey, Nathan Kerr, John Leffeny, Thomas M'Craken, David Rice, John Robrug, Samuel Sloan, James Thompson and Jabez Woodbridge: And also the Degree of Master of Arts on Jacob Kerr and William Tennent, jun. and three honorary Degree of Master of Arts on the Rev. Mr. Samuel Lockwood. Mr. Kerr concluded the whole with a Handsome Latin Oration, on the Misapplication of Genius.