The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

BOSTON, January 16.

As on Friday, in consequence of an Invitation from the President and Fellows of Harvard College, his Excellency the Governor, the honourable his Majesty's Council, and the honourable House of Representatives were present at Cambridge, at the Ceremony of naming the New Hall; lately erected there by order of the Great and General Court, at the Expence, of the Province.

Soon after the Company had got together his Excellency and the whole Court, preceded by the President, Fellows and Tutors, went from the Library to Holden-Chapel: (so named from Mrs. Holden of London the generous Donor of it) when the President acquainted the Audience with the occasion of their Assembling. and that his Excellency the Governor, with the honorable Gentlemen of the General Court, had honored the Society with their Presence to give the New-Hall a Name. Upon which his Excellency named it Hollis-Hall, in Memory of Thomas Hollis Esq; late of London, deceased; and in honor of his surviving Nephew Thomas Hollis, Esq; Fellow of the Royal Society: both of them generous Benefactors to the College. The President then directed a young Gentleman of the College, Mr. Taylor an Undergraduate, to ascend the Rostrum: which he did, and delivered, suitable to the Occasion, an elegant Oration in English, in which he particularly commemorated the Names of Harvard, Stoughton, Holden and Hollis: Names--as he observed--that "shall be ever had in grateful Remembrance, when the Walls, that are called by them, are mouldered into dust."

"But those Walls (continued he) are Memorials only of private Munificence, while Massachusetts Hall, and your New Structure, erected by the Representatives of the People, indicate a regard to Learning and a love of the fine Arts diffused through the whole Community."

After the Oration was ended, which greatly pleased the Audience, the President and Corporation waited upon his Excellency and the Court to the dining Hall of the College, where a very handsome Entertainment was provided for them. When Dinner and the usual Healths after it were over, the Honorable Timothy Ruggles, Esq; Speaker of the honorable House of Representatives, addressed his Excellency the Governor and informed him that the Committee, that had been appointed by the General Court to direct and oversee the building of the New Hall, had delivered the Keys of it to him in the House of Representatives: in whose name he delivered them to his Excellency, to be disposed of according to the intention of the General Court. Upon which his Excellency, receiving the Keys delivered them in the Name of the whole Court to Mr. President Holyoke, and with them the Possession of Hollis-Hall, erected by Order of the Court for the use of the Students of Harvard College: to which his Excellency wished the greatest Prosperity. The President received the Keys with suitable Expressions of the Gratitude of the Society for so noble a Benefaction.

The whole Ceremony and Entertainment were conducted with great Politeness, and very much to the Satisfaction of his Excellency and the whole Court.

Hollis-Hall, built of Brick, is one hundred and five Feet long, forty five Feet wide, and four Stories high. It contains thirty two Chambers, designed to accommodate twice that number of Students; and is a very handsome Structure.

It cost three Thousand six Hundred and ten Pounds ten Shillings Sterling, which sum, tho it considerably exceeded the Estimate that was originally laid before the Honorable House of Representatives, and upon which they formed the Vote for building the Hall, was granted with the greatest Cheerfulness.

The Buildings now belonging to the College, are Harvard-Hall, Stoughton-Hall, Massachusetts-Hall, Hollis-Hall, and Holden-Chapel: which are not sufficient for the increased number of Students.