"History of Harvard College."

Mr. W. C. Lane, librarian of the University, lectured last evening, in the Fogg Lecture room, on "The History of Harvard College." Mr. Lane traced the development of the College back from the present time to its founding, and by means of stereopticon pictures and maps, showed the condition of the College at intervals of twenty-five years, as far back as 1726, the drawing made at this date being the earliest view of the College now existing. This picture showed old Massachusetts, Harvard and Stoughton Halls. These buildings constituted the College at that time, but they have since disappeared and been replaced by the present structures.

Harvard College was founded in 1636. The gift of four hundred pounds, decreed by the General Court of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, was augmented by more than double that amount through the will of John Harvard, a non-conforming clergyman of England, who died the following year. In consequence of this large bequest, the College was immediately opened at Cambridge (then Newton), and the name of Harvard bestowed upon it.

We know but little about John Harvard. His father, Robert Harvard was a well to-do butcher of London, in which city John was born in 1607. At the time of Shakespere's death, nine years later, John Harvard was living in Stratford. In 1637 he came to Charlestown, but lived only a year in his new home.