By Dan Linke
GEORGE THE SECOND, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE AND IRELAND, KING, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, Etc. TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETING.
On the 278th anniversary of the signing of Princeton University’s Charter, we offer the text of both the first and second charters, from which the words above are found. This remarkable document that founded Princeton is both inspirational in its aims and didactic, laying out how the institution would be governed.
In addition to the grand opening above, two specific phrases “promoting a learned Education of Our Youth,” and “[who] may be instructed in the learned Languages, and in the Liberal Arts and Sciences…” are the words that have guided the institution, through war, fire, and other tribulations as it marches toward its tricentennial in 2046.
The text below is reprinted from the appendix of Thomas J. Wertenbaker’s Princeton, 1746-1896. It collates the text of both charters, distinguishing between them with brackets denoting the text from the first charter that was omitted from the second, and italics for those parts of the second charter that were not found in the first. (See the note at the bottom, reproduced from Wertenbaker’s book.) All spellings, capitalization, and punctuation are as found in the texts and for readability, I chose not to use [sic].
Charters of the College of New Jersey, October 22, 1746 and September 14, 17481
GEORGE THE SECOND, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE AND IRELAND, KING, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH &C. TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETING.
Whereas sundry of our loving subjects, well disposed & publick spirited Persons, have lately by their humble Petition presented to our Trusty and well beloved [JOHN HAMILTON ESQr. the President of OUR COUNCIL,] Jonathan Belcher, Esq., governor and Commander in Chief of our Province of New Jersey in America, represented the great Necessity of coming into some Method for encouraging and promoting a learned Education of Our Youth in New Jersey, and have expres’d their earnest Desire that a College may be erected in our Said Province of New Jersey in America for the Benefit of the inhabitants of the Said Province and other, wherein Youth may be instructed in the learned Languages, and in the Liberal Arts and Sciences…. And whereas by the fundamental Concessions made at the first Settlement of New Jersey by the Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret, then Proprietors thereof, and granted under their Hands, and the Seal of the said Province, and bearing Date the Tenth Day of February [1664], in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and sixty-four, it was, among[st] other Things, conceded and [granted] agreed, “that no Freeman within the said Provence of New Jersey, should at any Time be molested, punished, disquieted, or Called in Question for any difference in opinion or practice in matters of Religious Concernment, who do not actually disturb the civil Peace of the Said Province, but that all and every such Person [and] or Persons might from Time to Time & at all Times thereafter freely & truly have and enjoy his and their Judgments and Consciences in Matters of Religion throughout the said Province, they behaving themselves Peaceably and quietly and not using this Liberty to Licentiousness nor to the Civil Injury or outward Disturbance of others.” As by the Said Concessions on Record in the Secretary’s Office of New Jersey, at Perth Amboy, in Lib. 3 folio 66 &c may appear. Wherefore and for that the said Petitioners have also expressed their earnest Desire that those of every Religious Denomination may have free and Equal Liberty and Advantage of Education in the Said College [notwithstanding] any different Sentiments in Religion notwithstanding. We being willing to grant the reasonable Requests & Prayers of all our loving Subjects, and to promote a liberal and Learned Education among them-KNOW YE, therefore that we considering the Premises, and being willing for the future that the best Means of Education be established in our Province of New Jersey, for the Benefit and Advantage of the inhabitants of that our said Province and others, Do of Our special Grace, certain Knowledge and mere Motion, by these Presents, will, ordain, grant, and constitute that there be a College erected in Our Said Province of New Jersey for the Education of Youth in the Learned Languages and in the Liberal Arts and Sciences. And that the Trustees of the said College and their Successors for ever May, and shall be one Body Corporate & Politick, in Deed, action & Name, and shall be called, and named and distinguished, by the Name of the Trustees of the College of New Jersey.-And further we have willed, given, granted, Constituted and [Ordained] appointed, and by this our present Charter of Our especial Grace, certain Knowledge & meer Motion. We do for Us, our Heirs and Successors [For ever] will, give, grant, constitute & ordain that there shall in the Said College from henceforth, and for ever be a Body politick Consisting of Trustees of the said College of New Jersey, and for the more full & perfect Erection of the said Corporation and Body Politick consisting of Trustees of the College of New Jersey, we of our Especial Grace, Certain Knowledge and meer Motion, do by these Presents for Us, our Heirs & Successors, create, make, ordain, constitute, Nominate and appoint [our Trusty & well beloved WILLIAM SMITH, PETER VAN BRUGH LIVINGSTON & WILLIAM PEARTREE SMITH, of the City of New York, Gentlemen, and our trusty & well beloved JONATHAN DICKINSON, JOHN PIERSON, EBENEZER PEMBERTON & AARON BURR, Ministers of the Gospel with such others as they shall think proper to Associate until them not Exceeding the Number of twelve to be the Trustees of the Said College of New Jersey with full power and Authority to them, or any four, or greater Number of them, to nominate & appoint & associate unto them any Number of Persons, as Trustees, so that the whole Number of Trustees exceed not Twelve.] the Governor and Commander in Chief of our said province of New Jersey, for the time being, and also our trusty and well beloved John Reading, James Hude, Andrew Johnston, Thomas Leonard, John Kinsey, Edward Shippen and William Smith, Esquires, Peter Van-Brugh Livingston, William Peartree Smith and Samuel Hazard, gentlemen, John Pierson, Ebenezer Pemberton, Joseph Lamb, Gilbert Tennent, William Tennent, Richard Treat, Samuel Blair, David Cowell, Aaron Burr, Timothy Jones, Thomas Arthur and Jacob Green, ministers of the gospel, to be Trustees of the said College of New Jersey.
That the said Trustees do, at their first meeting, after the receipt of these presents, and before they proceed to any business take the oath appointed to be taken by an act, passed in the first year of the reign of the late King George the First, entitled, “An act for the further security of his Majesty’s person and government, and the succession of the crown in the heirs of the late princess Sophia, being protestants, and for extinguishing the hopes of the pretended prince of Wales, and his open and secret abettors”; as also that they make and subscribe the declarations mentioned in an act of parliament made in the twenty-fifth year of the reign of King Charles the Second, entitled, “An act for preventing dangers which may happen from popish recusants”; and likewise take an oath for faithfully executing the office or trust reposed in them, the said oaths to be administered to them by three of his Majesty’s justices of the peace, quorum unus; and when any new member or officer of this corporation is chosen, they are to take and subscribe the aforementioned oaths and declarations before their admission into their trusts or offices, the same to be administered to them in the presence of the Trustees, by such persons as they shall appoint for that service.
That no meeting of the Trustees shall be valid or legal for doing any business whatsoever, unless the clerk has duly and legally notified each and every member of the corporation of such meeting; and that before the entering on any business, the clerk shall certify such notification under his hand to the Board of Trustees.
That the said Trustees have full power and authority or any thirteen or greater number of them, to elect, nominate and appoint and associate unto them, any number of persons as Trustees upon any vacancy, so the whole number of Trustees exceed not twentythree whereof the President of the said college for the time being, to be chosen as hereafter mentioned, to be one, and twelve of the said Trustees to be always such persons as are inhabitants of our said province of New Jersey.
AND We do further of our special Grace, certain Knowledge & meer Motion, for us, Our Heirs & Successors, will, give, grant and appoint That the said Trustees and their Successors shall forever hereafter be in Deed, Fact & Name a Body corporate, & politick, and that they the Said Body Corporate & Politick shall be known & distinguished in all Deeds, Grants, Bargains, Sales, Writings, Evidences, [Monuments] muniments or otherwise howsoever, and in all Courts for ever hereafter Plead and be impleaded by the Name of the Trustees of the College of New Jersey. And that they the Said Corporation, by the Name aforesaid shall be able, and in Law capable for the use of the said College to have, get, acquire, purchase, receive and possess Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments, Jurisdictions & Franchises for themselves and their Successors, in Fee Simple or otherwise howsoever, and to purchase, receive, or build any House or Houses, or any other Buildings, as they shall think needful [and] or Convenient for the Use of the said College of New Jersey, and in such Place or Places in New Jersey as they the said Trustees shall agree upon. And also to receive, and dispose of any Goods, Chattels and other things of what Nature soever for the Use aforesaid. And also to have, accept & receive any Rents, profits, Annuities, Gifts, Legacies, Donations and Bequests of any kind whatsoever for the Use aforesaid, so nevertheless that the Yearly clear Value of the premi[s]ses do not exceed the Sum of two thousand Pounds Sterling. And therewith or otherwise to support and pay as the Said Trustees & their Successors, or the Major Part of such of them as according to the Provision herein afterwards [made] are regularly convened for that Purpose shall agree and see Cause, the President, [&] Tutors and [their] other Officers [and] or Ministers of the Said College, their respective annual Salaries, or Allowances, and all such other necessary & contingent Charges as from time to time shall arise and accrue relating to the said College.-And also to grant, Bargain, sell, let, set or Assign Lands, Tenements or Hereditaments, Goods or Chattels, contract or do all other things whatsoever, by the Name Aforesaid, and for the Use aforesaid, in as full and ample Manner, to all intents & Purposes, as any Natural Person or other Body politick or corporate is able to do by the Laws of our Realm of Great Britain, or of our said province of New Jersey. And of our further Grace, certain Knowledge, meer Motion, to the Intent that our said Corporation & Body politick may answer the End of their Erection & Constitution, and may have perpetual Succession, and continue for ever, We do for Us, our Heirs and Successors, Hereby will, give and grant unto the said Trustees of the College of New Jersey, and to their Successors for ever, that when any [seven] thirteen of the said Trustees, or of their Successors, are convened & met together as aforesaid for the Service of the said College The Governor and Commander in Chief of our said province of New Jersey, and in his absence, the President of the said college, and in the absence of the said Governor and President, the eldest Trustee present at such meeting, from time to time, shall be President of the said Trustees in all their meetings, and at any Time or Times such [seven] thirteen Trustees convened and met as aforesaid, shall be capable to act as fully and amply to all Intents and Purposes as if all the Trustees of the said College were personally present, provided always, that a majority of the said Thirteen Trustees be of the said province of New Jersey, except after regular notice they fail of coming in which case those that are present are hereby empowered to act, the different place of their abode notwithstanding, And all Affairs and Actions whatsoever under the Care of the said Trustees shall be Determined by the Majority or greater Number of Those [seven] thirteen [Trustees] so convened & met together, the President whereof shall have no more than a single vote. And we do for us, our Heirs and Successors hereby will, give & grant full Power & Authority to any [Three] six or more of the said Trustees, to [appoint] call Meetings of the said Trustees from time to time [of the said seven Trustees] and to order Notice to the said [seven] Trustees [or any greater Number of them] of the Times & Places of Meeting for the Service aforesaid…. And also we do hereby for us, Our Heirs and Successors will, give & grant to the Said Trustees of the College of New Jersey, and to their Successors for ever, that the Said Trustees do elect, nominate and appoint such qualified persons as they or the Major Part of any [Seven] thirteen of them convened for that purpose, as above directed, shall think fitt to be the President of the Said College and to have the immediate Care of the Education & Government of such Students as shall be sent to & admitted in to the Said College for instruction and Education…. And also that the said Trustees do Elect, nominate and appoint so many Tutors and Professors to assist the President of the Said College in the Education & Government of the Students belonging to it, as they the said Trustees or their Successors, or the Major Part of any [Seven] thirteen of them, which shall convene for that Purpose as above directed, shall from time to time, and at any time hereafter think needful and serviceable to the Interests of the Said College…. And also that the Said Trustees and their Successors, or the Major Part of any [Seven] thirteen of them which shall convene for that Purpose as above directed, shall at any time Displace and discharge from the Service of the said College such President, Tutors or Professors and to elect others in their Room and Stead…. And also that the said Trustees or their Successors or the Major Part of any [seven] thirteen of them, which shall convene for that purpose, as above directed, do from time to time, as Occasion shall require elect, constitute and appoint a Treasurer, a Clerk, an Usher and a Steward for the Said College, and appoint to them, and each of them, their respective Business & Trust, & Displace & Discharge from the Service of the said College such Treasurer, Clerk, Usher or Steward, and to elect others in their Room & Stead, which President, Tutors, Professors, Treasurers, Clerks, Ushers & Steward, so elected and appointed, We do for us, our Heirs & Successors by their Presents Constitute and Establish in their several Offices, and do give them, and Every of them, full Power and Authority to Exercise the same in the said College of New Jersey according to the Direction[s] and during the pleasure of the Said Trustees, as fully and freely as any other the like officers in our Universities or any of our Colleges in our Realm of great Britain Lawfully may or ought to do…. And also that the said Trustees and their Successors or the Major Part of any [seven] thirteen of them, which shall convene for that Purpose as above directed, as often as one, or more of the said Trustees shall happen to die, or by Removal or Otherwise shall [according to their Judgment] become unfitt, or uncapable according to their judgment to serve the Interest[s] of the said College, do as soon as conveniently may be after the Death, Removal or such Unfittness and Incapacity of such Trustee or Trustees to serve the interest of the said college elect and appoint such other Trustee or Trustees, as shall supply the place of him or them so dying or otherwise becoming unfitt or Uncapable to serve the Interest[s] of the said College, and every Trustee so Elected or appointed shall by virtue of these Presents and of such Election and Appointment be vested with all the powers and Privile[d]ges which any of the Other Trustees of the said College are hereby vested with…. And we do further of our especial Grace, certain Knowledge and meer Motion will, give, and grant and by these Presents do for us, our Heirs and Successors will, give, and grant unto the said Trustees of the College of New Jersey, that they and their Successors or the major part of any [seven] thirteen of them which shall convene for that Purpose, as is above directed, may make, and they are hereby fully [i]empowered, from Time to Time freely and lawfully to make & Establish such Ordinances, Orders and Laws as may tend to the good and wholesome Government of the said College, & all the students & the several[l] Officers & Ministers thereof, and to the publick Benefit of the same not repugnant to the Laws and Statutes of our Realm of great Britain, or of this our Province of New Jersey, and not excluding any Person of any religious Denomination whatsoever from free and Equal Liberty and Advantage of Education, or from any of the Liberties, Privile[d]ges or immunities of the Said College on account of his or their [speculative Sentiments in Religion and of his, or their] being of a Religious profession Different from the said Trustees of the College [.] and such ordinances, Orders & Laws which shall [as aforesaid be made] be so as aforesaid made,… We do by these Presents for us, our Heirs and Successors, ratify, allow of and Confirm, as good and Effectual to oblige and bind all the said students, and the several Officers & Ministers of the said College, and we do hereby authorize & [impower] empower the said Trustees of the College, and the President, Tutors and Professors by them elected and appointed to put such Ordinances, [Orders] and Laws in Execution, to all proper Intents and purposes. And we do further of our especial Grace, certain Knowledge and meer Motion, will, give and grant unto the said Trustees of the College of New Jersey, that for the Encouragement of Learning and Animating of the Students of the Said College to Diligence, Industry and a Laudable Progress in Literature that they and their Successors, [and] or the Major Part of any [seven] thirteen of them convened for that Purpose, as above directed, Do by the President of the said College for the time being, or by any other Deputed by them Give and Grant any such Degree or Degrees to any of the Students of the said College, or to any others by them thought worthy thereof as are usually granted in either of our Universities, or any other College in our Realm of great Britain, and that they do sign & seal Di[a]plomas or Certificates of such Graduations to be kept by the Graduates as perpetual Memorials and Testimonials thereof….
And further of our especial Grace, certain Knowledge & meer Motion we do by these Presents for us, our Heirs and Successors, give and grant unto the said Trustees of the College of New Jersey and to their Successors that they and their Successors shall have a Common Seal under which they may pass all Di[a]plomas, or Certificates of Degrees, and all Other the Affairs & Business of and Concerning the said Corporation, or of and Concerning the Said College of New Jersey which shall be [i]engraven in such form, and with such Inscriptions as shall be devised by the said Trustees of the said College [for the Time being,] or [by] the Major Part of any [seven] thirteen of them convened for the Service of the Said College as above directed….
And we do further for us, Our Heirs and Successors, give & Grant unto the said Trustees of the [Said] College of New Jersey and their Successors, or the Major Part of any thirteen of them convened for the Service of the said College, as [is] above directed, full Power and Authority from time to time to Nominate and Appoint all other Inferio[u]r Officers & Ministers which they shall think to be convenient & necessary for the Use of the [said] College, not herein particularly named or mentioned, and which are accustomary in our Universities or any of our Colleges in our Realm of great Britain, which Officers or Ministers we do hereby [i]empower to execute their Offices or Trusts as fully & freely as any other the like Officers [&] or Ministers in and of our Universities or any other College[s] in our Realm of great Britain, Lawfully may or ought to do.-
And Lastly our express Will and Pleasure is, and we do by these presents for us, our Heirs and Successors, give and grant unto the said Trustees of the College of New Jersey and to their Successors forever, that these our Letters patent, or the Enrol[l]ment thereof [in our Secretarys Office of our Province aforesaid] shall be good & effectual in the Law, to all intents & Purposes against us, our Heirs & Successors without any Other Licence, Grant or Confirmation from us, our Heirs & Successors hereafter by the said Trustees, to be had & attained, notwithstanding the not [writing] reciting or Misrecital, [of] or not naming or misnaming of The Aforesaid Offices, Franchises, Privileges, Immunities or Other the Premis[s]es, or any of them, and notwithstanding a Writ of ad quod Damnum hath not issued forth to [e]inquire of the Premis[s]es or any of them before the ensealing hereof, any Statute, Act, Ordinance or Provision, or any other Matter or thing to the Contrary notwithstanding.
To have [&] to hold and enjoy all & Singular the Privileges, Advantages, Liberties, Immunities and all other the Premis[s]es herein & hereby granted & given, or which are meant, mentioned or intended to be herein and hereby given and granted Unto them the Said Trustees of the Said College of New Jersey and to their Successors forever.
In Testimony whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made patent, and the great seal of our Said Province of New Jersey to be hereunto Affixed. Witness our Trusty and well Beloved [John Hamilton Esqr. the President of our Council] Jonathan Belcher, Esquire, Governor and Commander in Chief of our said Province [&c] of New Jersey. This [Twenty second] fourteenth Day of [October] September, and in the [twentieth] twenty second Year of our Reign [Annoq: Domini 1746] year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and forty eight.
L.S. I have perused and considered the written Charter of incorporation, and find nothing contained therein inconsistent with his Majesty’s interest or the honor of the Crown.
(Signed) J. WARRELL, Att. Gen’l
September the 13th, 1748.-This Charter, having been read in Council was consented to and approved of.
CHA. READ, Cl. Con.
Let the Great Seal of the Province of New Jersey be affixed to this Charter.
(Signed) J. BELCHER
To the Secretary of the Province of New Jersey.
- The parts of the Charter of 1746 which were omitted in the Charter of 1748 have been placed in brackets; the parts of the Charter of 1748 not included in the Charter of 1746 appear in italics. The capitalization of the first charter has been followed, but not the punctuation. It is obvious that a few of the omissions in the first charter were made by the transcriber and did not occur in the original. ↩︎
Charter text from PRINCETON 1746-1896 by Thomas J. Wertenbaker with a new preface by James M. Murrin. Copyright © 1946, renewed 1973 by Princeton University Press. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.