A history of public education in Rhode Island, from 1636 to 1876 ... Comp. by authority of the Board of education, and ed. by Thomas B. Stockwell ...

212 PROVIDENCE.
nection with an account of the college commencement for 1770, this
being the first commencement held in Providence. "The business of
the day being concluded, and before the assembly broke up, a piece from
Homer was pronounced by Master Billy Edwards, one of the Grammar
School boys, not nine years old." This Edwards was a son of the Rev.
Morgan Edwards, one of the principal founders of the college. He
was graduated in 1776, at the early age, it appears, of fourteen. In
1772 the School was removed to a room on the lower floor of the new
college edifice, the president, as appear s from the following advertisement in the Gazette, still retaining charge of the same, in connection
with his other duties --
" Whereas several gentlemen have requested me to take and educate their
sons, this may inform them, and others disposed to put their children under my
care, that the Latin School is now removed, and set up in the College edifice;
where proper attention shall be given, by a master duly qualified, and those
found to be the most effectual methods to obtain a competent knowledge of
Grammar, steadily pursued. At the same time, Spelling, Reading, and speaking
English with propriety, will be particularly attended to. Any who choose their
sons should board in commons, may be accommodated at the same rate with the
students, six shillings per week being the price. And I flatter myself that such
attention will be paid to their learning and morals, as will entirely satisfy all
who may send their children. All books for the school, as well as the classical
authors read in College, may be had, at the lowest rate, of the subscriber.
JAMES MANNING.
Providence, July 10, 1772."
In the following year, May 20, 1773, President Manning thus writes
to his friend and correspondent, Rev. John Ryland, of Northampton,
England: "I have a Latin School under my care, taught by one of
our graduates, of about twenty boys." This graduate was the Rev.
Ebenezer David, of the class of 1772, a most accurate and excellent
teacher, whom the Hon. Judge Howell, who for many years was
associated with President Manning as Assistant Tutor and Professor,
always claimed the honor of having instructed. How long he continued
in charge of the school we are not informed. Probably until the breaking out of the Revolutionary War. In Judge Pitman's address before
the Alumni Association of Brown University, we find the following
paragraph:-" In 1774, fifteen entered the Freshman Class; eight of
them were from the Latin School in Providence, under the tuition of the
Rev. Ebenezer David, of the class of 1772, one of the best instructors,"
says Mr. William Wilkinson, who was one of the eight,'- that I have
ever known." The next mention of the school appears in the Gazette
for 1776, as follows: