If he had said some moderate sum there might have been hope that it would be given, but it was utterly hopeless to expect that any such extravagant sum as that would be contributed by the State.

The gentleman seemed to be well warranted in what he said.

The three colleges, Harvard, Amherst and Williams, had united in an application for one hundred thousand dollars shortly before.

It was supported by the eloquence of Edward Everett and the authority of Mark Hopkins and President Hitchcock.

Harvard was then so poor that they had not money to spare when they wanted to move the pulpit from the end to the side of the Chapel.