the quaker colonies-第28章
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Princeton University； though originating； as we have seen； among the Presbyterians of North Jersey； seems as a higher educational institution for the whole State to belong naturally in the dividing belt； the meeting place of the two divisions of the colony。 The college began its existence at Elizabeth； was then moved to Newark； both in the strongly Presbyterian region； and finally； in 1757； was established at Princeton； a more suitable place； it was thought； because far removed from the dissipation and temptation of towns； and because it was in the center of the colony on the post road between Philadelphia and New York。 Though chartered as the College of New Jersey； it was often called Nassau Hall at Princeton or simply 〃Princeton。〃 In 1896 it became known officially as Princeton University。 It was a hard struggle to found the college with lotteries and petty subscriptions here and there。 But Presbyterians in New York and other provinces gave aid。 Substantial assistance was also obtained from the Presbyterians of England and Scotland。 In the old pamphlets of the time which have been preserved the founders of the college argued that higher education was needed not only for ministers of religion； but for the bench； the bar； and the legislature。 The two New England colleges； Harvard and Yale； on the north； and the Virginia College of William and Mary on the south； were too far away。 There must be a college close at hand。
At first most of the graduates entered the Presbyterian ministry。 But soon in the short time before the Revolution there were produced statesmen such as Richard Stockton of New Jersey； who signed the Declaration of Independence； physicians such as Dr。 Benjamin Rush of Philadelphia； soldiers such as 〃Light Horse〃 Harry Lee of Virginia； as well as founders of other colleges； governors of States； lawyers； attorney…generals； judges； congressmen； and indeed a very powerful assemblage of intellectual lights。 Nor should the names of James Madison； Aaron Burr； and Jonathan Edwards be omitted。
East Jersey with her New England influence attempted something like free public schools。 In West Jersey the Quakers had schools。 In both Jerseys； after 1700 some private neighborhood schools were started； independent of religious denominations。 The West Jersey Quakers； self…cultured and with a very effective system of mental discipline and education in their families as well as in their schools； were not particularly interested in higher education。 But in East Jersey as another evidence of intellectual awakening in colonial times； Queen's College； afterward known as Rutgers College； was established by the Dutch Reformed Church in 1766； and was naturally placed； near the old source of Dutch influence； at New Brunswick in the northerly end of the dividing belt。
New Jersey was fortunate in having no Indian wars in colonial times； no frontier； no point of hostile contact with the French of Canada or with the powerful western tribes of red men。 Like Rhode Island in this respect； she was completely shut in by the other colonies。 Once or twice only did bands of savages cross the Delaware and commit depredations on Jersey soil。 This colony； however； did her part in sending troops and assistance to the others in the long French and Indian wars； but she had none of the pressing danger and experience of other colonies。 Her people were never drawn together by a common danger until the Revolution。
In Jersey colonial homes there was not a single modern convenience of light； heat； or cooking； and none of the modern amusements。 But there was plenty of good living and simple diversionhusking bees and shooting in the autumn； skating and sleighing in the winter。 Meetings and discussions in coffeehouses and inns supplied in those days the place of our modern books； newspapers； and magazines。 Jersey inns were famous meeting places。 Everybody passed through their doorsjudges； lawyers； legislators； politicians； post riders； stage drivers； each bringing his contribution of information and humor； and the slaves and rabble stood round to pick up news and see the fun。 The court days in each county were holidays celebrated with games of quoits； running； jumping； feasting； and discussions political and social。 At the capital there was even style and extravagance。 Governor Belcher； for example； who lived at Burlington； professed to believe that the Quaker influences of that town were not strict enough in keeping the Sabbath； so he drove every Sunday in his coach and four to Philadelphia to worship in the Presbyterian Church there and saw no inconsistency in his own behavior。
Almanacs furnished much of the reading for the masses。 The few newspapers offered little except the barest chronicle of events。 The books of the upper classes were good though few； and consisted chiefly of the classics of English literature and books of information and travel。 The diaries and letters of colonial native Jerseymen； the pamphlets of the time； and John Woolman's 〃Journal；〃 all show a good average of education and an excellent use of the English language。 Samuel Smith's 〃History of the Colony of Nova…Casaria； or New Jersey；〃 written and printed at Burlington and published there in the year 1765； is written in a good and even attractive style； with as intelligent a grasp of political events as any modern mind could show； the type； paper； and presswork； too； are excellent。 Smith was born and educated in this same New Jersey town。 He became a member of council and assembly； at one time was treasurer of the province； and his manuscript historical collections were largely used by Robert Proud in his 〃History of Pennsylvania。〃
The early houses of New Jersey were of heavy timbers covered with unpainted clapboards； usually one story and a half high； with immense fireplaces； which； with candles； supplied the light。 The floors were scrubbed hard and sprinkled with the plentiful white sand。 Carpets； except the famous old rag carpets； were very rare。 The old wooden houses have now almost entirely disappeared； but many of the brick houses which succeeded them are still preserved。 They are of simple well…proportioned architecture； of a distinctive type； less luxuriant； massive； and exuberant than those across the river in Pennsylvania； although both evidently derived from the Christopher Wren school。 The old Jersey homes seem to reflect with great exactness the simple feeling of the people and to be one expression of the spirit of Jersey democracy。
There were no important seats of commerce in this province。 Exports of wheat； provisions； and lumber went to Philadelphia or New York； which were near and convenient。 The Jersey shores near the mouth of the Hudson and along the Delaware； as at Camden； presented opportunities for ports； but the proximity to the two dominating ports prevented the development of additional harbors in this part of the coast。 It was not until after the Revolution that Camden； opposite Philadelphia； and Jersey City； opposite New York； grew into anything like their present importance。
There were； however； a number of small ports and shipbuilding villages in the Jerseys。 It is a noticeable fact that in colonial times and even later there were very few Jersey towns beyond the head of tidewater。 The people； even the farmers； were essentially maritime。 The province showed its natural maritime characteristics； produced many sailors； and built innumerable small vessels for the coasting and West India tradesloops； schooners； yachts； and sailboats； down to the tiniest gunning boat and sneak box。 Perth Amboy was the principal port and shipbuilding center for East Jersey as Salem was for West Jersey。 But Burlington； Bordentown； Cape May； and Trenton； and innumerable little villages up creeks and channels or mere ditches could not be kept from the prevailing industry。 They built craft up to the limit of size that could be floated away in the water before their very doors。 Plentifully supplied with excellent oak and pine and with the admirable white cedar of their own forests； very skillful shipwrights grew up in every little hamlet。
A large part of the capital used in Jersey shipbuilding is said to have come from Philadelphia and New York。 At first this capital s
