EPISODE II The Charter Governor Franklin of the Province of New Jersey Grants a Royal Charter to Queen's College CAST GOVERNOR FRANKLIN:8 Mr. Alan H. Strong Prof. Arthur J. Farley Rev. Edward P. Johnson Prof. Stuart A. Stephenson, Jr. Mr. Charles S. Van Nuis PETITIONERS Mr. Mayne S. Mason Prof. Richard Morris While neither the original charter of Queen's College, nor any copy of it, is known to be in existence, it is known that it was granted on November 10, 1766, in the name of King George the Third by His Excellency William Franklin, Governor of the Province of New Jersey. houses as consist of both wood and brick have only the walls towards the street of brick, all the other sides being merely planks. Before each door there was an elevation to which you ascend by some steps from the street. It resembles a small balcony and had some benches on both sides, on which the people sat in the evening in order to enjoy the fresh air and to have the pleasure of viewing those who passed by. The town has only one street lengthways and at the northern extremity there is a street across. Both of these are of considerable length. One of the streets is almost entirely inhabited by Dutchmen who came here from Albany, and for that reason called it Albany Street.'' 8 Governor Franklin, natural son of Benjamin Franklin, was the last Colonial governor of New Jersey, 1763-1776. He was a strong Loyalist and of his council six were termed Loyalists as well. They were David Ogden, Charles Reid, John Ladd, James Parker, John Smyth, and Frederick Smyth. Five were Patriots: Lord Stirling, afterward one of Washington's generals; John Stevens, whose steamboat, the Phoenix, was just a few weeks behind Fulton's in being launched, and so lost the exclusive rights to New York state waters granted to Fulton; and Peter Kemble, who presided in the absence of the governor. He lived in New Brunswick, and another Peter Kemble, his nephew, was in the first class in Queen's College. Samuel Woodruffe was also a Patriot as was Richard Stockton, of Princeton, who succeeded him in office on November 15, 1769. This Richard Stockton was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The scene of the episode is the meeting of the Council of the Province at which the charter was granted." To the strains of "Rule Britannia," Governor Franklin and his Council are seen approaching. As they assemble, a group of Petitioners, clergymen and laymen of New Brunswick and other parts of the Colonies, approach. To them is handed the Royal Charter under which Queen's College was established. At the sound of music all rise and "God Save the King" is sung.1 10 GOD SAVE THE KING God save our Lord, the King, Happy and glorious, O Lord, our God, arise, Frustrate their knavish tricks, God save us all. Thy choicest gifts in store, Long may he reign! May he defend our laws, And ever give us cause To sing with heart and voice, God save the King. At the conclusion of the singing the meeting breaks up • While the first charter of the College is unfortunately missing, there is preserved the rough draft of a petition of the Trustees for a change in it. It was perhaps due to this petition that the second charter was granted in 1770. The name Queen's College, as fixed by the charter, was undoubtedly selected by Governor Franklin as a compliment to the Consort of King George III, Charlotte of Mecklenburgh-Strelitz. She became queen September 8, 1761, and was evidently a capable as well as a beautiful woman. 10 The two English national songs used were written about the same time, "Rule Britannia" by Dr. Arne in 1740 and "God Save the King," ascribed to Henry Carey, in 1743. with mutual congratulations and hearty wishes for the success of the new college.11 11 The Dutch dominies evidently understood the text "Be ye wise as serpents," when they made up the list of petitioners for a charter for Queen's College. These petitioners were among the most prominent men in the Province. Peter Hassenclever, Colonel Theunis Dey, Captain Kuyper, and Hendrick Fisher were men of wealth or of official position or business prominence. Van Metern was a great land holder in Salem County, owning about 6,000 acres. William Ouke was mayor of New Brunswick, 1763 to 1779. Dr. John Cochran was Surgeon General during the Revolution and familiarly called "Dear Bones" by Washington. Rev. Abm Beach, an Episcopal minister of this city, was later an assistant at Trinity Church, New York. Johannes Johnson was mayor of New York and Abm Lott was a treasurer of the Colony. The latter at one time lived in the neighborhood of Morristown, and Mrs. Washington visited with the Lotts while the General was in camp near their home. The following is a copy of a rough draft of the petition for a change in the first charter. Restorations of parts missing from the torn original are inclosed in brackets, []. the petition of the trustees of qu[ens] Colige of new Jersymost humly shewet. that by a former petition, & adres to your Ex & honers. thay most sinsably exprest thare greadfoul sentements of the destinquiġ favour grantet by the Royle Charter for ERecting a simenery of larning by the nam of Quens Colige of new Jersy-by which favours. your Ex & Honers disCoverta most tender and imparsioll Regrardt for the good of all mankined in ginarle & for Removing those Devickletis the duch in thise parts laybert onder of sending thar Jouth to holland to be adecaytet for the Cosspel ministry in pertikoler. by which generis a Disposotion th[a]y whare inCoritge to supleCad [e for th]e alteration of Carten Classis, in sad Chart [er which thay aperhandit woult (if not alteret) be pre[judi]tial to the progras of 8d intetewion and that as your Ex & honers did not thinck proper at that time to grant thare Request wee your Hum' petitionars, are onder this disagreable need sesity to truble your Ex & honers agin at this time weth our most persing suppleCation. wee Can now from sad Expieren ashour your Ex & honers. that weth out those alterations wee have the greatist Reson to vear that this inteteuion tho Ever so wise & Cearfouly planet Can never with Credit & Repewtaion be Caret in to Execution or answer the good pu[rp]oses intendit thareby your Ex & honer will be sinable that the funds nesysary for Erecting & suporting [the sa]d instetewtion will prinsably depend upon the [li]verle doanation from the duch inhabetens of our nabring provensis as well as of this Collony and wee have to much Reson to suspect that Chanel ever to open onles those imbarrisens are Removet aspasiely that alarming thestinction between Resydens & non Resydens of this Collony. wee have from time to time apintet meetings of the trosteas. But have not bin able even to form a bourt Except the last & then not a suvitiont no of layman to Elect other trusteas in the Room of such as have then Resingnet or Revuse to quallivy— and that the prinsable Reeson wy som Revuse to qualyfy & others in |