Hooper, Joseph. Oratio salutatoria et oratio valedictoria, ca. 1763. HUC 6765.82, Harvard University Archives.

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Undated and unattributed handwritten Latin salutatory and valedictory orations composed for the Harvard College Commencement. A modern note with the materials suggests Nathaniel Sparhawk (Harvard AB 1765) as the author, but the author was more likely Joseph Hooper (Harvard AB 1763), who delivered the orations for the 1763 Harvard Commencement. While the documents are undated, textual clues include mention of the command of George III in recent war against France and Spain, suggesting the speech was written soon after the Treaty of Paris which was signed in February 1763 to end the Seven Years' War. The speech also celebrates Harvard Tutor William Kneeland, who resigned from his position in July 1763, and mentions the illness of Professor Edward Wigglesworth (who died before the 1765 Commencement). The text also mentions Professor John Winthrop and Massachusetts Governor Francis Bernard.

Biographical Notes

Joseph Hooper (1743-1812), a paper manufacturer, was born on May 29, 1743 in Marblehead, Mass. He received an AB from Harvard in 1763 and an AM in 1766. Hooper was a prosperous merchant in Marblehead until his support of the British during the Revolutionary War forced him to flee to England in 1775. In 1783, he established a paper mill in Bungay, England. Hooper died in August 1812.

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quam aliis praedicasti Faelicitatem accipiat, sed serus, oserus illuc eucharis —

Tu deinde Domine Winthrop, Vir multis de causis amande simulque honorande; tu mihi faveto dicenti. Solitâ tuâ mansuetidine freti, Gratias non quas prosumus, sed quas debemus, summa anima Gratitudine agere audemus, Humanitatem tuam generosam norunt omnes, vel infimi, vires animi et Virtutes, uno ore cum plausu agnoscunt — Diu dulce Decus nostrum vivas! dui diuque Togae Harvardinae Gloria vivas! de tuis Laudibus nulla unquam sileat Aetas; Famam nulla obscuret Temporum vestustas

Vobis Viris honorandis, Tutores spectatissimi, Causas maximas Gratias agendi habemus--Gratias quas possumus nunc Temporis lubentes agimus; majores semper acturi; sed ex hoc numero obligationes praecipuas tibi Domine Kneeland confitemur; pro cura, studioque dum sub tuo moderamine fuimus, Perge, vir docte, de bonis Literis bene mereri; & Reliquiae Vitae sint consumptae, in Republica inservienda, eadem Fidelitate quâ academiae inservisti; annis aetatis tuae elapsis multos adjiciat Deus; iisdem decurrentibus, sanum incolumemque te Praestet —

Generosos autem utriusque Laureâ Gradus decoratos; has quippe Sedes Academicos etiamnum tenentes; haud decet, insalutatos praeterire; Vos hactenus fuisse Ornamenta non mediocria academiae, laeti fatemur; & post hac futuros si /minus

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minus academiae, at Ecclesiae vel Reipublicae speramus & vovemus.

Decet autem vobis Juniores Sophistae, caeterisque qui in hoc cursu Literarum nobiscum versamini, amice valedicere amore quo nos prosecuti estis incitati, vos hortaremur, sed dum vobis sunt Praeceptores optimi, dum vobis sunt Tutores tam blandi tam cordati, conatum nos reprehenderet; si Praecepta eorum Praecepta & Exempla eximia cons[e]- quimini, nil dubito, nec Fama nec Virtus, in hâc Vita, nec Gloria nec Faelicitas in secula seculorum Vobis deerun[t]

Vive Reverendissime Preses & ornatissime vive & vale Valete Professores spectatissimi, vosque Tutores honorandi Tu vero singulariter Dom Kneeland tu viveto & valete Alicujus Laureâ Gradus Decorati — Vosque Sodales charissimi Valete

Valeat tota haec Literatorum Frequentia unus & omnes Valete.

Nunc decet Professores hujus academiae dignissime salutare, sed heu me miserum! Decus insigne deest! Reverendissimus & valde estimandus Dominus Wigglesworth jam morbo laborat, quem Patientia digna, pietate christianâ patitur — si Laudes ei dignas audiret, nobili modestia vitaret — Laudes ejus quibus Orbs tota Terrarum resonat, illo absente, omittam sed Praeces Deo immortali, sapientiae Fonti in exhausto fundemus, ut illum salvum & incolumem academiae diutissime conservet & denique adistam quam aliis praedicavit Felicitatem sed serus O serus accipiat —

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