Among the distinguished men upon the stage, the first object of attention, the especial “lion” of the Commencement, was the venerable SAMUEL GRAY, one of the four who constituted, in 1771, the first Graduating Class of the College. His visit is thus noticed in the sketch of his life by Rev. Dr. Chapman, and in two of the papers of the time :
“SAMUEL GRAY, A.M., the son of Samuel and Lydia (Dyer) Gray, was born at Windham, Ct., June 21, 1751, and died there, December 13, 1836, Æ. 85. He read law, practising in Windham ; was Assistant Commissary General in the Revolutionary War to its close ; Clerk of the Windham County courts for more than forty years, resigning in 1828. He attended the Commencement at Dartmouth in 1827, and pointed out the localities of the first rude college structures, with the place for a barbecue on his own graduation.” — Alumni of Dartmouth College.
"While retracing the scene of his early youth, it was amusing to hear his remarks. Dartmouth College seemed to exist in his mind as it was in its primitive state—the plain of Dartmouth was then surrounded by a wilderness-here was a small opening, the trees felled and burnt over, and the stumps still standing. Here stood the rude fabrick of the old College ; and there the house of the first President and founder of the Institution; and yonder a dwelling occupied by a Professor. 'Here,' says he, 'we travelled over the burnt logs to our recitations, and there stood a tree under whose shade we used to recline.' He made many enquiries for his associates of former days, as if they still lingered there, and as if he expected to be met by their smiles and friendly salutations.” — New Hampshire Post.
"His presence strikingly recalled to her sons those associations which give to the early history of the College a romantic interest, and should contribute to endear her to her sons."- N.H. Statesman.
