Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-10-14

Tho sim, SIR, gr;nted ~ the Leg stature
10 constitute the fun IS ri the seminary
since which an addition has heen made
thereto, by indirect grants OF the Les's'a-
n,re Of al.out liiy thousand dollars. A par,
o,,tbe funds have been expended in the g.
reclion of buildings and Tor other uselnI
purposes.
The Rev. DR.. Azel Backus, gentleman
distinguished for Eieiy and literature, vs.
ipaugurated the first president OF the in
stitution. the year OF The grant OF the char
ter. Dr.. Backus officaied IN the Office,
with much zeal and usefulness, until Dec.
1916, when he died after short sickness.
lie vas succeeded by the Rev DR. Henry
DAVIS, (the present incumbent oithe oticr)
who, alter filling tie Offices of tutor anc
professor in several colleges, was, At the
time of his election 10 the presidency OF
this institution, the president OF Middebu-
ry College, id Vermont, aud had recently
before been appointed President of Yale
College, as the successor of the Rev. DR..
Dwight.
There are employed in The College three
professors, (Messrs. Norton, Noyes, and
Strongly and two tutors. Ii has good hi
losopilcal and chemical apparatus, and
library of useful. well selected books-lhe
number OF which is not precisely known
10 the writer of this article.
The college buildings are one four stories,
built OF stone, one three stories, of wood,
and a college Hall, and some buildings 10;
the accommodation OF the faculty. In q
niche in the largest building stands an e.
legant bust of HAMILTON, presented to the
institution by several gentlemen in New
York. The college buildings are situat' d
on hill of considerable elevation and zen.
tie ascent, little distance from ca ton
village, in the town of Paris, Oneida Cy.
The situation commands an extensive and
beautiful prospect, over fine and well cul-
tvated section of country. Clinton vii
lage is iO5 miles west Of Albany, and ten
west Of Utica.
The expenses of tuition and board al
the college are very reasonable, AMI from
its situation il is remote from any scene oI
dissipation 1t is now the vacation prece-
ding the commencement of an acadcmicai
year, and the number OF students cannot BE-
ascertained. The number is however in
creasing, and the institution in every re-
spcct flourishins.
The following are the names of the trus-
tees, who are zealously devoted TO the III
terests OF the seminary and although The
may not have proclaimed il upon the
house ops," are determined to lay the toun-
dstions for great and useful institution
Among them the inquirer may find the
names of one Judge OF the Supreme C0uri
of the state OF NeH-York, ant! Of several
gentlemen who either now are, or have
been members of Congress namely, !o-
mas Plat, Thomas R. Gold, Henry Hunt
ington, Morris s. Miller. Joseph Kirkland,
John II. Lolhrop, Henry M'NeiI, AsaheI
S. Norton, George Brayton, James 5 Kip,
Henry Dwight, Amos G. Baldwin, Joel
BRISTOL. Richard Sanger, Jeremiah Van
Rensselaer,, John B. Yates, Simeon Ford,
Thomas H. Hubbard, Ephraim Hart, Jas.
Eells, John Frost, Henry Davis, Sewall
Hopkins, and there is one vacancy.
The characters Of the members OF the
faculty are deservedly high. They are
men of science, all abundantIy qualified to
instruct in the various branches Of educa-
ton, which constitute the ample course of
study pursued in the seminary. The repu-
tation of president Davis is well known
He has passed the ordeal Of trial in numc-
rous stations, and has always exhibited
mind strong and vigorous, richly stored
with the treasures aud embellishments Of
learning.
The board Of trust comprises perhaps as
much talent, character, intelligence ana
zeal as can be found al any similar board in
the union. The funds at their disposal are
managed with judgment and economy, and
the institution, in every respect, is IN the
"full tide of successful experiment.
We are halay 10 learn that the existence
of HsmiItca College" was not entirely
unknown at Washington, as gentleman IN
the vicinity of that city lately made it Ii
beral donation. The editor OF the Aiexan-
dria Gazette has very just views OF the
character Of its officers, especially OF that OF