Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-07-03
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
HANPDEN ,SID.N,EY COLLEGE

y.
The section of Virginia which extends fmro
the Blue Ridge as far enst as Petersburg. be-
tween James river and Carolina, includes
about twenty counties, which have great
saneness oil character and productions, and
out little intercourse or commerce with the
country west of the Ridge, north of the river,
or on the Atantic.-Their local situation, and
mutual intercourse, call for an institution of
learning central to these counties, uniting them
IN great and common blessing, and forming
them into learned and holy community
In no district OF the same extent in the u.
States, certainly not in Virginia, can he found
so great proportion of families, able and dis
posed to give their sons Il collegiate educa-
ton, or which encounter greater expense or
Inconvenience in doing if. The first difficulty
Is nearly snmolnted; for most counties are
furnished with number of academies and
classic schools, which reward able prcceptors,
where such can be found with from 500 TO
$1,000 year. But these schools can do little
more than prepare yoath for college; when
more Is attempted, time is usually wasted, and
the studcntcheated OF a liberal education
Should each OF these counties furnish but
TWO candidates for college, one hundred and
SIXTY would be the smallest number Cam
bridge, Yale aud Union, are the only institu-
lions III that direction, which have larrer
and forty, is the usual number at Princeton
And the experience of the American colleges
has fully proved that vepy large collection
ofyoutll is not favorable either 10 good order
or successful study. Parents in, this part OF
Virginia are aerse TO senduig their sons far
from home, especially when young, aud more
so when at that inexperienced age they are to
be turned loose with ten or fifteen hundred.-
These considerations, operating on the public
Tor years, have produced general conviction,
that there must be valuable college central
to these counties, and capable of dilliising light
and heat to every neighborhood. They wish
a college adapted to furnish their otca acatie-
mes fo'th able preceptors, The professions Nth
accomplished scholars, The community acih en-
hghte'aea and practical men, ondHe University
'c'th some 'ctose genius and fortune will dis
pose them to resort there for the extensive
Cultivation of science, and the acquisition OF
professions.
In compliance with this very general CON
vlction of the community, the trustees OF
Hampden Sidney College, have undertaken
to found that institution Gae1c, and render IL
eqltat to The wants, and 'coriyof the confidence,
OF tbs most catuable part Of me state, for which
1t was chartered, but never endowed. 1t was
commenced in 1874: it rose with the cause OF
liberty. Republicansn gave it the name
| rons were patriots its sons, soldiers. Though
It has suffered every Inconvenience which
poverty can inpose-th though less fortunate
than Washington College, enriched by the
Father OF our country, Or William and Mary,
| ny royal and state patronage yet with them il
has furnished The people with faithful servants
and the professions with many ornaments.
| The gradual rise and improvement of this
| institution. during the four years of general
embarrassment, has convinced every observer
| that pr0perregard TO the honor & learning OF
the country south Of James river, and a ist
confidence IN IFS liberaty, will-rendGr Hamp-
den Sidney one of the most valuable college.
III the southern states.
The present edifice win be appropriated ex
clusivcly for an academy, as a preparatory
schools and for the college classes, new
ediiice IS TO be erected OF brick, 20G feet if
length, three stories high, 40 feet ofthe centr,
projecting II feet on both sides each wing
viii contain 81 rooms, is feet square, for two
students, yetnot inconvenient for three Til,
centre will include the chapel, ON one side d
the entry, which passes lcngthwise through
the cdihce, with a cross passage In each wins
with staircase of 40 feet by 80, Occubyin.
two stories, aud 9 rooms Of 90 feet by so, fo
| the professors Of chemistry, Of mathematics
mt philosophy Of languages, and Tor othe
public uses,
One hundred, and withthree in room. ON
| hundred and fifty young men will bc wei &C
conmodatcd, while the academy will accom-
modaic Fifty.
/ Withthis enlargement, even should the le
! gislatuTc continue 10 withhold their patronage
the funds resulting from ainoderatc number q
students, will enable the trustees 10 idcntif
with the college, able aud permanent profcs
I sors of the most important branches, and tia
2 remove all the grounds Of those objection
{ which may have been entertained
: The expense oftlie building s estimated
D Is 10000.