Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-11-15
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
Eriraet Of a letter from a Citi=erl Of Richmond,
dated

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relative 10 the UNIvERsIrY Before my srriv u in
this neighborhood, had heard many rainours,
bhghtng to the opening prospects of that. lnstitu-
ton, and dscreditable to its students The general
habits OF the young men, the defects the police,
and, especially, late disturbance, had been all 20
much exaggerated as to awaken new interest and
excite rev fears TO the success OF this noble ef-
fort of Virginia. The facts which shall, relate are
derived either from unquesionable authority or
from several eeks personal attention TO the state
Of things
The rumours previously circulated with so much
industry had, in measure, preparr p'blic
mind TO believe the extravagant as ~ e the
disturbance on the night of the LIST % ctober
Whatever stories you may have heard oil ;ie ev enis
ofthat night, you may rely upon their Waving no
other foundation than the following: About dozen
OF the students put DISCUSSES, for the purpose
they subsequently declared, of diveriing theui-
selves with some of their associates. This boyish
prank having collected Others around them and pro-
duced, was natural, some noise and disturbance,
of the Profess ors, near whose Pavilion il took
placement out 10 enquire into the cause The grea-
ter part of the crowd of, and he returned. But
they rallied, aud the noise being repeated, the
professor and another went out for the pur-
pose OF ascertanng the names OF the rioters. On
coming up 10 them one of them addressed by
one OF the Professors, Tbo demanded his name,
and followed him across the lawn TO ascertain it,
Soon after, the other Professor took hold of one
OF the makers TO examine his face; lie easily dis
engaged hiln-ell but was soon taken hold of by the
first named Professor and his name insisted upon.
In his efforts TO eXtcate himself the student aimed
a blow or two at the Professor, without causing any
injury, and finally escaped. During this Scufile the
student called out rescue; the party Immediate
ly essembled on the lawn, and Selling some
sticks and brushwood sesAlrd Mediate an
attack on the Professors. Many of die students,
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and stood spectators the borders of the lawn.
1he rumour which through the dorintories that
OF the Professors had laid violent hands one
of the students, produced excitement and
interest. The Professors approached the party
sembled. and oTe OF them made appropriate but
rather harsh appeal to their manness, and they soon
after quietly returned 10 their dormitories. Only
two of the young men displayed any thing like in
subordinaton during the remainder of the evening,
by throwing stick and brickbai at two OF the
Professors as they retired TO their houses On
The next day The Faculty circulated an address TO
The students, strongly reproducing tine proceedings
oil tue night before and Inviting them a body, 10
give up the names OF the leaders OF the riot. The
lectures were suspended for days. The regu-
lar Au,umaal meeting OF the Visitors was TO be
held he Alb and the Faculty prepared an address
10 that ody; suggesting the propIety OF additional
EegoauonH Tor he better gov eminent oil the lnsti-
tution. THESE and others were adopted, and have
been pubshed.) Two unavailing meetings of the
students we're held to agree upon reply to The
address Of the Professors. A paper was al. imatey
prepared and privately circulated; 10 which "a
students prevailed on 20 subscribe their names
This paper, addressed 10 The Faculty, couched
in strong, and IN respects eXcepiionablc Ian
eueee The signers refused to give up the names
Of the rioters, they considered II inconsst-
ent with sel-respeci and the fidelity due TO each
other.
On the 4th the Visitors met. The whole of The
students were assembled and briefly addressed by
Messfs. Jefferson Madison. Mr.. &. johnson
also addressed hem, and more al length The OBJ
lee, OF these addresses 10 induce the rioters
upon principles OF magnaninsi'y TO give up their
nsmes, and save from suspicion he innocent. If
tla OBJECT should no be attained, the ext was 70
induce ne o her students TO give he information
These addresses spoken of, containing every
reflection 10 wdch the occasion could give rise. -
They proved irresistible 10 young men Ot high sense
81 honor, however ndiscreeuy they might have
acted. Fourteen Of thtm promptly gave in their
names, as Icing more less concerned liz the dis
turDa &C. On me testimony afterwards afforded
10 the Faculty, by their voluntary statements, four
OF them ere ddnonished OF the Improperly Of
such conductive were TeprOred for disOrderly
beiayiour-thsee were expelled at that tune, and
one a sbori lime afterwards.
The reports Of general dislike ard denunciation
of the Foregn Professors, of which the public has
heard much, originated In the single iact that
the commencement OF the disturbance of the LIST
of October one of he students ndul ed himself in
repeated outcries against the European Professors
It is worthy of remark hat hat young gentleman
mad been expelled from several other Institutions,
and had so recently entered the University that he
, had not attended single lecture. 1t does not APP
pear that any of the other students either joined Ia
his hcries or participated in the prepos,eous pre-
iudices he had conceived. The G4 who mad been
induced to sign the remonstrance 10 the Faculty,
upon further enquiries into the facts of the Case
Withdrew their names with promptitude evincve
of their sense Of propriety and magnanimiiy Of
feeling. II is understood that this foolish pre- &c
against European Professors then, and is stii ]
dIsclaimed by the students. The young men who
have been expelled so sensby alive to The sen
tence pronounced against them, that similar inds-
cretion would not be commttedby them.
1t would, indeed, be wonderful, ii in such an
Institution as the University Of Virginia, no young
men were to be found but such as had judgement
and discretion enough to resist the impetuobity OF
youthful feeng--or If occasional alterations from
the strict rules of propriety not sometimes to
occur But the decision and energy, displayed
alike by the Visitors and the Faculty have had the
happiest effect And il is believed that in no SINH
lar establishment in this OF any other country,
better understanding and kinder feelings exist be-
tween the Professors and Students.
Thus sou see to what an injurious extent rumor
had magniied the late disturbance The repre-.
sensations we had heard of the deness and dissipa-
ton Of the young men were not less exaggera ed
The wildless OF half dozen boys was permitted
in the minds OF many Of our citizens TO give char
acter to the Institution, whilst the great majority
the Students demeshed themselves in the most IN.
excepuonable manner Put out oftbe question Oh,
feelings 10 which the late expulsons have given Use
and the riot Of the Is, ul. is not much If at all L
be regretted. The University is en- infant insitu
AZ. euferiup upon uecftd oarcer III