Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-11-18
Hon WYSpHAN RoBERrsoS.
THE MEADOWS, MAR ABINGDON, !
Sent 20th lSA6

TIE MEADOWS, MAR ABINGDON
Sept 30th lS46. (
GESTLENES-I have received your communication in
forming me OF the desire Of the Faculty OF Emory &
Henry College to establish Annual Prize fo Oraory
and appealing TO me TO contribute sufficient fund
able them effect that object You relieve yourseye.
from any supposed obusiveuess in making this appca
uon upon the ground Of the generous interest las you
pleased it, always manifested BY me in YOUR
Institution independently Of those claims attention
which II shares in common with all Institutions for the
dHusion OF knowledge, Emory Henry has always seemed
TO 10 present strong and peculiar in the cir
eumsianess OF It's local position and in expressing
warm interest in its have expressed only what
strongly felt Casting the eye from it, in whatever drec
ton Il falls wide distances, on every side only
mental wilderness aPPears-a wilderness which, though
be fortunately true, soil has not been denied yet where
u this OASIS in Its midst seed and the husbandman
alike wanting. How, then, inseparable as must
ever be mental culture and high moral excellence any
man who loves his kind withhold from institution de-
signed ana well calculated supply this highest of hu
man wants, strong and grateful interest
Nor am backward to acknowledge for one, at whose
disposal Fortune has placed larger than fall TO the
common lot greater obligaton-a wider privilege as
prefer to call tof contributing the advancement of
worthy public Objects and such readily recognize
IN that which stimulates your present efforts Indeed
would 10 much injustice the opinions entertain TO IL
nit my commentator which so inadequatey re-
deci the importance attach 10 that object In my view
u ia no eXaggeration TO say OF Oatory that next after
pure heart is the highest Of gifts and above every other
the greatest OF human powers. In Demosthenes il WELD
ed the sword Of Geece-In Cicero, vndicsied the msie
y
phrenzy, or subdued 1t to ealm-in Chatham. ruled for
time, the desnies Of worid-in Massillon touched the
Utmost soul-and in that Henry Whose name illustrates
that OF your College, evoked tones OF all persuading
Freedom long banished from the EARTH TO leave her
dark eontne, and once more, Hope eevatng and Joy
Frightening her crest" to resppear among men. What
varied and and powers of the soul and the
aney-the heart and the ACKNOWLEDGMENT how happily
blended, must combine to form Orators like these And
looking 10 the immense effects they wrought-the over.
wheimng power they exerted, il be said assign 10
the Art whereby they achieved results wonderful
higher than merits in placing II after Virtue in de
srableness, and before her in earthly power7 II IT,
the iabor-and which alone, length happily attained al
low US TO proudly ought Of human
ment-" Fins Opus"
will further pursue the theme. will only add that
your audabe design shall fall through for want Of the
desired contribution Further detail on that subject re-
serve Tor personal interview with such member the
Faculty may be designated for the purpose
beg respectfully to decline taking the part in the ar
rangement Of those details respecting the proposed Prize
10 which you would 50 politely assgn They who con-
coiyed the plnn will best II. Were 10 permit nv
self single suggestion, IL would be-tauRh az we arc bv
every page OF history how potent alike (houRh we ma
equay) for evil good is this great engine OF
human powerthat in FORM emblematc or other the
Prize should be constant the weareT that the
Orator is blessing in his time and generation
according the eLds he are on the one hand base
low or selfish, Or on the other,
His Gods and Truths
thank you for the kindness TO which am indebteg 70,
the far too Aauerng IN which your is
and remain, gentlemen,
Very respectfully, your ob't servant.
WYNDHAM ROBERTSON
Messrs G. Collins, Eph. II. Wiley and Edmund LoDRley
Faculty Of E. e. II. College.