Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-07-05
caresaonacnss of tie Tiasss and Compiler.
CLOSING EXERCISES OF TIE uNlVER-
cy1,v ac VIRGINIA.


Mcssrs Eilcrs-In The belief that rapid
sketch of The proceedings OF YESTERDAY WI; p,o'i
no, uninteyesiins 10 The readers OF Tue Times,
81. down 10 report them, although cannot but
think they deserve better chronicleI.
The Society of Alumni met on MONDAY Tue
ostb. and after short session, during when no
business Of importance came before them, ad-
iourned over 10 The next day. On Tuesday II con-
vened q, an early hour. when very Respectable
number were in attendance, including TOUR or h'e
gentlemen from your city. At l0o'clock our pro-
ceedings were interrupted by an ihtima'ion ilonl
the Faculty that The procession was aDou' 70 ue
formed al the foot Of The lawn ana accordingly
We repaired 10 the point OF starring, Wnen .ne hue
uf march was taken NJ IN Inc lo'io"'ns oioei
Grand Marshal.
The Governor OF Virginia, uhael ah escort VI
two Graduates.
The Board of Visitors.
Od;rers of The University.
The Faculty OF the University
The A,pmni Two abreast, according to seniority.'
The Students.
While This imposng line moved forward, hne
hand on Tho Poriico OF the Rotunda, composed oil
amateurs from The Asylum for The Blind al Staun-
ION. playej an inspiring air-Gr they could have
n,ayed cool mir iasl al that time, II would have
been more appropriale) - and we entered The
building 10 a ouicksiep. The scene was gay
one indeed. Young gentlemen in holiday clothes
and profuse Precipitation, decked out with stars,
and cockades, andsIreamers, were running ABOUT
with botons Of pani-colored rlboon-tne sun, al,
most in his meridian splendor, icor'nfy favored
our designs. insomuch that The young Vlrgihi-
ans" in line were we'll nigh as ardent as OH,
Southern rays coald make ihein-.lhe avn anu
porrico on either side were filled with spectators,
and with The music sounding in our ears, we ad-
yancct rs to The "minuet in Ariadne" On en-
,ering the Library Room, we encountered very
effective array Of glances, coming from Inc
bright eyes OF brilliant beyy oil oeanues assem-
bled from various gnariers-some Indigenous ~
Albemar!e, some the representatives oil adjacent
counties and several of your own fair fellow Gill.
gems. Having 'ilocaed" ourselves in seals re-
served for us, The ordinary exercises oil The COM
mencemeni began.
II would be tedious 10 recount me names OF
all those who received diplomas in the several
schools nor is il material, as | apPrehended they
will be made lie subject OF distinct publication;
bul must rot omit 10 mention that The degree OF
Master OF Arts, the highest honor recognized BY
The University, was conferred on Mr. Edmund
w. Caskie, OF Richmond city. Mr. Caskie was
the only student OF The present session who Oh.
tanned This degree.
After these ceremonies and music from the
band, the Society of Alumni was addressed by
tho Hon. VIM. Z. Rives in an eloquent and i'm.
pressye discourse. This address was pro.
nounced beloTe the Historical Department, IN &C
cordance with an invitation extended last winter.
lis subject was History. Il was marked by great
research, mastery analysis, extended views
and enlarged craftsmanship. With his accus-
toned felicity ofe1pression in the simplest, purest
English The speaker laid down The legitimate uses
of history, and following up the stately march oil
national events from the earliest ages 10 the pre-
sen! day, selected for our instruction the happiesl
illustrations OF the past. By comparison be-
tween The American and French Revolutions,
and the causes which led 10 their widely differ
enl results MIR. Rives proceeded 10 show that OR
Revolutionary statesmen, with a Just regard 10
The monitory teachings Of experience, were
guided in their efforts by historic lights. while
The movers OF the French struggle, during The
whole OF that lroublous and stormy period, which
preceded the atrocities OF the Mountain, went
blindiy forward, step by step, without recurring
10 those impressive lessons 10 DC gathered from
The annals Of fallen empires and dYnasties. Mr.
Rives spoke nearly Two hours, and the undivided
attention with which his address was received,
marked the interest OF the large and brilliant au-
dilory.
Alter the address was concluded the whole as
| sembace moved from The Rotnnda 10 the Arcade
| OF the Eastern Lawn, where sumpluous repast
| had been provided by the Faculty, and was ca
| eefy despatched. A recess OF an hour and ha IL
afforded abundant opportunity OF doing Jus'ice 70
The sayory yauds and refreshing ices OF The col
la,iop; and having received much "ald and conf
tou" iherelrom, we again repaired 10 The Roln-
da. and the exercises OF Inc day were resumed
| A memoir Of the late Professor John y. y. DAVIS
was read by Lucian Minor, Esq, oil Lonisa, a
4 ,fo thn q NJ n
| he memory OF the distinguished dead. The Con-
| Gliding annual address was then delivered by
VIM. Nj. Burw1l, Esq, OF the county OF Bedford.
| MIR. Burwell made his effort the vehicle OF urs-
| Ing The importance OF a more thorough and ade-
ouac system oil education in Virginia, as lie sn.
les! means d. developing her resources aud re-
orino her 10 her pristine pre-cmirencc IN Inc
Con!c,eracy While regarding rather The matter
!han the manner o: his discourse IS OF primary
moment, Mr.. BurwelI threw Of Al times the scin-
,lia,ions Of an exubeTanl, though chasened and
snbducd fancy, and his originality CT thought
was eqnac! only by his sraccs OF style. am
glad 10 stale that all these addresses will be ru1-
lshcd
When Mr.. Rurwe had concluded, The audi
ence dispersed, after having paTiaken 81 IN IN
,ellec.aal "feast Of nectafcd swees" rarely sci
before The attendants upon Collegiate AnniveF-
~
ni,ously, during The whole afternoon, and, aliho
| il served 10 lower The mercury in The thcrmome-
Ter. caused among he ladies llnller CT sol;ci-
ludc for their bonncs, and, fear, threw dam
rcv upon The salisfac'ons OF The day. II was,
however, the only mcldwopos incident.
htan evening session Of the Society Of Alum
nj, Charles l.. Mosby. Esq, oil l:ynchbnrg was
elected 10 deliver the next Annual hddress-and
Rober, T. Scott, ESQ.,, Of Fauquier. was chosen
alternate.
The Road Of Visitors had rnler consideration
tho annoin,mcnt Of Professor al Anatomy and
Surgery, 10 ill The varancy occasohed oy me re-
sicnalion ol Or. James l.. Cabel bll dclermin-
ed after some conference, TO POSTPONE Inc se'tc-
ton TO ca led meeting on the Isl superintendent.
Such, gentlemen, were The mos' important &C.
currcnces Il our commencement. nave thought
that il world subserve an useful purpose 10 mar
rate Them. Ind perhaps induce larger number oil
our Alumni, upon the next anniversary, 10 come
together AID revive The pleasing recollection oi by
gone ycas. There is certainly no wiser usage
than Of hal OF foster children, assembling m
nuaIlv anund The family ALIAS Of their parent
IJniyersiy, there 10 forget The cares OF every day
lle in n. ,hronging "reminiscences Q! The hon;
and rbs ,oet Gray, in that fine ole in which he
n;c,nrcs p distant prospect Of the lurrets al
E,on I'm, ascIibed 10 such visits I rennoyatinS ii
1Gence
"a feel the gales that from ye blow,
1 momentary bliss beslow,
Aswaying fresh with glaisome wing,
NJ wear sonl they seem 10 sooIhe
And rcdoIenl Of jny aud youth,
To breathe second spring.
Ma,we not cxneoi al some future day, snch'a
ye...ni.n o distinguished sons, as lends charm
10 ihe anniversaries 81 Yale ana Harvard