Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-27
FRAUDULENT TRAFFIC IN HONORARY
DEGREES,

The following article appeared in the London
Atheneum Of April 25th:
If there be any gentleman on our list of
readers who wishes to write l.. l.. D., behind
bis name, and is not particular as to the source
whence his right TO do so is derived We have
news for him. Mr.. Simpson, of :; Clinton Col
lsge, Arkansas, is coming to England, charged
with box of diplomas, all Of which are going
AZ an alarming sacrifice. The following circu-
lar heralds the approach of Mr.. Simpson, which
We print for his benefit in our most conspicuous
columns without advertisement charges 1t
shall not be our fault if the dispenser of 50
much pleasure to others does not grow richer
and happier by degrees.
CLINTON COLLEGE, Arkansas, u. S. Al
February "a, 1857.
SU:TSome time ago one of our trustees re-
ceiyed a letter from literary friend of his in
England highly complimentary of YOU and ex-
pressing q wish that our college should confer
on you the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.
have the pleasure of informing you that at
the last meeting Of our Senatus Academicus.
held on January the 10th, 1857, it was resolved
unanimously that the honorary degree of
Doctor Of Laws be conferred on you, and that a
diploma cOnhrmatory of the act Of the Senate
be sent to you at the earliest opportunity Such
act Of the Senate to be subject to the College by
law Of date June Sd, 1854, viz and that
those on whom the honorary degree of L. L. ID.
usual mstriculating and graduation fees, which
third part is fS los. which sum is to be e1pen-
ded on the College Library and Museum &c
Our Mr.. Simpson is preparing TO leave this for
England; he takes your diploma with him, and
will post II for you on his arrival As Mr. S
will DC IN England for very short time only,
you will oblige US by writing to Mr. s. when
the diploma reaches you, acknowledging its re-
eslPt, and please at the same time to send him
the College fee Of IS los, as he (Mr 81 is au-
thOrlEed by our Senate to receive the same
and, with the very kind wishes of our Professor.
1 am, your obedient servant.
JAMES LAUDER, c. S.
MIR. Simpsons address for at least week after
you receive your diploma will be as under: Mr.
Charles Simpson, (Of America), care of Mr.
Maynard, Mathematical Bookseller, Earl's
Court, Leicester Square. London.
We need scarcely add, that Arkansas is q
baekwOod State-that there il no such college
as Clinton College" and never was-and that
the village schools find scarcely any support in
the State These trihing facts may not impede
the desire TO sport l.. l.. D.; and therefore,
wishing to be useful, we have left the London
address as We find it in his circular
In its issue for the following week May 3D.
the Atheneum says:
Few Of our readers. we fear, are likely to
purchase the diplomas of Clinton College Ark
Rnsas or indeed OF any other college in the
bsckWOods of America. Our correspondence on
the subject is considerable, and shows that there
is more than one Richmond in the field. A
good rule for an intending purchaser of dip
Iona is-tO consult the American Almanac
The following note-which shows a variation of
the tune-is worth preserving:
BELMONT HOUSE, Gainsborough, April 18th.
:" My brother. who resides in Bradford, last
week bad diploma of L. L. d. from Action
Co, Illinois, y with letter rerbatiu1 the same
as that printed in the Atheneum Of Saturday.
except that the names were changed - Our
Ar Hunter Of Amerca,' was the bearer of the
diploma, and was to receive the money The
diploma Is in Latin, but it contains two errors.
Besides, :. Our Mr.. Hunter of America looks
so much like bagmsn, that the whole affair
was treated, as 1T appears TO have deserved
with contempt. Many others will doubtless
have reason TO thank the Atheneum for having
- promptly exposed sham, or swindle, or both
some one once thanked God that we have a
House Vt Lords; 1 always express the same
thankfulness that we have an Atheneum
am, &s., THOs. Dyson"
IL is proper TO state that this attempt TO sell
spurious diplolpas is not necessarily American.
Our Mr.. Hunter of America may, for aug ght
We know, be two Of the three tailors Of Tooley
street All the letters we have seen bear the
London post-mark, and the style has distinct
Bermondsey brand.