Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-07-08
GEORGETOWN AFFAIRS.
CorrsSPoaisxes Of Tas Star.

GEORGETOWN, July 8, 1857.
Yesterday there was assembled at the George
town College an overfowng audience to witness
the annual exhibition. The spacious hall in the
main building was filed to its utmost, there be-
ing not less than three thousand persons I'm atten-
dance, many of whom were ladies and STRANGERS
from distance. The occasion was honored With
the presence of his excellency the President of
the United States, the Hon. Mr.. Slidell of La
Secretaries Cobb and Floyd, Attorney General
and Mayors Mag ruder and Crawford, of our own
and your city. The exercises throughout were of
the very first order, equal, If not superior, to
those Of any previous exhibition, fully sustaining
the enviable reputation which this venerable in
stitution of learning has sustained for more than
half century.
The College is situated on one of the most
beautiful and picturesque eminenccs adjacent to
our city. commanding an uninterrupted view in
every direction far as the eye can reach and is
surrounded by as romantic and beautiful scenery,
and healthy and salubriOus atmosphere, as any
other point probably in the Union. These ad-
vantages doubtless tends in some degree to draw
together annually, from almost every civilized
nation upon the globe, the hundreds of pupils
whose minds are here prepared and trained with
secular knowledge to fit and qualify them to fill
properly any or all the relations in life and with
moral principles, If properly needed, TO enable
them to combat successfully lifes stern realities
The College is owned and conducted by the
Society of JesuitS, and is provided nj all times
with corps of professors and teachers, unsur-
institution in the land. Upon the whole, we
think We hazard nothing when we assert that the
Georgetown College, to-day, can take rank among
the very first institutions of the kind on either
continent. This year the number of graduates 10
ten
The first speaker on the occasion was Mr. VIM
Choice, of South Carolina. Subject Education
He seemed to comprehend fully the importance
OF his subject, and entered with his whole soul
into a lucid discussion of its great Importance
and glowingly descanted upon the benefits flow
M ifs mi 4.
ton. Upon the whole, his address was one of no
ordinary ability, and told with thrilling effect
upon the large audience; not, however, to the
same extent as did his valedictory He was fol-
lowed by James A. Wise. Subject: HannibaI,s
Oath, in poetry. This speaker gave unmistakable
evidence of talent for public speaking
American Anticipations, . by Eugene Diggs,
was excellent; a sort OF variety entertainment
touching upon politics, emigration, manufactures,
&c, &c. Each Of these subjects he handled with
degree Of skill that would have done no dis
head.
50 The 5th of May, or death of Napoleon by
Alphonse Rost; A." Necessity of fixed principles, -
by Henry Bowling, and ''Pompey or a night
we'll delivered, but did not seem to elicit much
interest "Caius Marius at Carthage poetry
by w James Blakely, was excellent and we'll de-
livered and received. 'The Crusadesn by
Emile Rost, was also well spoken. "Horatius
Cocles,n poetry, by James F. Mclaughlin was
regarded as the very best piece in poetry spoken
Oh tue OCCdSlOn III Was uPilVefeu IN line StVle,
and elected long and loud applause. During the
delivery of this piece President Buchanan, accom-
panied by several friends, entered the hall
Their entrance caused considerable commotion
among the audience, and Immediately upon the
close Of the address the band struck up "Hail to
the Chieftain,'' which was played in fine STYLE
While the President and friends were being con-
ducted to seats
Permanently of LiteTary,F anne, :" by f. A. Lam
caster, was fine production, and well delivered
=" Braddock's Defeat" poetry, by John F. Mar
rion, was also delivered in fine style. "Princi-
pies of True Liberty by Charles A Hoyt was
also fine production, and delivered I'm a STYLE
which secured for the speaker the admiration of
the entire audience. " Music poetry by Cbas
Il Kinney, was also very good, and well received;
and the Naledctory, by William Choice was a
beautiful and affecting farewell to his teachers
and companions. Judging from the visible mani
festations Of satisfaction among his auditory, il
made deep and lasting impression upon the
minds of most If not all present. Then followed
the admirable address of Judge VIM. NJ Merrick
OF the Circuit Court, before the Phil udemic Soci-
ETY.. IL was delivered in very animated and
graceful manner. He Wore the badge OF the So
cety on his coat collar, and made the name Of the
Society the foundation OF his discourse The
principal aim of the address seemed 10 be to de-
mOnstrate that true democracy is only to be found
in the principles and practice of the doctrines of
the New Testament, taking for the chief corner
stone of political ethics the 90 doing unto others
as we would they should do unto u.s.
The judy address ELECTED unive,s sal ap-
plause from all who We're near enough to hear
ever, that during its delivery there was so much
noise as to cause those at 4 distance from him to
lose many OF the most interesting portions OF it.
After the speaking was over the degree Of
A Nj was conferred upon Mr. Peter j Notary.
NJ d., of Va; F. Mathews Lancaster. NJ. ID Of
Md; w. NJ Smith, of Pa; Benz. L. Whelan of
Ala, and VIM. II Quinn, NJ. D., of Md. The
degree of A. b. on Emile Rost OF La Henry
A. Bowling, of Md; James McLoud, of ID. c.;
VIM. Choice, of :. c; VIM. J. Hill, of Md
Francis A. Lancaster, of Pa; James Dougherty,
of Pa, and - Sanders, of Md.
The first academic honor, for which there was
quite Struggle, is the medal in the class of Phi.
lOsophy this was awarded to Emile Rost, OF
La. The medals in Chemistry, Rhetoric, &c,
were awarded to James ID. Doughertv, of Pa,
CorneliusJ O'FIinn, of Mich, Chas Ii kinney
of Pa, and James H. Nealc, OF Nd.
At tue close of these exercises the medals and
premiums were distributed by President Bucha-
nan, assisted by Rev. Ii. Mcguire, President of
the College, and Rev. ID. Lynch. Thus closed
one of the most brilliant exhibitions ever held at
the Georgetown College. SPECTATOR