The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-10-13
L HE DISPATC
WEDNESDAY MORNING ....... OCTOBER 10. ls,s
Randolph Mneon-Its Position, Ad.
rdntaoss, and Irsspects.
RANDOLPH Macon COLLEGE,

tooHREsPoSDEscg OF THE RICHMOND DAILY DISPATCH !
RANDOLPH Macon COLLEGE,
- Oct. sth, 1858.
The sixteenth ultimo inausurated our session
OF '5s and o. Differing from the arrangements Q,
other institutions, our session is undivided and
embraces forty consecutive weeks. I arrived the
day before its opening, ard was astopished. on
aiIghtins, to zee so many unfamiliar faces around
me-ail peeriog with inquisitive attention at the
newly arrived stranger. Our last session began
its fail term with eighty or ninety students Ar.
ready the names of nearly onc hundred aud twen
ty young men have becn enrolled on the Collecc
matricula, and the arrivals have by no means ceas
cd. twenty, OF more, are expected shortly, and
am bold to predict that before the last moon OF
December. our number will approximate one hun
dred and ffty
No one can pronounce this an empty prophesy
when he contrasts our present augmentation 10
members, with the Increase of former years, or
looks first upon the ashen skies of the past, and
then upon the propitous heavens which iu st no v
hang over the college, From these two weiehty
considerations, get my Delphian license
This good news, gratifying as it must be to the
Christian community, cannot fail to inspire the
most lukewarm friends of the college, with lively
hope for its future welfare enkiDde in the heart
OF our Virginia Methodists, aud in all the Metho.
dsts OF every section, church aud chapel, through.
out the country, burning desire for her nal
success and exait the arDest expectations of the
sanguine, that brighter day has da ned upon
Randolph Macop-that she has fyrsaken her for
mer position IN the subordinate rank of education
al establishments, and has already taken a stand
which che can never desert-but remaining in the
occupancy of her advanced post, continue till the
latest day, one of the most prominent and meri,
torious institutions in the land
The college is situated OH the Petersburg and
Clarksviile Plank Read, aud connected with the
latter place by limo of daily stsges afording the
requisite means for either passenger or freight
conveyance. tri-weekly stage plies between
Keysvilie Depot, on the Richmond and Dauville
kai Boyit0n-n4ssinp ND
returning. The construction, ere long of pros
posed railroad between Keysyille aud Clarksville
will facilitate our mode of reaching the college,
and quicken the trip of Northern stndents
We are located in the healthiest quarter of tho
country-about nine miles from the Roanoke river
Our breezes, sweeping from the mountains OF
Southern Virginia, here meet and miugie with the
pure atmosphere OF the lower country; so tina.
the air is always saubrious and invigorating Not
case OF contagious diseas nor Of ague and fever,
contracted here, has come under my observation
since my connection with the institution.
Tho scenery around the college is diversified
with hill aud dale field and forest Extensive
areas of land upon the South and East, are COW
cred with red and white oak trees-wbile the
North CarolinaD, can here rejoice at the sight of
his native persmmon. Boydton, upon the East
about mile distant, is the county seat Of Neck
leuburg. IL is famed, principally for it's bars.
forensic and alcoholic. The main college buildng a
front upon the plank road, and are situated up0n
the crown OF an imposing emiuence. There are
two hotels connected with tie establishment,-lo-
Gated upon either side of the principal briIdnp The
campus is well laid off-regularly trayersed bv
walks and ornamented with young oaks and
hckCries. The professors reside in the imme5isie q
vicinity. Their dwellings are built in cottage
style-protected from the heat of the summer ,nn
by profuson OF shade trees, and surrounded.
each, by fine tract of land.
The circumstances which surround the college
at present, are peculiarly auspicious. In prcpor-
tioD to numbers, cur corps Of professors is eouai
few; but men of intellectual calibre and high mem
tai culture-thOrough in their respective danart,
ments, aud enineDt!y gifted with the Gidac,ic
talent. The name and works of our President.
Rev. VIM. A. Smith, ID. Dare familiar to the ears
of every one. Whether as author, public leetursr
professor, be is no less known, as the champiop
of Southern education, than the defender and
Vlndicator OF southern institutions. To him he's
been assigned the chair of moral aud iptelIec tina,
philosophy. Prof. J. G. Wills has charge of the
mathematical department. Prof Vim. b. Carr that
of Ancient languages and literature Prof Benr. {
Puryear, that OF Chemistry aud Geology. Prof.
VIM. A shepard, that OF assistant professor in
mathematics and the languages. Mr.. R. S. Isbell
Is ths principal of the preparatory school
Our chaplain-Rey. Alexander c. Browns a
rising star of the Virginia Conference Ills ruIpit
homies are plain in style, solid in matter electic
in figure, aud lucid in ratiocinatiop. His conrre
cations usually large, and his successive efforts
| win successive plauditS of admiration. With such
a body of Instructors, the siudous youth has at
once the guaranty OF fall and finished education,
in the classics aud phi!osophies, the mathematical
and experimental sciences.
For some months past, President Smith assisted
by Rev. H. B. Cowlts, has been actively engaged
in the pEaseworthy undertaking of raising the
endowment fund, requisite to establish our profs
sorships and rid Randolph Macon of the incon We.
niences consequent upon iuctua:Dg patronage
1t is indeed q momsntous undertaking. If thew
fail, piteous will be our condition Ifthey succeed,
we shall be as permanent as the granite hills So
far, good fortune has attended them. They have
already secured ninety Thousand dollars, in valid
bonds, and confidently expect, before the coming
session OF the Virginia Conference, to lay one hun,
dred thousand upon the alter of Randolph Macon.
QUIDAM.