New-York daily tribune., 1859-02-12
BURNING OF WILLIAM AND NARY COL
IEGE.
HIGHLY INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES.

Fyon es Bais~o Sxs.
The Origin Of the FIRE i, involved 10 mystery, bst e
said 10 bave broken out in Of the western wagS
nesr the library, and in short time nothing bat ~
bare walls o. tie building were left standing.
Tie old library, which oortaoed thousands q
volumes Of rare interest tie OF
and savsn Of al countries was totally loet or he
2O,C0o books not enc was saved Ths1css is irrepsr-
| able. The exceedingly raTe ard valuable che 1iosa
There is an iusursrce of So coo on the bulldog which
vii cover about Ose h of the loss sustained 90 The
edfce scue. At the tine of its destruction. evsvl
ohar was filed with conpstent professors, aad u b
fair 10 stain its ancient renown.
The cosge wss con rnenced about the ycsr 1891.
when the House Of lsargesses disps'ched the Rev.
Jesnes Blair to England 70 sohcis OF tht1 MsJesaee
William and Mary, achsIter which wss re ssiy gfaatse
in the following YEAR accompanied by girs in land an
morev ard certain immantss and privileges, whice
at established il en- basis Of assured success.
Tie iist commence 1ent took psce IN lO0, whea the
people from several Of the adjoining Sses .
see the sight TIE baldirg frSt erected was burnee
in l75 bat soon after rebuff. IL the square IN roes
Of this building stin stsrcs. in muiated corditioat
though vi,h eyiderce of its old elegance s'st0e u
Lore Bo.c,ourt ordered by the colony 10 l77l.
Durirg the pslny dsys " the college II was the
cpieDt Of rrumerable benefcss in land aud money,
Of the lsttor Of which directed specially 70
be applied toward converting the poor, ignorsss
which was very seldom accomplished.
Tie frst organiza'ion OF the College was under q
body Of visitors. president and ak professcrs. The
"or Professors of William and Mary College" There
were two divinity prof ssorships-one II Greek ssA
Latin, one Of Msthems,ics one Of Moral Philosophy,
ard Boye's IL dian ProfsssorShip was sixth IL had
a representative in the General Assembly.
Al The Revolution, the endowueuss Of the College
underwent great changes. The State tar for tts
support was cut short and the funcs from Engtaha
cesied TO flow. About ths time the divioity profess
orsl ips were abolished. When the Revolution broke
out hah OF the students, Including james Monroe.
entered the army The French troops after tho sur
render of rwsis occupied the building, and the
Presidents house wss burned down. Tney pAid pr II.
Nytle Nelson, ST. George and Beverly Tucker
have been professors IN the law Department. snd four
Presidents of tie Uuited States, VIA desrsou, Madi-
Hon John Marshall, ChisfJnstice Of the United
States Suprs me Court Patrick Henry and Lieutenase-
General WiGhed scott, seIe stnoents thers Ine 80
cIe Lie,Sy S,csy n the hn FIN BEta ,1,s sksspp' spp o,S
interrupted by the Revolutionary war.
The library ard furniture Of the Ph9nix Literary
Society wee burnt; but the books and furniture ID
the Phicma.hs an Society nearly all saved.
The building was l56 teet 'front.' four stories high,
and insured for s2 600. The library contsted sbsut
% eco volumes. The building erected from brcks
imported from Euglsrd, and the Rev james Blair We
its fire, Piesden Mt. lie died in l1i2.
There are about 80 students the present session, Only
nine of whom slept in the college bulldog. They
bare escaped with their lives. Some OF them lost -
their clothirg books and everything else.
The cne hundred and sixtysixtb anniversary was 70
have been celebrated on the 18th inst, In manner
far erceedpg in attractiveness any former ovation OF
the kind. Ex.President John Tyler had been Engaged
to deliver the orsoD, and st. George Tucker to reaa
the am versary poem The most exubeyant pride and
ioy was felt in anticipation Of the celebration OF tho
enriverssry. Itwssexpectedth that many OF the Aumnt
would come together within the walls oi the ima ma
ter when many a pleasant friendship would 90 re-
newed, and thcee now grown gray In the service o.
their country could congratulate each other on thsro
still being a future before them IN which to via new
! lsuies Gen. Winfield Scott, the Hon. VIM. Z. Rivess
/ /, ba ohp 4 GritteBden and others. Wof0
expected to be preseIt.
The college buildings were situated ln an inclosuIe
st the extreme end Of the town comprising three ed
fces-tbe college proper fronting 10 feet; the Pres
ders iouse and the Indian house. the latter TO the
time Of the fire. the residence Of the Rev. Dr. Totten
In the earlier days Of the institution the education of
young Indians Of the objects of the introdao-
| tion of education ia Virginia.
TIE large building with its two wings, 10 said 70
have boen constructed from design by Sir Chns-
topher Wren, the architect Of the great 81: Psurs
were by 10 means worthy Of this great master ms
chanic II was Of no style, and had no redeemisg
quality bu. its natural durability:
curioupy studded inside with tablets to anc,ent
worthies among whom may be me niioned Sir John
Randolph; Peyton Rnntopb, President Of the frse
American Congress; Bishop Madison, and Chancelloe
NelsOp.
Tie "Blre Rcom," 20 c,led from its walls being
of that ct, ereal bue apartment associated with
matters Of much interest. In il sat manya learned
council devierg weys and means OF tho ,nstrrchon.
rot orly for the adopted Of Virginia but also for
the native Indians for whose proper edacstou
moreJs were donated by the Hon. Robert Boyle.
"eFq.,' whose portrait graccd the chamber and, VITA
the rect Of the contents Of the building, fell prey
TO tie nsmes. There were also in this room g the
true egies" Of the very Rev. DR.. James Blair Pred
Gent Of the College in lG9l the light OF whoes
has often gladdened the Council wish ~
presence.
From the aIcieLt minutes Of the College the follow.
ipg is copied:
"Jals 20, TGlResoiysd That Mrs Foster BE- appointed
o tire College aud that abe b. PAID annually ths
sum fi2 provided she furnishes herself with loignk ds
fire and cenoes.
Nay III -Resotef Unsnnousy that negro woman -
loneir bis late Exceiencys ord Boetout) estse -
turcbusa r ne we II The C0A'g Ito Be he'd s @0dsssss
price,"