The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-02-10
THE DESTRUCTION OF
WILLIAM AND MARY
COLLEGE.
Interesting History of
the College !!
THE RELICS THERE.
sCRAPs OF HfsTOKY
TIE TWO PREVIOUS coNfLAGRATIoNs.
&C. &C., &c.

y
SCRAPS OF HfsTOKY.
THE TWO PREVIOUS c0NfLAGRArIoss
&C., &C., &c.
Additional particulars relative TO tho burning
OF William aud Mary College, inform US that on
yesterday there was nothing lefs of the vsrerabIs
old building but pile of smoking ruins. Au IN.
telligeht yonng correspondent, writing from there
says: 1.-THE flre broke out about 3 o'clock Tues.
day morning, and is supposed TO have originated
from the candle of negro, who was cutting wood
la the basement There we're several harrow en-
capes by students rooming In The College. One
young man, whose rocin was jest over the place
where the FIRE started, was nearly suiFocated bv
the smoke, and los. all the clio, hcg ave that be
could gather up iu his exit. Another found the
door of bis reom on fire when be awoke, and mar.
ro~ly escaped horrible death" The letter Ads
that it is uncertain whethesi iecsures will be aus
pended. The College buildfbk swas ur s;orlas
high, with front Of 1s5 feet, aud was insured
for $4,000. The Library contained about 20. 600
volumes, all Of which were consumed The libra.
ry and furniture of the PL8aix Literary Society
were burnt: but the books and furniture Of the
Phiiomatheau Society were nearly all saved
Tee following history of the institution will be
foand highly Interesting at this tine The inter.
esting relics mehtioned in it we're all DESTROYED
Por founding a college in Virginia. to edusat. nd
train Indians, so early as 1919, fifteen hundred
ters issued by James ]. to the bishops Aud dnrine
this year it WAS "moved and obtained' by Sir nd.
win Ssndys, President OF the Conpauy In Euplsnd
that ten thousand acres OF land, intended NOT only
i.r the Indian College, but also stay the founda
tion of Seminary Of learning for the EosIisb ;,
should be laid off tor "the University at Hetrico ),
is was also determined that hundred men shnni Id
be sent from England as tenants for this land =
ont OF the rents, which II was supposed would be-
worth hve hundred pounds year. the buildings
were to be erected, and the masters sup.ortsS -
Mr. George Thorpe, gentleman tf Ills Majesty a
Pri1y Chamber, came over to be superip,e endrnt cf
the College. In l62l, subscriptions of ono bnn.
dred and twenty Ave pounds was obtained. and
one thousand acres OF land. with ive servants aud
an overseer, were allotted by the Company 10 en-
dow AT Cherries City, collie giate school termed the
Fact India School,' where scholars were to ba
r. spared ior admittauce into the College q. Hen.
rico. On March I'D. 1922, Mr.. Thorps aud three
hundred and forty Of the colontsts, inc,njino .
number OF the tenants of the College wars
killed by the indians. This caused ,Lg lands
TO he abandoned, aud the establishment. Of
college to be delayed uutil that of Viii.
liam and Mary was chartered. which WAS In the
fourth year of the reign OF Wiliam and Mary date
corresponding under tbs Bew style, with the Icrb
of February, A. ID. 1895. This charter, sent oyer
with Sir Edmund AndrOs, was granted upon ths
petition Of the General Assembly Of the CoIonv of
Virginia, .to the end that the church ef Virginia
might be furnished with Seminary of ministers
Of the Gospel, and that the youth might be p:ously
educated in good letters and manners and that the
Christian faith might be psrpagated amongst the
Western Indians, to the glory of Almighty God -
The design vas TO establish ''piace OF Universal
udy, or perpetual College of Divinity Philosophy
Languages, and other good arts aud sciences" The
Trustees. nominated and elected by the General As
sembiy. to whom the royal license was granted
were Francis Nicholson, Lieut.. Governor of tbs Col
nnies of Virginia ami Maryland. William Cole,
Ralph Wormiey, William Byrd, aud John Lear Es
quirss: James Blair, John Far3if1Id, Stephen feI
ace. and SaniGel Gray, Clerks: Thomas Miner
Ciristopher Robinson, Charles Scarborough John
Smith. BeDjam! Harrison, Miles Cary, Henry
Hartvail, William Randolph, and Mathew Page
GenrleDeu. "fhc Assembly was 80 fond OF Gov.
ernor Nicholson at that time, that they presented
him Eith the sum OF three Lundred pounds as a
testimony of their good disposition towards him
Bus he having an instruction TO receive no present
from the cosasFyy they dExg addtess 80 t.aes
Majestes praying that hee.aight have leave to sc-
capt ir, which wac granted, and he gave ore hal!
thereof to the College" Tho Trustees we're con-
stitnted the body corporate to establish the Col.
lege, and to appoint Masters or Professors. hut
required after the establishment, "to transfer
to the President and Masters, or Professors, or
their successors, the lands, msnors, teuou.ents
rents, services, rectorer, portions annuites Den.
sions, and adyowsons OF churches, with all other
franchises. possessions. goods chat.
tells and personal estate. And in the fl ID section
ofthe charter we find the following: ut shall be call
s! and foysrer the College Of E1Hiaa, and
Mary ia Fifyinia, and the President and Mas ers or
Professors of the said College, shall be body poIic
IN Gcsd ana ia a2m." 1t vas further provided
that after the transfer of the corporate powers
the Trustees should be "the true, sole, aud un.
doubted ttsito5S ard Goyer;0rs NJ the Covs5e"--
And We give and grant to them. or the major pert
Of them. by these our Letters Patent. continual
succ ssion as also full AND absolute liberty pow,
er and authority Of making and enacting framing
and establishing such aud so many rules, laws
statutes, orders, and ipjunstons for the good and
wholesome government of said College, as TO them
and their successors shall f ON time to time, ac-
cording to their various occasions and clrcnm.
stances seem most fit AID sxpfdient."
The Charter cob arms to the President and Mas.
ters Proessors, that there shall be CnanceiIor
of the College; appoints ''the reverend father in
God. Henry. by divine permits sicu, Bishop of Lor-
don," first Chancellor, and requires that the visi.
tors aud Governors of the College, shall elect 9
discreet person to this office every seven years.
Towards The endowme & cf the College, Will
liam III, and Mary cont pHted one Thousand niue
hundred aud eighty five pounds fourteen shilIinss
aud ,Tsised out of the quitreu;s of the
ony and st that time Ia the hapds of William Byrd
Auditor; oBe penny pouGd or all tobacco ex-
ported from Virginia to Maryland; the Office OF
Surveyor general with ali it's issnes fees profits
advantages, cohreriences. liberties places, Iriv
ieges. and pre-emiuence whatsoever; ten thou
sand acres OF laud lying on the south Eide of Back
wafer Swamp, and sen thousand acres lying in
that neck of land, commonly called Pamuhky
Geek, between the forks Of York River.
The Faculty had the right to eiec: either one OF
their own body, one of the Visitors of the College,
or zone of the better eort of Inhabitants CT the
Colony" to represent the College in the House Of
Bargesses.
The hrst College-auilding, designed to be o
s9uare when completed, was flushed in 100. The
House OF Burgesses. how over. met in i: until 17G5
when, together with library and philosophical 81.
paratus, it va. destroyed by hse @The fire
brose out about ten o'clock at night in q public
time. Vhe Governor and all the gentlemen that
were In town came up to the 'amentable spectacle
many getting out of their beds Bnt the ira had
got such power before it was discovered, and was
so nerce that there was no hope of suttipg stet,
10 IT, and therefore 0 attempts weIs made 10 tha,
end The second building was commenced ip
the time OF Governor Spoitswood. but owing to
tns want OF avaiiable means, and ths scarcity oil
WorEmen, 1t vas act finished until l523
New that ths College was fully established, the
transfer OF the corporate rights was shortly IN sds
to the Faculty, aud the Trustees b. came "rhe
Visitors aud Governors Of the College of William
aud Mary in Virginia" The deeds Cf transfer ~ ss
drawn by John Randolph; and for his trouble, TN.
Faculty voted him present oil atty guiueas. The
original Instrument IL now in the library of the
College. ltsi written upon fourteen beau,ifuli,
illuminated sheets OF parchment The date Of i, l.
the twehtyAssynth Of February, of the second
year Of the reign of George tue Second. which.
uader the new style corresponds with the loth OF
March, A. d. l.2s. The douations conveyed By
the charter, are recepituated in the deed o
transfer. These, aud those received By the rrus.
rees during the interval between the date OF
lne charter and that OF the transfer, were both
noN conveyed to the Faculty The latter are as so.
,ows: "snndry we'll disposed indis i'd uais toaetLe
gave about two thousand ponnds for encouraging
aay fntberius 30 good work. tn general as
serabiy oi the colony, II the fourth year of the
reign otoueen Ann, laid duties Gu ''raw hides
and tanned hices, aud upon all deer skins and
iars exported for the support and maintansnc~
OF the tolege: the college tract of land, with ali
the Buildings, &c npon r., viz the present college
buildings. This tract of land, contaiaing three
hundred and thirty acres, lying in the Parish OF
utoD, wes bought fur one hundred aud seventy
pounds, OF Thomas Ballard, atd conveyed to tip
trusiees on the 2aih day OF December. 1858 -
be d'nstion fr m The executors # the Hon
Robert Boyle, Esq. Hon. Robert BOYLE, Esq., il,