The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-08-07

IoiMer LIEUT. Uosefnor OF the state, was CHOSEN 70
Then followed speech from Hon. James d
Colt, Of Pittsfeld, Ho David Dudley Field
LID, and President kins, welcoming the
Alumnl, recalling the rtsf, and speaking in the
most hopeful terms Of e future,) Hon. James
Dixon, Senator Of the United States from Connec-
ticut, and others.
After these speech IS n the hall, where was ~
finest gathering Of &c alumni ever held, they al
journed to dinner a, Il e Mansion Houce. He a q
liberal feast was foil ed by new batch OF coasts
and speeches. The were so pecularl well
timed, and seemed TO be delivered and ceved
WIN so much OF zest and appreciation, that pre-
was long and well ordered one, was AIDED by
eXGoyernors Briggs and Washburn, Of Ibis State,
and who were followed up by the various cole.
gate digpi'aries literary strangers an gentlemen
Of the press. At the table | noted lie two ex.
Governors, one of whom (Washburp) sat at the
head OF one oil the tables, and carved deceased COB
Ter win an executive and gnbe,natorial grace wor
ny OF me ancient line of Massachu.ett Governors;
Hon. Martin j. Townsend of Troy the orator of the
Alumni; Amos d. Wheeler, the poet; Hon. Joseph
White, treasurer of the colleges Hon. David Dudley
FIELD, President Hopkins DR.. Howard Crosby, OF
New York; Rev Robert Crawford, exLeuteuan
Governor Chids Hon. A b. Oln, Charles Stod
card, of Boston; Hon. John W. Fowler, l.. L. d.
PRESIDENT OF the National Law School at POUCH
keeps'e; VIM. Pitt Palmer, the poet, and many
otlers. prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. Wood
bridge; then The closing of the internal economy,
and then the postprandial intellectual exercises
The first toast was
Our Alma Ga.srBer jewels are her children, and ner
children men
=, Responded to by Bon. David Dudley Field of
new YORK, IN neat, oifhanI speech, closing with
The following sentiment
Our Beautiful Alma ss,er--Hsy the time coon come
when no part Of her dress s1a dsagure her natural
beauty.
1t is proper here to remark that MIR. Field il the
foremost man among the Alumni in his attempts to
renew the youth OF old Williams, by way of urging
forward new and more comely buildings in place
OF those that now occupy the site. His toast re-
feTred to this.
7he Memory Of Colonel Williams (tas founder of the
College,, whose 900 the ink VITO -hlch ths hstory
Of cur Anna Mater was writer.
Responded to by the Hon. Joseph White who
Colonel Williams, and read from an unpublished
letter having reference to the notifications of that
portion Of bis will affecting the donation which
was the foundation Of the College,
The Old Com mcnwesi,h- heoipg hacd has at
lass been extended help her children. Reierrirg to
state gift of $4,000
This was responded to by Ex-Governor Briggs
who acknowledged his debt of gratitude 10 the
State. and comphmented her good sense in cecting
him Governor for eight successive years. Governor
Briggs gave in conclusion
Williams Col!ege-Tte college Of the people
Tho Departed Aiumni-Msy their graves be ever
green in our memory.
Responded to by Hon. Henry W. Bishop, of Le-
nox, Mass. Judge Bishop spoke in general terms
of the deceased Alumni and particularized two
who had died the past year-Dabiel Noble Dewey
and Judge Walker. The Marshal of the Alumni,
by strange rule, was young man named William
r. Marvin, of the class Of lS54-a boy, addressing
octogeDaran age in tones of authority that lily
befitted the occasion.
After these toasts and responses the Alumni
adjourned to the church to hear an grafton from
Hon. Martin l. Townsend, of Troy, N. Y. Mr..
Townsend appeared and delivered an exceedingly
solid and instructive Grafton upon Labor" Though
some portions of it were discursive and cratic,
particularly upon the slavery question, it was, on
the whole, an eloquent and well thought ont dis
course, delivered with much animation, rhetorical
grace, and apparent cxtemporaneous power.
The poem of the occasion was by Amos D.
Wheeler, fat, jolly, good humored soul, and was
witty, grave, satircal, and by far too long, He
could have stopped at almost any period of his
production and it would have been versical sue
cess.
In the evening the prize rhetorical exhibition
took place in the church before crowded audi
ence, in accordance with the following pro-
gramme:-
oBpEa sxERoIsBs.
woszs ronoH Them. Albert "
Oraton-The Iphuerce Of the Future upon Know.
ledge -GeOTse l.. Ray mopd, Chicago, Ill.
Oraton-KiDg Philip -Edsm Stewart, Brooklyn, N. Y.
soIHoNoREs.
orat'on-FOr.une. William Z. Church, Korristown,
o,a,on-life an Art.-Chsres L Huschines, Concord,
Nh.
JUNIORS
Oratop-Lu'her at the Diet of worms.-Gles Babcock,
orsaop-rne Postry OF science-Lewis R Hazelti,s,
JaDesiowp N Y.
Or.,ion-Faith the Basis Of Crceds.-Georse R. Lesyt,
lowell.
Grafton before the Adephc Union Society by Professor
John w. Fowler Of Pougnseepsie, N. Y.
The speaking of the boys was much of it ipdiffer-
ent but the Grafton of Giles Babcock who took the
Junior prize was an elaborate and forcible one and
reflected great credit upon his youthful power of
thought and correct analysis of the character of
Luther. Albert NJ. Moore of the Freshman, f. p.
nior were the prize men. Opinion differed as TO the
awards among the young gentlemen. l think
Stewart should have had the Freshman prize. How
ever, such is life, "first wet and then dry"
1nOw come to speak of the great, leading marked
controlling and powerful feature of this any other
Commencement week in this whole country, the
magnificent and gorgeous speech of Hon. John w.
Fowler, of Poughkeepsie, N. T., upon American
oratory Though, by an outrageous arrangement
observed to the end that some brass band may give
concert on Monday evening, which is all vanity,
when the prize speaking should take place, leaving
Tuesday evening for the address before the Abel
pbic Union Society, Mr.. Fowler was compelled 10
speak after the delivery of nine dissertations by
young men, he yet held his audience absolutely spell
bound for three hours by the aptness of his sub
jec, the gorgeous brilliancy Of his inimitahe rhe,
toric and the onfowing rushipgs of his unrivalled
eloquence. His graphic descriptions of the
peculiarities of the eloquence of Patrick Henry,
James Otis, Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, ex-
celled anything ! ever heard or dreamt Of repeat
eddy calling forth the widest applause of the vast
audience. This is no exaggeration-it is simple
truth-and at the close of the effort Governors, emf
nent lawyers, members of Congress, divines of
every hue, all extended to him the warmest con-
gratulatons 1t was sublime, and he fully justified
Henry Gays recorded opinion of him, That he
was the greatest of living orators"
Commencement exercises are now going for
ward.
The followingare specimens of the poetry of the
colegians:-
SONG.
ny CHARLES II EVEREST, 'b9.
Air. Yankee Doodle"
W in Berkshire there's place
Were stssds old Williams College,
Set Ike eye in Natures face
To nash Sith wit and knowledge
Chorus-Cbeer, then, ye jn!ly ones,
With loud and ringing voices,
For Alma Mater and her sons
In whom tae world rejoiccs.
The Freshman year hath many joys,
And beaucous flowers worth pluckipg;