Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-09-23
LETTER FROM HON. EDWARD EVERETT.

LII
The following letter from Hon. Edward Eve
rctt has been handed to IL, for Publication. Pro-
lcssor Jovncs, to whom it was addressed, had
not the letter in possession for several months
and hence it was no, Published before,
The letter will IL read with ntcrest--and
we hope it will spur efforts in awakening re-
ncwcd l,.tcrts, in the welfare Of William and
Mary College.
Bosrox, 18th February, 1852.
Nv Dear Sir-i did not receive Your letter OF
the 2O;h u,timo, kindly inviting me, on oelali
OF the Faculty and Aumni Of 'I!iam anu
Mary College. to attend the celebration Oh It's
lGGth anniversary, till my return day OF TWO
since from Philadelphia. 1t would have Afford
cd me the greatest pleasure 10 be with You on
| this interesting and important occasion, Win
an opportunty of visiting, ~ the same time,
III. localities mentioned in yoar letter, the very
names of which appeal 80 powerfully TO the
nntrio,ie heart. The recent calamity will, |
fear prevent the celebration from taking place;
lint even if il should not, | find myself 50 much
atrucd and otherwise slightly indisposed
from my recent laboriouS eNcnrS''h' is 10 heeu
rcpoSc
held ont in the Grafton of President Tyler, and
the poem of Mr.. Tucker, there * 10 little in the
history of the College itself to interest son oil
Harvard. Next to our ancient Seminary, yours
! is the Oldest in British North America. Will
| liam and Mary for many years stood in the
same relation to the Southern colonies that
Harvard did to the Northern, the TINA Mater
oCtbcir most honored sons. William and Mary
| NC 1,lil
Declaration of independence Harvard its most
eloquent supporter on the ii'or oil the 'o'''''
mental Congress \ most respectable Literary
! Snc;.,v Of which, branches now exist in many
Of the New England Colleges. Il wish ii would
take a GOOD plain English name was originally
founded in William and Mary, and in virtue oi
a Charter from your College, established IN
| Harvard in ISL. In l7sS YOU elected Nlr'
cinia's peerless son to the honorary office oil
| Chancellor; twelve years before Harvard had
conferred upon him the highest honorary dis
,inction in her power TO bcStow But even
without these kindly associations, you are en-
titled to the sympathy of AL ScninaricS OF good
learning. As an institution which had the con-
tidcncc of the father of his country, as one
whose strenuous endeavor It was to place "th'
system Of education OH such basis As will rem
der II most beicllclal 10 N'Ic 'o!t'c "''' W. -
hubble of letters as well AZ 10 t!!c more eXteIl-
! s.;ve interests OF humanity and religion.
Since the date of your letter, you have eX-
perienccd most heavy loss in the obstruction
Of the College, its library and laboratory by fire
lie, me cherish the hope that this deplorable
event will By kind Providence, be turned in
to a blessing, by awakening renewed interest
| in the welfare of the Institution on the part .,
It's .Numni, its friends and the public at large,
With assurances of sincere sympathy with
YOU in this day Of your calamity, and with the
best wishes for the restoration Of your time
honorcd seminary to more than its former pros
rcrity, remain, dear sir, your friend
EDWARD EVERETT.
Pgorrsson EDWARD S. JoYNES, William and
Mary, Va.