Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-09
THE GAZETTE.
MORNING, NOVEMBER 9, 1859.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE UNI
vERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA,
Noyamber lat. 1859.

November lst, 1899.
To fulfill my promise. given you before
leaving Richmond, will send you q few
lines from this noble seat Of learning. 1t
may not be uninteresting to your readers to
have some information about this College,
which is furnished me by pamphlet now
before me, styled An Historical Sketch of
it's foundation. 1t is true, doubtless, that
many persons who claim the University as
their Alma Mater, are already acquainted
with the facts which shall state, yet mere
mention of them will have tendency to re-
call to their minds the happy time Of their
collegiate experience, and thus afford them
pleasure; while to others who have not had
this advantage, it will be pleasing to know
thstwe have within our State an institution
wherein some ak or seven hundred young
mon are annually instructed in Science and
Literature, and sent forth all over the coun-
try well prepared to fight with honor the bat
tie of life.
The University went into operation on the
7th Of March. 1925, just 80 years ago last
March. Its first corps Of professors were the
following:
George Long, Professor Of Ancient Lam
gnages.
George Bleterman, Professor of Modern
Languages.
Thomas Hewitt Key. Professor Of Mathe-
mates.
Charles Bonnycastle. Professor Of Natural
Philosophy.
John p. Emmett, Professor Of Natural His
tory.
kobley Dunglison, Professor Of Anatomy
and Medicine.
George Tucker, Professor ofMoral Philoso-
Phy.
InApril, 1926, John Taylor Lomax was APP
pointed Professor OF Law.
In 1927, the Medical Department was or
Ranixed with three Professors. one OF whom
was the lete Dr. Thomas johnson, Of Rich
mond. Additions have since been made to
the corps of Professors and the subjects OF
instruction in this department. and there
are now FIVE Professors in the school OF Med
icine.
In 1851, the Law School was enlarged by
the addition Of an adjunct Proiessorship,
which was made a full Protessorship in
1854. and its present organization is as tol-
lowe:
John B. Minor, L L. D., Professor Of Com
mon and Statute Law.
James P. Holcombe. L L. D.. Professor Of
Civil, Constitutional and International Law,
Equity and the Law Merchant.
At various periods since its foundation,
the corps Of instructors in the Academy
Schools have been enlarged, and it is at
present composed of eight professors. and six
assistant instructors. The first Board OF
Visitors, appointed in 1919, when the Uni
versity was established by the act Of the Cen
eral Assembly, : was composed Of the following
sentiemen:-
Thomas jefferson, James Madison, Chap
man johnson, Joseph c. Cabell, Robert b.
Taylor, James Breckenridge and John IL.
Cooke.
OF the Board nothing need be said. The
first two are known wherever the English
language is spoken. Their memory will last
rs long a. time itself, and the fame of their
deeds In life spread as population increases.
The others are gentlemen Of less extensive
reputation, but they are well known and re-
vered in their native State. and have held
high and honorable trusts within her bor-
ders. All have gone to that bourne whence
no traveller returns, save one; but their
good deeds will live forever. The yenera-
BE John H. Cooke Of Fluvanna still survi-
YES. and continued q member of the Board
until 1852. James Monroe was appointed
. visitor in 1926, and among the others since
appointed, are the names of gentlemen who
have filed, aud do now fill. various high
positions in the councils Of the State and the
nation.
There have been 247 graduates in the
school Of Law since the commencement OF
the institution. In the session )f l529
Charles L. Mosby, now of Lynckburg, and
Nathaniel Wolf, one of the counsel IN the
celebrated Ward trial in Kentucky, were the
first and only graduates. Virginia has fur
nished 1913 graduates. Alabama Is, Louisiana,
S. D. C. S, Georgia 3, Kentucky 3, Maryland
2. New Jersey |, Tennessee 4. Ohio |, Con-
necticut l, N. Carolina 2. S. Carolina 5, Mis-.
sissippi 2, Pennsylvania /, Florida z, and
New Hampshire /. In the Medical Depart
ment, there have been 35l graduates. with
the title of doctor Of Medicine" A very
large proportion ofthese are from Virginia
and the rest are chiefly from the Southern
States. The late distinguished professor
of Latin, Gessner Harrison, was one OF the
three graduates who took the degree OF N.
ID. In July, 1928.
In the Acadsmical department there have
been III students who have taken the high
est degree Master Of Arts, and 80 who have
taken the degree Of Bachelor Of Arts. Ofthe
A, Ms our own city has furnished q, and
ofthe A. BIS. 4. Among them are the names
of gentlemen who are well known and highly
honored in our community. Some of them
have gone down to the grove. who in theil
day occupied high position amongst U.s.
The late George Nicholson johnson was the
first student who obtained the degree Of A
NJ: he having graduated in July. 1872
These graduates constitute but very small
proportion Of the large number of students
who have attended the University since its
Foundation. Many others have graduated in
the different Schools Of the College, but moi
in the requisite number to en:itle them to eth
Or Of the shove degrees.
Having said this much Of the history OF the
! University, We will now speak of its present
condition. Tothose Of your readers who have
seen it, it is unnecessary to say that the locs
ton is an admirable one-that the buildings
arc we'll arranged and adapted to the purpos
60 for which they are intended. Improve
uents are at present going on. which. when
completed, viii make the grounds Of the Uni
ySrsity more beautiful and pleasing to the
eve. and will furnish more extensive accom-
.odationa for the annually increasing mum