Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-06-13
College of William and Mary.

We lately received, says the "lIome Jour
nal" a copy of the address delivered by ex-
President John Tyler, on the one hundred
and sixty-sixth anniversary of the College of
William and Mary. together with the poem
upon the same occasion, recited by St. George
Tucker, esq. Mr.. Tyler, in his admirable
address, narrateS, III a graphic and interest
ing manner, the most important incidents
connected with the College, from the date Of
its foundation, in 1893, To- the hour of its deS-
~truction by fire in 1850. During the course
of the address, he asks:
"lias this old Univ crsity in all the long years "i
her existence hung out no light to science, or en-
circlcd her aged brow with no wreath of imnor-
tality? What wealth mas she brought. what jewels
has she given from her laboratory of learning!
There rises up before US the form of her Jefferson,
holding in his hands the bill establishing religious
freedom, and the immortal Dcc!aration-thc one
setting fire. the human mind, the other cmancipa-
ting a continent and ~ he passes on, pointing to
the sugar cane IL. cmblcmatic of the extensive re
gion Of Louisiana. acquired by his wisdom and
policy. Then quickly follows the Silvcr-tongucd
Richard Henry Lee. exhibiting the resolution de
clarutory Of Independence, and pointing TO nun
bcrlcSS instances OF devotion To- the public good,
any one of which would ctcrmiIe Il name. Then
y hIINai 1h'' l''' ''''' $3.50 49, H'
James Monroe, his garments stained with youth
full blood, shed at the battle of Brandywinc, in his
hand the orange, cmblcmatic of Florida. and point
ing to Il long career of valuable public service.
Next follows Pcyton Randolph, with the mace
borne before him, e~mblematic OF the first PreSi'
dent Of the glorious Continental Congress; ana
by his side walks. full of personal accomplish
ment, Edmund Randolph. bearing the Constitution
Of the United States as in part the c.nanati"n OF
his nAn ,rrant min and nj his llfrlBtip lll,prS.
Then have We George Wythe. with The Just IN
Scribed upon his cscutche"n, aud Edmund Pcndle-
ton, juriSt. legislator, statesman. lhcn too. W.
have John Marshall. the great Chief Justice: ana
then. rising in quick succession, not ~ Sc2v Our
eve balls. as did Banpu"'S endless Issue those "i
Macbeth, hut aS the honorcd sons Of our common
mother. John Taylor of Caru!iue. John Randolph
Of Roanoke. VIM. b. titles. Spencer Roane. ihe
Lees, the Nelson's. the BlandS. the Pages. the ilar-
risonS, the Carriers, the NicholaSes, the Ta2wcllS.
the fuckers, the Masons. the B~raxtonS, the
GrymeSeS. the L.youses, the PrcSt"ns. and Il nu-
merous host of eminent juriSts. councillors. ana
statesmen. each distinguished for some great quail
ity. and many Of them master workmen, who gave
aid in building up the fabric of government, state
and federal, and in shaping that system OF domes
tic and foreign policy which has borne Alnorica
through dificulties and dangers, and places her. III
the eighty-third year of her Independence, III com
| panionsliip with the most powerful nations "i
earth"
And he closed with the following:
such. rs iechly represented. has William ana
Mary been in the past. The oldest. save one "i
all the literary Institutions Of the United state
she has contributed her share to the public enilsht'
eminent. She has made her mark on the tablets "'
history. which neither fire can consume, nor dust
and ashes can obscure. Twice now has her geni";
been driven by cruel flames from edi!ccs erected
g.. L.. al.l, I'm this lay ,ylen che rpmpletc.
! the hundred and sixty-sixth year. she is hanished
from her ancient temple. Tha, temple Is in ruins
| She is not. however. without Il refuge and a home
| She finds il in her charter, no forfeiture Of wlh'ct
has befallen her. The law has given her u ioca
habitation. aud new temples i'll her name will aris'
for the abode of the arts aud sciences. as worth!
| and as beautiful a. those which have passed away.