The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-07-07
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.
The Fourth IN Lsxington -Commtntsntsnt al The
Y ~ MStitMs-Lin Of Gradnates-Prefsssor


The Fourth in Lexington-Conmtntsnisn al ths
Y. M Institme-Lin Of Gradmates-Prefsssor
Elected, &c.
LEXINGTON, VA, July 4th 1860
The sith anniversary of American indie
renoence was celebrated by our citizens to-
day In connexion with the Commencement t
Exercises OF the Virginia Military Institute,
which is now in The 2ist year of its existence.
A refreshing shower of rain last evening
made the day more pleasant than could have
been autci pated, from The Intense heat of the
past week. At an early hour, an immense
crowd of country people, with a large numbe
OF visitors from a distance, thronged the
streets and poured in from every direction,
making larger mum ber of persons than was
ever known to be assembled before in this
place on such an occasion
The day was ushered in by firing the GUS
tomary salu lie at the institute and at II o'clock X
the line OF march was taken up for the Pres
byterian Church, every available spot in which
spacious building having been occ upied before
the military arrived, leaving many persons
outside who could only eatch glimpse of the
brilliant audience. The RockbrItge Rifles q
well-uniformed, well. .oflcered and We'll dis
ciplined, and, of course, good looking set OF
Young men, under the command of Capt s.
IL Letcher, were the guests of the Cadets and
con tribu ted 10 the handsome precess sion from
the Barracks.
The pulpit was occupied by the Reverend
clergy, and the platform in front accUmmoda
ted the Academic Board, with the Board Of
' lSiIOIS iHFIttu guests. Among tnhSo,
were His Exceliency Gov. Letcher, the
honorable Mayor of Richmond city, Prot
Mahan and Col. Hardee, of West Point, and
others of rank and distinction.
Rev. DIR. Davidson, of Indiana, opened tho
exercises with a fervent and patriotic prayer
Cadet Reyeley, OF Appomattox, then read the
Declaration of Independence, and Cadet Gal
iaway, of North Carolina, delivered the Ma
tional Ora'Ion.
Cadets Mcdonald, of Frederick, and Paris
Of Charlotte, represen sd the Graduating
Class, In The deliN cry Of appropriate address
rs after which, Col. Smith, the Superin-
tendent, proceeded 10 distribute diplomas to
torty-one cadets, forming one of the longest
classes ever sent out from this popular and
prosperous institution. The diplomas were
given out IN something like this order, indi-
eating their standing in the class, viz: E.
Cunningham, PoWhatan; ]. Mcdonald,
Frederick; J. G. Miller Matthews; ID. Poy-
ner, Brunswick ). +. Adams, Bedford; j.
H. Morrison, Brunswicki J. NJ Otey, Camp
bell }. L. Lynch, Richmond; A. 5. Scout.
Hardy y. l.. Lumsden, Petershurgi G.
A. Davidson, Rockbridge; J. r. Kent,
Montgomery; o. II. Belts, Northum ber-
land; q. T. Urquhart, Isle OF Wight; W.
WashingtoDi J. r. Hutier, Campbell c.
breckenridge Botetourt; j. b. Cherry, Nor
folk; W. A. Brocken brough, Richmond A.
I. Walden, Rappahannock; w. N. p. Otey,
Campell; M. G. Paxton, Rockbridge; G. d..
Parker, Norfolk; j. L. Tosh, Roanoke; J. w
McCarty, LoudOun; J. B. Moseley, Apo
mattox; w. Il Bentley, Montgomery; ]. NJ.
Oliver, Meckenburg; ]. II. Herberd, Flu
wanna; Il. G Wherrv, Richmond; n. Il. Paris,
Charlotte; J. X, Marshall, Fauquier; W. Il.
Pendleton, Louisa; 7. NJ. Semmes, Richmond
V. NJ. johnson, Spotsy ylyania; n. =. Harris,
Bedford Ct. Norton, Richmond; w. L. sgd
nor, Petersburgi II. NJ. FauntleToy, Rich
mond; w. Overton, Louisa.
| The exercises closed with Il brief but ex-
ceilent address TO the graduates, by Governor
Letcher.
Winters Band of Music, from Baltimore,
did all they could doubtless, to add to the =
tertainment. but failed 10 perform as well as
was expected.
beautiful pyrotethnic display was made
| this evening on the parade ground, which was
enjoyed by large crowd, and the customary
military ball at the mess hall closed the fes-
tlvities of the occasion. No time is allowed
me now to make special comments.
| Prot Robert Rhodes an aiumnus Of the H.
stitute, a native Of Lynchburg and now Pro-
| fessor in the University of Alabama, was
elected Professor of Applied Mechanics, Il
chair Just created The duties of Surgeon
We're transf ferred TO the chair of Natural His
tory and Physiology, now occupied by DR..
Robert Madison.
All The members of the Board, except Mr.
Dulaney, of Loudoun, who was appointed ia
place of MI W. q. Rives, of Aibemarle who
faithfully in the performance Of their respon-
sible duties. The new appointments made by
the Board will bring the number of Cadets,
for the next session, TO 230. The enterprise z
and able Superintendent has commenced the
extension of the barracks and by another year
will be able 10 accommodate a much larger
number.