The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-07-02


LEXINGTON, Va, June %, 1860.
The commencement exercises of Washing
ton College took place this morning in the
Pres byterian Church. The recent addition to
this building affords now ample accommoda-
TONS to the large number of persons who
usually attend the rich entertainments af-
forded by our literary institutions. The eX-
erclses commenced with prayer by the Rev.
Horatio Thompson, ID. d., and were contin-
ued liz the following order, excellent music by
Volaurs famous Baltimore Band being nter-
spersed Latin Salutary Address, by j. T.
Allyn; Essay, by Harry Estill; Grafton, by
David T.. Moore, Jr.; Essay, by w. o. Ross;
Vale tctory Address, by Howard McCu tchan.
Diplomas were then distribu ted by the
President, DR.. Geo. Junkin, to the Gradu-
atipg Class in the order Of their standing
during the whole term OF the College course,
as follows; Harry Estill, Lexington; How
ard McCutchan, Augusta county; Frank &.
Wilson, Harrisonburg ]. T. Allyn, Norfolk
city; VIM. o. Ross, Augusta county; G. G..
Gould, Edwards coanty, Ill; John IL Seckey,
Brownsburg; Albert J. Davidson, Lexington;
David L. Moore, Lexington; David Dunlop,
Petersburg; Frank Preston, Lexingtoni j.
Cooke Sloan, Rock bridge county. The Robin
son gold medals, costing each forty, thirty and
twenty dollars, were awarded 10 the first
three named of the class. Gold medals valued
at thirty dollars each, were presented this Al
ternoon in the College Chapel by the two
literary societies TO &. Il. Chapman, of Mon
roe county, and Howard McCutchan, of Au-
gusta county, on account OF their superior
qualifications as debaters and declaimers.
The Alumni Association were disappointed
in not having an orator for this OCCASION At
their meeting this evening, Major John Echols,
of Union, was elected President, for the next
year, and Hon. Geo w Sumers, of Kanawha
county, was invIted to deliver the address be-
fore this association at its next annual meet
ing. The degree of II. d., was conferred by
the Trustees of the College on the Rev. Baker
Davidson pastor of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. at New Albany. Indiana. Mr.. David
son is an able Divine, and well worthy of this
honorary distinction. by his Alma Mater.
The Board of Visitors, of the Virginia Mi
litury Institute, has been in session for sever
al days. Col. Mahan, of West Point, is su-
perintending the examination of the Cadets.
Oar worthy Governor Letcher, is expected
here in a few days TO review the corps; it is
said that Col. Hardee, OF the Army, will &C
company him.
The wheat crop in this county is now fast
falling before the reapers. The quantity har
vested will not be SO great this season rs it
was the last, and probably not abundant as
it was two seasons ago, by reason of the de-
precautions of the joint worm and fly, and the
destruction to some extent by hail; but the
quality Will be unsurpassed. The rye and
Dat crops especially the former, which here
iofore has been exceedingly precarious in this
region is better than ordinary. The prospec t
for very large crop of corn is remarkably
GOOD. l regret to hear that many of our tar
mers who have les ted the fertliZing properties
otour RJckbridge plaster,so called, have come
TO the conclusion that it is almost worthless ;
cOhseq uently, the clover crop will be shorter
than usual.
Inc longing hopes and anticipations of our
people, that The North River branch of the
James River and KanaWha Canal would be
com ted in time to transport the present
crop from the terminus, at this place, to your
city, will be deferred still further there being
no prospect now of its completion before the
end of the year, if then. Why is it that the pub
~
TO drag their slow length along, even " hen the
great motive power, money, is not lacking b
surely, there must be acknowledgement on the
part of some of the officials, and the public
interest requires that these seemingly unne-
cessary delays should be satisfactorily ex-
planned or remedied. NJ r.