The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-04-09
william and Mary College.


=, ,s,- fifteen thousand acres of land were
,,,,riated 10 endow a university ut Henrico
OF mo colonists and Indians, but, In consc.
,ce of the troubles in England and In the
,,ry. nothing of permanent character was
s.,,,ed In los, and 1859, the efforts to esta-
,',sr q, college were renewed, and twenty five
,,,,,r,a hounds sterling were subscribed by
10 yirgiuiaus and English merchants, A
-, charter was obtained in 1913, and King
u,,,rt,y gave two thousand pounds towards
,,buudinc The charter was granted % 10
,Mo end that the Church of Virginia may be
.rriShrd with seminary of ministers of the
,,,sn,l. and that the youth may be piously
,,ratcd IN good letters and manners, and
mai the Christian faith may be propagated
a,,onrst the Western Indians to the glory of
Almighty God" The college building WAS
damned bv Sir CHKlsrorBER WREN, and the
a~.t announcement exercises were held in 1900,
,,r,, 100 until the building, with the library
and philosophical apparatus, was destroyed
J., FIRE IN l-o1. the General Assembly of Nir
.,,oi, was held at :" His Majesty's Royal Col
r,r. Of William and Mary" and the college
wa. not completely rebuilt uutil 1928. An
active interest was always taken by the Colo
NAL Governors in the welfare of the college
and gold medals, rs prize to the best classical
and best philosophical scholar, purchased
with the interest of a donation from Lord
BarrruvKT, were annually awarded until the
Bayo!ution. A number of requests and devises
were made 10 the institution which placed its
affairs in 4 nourishing condition and in l776
II was the richest college in North America,
h,,t hy the Revolution all of its endowment,
.>crpllng about two thousand five hundred
dollars, and the lands granted by the English
crown. was lost.
In Isl the college exercises We're suspended,
and the buildings We're occupied alternately
oy the British and French and American
troops; but in 1870 there was still respectable
number Of students. After the Revolution, a
tract OF land 1T williamsburg, known as the
Vineyard" was granted 10 the college, and
il then steadily and speedily revived. Since
ISL, the college books show an average annual
naturalization of seventy five students in the
schools of Philosophy, Literature, and Science !;
although, in 1850, the one hundred and sixty
sixth anniversary OF its foundation, the col
logr building, with most of its interesting an
tiuuities. was destroyed by accidental fire.
Bv $780, the new college ediilcc was completed
and fully furnished the funds We're ample TO
.u,tain a full faculty, and the prospects for
the future in every way encouraging.
Early in May, 1861, the college exercises were
suspended, and the building used as 4 barrack
and hospital until the evacuation of Williams
ourr in Nav 1892. On the 9th of September
l>62, after skirmish between the United
States garrison and detachment of Confede
rate cavalry, some Federal stragglers provoked
by their defeat fired and destroyed the princi-
pal college building, with all its furniture and
apparatus.
Misfortune following rapidly on the heels of
misfortune could not, however, destroy the
energy of the Governor and Board of Visitors,
and in August, 1850, they determined to reopen
the college at the usual time for beginning the
session. This was done, and temporary
arrangements made for the accommoda-
ton Of the students. At the same time,
4 grammar school was established, TO be
under the care and supervision OF the
faculty; and 1T this time the school is III sue
ceS>.ul operation. Nearly sixty students at
tend the academic exercises; the numbers
composing the college classes exceeding the
amticipations of the most sangnine.
Il Twill require at least tghty houSa1d do'hfs
10 repair losses and restore the college 10 what
il was i'll 1850: and the college, as well by its
past history a capacity Tor future useluiliesS
haas Il just claim 10 the sympathy and aid OF
the friends of learning wherever they are TO
be found. Surely those hallowed walls, III
which the calm voice of Philosophy has been
heard for many generations, Will not be
allowed TO stand Il blackened monument OF the
dr<olatiou> Of war and Il reproach to our age
and people. The achievements OF education
and knowledge are far more honorable TO a
nation than the sanguinary glory OF war
Education aud enlightenment will save us, In
the future from the calamities which we have
had 10 endure in the past and those who are
Interested in the universal cause OF clVillza'
ton and progress as well as the advancement
OF the State, will need not to be told how
much can be- done by aiding in the complete
and immediate revival of William and Mary
College.
Death of 4. vi. Barbour. Esq.