The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-13

number OF students IN attendance during Jne
Undergraduate lse6-67. 1886
~ IOO
juniors s.........,.........."-..... oU w
opnomores...........'..'''......' ~ 80
freshmen ....."................. l1o-4lO ll6-4l3
Divinity yStudents.................,l 10 "A
Scientific Students. ................. 6l so
Resident Graduates. .............. s-5I2 S-523
Totals. 90i 986
Since its first establishment, the University
has graduated e736, exclusive of those who
receive diplomas at the present Commence
The Annual Commencement for the current
year takes place July IT, There are no Phlla-
delphians in the graduating class.
Although some younger institutions have
been able to outstrip Harvard in point of mum.
bers, she still maintains her place at the head
of the colleges of America, by the venerable
antiquity OF her origin, her immense wealth,
has furnished to the history of the nation. The
prestige of her early days is still undimmed,
and her career of usefulness far from APPROACH
ing its end. commencement Is a legal holiday
throughout the State of Massachusetts. on which
occasion the banks Of Boston are invariably
exercises in state, escorted by soldiery and sur
rounded by all the paraphernalia of war
The University authorities recently purchased
of the Baptist Society, for $4,000, lot on which
to erect the contemplated Soldiers Memorial
Chapel: This ground was formerly owned by
the University, but was sold few years ago
Tor $1,000.
The College of william and Mary,
located at williamsburg, Virginia, has the
honor OF being the second institution of the
kind established within the present limits of
the United States. Indeed, soon after the first
settlement OF Virginia, a movement in favor
OF establishing q seat of learning was inau-
gurated, fifteen thousand acres of land being
appropriated, at the instance of Sir Edwin
Sandys, President of the Company in Eng
land, for the endowment of University which
was to be established at Henrico, for the educa-
tion OF the Indians az we'll as the sons of the
About noriOd
lish bishops raised contribution of Gl500, for
toe endowment OF college in Virginia, to be
donations were made to establish a prepara-
tory school to the projected University, and in
1921 Mr.. George Thorpe, an Epglishman, came
TO the colony to inaugurate the new institu-
tion He was attended by number OF persons
who proposed to tenant the University lands;
but in l622, Mr.. Thorpe, with a number of his
followers, and overthree hundred of the regular
coonists, was massacred by the Indians.
Troubles in the mother country, and a rebel
lion in the colony, diverted the attention of
the settlers from this subject for some years,
and IL was not until after the accession of
William and Mary, in 1858, that the project was
A few wealthy virginians and English mer-
chants soon subscribed G2500 sterling, and the
scheme received the approval of the Colonial
Legislature in 1891. The Rev. DIR. James Blair,
a divine of the Scottish Episcopal Church. was
despatched to England and, after some tribula.
tton, succeeded in procuring from the Crown
charter i6r the NV coliege IN February, io9S;
"The College of William and Mary, in Virginia."
in consideration OF which IL received dona-
tion of fl9S6, raised out of the quitrents of the
Colony; one penny pound on all tobacco ex-
ported out of Virginia and Maryland; the office
OF Surveyor. General, with all its fees, emolu-
ments, and perquisites; and twenty thousand
acres of land. This last donation was coupled
with the curious condition that on the 9th of
November OF every year the President and Pro-
fessors should pay to the Governor or Lteute-
nant- Governor of the Dominion of Virginia
two copies of Latin verses. This condition, 1t
| appears, was complied with in the early days of
the institution. Among the privileges con-
| ferred upon the Faculty was that OF electing one
! member of the Colonial House of Burgesses.
The college buildings were erected after plans
furnished by the celebrated architect, Sir Chris
topher Wren, and were intended to- be in the
form of O square when completed. In the year
100, the first commencement was held, the
occasion being one of such great novelty that o
| large concourse of people was collected, some of
them coming in sloops from New York, Penn
with the library, philosophical apparatus, and
all the other contents, was destroyed by fire,
and owing to the want of available means and
the scarcity of workmen, the second building
was not completed until 1923. The Colonial
Govern ors took an active Interest in the affairs
of the college in these days, and notwithstand-
Ing It's early VicissiJudes, 1t appears to have
nourished, the number OF students in atten-
dance In 1875 being upwards of sixty. Previous
To the Revolution, the Bishops of London, ex-
eept during single interregnum, were elected
CDancelors 81 the College. All the Commissa-
saries OF Virginia, with one exception, likewise
served as its President, and every Episcopal
blshop OF tne state, down TO the present day,
has been connected with the Institution, the
present INCUMBENT, the Right Rev John Johns
hcIlbB as 6ecLOr OF the Board of Visitors, 70
whom the regulation of Its affairs is entrusted
IN 1926, the resources OF the institution were
further increased by duty which was laid
upon liquors by the House of BurgeBses, the
proceeds TO be applied to the current exenses o
the college, and the foundation OF scholarships
In 1903 the proceeds of the tax on peddlers was
also devoted TO the same purpose, and in such
mover ways was education fostered In the colo
MAJ Gays OF Virginia. Various donations were
auueu ny the colonial authorities and Dy
wealthy individuals in England and Virginia
so tilaUi AT lne outbreak OF the Revolution, Jht
eoliege OF william and Mary was the wealthiesl
institution In America its annual Income AT
tnat ume amounting TO nearly $1,000 sterling
Oh the 0Ln OF December, l776, the parent chapter
OF The celebrated College organization known
as the"Phi Beta Kappa Socety' was established
py Ihe students, the first meeting having been
heIu IN lhe old Raleigh Tavern at Williams
Durg, IN the very room In which Patrick Henry
conmenced mis- lllustrtous career OF opposlIlon
70 the tyranny OF the Mother Country. During
Ihese nte-Revolutionary days the College
NUMBERED among its students such men os
beDJamln Harris. Carter Braxton, Thomas Mel
, son, and george Wyths, signers of the Declara'
l | cent OF the first American Congress: Edmund
SHtanuWph, Attorney-General and Secretary OF
| Slate John Marshall, Chief Justice: and Thomas
,iIeI 2SnIeIson and James Monroe Presidents OF the
1 | united States.
AT the outbreak OF the Revolution, there
4 | were, seventy students In attendance, but by
| Sne @ Stose OF the war the Institution was broken
S, I5e, 'iT eAeIolses being entirely suspended 10
Il 1nst 1 the depreciation of paper money
~ IosI al lts endowment, except about $500 Ia
money and the then unproductive lands
| granted py the English crown
: | DuIIhk Inc summer of I78l preceding the
/; hniIdipaSi siege OF Yorktown, the College
: the British and the American and French
J troops. While occupied by the latter they sus-
| ~teineu ~ Oohsi1eraDle injury, and the PresldenCt