The Portland daily press., 1867-08-23
An American College i'm Tarkey.

3 i
ts4 50 CONsTANTINOPLE, June 20, 1867.
About one year ago I gave you an account
off college in Western Pennsylvania which
had been raised from nothing to state OF
great prosperity by Maine man, to wit, Geo.
Wood, LII. d. I have now the pleasure to
speak of another Maine man, in a place far
distant from the former, who is engaged in
very important educational enterprise, viz,
C. Hamlin, DID,, President OF Robert College,
in Constantinople fAi la..amr
In 1880 Mr.. Charles r. Robert Of New York
gave large sum OF money to found college
in Constantinople, and the college was organ
lied under the laws of New York and DIR.
Harlin elected President. Indeed the Rob
ert donation was made on condition that DIR.
Hamlin should have charge of the institution
DIR. Hamlin Immediately set about purchasing
asite forthe college buildings, and selected one
on the shores of the Bosphorus about six
miles from the Golden Horn.
do not know where in the world can be
found a sheet of water Of the same extent as
the BosphOrus, that has on it so many pretty
building sites. All along, the land rises into
hill, from the water, in some places too abb
ruptly for building, but usually presenting
pretty hillside. Now and then deep ravine
cuts the hill with pretty places on each side
of it. You must not infer that the Bospho-
rus will compare with the grandest parts OF
the Hudson river. That river has grander
sweep and wider views and has loftier ranges
of hills than the Bosphorus. The latter is
simply very pleasing, never grand; but il has
on Its shores real palaces OF maybe, and all
the commerce of the Black Sea passes along
in sight OF the dwellers on its hilLsides. High
up on the European side of this fine strait
DIR. Hamlin selected spot for the buildings
of Robert College, at point where
the strait makes sweep inward
and where there is an unobstruet-
ed view of the Bosphorus for ten
miles from the Golden Horn northwards.
Before closing his bargain for the land, he
secured from the Turkish government per-
NIT to erect his buildings, and then paid
$4,000 for the property. When the materi-
ais for the building had been collected and
the work of putting them up was about
to commence an order was issued by the
Turkish authorities prohibiting the erection
of the buildings The diplomatic represent
ative of our government declined taking no
tice of the matter and the case was referred
to Washington. This was in 1872. Presi-
dent Lincoln instantly saw the injustice OF
the Turkish government, and while the mat
ter was under consideration the rebellion
broke out and all further proceedings were
postponed. After the close of the war the
question was presented to Mr.. Seward and
urged upon him, but he was not inclined to
entertain it. One would suppose that
an institution organized under the laws OF
Mr.. Stewards own State would have secured
his attention; but it had religious aspec. in
Mr.. Stewards eyes, and that condemned
it. 1t Is understood that the Attor-
ney General recognized the right of the
college to proceed with its work Of building,
and what Is now needed is a little public SEN
timent to encourage the government in in
sisting on that right. There is no govern
ment which has representatives abroad which
is so feeble ard cowardly in protecting the
rights of Its citizens as the government OF
the United States of America. Had Robert
College been English instead of American,
the work Of erecting those buildings would
not have been delayed six months. Lord
Lyons, the ambassador from England, is
heartily interested in the success OF Robert
College, and by his removal to France the in- |
stitution loses good friend. Notwithstand-
ing the opposition Mr.. Hanlin has proceeded
with the organization of the college,
and at the present time has as large
a number Of students as his building can ac-
commodate; indeed many applicants have
been turned away for want Of room. How
widely diftlsed the benefits of the institution
are, can be inferred from the fact that the
students represent dozen different lan-
guages. And herein lies one of the difficult
les DR.. Hamln has to surmount, in forming
classes. A dozen young men pursuing the
same study may have to be divided into three
or four classes, until they have common Ian
guage The school is admirably conducted
by Dr. Hamlin, who deserves all the moral
aid his friends at home can give him. hope
he will live to see Robert College established
on that beautiful site he has purchased and
paid for. No man in the east sheds greater
honor ON the American name than does DIR.
Hamlin. US. of Maine.