Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-25

Tn officers of this venerable institution
Of learning, which, since the fall of 1865,
has been under the Presidency of General
Robert f. Lee, have succeeded in resusci-
ting it from the ruin in which the war
left it, and have placed it in a position to
make it one of the commanding literary
seats in the nation. II is one of the oldest
colleges in the country, having been
founded as an academy before the Declara-
ton of Independence, and having attained
the grade of college and reSeived the name
it now bears, in honor of the Father Of
his Country in 1898. Ii received an
endowment from that illustriOus man, and
one from the Society of the Cincinnati
when that organization disbanded. 1t has
also been the recipient of other donations,
during its career, from eminent Virginians.
In 1864 its halls were sacked nv order of
Gen. Hunter, its chemical museums and
apparatus were destroyed, and its libraries
carried of, The summer of 1865 found
this object Of the care and munificence of
the igreat Washington in a state of desola
tion-its halls silent and deserted, and its
property generally impaired
The Board of Trustees, comprising some
of the first men of Virninia, in 1865,
called that great and good man, General
Lee, to its head, and projected a scheme
upon the university plan with a view of
enlarging its sphere of usefulness, and
making 1t in every respect comparable
with the first educational institutions
in the land. As We have said, they
have already met with gratifying
success 80 far as they have veutured. From
a recent letter of distinguished member
of the Faculty, We learn that the present
session opened with three hundred and
seventy-fve students, an increase of one
hundred over last year. and that FIVE hun
dred are confidently expected during the
term. Every Southern State is repre-.
scented. and some Northern ones. A CONS
plete and able Faculty is on duty, and the
indications are that Washington College
will assume place in the highest rank Of
American schools. Ii is not sectarian, nor
is it State institution. 1t is the work of
private citizens under an act of incorpora-
ton of the State, independent of all par
ties in politics and all religious denomina-
tions, and dependent for its success only
upon its merits as they may be presented
TO the people whose patronage it seeks.
An effort is now being made to secure by
contributions an addition to its endowment
fund, for the purpose of finishing the
buildings, and erecting .professorships in
every department of a University ednca-
ton. The Southern people have every
where responded as Literally as their re-
duced finances will permit, and the oppor-
tunity is to be offered to the citizens Of this
region to extend whatever aid they may
be able TO the sustenanee of the institution.
The authorized agent, Gen. r. D. Lii
ley, of the old "Stonewall" brigade, is now
in the city, with quarters at the st. Cloud
Hotel. He will remain some time and pre-
sent this matter to the citizens.
Gen. Lilly comes with the highest posi-
bic testimonials from distinguished men,
both North and South. One of Vireinia's
most honored SONS thus speaks of him:
deem it a privilege to recommend Gen.
Lilly as gentleman in the highest accep-
tatiOn of the term. / have known him
from early youth, and in all the relations
of life he is above reproach. He is a
Christian gentleman of talent, education
and refinement. Furthermore, he served
in the Confederate army during the late
war, worthily won the rank of Brigadier
General, and performed his duties, not only
in that office, but in every other, with
gallantry equalled only by his devotion"
We trust that our fellow citizens will
render substantial aid to the noble cause
which Gen. Lilly so worthily represents.