The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-07-03
From our Special Reporter.
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
INAUGURATION OF GALT's STATUE
OF JEFFERSON.
SPEECH OF B. j. BARBOUR, ESQ.,
ADDRESS OF HUGH BLAIR GRrSsbf'
.>,vrpssRy OF THE YOUNG MEMS
CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, I

and inauguration OF TaltS sta'ue vi 'ehSi
son, the library, in which the statue stands
was packed to its utmost capacity long De-
fore the appointed hour. 1t was unfortu-
nate. Though unavoidable) that these in
terestipg exercises had to be held in the IL
brary instead of the public hall and that
hundreds had thus to go away without be-
inc able to gain admittance. AS your COR
resnondent sat in the nice seat kindly pro-
yided him, and gazed on the scene while
awaiting the beginning of the exercises ne
could not but contrast it with the last pup
lie occasion on which he had been present
in this hall-the memorable alumni din
ner" of 1860, when the sons Alma Mater
gathered around the festive board, and when
there was flow Of sparkling wit and true
eloouence which it seldom falls to the lot OF
man to hear.
The procession fled in at IL o'clock, and
the exercises begun. l noticed IN the pro,
cession, beside the Board of Visitors ana
Faculty, General Preston, General Hamp-
ton, Judge Lowry of Pennsylvania, Hon.
T. Jefferson Randolph, Rev. DR.. John A.
Broadus, and others.
The exercises we're conducted with the
inimitable grace of B. j. Barbour, Esq,
rector of the Board of Visitors. Rev. Or.
John A. Broadus, of South Carolina tor-
merly of the University of Virginia, made
n prayer, which, for appropriateness,
fervor, evangelical sentiment, and touching
pathos, your correspondent never heard
equalled on any public occasion before.
B. J. Barbour, Esq, made brief intro
ductory address as appropriate in alluslon
MS it was chaste and beautiful in dlctlon
and graceful in it's delivery.
After beautiful allusion to the present
occasion and the lessons it should teach, he
wildly sketched the meeting, forty years
ago, on wonder hill, of twenty whose names
were on Virginia's bead-r9ll Of fame, who
met as a board appointed by the Legisla-
ture of Virginia to choose the site OF the
University of Virginia. Towering above
them all in his intense purpose to establish
the institution was Thomas Jefferson. The
speaker drew graphic and beautiful pic
ture of the site which was selected. There
were many other locations which might
have contended for the site, but there was
no dissension among those noble men.
" Let it stand" they said, "where the last
rays of the evening and the first tints of the
morning light shall reveal it to the gaze Of
ltS Ilc "iiuoSN W siAN
fame which Jefferson had won as patriot
statesman and to his higher ambition OF
founding this noble University.
He made glowing eulogy on Gait, to
whose genius the Legislature had commit
ted the work, and pronounced the statue
every way worthy of the subject, the State,
the University, and the sculptor.
TAT this point the veil was withdrawn,
and the pure marble, seemingly instinct
with life, was revealed to the public gael
The speaker made most beautiful apos-
trophe to the statue, and said that it was
meet that he should stand here to guard his
work-the Memnon of our day and hope.
He beautifully alluded to the condition of
our southern land, and said that we should
chant no longer the monotone of departed
glory, hut should 60 forth to initiate the
virtues Of our departed heroes and labo..
in patience and hope for better state of
things. But he came only to withdraw the
drapery and speak the prologue to the TIL,
butte of one whom Jefferson himself, could
he look on this scene, would choose'as his
chronicler.
Mr.. Barbour was frequently interrupted
by warm applause, and his utterances had
especial weight as coming from the rector
of the University.
Mr.. Griesby was SO feeble that he was
compelled to cit while reading his address.
Passing by the details of Jeiterson's great
career, he spoke Of him as Man, States
man, and a Laughter. AS the address
| will be published soon, your correspondent
will attempt no sketch of it, but will sim
ply say that it was just what we might
have expected from the author of the "Vlr-
! piuia Convention of l776," and will prove
s, most valuable and interesting contribu'
ton to the history Of the times in which
Jefferson lived.
The statue was ordered by the Legis.
lature of Wig inia, who appropriated
ten thousand dollars for the work
which they committed to the hands
of our lamented Calf. The work
was finished in Italy, and brought to Vir'
glnia in 1861, the war preventing its inau'
guration. Your correspondent makes no pre-
tension to critical taste in works of art, but
this strikes him as being we'll nigh faultless
1t is said by those who knew the original tC
be fine likeness. An old negro who be-
longed to Jefferson lin the good old days
when it was deemed no crime to uphold al
institution which the God of Abraham
sanctioned) came in on his crutches to look
at the statue, and exclaimed, with glisten
ing eye: " 1t is jest like ole Nassau, only
it don't stand as straight as he did "
The pedestal bears the following inscrip
ton: "Thomas Jefferson, Author of thu
Declaration of American Independence
of the statute of Virginia for Religion!
Freedom, and Father of the University o.
Virginia. Born April 2, l743, 0. S. Diet
July 4, 1926"
ANNIVERSARY OF THE YOUNG MEMS CHRIS
TIAN ASSOCIATIONS.
Tonight was set apart for the annua
address before the Young Mems Christian
Association of the University. 1t wal
feared by some that in view of the pro
tracted exercises this morning, and thu
expected length of the Exercises on to-mor
row, the audience would be small to night
But the crowd was almost if not fully a.
great as on previous occasions-attracte,
doubtless by the deep interest felt in tn,
Association as we'll as by the reputation O.
the speaker.
The Young Mems Christian Association
was organized in 1857, largely through tn,
influence and active exertions of that noble
| specimen of the Christian minister anC
patriot hero who fell at Fort Dcnelscn-Rev
Dabney Carr Harrison, then chaplain of thu
University. Its object is not only to exer
q salutary influence at the University, but
also to labor for the destitute of the sur.
rounding country. 1t has nobly done ite
work, and has proved rich blessing, bear.
OF 1