Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-05-21
FROM the hAleigh Seutiae:.
Pen and ink sketches OF the UNIVERSE
ty ofEOrth Carolina, as il Has Been.
DEDICATED TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE AND
TO THE ALUMNI OF THE UNIVERSITY.
NO. 6.


! NO. g.
! DR. CALDwELL's LAST DAYs
In the year of 1924, DR.. Caldwell, by de
she of the Trustees, visited Europe in Or
der to purchase books for the Library, and
to superintend in person the construction
Of Philosophical apparatus. After a short
stay in London, he proceeded to the Con
tinent, passing through Paris and Lyons
to the Lower Alps and thence down the
Rhine to Frankfort. Returning to Enc
land he visited Scotland. and finally re-
turned to America after an absence OF ten
months, having been entirely successful in
all the objects of his journey. The excel
ience of the instruments lie provided, and
the value OF the books then added to our
University Library attest the fidelity ana
skill with which he discharged The trust
committed him. The most Interesting re-
suit of this visit Was the strong feeling ex-
cited in his mind on the subject of inter
nal Improvements subject which per-
haps engrossed more o. his thoughts du-
ring his last years, than anything else con-
nected with this world. Ihen appeared
the Carleton Letters, before alluded to-
He brought with him from London Il small
model of locomotive engine, and a circ0-
lar railway, which suppose was looked
upon in those days as nothing more than
very ingenious toy. The DR., however,
saw its future development and capabili-
| ties, and what the invention was to do for
this continent. And he was never tired of
bringing the subject before the public, or
charging on it lii conversation with his
friends. DR.. Caldwelrs house was most
hospitable one. His table was we'll spread
! Vnar,o
there was grand dining for the members
of the Faculty and their families enlivened
by all that wit and wine can do 10 cheer.
THE "HARBINGEB.
To those who look critically into the re-
cords of life at the University forty years
ago, it appears that worry vigorous and
healthful intellectual growth had begun
DR.. Caldwell was not only q student but he
was man of active character, and he liked
to see growth going Oh around him-im-
provement-results. He was, by no means,
satisfied to do only as the father had done,
| to move In the same ruts. He was for
| having valuable Library accumulated at
| the University, for providing the workers
there with the best possible tools. In
| 1880, he projected and started newspa-
per, the first ever published at Chapel
| Hill, which, being controlled and edited
by the Faculty, should be an organ for
them-a medium of communication with
the literary and scientific world. l have
heard those who were we'll qualified to
GER" that it was while it lived, much the
best paper ia the State. n file of it is
in existence now, for there was no Gov.
Swain in its day to teach the value Of such
records. but such stray numbers as may
be picked up here and there, show that it
took high ground at the start, and main
tanned it. The Publisher was Isaac ..
Partridge, of Newborn, now deceased for
many years. His son was ali editor in
Vicksburg, Miss, before and sine the
late war, a sprightly and vigorous writer,
and now practicing lawyer in that city.
His widow resides in Chapel Hill. 1t may
be presumed that DR. Mitchell contributed
speculations and discoveries in natural
science, DR.. Hooper contributed criticism,
DR.. Phillips problems and mathematical
questions, and Dr.. Caldwell's presiding
genius welded the whole together. Tue
Harbinger lived but few years. A COM
plete file of it now would be invaluable to
the antiquarian.
HIS LAST ILLNESS.
The first access of that disease which
finally brought DR.. Caldwell's life to
close occurred in 1923, after which he
never was in the enjoyment Of good health
Nearly the whole CT the six or seven years
that elapsed before his death vas period
of unremitting suffering. He was often
the victim of excruciating pain. but seldom
alluded to it, even to his most intimate
friends. Exerting all his powers of self
control, he endured to the last, maintain
ing en- air of serenity, and attending to
the duties Of his office even whan racked
with pain and worn and wasted by sleepess
and tortured nights. Nothing could i'm
pair his devotion to the interests of the
Institution which he had fostered 50 long
nothing could induce him to relax from
his labors
Sepulcl.ri inraemOr. stluu d0ntOs."
On the Saturday previous to his death,
he retired from the lecture-rocm to his
bed, from which he never rose again, but
under the impulse of his mortal agonies.
HIS LAST SERMON.
He preached his last sermon in toe vii
lage meeting house. during the winter va
cation OF "a '35. I remember the day
It was gloomy and bitter cold. There
were no stoves in Chapel Hill then, and
the congregation was small. DR.. Cald
we'll took the whole of the Esd Psalm,
(''The Lord is my sheppard for the
ground of his discourse. l was one of two
or three little children who sat shivering
among their elders, looking up at the be-
nignant, stronglymarked countenance,
which we then saw for the first time. The
"rod and staff of which he spoke we're
soon to support his own footsteps through
the dark valley.
HIS DEATH.
On the evening of the Oath of JAM, 1880,
his terrible desease made its last ferocious
assault with such violence thst he knew
his hour of release was come. And he
hailed it, He was we'll furnished for the