The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-06-28
LEXINGTON, VA, June 2j, 1871


7 promised q few more "scrapS" from
the :. Commencement Week"
The Society of Alumni elected rs their
orator for the next year Colonel Ricley, of
Fredericksburg, who graduated Ill 1861,
went out as private i'll the Liberty Hall
Volunteers" and soon rose To the rank ol
observation-disclosures and assistant adJutant-
General i'll the War Department.. lie Is
said to possess decided talent, and VIII no
doubt make IL fine address.
Under the leadership OF the newly
elected president Colonel Bolivar Chris
tjun) measures have been devised looking 10
,h,. increased interest and usefulness OF the
Alumni meetings. 1t is Intended hereafter
10 have the chief interest of the occasion
centre in the meeting OF the society,
and not in The Supper-to subordl,
nate the festive to fraternal intercourse ana
TO consideration of the means OF building
up Alma Mater. The details have not yet
been fully decided upon, but it Is deter
mined to have next year Il gathering which
even the most tastidious can attend.
The alumni of Judge BrockcnbrouSir s
lax school have formed an association,
which il i designed formally to unite with
the association Of the college proper.
Ii is designed to celebrate this union by 4
poem from one of our most gifted poets anu
other suitable exercises. y,
4 nf last session-Adjunct Professor OF
Ancient Languages has given the llveliest
satisfaction. 1t is regarded not only as .,
wrl-mecited compliment to one of the best
scholars and most worthy gentlemen none
the less worthy because of his gallant Dear
inc As n member of the famous RockDfiuSe
Artillery ever sent out from the institution,
hI, as also indicating the purpose OF the
Board to pr,>mote worthy men among thelf
graduates. a..
The Roarn also made provision for the
appointment Of Adjunct Professors. I'D
English and Applied Chemistry until they
can see the man for these important posi-
lions. We hear that DR.. Pratt, OF Charles
ton. s. Ca very distinguished chemist
and man of science-is spoken OF Ill con-
nrction with the Professorship Of Applied
Chemistry
Your correspondent did not send you
last spring any account OF the actlon OF the
Board i'm reference to making GeneTai
Lees position more comfortable because he
did not think it proper to publish 1t. AS,
however, it rot into the LynchburS papers
in rather an exaggerated form and went the
rounds Of the press, have, upon c0nsulta-
ton with friends of the College, determined
u send YOU the facts. 1t Is generally known
that General Lee has always refused 10 re-
cciye grntmttes of any kind-that just us
during the war he refused to receive house
from the city Of Richmond, and nobly said TO
the Council, ar you have benetactlons 10
bc,tow, give them to my private soldiers,
who are more needy and more deserVln ne
than myself," SO since the war, though
robbed of his patrimony, he has stead
ta.tIv refused to receive presents that have
been offered him. His conduct i'll this re-
-pcct has been very strikingly like that OF
Washington.
The Board Of Trustees of the College have
found it, therefore, very difficult 10 ihahe
such provision for General Lee as they nave
felt due alike to him, themselves, ana the
public. lie has declined to receive such
salary AZ the Board thought he onght 10
have, and they have been puzzled to know
what TO do.
During his absence they had meeting, at
which they settled upon Mrs. Lee for lie
the house in which the General now lives
and an annuity Of $1,000.
At their recent meeting TIE boara re-
ceived letter from General Lee In winch
ION behalf of Mrs. Leg he very respectfully
but firmly declines the protler..
After full consideration OF the matter
the Board have, as delicately as possible,
decided that they must adhere TO their ORR
ginal action--that they cannot suffer the
risk of any contingency in which the family
Of our loved and honored chieftain might
suffer. They insist that this is not :" gra-
tuity," but the payment ola very small part
Of the debt which the College, the State, ana
the country ut large, owe to the dlstln-
guished patriot who has devoted himself 80
earnestly and so successfully To the educil-
ton OF the youth of the land.
The Board have also elected private
secretary 10 the General, with view or