Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-10-21

WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE. john
Esteu Cooke, in Scribuer tor November writes:
m,,WllIlam and Mary the oldest of American
colleges with the single exception of Harvard
University has so many historical associations
connected with it, that a full and minute history
would be almost the history of Virginia, II
began It's career soon after the settlement of the
country and is, cons qGently, now nearly two
hundred years old. Dlring AL this long period
II played Mn Important part first in the coony,
ana then IN the commonwealth. Founded in
the reign OF William and Mary it was -four
lshlGg institution when Marlborough was fight
ing Louis NV, and Addison was writing the
spectator" The royal governors, from spots
wood to Dunmore, be. al and ended their ot
clal careers, ana the country, from being DO.
tendency OF the British crown, became n great
contederated republic, snd tho old college WAS
Still IN the full tide If It's energy nd usefulness
From its situation at williamsburg, the colonial
capital IL witnessed and was q part of all that
w"s eminent, brilliant and attractive in Virginia
society. The sons of the planters were uniform
~ sent TO the college, TO be educated, and the
sons IN turn sent Their own sons to hevenera Bile
institution. 1t WAS always regarded AS an i'm
portant and conspicuous feature Of the 'viegrc
gal court under the old royal rulers, and had
III It's library rare volumes with the coats of
arms OF kings and nobeman who had delighted
IN connecting their names with its history
oAiiiou uoNA uore Ihan once, the buildings
were always erected again, and the work of ed.
Qcatlon was steadily resumed. Almost every
Vlrglnlan OF any eminence IN tho eighteenth
century had been trained for his work in the
world within its walls 1t gave twenty. seven of
It's students to the army in the Revolution two
Attorney Generals to the United States: il sent
cut nearly twenty members Of Congress, fifteen
Oilltcn otates Senators, seventeen Governors
thirty. seven Judges, = Lieutenant enersl and
oth"r high officers to the army, two Commo-
dores to the navy, twelve Professors, four sign.
eCs OF the Declaration OF Independence, seven
CABINET officers, the chief draugdt man and au
thor OF the Constitution, Edmund Randolph:
the most eminent CT the Chief Justices John
Marshall and three Presidents Of the United
States. And this list. honorable Us it is, bv no
means eShnusts the number OF really emineat
and lEtluentlal mon who owed the formation
and development OF their intclects and charac
tiers to william and Mary" In the long list
OF students, preserved from the year liz to the
present time, will be found a great srrav or
names holding very high rank in tie com
monwesl tn OF Virginia and the States of the
81 nth and West-in the pulpit, at the bar and
IN the local legislatures. These without attain
ing the eminence of those first mentioned, we're
the most prominent citizens OF the communities
IN which they lived, and were chiefly instru
mental in giving character and dire ton to So
clal and political affairs Oae and all, thev re
celved from their education at the old anrr-rev-
dictionary college tho stamp and mould OF char
actor which made them able and valuable ci,i
Iens-lesders, indeed, in opinion and action
whenever intellect and virtue were needed for
important public affairs.