The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-09

erai Assembly, 1t should DE founn on Tidt
that the prosperity. safety, and efficiency of
the University is injurious to the colleges, 1t
will then be time enough to consider whether
the University shall be sacrificed for them.
r. G. Fl. kgAN.
Virginia Libraries In Colonial Times
Private and OF Old William and
Mary College.
HIGHLY INTERESTING LETTER FROM HON. HUGH
BLAIR GRIGsBY, LII. D., INTRODUCED BY ONE
FROM R. A. BROCK, ESQ.,
Editors Of the Dispatch I:
am led by its manifest interest, and be.
cause of the little knowledge possessed by
the public or by individuals even, Of the
subject Of its contents, to send you the fol-
lowing letter for publication in the columns
of the Dispatch, feeling confident that it
will not be deemed so unwelcome intrusion
by your readers. 1t was written In response
to letter in behalf Of General John Eaton,
the able Commissioner of the Bureau OF Ed.
ucatiop, Washington. D. c., who is engaged
in the preparation of a report on the libra
ries public and Of learned institutions and
societies in the United States. He desired
the following information (Which he had
| been unable to obtain from the college au-
horities) for this object-namely
1st. AS to the number of volumes be-
queathed the library of William and Mary
College by its first president, Commissary
james Blair.
ID. The extent and character of the Col
lege library at the respective periods 1776
and 1900.
mentioned in my letter to Mr.. Grigsby
having purchased at an auction sale 10 this
city volume from the library of Dr.. Blair
| from among number thus offered. They
were on philosophical and theological SUBJ
| jects, Of the imprint of the seventeenth Gen.
tury. They were each marked on the title
page with the name j. Blair " stamped in
red ink. Other books inscribed with the
name "Robert Butler, Smithfeld," accom-
panied them.
[ was led by the suggestion OF MIR. GrlgS.
by to visit the courthouse of Henrco coun-
ty, and though l found not the will of DR..
Blair, which should properly be in the
custody Of the James City County Court, L
yet had the pleasure of examining some
very attractive and curious early records
some eleven volumes Of Records Of General
Court, deed. and will.books-the earliest
volume being the Records Of the General
Court of Henrico, held at Varins, commenc-
ing February 81, 1878 Henry Randolph,
ClSIhs w IliIdUl hduuOlPu oO"iSA ~
James Cooke were among mis- successors.
This volume contains many very Interesting
records regarding the Randolph, Byrd, and
other distinguished families of the State. 1t
is backless and ia several separated portions.
I would respectfully and most earnestly sug-
gest it's immediate binding, SO as TO insure 8
preservation. The last date of these volumes
prior to the later series of court records is
contained in a deed.book, and is October,
1774.
The early records of the court were sub
iected to the vandalism Of the British under
Arnold in 1871, and consequently the pre-
sent series commence with Deed-Book No.
/, October l, 1871.
Besides the private libraries specially emu
merated by Mr.. Grigsby am enabled to
enumerate the following:
Medical and miscellaneous library of Dr..
Peter Hay, of Williamsburg, who died In
1867. and whose library was advertised in
the Virginia Gazette soon after his death !;
the libraries of James Power, prominent
lawyer of King William cosnty; of Judge
Peter Lyons, who opposed Patrick Henry in
the Parsons cause; Chancellor George
Wythe, Edmund Pendeton, William BeVer-
ley, John and James Mercer; Robert Boil
ling, Of Chiloue, author of the Boiling Me-
moirs; Gabriel Jones; Governor John
Page; William Stitb, the Historian Of Vir.
ginia; Richard Cary, of Warwick; Henry
Tazewell, Benjamin Waller, and Judge ST.
George Tucker-from all of which and q
number of others 1 have representa-.
tive volumes in my own library. Such
interesting relics are constantly appear
ing in our auction sales Of books,
aud it would he thankful concession
to the earnest and considerate Firgnian if
they might be assembled together. The
Virginia Historical Society would most CRATE
fully assume the charge of any donation or
deposit Of this character.
The records of the Phi.Beta Kappa Society
of William and Mary College, which were
sought for by its authorities last year, it Is
feared may have shared destruction with the
library of the college at its burning in 1859,
as it is stated in Duychnck's Encyclopedia
of American Literature edition lS66,
volume !, page S5) that after the revival OF
the Society the records were restored to the
college.
One of the membership medals of the
| Society was among the effects of the late
Thomas II. Wynne, and was loaned by his
| widow to Professor Wise, Of the college. 1t
was thin, square plate of silver measuring
one inch either way, with small loop at the
| TOP, bearing on one side three mullets in the
upper right-haud corner, and the letters P.
B. Il. 10 the centre, and the same letters in
| monogram, and the date December S, 177G,
| in script.
From recent newspaper article 1 gather
| that the College library now numbers about
| 10, 900 volumes, many of which must have
been saved from the College library at the
burning of the building in 1859. Some
volumes, the gifts of Governors Dinwiddie
and Spotswood and others Of the colonial
era. are enumerated. "Catesby's Natural
| History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahia
ma Islands, the gilt Of Thomas Jefferson" is
also mentioned.
Very truly yours, K. A. b.
Richmond, February 7, 1876.