New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-18

what seems to be ancient private MANSION of
plastercd stone and OF large dimensions with q
portico of columns. This is the old college, removed
hither and built.after the year 1850 The former
site, downtown near the City Hall, retains the
name of College-pace." Though but thirty years
old, as it would seem, the recessed centre of the
present college looks to be fifty. It's rearward side
is now a solid wall of brick and stones the end OF
the block overlooking the Central Railroad is also
solldly built the west end has recently been fin
ished in Elizabeth Tudor Gothic style, of brick
and pinkstone. with towers and dormer and WIN
dows suggestive of British university architecture
The still open south centre of this square of edces
is being closed up, and immense show what
excavation is required in the sands of New York
to get foundation. This island would appear to be
reefs and outcroppngs of the parent gneiss making
originally Kind of archipelago between which the
sand of seas and rivers filtered and filled deep, and
often smothered the sources of springs secreted
there making quicksands to retard the builder yet
When Columbia College block is finished it will
present singular college picture amidst the
wealth and architecture of fashionable uptown
BY raising the block into the air it will multiply
space and facilities. No boardcrs believe are kept
upon the premises; 1t is metropolitan college
teaching those whose wish to learn is strong enough
to bring them voluntarily to it's lectures The
central Park, only few squares distant, is de-
hghtful ground to con ones lessons.
This secluded yet aspiring block Of reddish stone
and brick is the revival of King College, the fifth
in age in the Union. 1t established in the
reign of George III. About $40 900 present money
was raised to begin it, the ruling wish of the con-
trlbutors being to give the English Established
Church collegiate strength in the Northern colo
MES such it had in Virginia. To that end
Trinity Church corporation. ont of its excess of lot0
gave Kings College estate, and he Episcopal
Church in America takes warm interest in its
affairs That Church being Royalist at the Revo-
lutonary War, the college buildings were employed
for military purposes by the American soldery and
by the British a rebel jail For about eighty
years preceding the close of tho Revolutionary
War this college was the subject Of contention
either as an idea q fact. It's history in that
period is compendium OF the politics of the
colony. From this school, then near the Astor
House, stepped Hamilton n lad to make speech
for the instruction against the interests of his
Alma Mater. His gallant rreverence began great
career. Fifteen years afterward he and another
pupil of Kings, lawyer John Jay, went to Pough-
keepsie to attend the convention of the State on
ratifyng rejecting the new American Constitu-
ton. country lawyer of that time by name
James Kent pressed into the presence of these two
lawglvers and asked their friendship and counsel.
TO To the civil law" SAID jay and Hamilton,
" read deeper than we have had the time 10 do
here is great day for lawyers coming in
America
Years afterward in Columbia College James Kent
delivered his Commentares' as lectures while he
wa moulding this young State into the model of
Can We moi as we peep in the open door of
Columbia College some of those earlier students
now The tall conposure of Gouverneur Morris,
the athletic boy Dewitt Clinton. the bilious-eyed
Southerner. Johnny Randolph They were all bows
around TINS ancient foundation. Boys great
shall come after them. Yale Yale!
JOHNNY BoUQUEr.