Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-12
COLLEGE OF WILLIAM A Nd MARY
Students to Celebrate the Landing of
the jamestown ColoBists.


the Jamestown CoIoBists.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.l
WILLIAMSBURG, Va, May IL. 1889.
The landing of the colonists at James
town Island on the 18th day Of May,
1907, will be celebrated by the faculty
and students OF William and Mary
College by an excursion to the Island,
seven miles distant. The visitors will go
over in hacks on the morning of the 18th,
returning in the evening. The celebra-
ton will consist of appropriate speeches
by the faculty and Rotations 10y the
students. A number of invited
guests will accompany the excur-
sionists. In this connection a brief
sketch Of this historic island will
be interesting. Sometime prior TO
the landing at jamestown an English
expedition sent out by Sir Walter RAJ
leigh effected a landing on Roanoke
Island in Carolina, and, leaving the nu-
cleus of colony, sailed back to Eng
land for reinforcements and supplies
and it was this second expedition,
driving at random before furious storm
that fortunately struck the entrance TO
Chesapeake bay, and having explored
Hampton Roads and James river finally
selected jamestown Cat this time Pc
ninsula) as n suitable place to locate.
After passing through all of the various
hardships and dangers incident to the
colonization of savage country, James
town gradually evolved into a town
OF goodly proportions, with public build
ings suitable to the capital of a large
and prosperous colony. During the re-
bellion OF Nathaniel Bacon the first An
glo-Ssxon city on American soil (tbe
colony at Roanoke having perished) was
DESTROYED and never rebuilt, the seat OF
government being removed to Williams
burg, then known as Middle Plantation.
The current of Powhatan creek has long
since cut through the narrow strip of
! land and converted jamestown into an
island about three miles long and one
mile wide. The incessant action of the
tide is also slowly but surely wearing
away the western end of the island,
threatening to eventually engulf the old
churchtower and tombs (Which are not
more than twenty yards from the waters
! edge), the only remaining traces of those
adventurous spirits who blazed the path
way OF permanent civilization through
the savage wilderness Of the Northern
American Continent.
Professor Hall, who is preparing a
translation of the Anglo-Saxon poem
"Beowulf," has received letter from
Professor +. A. March, the father of An
glo-Saxon studies in America. Professor
March congratulates him on his work
and predicts q complete success. Pro-
feSsor Hall has also been invited to read
paper in July before the American
Pathological Association embodying his
experience in the art of trsnslating Anglo
Saxon into modern English.
Mr.. Ii. ID. Cole, of this town, has seve-
raj bound volumes OF the Virginia Ga
zette, published over one hundred years
ago. In the issue OF the number dated
April q, IT'S, is the following notice
son Tuesday last the Hon. Ralph
Wormley, ESQ.,, and Colonel Benjamin
Harrison, OF Berkeley, were elected
Visitors and Governors OF William and
Mary College, in the room OF his Excel
lency the Goyernour and Colonel Lewis
Burwell, Of Kings Mill, who have re-
signed. In the same number is full
and interesting account OF the removal
of the powder from the colony magazine
by s'his ExceiIency the Right Hon.
John, Earl OF Dunmpre his Maiesty's
Lieutenant and Goyernour-G General OF tho
colony. and Dominion of Virginia aud
Vice. Admiral Of tho same" Tho Same