Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-11-26
Washington and Lee University.
HISTORICAL PAPERS.


The Board of Trustees of Washington
and Lee University appointed Hon. Will
liam Mclaughlin, Rector, and Hon. Will
liam A. Glasgow of the Board, and Rev.
Henry Alexander White, Phi. D., of the
Faculty, committee to procure and re-
produce in permanent form information
bearing upon the history of the Institu-
ton. In proceeding with that object, the
committee denominate the work in hand
"Histcrical Papers," and the first number
of the collection, book of 1870 pages, has
made its appearance. The subjects en-
braced in this number are
81. Early history of Washington College, now
Washington & Lee University. By Rev.
Henry Ruffner. D. D., L. L. D.. late Presl-
2. washington College, Lexington. Va, an
article from the Southern Literary Messenger,
1888. by Samuel L. Campbell. M: ID.
8. Letter on the location Of Robert Alex
ander's School-house, John Browns Resi-
denee, and Mount Pleasant, by Judge James
T. Patton"
DIR. Ruffner's sketch occupies 102 pages
of the book. He commences with an intro
ductory notice of the Presbyterian settle
ment in the Valley of Virginia. Following,
begins the history of the Institution first
located at Timber Ridge in 1776 and
traced to 1906, and furnishes all that bears
upon the donation of the Cincinnati So
ciety in 1907 to 1S4S when tho fund Of
$25, 900 was realized.
The early history which DR.. Ruffner was
the first to collect in connected and method
ical shape, had to be obtained from many
different sources and not without much
difficulty. He commenced it 10 1910 by
request of the Professors and the Society
of Alumni, and finished it in 1s47, but it
has been allowed to remain unpublished
till this time. Its being among the last to
be published does not diminish its just
claim to be the best of the early histories of
the Institution. 1t was reviewed by DIR.
VIM. H. Ruffner, the son of the author,
whose accompanying notes add to its
value.
The author in 1857 revised his work and
finished the manuscript for publication in
the Southern Literary Messenger, then
edited by the gifted and lamented Jno. R.
Thompson, but it does not appear that the
purpose was carried out. Anticipating its
publication then, the author prepared
preface which now accompanies the history.
1t shows how deeply impressed he was as
the theme unfolded itself in the researches
he made. The modest conclusion is as
follows -
ssThe reader, trust, will find this little
history to be composed of something more
interesting than commonplace incidents
of seminary of learning. But if on read
ing few chapters, he finds it destitute Of
both amusement and instruction, he can
leave the remainder unread, and console
himself with the reflection that if he has
lost an hour in its perusal, the poor author
has lost many weary hour in its compo-
sition.'
The next paper by Samuel L. Campbell,
Nj. D., native of Rockbridge and resi-
dent through life of the vicinity of Lexing-
ton, and also graduate and a member of
the Board OF Trustees, first appeared in the
Southern Literary Messenger in 1888. In
fewer pages than are employed by the
distinguished Ex-President of the College,
he reviews much of it's progress in a style
appropriate to the classical literature
which enriches its history.
The concluding paper is the letter of
Judge James T. Patton, of Fairfield, Rock
bridge county, of July IS, 1890, to the
Rector who had made enquiries of him as
to the location of Robert Alexander's
school (17e4, the residence Of the Rev.
John Brown, who succeeded to the charge
of the school, and its location at Mt. Pleas.
ant, near Fairfield.
Judge Patton is entirely familiar with
that section of Rockbridge and Augusta
counties and it's traditional as well as
written history. He has interviewer in his
interesting narrative occurrences, and
presents to view many subjects that are
especially valuable to those who are inter-
ested in the early history of the schools as
they eliminated into Liberty Hall Academy
and its SUCCESSORS, Washington College,
and Washington & Lee University.
The second number of the historical
papers will be out of press in short
while.