Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-19


tive Committee" ts~e Richmond whig,"
August 18th and nth. 1886,
That meeting was held and another on
the 21st of August: all matters between
prosecuting the Historical Department ana
the revival OF the State Society. aided as
Il would be by the special ana compen-
sated services OF "A gentleman OF Mr. MAX
wells reputation, were fully discussed IN
the most liberal, candid. ard courteous
manner. and the conclusion clearly fore-
shatlowed that IL would be more adyisable
TO make another experiment WIN an Or
ganizatlor for the whole state than 70
press one based upon her renoWhen ui''-
versity.
STATE SOCIETY REVIVED.
These meetings and the consultations
which led TO them and 10 which tney
gave rise virtually revived the historian
Society Of Virginia though some snuse'
quent steps and delays were mdlspVl'sb-
bic. The Historical Department cou'o ps
terminated only By that body whlch ha"
initiated It, still the Executive 'onlile-
tee did not make any provision LOT ule
meeting in January. But besides the TWO
meetings already referred 10 was me
fact that the alumni. who were he'hel
in nor near Richmond, had a right 10 "
consulted, and the l.egiSlature' "iiIOi
yould be in session. would embrace some
OF them from various parts Of the s'atr.
Therefore another meeting was called am
held at the residence OF Colonel Thoinas
H. Ellis on February l. 1s41. AZ II WeIe
present Cabell. RO. G., j. Grattah, anu
H. Coalter: William G. Darlington; bilis.
Thomas H.. Charles. and klchard = :
James II. Eustace. Richard Is. oToOcn'
William H. Haxall. Ro. Hamilton WI
liam NJ. Harvie, John Hendree' JONI
son. George ~. and DIR. Carter = 80
crates Maupin John A. Msredith, Charles
S. Mills: Minor. Benz. b., and Or. HeoTse
c.: Munford. John ID. and william =
Edmund r Morris. Albert G. Peasants
William f. Richie, John r. thompson
Llburn II. Trigg. st. George fucker
and McClung Wickham; from Albemarle'
John II. Gilmer. William j. Robertson
and William c. Rives, Jr.; from BEDFORD
William NJ. Burwcll: from Buckinghan''
Willis T.. Bocock and Alex. MoseieF'
from Spotsyvania. John Minor from
King George. Robert Wallace; from Meek
lenburg, James Alexander; from LOUIS
lana. Richard A. wilkins. Other gentle
men were there who were not Alumni
among whom was Mr.. Maxwell, VINO. ny
invitation, addressed the meeting. and all
Of the Executive Committee were there
Vice President William NJ. Burwell pre-
sided and William j. Robertson acted as
secretary After due discussion the meet
ing adjourned without any formal express
sion Of opinion. but without any orsdui
zation of a committee auxiliary TO the
Historical Department thereby leaving
Intentionally the subject open for the
further consideration OF the alumni at
their next meeting" Colonel Ellis's re-
port) <
From this time the author and chiel
promoters of the Historical Department
addressed themselves TO the resuscltatioh
Of the exanimate Historical and Philoso-
phicaI Society of Virginia. which was
in only seventeen days after the meet
ing at Colonel Ellis's, fully reorganlzed'
as follows: William G. Rives, president
James Mcdowell, William H. Maciarlanh'
and James Il. Heath. vice-presidents'
William Maxwell, corresponding secretary
and also recording secretary and libra
rian. George y. johnson. treasurer FIX
ecutive COmmittcc-Conway Robinson
chairman. Socrates Maupn. Gus. a.
Myers, Thomas r. Giles William b.. emit
tenden. Benz. b. Minor, and Thomas IL.
Ellis. Every one Of those above named.
except Chittenden and Giles. had been
closely allied, and several of them OIL
cially, with the said Historical Depart
ment. The three Offices were united IN
Mr. Maxwell in order that they might
carry the salary which he was Wiling
TO accept, the recording secretary cheer
full. getting out of the way for that
purpose.
What efforts, If any, for the revival Of
the old society Mr.. Maxwell had made
or meditated. during the long tendency OF
the aforesaid Historical Department. can
10 l1tt the SnCipfV of Alumni
had shown their appreciation OF him by
making him their corresponding secretary,
and were willing to engage his regular
and more active services in the State
organization. which he preferred, and
now. with their hearty cooperation that
organization had been effected on the
18th OF February, 1871. tSee Southern
Literary Messenger for March, 1917, page
1917
THE SOCIETY'S ROOM.
The same high authority above referred
TO also published the following remarka-
BILE statement: ION the same floor Of the
Athenaeum, the Historical Society Of Vir-
ginia was graciously allowed room.
This was the first approach to a local
habitaton' for the unhappy vagrant. who
these many years had only been known
by it's name" And yet he lauded the
work of the corresponding secretary, in
Guiding the editing for four or five years
Of his Historical Register" Where had
this work been done "all these years,
and where had the society kept its books,
collections and other property? After
Mr.. Maxwell left Hampden-Sidney Col
lege he opened in Richmond a law-oflice
and advertised for students. but very soon
after he was appointed its secretary and
librarian, the society furnished him an
airy and commodious room in the Law
Building on the southeast corner OF the
Capitol Square and there II and he re-
maned until it's removal by the munifi-
cence of the city, which was procured for
IL by It's warm friend, Conway Robinson,
to the Athenaeum about the year 1853.
The city not only gave it the room, but
an annuity in addition.
on the 18th of June. lS7, Colonel Ellis
made his report to the Society Of
Alumni, in which he recounted the three
advisory meetings which had been held in
Richmond, recommended that they sus-
pend their Historical Department and
made an earnest appeal In favor of the
State Society. On motion of Mr.. John
Z. Thompson. a member OF the Executive
Committee, II was resolved 10 suspend
the Historical Department. But II retired
honorably and with flying colors.' for
though it's projected meeting in the capt.
tai in January had. for the reasons
already assigned. been pretermitted the
Hon. William G.. Rives had accepted its
invitation and delivered before IT and for
It, at the university, one of the finest
productions of his able and polished pen.
II was upon the uses and benefits of the
study OF history, with a most mastery
comparison and contrast between the
American and French revolutions II
was published by the society. together
with its proceedings. embracing the full
report of Colonel Thomas II. Ellis in
regard to the Historical Department.
BROAD BASIS OF OPERATION.
Thus has the genetic connection between
the Historical Department OF the Society
OF Alumni of the University and the re-
vival of the Virginia Historical Society
| in 1S47 been completely established.
| Though we had. after such mature and
protracted consideration. launched our
new department, we were not merely
Alumni of the University, but Virginians,
proud of a mother whose rich and event
| full history entitled her 10 the very best
| organization. and one which would enlist
| all her sons in illustrating her achieve
rpents maintaining her honor and glory