The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-22

G1ty but most or the worn Was =" oe
done In Richmond.
Of separate articles, with as much care
as it's author could bestow. He has no
copy Of II, and having made enquiries
of the secretary OF the Society or Alumni
In regard to 1t, and the PROCEEDINGS 10
which II led has been informed that all
the archives Of the Society Of that date
were destroyed during the war. But Tor
tunately an abstract OF the scheme py
a highly competent hand has peen pre-
served He does not recollect whom ne
consulted nor whether ne consulted any
one. Those with whom ne wouio nlos'
probably have conferred on such mat
ter were Thomas II. Ellis, Conway ROD
inson. Judge John Robertson, socrates
Maunin John A. Meredith. George W.
Randolph. Gustavus A. Myers, James T.
Heath and General w. II. Richardson.
As the time for annual meeting OF the
Alumni drew near he found that ne couio
not attend, and entrusted MS sche"e :"
George w. Randolph, who agreed 10 pre-
sent N TO the society. Whether he had
consulted Randolph about 1t before OF
not. he had. of course, to tell him what
II was of which he was asked 10 TAKE
charge We were at the University W
gether whilst he was In the United States
navy and he was held I'm very high es-
TEEN. He presented 1t to the society'
which met on the 18th and Soth or june,
is46 William c. Darlington. theh tne
editor of the Richmond Times ana Com
, piler, was there.
ON July ID the Times contained the FOL
lowing editorial: 1.-THE session or the
Society of Alumni was well ATTENDED,
| Their most important action was 10 organ
ize a historical society. to hold one OF us
sessions at the University and one IN
Richmond" But the next day, July so.
| the Times went further into the subject:
THE Society OF Alumni were engaged
| at their sessions OF Saturday and Mon
dav I'm the consideration OF the interest
| ing subject Of establishing HISTORICAL
society connected with the University a
plan was finally adopted by which the
members OF the Society OF Alumni, To-
gether with such number, not TO ex-
| coed fifty, of other gentlemen, as might
| be elected. should constitute The HIS
torical Society OF the University OF Vir-
| ginia.' This society was to hold one SEES.
| sion in each year at the University NJ
| the time of the commencement ana an
| other in Richmond in the month OF Janu-
ary. The historical documents and relics
which may be collected will be deposited
| at the University. Subordinate assocla-
lions. holding monthly sessions. were 10
be formed In Richmond and other towns
of the State, II practicable. This Is an
outline OF the scheme, which will soon
be published as 1t was adopted. We hope
the movement will be seconded by all
the alumni in the State and by others
who are disposed TO foster so praise
worthy an enterprise The old virginia
Historical Society has failed for want OF
the requisite zeal and efficiency In It's
members; but the scheme proposed b,
the Alumni will, in consequence OF II:
| connection with a society already estao
lished and likely 10 be sustained, W.
trust be far more successful. We hop'
that the literary men OF the state con
nected with other institutions Will unit
in this new effort to rescue from gradua
decay and oblivion the interesting remi
niscences with which the consecrated sol
OF Virginia teens. We nave WITHIN US IN
elements OF a wonderful history but the.
are fast passing away. and without NOR
associated action must be lost forever
Historical societies in other States-w
| refer especially TO New York and Mary
! land-have been highly successful. Wit
the organization proposed. IT may be con
fidently hoped that they will be equal
so In Virginia"
The above Limitation Of members OUT
side of the Alumni TO FIFTY was probobl
an amendment to the original plan. IN
| chairman OF the WOThlnb SStNlou MIL
r mond was to be Thomas III. Ellis. He ha
preceded me at the University, but W
became acquainted there at the crganiZa
ton of the Society OF the Alumni. an
afterwards In Richmond n close frienC
ship sprang up, and as long as we WEI
here together we pulled tremendously
behalf OF everything Except politics
!, that we deemed for the public good. fro
u THE Home Club" and the buying OF TT
!, School of Athens" picture for the I'm
yersity TO the Bible and historical 81
: cIetIes He was unsenshly public spirite
e keenly alive to everything that relate
:, to the honor and interest Of the city
= State. courteous, punctual, attentive ar
= | Jealous From the summer season ar
| other causes he was delayed In carr
; ing out the work that had been assign'
to him, but 1t has already been seen FRO
: the editorial announcement in the Me
:, senger that as early as September ne
q matter for consideration had INTERVIEWED
o viz: The formation of an independe
State historical society. How did tn
~ come upon the tapis?
% A great many persons regarded Cows
"A Robinson as a mere lawyer deeply II
20 mersed IN law practice and In law a
thorship. The writer was both surpris
and gratined to find that this was mi
i, take. AS Mr.. Robinson was his SEM
\ and so highly distinguished. he was pro-
. of his friendship, which lasted 10 ths e
! Of his life Our residences were not 7
"A apart. and social visits TO and FRO we
10 frequent and pleasant. We fully symp
- thized with each other In respect TO VI
~ ginia historical matters, for he knew We
p" well all that the Messenger had been q
no ing for the last three years, and n
written for Il that letter about Its "A
- neal TO the Legislature. When he W
- in London he looked into some OF o
- Colonial records there. When, throu
a Judge william Leigh. he obtained 10
- Randoph's copy OF the proceedings
. the London Company for Virginia,
a.. not merely gave me access TO II. as ma
~ men would have done, but allowed
g. TO take II home and use 1t at my &C
"a yenience. When he and Mr.. Patton We
a revising the Code. /, at his request, n
a dered him some clerical assistance. a
- he befriended me professionally.
=. caused me to be associated with hims
and Mr.. Patton as counsel for the Bal
more and Ohio Railroad Company In IN
o. great contention with Wheeling. Bef'
a., that I had been with Mr. Patton a
- against Mr.. Robinson In the celebra
% United States gold mine cases, reported
~, 7 Grattan, page $50. He would have b.
~ among the very first invited to beco
a. one of the fifty of our alumni scher
ed and he knew 1t.
Well. this is the gentleman who. al
.. The Times and other papers had noti
- the plan adopted by the Society or Alu
~ nj. came to me and told me that Mr.. v
u. uar, Moxwail had lost the presidency