The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-06

tuition IN America, tA'ept nav 1'N ''
versity.
| An effort 20 establish a university at
ssHenrico" had been made at an earlier
date. but the massacre OF 1922 put an end
| 10 this. The present college building If
a modern structure. the original having
/ been planned by Sir Christopher wren.
/ Yet the visitor may look with interest,"
upon several structures within the bour as
| OF the college grounds that have survived
| the turmoils and trials Of more than TWO
| centuries.
| The parish IN which Williamsburg IS
| now situated was once known as "Mlu,
detown" parish. now Bruton. me olu
| church Is in o fine state or pfesei va
ton, and the old cemetery l'I,,
| thanks TO certain patriotic ladies' Wen
| cared for. It is a mistake TO say ui"'
this. or any other building in virginia
Is constructed Of brick imported rom
! England. The bricks for Bruton chutch
were made on or near the spot "hefe
n now stands. There is indubitaDle PROOF
OF this. .. H..
or course one Of the important FEAT
| ures of the old town IL the lunatlc asy-
| linn. Virginia has the honor OF having
founded the first institution Of this kind
I'm the United States. In l7ts, the General
! Assembly passed an act, ESTABLISHING
"a hospital for persons OF insane ana
dieordercd minds" including idiots, and
providing for its government ana support
THE following gentlemen were made trus-
toes 70 carry out the requirements of
This act: John Blair Che who had Sc
cured the foundation Of William and
Mary college,, William Nelson. Thomas
Nelson Robert Carter and Peyton Ran
dolph. Esqulres: and Robert Carter Mich
olas John Randolph benjamin Waller.
John Blair, Jr., George Wythe, Dudley
Dgges. Jr., Lewis Burwell, Thomas Mel
sop. Jr.. Thomas Everard, and John
Tazcweil. Esquires.
At that time lunatc asylums were
popuiarly called "mad-houses.' They
were really prisons fer the confinement
OF crazy people, who were considered
worthy only Of being separated from
their kind. without regard 10 consequent
ces. The visitor TO the institution now
at Williamsburg, will at once discover the
evidences Of an advanced civilization in
the manner Of treating and providing
for these unfortunates.
GOOD QUEEN amp.
The new capital of the colony was
now growing fast. King Williams de-
parture from this world had been has
tened by the fall from his horse and his
queen had died Of the smallpox. Good
Queen Anne was now on the throne.
She loved her Virginia subjects, and they
were intensely loyal 10 her. she had
listened TO their petitions and heard
with regret Of their sufferings. The colony
had now about 10000 inhabitants, but was
much annoyed by the Indians in the
west. and by freebooters on the east.
ire good queen began her administration
hv cpndfnu ont arrpq ammunition and
supplies of all sorts. She authorized the
erection of an arsenal, and the erection
OF forts. &c. The Earl Of Orkney was
now Governor OF Virginia, but never saw
the American continent. lie sent out one
Of Anne's faVorites, doubtless at her
desire TO rule over the colony. AleXan-
der Spottswood who had distinguished
himself as a soldier and leader of men,
was the best ruler the colony, or even
the State, ever had The Virginians were
devoted to him. He was bold. ener-
getc active young man, when he came
TO America. He saw the necessities of
the colony. infused a spirit Of enterprise
and adventure among the young men of
the country and revived the dropping
aspect Of affairs generally. 1t would be
out of place to attempt here even an
outline of this remarkable mans add
ministration. Readers Of Virginia history
should not fail 10 become especially
familiar with It, One Of his acts deserves
mention, because it ultimately led TO
important historic events at later
time.
Queen Anne had supplied the colony
with an abundance of munitions of war;
no provision had been made for their
proper preservation. An act was passed
by the General Assembly TO remedy
this defect. The Governor was author
lied to erect a magazine of arms. &c.
Spotswood at once proceeded TO carry out
this measure. He selected a spot within
the city of Williamsburg upon which to
put this building, because Of the necessity
Of their protection and safety. The peO-
pie Of Williamsburg and OF the surround
ing country were delighted at has choice.
This historic structure Is now standing,
and after a century Of neglect. has been
lately rescued from destruction by the
energy and devotion of the women of
the State, under the lead of one who
bears an honored and distinguished name.
In modern days II has been popularity
known as the Powder Horn"
From the days of Spottswood, through
the trying times of the Revolution of l176,
1t had become identified with the his
tory of the State 1t was for long years
the receptacle OF the arms and NUM-
lions so necessary to the defence of the
colony; a sort of palladium in the midst
ofthe community who felt the safer for its
presence. and who cherished It ac-
cordingly. When the trouble with the
Mother Country began, IT was a source
OF anxiety to the patriots and when, at
length, matters grew serious, and great
political crisis was threatening the peace
of the two powers. il became the
immediate cause of a rupture between
the representatives of the crown at VII
liamsburg and the people of the State.
IL was on this occasion that Patrick
Henry took the initiative in his hostile
attitude 10 the English government.
Gov. Dunmore, contrary to every sem
timent of honor and right, had surrepti-
uously taken away by force, the arms.
ammunition and military equipments,
deposited in the old Powder horn" and
which belonged TO the people OF the colo
ny. This unexpected outrage at once
excited the Indignation and reused the
spirit Of the people. II was the friction
over the entire State The history of
that affair and the consequent events are
too well-known TO be repeated here.
Those who set proper value upon the
past, its relics and associations, will be
glad to know that this historic structure
is now standing; venerable for age, re-
nowned in the annals Of the nation. and
in its recent restoration. the sturdy re-
minder OF the heroic times in which it
had its beginning.
The visitor to the ancient capital cannot
fail TO look with more than ordinary in
oil A.. 4.