The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-10-10

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salubrlous climate. grew apace in use
fulness and renowal.
At the close OF the civil war, the COL
lege being without income or credit.
borrowed money for the repair Of the
buildings, on the private credit OF MEM
bers OF the Board of. Trustees. -
On August 4. 1865, General Robert %.
Lee was elected president. and notified
as follows:
Lexington. Va, August 8, 1897.
To General Robert T.. Lee. Cumberland:
Ssir-The board of trustees OF Wash
ington College. Virginia, on tine 4th in
slant, unanimously elected you presi-
dent Of that institution. and commits
stoned the undersigned to communicate
the fact to you, and to solicit the honor
of your acceptance. We beg leave TO
assure you. general. that the board
could not have possibly devolved upon
us u more grateful task than to he
their organ in communicating to you
this humble but most sincere tribute to
your merits. and we beg further to say
thar we VIII derive the most profound
qualification from your permission to
announce Ito them and ito lthe country
your acceptance Of the position assign
ed you. We alavc TO deplore that the
emoluments of the Office now rendered
10 you are very far below your just anu
universally acknowledged claims upon
the confidence the gratitude md the
affections OF your country; yet we dare
cherish the hope that in Inviting you
ITO dedicate your labors to the inculcl-
ton of THE truths Of science on the
minds of the youth 'cf our State. we at
tempt no vain or Dresumptuous, task
While SO many other literary instit,l-
itions of our beloved Slate lie crushed
and bleeding under the iron 1loof of war,
Washington College, though a great
sufferer from the havoc and devasta-
it!on everywhere left In its train. Is still
blessed with q vigorous vitality, and
needs only. the aid of your ilnStrious
character and transcendcnt sciclttic
attninmerHtS to reanmate her dropping
fortunes and restore her to more than
her pristine usefulness and prosperity.
With sentiments of profound respect,
we have the honor to be, your friends
and obediemt servants,
JOHN w. BROCKENBROUGH,
Re2tor.
S. Med. REID,
ALFRED LEYBURN,
HORATlO THOMPSON. DID.
BOLIVAR CHRISTIAN,
Il. J. KIRKPATRICK,
After carefully considering the sub
ject, General Lee accepted in the fol-
lowing letter:
Fowlatan, Va, Aug. "a, 1865.
Gentlemen have delayed for some
days replying 10 your letter of the 1th
instant, informing me of my election
by the board OF trustees to the presiden-
~ of Washington College, from a de-
sire 10 give THE subject due conside11-
tion Fully impressed With the RESPONSE
Dilitics of the office, I have feared that
should be unable to discharge it's du-
ucS TO the satisfaction of the trustees
vi 10 She dement, OF the country. The
proper education of youth requires not
only great ability of but l fear more
| strength than I now possess, for do
not feel able to undergo the labor of
conducting classes in regular courses of
instruction. l should not therefore
undertake more than the general ad-
| nmnistration and supervision of the in
| St!tuhon. There is another subject
wlfich has caused me serious reflection
| ana Is, think, worthy of the c.onsidn.
| ratAon OF The board. Being excluded
from the terms of amnesty in the proc-
lamatton of the president Of the JInh.od
| StateS OF the Goth of May last and an
| OBJECT or ccnsure 10 n portion OF IN a
country, I have thought it probable
that my occupation of the position of
president might draw up1n the college
4 Keeling OF hostility, and I shouI1
.nefelorc cause an injury to an insth,u-
| ton which 1t would he NV highest do
| sire TO advance ] think it the dntv ~
every citizen, in she present condition
| Oh Nne country to do all In his power
10 aid III the restoration OF peace and
! harmony, and in no way to opposc tba
| policy or the State or general ,rovern-
,ieht airented 20 that object 1t is par
| licularly incumbent upon those charn
ca WIN the instruction of the young 10
~ phrin an Example of submission 10
authority ANA | could not consent 10
lie the cause OF animadverslon anon ara
college. "io' eiie
ohould you. however, take n different
view. and think that my services IN tho
| poSlticfl rendered me by the board viii,
ne advantageous to the college ana
country. will yield to your judgment
unu accept It, Otherwise I must most
respectfully decline the office.
Begging you to express to the trus.
tees of the college my heartfelt erati
iuue Tor the honor conferred upon mo
anu requesting you to accent nv cordial
thank; for the kind manner in which
YOU nave communicated its decision. T
am. gentlemen with great respect. your
most ohcaicnt servant. r. L. LEE.
Messrs. John w. Brockenbrough. roc.
Ipr' .. McD. Reid. Alfred Leyburn.
iioratlo thompson. d. d.; Bolivar Chris
tian' T. j. Kirkpatrick, committee.
Gen Lee was formally installed prcsi-
uent OF Washington College, October
1850 4 position which he held until his
| death in 1870
The Geccral Assembly of Virginia. In
1871 changed the name of the inslitu-
Ion TO lis present corporate title, the
w aSh1ngton and Lee University"
blending the names of the great benc