Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-17

flor him the favor Of tho Queen. who
would DO most valuable friend. be
ms person that Is very great en-
courager OF all works OF charity"
Queen Mary. TO whom DIR. Blair
hrst unfolded the object OF his visit.
was we'll pleased with the noble de-
sign and zealousiy espoused II. prom
Using her influence with the King.
Bishop Burnett OF Salisbury tent
him letter introducing him to the
Archbishop of Canterbury. who heard
tho story with interest and promised
him his influence in its behalf.
Both Bishop Stellingfleet and tho
archbishop advised the commissary to
make Il direct application to their
Majesties. instead Of nrst laying the
matter before the Lords OF Planta-
ton as the Bishop OF London had
suggested.
The archbishop graciously approach
ed his Majesty upon the subject hrst.
and informed the commissioner that
he never saw the King take any
thing better"
King William named a time for an
interview with Commissary Blair, who.
upon November H. was presented TO
the King by the Ardh Bishop and Lord
Dillingham;. The Bishop of London
should have been there. but he VAS
again taken sick probably that great
cloud" made him sick at the thought
OF meddling with any court business)
DR.. Blair, in a letter to Governor
Nicholson writes: II kneeled down and
said these words. Please, your Majesty.
! here is an humble supplication from
the government OF Virginia for your
Majesty's charter. to erect a free school
and college for the education of their
youth and so ] delivered II into their
hand. He answered. Sir. am glad that
the colony is upon so good design.
and / will promote 1t to the best of my
power
DR.. Blair was SO much encouraged by
the Kings kindly reception and the
; friendliness OF the authorities, both
spiritual and temporal, that he writes
to Governor Nicholson concerning tho
college, Every one thinks that II is
in good Il way that il cannot we'll
miscarry."
Next year. February. 1892. DR.. Blair
again wrote to Governor Nicholson
that the college BUSINESS has been at
standstill. the King having been alb
sorbcd with thoughts Of war and other
pressing matters of state" but he
writes that he made good use OF the de-
lay. for he had secured promises of
gifts to the college amounting 10 $500
But confesses that the trouble of man
aging the college business is so vastly
great boyond expectation that IL he
could have foreseen il he doubts
whether he should have had the cour-
age TO undertake II. Al length. H.
charter for the college was granted
The Bishop OF London was appointed
chancellor, and the Rev. James Blair
president. and the college was given
the name OF william and Mary in honor
OF their Majcsties, the King and Queen
Commissary Blair was directed 10
convey to Seymour. the Attorney EN-
eral. the royal commands TO issue the
charter. Seymour demonstrated against
this liberalty upon the ground that
the nation was engaged in an expen-
sive war: that the money was wanted
for better purposes, and that he did
not see the slightest occasion for
college In Virginia" The Rev. Dr.
Blair represented to him that its In
tention was to educate and qualify
young men to be ministers of the Cos
pei. and begged Mr. Attorney would
consider that the people of Virginia
| had souls to be saved az we'll as the
people of England. Souls, exclaimed
the imperious Seymour: Damn your
souls. make tobacco" The charter Of
the college was prepared, however. and
signed on the sth day of February. in
I the fourth year OF the reign of vii.
liam and Mary, which date corresponds
under the new style with the 18th Of
February. 1893 II was granted TO
! the end that the church of Virginia
may be furnished with a seminary OF
ministers of the gospel, and that the
youth may be piously educated in good
letter6 and manners. and that the Chris.
tian faith may be propagated among
the Western Indians 70 the glory Of
Almighty God" The charter Fixed the
location of the college on the land OF
Colonel Townsend, on the south side
OF York River, near Yorktown "It
by reason of unwholesomeness or any
other cause the said place shall not
be approved the college is 10 be estab-
iishcd ''wheresoever else the General
Assembly Of our Colony of Virginia or
the major part OF them. shall think ft.
within the bounds OF the aforesaid coll
ony, to continue for all times coisins."
BY virtue OF the authority thus
granted, the third Act OF the Virginia
Asse1b bly,. in the fifth year OF the
reign Of william and Mary. provides:
That Middle Plantation NOW Will
liamsourg) be the place for erecting
the said college of William and Mary
In Virginia, and that the said college
be at the place erected and built as
near the church now standing in Mid
die Plantation old fields As convenience
Will permit"
Assembly. TO whom the Royal License
was granted, were:
Francis Nicholson. Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor OF the colonies OF Virginia and
Maryland.
William Cole. Ralph Wormley. Will
liam Byrd and John Lear. Esquires.
John Blair. John Farnifold. stephen
Fouace and Samuel Gray. Clerks.
/ Thomas Miner. Christopher Robin
son, Charles Scarborough, John Smith,
Benjamin Harrison. Miles Cary. Henry
Hartwen. William Randolph. and Mat