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

Toward the endowment of the col
lese. william and Mary contributed
1.oS5 las. l0d.. raised out Of the quit
rents OF the colony. and at that time
in the hands of William Byrd. audi
tor: one penny pound OH all tobacco
exported from Virginia and Maryland:
the office OF surveyor with all
It's Issues. fees and profits. advantages
cohveniences. liberties. places. privi-
leges. and pre- eminence whatsoever;
10000 acres of land lying on the south
side OF Blackwater swamp. and 10000
acres lying In that neck of land COM
monty called Pamunker Neck. between
tho forks of York River
The faculty had the right to elect
either one OF their own body one OF
the visitors of the college. or "one of
the better sort OF the Inhabitants OF
the colony" to represent the college in
the House of Burgesses.
The collage building was planned by
Sir Christopher Wren. and 1t was de-
signed. says Beverly ito be an entire
square when completed" The hrst
commencement exercises We're held in
100, lat which there was great con
course of people: several planters came
hither in coaches. and others in sloops
from New York. Pennsylvania and
Maryland. II being new thing IN that
part. of America to hear graduates pcr-
FORM their exercises The Indians had
the curiosity. some OF them, to visit
Wiiiamsburg upon that occasion. and
the whole country rcjoiced rs il they
had some relish of learning"
The General Assembly of Virginia
was held at his Majesty's Royal Col
leSe OF William and Mary from 100
until l7o5, when, together with library
and philosophical apparatus, IL was
destroyed by fire"
The good comnissary found TO his
sorrow that the granting of the char
CT 1i-t, ~
iege In Virginia. and that before he
Was enabled TO get II into successful
operation, he had to encounter a weary
and prolonged struggle.
sir Edwin Andres came from New
YORK TO Virginia to succeed Francis
Hicholson as Governor. and Immediately
became as active against the college as
Nicnoison had been for II. Nicho!.
son was now Governor of Maryland,
put ne Kept up a warm interest in the
college and remained upon its board of
governors. but his influence amounted
10 very little against such opposition
rs tho institution met with from .he
new Governor and the new Governors
friends.
10 make matters worse, the royal in :
strnctions to Andres made him the rem
rcsentative of the King and Risnon
or England i'm church affairs in a,Idi-
tioh TO his authority of secular mat
tsrs. This now privilege granted to
the Governor robbed the comrnissarv
OF much of the power he had been
wont to WELD. Time and time again
me opening OF the college was post
Ponen' but this seemed to stimulate
T nr than weaken the zeal Of DR..
Biair in his favorite project. and to
nH ms determination TO carry II
through, in spite of every obstacle.
In very rare book which ] found
IN the congressional Library. The
IN Of
leEe, by Messrs. Hartwcn Blair and
chiffon. printed i'm London, l727. hui
written in regard TO the CONTROVERSY
win Andres in 1697-3S. in a section
concerning the College of William and
Mar IN Virginia, after recountine
LIZ, Mna' .ne king had done for the col
iese they say, The General Assembly
also gave the college duty on skin,
ana furs worth better than sloO ner
year, ana they got subscriptions in
virginia in Governor Nicholson's time
LOT ABOUT 1880 towards the building.
i'h tnese beginnings the trustees of
mo college went TO work, but their
sood Governor who had been the great
est encouraGcr in that country of this
desisn ION which he had laid out s3;n
OF MS own money!, being Mt that time
removed from them. and another put in
ms place that was of quite different
spirit and temper. they found their
business go on very heavily .nd
such difficulties in everything. thar
presently upon change Of Governors
they had as many enemies as eve, H.,
nad mad friends; such universal in.
nuehce ana sway has person of tha /
character in all affairs of that countrr
Inc gentlemen of the Council who
had been the forwardest TO subscribe
were the backwardest 10 paw; then
every one was for finding shifts TO
evade and elude their subscriptions
ana the meaner people were so influ-
enced by their countenance and exam
pie tmen being easily persuaded to
keep their money that there was not