concurrence of the Rev. Robert Smith, and the Rev. Robert Davidson, and Mr. John Bayard merchant of Pennsylvania; and the Rev. Dr. John Rodgers, and Mr. Samuel Brown merchant of New York; or any two of them. And we also intrust the visiters and managers, hereafter nominated, and Messrs. Joseph Morton, James Allen, William Smith of Cumberland, Warren Walker, William Morton, and Robert Good, to collect £400, or to borrow it upon interest, and transmit it to Philadelphia, to the said Samuel Stanhope Smith, before the first of May next.'

On the next day-"The Presbytery, after viewing several places shown them, by the gentlemen of the part, agree to build an academy-house, and a dwelling-house for the superintendent, and other necessary houses, as far as the subscriptions will admit, at the head of Hudson's Branch, in Prince Edward county, on an hundred acres of land, given for the use, by Mr. Peter Johnson; and we entrust Mr. Peter Johnson, Col. John Nash, Jr., Mr. James Allen, Capt. John Morton, and Capt. Nathaniel Venable, or any three of them, to draw plans of the houses, and let them to the lowest bidder, of which they shall give timely notice to the publick. And we also intrust Col. John Nash, Jr., Mr. James Allen, Capt. John Morton, and Capt. Nathaniel Venable, or any three of them, to have the above-named hundred acres of land measured and bounded, and the title secured for the purposes, for which it was given.

"And as several members of this Presbytery lie at too great a distance from each other frequently to meet together, and consult on the affairs of this Academy, we appoint the Rev. Messrs. Richard Sankey, (of Buffaloe), John Todd, (of Louisa), Samuel Leake (of Albemarle) and Caleb Wallace (of Cub Creek), together with Mr. Peter Johnson, Col. Paul Carrington, Col. John Nash, Jr., Capt. John Morton, Capt. Nathaniel Venable, Col. Thomas Read, Mr. James Venable, Mr. Francis Watkins, and the superintendent ex officio, trustees of the Academy. Seven of the trustees shall be a quorum. They are to collect the subscriptions, expend the money, and conduct all the concerns of the Academy, in behalf of the Presbytery; also they are to keep a fair book of accounts, and all the transactions relating to the Academy, to be preserved on the records thereof.

"The Presbytery reserve to themselves the liberty, forever, of choosing the Superintendent, the Trustees, and the Assistants. "On February 3d-Presbytery chose Mr. Samuel Stanhope Smith, Rector of the Prince Edward Academy, and we entrust the said Smith, and the Rev. Robert Smith of Pennsylvania, and William Charles Huston, Professor in Princeton College, or any two of them, to choose an Assistant. And we also agree that tuition be fixed at £4 per annum for each scholar; 20s. of which shall be paid on the day of entrance; and we also agree

that the tuition money shall be divided between the Rector and the Assistants, at the discretion of the Trustees, until they shall find it expedient otherwise to regulate the matter.

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Mr. Sankey having obtained permission to go home, Mr. Rice was chosen Moderator in his room." The Presbytery then proceeded to take steps to have Mr. Smith settled as a preacher as well as teacher, according to the spirit of the Log College in Pennsylvania, which had been so rich in blessings on Virginia. "The united congregations of Prince Edward and Cumberland, having applied to us for permission to present a call to Mr. Samuel Stanhope Smith, a probationer of New Castle Presbytery, it is cheerfully granted. And as we find it would be very inconvenient for any of our members to be present in the congregation when the call is signed, we take the opportunity to assure the Rev. Presbytery [of New Castle,] that we have sufficient information that they are unanimous for Mr. Smith, and we earnestly pray that you may concur in encouraging him to take the care of one of our important vacancies."

The Presbytery then proceeded to make the following manifesto.-"The Presbytery having for a long time had the liberal education of youth, in these upper parts, much at heart, and having succeeded so far in our endeavours to promote it, as to do something considerable towards erecting an academy in Prince Edward county, where we trust every necessary branch of human literature will be taught to good advantage, on the most catholic plan-and whereas some gentlemen who are unacquainted with our sentiments, may encourage this Seminary with reluctance because it is to be under the guardianship of this Presbytery, we take this opportunity to assure the publick, that though the strictest regard shall be paid to the morals of the youth, and worship carried on, evening and morning, in the Presbyterian way; yet, on the other hand, all possible care shall be taken that no undue influence be used by any member of this Presbytery, the Rector, or any assistant, to bias the judgment of any; but that all, of every denomination, shall fully enjoy his own religious sentiments, and be at liberty to attend that mode of publick worship, that either custom or conscience makes most agreeable to them, when and where they may have an opportunity of enjoying it."

This meeting of the Presbytery appears to have been one of those very important ones, whose influence extends to coming generations, and whose actions with its actors ought to be remembered through all time.

The call for Mr. Smith having been laid before his Presbytery, and by it put into his hands, on the 27th of October, at Rockfish." Mr. Samuel Stanhope Smith preached a sermon on Eph. ii. 8, "For by grace are ye saved, through

faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God," previous to his ordination, with which the Presbytery are well pleased. Mr. Smith having applied for admission into this. Presbytery, informed us that he had neglected to bring a dismission and recommendation from New Castle Presbytery; nevertheless, being well assured of his good standing as a probationer of that Presbytery, and seeing that a call from the united congregations of Cumberland and Prince Edward has been presented to him, and he being encouraged to receive it by said Presbytery, which amounts to a dismission and recommendation, we judge it safe to receive him; but recommend it to him to procure a dismission, and to produce it to this Presbytery as soon as he conveniently can. The Presbytery then proceeded to ordain Mr. Smith to the sacred work of the ministry by the imposition of hands and prayer. Mr. Smith now takes his seat as a member of Presbytery together with his Elder, Mr. James Venable."

On Wednesday, November 8th, 1775, "Mr. Smith informs, that the gentlemen, not being able to collect or borrow the four hundred pounds, for the purpose of purchasing books, &c., did transmit a letter of credit to him last spring, for three hundred pounds, and twenty in cash, which he has laid out in purchasing of books and mathematical and philosophical apparatus, agreeably to the directions of Presbytery; and that he has purchased on his own credit, in behalf of the Presbytery, to the amount of forty pounds, which are all safe come to hand. The letter of credit and the forty pounds above named, together with the package and portage of the books and instruments, the gentlemen appointed to collect the four hundred pounds are desired to pay out of the collections they have made, or shall make of the subscriptions.

"The gentlemen inform us that ninety-eight acres of land are measured, bounded and secured by deed, from Mr. Peter Johnson, for the use of the Academy.

"The gentlemen appointed inform us, that they have drawn. plans, and let an academy house, and a dwelling house for the Rector, at the sum of six hundred and ninety-four pounds; for which the undertaker is to take subscriptions for payment, upon the condition, that such as are found to be insolvent, be made good with the other subscriptions;-and that they have let a kitchen and a smoke house, which are to be valued when the work is done, and paid as above.

"The Presbytery are informed that the gentlemen who were chosen Trustees have signified their acceptance;-and the Rev. David Rice, Colonel Patrick Henry, Colonel John Tabb, Colonel William Cabel, and Colonel James Madison, jr., are now added to the number. Mr. Todd is appointed to write to Col

onel Henry and to Col. Madison; Mr. Rice to Colonel Cabel, and Captain Morton to Colonel Tabb, and to solicit their acceptance."

On Thursday, November 9th, 1775, Rev. Samuel Stanhope Smith was installed pastor of the united churches of Cumberland and Prince Edward. "Mr. Smith informs that agreeably to the commission of Presbytery he has engaged two assistants of liberal education, Mr. J. B. Smith and Mr. Springer."

These efforts for an Academy were made at the time the agitation and distress preceding the Revolution were at their height; the war had actually commenced, though the declaration had not yet been made in form by the Continental Congress. The distress of community was such that the Presbytery say on the 9th of November, 1775,-"We judge it incompatible with our circumstances, for any of our members to attend at the next Synod, with our Presbytery book: we therefore appoint Mr. Todd and Mr. Rice to write to the Synod, and plead our excuse, until Providence shall put it into the power of some of our members to attend.

"At Timber Ridge, Saturday, May 4th, 1776, Mr. Samuel S. Smith informs that Mr. John B. Smith came according to agreement, and is now in the service of the Academy, as his assistant; but Mr. John Springer having been providentially detained, he has on the emergency employed Mr. Samuel Doak, as second assistant; and the number of students increasing beyond expectation, he has also employed Mr. David Witherspoon as third assistant. The Presbytery on being certified of their good character and liberal education, do approve and confirm the choice." Mr. John B. Smith became in a short time the head of the institution, and one of the most distinguished ministers that ever graced the Virginia church. Mr. Samuel Doak in a few years, 1778, was in Tennessee, building a Log College for the rising Presbyterian population of that now populous State. He took the first library across the Alleghanies, carrying it on pack horses, in sacks, to endow his rising College, the first in the great West.

On Monday, May 6th, besides attending to the location of the Augusta school, the records say,-" As by the death of the Rev. Mr. Leake there is a vacancy in the Board of Trustees of the Prince Edward Academy-now known by the name of Hampden Sidney-the Rev. Archibald McRoberts is chosen Trustee in his stead.

The affairs of Hampden Sidney went on prosperously, notwithstanding the convulsions of the Revolution, increasing in reputation and usefulness. On the 28th of October, 1779, at Prince Edward Court House, after the ordination of his brother

John Blair Smith to the full work of the gospel ministry"Mr. Samuel Stanhope Smith having had an invitation from the Trustees of the New Jersey College, to accept of the Professorship of Moral Philosophy in that institution, asked a dismission from this Presbytery, from the congregations of Cumberland and Briery, and also from the Presidency of Hampden. Sidney. Resolved, that the request is reasonable, and he is dismissed accordingly. The Presidency of Hampden Sidney being now vacant, Presbytery appoint Rev. John Blair Smith to succeed his brother, the late President, in that office."Under this gentleman the institution rose to a degree of popularity and usefulness, as a Log College, both in the theological, and the literary department, which has never been surpassed in its most palmy of succeeding years. In the month of April, 1780, the President accepted a call to become the pastor of the churches of Cumberland and Briery, made vacant by the removal of his brother; and thus from the first united the pastoral office with the duties of the Presidency of the College, and the Professor of Theology, embracing what is properly the labour of three men; and giving a Christian spirit to the efforts for the education of youth, which are never more successful than when conducted in the fear of God, and the love of Jesus Christ the Mediator. With him, men of the greatest probity, and of the highest public estimation and private worth, were associated in the direction of a seminary where the purest sentiments of religion and patriotism were inculcated in a most efficient manner. The names of such men as Morton, Venable, Nash, Watkins, Allen, Henry, Carrington, men honoured for their patriotism, and religion, sound well in conjunction with the two patriots of England, Hampden and Sidney, whose names were early and significantly united to indicate the principles that should be taught there and to give it a name.

It is worthy of observation, that about the same time that the Presbyterian settlements in Virginia were endeavouring to rear their Log Colleges, the one west and the other east of the Blue Ridge, their brethren in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, put up their Log College at Charlotte, and named it Queen's Museum. The king having annulled their charter,—and they having, in the month of May, next succeeding the founding of Hampden Sidney, issued their Declaration of Independence,the name was changed to Liberty Hall, expressive of the principles and spirit of the men. A full account of this institution may be found in Sketches of North Carolina. It will form a conspicuous chapter in all future histories of that State.

Before we pass by the time of the first President of Hampden Sidney, some scraps gathered from various sources will throw light upon the condition of the country, and the infancy