of the Institution. The Academy, or Log College, was opened January 1776,-with the President were associated J. B. Smith, first teacher, and Samuel Doake and David Witherspoon, assistants. In the course of the summer there were as many as one hundred and ten students under instruction at one time. At the first meeting of the Trustees, of which there is any record, on the 26th of September, an order was passed allowing Messrs. N. Venable and P. Carrington to build cabins for their sons. This was done on account of the difficulty of obtaining board and lodging for the great number of students that came in from all quarters.

At the opening of the school, "Capt. Philemon Holcomb engaged with the Trustees to act as steward for the small sum of £8 per year for diet-for washing and bed £3; provisions at that time very cheap and plenty. Capt. Holcomb continued as steward until 1st January, 1777, when he resigned, having given the Trustees previous notice thereof, and Mr. William Bibb was then chosen for one year at the price of £11."

Mr. George Craghead, from whose letter to Mr. Watkins the above is taken, who was himself a member of the school, says: "In May, 1776, the walls of the Academy were about three. feet high, and on account of scarcity of room for the students to study in, they obtained leave from the undertaker, Mr. Coleman, to erect little huts with the shingles that were intended to cover the Academy. They were packed like a sugar loaf, with a plank for three or four boys to sit upon; and in the night a candle being placed in each hut, there being eight or ten, it showed how intent the inhabitants were in studying till 9 or 10 o'clock at night. That year the students devoted their time to study; very little was spent in recreation or amusement. About the first of July Mr. Hockley, a student, about twenty years of age, universally beloved, was taken with a fever, and in a few days died."

As the declaration of national independence spread through the country, the youth were aroused, and offered themselves as soldiers to redeem that pledge of "our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honour." Busy as the students were in their studies, their hearts were full of patriotism; and with the arts and sciences of academic life, they would learn the rudiments of the art of war. Mr. Craghead says "Mr. John Blair Smith was chosen captain of a company of the students about sixty-five in number, over sixteen years of age,-Mr. David Witherspoon lieutenant, and Mr. Samuel Venable, son of Nathaniel, was chosen ensign. The students wore uniform, viz. a hunting shirt died purple, and every student, although under sixteen years of age, was mustered every month."

Mr. James Mitchell was employed as a teacher during this

summer. A half a century afterwards this devoted minister of the gospel was moving among his brethren, a patriarch in the Synod. Mr. Doak left the Academy the latter part of the year 1776; and ultimately went to Tennessee, the pioneer of literature in the west. Mr. John Springer, who had been engaged the year before but had been hindered from coming, succeeded him as tutor. On the 11th May, 1777, the Board was called by particular request of Mr. John Springer, who told the Trustees that he had been drunk and did gamble at New London, on one occasion. In consideration of his candour the Trustees only suspended him. He was succeeded by Mr. James Willson..

"In 1777,”—says Mr. Craghead-"about the first of September, there was a requisition from the Governor for one company of militia from Prince Edward county to march to Williamsburg to oppose an expected invasion from the British: all the students, over sixteen years of age, immediately, with the advice of the President, exchanged their numbers for No. 1 with the militia in the county, and marched to Williamsburg, under the aforesaid officers; and after remaining a few days at Williamsburg, were discharged by the Governor; and as the vacation was about to take place, they returned to their expected homes. Several of them never returned to the Academy,some entered into the United States army as officers, and others enlisted as common soldiers." In the close of this same year, on account of the great depreciation of the money in circulation, the steward, Mr. Bibb-"very abruptly quit about the 25th of December, without giving the Trustees previous notice to appoint a successor. The Academy was likely to have been discontinued, but Mr. Nathaniel Venable, Mr. James Allen, senr., and I believe Captain John Morton united and agreed to furnish provisions for twelve months, and employed a Mr. Young with his family, to attend to the cooking, &c. for the sum of £20 only per student: they acted faithfully until the end of the year of 1778, but lost very considerably on account of the depreciation of paper money. For the next year of 1779, I was informed, that the students found themselves chiefly with provisions and employed cooks, &c., (a poor business I expect). How they were supplied afterwards I do not recollect, as I was taken from the Academy in November, 1778, and was sent to Washington Henry Academy in Hanover county.

"I am satisfied,"-continues Mr. Craghead-"there never was as many students at Hampden Sidney after the year 1776. I often heard the then steward, Captain Holcomb, say that he boarded seventy-five that year; the rest boarded in the neighbourhood, and some few boarded at home. The names of the students, at first, were placed in three classes, No. 1, 2 and 3; at the examination it was usual to say, white, yellow, black.

Those who had been very studious and distinguished themselves before the Examiners, were publicly applauded by the President before the students were dismissed, and those who had been negligent were also named with disapprobation. With respect to the yellow list nothing was said, pro or con. The President always informed the students, that there was a roll constantly kept, wherein were recorded the names of every student, the time of their entry and departure, their place of residence, but above all, the manner in which each had conducted himself; that at a future day it would appear at the Academy, whose conduct had been approved of, and whose had been censured; which ought, he said, to stimulate every student, who had any regard for his future character. There were two societies at the Academy in 1776, one was denominated the Cliosophic (I believe) and the other, Tully Whitefield; which last was changed and called The American Whig Society. They kept records of all their proceedings, and I never knew a single sentence to be expunged."

In May, 1778, Mr. James Willson left the office of tutor, and was succeeded by Mr. Charles Wingfield, of the first class. From this we learn the estimate the President had of the proficiency of the advanced classes, and of that young man in particular, as institutions aim at rearing their own tutors as early and entirely as practicable.

From the foregoing short notices are distinctly seen the difficulties the first President, Samuel Stanhope Smith, surmounted; and also the enthusiasm he excited on the subject of education. The difficulties from the Revolutionary war, however, pressed more heavily on his brother, who succeeded him, and also on himself for a few years after his removal to Princeton. John Blair Smith succeeded to the Presidency in times very inauspicious, except in the trials and perplexities which prove great men and crush small ones. And to have carried an infant college through the scenes and difficulties that surrounded and pressed upon him, is proof of no ordinary mind, and of the presence of that Divine hand that shows itself, in days of calamity, for the cause it loves.

After the battle of the Cowpens, on the 17th of January, 1781, the excitement in the southern country was great. This second victory, in such quick succession to the famous battle of King's Mountain, roused the sinking hopes of the patriots. A few more such triumphs of the American arms would annihilate the British army. Morgan retreated most rapidly, with his prisoners, towards Virginia: Green covered his retreat, himself retiring before Cornwallis, unable to resist an army whose progress he could only retard. His pressing calls for reinforcements brought out the militia from North Western Caro

lina, and from all the contiguous counties of Virginia, and the southern sections of the Great Valley. Captain William Morton, of Charlotte, in two days, raised a company of his neighbours to join the army of Greene on the Dan. Hearing of his intentions, the President of the College set out to join him. On overtaking the company in Halifax, the Captain earnestly entreated him to return to Prince Edward, that he could serve the cause more at home by his exciting patriotic speeches than by his presence in camp. Worn out by fatigue, rather than convinced by his friend, he returned to College.

A company of dragoons had been previously raised in the counties of Prince Edward, Amelia and Nottaway, and made a part of Lee's famous legion, whose deeds are so romantically detailed in his Memoirs of the Southern War. Lieutenant Eggleston was from Amelia, and appears to have been a favourite of Lee; he was afterwards member of Congress for many years. On this alarming and pressing call from Green, a company of militia dragoons was raised in Prince Edward, under the command of Thomas Watkins. Philemon Holcomb, Charles Scott and Samuel Venable, were the other officers. Among the privates was the famous Peter Francisco. This company was attached to Colonel Washington's command; it is said Captain Watkins offered himself and company to Lee, who refused them because they were not "fine enough dressed." This company signalized itself in the battle of Guilford, in that famous charge made on the Queen's Guards. Lieut. Holcomb used to relate the circumstances of that terrible charge upon the Queen's Guards, in which this troop bore a part. Leaping a ravine, the swords of the horsemen were upon the heads of the enemy, who were rejoicing in victory and safety; and before they suspected danger, multitudes lay dead. The strong arm of Francisco levelled three of the enemy during one charge, and eleven before the fight was over. When this company was formed, the students, already greatly lessened in number by the calamities of war, pressed forward to the ranks. Peter Johnson, about sixteen years of age, the son of the donor of the land on which the College stands, offered himself, and was rejected, as under age and under size. He nevertheless procured a horse and offered himself to Lee, and was with some hesitation received. He served during that momentous campaign with great honour, taking a part in several actions, besides the decisive one of Guilford Court House. He was in after life a Judge of eminence in his native State; and has left a posterity to rejoice in his patriotism.

When the war was over the College was in a depressed state. The enthusiasm for education was somewhat abated among the people at large; objects of ambition and speculation engrossed

multitudes. The more thoughtful patriots felt the immeasurable importance of the universal dissemination of knowledge and true morality and religion for the preservation of that political liberty that had been acquired. The friends of Hampden Sidney applied for and obtained from the Legislature in 1783 a charter for the Academy under the legal name of College, with all proper privileges and powers.

The last act of the Presbytery in the management of the College, before the charter, was to appoint some additional trustees. New Providence, October 24th, 1782-"As it appears to the Presbytery that the Trustees of the Academy of Hampden Sidney in Prince Edward, have failed to discharge their duty, through the distant situation of some whose attendance was necessary, upon motion of Mr. Smith, the Presbytery agreeably to the original constitution of that Academy, appoint Messrs. James Allen, Charles Allen, Samuel W. Venable, William Booker, William Morton of Charlotte, Joseph Parke, and Colonel Thomas Scott, in addition to those who already act in that capacity." This act of Presbytery was entered on the minutes of the Trustees on the 19th of December, 1782. The next spring the charter was obtained. Its preamble says

"Whereas it is represented to the present General Assembly, that an Academy has been founded in Prince Edward, and which hath been supported by the generous donations of a few public spirited citizens for several years past; but that in order to make the advantages arising therefrom more permanent and diffusive, certain privileges are essentially necessary for conducting the same in future to greater advantage; and this Assembly, warmly impressed with the important advantages arising to every free State by diffusing useful knowledge amongst its citizens, and desirous of giving their patronage and support to such seminaries of learning as may appear to them calculated to promote this great object,"-enact, &c.

After enacting that the Academy "shall obtain the name and be called the College of Hampden Sidney," the following persons are named Trustees,-Rev. John Blair Smith, Patrick Henry, William Cabell, senr., Paul Carrington, Robert Lawson, James Madison, John Nash, Nathaniel Venable, Everard Meade, Joel Watkins, James Venable, Francis Watkins, John Morton, William Morton, Thomas Reade, William Booker, Thomas Scott, senr., James Allen, Charles Allen, Samuel Woodson Venable, Joseph Parke, Richard Foster, Peter Johnson, the Rev. Richard Sankey, the Rev. John Todd, the Rev. David Rice, and the Rev. Archibald McRoberts. As so large a portion of these were ministers, elders, and members of the Presbyterian Church, and all named by the Presbytery in her previous lists of Trustees, but three, the apprehensions of