law; but they did not exempt themselves. They, | instruction in the scientific and classical departlaying aside the badge of their order, assuming ments, but paid special attention to the grammarthe habiliments, and girding on the armor of the school. "Here," said he, " should be laid a subsoldier, marched to the tented field, or to the field of battle. Mr. Graham, himself a clergyman, as well as principal of Liberty Hall, is known to have volunteered his services, on a pressing occasion, in concert with other volunteers, who, being destitute of officers, appointed him their captain, and marched to meet the enemy. The enemy had retired, and they were discharged. The students of the academy, too, were called forth in common with the other militia. On one occasion, not yet forgotten, leaving the hall of science, exchanging Hesiod and Homer for the rifle, they hastened with their associates to the head-quarters of the southern army; and, soon after arriving, were led on to battle. Placed in open ground, they faced the British regulars for hours together, contending with chivalrous bravery for the mastery of the field, alternately advancing or retreating, as the rifle or the bayonet prevailed. But war did not endure forever. The halcyon days of peace returned. The cruel instruments of Mars were laid aside, and the implements of husbandry and the arts were resumed. The doors of Liberty Hall were again thrown open, and students resorted thither in greater numbers than at any former period. Efforts were now made for their accommodation. A large stone building was erected, capable of accommodating forty or fifty students; also a refectory. Mr. Graham now resumed the business of the academy, over which he had heretofore watched with parental care and solicitude. He had led it cautiously and tenderly through many difficulties to a certain stage of its existence. Besides the labor of teaching and governing, there devolved upon him the task of planning buildings; making contracts with the workmen; attending to the faithful execution of the contracts; the devising ways and means for fulfilling those engagements; and, in a word, all that was to be done for the academy fell chiefly on him. But the want of funds was now severely felt. Some, which had been possessed, were lost through the deception of a paper currency. The embarrassed state of the country precluded, at present, all hopes of procuring others. Having superintended the academy for twenty or twenty-five years with great fidelity, Mr. Graham, now past the meridian of life; his strength worn down by age and toil; and seeing his labors continually increasing, without any prospect of assistance, resigned his charge into the hands of its guardians, the trustees. During this long period, he had, for the most part, performed all the duties in person, which in other public seminaries are confided to a faculty, consisting of several professors. He not only gave stratum on which to build a superstructure of learning." Amidst all discouragements, he had always entertained the most sanguine expectations that the academy would one day become an important and useful seat of learning. (See note A.) The prospects of Liberty Hall were now discouraging, indeed. Without instructers and without funds, many of its friends thought it could no longer exist. But how inscrutable are the ways of Heaven! How short-sighted are mortals! The father of his country, whose mind was ever bent on promoting objects of great public utility, gave to it that pecuniary aid which ensured its perpetuity; and, subsequently, the venerable society of the Virginia Cincinnati gave the whole of their funds, amounting to sixteen thousand dollars, to promote the same object. Still more recently, the late John Robinson of this county, did, by his last will, bequeath, for the same purpose, the whole of his estate, which has since come into the possession of the trustees, and is estimated at fifty thousand dollars. The two first of these donations were the legitimate consequences of that very war which produced much public distress, and which had threatened even the existence of the academy. Mr. Robinson, it is known, had served, for a length of time, as a soldier during the Revolutionary war, in the northern army, where Gen. Washington commanded; and had always expressed a high respect for his character, and also for the character of the officers of the American army, especially those of the Virginia line, with many of whom he was personally acquainted. Is it not presumable then, that Mr. Robinson, in making this splendid bequest, was influenced by a laudable desire to emulate the example of those illustrious names which had preceded him in this patriotic act of benevolence? If this be admitted, it must then be seen, that all these benefactions were the result of the Revolutionary war. When it had been known that Gen. Washing. ton would endow a seminary in this valley, the trustees availed themselves of Mr. Graham's assistance to form a memorial to his excellency, which presented a short history of the academy, its funds, some account of the salubrity, fertility, and population of the surrounding country. This was accompanied with a diagram of the adjacent counties, particularly noticing the relative situation of Liberty Hall, with respect to Fincastle, New London and Staunton, the only places that seemed to lay any claim to the donation. These papers were transmitted to Col. Moore, then a member of Congress. He being the representative of a district composed of several counties, thought it indelicate to press the claims of any one place; and, therefore, merely delivered the papers. Gen. Washington soon put the matter to rest by | being subjected to the charge of superstition, that making to Liberty Hall Academy a deed of gift of one hundred shares in the James River Company, worth, at this time, three thousand dollars per annum. The legislature of the state, at their next session, changed the name of the seminary to that of Washington College. these events were premonitory of the great future usefulness and celebrity of this institution. Besides these events, its location promises much for its future prosperity-situated in the centre of the largest state in the union; equally removed from the intense and long continued cold of the northAfter the resignation of Mr. Graham, (see Note ern winters, and from the tedious, sultry, enfceB.) an interregnum of several years took place, bling summers of the south; elevated above the during which a few grammar scholars only were region where dull and lazy streams, creeping over taught. The Rev. George A. Baxter, since Dr. a flat surface, produce marshes and stagnant pools Baxter, was soon after this appointed president; emitting those deleterious vapors which generate and, subsequently, the stone edifice belonging to agues with their direful train of asthenic diseases; the college was consumed by fire. The trustees it possesses a climate mild and salubrious. Here then selected a location on an eminence adjoining mountain streams and mountain breezes, with Lexington, where buildings have since been mountain exercise, ensure vigorous health, a keen erected. At this time, and during the whole of appetite for food and easy digestion. All these Dr. Baxter's presidency, the funds were incom- contribute to a seasonable expansion of the differpetent to the maintenance of a sufficient number ent parts and powers of the youthful constitution. of instructers, and to meet other considerable ex- But it seems there must be a supply of food; and this penditures, which were found necessary for the is at hand. Good, solid, roast and boiled, with an prosperity of the institution. Nevertheless, stu- accompaniment of esculent vegetables; also bread dents returned in considerable numbers, and the of several varieties, of sound materials, prepared college was respectable during his continuance in secundum artem, with cheese, butter, &c. shall office. He resigned his presidency about the year not be wanting; and is not this quantum sufficit? 1827, and Louis Marshall, M. D., of Kentucky, Methinks these viands might satisfy an epicure. was appointed his successor. On his abdication, But, perhaps, some fastidious stomach, vitiated by Mr. Henry Vethake, of New York, was chosen the tyrant custom, not pleased with these alpine president. His inauguration took place on the productions, will demand foreign articles. These 22d of February, 1835: and in consequence of his demands shall be met. Other climes shall be resignation, the Rev. Henry Ruffner was elected explored. The stores of the Indies shall be laid president, and inaugurated the 22d of Feb. 1837. under contribution. Articles of foreign growth, Thus we have traced this seminary for more leaving the place of their nativity, and travelling than threescore years. From a grammar-school all the way by water, shall arrive at the very to an academy, and from an academy to a college. verge of Lexington without setting foot on land. Here now they are ready for use, save only a few moments' culinary preparation. Now I have fulSo hard to attain perfection in this nether world." filled my promise-this is the ne plus ultra. All We see that in all its different stages and stations; the country around the college abounds with the in all its fortunes and misfortunes; during all the most necessary articles of living. It has all the administrations under which it existed, it is the most useful domestic animals: all the most valuasame individual seminary-its personal identity is ble grains, grasses and other vegetables. The manifest. (See Note C.) Our narrative has now materials for breadstuff are so plentiful, that after come to a close; and although it must stop here, supplying the home market, a large surplus, even we trust and believe that Washington College in the most unfavorable season, is left for exportawill progress and prosper until it equals, or sur- tion. The buyer here pays nothing more than the passes all other kindred seminaries of our coun- prime cost-no profit to dealers, no expense of try. This is not said through envy or bad feeling. carriage. Other prospects, besides those already We wish prosperity to every place in which use- enumerated, of the future prosperity of this counful learning is pursued; and that there should be try, present themselves. The opening of navigano rivalship. But our belief rests upon many ble waters; improvement of roads; establishment auspicious events and circumstances, which have of manufactories and the development of mineral attended this seminary from its origin. That it treasures, must, before many years, have an imshould have survived the Revolutionary war may portant influence. In the mountainous country, be considered an auspicious event; but that this southwest of this, salt, gypsum, lead and fossil coal, war should have been instrumental in promoting have been found in large quantities: the three its greatest prosperity is very extraordinary. These former, in Washington and Wythe, and the latter donations, unsought for by the seminary, were the in Botetourt county. A valuable quarry of hyspontaneous bounty of benevolent individuals. draulic limestone has been found in the vicinity of We think, it may be fairly concluded, without Lexington, large quantities of which are now "So slow the growth of what is excellent; manufactured to be used by the workmen on of each day to the writings of those masters of the James River canal. Indications of coal have been discovered in various places between the Alleghany and Blue-ridge; and it is thought by many that salt and gypsum are likely to be found in the same region. All these improvements and discoveries brought to some degree of perfection, certainly must greatly enhance the wealth and prosperity of this country, and have a most important bearing upon the interests of Washington College. In view of the available resources of our county, we think it would not be saying too much, that its wealth and population in less than a century will be tenfold. Improvements in husbandry have already commenced. These chiefly respect the cultivation and fertilization of the soil; the rotation of crops; and the judicious selection and skilful rearing of domestic animals. The college itself will be a source of prosperity to the country by the money which will necessarily be thrown into circulation from abroad; and thus a reciprocal influence will be exerted upon each other; for, whatever promotes the wealth and prosperity of the country, must react with salutary influence upon the college. a By a rule of college, the students are permitted to board in private families. This is thought preferable to the practice of congregating a large number at one hotel, where freedom of speech and freedom of action often terminate in rudeness. In private families, where but few are assembled, the presence of the seniors, and, especially the females, impose a wholesome restraint. The competition of the boarding-houses is a sufficient guarantee for good fare at a reasonable price. Greece and Rome, who have so long been the admiration of the learned, and who have given to the world such fine specimens of taste and eloquence. A system of rules and regulations for the good order and government of the institution has also been established, which experience has proved to be salutary in its operation. And now our vessel is safely under way, with sails filled, streamers floating, gliding gallantly over the broad ocean with a strong western breeze; may all on board, fore and aft, from the captain to the cabin-boy, have good health, good cheer and a prosperous voyage. Rockbridge, Virginia, January, 1838. NOTES. SENEX. Note A.--A gentleman of Kentucky, Col. W. McKee, who formerly resided in this county, and who long acted as a trustee of the academy, expressed himself thus in a letter to a friend"I rejoice to hear that Gen. Washington has placed Liberty saying of Mr. Graham many years ago. I had often myself almost despaired of the academy, and on one occasion expressed my apprehensions to him. He in his usual concise manner replied, 'There are people working for this academy, who don't know it." " Hall on a permanent foundation. This recalls to my mind the Note B.-Mr. Graham died about the end of the last century, at Col. Gamble's, in Richmond, whither he had gone on business. His remains were interred in the cemetery of the old church, over which a marble slab has since been laid, with his name inscribed and some particulars of his life. His talents and public services have never been estimated according to their worth. He undertook the care of the grammar-school at Mount Pleasant about the beginning of the Revolutionary war, and was soon after licensed to preach the gospel by the Hanover Presby. tery. This war was a period of great perplexity and distress; and its termination was followed by another of much embar rassment and a very unsettled state of things, owing to the inef trines, under the name of French philosophy, were introduced The funds of the college have not all yet become ficiency of the national government. The forming of a new system of government now produced general agitation. Politiproductive. Their profits, however, have enabled cal questions of vital importance were discussed; parties were the trustees to erect spacious and commodious formed, and the whole nation was thrown into a state of fermen buildings; to enlarge the philosophical, mathe-tation. During these different periods, (comprising a space of matical and chemical apparatus; and to constitute and maintain an able and learned faculty: these at present consist of the Rev. Henry Ruffner, President; Rev. Philo Calhoun, Professor of Mathematics; Mr. George Armstrong, Professor of Chemistry; and Mr. George Dabney, Professor of Languages. The Rev. Allen D, Metcalf conducts the grammar-school attached to the college. There has also been a judicious course of study laid out for the students, which has been practised on for several years, and which it is thought could not be improved by a revision. This course comprises all the most useful branches of literature which are taught in other public seminaries. Mathematics hold a prominent place, together with those more severe studies which tend to mental discipline, and produce habits of close and accurate investigation. The ancient classics are not neglected. During a considerable part of the course, the student is required to devote a portion fifteen or eighteen years) the interests of literature and religion The actors in this drama were zealous to stigmatize as fanatics, all those institutions, which the wis "swam to sovereign rule on seas of blood." No age, sex, rank or condition was safe. The throne and the altar; the senate And nature's beauties from thee shut forever! Yet hand in hand with those thou lov❜dst, And when the voice of piety shall catch thine ear... chamber and the seat of justice; the castle and the cottage; and, even the prison, exhibited scenes of crime, cruelty and carnage. Ruin in his most direful form stalked with giant strides over the length and breadth of the land. When the catastrophe was finished; when the destroying angel had executed his commission; whilst he was averting his face, about to wing his way across the vast deep to the western world, a mandate seems to have gone forth, "It is enough, stay thy hand;" and the plague was stayed. But the harbingers of the destroyer had preceded. An impulse had been given. The multitude, thoughtless of the present and regardless of the future, went with the torrent. Another class, less numerous, amazed and astonished, not knowing whence these things proceeded and whither they tended, stood aghast: whilst a still smaller class resolutely opposed this pestilential deluge, and firmly maintained those principles, which observation and experience have shown to be in accordance with the best interests of man; principles which are sanctioned by divine revelation; and which tend to the order of society and stability of government. Had Mr. Graham lived in other times, his talents might have been duly appreciated, and his services adequately compensated. But we have seen that the whole of his public life, thus far, had been embarrassed by a want of that support which was necessary to his own com. fort and the success of his public labors. The delusions of infidelity added new difficulties. He suffered, however, only in common with many others. All similarly circumstanced suf fered more or less. A signal example of this kind may be found in the case of the Rev. James Waddell, D. D. who was cotemporary with Mr. Graham, and both ministers of the Presbyterian denomination. His piety was not doubted. His intellectual attainments were of a superior order. He possessed also impressive and commanding powers of eloquence. This was not the flash of a lively imagination. It was not like those evening coruscations which dazzle for a moment and then disappear, leaving the dimness of twilight more visible. It was calm, dig. nified, and sometimes sublime. It was the effusion of a vigo. rous, discriminating and comprehensive mind, contemplating with emotion grand and interesting subjects, and portraying upon the minds of the audience its own vivid impressions. Dr. Waddell resided for many years in a central part of the state, not far distant from its capital. He had the care of some congregations in the vicinity of his own residence, where he performed his official duties till old age and blindness came upon him. He was well known to his clerical brethren and a few others of distinction who had learned his worth, and who sought his acquaintance and friendship. Yet it is believed that in those Anything that concerns southern literature, southern degenerate times he was never invited to a higher station, where literary institutions, and southern literary men, is, and his talents might have become more conspicuous, and the sphere ought to be particularly interesting to the reading popu of his usefulness more extensive. This seems the more extraor-lation of the southern states. dinary, as at that day, there were but few preachers in Virginia; and still fewer who were respectable. Note C.-Having set on foot the literary institution in the upper country, the same Hanover Presbytery, during the next year, projected a similar one in Prince Edward county, and with similar success. They applied to Nassau Hall again for an instructer. Samuel Stanhope Smith, a graduate of that college, was the first president. He, too, had profited by the teaching of Dr. Witherspoon. His successors were John Blair Smith, Archibald Alexander, Moses Hoge, ministers of the gospel; and Mr. Cushing, who has since been succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Carrol, the present incumbent. Hampden Sidney possessed the advantage of being in a more populous and wealthy country, which for many years had been free from border warfare. LINES, To a beautiful Child, who became blind by accident. Child of the sightless eye! thou canst not gaze In meditation innocent. Thine is a sightless life! A greater bliss be thine! Weaned from the world To guide thee home, sweet innocent! to brighter worlds than Tallapoosa, Ala. LECTURE ON CHEMISTRY.* The pamphlet whose titlepage we have here transcribed, is the result of attainments and study, more properly scientific than literary, and yet the lecture introductory to a course of lectures on any science is generally expected to bring to light the literature of that science, or that knowledge of it which is readily received and enjoyed by the man of letters merely, and which is properly imparted to a class prior to its entrance upon a course of scientific study. Thus it is mainly the literary attainments of Professor Armstrong, which are indicated in the very interesting paragraph or two with which the lecture com mences. "That department of natural science, on the study of which you are now about to enter, is of modern origin. Should we search the ponderous tomes of antiquity for the record of its birth, we would search in vain. The historian, the antiquary, the critic, may await with impatience devolopments which are yet to be made from amid the ruins of Herculaneum; or bend in anxious study over that record of themselves, which a people of former days have left inscribed in the mystic hieroglyphics of Egypt. For the chemist these possess no interest. He would have thought it but a little matter, had Herculaneum forever "Introductory Lecture to a course of Chemistry, delivered in Washington College, Lexington, Virginia, February 21st, 1838, by Geo. D. Armstrong, A. M." remained buried beneath the lava which centuries since overwhelmed it; or had the hieroglyphics of Egypt been left to perish along with her mouldering temples, on which they stand inscribed. Among the sages of antiquity, chemistry had no existence--not even a name. It may perhaps excite surprise that a science pre-eminently practical in its character, should so long have remained unstudied. Had we now to reason respecting this matter a priori, we would probably conclude that it would have been far otherwise ;--and yet as a matter of fact, man had arrived at some consistent notions of astronomy, long before he had any of chemistry. He had noted on his chart the place of each principal fixed star; he had marked out the orbit of the planets, he was even " able to trace the wanderer of the heavens in his course, and as he returned from his pilgrimage of ages, to point his place, and say there shall he appear," before he was acquainted with the composition of the water, with which he slaked his thirst. During that long period of ignorance which preceded the revival of learning in Europe, little attention appears to have been bestowed upon the observation of natural phenomena. It is true that, "now and then an earthquake, or a fiery meteor would awaken the attention of the whole world, and produce from all quarters a plentiful supply of crude conjectures respecting their origin;" but that careful and accurate observation of nature in detail, on which alone correct solutions of natural phenomena can be based, appears to have been thought beneath the attention of the philosopher. It is to alchemy that chemistry owes its birth ;--and this must be added to the long catalogue of instances, in which enterprises useless so far as their immediate object was concerned, have yet in the end proved highly beneficial to man. The mad crusades led to the introduction of the humanizing and civilizing arts of the East, into western Europe ;--the wild pursuit of the golden mountains of El Dorado, led to the settlement of some of the fairest portions of this western world :--so, the fruitless search after a method of converting the baser metals into gold, and a medicine before which disease should forever fly, has turned the attention of man to a study, which more than any other, has contributed to enlarge the circle of the necessaries and luxuries of life. The reasonings, or perhaps I should rather say the dreams of the alchemists, now that light has been let in upon the subject, cannot appear otherwise than ridiculous. We can hardly repress a smile, as we read of the heavy penalties, enacted by the wisdom of England, in parliament assembled, to prevent the transmutation of the baser metals into gold; or listen to the recital of the mighty evils which were to follow in the train of the derangement of currency consequent thereupon. And yet if we will admit their premises, their conclusions will appear far less absurd. They laid it down as a principle, that the baser metals were composed of gold and sulphur, together with a small portion of some earths;-admit this to be true, and it will appear by no means a hopeless task to separate these elements and to retain the gold. The assumption of this fundamental principle of alchemy, was not altogether gratuitous. There are substances, very much resembling gold in some respects, existing ready formed in nature, or which can be formed in the laboratory, yet consisting of nothing but the most rough and unsightly materials. They erred not so much in their reasonings, as in the admission of false principles to reason upon." The lecture proceeds very instructively to point out the wrong principles which governed alchemical research in the dark ages, the explosion of which erroneous principles and their substitution by such as are practical and true, has prepared the vantage ground occupied with so much promise by chemical science in this age. They are such as these: "Their admission of general principles based upon isolated and half examined phenomena,” ‚”—“Their yielding to a love of mystery," "The value which they set upon theory, or rather hypotheses,"-each of which captions are happily expanded and illustrated. The contrast in the last particular between the dicta of the alchemical school, and the maxims of the faculty of chemistry in this day, the lecture well exhibits as follows: "At the present time it is peculiarly necessary that we should not mistake the true character of hypotheses. Many of the commonly received hypotheses of chemistry, we should now hold ready to be given up at any moment. Recent discoveries have shown their insufficiency, and the time cannot be far dis tant when this department of chemistry will present a very dif ferent appearance from that which it now does. Of such a cha racter, in all probability, is our hypothesis respecting latent light: it has always seemed to me very much to resemble still wind, or silent thunder. But let us not hence conclude that the knowledge which we now gain, will thus be destroyed. So far as that knowledge is a knowledge of facts, it must remain. In times past, facts have remained unchanged in value, amid all the changes which have taken place in theory; and from their nature they must always so remain. The fact, that electricity is developed by the friction of sealing-wax against cloth, is stated by Aristotle; it is just as truly a fact now, as it was in his day; although since that time, many have been the electrical theories which have risen and disappeared. Perhaps a great deal of that obstinary, with which sinking theories have been clung to, has arisen from an unwillingness among philosophers to confess their real ignorance. It is unpleasant, after we have for a long time believed that we have understood a subject, to be compelled to confess that we really know nothing about it. Yet if we may judge from the history of the past, to do this, is a lesson which we should all learn. If we are out of the way, our wisest plan is immediately to retrace our steps; and not, from a foolish fear of being thought ignorant or fickle-minded, to persist in going further astray. In thes retracing our steps, we are actually approaching nearer to the goal. Scientific writers have hitherto contented themselves with recording that which is known; perhaps a more useful work at this present day, would be one which should direc! attention to that which is not known; a record, not of human knowledge, but of human ignorance; a work which should draw a sharp and well defined line around that part on which the day has already risen, and then give such ideas of the region beyond as the twilight which is shed upon it renders possible. The alchemists were in the habit of charging every discor dance between facts and their hypotheses, to the malign indeence of some star or spirit. There is but little danger of our falling into this error at the present day; but there is danger, of our falling into an opposite error, not less worthy of being avoided. Their age has been justly characterized as the age of superstition; ours, perhaps with equal justice, as the age of skepticism :--and to choose between the two, having reference only to their influence upon the advancement of science, is by no means an easy task. Perhaps, if we must choose, the former should be preferred to the latter. This skepticism has marifested itself among philosophers, in their attempts so to explain natural phenomena, as to get rid of the necessity of acknow. ledging the existence, either of a spirit within us, or of a spirit above us; a soul or a deity. The skeptical physiologist has assigned such offices to the different parts of the brain, and other similar organs, as to be able to dispense with the operations of a spirit, and to take, instead thereof, a principle only a little more ethereal than the galvanic fluid;--and the skeptical philoso pher, following in the same path, has examined nature, and assigned such influences and operations to the laws of matter, create and set in order the materials of this world. Let us not as to be able to dispense with the services of a being who should mistake respecting this subject. Materialism is as utterly subversive of physics, as it is of morals. Is it possible for matter by and of itself, to think, choose, reason? Then why do I inves tigate its properties? How do I know, but that if I determine one, in preference to a third, but that before to-morrow, it may to-day that any given substance will combine with some second reconsider the matter, and determine to prefer the third to the second? If there is any part in the wide circle of human knowledge, where atheism should never set foot, that part is the domain of natural science. The evidence of the existence of a creator and governor is seen, not only in the harmony and adaptation of parts which characterize the world as a whole, but it is written on every separate atom of the structures, and I will ye show you this hand-writing. Are there laws, and no legislater? and no contriver? design, and no designer? No attempt to deny are there creatures and no creator? is there manifest contrivance the existence of a spirit can prove successful, until there is not only no spirit to listen, but none also to make the denial. Ma |