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HISTORY
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
FROM ITS BEGINNING TO THE DEATH OF
PRESIDENT SWAIN, 1789-1868
BY
KEMP P. BATTLE,
ALUMNI PROFESSOR OF HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY
VOLUME I.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY VOLUME II, BRINGING THE HISTORY TO THE
PRESENT TIME
01 IMI s
1907
Copyright, 15MI7.
BY KEMP P. BATTLE.
TO THE MEMORY OF
MY KATHKU AM) MOTHER, WHO
INSTILLED INTO MY I'.RAIN AND HEART FROM
EARLIEST BOYHOOD
PRIDE IN AND AFFECTION FOR MY ALMA MATER,
THIS BOOK IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED.
KEMP PLUMMER BATTLE.
INTRODUCTION.
This history was written amid many interruptions. Some-
times long intervals elapsed before the pen could be resumed.
I certainly aimed at accuracy. If there is any failure in this
regard it is accidental. Similar disturbances during the im-
portant process of proof-reading caused errors, but they do not
obscure the meaning. The book is larger than I expected, and
hence some of the half-tones prepared for this volume will be
reserved for its successor. Kxcept where absolutely necessary
for true portraiture. I have carefully refrained from wounding
the feelings of any one.
It may be said that I have dwelt too much on the pranks and
frolics of students. My reason for detailing them is that they
show, first, the social habits of the people generally, because the
t'niversity is a microcosm of the State, and, second, they were
largely caused by the defective system of discipline.
I have endeavored to follow the careers in after-life of the
honor men. It will be seen that a common belief that success
at the University is no indication of success afterwards is alto-
gether erroneous. I have endeavored also to note distinctions
won by any who did not attain honors. In the Appendix, as
far as our record- show, the positions, however humble, held
by our alumni in the Confederate Army, are given.
It may be objected that the subjects of the speeches by gradu-
ates unnecessarily encumber the volume. My reasons fo:
cording them are, i-t. that they >lio\\- what the students were
thinking about, and. 2<\. that tin- students of tin- present and
future may have a treasure house of themes, which may aid
them in solving the difficult <|nesti..n. "what must 1 write
about :
I acknowledge with th litude my obligations to
Professor Collier C..l>1>. f. .r aid in obtaining the faithful
half-tones which grace the book, to Dr. J. G, <lel\. Hamil-
ton, for the preparation of the \er\ laborious and tlmn.usji
index, and to I )r. ('. I.. K -, reading pi.
of the tir-i part of the volume.
VI INTRODUCTION.
One fact, not appearing on any record at Chapel Hill, has
come to my knowledge since the volume was printed, that the
Delta Psi Fraternity, with a large membership, was in the Uni-
versity from 1854 until some time during the war. I will be
glad if all who may notice such derelictions will notify me of
the same. I promise to give the proper corrections in the
second volume.
I further express my thanks to the Honorable Board of
Trustees for giving me free access to the University archives.
I have explored them industriously, and used them with pains-
taking endeavor to be accurate.
CONTENTS.
c ii A i>n. u I TO p. i:w.
Con-titutinn of 177(1 and Charter of
Tin" Tru-tcc-. Fir-t meetings Lo-
cation of Site donors Laying Corner-
-tone Sale of Chapel Hill lots Mc-
Corekle'- Plan of Studio-: Dr. Ker.
Pre-idiiu: I'mft or: Opening day
Ilinton -lame-, the tir-t -indent: Charles
\\". Hani-. Piof--or of Mathematic-;
Fir-t ruhlir Kxaniination: Grammar
SrhiMil: Tin- Literary Societies ; The
Pet t i-icu Letter-: Davie'- Plan of
F.dncation: P,y-Law-: ('oniin.ir of .lo-cph
Cahlwell a- l'i .fe . T of M;- 1 hemat ic- :
Hi- tir-t iiupro ion- of tin- State and
rni\er-iiy. Re-i^naKon and career of
Dr. Krr: Hani-, hi- -u-.-r->or : Hi-
. it ion and ran or. Caldwcll -u<-
gives place i" <;illa-|>ic: Kxanii-
nation of 17'.i7. Karly donation>: Cov-
rnor I',-njaniin Smith, (inicial Thomas
< ..'ii a I'd : Suli-crijt ion- :
<;iM- liy Ladii- of Nruln-rn
Raleigh.
( II AI'-IKU II lo I'.
! Property I iy the
!\ : l-'.\i i.-mcly iinpi)|iu-
l-d a nil F.-choaits also taken
;.! attack- on the I'ni
l.y Caldwcll: Ili-
-titution-; l;ecei|i1-
floin luatc"
OilUuipiej stiir
tlllc- oil l'|..f.--ii|- Hull) -Illi-llt
of (iill.i-j.ie ; ( ahhvcll .i
(,iadu.t,- Of 800 l'i
\ D. \l |sn|;
tea of
Will. H.M.|,,'| ; ( .i!d\\ell i-|i-< ted |'|,
L806j I'
the State; his Farewell Letter: Fnrthei
Recollections of Dr. Hooper; Graduate-
of 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809; Aimer W.
( loj.ton: Graduates of 1810: Diploma
of Dr. David Caldwell: Graduate- of
1811, 1812; P.y Lau-: Tin- early Stew-
ard-: P.ehavior of Old-time Student-: A
Duel, oilier- threatened; Col. Folk's
-ti-nMir denunciation of them: Orgies of
J-Jd February: The Rebellion a-ain-t the
Monitor law: The ^real Sec l --ioii : Cald-
\\ell'- Allegory: LeU.'i- of Chamlier-
and Conner: Da\ie'- li-iier on the -ub-
ject : Faculty Jirm for >uhordinat ion ;
-tudent- (juail on aiiotlu-r (pie-tion.
Sayings and incident- of a comical
nature.
CHAPTER III TO p. :V24.
Di\ f'liapmaii. Pi'e-ident : Caldwell.
Profe or c,t Mat In-mat ic- : Dilliciilties
\\ilh -indent-: The Shrpanl Rebellion:
Chapman ic-i-ii-. Islii. Hi. i
Caldw.-ll a-ain Pre-idciit : (Jraduaii- !'
1^1 I. L815; Commencement K\ci
QMS, I816j Mitchell. Olm-ted and
Knllnrli Plote--,,)-: Sketche- ,,f Mitchell
and Kolh.ch : Fnl.i i _'! < iirrirulu'ni :
Lett- i cut-: rniform : Tl
\b-cl, -\'- ,|,--ei iptiou : c, in, hi, -t ,if
Student-: Amendment- to Charter: Old
Fa-1 cnlaiL'ed. O| \\C-t bull'
Hall bc^iiu: Fnil of dammar School;
Comnii -lie,- mi-ill !' ls_'ii; |s-Jl: F.tlian A.
Andiev.- in p|. i, ,- of llniip, i : ( ommencc
Ilient of Is JJ ; ( Uli,
then Mitchell; Commclleemellt ,.|
\M-ir- \ I'll lo Kllliip.- . ( olllllli-llciMIHMll
-.1 I824j < Oll( : Olm-ted M-
teb "I him . ( oiiiiiieii, i-mciit of
Typhoi.l fen l.iu-:
CONTENTS.
Chapel Hill in the twenties; Commence-
ment of 1826, 1827; Judge Murphey's
address; Commencement of 1828; An-
drews resigns; Troublesome Escheats;
Commencement of 1829.
CHAPTER IV TO P. 526.
Commencement of 1830; University in
debt; applies to Legislature; Relief of-
fered refused; The Observatory; Mrs.
Royall; Commencement of 1831; Insti-
tute of Education; Temperance Society;
The Dromgoole Myth; Commencement
of 1832; Ga.ston's Address, Plea for
Balls; Effort to remove University to
Raleigh; Commencement of 1833, 1834;
Bandy; Recommendations of Professors;
The Harbinger, some articles reviewed:
Sale of Tennessee Land Warrants; Hi-
tory of; Creation of Executive Com-
mittee; Manly appointed to close out all
University interests: Success; History of
University Library; Death of Cahhvdl:
Mitchell President pro tempore; Ander-
son's Eulogy; Caldwell's Faculty;
Sketch of Hentz and others; Commence-
ment of 1835 ; Election of Swain ; His
sketch; Commencement of 1836, 1837;
Mitchell's recommendations; Dr. Hooper
again resigns His sketch; Commence-
ment of 1838; Dr. Mitchell's Bursar Re-
ports; Rock-walls; The abortive Del-
phian Society; Separate chairs of Greek
and Latin ; Profs. Fetter over Greek, DeB.
Hooper, Latin; Irregularities of conduct
by students; Fruitless movement for
Chaplain; Rev. W. M. Green acting
Chaplain and Professor; Commencement
of 1839; The Maultby difficulty; Report
of Governor Dudley; Troubles of Dis-
cipline; Salaries; Change of Raleigh
road; Commencement of 1840, 1841,
1842; Bibles to Graduates; Secret Fra-
ternities forbidden; Episcopal Church
organized. Commencement of 1843;
Alumni Association organized; Com-
mencement of 1844; The Historical So-
ciety; University Magazine of 1844;
Abortive University Cemetery planned;
Commencement of 1845; Law Depart-
ment added; Commencement of 1846;
Donation- to Historical Society; Death
of Mrs. Caldwell: President Polk's Com-
ment ement, 1847; Address of John Y.
Mason; Captain Maury: ( 'oniineneeinent
of 1S4S; New Society Halls; Dr. l)eem<
and I 'rot'. .1. DeB. Hooper ic-i-n:
Sk. ichc- of them; Dr. Iluhliard take- the
Latin Chair: Sketch of him : Compiil-ory
Chanel Worship question; The Pre-by-
lerian Church: Commencement of Is lit;
IJev. A. M. Shipp Professor of Ei)L:li-h
Literature ajid Hi.-tory; Campu- im-
p! ovemellt.
Cii.\iMi:i: V IV by mi-take) .TO i'. r,i:>.
Hi-collect ions of I". N. C. in the 40's;
Trustee*: Swain de-cri!>cd : Anecdotes
ami I'eriiliaritic-: Faculty meet in;:-:
Conduct toward- the N. C. llailroad;
Professors de-ciil.ed. Mitchell. Phillip-,
l-Ytler. I looj er, ( .reell. Deem-. 1
Graves, Charles Phillips, Brown, S. F.
Phillips Their peculiai it ie- : "Bedevel-
iiiL:" the Faculty; Curriculum Fxercises;
Senior Speeches; Ant c--unri-e I'i
The Discipline; Examinations; The Two
Societies; Commencements the Mar-
shals. Band, Ball Manager, Supper.
Facetiae Funny and Absurd; Ha/in;:.
Practical Jokes; Parody on Byron;
Bathos; The Literary Trumpet: Amu-e-
ments: Athletics; Strolls, Marbles,
Bandy (or Shinny i: Dancing, Hunting:
Care of the sick; Social Amusements;
Bad Roads: Mail-: Music: College Car-
penter, Davis, Boot-maker; Servants;
Ben Boothe, Sam Morphis, George Hor-
ton, the poet; Night suppers: Andrew
Mason; Yatney; Jack and (he-. Mci-
ritt, the coon hunters; Couch; The Vil-
lage; Drs. Jones, Moore ; Vancev: D-af
and Dumb Yancey; Sale of lots; Mi-s
Xancy Hilliard; Mrs. Xunn; Campus
and Cuddie.
CONTENTS.
IX
CHAPTER VI TO p. 785.
Commencement of 1850; Smith Hall;
Daiin'Tous Riot; Methodist Church built;
mitie- In-giu; Office of Escheator-
Ceneral created: the David Allison Es-
cheat : Commencement of 1851, and 1852;
Students against Faculty on appointment
'i a Mib-Mar>hal. I'liiversity Mapi/ine
of 18r>:Msr,l : Commencement of 1853,
hail.- Phillip- ProfeNOT of civil
Kn-iiKciing; B. S. Hedrick, of Applica-
tion of Chcmi-tiy to Agriculture ami
the Art-: Inciea>e nf Numbers: Laws
Revised; Mapti-t Church built: Com
iM-iiT ,,f ls.-,; ); \,, w Salarie-:
I in nisi ii \ : ( aae <f Prof. m-
Hedriek: Tlic llcrri--c ( dut roversy ;
I'.uiltliu--. ProfeoaOFfl and Dejiart-
iMi'iii-: The ( uri-iculuin : Preparation for
Adini--ion : ( 'oiiiiiieiicemeTit of 1S.">: In
\itation to Arehbi-hop Hughes; Coin-
MICIH ..f 1857 J Death of Dr.
Mitchell: Hi- sueCWaor, Martin: C.un-
ni.Miccniciit of 1858: Lawlessness the
1're-idriit'- Cin-iilar: \e\\ (ahlwell
Monument: Change- in Faeulty: The
ncrnicnt. Is.'i'.i; Di-.t-
Blltj C liHMicenieilt of
i Suiida\ sen io a :
3 :iip|i and Wheat l-a\e:
ment of 1861; Salaries lowered; Hard
Times; Commencement of 1862 and
1863; Rise of Prices and Depreciation of
Currency; Exemption of Students; Col.
Mai tin joins army; Commencement of
1864; Gold Bond; Cutting University
trcc, : Wheeler's Cavalry and Kil-
patriek's in Chapel Hill; Mrs. Spencer's
de-iac ode; Feeling of Chapel Hillians;
( 'onmienceinent of 1865; University stu-
dents in the war; Commencement of
irities lost; Transfer of Land
(Jrant; Death of Dr. James Phillips;
1're-ident Johnson's Commencement,
1887 ^.-ward and Sickles; Dwindling of
Faculty: Plan of Reorganization; Com-
mencement of 1868; History of Ex-
|"ii-rs; Reconstruction; Treasurer
Manly'- Ueport : Swain not recognized;
He Protests; His Death: Improvement-
during hi- administration; Scholarship;
Successes of Alumni: Tin- Di-j. laced
Prnfe r- : The l wo So.-ict i
Al'I'I.MUN.
l.i-t of (Jraduates and of -u. -e nil
Alumni : l.i^t of Trustees from
l.i-t ot |-:\enui\c ( oiimiiu,.,- from
\A-\ nf Sul.-ci i|.ti(,n- in St. in ii, ( . u n j.
eersitj : Murjiiix'- Btatistict ..f Alumni.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
W. R. Davie, Frontispiece. PACK.
Old East Building (drawn by John Petti<;re\v. :v student in 1797).
Old East Building <K>
Joseph Caldwell 172
Dialectic Society Diploma of 1807 1*2
Philanthropic Society Diploma of 1809 1M
U. N. C Diploma of 1809 , 184
Old West Building. Gerard Hall, South side, before removal of
porch 280
U. N. C. Diploma of 1820 2s I
Philanthropic Society Diploma of 1820 I'M
Dialectic Society Diploma of 1S20 28 I
Wm. Hooper 410
James Phillips 4 Hi
Elisha Mitchell I Hi
Shepherd K. Kolloch 4Hi
Charles W. Harris 4Hi
D. L. Swain 422
Judge Dick's Spring, walled up by him, 1S40 4S<>
Will. H. Battle 4'.M
Manuel Fetter ~>42
W. M. Green , :.I2
J. De Berniere Hooper M2
Charles Force Deems ">!2
FordyceM. Hubbard
Charles Phillips .v.o
Ralph H. Graves. Sr .v>o
John Ki mberl y -V>(
View from the Old Athletic Field MHi
Smith Hall i;i<>
View taken 1852, showing old Belfry, South Building ii::2
New West Building , i.".2
New East Building ():>:.'
Wm. J. Martin
Albert M. Shipp <iM
John T. Wheat
B. S. Hedrick <;s \
Hildreth M. Smith <iM
Cald well Monument ji 1 . 2
History of University of North Carolina.
CHAPTER I.
THE CHARTER AND ORGANIZATION.
It might be claimed that the Centennial year of American
Independence was likewise the Centennial year of the Univer-
sity of North Carolina, although the charter was not granted
until 1789.
In December, 1776, a Convention, then called Congress, of
enlightened men met at Halifax to form a Constitution for the
new free State of North Carolina, under whose protection the
people could maintain the independence they had declared a
few months before.
Without an army or navy, they had entered on a war for
existence with a nation powerful, populous and wealthy, having
the tradition of invincibility, which had, under Marlborough,
within the century, broken the power of the Great Louis of
France had, with heavy hand, crushed the fortunes of the
Pretender at Culloden had sent Wolfe to storm the Heights
of Quebec; had swept the seas with her fleets. The Revolu-
. if it failed, was Rebellion. The penalty of defeat was the
doom of traitors. The State had barely two hundred thousand
inhabitants, widely scattered, and badly armed, and divided in
ncnt. But. notwithstanding these odds, this Congress,
with wisdom unparalleled and faith approaching sublimity,
provided for the interest of unborn children. They knew that
those children would not be capable of freedom without educa-
tion. They knew that there could be no education without
They knew that teachers could not be procured with-
ut colleges. They knew that their leaders in the pulpit and in
rivil offices had received tlirir education in distant States and
even in the mother country ie ocean. They resolved
that tlicir youth, seeking intellectual advancement, should not
be temporarily expatriated in order to obtain it. They n
the requirement of the University a part of the fundamental
law. On the iSth of December. 1776. in the Constitution of
2 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
the new State, then first adopted, are found these golden words,
written amid storms and thunderings, to be made good when
the sun shone on a free and united people : "All useful learn-
ing shall be duly encouraged and promoted in one or more
universities."
Tradition has it that this provision in the Constitution was
due to the Scotch-Irish of Mecklenburg. Smarting under re-
sentment caused by the disapproval by the Crown of the charter
of Queen's College, its friends procured from the people of the
county a positive instruction to their delegates to the Halifax
Congress of 1776 to provide for a State college. Among these
delegates was Waightstill Avery, a graduate of Princeton, like-
wise a member of the committee which reported the Constitu-
tion, and the tradition which credits him with being the drafts-
man of the University and public school clause is certainly
plausible.
That our forefathers thought that the University and the
public school system were necessarily part of one organism is
proved by their connection in the Constitution. The section
in which the General Assembly is commanded to provide the
University is as follows: Section 41 "A school, or schools,
shall be established by the legislature for the convenient in-
struction of youth, with such salaries to the masters, paid by
the public, as may enable them to instruct at low prices : and all
useful learning shall be duly encouraged and promoted in one
or more universities." It was clear to the statesmen of a hun-
dred years ago, and it ought not to require argument to prove
it, that money spent for schools without providing teachers is
mere waste and folly. And certainly our forefathers who,
with their hearts sore from the attempted domination of the
Church of England in colonial times, inserted in the Constitu-
tion that, "no clergyman, or preacher of the gospel, of any
denomination, shall be capable of being a member, either of the
Senate, House of Commons, or Council of State, while he con-
tinues in the exercise of the pastoral function." together with
other provisions, completely severing the connection between the
Church and the State, never designed that state schools should
look to religious colleges exclusively for their teachers, nor did
they wish to be dependent on other States.
CHARTER A.ND ORGANIZATION, 3
During the War of the Revolution the mandate of the Consti-
tution lay dormant. Inter anna silent leges. When Caswell
and Lillington were beating McDonald at Moore's Creek
U ridge, and Campbell, Shelby, Cleveland, Sevier, Williams and
McDowell were capturing Ferguson's forces at King's Moun-
tain, and Cornwallis and Greene were wrestling for the victory
at Guilford, and Fanning was carrying as prisoner from Hills-
boro the Governor of our State, and the momentous question
whether our ancestors were patriots or traitors, was still unde-
cided, there was no time for erecting universities. And after
the war, industry must have time for restoring plenty to wasted
lands and statesmanship to form a settled government in the
place of a nerveless confederacy. In the month of November,
ijSo. our State, after a hesitation of a year, entered the Ameri-
can Union. In the month of December, as if forming part of
a comprehensive plan, the charter of the University, under the
powerful advocacy of Davie, was granted by the General As-
sembly. The Trustees under the charter comprised great men
of the State. oo<l men of the State, trusted leaders, of the
people.
The first named, and the chairman, was Governor Samuel
Johnston, who. in legislative-, executive and judicial stations, in
war and peace, left the impress of his wise conservatism on the
State. There were James Iredell, one of the earliest Judges
of tin- Supreme Court of the United States, and Alfred Moore.
his successor in this high office. There were the first Federal
District Jud^r. Colonel John Stokes, and John Sit^reaves. his
There were the three signers of the Constitution of the
Uniteil Statc^: Ilu-h \\"ill : amson. the historian William
r.lotmt. afterwards Senator .f the United Stales from Ten
m<l Kichanl Dobhs Spaiijhl. who left Trinity Col!
Dublin, when BCarcel] . to flight for the independent
his nativ \< .1 as <1elegate to the Congress of the
ation. and of the United States, and as GoveftlOl
"h Carolina. Of others .lextine.1 to be Governors, there
nuel Ashe. then Tinier. 1'i-nianiin Williams, and the
first benefactor of the University. Benjamin Smith, ami Wil
liam R ; char<1son Davie. its father. Ther. nilitarv men.
4 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
who had been conspicuous fighters in the Revolution : General
Joseph Graham, scarred with wounds in the defence of Char-
lotte under Davie, the father of the revered statesman, William
A. Graham, whose last public appearance was in behalf of the
University; General Thomas Person, whose hatred of injus-
tice began with the disastrous struggles of the Regulation,
William Lenoir, Joseph McDowell, the elder, and Joseph Dixon
(or Dickson), who aided in thwarting the plans of Cornwallis
by the capture of Ferguson at King's Mountain ; Henry William
Harrington, an active militia general in. service on our south-
ern borders.
Of the State judiciary we find three judges under the court
law of 1777 Samuel Spencer, John Williams, and Samuel
Ashe, already mentioned, whose name is worthily represented
by his descendants, Thomas Samuel Ashe, late of Anson, and
Samuel A. Ashe, of Raleigh; and of others distinguished in
the history of the State Archibald McLaine and Willie Jones,
bold and active patriots, Stephen Cabarrus, long Speaker of the
House of Commons, and John Haywood, the popular State
Treasurer. There were the first two Senators of the United
States Samuel Johnston and Benjamin Hawkins, and of those
destined to be members of the lower House of Congress were
Charles Johnson, then Speaker of the State Senate, who had
fought for the Stuarts at Culloden, James Holland of Guilford,
Alexander Mebane of Orange, Joseph Winston of Surry, and
William Barry Grove of Cumberland. We find in the list
John Hay, the eminent lawyer of Fayetteville, who gave his
name to Haymount; James Hogg, an enlightened merchant
of Fayetteville and of Hillsboro; Adlai Osborne, the highly
esteemed Clerk of Rowan Superior Court ; the eminent teacher
and divine, Rev. Samuel E. McCorkle, D.D. ; and prominent
and useful members of the State legislature, Frederick Har-
gett, Senator of Jones, Robert W. Snead, Senator of Onslow,
Joel Lane, Senator from Wake, owner of the land bought for
the site of the city of Raleigh, John Macon, Senator of War-
ren, brother of the more eminent Nathaniel Macon, John Ham-
ilton, commoner of Guilford, William Porter, commoner of
Rutherford, and Robert Dickson of Duplin.
The moving spirit of this distinguished band was William
CHARTER AND ORGANIZATION. 5
Richardson Davie. He was no common man. He had been a
gallant cavalry officer in the Revolution. He had been a
strong staff on which Greene had leaned. He had been con-
spicuous in civil pursuits ; an able lawyer, an orator of wide
influence. With Washington and Madison, and other great
men, he had assisted in evolving the grandest government of
all ages, the American Union, out of an ill-governed and disin-
tegrated confederacy. He was beyond his times in the advo-
cacy of a broad, generous education. His portrait has been
drawn by a masterly hand, Judge Archibald Murphey, one of
the most progressive and scholarly men our State has known.
In his speech before the two Societies at Chapel Hill in 1827
he says : "Davie was a tall, elegant man in his person, graceful
and commanding in his manners. His voice was mellow, and
adapted to the expression of every passion; his mind compre-
hensive yet slow in its operations, when compared with his
great rival (Moore) ; his style was magnificent and flowing; he
had a greatness of manner in public speaking which suited his
style, and gave to his speeches an imposing effect. He was a
laborious student, arranged his discourses with care, and where
the subject merited his genius, poured forth a torrent of elo-
quence that astonished and enraptured his audience."
He had, in the Constitutional Convention of 1787, at a criti-
cal moment, caused the vote of North Carolina, then one of
the large States, to be cast for a compromise, the equality of
States in the Senate, without which union would have been im-
possible. Tn the State Conventions of i ?RR and 1780 he had
advocated the adoption of the new Constitution with equal
ability. It was his foresight and wisdom which provided the
University, by wl ms North Carolina could keep pace in
culture and influence with her sisters. Tie drew for the Uni-
; ty the Plan of Studies pursued for many rears, and main-
tained its interest hv his purse, his eloquence, his counsels, and
constant attention to its exercises. The Dialectic Society is
the fortunate owner of an excellent portrait of th ; s creat man
the picture of a man of military bearing, stnkincrlv handsome,
a rentlcman. a scholar and a statesman.
Such were the rnardians inf care the Heneral Assem-
bly committed the institution provided for the youth of North
6 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Carolina. Six of them McLean, Person, Ashe, Jones, Lane
and Mebane were carrying into effect the mandate of the Con-
stitution for which as members of the Halifax Congress of
1776 they had voted. Twenty-three, viz: Hargett, Smith, Mc-
Dowell, Hay, Grove, Cabarrus, Samuel Johnston, Charles John-
son, Robert Dickson, Hamilton, Person, Sneed, Mebane,
Stokes, Holland, Winston, Blount, Williamson, Hawkins, Lane,
Lenoir, Davie, and Porter, were members of the Convention of
1789, and of them only Dickson, Hamilton, Person, and Lenoir
voted against the ratification of the Constitution of the United
States.
The charter, granted by the General Assembly, was ratified
December n, 1789. The preamble, in wise and weighty words,
asserts that, "in all well regulated governments it is the indis-
pensable duty of every legislature to consult the happiness of a
rising generation, and endeavor to fit them for an honorable
discharge of the social duties of life by paying the strictest
attention to their education, and that, a University, supported
by permanent funds and well endowed, would have the most
direct tendency to answer the above purpose."
Among the provisions of the charter, in addition to the usual
powers of corporations, are the following:
The Trustees were a self-perpetuating body, having coopta-
tive powers; being authorized to fill vacancies occurring by
death, refusing to act, resignation or removal from the State.
The principle of having the Trustees distributed in the judi-
cial districts was to be retained in all elections.
The first meeting of the Trustees was directed to be on the
third Monday of the next General Assembly at Fayetteville, at
which time were to be elected a President of the Board, and a
Secretary. At all subsequent, regular, or annual meetings, the
members present, with the President and Treasurer, or a ma-
jority without either of these officers, were to be a quorum.
Special meetings could be called by the President and two
Trustees, notice being given to every Trustee, and advertise-
ment to be made in the State Gazette. These meetings were
prohibited from appropriating money, and from electing the
President and Professors of the University. They, however,
could fill a vacancy until the next annual meeting.
CHARTER AND ORGANIZATION. J
The meeting, at which the site of the University should be
fixed upon, was to be advertized in the Gazette for at least six
months and special notice given to each Trustee.
The Treasurer was to give bond, payable to the Governor, in
the sum of ^5,000 ($10,000), and to hold office for two years.
If he should prove delinquent recovery was to be had as in the
case of Sheriffs.
The Treasurer was directed to publish annually in the State
Gazette a list of moneys and other donations under penalty of
;ioo ($200) at the suit of the Attorney-General, the penal-
ties to belong to the University. The Treasurer was ordered
to pay annually to the Treasurer of the State all moneys re-
ceived by him, on which the State was to pay six per cent inter-
est, the principal to be a permanent fund. (This was repealed
four years afterwards.)
The site of the University was not to be within five miles of
the seat of government, or any of the places of holding the
courts of law or equity.
The Trustees could appoint a President of the University,
and the professors and tutors, whom "they may remove for
misbehavior, inability, or neglect of duty." They could "make
all such laws and regulations for the government of the Univer-
sity and preservation of order and good morals therein as are
usually made in such seminaries, and as to them may appear
necessary : Provided, the same are not contrary to the inalien-
able liberty of a citizen or to the laws of the State."
Tlu- power of conferring degrees was given to the Faculty of
the University, that is to say, the President and Professors, but
the Trustee* must concur.
Any siil.MTilnT of 10 ($20), payable in five equal annual
installments, was entitled to have one student educated free of
tuition.
Tin- public hall, and the library and munis ,,f the college
shall be called 1>\ the names of ..m- -r another <>f the six largest
subscribers within f>ur ^ \nd a 1><ok shall be kept in
the library in which shall be entered the name* and places of
residence of every benefactor to this seminary, in order that
posterity may he informed to whom they are indebted f<>r the
8 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
measure of learning and good morals that may prevail in the
State/'
The foregoing summary shows some provisions which ap-
pear strange in our eyes. For example, that any number of
Trustees, no matter how small, should be a quorum, if only the
President of the Board and the Treasurer should be present,
neither of whom was necessarily a member. Then, again, the
prohibition of locating the University within five miles of the
seat of government or of any court town is contrary to our
experience. It was doubtless on account of the rowdyism and
drunkenness during court week, then so prevalent, now happily
passing away. The provision that only the State should be the
custodian of the donations of money and pay interest on the
same, the University being prohibited from using the principal,
seems inconsistent with the imperative duty of erecting build-
ings. Note also that only the President and Professors, ex-
cluding tutors, constitute the faculty, and that the Trustees
have no power of conferring degrees, but can only confirm or
reject the nominations of the faculty. The provision that a
student should have his tuition for four years on a payment of
$20 by a subscriber seems reckless, unless there was a gen-
eral idea prevalent that tuition should be nearly free. The
appeal to the vanity of the wealthy is interesting, firstly, be-
cause it shows that the projectors of the University, even in
those dark days, had grand ideas as to the future, when without
a dollar in sight they estimated no less than six buildings, to be
essential, and, secondly, because the promise of honoring bene-
factors was made irrespective of the amounts to be given.
The fear that the Trustees might, in making their by-laws,
be more severe on the students than would be consistent with
the "Rights of Man," for which so much blood had been spilt,
is shown in the protective clause that those laws should not be
"contrary to the inalienable liberty of a citizen." It will be
seen in the sequel that the young men interpreted this in the
broadest latitude as negativing all restraint. The construction
of this charter provision by the Trustees, that the professors
and tutors were to be like police officers in carrying out the dis-
cipline of the institution, led to serious evils for very many
years.
CHARTER AND ORGANIZATION. 9
The locating of the Trustees in the several judicial districts
in those days of bad roads, although possibly propitiating favor,
was fatal to wise management. The expedient of giving wide
powers to an executive committee of seven, which works so
wisely now, had not then been thought of.
The power of the Trustees of filling vacancies in their body
seemed harmless, if not wise. It was destined, however, to
place the institution under the suspicion of being aristocratic,
a suspicion fatal to its popularity in the days when there existed
among the people a real fear of the introduction of English
class distinctions and of a government monarchical in nature,
though not in name. The provision was changed eventually,
as will be seen.
< >n the whole, it seems probable that some of these outre
provisions were inserted on the motion of members hostile to
the movement, or by its friends for the purpose of placating
them. Like the Fundamental Constitutions of the Lords Pro-
prietors, the charter of the University is another evidence that
all good government is the product of experience and growth,
and can not be planned beforehand by the wit of man.
There was no appropriation of money made for erection of
buildings or other expenditure for the new institution. An act
was. however, passed which conferred on it certain claims,
which the officers of the State had been unable to collect.
These were arrearages due from sheriffs and other officers prior
to January i, 1783, none of them less than six years old and
snmr far more. The proceeds of sales of confiscated lands
were excepted from the gift, probably because the legislature
deemed them easily collectible. A further exception was made
of all the arrearages due by Robert Lanier. treasurer of the
judicial district of Salisbury, and also those from the sheriffs
of that district, but if they should not settle their dues in two
rears, tin T'niversity was authorized to have all the uncollected
TVxj< ;
The delinquents, sixty-ei^ht in number, whose accounts were
turned over by the act. were officers of the State or counties,
some distinguished and of 1 -.meter such as General
Horatio Gat- rnor Rurkc. Colonel Renjamin Cleveland.
IO HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
General Hogan, Marquis de Bretigny. Evidently many were
for agencies during the war, in which vouchers were lost or
captured by the enemy, or the settlements of the agencies de-
stroyed. Colonel Waightstill Avery, for example, was included
in the list, but he promptly proved that there was a mistake, and
his name was at once struck off. The following list shows more
clearly the employments of those indebted to the State accord-
ing to the Comptroller's report, which debts were transferred
to the University: namely, Clerks, Sheriffs, purchasers of con-
fiscated property, Judges (fees for lawyer's licenses), entry-
takers, agents, purchasers of lots in Raleigh, commissionaries
(commissaries?), purchasers of western lands, buyer of eleven
head of cattle, also of four head of cattle, buyer of one horse,
hirer of McKnight's negroes (McKnight was a Tory), debtors
for specie certificates, also for "old dollar money," also for offi-
cer's certificates, entries of western lands, and certificates of the
Auditors of the Upper Board of Salisbury.
At the same session was granted a right, shadowy, uncertain,
well nigh in nubibus, but which in the course of time by skillful
management brought considerable money into the treasury.
This grant was such property as had escheated, or should there-
after escheat, to the State. This by the energy and good man-
agement of the Trustees, after a long period, was the source of
the endowment of the University, lost in the Civil War. Many
denizens of foreign birth left no heirs, citizens of North Caro-
lina, and under the law as it stood until 1831, their lands
escheated to the State ; and in a like manner obscure soldiers of
the Continental Line, to whom land warrants were granted for
their services in the war, died leaving no heirs to inherit their
claims. Of course the revenue from this source naturally di-
minished as the years rolled away from the Revolution, and it
was still further diminished by acts of the Legislature giving
the lands to a remoter heir, being a citizen, when the next heir
is an alien, and giving the widow all the estate if her husband
should die without an heir. At this day the chances of an
escheat are worth but little, as an alien stands on the same foot-
ing with a citizen in regard to the possession of real estate.
It was not from parsimony but hard necessity that the long
services of our patriot soldiers, in hunger, and thirst, and cold,
CHARTER AND ORGANIZATION. II
and nakedness, were paid for in a paper currency, like that of
which the conquered Confederates have had such bitter expe-
rience. To this meagre dole was added for faithful service
warrants for land to be located in a country of great fertility,
but the homes of bears, panthers, and Indians, the western
region of Tennessee, then a part of the domain of North Caro-
lina. To a private was given 640 acres, to a lieutenant 2,560,
to a Captain 3,840. to a Major 4,800, to a Colonel, or Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Commanding, 7,200, to a Brigadier-General 12,000
acres. To the great General Greene, who had by his genius
retrieved the fortunes of the war after Gates' disastrous failure,
they gave 25,000 acres.
The gift of the unclaimed land warrants was for years to the
University like the cool waters near the parched lips of Tanta-
lus. North Carolina, in 1789, ceded all its territory of Ten-
nessee to the United States. The new State, after its admis-
sion into the Union in 1796, claimed all the rights of sover-
eignty, and refused to give effect to the grants made by North
Carolina.
The State of North Carolina would never have secured an
acre of these lands. No argument but that they were to be
used for education, had any weight with the legislators of Ten-
nessee. The Trustees sent to plead their cause one of their
most enlightened members and most skilled in the arts of mana-
ging men. Judge Archibald Murphey. Even he, with all his
eloquence and addres-. was forced to a hard compromise. Two-
thirds of the warrant < w< iv given to the College of East Ten-
nessee and College of Cumberland, and one-third to the Uni-
;" \orth Carolina. It was not until 1835, after suffer-
ing untold privar ng under a debt of nearly $40.000
to the banks, that fund* HTCft leathered from this source and
from the donations of Smith. C.errard and others, to lift its head
above the waters. A detailed narrative of the negotiations will
be given hereafter
Tt is pleasant to note that by the providence of our ancestors
the enemies of our comitr- >m contributed, albeit unwill-
ingly, to the enlightmcnt of our people. Rut it is of pathetic
interest to know that the ignorant ^.Idiers of America, who,
12 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
after countless sufferings filled uncoffined graves, were not only
gaining liberty for their country but, unintentional benefactors,
were building a great institution of learning. They did glo-
rious work, those "unnamed demigods of history," as Kossuth
called them, blindly suffering martyrdom for a cause they dimly
understood, but that cause triumphant and leading to never
ending blessings of free institutions and liberal education.
The first meeting of the Trustees was on the i8th of Decem-
ber, 1789, seven days after the ratification of the charter. To
copy from the record those present were:
The Hon. Charles Johnson, of Bertie, Chairman.
Hon. S. Cabarrus of Chowan. James Holland of Rutherford.
Benjamin Smith of Brunswick. John Stokes of Surry.
Hugh Williamson of Edenton. William Blount of Tennessee.
Thomas Person of Granville. William Porter of Rutherford.
William Lenoir of Wilkes. Joseph Dixon of Lincoln.
Robert Dixon of Duplin. Alexander Mebane of Orange.
John Hamilton of Guilford. William R. Davie of Halifax.
Frederick Hargett of Jones. -lames Hogg of Orange.
It will be noticed that the only persons dignified with the
affix "Hon.," are Johnson and Cabarrus. That was because
they were Speakers of the Senate and of the House respec-
tively, and represented those august bodies. The title was
then restricted as a rule to the actual incumbents of these and
such high officers as President, Governor and Judge. It is
now rapidly descending to the same dead level as that occupied
by Mister, which itself has experienced the like degradation.
Johnson, the grandfather of the late eminent Dr. Charles E.
Johnson, of Raleigh, was a relation of Governor Gabriel and of
Governor Samuel Johnston, but omitted "t" from his name be-
cause, having, when barely of age, fought for Charles Edward,
he wished to conceal his identity.
It was thought for years, until the Supreme Court settled the
question by deciding to the contrary, that the University is a
private corporation. That the earliest Trustees thought differ-
ently is proved by the fact that they did not formally accept the
charter, but organized at once as public officers.
Messrs. Davie and Hogg were requested to prepare blanks
for subscriptions, one as specially directed by the Act of Assem-
bly, the other on the principle of a mere donation.
CHARTER AND ORGANIZATION. 13
Mr. Davie made the agreeable announcement that Colonel
Benjamin Smith offered a gift to the University of 20,000
acres of land warrants. The Trustees recorded their thanks
for "the liberal and generous donation."
Another early friend of the institution should be held in
grateful remembrance. Governor Alexander Martin showed
his interest by frequent attendance on the meetings of the
Board, by occasional timely gifts and by advocating in his mes-
sage to the General Assemblies its establishment and mainten-
ance. In the fall of 1790 he wrote, "This institution already
stamped with importance, having the great cause of humanity
for its object, might do honor to this and the neighboring
States, had it an adequate support, where our youth might be
instructed in true religion, sound policy and science, and men
of ability drawn forth to fill the different departments of gov-
ernment with reputation, or be formed for useful and ornamen-
tal members of society in private or professional life/' He
then recommends a loan for erecting buildings to "give it a
more essential than a paper being."
The second meeting of the Board of Trustees, the first pre-
scribed by the charter, was held likewise in Fayetteville on the
25th of November, 1790. General William Lenoir, of Wilkes
County. President of the Senate, a hero of King's Mountain,
on the nomination of the Speaker of the House, Stephen Cabar-
rus was made President of the Board. He, first of a long
line of eminent men who held this office, was the last survivor
of the original Trustees, dying at the age of 88, just fift\ \.
after the enactment of the charter. In such high estimation
was he held that an eastern county and a western town were
named in his honor.
Changes had occurred in the Board of Trustees. The old
heroes were dropping off. The venerable Robert Dixon gave
way to James Kman. L: nmd father of our worthy Trustee and
ident of our Alumni A ^ -eiati. -n : and battle-scarred Judge
Winston to Alexander Martin, who. like our Vance, had been
Governor in times of war. and. after a long interval, in times
of peace occupied the executive chair. James Hogg proce
to the welcome duty of presenting to the Board patents for the
20,000 acres of land, donated at the preceding meeting: or
14 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
General Smith. On the resignation, by Colonel Lenoir, of
the chairmanship, Governor Alexander Martin was chosen as
his successor. On balloting for the office of Treasurer, John
Craven, the State Comptroller, an old bachelor of Halifax
County, was unanimously elected. His bondsmen were Colonel
John Macon, of Warren, and General Thomas Person, of Gran-
ville. James Taylor, a Commoner from Rockingham County,
was with like unanimity chosen Secretary. It was agreed that
the place of the next meeting should be selected by ballot.
Hillsborough, Salem, Williamsburg (now Williamsboro),
Goshen (in Granville), Rockingham and Wake- Court House
were placed in nomination. The vote of the majority was for
Hillsboro. It is pleasant to note the care taken to satisfy all
sections that the location of the University should be fairly
made. It was resolved that at the next meeting on the third
Monday of July, 1791, the special business should be the selec-
tion of the site. Each Trustee was notified of this and a copy
of the resolutions was ordered to be published in the State
Gazette for six months. [In those days the General Assembly
designated some newspaper as the official organ of the State.
At this date it was the North Carolina Journal at Halifax, pub-
lished by Hodge & Willis. Hodge was the uncle of the promi-
nent Raleigh citizen, William Boylan, and brought him from
New Jersey to assist him in his publications.]
The Board of Trustees ordered that the efforts to obtain do-
nations should be continued. As was hoped by its friends, the
University was a more successful collector than the State. On
December 6, 1790, the empty treasury was gladdened by the
receipt of $2,706.41, paid by John Harvey, Clerk of Perquimans
Court, recovered from a delinquent "Commissioner of Speci-
fics." This was by the Trustees, as then required by the char-
ter, invested in United States stock created by the financial
ability of Alexander Hamilton.
At the Juiy, 1791, meeting Robert Burton, of Granville, father
of Judge Robert H. Burton, of Lincolnton, and great grand-
father of the distinguished North Carolina General, Robert F.
Hoke, and great-great-grandfather of the still more distin-
guished (in athletic circles) Captain of our football team which
CHARTER AX I) ORGANIZATION. 15
took the scalp of the University of Virginia team at Atlanta
Dr. Mike Hoke was chosen Secretary in the place of James
Taylor, resigned. Probably on account of the meagre amount
of money on hand and in sight, no steps were taken to select
the site, but vigorous action was had for the collection of the
arrearages and escheats granted by the Assembly. Each Trus-
tee was authorized to act as agent of the Board in the matter of
escheats, and attorneys, vested with full powers of collection
and compromise in regard to them and the arrearages, were ap-
pointed in each judicial district. As evidently the lawyers who
combined ability, integrity, activity, and friendship to the Uni-
versity, were chosen, I give their names. They were Edmund
Illount for the Edenton District, David Perkins for that of
New Hern, William H. Hill for that of Wilmington, Thomas
I ; . Davis for that of Fayetteville, Adlai Osborne for that of
Salisbury. Waightstill A very for that of Morgan, William Wat-
ters for that of Hillsborough, and John Whitaker for that of
Halifax. The sensibilities of the modern lawyer will be shocked
by the statement that they were required to give bond with good
security for performance of duty.
Tlie Trustees made a manly implied confession of ignorance
on tlu subject of the great task resting on their shoulders and
displayed a proper carefulness to perform their duties intelli-
gently, when they appointed Rev. Dr. McC'orckle. the teacher,
I'.enjamin Hawkins, the I ; ederal Senator, and Dr. Hugh Wil-
liamson, an ex-professor of the University of Pennsylvania,
a member of Congress from the Kdcntm District, to pro-
cure for the use <{ the P.oard information respecting the laws,
nv. and building ,,f the universities and colleges in
"nited States, together with an account of their resources
and expenditure, and an estimate of the cost of the n
buildings for our University. The confidence of the I'.oarH in
James Hogg. Alt'n-d More. and John II ay wood, was shown
l>v taking away from a 1. --reviouslv appointed,
.. seal -if the corporation.
conferring 1 it on them. Th< Apollo,
the Cod of Eloquence, and hi* emblem, the rising sun. n*
f the dawn of highe- n our St.
l6 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
At New Bern, in December, 1791, William Lenoir, in behalf
of a committee, consisting of himself, Stephen Cabarrus, Ben-
jamin Williams, John Hay wood (the Treasurer), Joseph Mc-
Dowell, of Pleasant Garden, and Samuel Johnston, made a
woeful report on the finances, present and prospective, of the
institution. The total cash was $301.24, received from arrear-
ages. There was hope that more would be realized, which the
committee estimated at $300. The University owned also a cer-
tificate of United States loan for $2,706.41, of which under the
charter only the interest, six per cent, could be used. The sub-
scription papers sent out had not been returned and the amount
to be expected from them was not ascertainable.
The committee pathetically state that they are "pained when
they reflect how extremely illy the resources of the Trustees are
proportioned to their necessities." As to the claims due the
State from Colonial days, no evidence is found in regard to them
"other than a report or list of balances made out by a committee
of the Assembly in 1773."
As to the arrearages voted to the University, which arose
under the State government, it is stated that for many years
after the Revolution the revenue business was under a Treasurer
in each district, some of whom knew not how to keep accounts ;
that the Treasurer of New Bern had fled the State, carrying his
books with him ; the Treasurer of Salisbury District had died,
leaving his account in such bad shape that the executor, Wil-
liam Lanier, had induced 'the General Assembly to close them
by settlement. When Treasurers duly settled their accounts,
their books and papers were sent to the agent of the State in
Philadelphia to be used in supporting the claims of North Caro-
lina against the United States for troops and supplies furnished
during the Revolution, and the only evidences of debts acces-
sible are the statements of the Comptroller as to balances ap-
pearing on his books.
Of these there had been delivered to the Trustees claims
against seventy-three persons. The nominal amount was in
round numbers $11,410, ranging all the way from $2.660
against one person to $3 against another. One claim was for
$4.10, the^ equivalent of $410 "old Dollar money." Among
them was an account against Governor Burke for about $100.
CHARTER AND ORGANIZATION. \J
another for "1,056 Dollar Money," scaled down to $35.40;
another against no less a man than Colonel Benjamin Cleve-
land for $368.00. Doubtless many of these claims had been
settled and the vouchers lost during the war.
As lias been stated there had been collected the sum of
$2,706.41 from the arrearages due by delinquent collecting offi-
cers. ly activity and skill the attorneys of the University suc-
ceeded eventually in wresting from this source the scarcely
hoped for total of $7,362, of which the interest only could
be used.
Steps were again taken to raise money by subscription. On
November 5, 1792, papers were circulated inviting donations
payable one year after the selection of the site. Most of the
promises by citizens of Orange County were made on condi-
tion that the location should be therein.
On December 23, 1791, a committee, whose names are not
given in the journal, reported a memorial to the General Assem-
bly asking for a loan of $10,000 in order to erect the buildings
necessary for opening the institution. The measure was placed
tinder the charge of Davie. who was a member of the House for
the l.onm^h of Halifax. His speech in support of it is thus
described by Judge Murphey in his address of 1826: "I was
present in the Mouse of Commons when Davie addressed that
body upon the bill granting a loan of money to the Trustees
; ng the buildings of the University, and although more
than thirty yean have since elapsed, T have the most vivid reo>l-
atne.NS of bis manner and the powers of bis
>n that occasion.' 1 The appeal was successful. The
loan rds converted int the only appropria-
cver made from the State Treasury until the annuity of
$5,000. granted in 1881. with the exception of $7,000 for the
g officers soon after the Civil War.
This lo; m \\,. ! without a struggle. There were
many members who believed that the people's monev ^hould not
ided for air - other than the prevention and
punishment of crime, settling disputes among citi/ens and other
similar governmental fun- The vote was 57 to 53 in the
-Minions ami 28 to 21 in the Senate. Among tl
2
I& HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
who supported the measure in the House were Messrs. Richard
Blackledge and John Lanier of Beaufort, David Stone of Ber-
tie, Joseph McDowell, Jr., of Burke, David Vance of Burke,
Thomas Cranberry of Gates, Wm. E. Lord and Benjamin
Smith of Brunswick, Richard Benbury of Chowan, Willis Als-
ton of Halifax, Ebenezer Slade of Martin, Timothy Bloodworth
of New Hanover. The affirmative Senators were Joseph Mc-
Dowell (Quaker Meadows) of Burke, Gautier of Bladen, F.
Campbell of Cumberland, Carney of Craven, Charlton of Bertie,
Dauge of Camden, Kennedy of Beaufort, Humphries of Curri-
tuck, Reddick of Gates, Eborn of Hyde, Gray of Johnston, Har-
gett'of Jones, Dixon of Lincoln, Mayo of Martin, Person of
Granville, Sneed of Onslow, Ben ford of Northampton, Skinner
of Perquimans, Moye of Pitt, Williams of Richmond, Willis of
Robeson, Singleton of Rutherford, Lane of Wake, Macon of
Warren, Swann of Pasquotank, Dickens of Caswell, Johnson
of (county doubtful).
C )pposed to the bill were Wade of Anson, Bell of Carteret,
J. Stewart of Chatham, Tyson of Moore, Graham of Mecklen-
burg, J. A. Campbell of New Hanover, Turner of Montgomery,
Quails of Halifax, Wynns of Hertford, Hill of Franklin,
Winston of Stokes, Clinton of Sampson, Berger of Rowan,
Griffin of Nash, Galloway of Rockingham, Edwards of Surry,
Hodge of Orange, Wood of Randolph, Gillespie of Guilford,
Caldwell of Iredcll. Phillips of Edgecombe. A very few did not
vote, among them, Wm. Lenoir, it not being the custom for the
Speaker to vote except in case of a tie. On inspecting the list
it will be found that three of the affirmative Senators. Stone,
Hargett and Lane, were on the Committee of Location, Reddick
was for eleven years Speaker of the Senate, Dixon and Lane
were Trustees. Of the opponents Hodge and Stewart would
have probably voted differently if they had foreseen the location
in Orange, near the Chatham line. It is surprising to see New
Hanover, noted for its liberality, in this column. Doubtless
Campbell misrepresented his constituents. It is equally sur-
prising to see General Thomas Wynns and General Joseph Gra-
ham opposing higher education. The mistake of Graham is
amply atoned for by the constant and active friendship to the
University of his broad-minded sons and grandsons.
TJ1K LOCATION. 19
it was not until January, 1792, that further steps were taken
to select the University site. On that day a resolution was
passed appointing Judge John Williams, General Thomas Per-
son, General Alexander Mebane, Colonel John Macon, Colonel
Benjamin Williams. Colonel Joel Lane, and General Alfred
-M>ore, or any three of them, to examine the ''most proper and
eligible situations whereon to fix the University, in the coun-
ties of Wake, Franklin, Warren, Orange, Granville, Chatham
and Johnston," and ascertain the terms on which such situation
can be bought and report to the next meeting. Probably the
committee failed to act, as no report was made by them. Ac-
tion under the resolutions was not had, by common consent a
different method being deemed advisable.
THE LOCATION.
A second resolution was passed that the Board meet at Hills-
borough on the ist of August, 1792, in order to determine the
location, and that due notice be given to each Trustee.
At the time and place appointed the attendance of members
proved the interest taken in the question. There were present
J5 Trustees out of 40. The largest number in these days of
railroading is 39 out of 80, in 1885, when six professors
were elected. Such patriotic sacrifice of comfort in the heated
- deserves to IK- recorded. Those who answered to the
roll-call win a- follows;
\lcxander Martin. ( '.< ivernor. of Guilford ; Hugh William-
orian. of Chowan ; Kenjamin Williams afterwards
. of Moore; John Sitgivaves. Judge I'nited States
District Court, of Craven ; Fred. Hargett, State Senator
Jones; Richard Dobbs Spaight. the elder, elected (ivrnmr that
.en; William H. Hill, member of the Legislature
and of ( of New Hanover: James Hogg, merchant, of
Cumberland: Samuel \sb-. then Judge, afterwards Governor.
'umbcHand : William
Kan member of [ Cumberland; Col. Wm.
Polk. ID- ure. then of Mecklenburg: Ji:
John Williams, of Oranville; \lexander inN
member of Congress, of : Joel T.anr. member of the
Senate, of Wake: Mfred 1 VToorr. then member of the T.rgisla-
2O HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
ture, afterwards Judge of the Supreme Court, of Brunswick;
Willie Jones, of Halifax; Benjamin Hawkins, Senator in Con-
gress, of Warren; John Haywood, State Treasurer, then of
Edgecombe; Rev. Dr. Samuel E. McCorkle, a distinguished
preacher and teacher, of Rowan; William Richardson Davie,
afterwards Governor, of Halifax ; Joseph Dixon, State Senator,
afterwards member of Congress, of Lincoln ; Joseph McDowell,
Jr., member of the Legislature, of Burke; William Porter, mem-
ber of the Legislature, of Rutherford ; Adlai Osborne, Clerk
of the Superior Court of his county, a well-read and influential
man, of Rowan.
According to localities, counting New Hanover as an eastern
county, and Cumberland, Warren and Guilford as middle coun-
ties, there were ten eastern, nine middle and six western trus-
tees.
Willie Jones submitted a motion, which was adopted, that
the Board would not select any particular spot, but would
choose by ballot a place with liberty of locating within fifteen
miles thereof.
The places in nomination were as follows : Raleigh, in Wake
County; Williamsboro, in Granville County; Hillsboro, in
Orange County ; Pittsboro, in Chatham County ; Cyprett's
Bridge, over New Hope, in Chatham ; Smithfield, in Johnston
County; Goshen, in Granville County.
The Board proceeded to ballot and Cyprett's or Cipritz's
Bridge, now Prince's Bridge, on the great road from New Bern
by Raleigh to Pittsboro, was chosen. The fifteen miles radius
allowed a range over wide areas of Chatham, Wake and
Orange ; from the highlands of New Hope to the hills of Buck-
horn; from the Hickory Mountain to the eminence overlooking
our beautiful capital on the west. The same influences which
secured that the capital should be located within ten miles of
Isaac Hunter's plantation, in Wake County, that is, as near
the centre of the State as possible, carried this vote.
On the 4th of August, 1792, the Board adopted an ordinance
to carry into effect the selection of the University site within
the circle described. One commissioner from each judicial
district was appointed by ballot. There were from the Mor-
THE; LOCATION. 21
ganton District, Wm. Porter, of Rutherford; the Salisbury
District, John Hamilton, of Guilford; the Hillsboro District,
Alex. Mebane, of Orange; the Halifax District, Willie Jones,
of Halifax; the Edenton District, David Stone, of Bertie; die
Xc\\ r.ern District, Frederick Hargett, of Jones; the Wilming-
ton District, William H. Hill, of New Hanover; the Fayette-
ville District, James Hogg, of Cumberland. They were to
meet in Pittsboro on November I, 1792, prepared to visit in
person all places deemed eligible.
At the appointed time a majority convened in Pittsboro, viz.:
Hargett, Mebane, Hogg, Hill, Stone, and Jones. It was an ex-
cellent committee. Senator Hargett, a Revolutionary captain,
had already assisted as commissioner in locating and laying
out the city of Raleigh. Alexander Mebane had been a mem-
ber of the Convention which framed the State Constitution and
a useful officer of the Revolutionary army. He had long served
the county of Orange in the State Legislature, and the year
after this was elected to the Congress of the United States.
James Hogg was an influential merchant, afterwards of Hills-
borough, among- whose descendants are the Binghams, Nor-
Is, Webbs. Hoopers, and others. Wm. H. Hill, a descend-
ant of Governor Yeamans, was an able lawyer of Wilmington,
afterwards State Senator and member of Congress. David
Stone, then a member of the House of Commons from Bertie,
afterwards Governor and Senator of the United States, was a
well educated and accomplished young man. Willie Jones was
one of the most active ami influential men of the Revolutionary
and post-Revolutionary periods, as Chairman of the Committee
of Safety, wielding executive authority in 1776, a member of the
Continental Confess, lil i commissioner to select the
for the seat of Government.
We havr the ionrnal of these Commissioners. e r ivinr p a brief
account of their labors amone the woorled hills of Chatham
and Oranre in the enrlv davs of November, when the forests
were clothed with their rnnnrnn^ hues of ru^ef ami ^reen.
Fold anH crimson, when the snuirrels rhattorerl in the hickories
ami tnr- deer poorer! ciirionslv through the tliirk underwood.
and the hosnitahlo farmers welcomed them with lieart
22 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
ings, and the good ladies brought out their foamiest cider and
sweetest courtesies, while on the sideboard, according to the
bad customs of that day, stood decanters of dark-hued rum
and ruddy apple brandy and the fiery juice of the Indian corn,
which delights to flow in the shining of the moon. I give some
extracts from the report submitted by the Chairman, Senator
Hargett, as it is more satisfactory to have the narration in the
language of the old soldier who saw bloody service under
Washington.
PITTSBORO, Nov. 1st, 1792.
. Sundry commissioners appointed by the board of trustees of the
University of North Carolina to view the country within fifteen miles
of Cypret's bridge, and to fix on the seat of the University, met accord-
ing to the order of the board, to- wit: Frederick Harget. Alexander
Mebane, James Hogg, William Hill, David Stone, and Willie Jones.
November 2nd.
Appointed Frederick Harget Chairman; proceeded to view the r.um
Spring belonging to Philip Meroney; also Matthew Jones's, John Mi-n-
toe's, and Matthew Ramsey's lands (near Pittsboro). and received their
proposals. Sundry gentlemen of the county of Chatham offered further
donations to the amount of four hundred and odd pounds, (exclusive nf
1302 offered as a donation to the board at Hillsboro), provided the
University was fixed at the fork of Haw and Deep rivers; and Ambrose
Ramsey, Patrick St. Lawrence, George Lucas, John Mebane, Pantharoup
Harman and Thomas Stokes, guaranteed to the amount of l,f>ni> ;
they having all the subscriptions to themselves, provided the University
was established in the aforesaid fork.
November 3rd.
Proceeded to view Richard Kennan's place, and Lasseter's Hill, and
received the proposals of the respective proprietors.
November 4th.
. Mr. David Stone absent. The other commissioners proceeded to Cap-
tain Edwards' and the widow Edwards' places, on the north side of TIa\v
River, and received proposals.
November 5th.
Viewed Tignal Jones' place, commonly called "Parker's." No pro-
posals were offered by the proprietor; but Tignal Jones, junior, and
Robert Cobb offered a donation of 500 acres of land adjoining the place.
Willie Jones handed to the commissioners an offer of Col. Joel Lane,
of 640 acres near Nathaniel Jones', at the cross-roads, in Wake County,
provided the University was fixed at said Nathaniel Jones'. Then pro-
ceeded to view New Hope Chapel Hill, in Orange County.
THE; LOCATION. 23
\ovember 6th.
Received offers of donations of land to the amount of 1,290 acres of
land, eight hundred and forty of which lie on Chapel Hill or adjoining
thereto, and the remainder within four or five miles or thereabouts.
Xovembcr 7th, 8th, and 9th.
Received also subscriptions for donations in money to the amount of
798, or thereabouts; but it must be observed these donations, both
land and money are conditional ; that is to say that the University shall
be established on Chapel Hill for the seat of the University. Same day
al persons executed deeds for their respective land-donations to the
University, vi/:
Col. Jno. Hogan .............. for 200 acres .............. No. 1
Mr. Benj. Yergan .............. " 51 do .............. " 2
Mr. Matthew Mi-Cauley ......... " 150 do .............. " 3
Mr. Alex. Piper ................ " 20 do .............. " 4
Mr. James Craig ............... " 5 do .............. " 5
Mr. Christ'r Barbee ........... " 221 do .............. " 6
Mr. Kdmund Jones ............. " 200 do .............. " 7
Mr. Mark Morgan ex't'd bond
with surety to convey ......... " 107 do .............. " 8
Mr. John Daniel executed bond
with surety to convey ....... " 107 do .............. " 9
Mr Hardy Morgan, deed ........ " 125 do .............. "10
1,180
Mr. 'Ih'.nia- Gmiu'lly, who subscribed 100 acres, or thereabouts, and
Mr. William McCauley, who subscribed 100 acres, could not immediately
y, I. ut have premised to execute deeds and deliver them to Mr.
James Hogg, who will transmit to the board.
Mr. John Hogan into contract to make and deliver 150.000
ks at 40c. per hund. as per contra
Mr lli;,ran also presented proposals for leasing some of the land on
Chapel Hill, which are submitted to the board.
Mr. I in, mi. i .II.IICH made proposals for supplying plank and lumber,
i are presented to the board.
1 K 1! AROET,
Chairman.
JAMES HOGG,
ALEX. MEBANE,
\\M II HIM
The l)"a; ',.Tati<>n i-oncurmi
therewith.
Thi> rrp.n ihowi ll;al. not liso-urai^-il at liavini;
to s 1-TatiMii nf tin- ft 'vernment at what is now
24 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
the village of Haywood, at the confluence of Haw and Deep
Rivers, a determined effort was made to secure the University
'at the same point. If it had met with success our boys could
add boat races to our athletic contests. The land speculators
of one hundred years ago bought lots in this town of paper
in the confident belief that it was destined to be a commercial
and manufacturing city, but Haywood has taken its place by
the side of Brunswick, Bath and other vanished or dwarfed
"boom-towns" of the past.
Notice also that Joel Lane, having secured the location of
the capital on part of his broad acres, sought ineffectually to cap-
ture the University. This shows the combination which carried
the vote for Cypritt's Bridge as the centre of the circle inside of
which its home should be. Lane had been a Halifax man and
was a warm friend of Davie and of Willie Jones. The influ-
ence of these three, together with that of the Cape Fear Trus-
tees, was greater than any other locality could command.
Let me describe the spot selected more particularly, as it
appeared to the eyes of the Commissioners.
The construction of railroads has made a wonderful change
in the relative importance of our public highways. In the old
days those who made tobacco rolled it away to Petersburg,
little wheels being attached to the hogsheads. Those who
made corn generally converted it into hogs and drove them on
foot to Philadelphia or Charleston. Wheat was ground into
flour and sent by wagon to distant markets to Fayetteville,
Wilmington, New Bern, and Petersburg, and the villages by
the way. The corn and rye not fed to swine were changed to
whiskey and the fruit into brandy, and that which escaped the
capacious throats of the neighborhood drinkers was peddled
along the road to the rural drinkers, or sold in bulk to the
village shops. In violation of all rules of political economy
a man was at the same time an agriculturist, a manufacturer,
a transporter, a wholesale merchant, a retailer and a voracious
consumer.
The returning wagons carried home supplies of molasses
and sugar, iron and salt, shot and powder and flints, not forget-
ting the ribbons and combs and such paraphernalia that ladies
THE; LOCATION. 25
in all ages will obtain to gild the refined gold of their personal
charms. They were the vehicles also of the news of the day,
there being no post-office nearer than Tarboro. The wonder-
ing neighbors heard from these drivers what was going on in
the 1>i world that Washington had consented to accept a
second term of the Presidency, that the heads of the King and
Queen of France had rolled into the guillotine basket, that the
allied armies had been driven back from the Rhine; and then
what has proved to be of more importance than all the vic-
tories of the armies or the discrowning of kings that a Yankee
schoolmaster, named Whitney, had invented a machine for
picking seed out of cotton; and every old lady paused in the
musical whir of her spinning-wheel to listen to the astounding
intelligence, not more than three months old, that in the old
country a man named Arkwright was spinning yarn by water
power, and more incredible still a preacher, named Cartwright,
was weaving cloth by wood and iron instead of human muscle.
From these causes the roads of those days, though over them
rolled no modern carriages or effeminate buggies, or bicycles, or
horse-scaring automobiles, frequently resounded with the heavy
wheels of the covered wagons ; and the cross-roads were places
of importance where wagoners and the neighbors met for
and social enjoyments, listened to political speeches,
and more rarely to homely but heart-stirring sermons.
The great roads from Petersburg to rittsboro and the coun-
try he\ond. and from New Bern towards Greensboro and
Salisbury crossed on this eminence. At the northeast corner
he cross was a chapel of the Church of England, a sad
relic futile efforts to establish a church in North Caro-
lina. The locality was called New Hope Chapel Hill or the
Hill of \.-w Hope Chapel. The eminence is a promontory
to the l.aurentian system, and extends
to the eatt, which was once the
bed of a I'-IIL: <;h-rt "f water stretching from near New York
to tl T 'gia. We have in our Museum pieces of
rock formed from the mud and sand at the bottom of this old
bay. on which a- ' the wave< and prints of the
plant and anin on
26 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
this plateau, elevated 250 feet above the country on the east,
503 feet above the ocean, then as now celebrated for its magnifi-
cent forests of oak and hickory, its springs of cool and purest
water, its pleasant, mudless, dustless soil, its genial, healthful
climate, on whose hillsides the mountain flora blossom, that
the home of the University was fixed.
We are fortunate in having a contemporary description of
the site in Davie's own words, when he was full of enthusiasm
after eating his dinner, according to tradition, under the old
poplar which bears his name.
i "The seat of the University is on the summit of a very high
ridge. There is a very gentle declivity of 300 yards to the
village, which is situated in a handsome plain, considerably
lower than the site of the public buildings, but so greatly ele-
vated above the surrounding country as to furnish an extensive
and beautiful landscape, composed of the heights in the vicinity
of Eno, Flat and Little Rivers."
"The ridge appears to commence about half a mile directly
east of the building, where it rises abruptly several hundred
feet. This peak is called Point Prospect. The flat country
spreads out below like the ocean, giving an immense hemis-
phere in which the eye seems lost in the extent of space."
"There is nothing more remarkable in this extraordinary
place than the abundance of springs of the purest and finest
water, which burst from the side of the ridge, and which have
been the subjects of admiration both to hunters and travelers
ever since the discovery and settlement of this part of the
country."
It will be noticed that the name Point Prospect has been
changed to "Piney" Prospect. In old times point was pro-
nounced a pint, and the change was natural, especially as the
hill has pines growing on it and masses of these trees are
the chief features of the scenery. I add that the water flowing
from these springs into the creeks north and south of us have
created an endless variety of hill and dale, with surprising
wealth of flora, even the rhododendron of the mountains, which
Gray stated until Dr. Simonds showed him our plant, could
not grow below 1.800 feet.
THE DONORS OF THE SITE. 2J
THE DONORS OF THE SITE.
Nearly all of these donors were part of that band of im-
migrants, which leaving Pennsylvania sought on the waters
of the Haw, the Deep, the Yadkin, and the Catawba a more
peaceful home, one farther removed from warring Indians and
scheming Frenchmen in the countries bordering on the Alle-
ghany and the Monongahela. They were of plain, honest, un-
ambitious stock, possibly more moved to their generosity by
the hope of increasing the value of the broad acres retained
by them than by love of letters and far-seeing patriotism.
Most of what I know of their history I derived from my most
intelligent friend, the late Captain John R. Hutchings, whose
farm lies in full view from Piney Prospect on the extreme
right.
Col. John Hogan was an officer of the Revolution, in the
militia service, which was arduous and perilous, especially when
Cornwallis' headquarters were at Hillsboro and armed bands
of British and Tories were harrying the central counties. His
Lence was in the county of Randolph, and his descendants
are in that and Davidson counties. One of them was the esti-
mable wife of Dr. \Ym. R. Holt, a President of the North
Carolina Agricultural Society and the introducer of Devon cat-
tle and other blooded stock into the valley of the Yadkin. She
the nearest relation to the benefactress <>f the VniverMty,
Mary Ruffin Smith.
Matthew and William McCauley were of the few who came
over directly from the north of Ireland. They were from the
v pf \ntrim. According to tradition Matthew, when a
youth. 1 \olved in one of the numerous insurrections
ist r.ritisli rule. and. concealed in a hogshead, was shipped
as freight In the colonies in the new world. Settling on M<>r-
< ck he. by industry and skill, succeeded in buying- much
land an- till on that creek of such wide celeb-
rity that the roads in the neigh1>orhoof1 were marked off by the
number of m tied ako a blacksmith ^]MJ>. which
met with a lar^e pat hen nails and IT
hand. TTK d well : Tig still ^tand<. low-
pitched, high-roofed, with ^inall windows on the old TTillshoro
and ' rond The mill hn-
28 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA,
Matthew McCauley was thrown on his own resources before
having an opportunity to procure book education, but was a
very intelligent man and good citizen. A story told on him
seems to prove the truth of the statement that "there are no
snakes in Ireland." Shortly after his arrival in Orange
County he was struck by the beauty of a rattlesnake which
.crossed his path. He caught it, fortunately around the neck,
and carried it to an old lady with the inquiry, "what is this
pretty beast?" Following the terrified advice of the lady he
succeeded in throwing it away so as to escape its poisonous
fangs. Another story was considered very mirthful in the
old days. A neighbor made him a gift of a pair of snuffers,
most useful when home-made tallow candles were in vogue. He
carried them home in triumph, and when the light became dim
snuffed the candle with his fingers as usual and deposited the
charred end of the wick in the snuffers with the triumphant
remark that it was very "usiary," (useful).
He was a faithful soldier in the Revolutionary army. The
General Assembly raised the grades of officers of the line, so
that he was after the war a captain, but <ni the roster of Conti-
nental officers he is placed as first lieutenant of the loth Regi-
ment of Continental troops, his commission being dated April
19, 1777, Abraham Shepard being his colonel. While engaged
under orders in recruiting service he was captured by the
Tories and imprisoned for three months. Such was his hatred
of Tories that even in old age, though of only medium size,
he was eager to pick a quarrel and fight with any of that party
whom he chanced to meet.
He left many children. One of his sons settled in Kentucky.
Another, a lawyer, William by name, was a student and. then
steward of the University. William left two sons, one of them,
Samuel, was once Mayor of Monroe; the other, Charles Mau-
rice Talleyrand McCauley, was a gallant captain in the Con-
federate army, a good lawyer and, as Senator from Union in
the General Assembly, was always a supporter of the institu-
tion, which his grandfather helped to provide. A grandson,
bearing: the honored name of Matthew McCauley, resides on a
part of the old plantation, though not in the old home.
Tllli DONORS 01' Til 1C SlTh). 2$
William McCauley, a brother of the first Matthew, lived a
few miles west of Chapel Hill in the district called the "Great
Meadows," a leader in his county. He is the ancestor of the
prosperous merchant of Chapel Hill, David McCauley, who is
also a descendant of Matthew McCauley, by the "spindle," i.
e., female line. William was a member of the lower house
of the General Assembly during most of the Revolutionary
War. and of the Senate from 1784 to 1788 inclusive. The con-
fidence of the people of Orange was further shown to him by
sending him as a delegate to the Convention of 1788 held at
Hillsborough, which postponed the ratification of the Consti-
tution of the United States. In common with the rest of the
( 'range delegates he voted for the postponement.
Benjamin Yeargin was a son of the Rev. Andrew Yeargin,
a Methodist preacher in Virginia and North Carolina, after
whom the first Methodist church in Virginia, Yeargan's
Chapel, was named. Benjamin was a worthy farmer, owning
the land f >r a long distance along Bowlin's Creek. He was
also the schoolmaster of the neighborhood. His mill, part of
the mudsill still in situ, at a romantic defile called Glenburnie,
the first in the southern part of Orange County. His
<1 \velling-liou >e was near the creek. The northern part of his
land is the farm owned by Mr. Oregon Tenney, and in it
President Polk. Judge William H. Battle and other
students wh<> preferred to walk nearly two miles over the
li hills rather than take meals at Steward's Hall. < >ne
of 1: Mark Merman Yeargin. was a student <f the Tni-
ty in 1807. and settled at Henderson in Kentucky. His
<>w over many States, principally North Car-
olina. 'I'- and Kentucky. Two ,f them. T,eonida<
Hillary . of New York, and Hillary II. I.. Yoaruan.
M.D.. of Murfr. . have published a neat book-
let- : n and p an family from
to i8QO.*
ChrUtoph.T Harbor, familiarly known as "Old Kit." Of*
the larirrM land< wnrr^ of this o.unty. had bis rosideno
a commanding eminence called The Mountain, three milt <
*The name was Hj.Ht <lilIVn-ntl r.-nt mcmbtnof thr faiml\ .
Yeargin, Yeargan, Yeargon.
3Q JI1STORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
east of the village of Chapel Hill. He was a familiar
figure for many years, said Dr. Charles Phillips, riding into
the village on horseback with a little negro behind him,
his destination being his blacksmith shop on Main street.
He had two sons, William and Willis. William increased an
estate already considerable, and at one time represented the
county in the Legislature. Willis was a physician in the same
neighborhood, after being a student of the University in 1818.
One of the granddaughters of William Barbee married Win.
R. Kenan, of Wilmington. Their son was a recent student and
instructor in the University. A great-grandson, William 15.
Stewart, was a graduate in 1881, and another, John Guthrie. was
a student in 1896. A grandson, Belfield William Cave, was a
graduate of 1848; and another, William F. Hargrave, was a
student in 1866. The mill at the foot of the upper Laurel Hill,
to which so many pilgrimages are made by young men and
maidens, was known for many years as Barbee's Mill, and
then Cave's Mill, after the name of one of his sons-in-law.
The land on which the mill just mentioned was built was
in 1792 the property of John Daniel, another of the donors.
His residence was on the road between the mill and the village,
and the grave of the owner is very near it. He was the sur-
veyor for the Trustees, and his map of the University lands and
vicinity is in our archives. After his death his family moved
to the Mississippi Territory, now State.
Mark Morgan, one of the earliest settlers, lived on his lands,
bought of Earl Granville, three miles southeast of the village,
the land reaching to the summit of New Hope Chapel Hill.
Of his two sons John moved west in 1823, and Solomon lived
and died on the homestead. Half of his land, about 800 acres,
including the homestead, descended to his daughter, Mary
Elizabeth, the wife of Rev. James Pleasant Mason. She be-
queathed it to the University to found a fund in memory of
her daughters, Martha and Varina, who died within a month
of one another just after buddine into womanhood.
In the latter part of his life, Solomon, who had been a man
of neighborhood prominence, a Justice of the Peace, became
feeble-minded and a guardian of his property was appointed
THE DONORS OF THE SITE. 31
He was allowed to have a horse of his own, and on one occa-
sion swapped horses with a traveler, obtaining in exchange a
noble black much superior to his own. Discovering that he
had been overreached the trader endeavored to procure a re-
scission of the trade, and on Solomon's refusal threatened to
appeal to his guardian. "Oh," said Solomon, "my guardian
was appointed to keep people from cheating me and not to
keep me from cheating them." And he kept his horse. It
was his son Samuel who, when under conviction of his sins
in consequence of the eloquent preaching at a revival, was
heard, when on his knees in a solitary hay-loft, to utter this
unique prayer. "Oh, Lord ! they accuse Sam Morgan of doing
this and that wicked thing, but, Oh Lord! it's a d d lie."
Hardy Morgan was the brother of Mark. His lands lay on
i'xnvlin's Creek, east of the village, now the property of Robert
F. Strowd. The son, Samuel, who inherited the home place
is described as "one of nature's noblemen," so free from guile
as to lose nearly all his property by becoming surety for Sheriff
Nat King who fled to Tennessee after bankrupting his friends.
< >nc of his slaves, Tom, having been bought by a trader who
^ned to carry him to the Southwest for sale, ran away and
M -viT.il years had two hiding places, one a cave on Morgan's
k and the other in a very thick copse of wood near his old
residence, tinder the lee of overhanging rocks. Rough
Is leaning against the rocks made a dismal shelter from
ain. Under them was a shoemaker's bench and a pile of
leaves for his couch. He lived partly by robbery, partly by
food brought by his mother, whose cabin was near. Inn <>n the
oprx of the hill. There- seemed to be little desire to
-t him until he began to break into th f the village
for meat. Then a pos M - was summoned for his cap-
ture. Marching thfOOgfa the f.n M at regular intervals a pro-
, WTOOds" the men amused him from
liis lair. and. on his refusal to stop when commanded, lie was
in the lops, captured and then sent south for sale. T have
never seen the cave on M n in
the wrorls the Hay after hi* capture. T remember thr rfipc
maker'*; hench and th MK of leather, the scattered hones.
32 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
relics of his solitary meals, and my young mind was shocked
inexpressibly at the resemblance of poor Tom's habitation to
the lair of a wild beast.
It is gratifying to know that the old age of Samuel Morgan
was relieved by the acquisition of a competent livelihood in
right of his wife. Allen, the other son of Hardy Morgan, was
dissipated and he and his descendants became impoverished.
James Craig lived in the house still occupied by one of his
descendants in the extreme western part of the village. He
was a quiet, reserved, good man, so absent-minded that on one
occasion he rode on horseback to New Hope church and then
walked home about seven miles, forgetting that he had a
horse, saddled and bridled, hitched near the church door. I
heard President Andrew Johnson, in a speech delivered from
President Swain's front steps, tell how, when on his way from
Raleigh to seek his fortune in Tennessee, having walked from
Raleigh, 28 miles, penniless and weary, he begged for a supprr
and a night's lodging at James Craig's. With softened voice
he spoke of the cordial hospitality with which he was received.
and how after abundant meals and a good night's rest lu \\;i>
cheered on his lonely journey by kind words and a full supply
of food in his pockets.
For many years "Craigs," or "Fur (far) Craigs," as the
place was called, to distinguish it from a Craig residence nearer
the village, was a favorite boarding house for those not ad-
verse to long walks. Dr. Hooper tells in his "Fifty Years
Since" how ambitious "spreads" of fried chicken and other
dainties were served up to parties of students, seeking a change
from the monotony of the ancient Commons. I remember
that on one sad occasion a squad of unfortunates, among them
one destined to be an eminent Confederate general, whose hands
bore the signs of the presence of the dreaded sarcoptes scabei,
were quarantined at this remote spot in sulphurous loneliness,
under the sway of the terrible demon, "Old Scratch "
Two of James Craig's children lived to the advanced age of
84 or 85 years on the homestead. His son James graduated at
the University in 1816 in the class of John Y. Mason. Wm.
Julius Alexander, and others. James Francis Craig, his grand-
LAYINT, THE COUXKR STOM:. 33
son, a student of the University in 1852, recently died on the
old homestead. Another grandson, Wm. Harrison Craig, a
graduate of i8(.-8, is a successful lawyer in Arkansas.
Alexander I'iper was a plain farmer who removed to Fayette
County, Tennessee, many years ago.
Edmund Jones, a most valuable citizen in his county, was a
soldier in the Revolutionary War. Marrying Miss Rachel
Alston he settled as a farmer near Chapel Hill, but soon after
the location of the University removed to Chatham County and
established himself on Ephraim's Creek, on the present line
of the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railroad, midway between
Siler City and Ore Hill. He is buried about twelve feet from
the road. He died in 1834 at the age of 85 years. He left
three sons, two of whom resided in North Carolina, and the
third moved West. His descendants are scattered all over the
South and Southwest. One of his sons, Atlas Jones, was an
alumnus, then a tutor of the University, 1804- '06, then a Trus-
tee. He was a lawyer of prominence and a member of the
General Assembly from Moore County. A lawyer of much
natural ability, but of irregular habits, often in the Legislature
from Anson, noted for his power of discomforting opponents
by humorous ridicule, Atlas Jones Dargan, was named after
him.
Thomas Connelly was once owner of the Matthew McCauley
mill tract. Seized by the fever for emigrating he removed to
Georgia. He sold his Orange County possessions and his
name has disappeared from this neighborhood. He was a Vir-
ginian and married Miss Mary Price, of Norfolk, in that State.
He died at the age of 82, leaving eleven sons and five daugh-
f them married. His descendants are scattered
from Georgia to Tev
THE LAYING OP THE < THE OLD EAST
BUIUMNG.
The report of the Commi- MALI referred to a com-
mittee r he, and Sit-
greavcs. J<>< hairman. reported ;m ordinance ratifying
their which wa unanimously adopted. At a fr vions
34 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
meeting a committee of which Senator Hawkins was chairman,
recommended the plan of a building 120 feet by 50, three
stories high, with a dining-room on the first floor 40 feet by 30,
and a public hall on the second and third floors of the same
dimensions. This plan was for want of means not approved,
and on motion of Davie the location and construction of a
building sufficiently large to accommodate 50 students, and
also the laying out the village of Chapel Hill and selling lots
therein, were directed to be entrusted to seven commissioners,
styled the Building Committee, to be elected by ballot.
The following were chosen: Alfred Moore, W. R. Davie,
Fred. Hargett, Thomas H. Blount, Alexander Mebane, John
Williams and John Hay wood, certainly worthy of full confi-
dence.
The committee reported, through John Haywood, at their
meeting in Fayetteville in December, 1793. They had met in
Hillsboro in April of that year and contracted with George
Daniel, of Orange County, for making 350,000 bricks for 40
shillings ($4) per thousand. On the loth of August following
they met at Chapel Hill, marked off sites for the buildings,
"together with the necessary quantity of land for offices, ave-
nues and ornamental grounds." They then laid off the village
into lots. In addition to the beauty and natural advantages of
the place, they reported that it is "happily accommodated to the
introduction and direction of several important public roads,
which it is highly probable will in the future lead through
it." They found that a tract of eighty acres, belonging to
Hardy Morgan ran inconveniently near the buildings, and
therefore bought it for $200. On the iQth of July they con-
tracted with James Patterson, of Chatham County, for erecting
a two-storied brick building, 96 feet 7 inches long- and 40 feet
I i-2 inches wide, for $5,000, the University to furnish the
brick, sash weights, locks, hooks, fastenings and painting. The
building was to contain 16 rooms with four passages, and to
be finished by the 1st of November. 1794. The cornerstone
was laid on the I2th of October, 1793, and on the same day
the lots in the village, reserving a four-acre lot for a residence
for the President, were sold for 1.534 ($3,168), payable in
one and two years, good security being given. It was thought
LAVING THE CORNER STUN 1C. 35
that "the amount of the sales furnishes a pleasing and unde-
niable proof of the high estimation in which the beautiful spot
is held." The report is signed by Davie, Moore, Mebane,
I'.lount, and Haywood, from which it is inferrible that Hargett
and Williams did not act. The 8o-acre tract included the land
east of the buildings next to the Raleigh road, which is prop-
ably the oldest cleared land of the University site. There are
traces on it of a cottage, which was probably tenanted at the
time of the purchase.
The 1 2th of October was the date of many great events in
the world's history of the discovery of America by Columbus,
of the birth of that grand evolution of Anglo-Norman- Ameri-
can character, Robert E. Lee, and of our active, progressive,
and able ex-President of the University, George Tayloe Win-
ston. In the year 1877 it was made a holiday, University Day.
< 1 moral Davie, as Grand Master of the Free and Accepted
< >nler of Masons, officiated, and Rev. Dr. Samuel E. Me-
Corckle delivered the address, on the occasion of the laying of
the corner-stone.
\\V have fortunately an account of the proceedings of this
lay so memorable, written by Davie himself, the chief actor.
I will endeavor to take the veil from this picture of long ago
and wipe off the dust which obscures it.
Tin- Chapel Hill of 113 years ago was vastly different from
the Chapel Hill of to-day. It was covered with a primeval
vth of forest tn-es. with only one or two settlements and
A- acres of Hearing. Kven the trees on the Kast and West
"lie. fiamed Cameron by the Faculty in recognition of the
ami skillful superintendence by P. C. Cameron of the ex-
ve repairs of our buildings prior to the re opening 1 in
still erect. The swectgnms and dogwoods ami
relieving with their russet and golden lines the general
-I of the forest. A long procession of people for the first
time is marching along the narrow n -ad. afterwards to be
widened into a noble avenue. Many of them are clad in the
striking, typical insignia of the MasomY Fraternity, their dram I
Master arrayedjn the ful! ions of his rank. They mar. h
with military tread. most of them b. vice,
man d with wounds of horrid war. Their faces are
?6 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
serious, for they feel that they are engaged in a great work.
They are proceeding to lay the foundations of an institution
which for weal or woe is to shape the minds of thousands of
unborn children; whose influence will be felt more and more,
ever widening and deepening as the years roll on, as one of the
great forces of civilization.
Let us transport ourselves in imagination and look on this
strange procession and see if we can recognize any of them
as they step firmly in the pleasant sunshine of the autumnal
sun.
The tall, commanding figure most conspicuous in the Grand
Master's regalia is that of William Richardson Davie, whom I
have heretofore described. The distinguished looking man,
"small in statue, neat in his dress, elegant in his manner," next
to Davie, is Davie's great rival, Alfred Moore. Judge Murphey
gives us a vivid picture of him also: "His voice was clear and
sonorous, his perception quick and judgment almost intuitive.
His style was chaste and manner of speaking animated. Hav-
ing adopted Swift for his model, his language was always
plain. The clearness and energy of his mind enabled him al-
most without an effort to disentangle the most intricate subject
and expose it in all its parts to the simplest understanding. He
spoke with ease and with force, enlivened his discourse with
flashes of wit, and where the subject required it with all the
bitterness of sarcasm. His speeches were short and impressive.
When he sat down every one thought he had said everything
he ought to have said." His learning and acquirements secured
for him a seat on the bench of one of the most august tribunals
in the world the Supreme Court of the United States.
In that procession appeared one too who had highest reputa-
tion among his contemporaries as an enlightened lawyer, Wil-
liam H. Hill, heretofore described, father of the brilliant young
man whose death filled the whole State with grief, Joseph A.
Hill.
We next see one who was for many years the most popular
man in North Carolina, John Haywood. For forty years
1787 to 1827 he was Treasurer of the State. His hospitality
was unbounded. He made it a rule to invite specially to an
entertainment at his house at each session of the General As-
LAVING THE CORNER STONK. 37
sembly, which then met annually, every member. His kindness
and charity were absolutely inexhaustible. In reading over the
rniversity records I find that for over thirty years he scarcely
missed a meeting 1 of the Board, whether held at Chapel Hill or
Raleigh. His name is perpetuated not only by the memory of
his distinguished sons, but by one of our loveliest mountain
counties and by a neighboring town, which once aspired to be
the capital of the State and site of the University.
Marching with Hay wood was Gen. Alexander Mebane, of
the old Scotch-Irish stock, who settled the Haw Fields in Ala-
mance, something of whose history has been given.
In that procession was also John Williams, founder of Wil-
liamsboro, in Granville County, whose strong, sturdy sense
enabled him to step with short interval from the bench of the
carpenter to the bench of the judge of the first court under
the Constitution of 1776. He was likewise a member of the
Congress of the Confederation.
Thomas Blount, member from Edgecombe, soon to enter
Congress and to become an attached colleague of Nathaniel
Mao >n. was likewise present.
Prominent in this procession was the venerable Hargett,
ttor from Jones, plain, solid, but eminently trustworthy.
After these came other Trustees. Who they were, with the
ption of McCorkle, we have no record.
After the Trustees march State officers, not Trustees; among
tin-in Judge Spruce McKoy, of Salisbury, and doubtless John
Tayli.r. the first Steward of the University, and the officers of
the county; and then followed the gentlemen of the vicinity,
tlu- donors of tin- land and their neighbors, and among them
1'atu-rson, of Chatham, the contractor f >r tin- building. Since
that day we have had processions, year by year, on our Com-
mencement days, and in their columns men learned and dis-
tin^nislu-d in all the pursuits of life, but never lias tin-re been a
procession more imposing than that which laid the cornerstone
<>f tin- < >ld East, on the I2th day of October, 1793.
Tin- orator of the day, Dr. Samuel E. McCorKle. \\ns one
of the n ! that period. He was one of the
Scntrh- Irish, who made the north of Ireland famous
throughout all lands f .r triumphs ..f intelligent MidiiMiv and
38 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
thrift, whose glorious defence of Londonderry stands unexcelled
in the annals of human valor and endurance; who gave to
North Carolina many of its leaders in war and peace Grahams
and Jacksons, Johnstons, Brevards, Alexanders, Mebanes and
hosts of others, but above all most of its faithful and zealous
instructors 'of youth, such as Dr. Caldwell, of Guilford, and
Dr. Caldwell, of the University, Dr. Ker and Mr. Harris, its
first professors, and that progenitor of a line of able and cul-
tured teachers and founder of a school eminent for nearly a
century for its widespread and multiform usefulness, William
Bingham, the first.
Dr. McCorkle was among the foremost of these. He was
beyond his generation as a teacher. His school at Thyatira,
six miles west of Salisbury, spread abroad not only classical
learning but sound religious training. He attached to it a de-
partment specially for teachers the first normal school, I feel
sure, in America. The first class which graduated at our Uni-
versity consisted of seven members; six of them had been
pupils of Dr. McCorkle. And it is gratifying that one of the
first graduates of the revived University was a relative of his,
George McCorkle, of Catawba, the Chief Marshal of 1876.
The name Zion-Parnassus, which he gave to his school at
Thyatira, shows how he combined the culture of the Bible and
the culture of the Muses. The first Board of Trustees of the
University was composed of the greatest men of the State, and
among them Senators, Governors, Judges of the Supreme
Court of the United States and of the State was Dr. Mc-
Corkle, the solitary preacher and solitary teacher, He was one
of the best friends the University had; worked for it, begged
for it, preached for it. It was most fitting that he should
deliver the first address at the University, to be followed by a
long line of eloquent men.
We have a report of the address made by Dr. McCorkle
on this momentous occasion. It is replete with wisdom and
noble thoughts, and pioves that the estimation placed on him
by the men of his day was fully earned.
"Observing on the natural and necessary connection between
learning and religion, and the importance of religion to the
LAVING THE CORNER STONE. 39
promotion of national happiness and national undertakings,
he said," "It is our duty to ackowledge that sacred scriptural
truth, except the Lord build the house they labor in vain who
build it. Except the Lord watcheth the city the watchman
walketh but in vain." For my own part I feel myself prostrated
with a sense of these truths, and this I feel not only as a min-
ister of religion, but also as a citizen of the State as a member
of the civil as well as the religious society."
After laying down the proposition that the happiness of
mankind is increased by the advancement of learning and
science, the doctor observed, "Happiness is the centre to which
all the duties of man and people tend. ... To diffuse the
greatest possible degree of happiness in a given territory is the
aim of good government and religion. Now the happiness of
a nation depends on national wealth and national glory and
cannot be gained without them. They in like manner depend
on liberty and good laws. Liberty and laws call for general
knowledge in the people and extensive knowledge in matters
of the State, and these in turn demand public places of educa-
tion. . . . How can any nation be happy without national
wealth? How can that nation or man be happy that is not
procuring and securing the necessary conveniences and accom-
modations of life; ease without indolence and plenty without
luxury or waste? How can glory or wealth be procured with-
out liberty and laws? They must check luxury, encourage in-
dustry and protect wealth. They must secure me the glory
of my actions and save me from a bow-string or a bastille. And
how are these objects to be gained without general knowledge?
Knowledge is wealth it is glory whether among philoso-
phers, minimi or religion, nr among the great mass
of the people. Britons glory in the name of Newton and have
honored him with a place among the sepulchres <>f their kings.
American^ ijnry in the name of l"rankl ; ti. ami every nation
boasts of her great men. who has them. Savai;v< cannot have,
rather cannot educate them, though many a Newton has been
born and buried among them. Knowledge is liberty and law.
When the clouds of igimranc- libelled 1>\ the radi-
ance of knowledge power tremble v t>nt the authority of the
4O HISTORY UNIVKRS1TY OF NORTH CAROLINA
laws remain inviolable; and how this knowledge productive of
so many advantages to mankind can be acquired without pub-
lic places of education I know not."
The eyes of the orator kindled as he looked into the future.
"The seat of the University was next sought for," he said,
"and the public eye selected Chapel Hill a lovely situation in
the centre of the State, at a convenient distance from the capi-
tal, in a healthy and fertile neighborhood. May this hill be for
religion as the ancient hill of Zion; and for literature and the
muses, may it surpass the ancient Parnassus! We this day
enjoy the pleasure of seeing the cornerstone of the University,
its material and the architect for the building, and we hope
ere long to see its stately walls and spire ascending to their
summit. Ere long we hope to see it adorned with an elegant
village, accommodated with all the necessaries and conveniences
of civilized society."
"The discourse was followed by a short but animated prayer,
closed with the united amen of an immense concourse of peo-
pie."
We thank thee for thy golden words, thou venerable father
of education in our State. On this foundation the University
desires to rest, the enlightenment of the people, their instruc-
tion not alone in secular learning but in religious truth, leading
up to and sustaining liberty by demanding and shaping benefi-
cent laws under which wealth may be accumulated and individ-
ual happiness and national glory be secured, all sanctified by the
blessings of God ; these are the objects, these are the methods,
these are the good rewards of the University.
But the beginnings of the University were in troublous times.
Its struggles were not only with want and penury, but with
ignorance and prejudice and a wild spirit of lawlessness.
All the world was in a ferment. The passions of the era
flamed across the ocean and enkindled sympathetic passions
in our midst. Furious efforts were made to force the United
States into alliance with the French Republic. The vision of
the sister democracies of the Old World and the New, marching
shoulder to shoulder to plant in every capital the standard of
universal freedom, and conquering together a universal peace,
I.AYlNi; THE CORNER STONE. 4!
aroused every sentiment of romantic philanthropy and quixotic
gratitude.
The rage of parties was strong in North Carolina, as else-
where. It stood in the way of all measures for the advance-
ment of the public good. It stimulated bad passions, prevented
co-operation, divided the people into hostile camps. In the
general excitement the cause of education was little regarded,
aiui but for the wisdom of such men as Davie and Moore and
Mebane and Hay wood and Hill the new-born University would
have been strangled in its infancy.
The population of the State was only about 400,000, of whom
about 100,000 were slaves. The permanent seat of government
had just been chosen. The city of Raleigh was located in 1792,
the State-house was not finished until 1794. The inhabitants
of the State lived remote from one another, and mutual inter-
course was prevented not only by long distances but by the
execrable roads and the almost entire absence of spring vehicles.
The two-wheeled sulky and stick-back gig were possessed by
the better class, while only a few of the wealthiest could boast
of the lumbering coach. Most traveling was on horseback, it
being quite the fashion for the lady to sit behind the gentleman
ami steady herself by an arm around his waist.
The diffusion of intelligence through most of the regions
of the State was by the chance traveler or the wagoner. In
1790 there were only 75 post-offices in all the Union, now there
are over 70,000. There were only 1,875 miles of post roads in
all the I "nion. now there are over 400,000. Then there was only
one letter to 17 people, now there are over 20 letters to each
n Then there were only 265,500 letters carried in a year;
her. arc largely over I ,OOO,OOO,OOO. Then the postage was
ents, according t<> di^tanee: now for two cents
a letter will go with great certainty to the shores .f the Pacific,
it Alaska amon- the fro/en latitudes. In his im -
sage to the Legislature of 170,0 Governor Alexander Martin
eomplaine.l that there U only one mail route in the State, ami
that runs only tlimn that only a few
inhabitants derive advantage from that establishment in coin-
Oa to the general hulk of the peopK- ,,f the interior roun-
42 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
try. Five years afterwards Prof. Harris, when a weekly mail
had been established, writes, "Our news at this place (Chapel
Hill) has given us more trouble and disappointment than in-
formation, i joined Mr. Ker, acting president, in getting
Browne's daily paper, but it has not arrived by the two last
posts, and if it does not come more regularly we must discon-
tinue it." The old records show that it was a common practice
to send a special messenger, called an "express," when impor-
tant communication became necessary between the University
authorities and the Trustees.
The state of education was at a low ebb. There were no
public schools and few private schools. I am fortunately able
to give information on this subject from Judge Archibald
Murphey, an early student of the University ; after his gradua-
tion one of its professors. He says: "Before this University
came into operation in 1795 there were not more than three
schools in the State in which the rudiments of a classical edu-
cation could be acquired. The most prominent and useful of
these schools was kept by Mr. David Caldwell, of Guilford
County. He initiated it shortly after the close of the war and
continued it for more than thirty years. The usefulness of
Dr. Caldwell to the literature of the State will never be suffi-
ciently appreciated, but the opportunities of instruction in the
school were very limited. There was no library attached to
it. His students were supplied with a few of the Greek and
Latin classics, Euclid's Elements of Mathematics and Martin's
Natural Philosophy. Moral Philosophy was taught from a
syllabus of lectures by Dr. Witherspoon in Princeton College.
The students had no books on history or miscellaneous liter-
ature. There were very few indeed in the State, except in the
libraries of lawyers who lived in the commercial towns. I well
remember that after completing my course of studies under
Dr. Caldwell, I spent nearly two years without finding any
books to read except old works on theological subjects. At
length I accidentally met with Voltaire's History of Charles XII.
of Sweden, and an odd volume of Smollett's Roderick Random
and an abridgement of Don Quixote. These books grave me a
taste for reading which I had no opportunity of gratifying
LAYING THE CORNER STONE. 43
until I became a student of the University in 1796. Few of
Dr. Caldwell's students had better opportunities of getting
books than myself, and with those slender opportunities of in-
struction it is not at all surprising that so few have become
eminent in the liberal professions. At this day (1827) when
libraries arc established in all our towns, when every profes-
sional man and every respectable gentleman has a collection
of books, it is difficult to conceive the inconvenience under
which young men labored thirty or forty years ago." And yet
there were men who, like Judge Murphey, conquered all these
difficulties and rose, conspicuous for learning and science.
I am satisfied that Judge Murphey was mistaken as to the
number of classical schools. There were others, but very far
from being sufficient to supply the needs of the State.
The North American Review in 1821 said that, "In an ardent
and increasing zeal for the establishment of schools and acade-
mies for several years past, we do not believe North Carolina
has been outdone by a single State. The academy at Raleigh
was founded in 1804, previously to which there were only two
institutions of the kind in the State. The number at present
is nearly forty, and is rapidly increasing. Great pains are
taken to procure the best instructors from different parts of the
country, and we have the best authority for our opinion, that in
no part of the Union are the interests of education better under-
stood and under better regulation than in the middle counties
of North Carolina. The schools for females are particularly
celebrated and are much resorted to from Georgia, South Caro-
lina and Virginia. In the year 1816 the number of students at
academies within the compass of forty miles amounted to more
than one thousand."
Soon after the laying of the ione of the Old East, the
President's dwelling was begun. This was located opposite to
the present Commons Hall, and is now occupied by Prof. Gore.
It was tl r, then of Professor Gil-
laspie; then I President Cnldwell. In the year
1807 he married the widow of William Hooper, son of the
signer of the I)er1arat : on of Tnd-prnlener. who had removed
from Tlillsboro to Chapel Hill in order to educate her sons: lie
44 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
then removed to her residence at the southeast corner of Frank-
lin and Hillsboro streets. This caused the "President's house"
to become the residence of professors.
SALE OF VILLAGE LOTS.
After the ceremonies of laying the cornerstone, was had the
sale of villages lots. A careful inspection of the map of the
town preserved among the Harris papers and of the deeds given
by the Commissioners of sale show clearly the plan. A broad
avenue, called the Grand Avenue, 290 feet wide, being the dis-
tance between the eastern side of the East Building and the
western side of the West Building, was laid out on paper, ex-
tending from the north front of the South Building north-
wardly to the limits of the University land, considerably beyond
the present village school-house. Person Hall (Old Chapel)
was located to front on this avenue.
Another avenue about 150 feet wide was designed to extend
from the South Building eastwardly to Piney Prospect. The
lots on both sides of Franklin or Main street, with the excep-
tion of those included in the Grand Avenue, were squares of
two acres each, as were also those along Columbia Avenue.
These two-acre lots were numbered I to 24; those west of
Columbia Avenue, beginning at the south, being numbers i, 3,
5, 7 ; those on the east being 2, 4, 6, 8 ; the two latter as well
as 5 and 7 being on Franklin street. To the east of 6 on Frank-
lin street were the odd numbers 9 to 23, the spaces occupied
by Grand Avenue and Raleigh street not being included ; that
at the southeast corner of Franklin and Raleigh streets being
No. 19. Similarly on the north side of Franklin street from
No. 8, usually known as the Hargrave lot, to the east are the
even numbers 10 to 24; that known .as the Thompson lot being
No. 1 8.
Besides these there were five lots of four acres each, Nos. I
and 2 being the lots from Commons Hall to the Pittsboro road.
Nos. 3 and 4 being east and west of Grand Avenue and north of
Rosemary street, No. 5 being east of Hillsboro street and north
of Rosemary, and No. 6 being the Battle lot, touched by no
street, evidently set apart for sale because a spring was within
its limits.
SA1.K (.! To\\ N LOTS. 45
The campus, tlien called ornamental grounds, was planned
to be far larger than at present. It was a square, extending
eastwardly to the front line of No. 6 four-acre lot. and the
same distance into the forest on the south, beyond the old
brickyard. The general changes in the plan have been the re-
stricting of the campus into its present stone-wall limits and the
sale of that part of the Grand Avenue which lies north of
Franklin street. The first encroachment was a Union church,
called the village chapel, for holding religious services on Sun-
day nights, on Franklin street about the middle of Grand
Avenue, the professors contributing the major part of the
building fund. In the course of time the lot on which it was
situated was sold to the Presbyterians for their church, and the
lots to the west of it were disposed of for various purposes.
The old village chapel was moved northward and was recently
the town school-house. Another portion of Grand Avenue was
bought by the Methodists as a site for their church, and, when
they concluded to build another, some northern Congregate m-
alists bought it for a school and church for the colored. It
has since been sold into private hands.
Long afterwards, about 1830, when Gerrard Hall was built,
the authorities of that day had a quixotic notion to force the
University to turn its back to the village and its face towards
the south, a stately east and west avenue to run from the
leigh to the Pittsboro road. The southern porch of Gerrard
Hall, recently taken down, is a memento of this abortive pro-
It ifl interesting to read the list of purchasers at the sale
of 1793. I regret that I have he-en unable to find the munher
of the lots each purchased, but by the researches of Mr. S. M.
can give fair ^pccimens. Tin- l.iM doeen<!aiit of an
nal purchaser who continued in Imld the land bought
Mary Kenan, of Wilmington, wife <>\ Wm. R. Kenan
whose mother, M ive. was a granddaughter of
Christopher I'.arhce. Sh -eiitly sold it. The follov.
is tli of sale being twelve
credit
46 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Christopher Barbee 105. 10 $211 .
Wm. Hayes 50.5 100.50
John Daniel 28. 56.
Samuel Hopkins, No. 14 33 . 66.
Hardy Morgan, No. 12 75 . 150 .
Edmund Jones, No. 13 100. 200.
George Johnston, No. 1 1 71 . 142 .
Nathaniel Christmas 40 . 80 .
Alfred Moore, No. 17 32. 64.
Charles Collier 67 . 134.
Stephen Gapins 40. 10 81 .
James Patterson, Nos. 4 and 5 108.10 217.
John Caldwell 29. 58.
Jesse Neville 76. 10 153.
John Grant Rencher, Nos. 20 and 19
and 4 acre No. 5 114.5 228.50
Daniel Booth 52. 104.
Chesley Page Paterson 82 . 164 .
Unvis Kirk 58. 110.
Ephraim Fra/ier 55 . 110.
Archibald Campbell 54. 10 109.
John Carrington 107 . 214.
Andrew Burke, four acre No. 6 and
four acre No. 3 . 125. 250.
Total 1504. $3008.
The Commissioners reported 30 more than this. The auc-
tioneer was John G. Rencher, and he was paid $20. John
Daniel was the surveyor and received $16.
The lot bid off by Alfred Moore, one of the Commissioners,
for 32 ($64) was transferred to William H. Hill, and by him
to Thomas Taylor, a merchant. After building a house on it
and living therein for many years Taylor removed to Tennessee,
selling it to the University. It is the land east of the Episcopal
church extending to the Raleigh road, now occupied by Dr.
Alexander.
The Charles Collier lot ($134) is that at the corner of Hills-
boro and Franklin street, now owned by the heirs of Henry
Thompson.
John Grant Rencher was the father of the late Abram
Rencher, member of Congress and Charge d' Affairs to Portu-
gal. He bought No. 5 lot of four acres for $74.50, No. 19, that
SALE OF TOWN LOTS. 47
at the southeast corner of Franklin and Raleigh streets, and
that opposite for $77 each.
The four-acre Battle lot, No. 6, was purchased by Andrew
Burke, a merchant of Hillsboro, for $150. The highest priced
were the two-acre lots No. n, where is now Roberson's Hotel,
$142, or $71 per acre, the purchaser being George Johnston;
No. 12 opposite, on part of which is the residence of the late
Dr. W. P. Mallett, sold to Hardy Morgan for $150, or $75 per
acre; and No. 13 (the Chapel Hill Hotel lot) to Edmund Jones
for $200, or $100 per acre. The two-acre lot adjoining the
campus on the west, brought only $95, and that at the southwest
corner of Franklin street and Columbia Avenue, was sold
to James Paterson, the contractor for the East Building, for
$122.
Nearly all of these purchases were for speculative purposes
;in<l it is doubtful whether any money was made on the re-sales.
Investors should take warning by these figures of the danger
>f holding unimproved land in towns of slow growth. Number
i) ($77). one of the most beautiful building sites in the village,
tin- house on which, burnt in 1886, was the residence of Presi-
dents Caldwell and Swain and which sheltered three Presidents
f tin United States, Polk, Buchanan, and Johnson, is now
worth exclusive of buildings about $1,000. The $77 paid in
; at six per cent compound interest would bo over $12.000,
and until 1848 moneys lent were not taxed.
It is notio showing the pr f prices in real
estate, that the acre which is now the Presbyterian Manse, ilien
without a building- on it. was in 1847 bought by Prof. \Y. M.
i'.islmp of Mississippi, for $37.50. In iS<j Prof.
(/oilier C'ol.1. ". -iirths of ;m acre adjoining $300.
The first effort to start the I'niversity on its educational
er was peculiar and proved abortive. On the I2lh of De-
cem' riculnm Committee insi -rted an advertise-
ment in the nev, as folio-. "Proposals from such
intend to undertake the instruct)- ith"
nvited. the instruction to embrace "I.ar.
larly the Enpli0i : the K ' . and Moral Philoso-
riculture and I'.otam . w ; th tl
48 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
ture." No gentlemen offered themselves for this stupendous
task.
FIRST PLAN OF STUDIES AND BY-LAWS.
On December 4, 1792, at a meeting of the Trustees at New
Bern, Messrs. McCorckle, Stone, Moore, Ashe, and Hay were
appointed a committee to report a plan of education, and Hugh
Williamson was afterwards added. Of these McCorkle, Stone,
Moore, and Ashe have already been described. Hay was an
able lawyer from Fayetteville, from whom Haymount is called,
occasionally a member of the General Assembly, a strong Fed-
eralist with a sharp tongue, which often embroiled him with
the Republican judges, Ashe, Spencer and Williams. His beau-
tiful daughter was the first wife of Judge Gaston. Dr. Hugh
Williamson had the reputation of having much varied learning,
especially in the sciences. He was a graduate of the Literary
Department of the University of Pennsylavnia, was educated
to be a Presbyterian preacher, but after serving two years left
the ministry on account of ill health. After being Professor of
Mathematics in his alma mater for a short while he obtained
the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of Edin-
burgh, and practiced his profession in Philadelphia. Engaging
in a coasting commercial venture at the opening of the Revo-
lutionary War, he was forced, in order to avoid capture, to run
into Edenton, in North Carolina, and there concluded to settle.
When the militia was called out for the unfortunate Camden
campaign he volunteered his service as surgeon, and remained
in the hands of the British in order to care for the American
wounded. He was afterwards member of the North Caro-
lina Legislature, member of the Congress of Confederation
and of the Convention of 1787, and a signer of the United States
Constitution. Marrying a lady of wealth living in New York,
he removed his residence to that city and there wrote his His-
tory of North Carolina. He also published a volume on the
climate of America as compared with that of Europe, and was
an active co-operator in advancing the interests of the Univer-
sity of North Carolina until his death in 1819. Jefferson said
of him that he was a "very useful member of the Congress
of the Confederation," of "acute mind and of a high degree of
I'l.AX OF STUDIES. 49
erudition." Of the committee the only college-bred men were
McCorkle, Stone and Williamson.
Dr. McCorkle, as Chairman, reported in December, 1792, in
general terms that, considering the poverty of the University,
tin- instruction in literature and science be confined to the study
of the languages, particularly the English, the acquirement of
historical knowledge, ancient and modern ; Belles Lettres, Math-
ematics and Natural Philosophy; Botany and the theory and
practice of Agriculture, best suited to the climate and soil of the
State; the principles of Architecture. The committee recom-
mended the procurement of apparatus for Experimental Phil-
osophy and Astronomy. In this they included a set of Globes,
a Barometer, Thermometer, Microscope, Telescope, Quadrant,
Prismatic Glass, Air-pump, and an Electrical Machine. They
were of the opinion that a library be procured, but the choice
should be deferred until additional funds should be provided.
The report is remarkable as being far ahead of the times.
Notwithstanding that the chairman and the second on the list,
Stone, were graduates of Princeton, a seat of the old curricu-
lum, viz. : the Classics, Mathematics and Metaphysics, promi-
nence is given to scientific studies and those of a practical
nature. It is strikingly like the plan adopted by Congress for
the establishment of the agricultural and mechanical colleges,
in which, to use the words of the act, "Without excluding the
classics, and including military tactics, shall be taught the
branches of learning relating to Agriculture and the Mechanic
Arts." And I find that the course of studies, from which the
classics were excluded, was called by the name adopted in 1870,
the Scientific Course, although the Faculty adopting the latter
had no knowledge of the scheme of 1792.
It is (vrtainly t<> the honor of Dr. McCorckle that, while he
;i hundred o in the wilds of North
'ina a \orinal SHi""1. flu- first pn.baMy in America, he like-
Irrw up a scheme for the more prnclical instruction which
all institutions of higher 1 arnin^ at the present <lav have to a
i hie, however, that as
ty of Pennsylvania, the alma mater of IV. 1!
Williamson, was con in exalting srimtifir studies, his
4
5O HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
influence had weight in the report of the committee. I find that
Dr. John Andrews, Provost of that institution, as late as 1810,
writes that the principal teachers of Latin and English are not
styled professors, but masters that these schools were con^
sidered distinct from the college, subordinate to it and only
kept up as nurseries of the philosophical classes. He thought
that on the death or resignation of the Rev. Dr. Rogers, the
head of the English school, it would be abolished altogether.
On January 10, 1794. the Board ordered the scheme of the
Committee to be carried into effect, and that the exercises
should begin on the I5th of January, 1795. The annual Com-
mencement was to be on the Monday after the loth of July
each year, after which "there should be a time of recreation or
holiday of one month only." The next vacation was to begin
on the 1 5th of December and end on the I5th of January of
each year.
The prices for tuition were as follows :
For Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and Bookkeeping, $8 per annum.
For Latin, Greek, French, English Grammar, Geography, History
and Belles Lettres, $12.50 per annum.
Geometry with practical branches, Astronomy, Natural Philoso-
phy, Moral Philosophy, Chemistry and the principles of Agri-
culture, $15.00 per annum.
No President was to be chosen, but a Presiding Professor
only, to occupy the President's house and to be responsible for
all the teaching. His style was "Professor of Humanity," his
salary $300 a year and two-thirds of the tuition money.
The Professor of Humanity and three Trustees, or the Presi-
dent of the Board, were authorized to employ assistance wlu-n
needed. The salary of a tutor was to be $200, one-third of the
tuition money, free board at Commons, and the use of a room
in the "Old East." The word "Humanity." more often in the
plural form, "the Humanities," was held to include grammar,
logic, rhetoric, poetry and the ancient classics, opposed to
mathematics and the natural sciences.
Charles Wilson Harris, a recent graduate of Princeton, was
chosen, in the spring of 1795, Tutor of Mathematics.
It was likewise resolved to build a Steward's House, to be
PLAN 01- STUDIES. 51
ready at the opening of the institution, the size of the edifice to
be at the discretion of the Building Committee.
The students were to be allowed, but not compelled, to live
in the University building and board at Commons.
Absalom Tatom, of Hillsborough, who was afterwards a
Commoner from that borough and, by his criticism of the Uni-
versity as being aristocratical, provoked violent denunciation by
President Caldwell, and Walter Alves, of the same town, the
new Treasurer, were added to the Building Committee.
A committee, composed of John Haywood, Davie, James
Taylor, Adlai Osborne and Rev. Dr. McCorkle, reported that,
as instructed, they had examined into the financial condition of
the institution. That, "on the 1st of November, 1794, the in-
stitution would have in ready cash 6,297, 9 s ' 6d, ($12,594.95),
exclusive of the hard money, which by that time for interest
will be three hundred dollars, or thereabout. This interest was
payable by the United States on bonds invested in the new debt
created for discharging the Revolutionary obligations of the
< K ncral and State governments.
The Committee, to report "the quantity and quality of the
meats and drinks to be furnished to students," was composed of
Col. Wm. Lenoir, David Stone, Joel Lane, Robert Porter and
John Haywood. The diet recommended seems sufficiently
-us.
I ..i I'.irakfast. Coffee and tea, or chocolate and tea, one warm roll.
"in- loaf <f wheat or corn Hour (the secretary spells it flower), at the
option of tin- -indent. with a sufficiency of butter.
Dinner. A dish or cover of bacon and greens, or beef and turnip^.
her with a Millirient .juaiiiity of fr.-h meats, or fowls, or pudding
.iii.l tart>. with a -nllirienry ot \\heat and corn bread.
For Supper. Coffee, tea, or milk at the option of the Steward, with
the neee-saiv (plant it \ of bread or
The Committee adds that "it is expected Potatoes and all
ther kinds of vegetable food will be furnished, and plentifully,
by the Steward," with a clean table cloth every other day.
"They are of opinion that no drink other than water be pro-
vided, the word "drink" here meaning spirituous, vinous or
malt flm The report was adopted.
52 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
It is manifest that there is abundant room for differences be-
tween the Steward and his hungry patrons. Neither the size,
nor the weight of the rolls, loaves, bacon, beef, is specified. As
no fresh meats and fowls were required when puddings and
tarts were on hand, the first course, bacon with beans, or in lieu
thereof, beef and turnips, must have been a trifle lonesome.
And if the Steward, as he had the right to do, concluded to
serve corn-bread, hot or cold, without butter, even the advocate
of Spartan simplicity might find it unsavory. It must be noted
too that the age and strength of the butter, which was not im-
perative except at breakfast, might be a matter of serious
wrangling. It seems to have depended on the sympathetic tem-
perament of the Steward whether the expectation of the un-
limited supply of vegetables was realized in all seasons. Our
history will show abundant heart-burnings resulting from the
want of more stringent provisions in the summary of that offi-
cer's duties.
In addition to furnishing food, the Board required the Stew-
ard to give the floors, passages and staircases a fortnightly
washing, to have the students' rooms swept and beds made once
a day, and to have brought from "the spring" at least four times
a day a sufficient quantity of water in the judgment of the
Faculty. The spring mentioned was near the Episcopal Church
rear wall, the head of the streamlet going through Battle Park.
It was then bold and pure. General Clingman informed me
that it was used as late as 1831.
The first Steward was John Taylor, usually called Buck Tay-
lor. For his services he was to receive $30 a year for each
student. He was required to enter into bond with good security
in the sum of $400 for the performance of his duty. An inspec-
tion of a copy of the bond shows that the uncertainty in regard
to the vegetables was partly removed by adding other words,
so as to read "potatoes and all kinds of vegetable food usually
served up in Carolina in sufficient quantities." The hours of
meals were for breakfast and dinner eight and one, and for
supper "before or after candle light, at the discretion of the
faculty." The provision was added that if milk should be
served at supper, neither coffee, tea, nor chocolate should be
PLAN OF STUDIES. 53
required, ''unless by boys who eat no milk." Eating milk has
an odd sound to our ear, but it must not be understood that the
lacteal fluid hardened into the likeness of cheese. In 1796, for
some reason not explained, the requirement of milk was dis-
pensed with until after July ist, while wheat bread and biscuit
might be lacking until the same date. The house of the Stew-
ard stood for fifty years at the crown of the hill east of Smith
Hall, in the middle of Cameron Avenue a two-storied wooden
building painted white. Taylor held the contract until he gave
place to Major Pleasant Henderson, a Revolutionary soldier,
uncle of Chief Justice Leonard Henderson.
John Taylor was a fine specimen of the bold, frank, rough,
honest, Revolutionary veteran, a good citizen, but perhaps too
ready to assert his rights and resent injuries by fist law. He
owned a plantation three miles west of Chapel Hill, now called
the Snipes place. When he came to his death-bed he requested
to be buried on the summit of a woody hill overlooking the
cultivated fields, so that he could watch the negroes and keep
them at their work. The monument is a sandstone slab, and
on it, "To the Memory of John Taylor. Born June 22, 1747;
<IKM! May 28, 1828. A Patriot of 1776."
At this meeting General Davie was requested to prepare a
book-plate for the University books. It will be noticed that his
Revolutionary title of Colonel is dropped for that of a higher
rank, which of course was in the militia. There is a tradition
that when he was afterwards a special Commissioner to France,
Napoleon, although generally treating him with marked con-
sideration, showed disgust when he learned that the title was
ained on the gory battlefield.
The names of the earliest donors of books to the Library
should be known. They were: Honorable Judge Williams, 3
volumes; James Reid, Esq., of Wilmington, 21 volumes; Wm.
R. Davie, 6 volumes ; Rev. David Ker, 3 volumes : Richard
r.ninehan, 32 volumes; Araham Hodge, 10 volumes; Centre
!'.( nrvolent Society of Iredell, 1 1 volumes; Francis W. N. Bur-
ton. 2 volumes. In 1797 Joseph P. r.anticr, Senator from
Bladen, a lawyer, made the hands, >n " 174 volumes of
French books.
54 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The Trustees placed in the hands of Hugh Williamson $200,
to be used in the purchase of "such Grammar, Classical and
other books as in his opinion will be first needed," and the Pro-
fessor of Humanity was directed to sell them to the students at
cost. It is interesting to note the titles of some of these books
and their prices :
48 Ruddiman's Rudiments each $0 . 28
24 Whittenhall's Greek Grammar " .37%
48 Webster's Grammar " . 33 1-3
6 Scot's Dictionary " 1 . 00
36 Corderii " .28
24 Erasmus .*. . " .47
2 Clark's Nepos " 1 . 33
10 Sallust " .87%
6 Cicero Delphini " 2. 00
6 Virgil Delphini " 2.25
6 Horace Delphini " 2 . 25
6 Young's Dictionary " 2 . 25
6 Schrevelius' Lexicon " .25
6 Greek Testaments " 1 . 67
4 Lucian " .90
3 Xenophon " 2 . 50
6 Nicholson's Philosophy (Natural) " 2.67
4 Homer " 3.75
6 Epictetus " .31
It will be observed that Dr. Williamson rightly estimated the
paucity of numbers likely to be in the higher Greek classes.
The prices also point to the general slender demand for both
Latin and Greek : $2.50 for Xenophon, $3.75 for Homer, $2.25
for Cicero, Virgil, and Horace would distress the average stu-
dent even in our day. Money was much more difficult of at-
tainment then than now.
The by-laws of the University were written at first by Dr.
McCorkle, then referred to a committee, amended and adopted
finally on the 6th of February, 1795. The following is a faith-
ful summary.
The duties of the President, or Presiding Professor, were to
superintend all studies, particularly those of the Senior class,
provide for the performance of the morning and evening prayer,
to examine each student on every Sunday evening on questions
previously given them on the general principles of morality and
1'l.AN 01- STUDIES. 55
religion ; to deliver weekly lectures on the Principles of Agri-
culture, Botany, Zoology, Mineralogy, Architecture and Com-
merce; report annually at least to the Trustees on the state of
the University, with such recommendations as he saw fit to
suggest.
The officers of the University collectively were called the
Faculty, with power to inflict the punishments prescribed by the
Trustees, and to make temporary regulations when the Board
was not in session.
No officer to be removed without a fair hearing.
Four literary classes were prescribed, called First, Second,
Third, and Fourth.
The studies of the First Class were English Grammar,
Roman Antiquities, and such parts of the Roman historians,
orators and poets as the professors might designate, and also the
Greek Testament.
The Second Class to study Arithmetic, Bookkeeping, Geog-
raphy, including the use of globes, Grecian antiquity and Greek
classics.
The exercises of the Third Class to be the Mathematics, in-
cluding Geometry, Natural Philosophy and Astronomy.
The Fourth Class to study Logic, Moral Philosophy, Princi-
ples of Civil Government, Chronology. History, Ancient and
Modern, the Belles Lettres, "and the revisal of whatsoever may
appear necessary to the officers of the University."
It was provided that if any studies should not be finished in
one year, they should be completed in the next. E convcrso,
if those assigned to one year should be finished before the end
of the session, those of tin- next should he anticipated.
For admission into the First. /. <.. the lowest class, successful
examinations A\^\M he had on Ciesar's Commentaries, Sallust,
': or Virgil and tin- ('.reek ('.rammar. K<|iiivalent I.atin
works were accepted.
Those clectm- to Mnd\ the Sctaicei and tin- Kntflish lan-
guage to 1>e formed into a Seientitir class. , , r pursue the chosen
subjects with the Ijterar\
Thos.,- entering the Third class at. or alter, the middle ^tage
dionld. pay ciidit dollars; th.se entering: the
first half. $12.50; in the second half. $15.00.
56 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Three quarterly and a final examination were required of
each class.
Attendance on prayers twice a day was required, and morn-
ing prayer was at sunrise.
From morning prayer to breakfast was to be study hour.
One hour was allowed for breakfast and amusement, after
which three hours were devoted to study and recitation, i. e. t
until 12 o'clock.
Study hours began again at 2 o'clock p. m. and continued
until prayers at 5 o'clock, after which was a "vacation" until 8
p. m., "when the students shall return to their lodgings and not
leave them until prayers the next morning."
Each class to have one of its members a monitor to report
those absent without leave, and also the disorderly and vicious.
Students all to speak, read and exhibit compositions on Satur-
day mornings. Saturday afternoons were allowed for amuse-
ments.
All were required to attend divine service on the Sabbath.
In the afternoon they were examined on the general principles
of religion and morality. They were enjoined to reverence the
Sabbath, to use no profane language, not to speak disrespect-
fully of religion or of any religious denomination. Keeping
ardent spirits in their rooms, association with evil company,
playing at any game of hazard, or other kind of gaming, and
betting, were prohibited. They must treat their teachers with
respect. And an aristocratic principle was introduced when it
was further ordered that they treat "each other according to
the honor due each class." A general injunction to observe the
rules of decency and cleanliness was prescribed.
A fee of $5.00 per term, payable half yearly in advance, was
exacted for room rent and repairs of accidental damages. One
causing wilful damage must pay four-fold. If the mischief-
maker was unknown, the real damage was assessed on all the
students. Payment of dues was necessary to obtaining degrees.
The students were required to cleanse their beds and rooms
of bugs every two weeks.
To ensure understanding of the rules it was ordered that the
students copy them in note books.
BY-LAWS. 57
With regard to punishment the by-laws were framed with
conscious recognition of the fact that University life is separate
and apart from that of the State. A "Declaration of Rights"
was prefixed. "The students charged shall have timely notice
and testimony taken on the most solemn assurance shall be
deemed valid without calling on a magistrate to administer an
oath in legal form."
The grades of punishment were:
1 . Admonition by any University officer, or by the Faculty.
2. Admonition before the whole University.
3. Admonition before the Trustees.
4. Suspension.
5. Total and final expulsion.
It was gravely provided that no pecuniary mulcts should be
inflicted for non-attendance on prayers or recitations, but in
addition to admonition, an abstract of the report of the monitors
of such absence must be sent to the offender's parent or guar-
dian.
The "monitors' bills," or reports, were to be read publicly
every Monday evening, and offenders "brought to account."
The laws were to be publicly read once a year, and an address
delivered on the advantage and necessity of observing the laws.
This address was to be either by a member of the Faculty, or
by a student appointed for the purpose.
A hundred years' experience discloses a marked change not
only in words, but in the spirit of the University laws.
In the administration of the criminal law a regular trial of
offenders was originally contemplated. Witnesses were called
for and against the accused, their solemn affirmation being
taken as an oath. In practice it was found of course that stu-
dents could not be compelled to inform on one another. Now
the praci have no witnesses at all. The executive offi-
cer - himself that there is strong presumption of guilt,
so strong that if the accused refuses t<> answer, this refusal is
t" I- -e.l as o .11 fusion. If the arrived positively affirms
certain farK they are, a^ a rule, accepted without calling any
witne - ffil -Irnial. unle^ ine. .n^istcnt with known f:-.
is admitt- true. It U n..t a rpininal trial at all. but the
58 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
accused is allowed to exculpate himself from suspicion, so
grave, that without such exculpation, guilt is conclusively -pre-
sumed. The executive officer never arraigns a supposed of-
fender on a mere suspicion or guess, with the intention of call-
ing up one after another until the offender is discovered. This
would ruin his authority and would justify students in refusing
to answer, because obviously the plan would IK- equivalent to
making students indirectly inform on one another. After much
disturbance and many clashes this is the final outcome the evo-
lution of University trials. It is more satisfactory than any
preceding method. A practice of many years has shown not
one serious mistake on the part of the executive officer, and
extremely rare cases of deception on the part of the accused.
In these the scorn of their fellows was sufficient punishment.
It is occasionally urged that the Faculty should invoke the
power of the courts for punishment of student offenders. It
has been done once at least, and threatened oftener in old
times, but it seems to be against principle. The Faculty stand
in loco parentis, and ought except in extreme cases rather to
employ counsel to defend their children "in law" than prose-
cute them.
The evolution of punishments is interesting.
Up to a recent period admonition before the Faculty was
practiced freely. Experience has shown that this created irri-
tation without effecting reformation, and it has been discon-
tinued. The President takes the duty.
Admonition before the whole University has been long ago
abandoned as mischievous and useless. The same may be said
of admonition before the Trustees. Suspension for from two
weeks to six months was practiced until 1868. Obviously this
punishment was very injurious to the scholarship of the stu-
dent. It was not dreaded to a great extent by those who were
not in awe of parents. Often the offenders engaged board a
few miles from Chapel Hill and had a jolly time "rusticating,"
reading novels, hunting or fishing. Sometimes they plunged
into the dissipations of neighboring towns. So the "total and
final expulsion" was divided into "dismission," and "expulsion,"
the latter being only inflicted in cases of flagrant enormity.
BY-IAWS. PRESIDING PROFESSOR. 59
For offenses for which formerly suspension for a definite term
was inflicted, the punishment is now dismission from the
University without report to the Trustees. It then rests en-
tirely with the Faculty whether the offender shall be allowed to
return, and if so. when and on what conditions. If the offence
is an atrocious one the case is reported to the Trustees and, in
addition to dismission, expulsion is recommended. If the
Trustees concur, on no terms can there he re-admission. A
milder form of dismission is a notification to the offender that
he must withdraw, or a request to the parents to order him
home. This allows easier admission to other institutions.
Sometimes offences are overlooked in consideration of pledges
to refrain from the particular misconduct. General pledges of
good conduct, once a favorite with the Faculty, are now not
required, as being a snare for the thoughtless.
If it should become absolutely necessary, the Presiding Pro-
fessor, with the advice of three Trustees, could emplov a teacher
of reading, writing, arithmetic, and bookkeeping.
The Trustees had a high conception of the office of President.
l'.< fore going into the election of the Professor of Humanity,
it was ordered that neither he nor any assistant shall have "any
manner of claim, right or preference whatever to the Presidency
of the University, nor to such employments as it may hereafter
l>c thought advisable to fill, but they shall be considered as
standing in the same situation as though they had received no
appointment from the Board."
ELECTION OF PRESIDING PROFESSOR.
The election was by ballot on the loth of January, 1794. It
not appear that there were any applicants, but the follow-
ing were placed in nomination: Rev. John Brown, who had
been a pupil of Dr. Mct'orkle. pastor of \Ya\liaw Church,
afterwards a Professor in the t'niversity of South Carolina,
and rn-sidciit of that .if ( '.corgia ; Rev. Robert Archibald, a
graduate of Princeton, j.. K'ock\ Kivcr Church, after-
ll embracing the doctrine of umvcml -alv.ttion. but it did
not Bftvc him from | M in- dropped from tin- I' ian roll;
Rev. Tatc. an excellent I': m divine from \CW
Hanover: K 1 - rson
6O HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Micklejohn, who had been a minister of the Church of Eng-
land in Colonial times, having under his jurisdiction, besides
many others, the New Hope Chapel. He was a Tory and was
forced to change his residence to the Albemarle country for
fear of his influence over the Regulators. He was a rough,
honest gentleman of the old Scotch school, according to tradi-
tion, who would hire a man to attend his services by the bribe
of a generous drink out of his bottle of brandy. Many sur-
mised that the choice would fall on Dr. McCorkle, a Trustee,
who delivered the address at the laying of the corner-stone of
the Old East ; but, while his learning was conceded, Davie dis-
trusted his executive ability. A story of McCorkle as a farmer
shows that this distrust was well founded. He was used to
carry into the field volumes on theological subjects for his di-
version in intervals of manual labor. A neighbor seeking him
on business found him stretched sub tegmine qucrci, deep in
his studies, while his negro plowman was fast asleep under
another tree, and the mule was cropping the grateful corn-tops.
In a letter of Davie's, written at a later period, is the sugges-
tion of another objection to Dr. McCorkle, by reason of a dis-
trust of the wisdom of all preachers. Speaking of some criti-
cisms of the University, he wrote, "Bishop Pettigrew has said
it is a very dissipated and debauched place. Some priests have
also been doing us the same good office to the westward. Noth-
ing, it seems, goes well that these men of God (the italics are
his) have not some hand in." Dr. McCorkle must have been
included in this sneer. Davie, in truth, had imbibed some of
the skepticism then so prevalent among the educated classes.
Although he was not chosen, the good Doctor had no resent-
ment against the University. This is proved by his collection
of a subscription from his congregation at Thyatira for the use
of the University, the only instance of congregational help
given in the early days. Whether a business man or not he
was possessed in a large measure of piety and force. Born
August 23, 1746, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, he was
brought to North Carolina when nine years of age to a farm
fifteen miles west of Salisbury. He was a bright student at
the school of Dr. David Caldwell, graduated at Princeton in
1772 in the class of Aaron Burr, whose father of the same name
* ' ' <( / <:. ;^"
OLD E
i Drawn by .John IVtt i.'iv\v. a Mu.l.-nl 17!7.i
( u I) K.ASJ |',i ii HIM..
PRESIDING I'KOI-'KSSOK. 6l
was President of the College. After his ordination as a minis-
ter of the Presbyterian Church he was for awhile a missionary
in the counties of Hanover and Orange in Virginia. He then
settled at Thyatira, near his father's homestead in Rowan
County, in North Carolina, and connected himself with the
Presbytery of Orange. In 1785 he established his school. His
person is described as tall and manly, his delivery in the pulpit
grave and solemn, his language impressive and thrilling. He
lived until January 21, 1811, on his death-bed dictating minute
directions as to his funeral. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter
of William Steele, a sister of General John Steele, a prominent
Congressman of his day.
Of Andrew Martin, also nominated, I have been able to learn
nothing. Possibly he was a relative of the Governor.
Over these nominees Rev. David Ker, thirty-six years old,
born in North Ireland and educated at Trinity College, Dub-
lin, a recent immigrant, Presbyterian pastor in Fayetteville,
adding to his small salary by conducting the high school in the
town, was chosen to inaugurate the new institution.
In order to be ready for the opening on the I5th of J;mu;tr\ .
1795, the work on the East Building and the President's house
was ordered to be pushed. The contractor was Samuel Hop-
kins, as Martin Hall was the builder of Steward Hall, and
Phileman Hodges of the Old Chapel, or Person Hall. It may
be of interest to some that George Daniel made 150,000 bricks
for $266.67 at one time an d at another for $333.30. In tin
same year John Hogan received $400 for the same work.
The clay and the fuel for burning were from the University
lands. It certainly shows a striking difference bet \veen old
ways and new that the lime for mortar was obtained from shells
brought up the Cape Fear to Fayetteville and thence hauled by
wagons to be burned in Chapel Hill. Now, instead of from
the ocean which breaks upon our coast, we get our lime from
the far-distant State of Maine.
'I'm; r OPENING 01 Tin; f \ I \ KRSITY, JANUARY 15, 1795.
The opening of the University on the memorable January 15,
1795, gave no prophecy of the swarms of students annually ap-
pearing at the openings of our day. The winter was severe and
62 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
the roads almost impassable. Governor Richard Dobbs Spaight,
whose energy and devotion to duty had been shown when, as a
student of twenty, he hastened to sail for America, ran the
hazard of being captured by British vessels in order to throw in
his fortunes with his native State, had braved the discomforts
of twenty-eight miles of red mud and pipe clay and jagged
rocks stretching from Chapel Hill to Raleigh. It is recorded
that he had attendants, and we can assuredly guess that among
them were State Treasurer John Haywood, and John Craven,
the Comptroller, the first University Treasurer. The gazette
of the period, the North Carolina Journal, merely states that
there were present ''several members of the corporation and
many other gentlemen, members of the General Assembly," then
in session. We may almost certainly see in attendance the
members from Hillsborough and Orange, Samuel Benton,
father of the great Senator, "Old Bullion," Thomas Hart
r.enton; Walter Alves, son of James Hogg; and William Lytle,
son of Colonel Archibald Lytle who fought so bravely under
Simmer at Eutaw ; also William Cain, the Senator from
Orange, whose liberality to the- institution has been mentioned;
William Person Little, Senator from Granville, and Thomas
Person, Commoner, both nephews of the University's benefac-
tor, detained at home by the infirmities of age; John Baptjst
A she, Commoner from Halifax, afterwards elected Governor
but dying before taking his seat, in place of General Davie then
employed on official duty elsewhere. Of course the ever-active
Joel Lane, Senator from Wake, who offered broad acres to
secure the University at Cary, was on hand. And it is reason-
ably certain, judging from the interest they took in the new
institution, that John Macon, Senator from Warren, Daniel
Gillespie, Senator from Guilford, whose son was afterwards
Presiding Professor ; and the brilliant young Commoner from
Fayetteville, afterwards the first Chief Justice of our Supreme
Court, John Louis Taylor, were willing to add eclat to the occa-
sion by their presence. Of course in attendance were Alex-
ander Mebane, the Congressman, and James Hogg, the rich
merchant, Trustees, Commissioners to select the site, and mem-
bers of the Building Committee.
Ol'K.NINC, DAY. 63
The morning of the I5th of January opened with a cold,
drizzling rain. As the sighing of the watery wind whistled
through the leafless branches of tall oaks and hickories and the
Davie poplar then in vigorous youth, all that met the eyes of the
distinguished visitors were a two-storied brick building, the
unpainted wooden house of the Presiding Professor, the avenue
hot ween them rilled with stumps of recently felled trees, a pile
of yellowish red clay, dug out for the foundation of the Chapel,
or Person Hall, a pile of lumber collected for building Steward's
Hall, a Scotch-Irish preacher-professor, in whose mind were
fermenting ideas of infidelity, destined soon to cost him his
place, and not one student.
The proverbial optimism of the press as to matters hoped for
<li<l not fail the ancestor of our modern newspapers. The edi-
tor of the Journal kindly comments : "The Governor, with the
Trustees who accompanied him. viewed the buildings and made
report to the Board, by which they are enabled to inform the
public that the buildings prepared for the reception and accom-
modation of students are in part finished, and that youth dis-
posed to enter the University may come forward with the
a-surance of being received." The editor goes on to state the
terms of tuition and board in apparently naive unconsciousness
that he was giving the University a first-class advertisement
\Vhcn I state that this important item appears in the issue of
I'Vhruary 2^d. forty nine days after the event, we must give the
palm for furnishing news more promptly, if not more reliably,
to the modern reporter.
The learned Presiding PfOfttMr, Dr. David KIT. ivi-nol in
his solitary 14 real ness for tin- greater part of the period of revo-
lution of the wintry moon. It was not until the uth of Keb-
ruarv that the first student arrived, with no companion, all the
from the hanks of the lower C'ap. l-Yai. the precursor
liter knouled^e. Ili^ residence W9t \Vil
. his name 1 linton Jar
two weeks, in his loneliness, h, constituted tin < ntire
student lod\ Of the I 'niversit y. with no Sophomores saluting
his ears with diabolical \(1K. nor teaching hit step to
the rhvthni of whistling music. For two weeks he was the
honor man of h 1
64 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
It was of good omen that this first-fruit of the University was
worthy to head the list of her students. The Faculty records
show that he performed his duties faithfully and with ability.
For several years the students were required to read original
compositions on Saturdays, and those deemed especially meri-
torious were posted in a record book. The name of Hinton
James occurs often on this Roll of Honor. His taste took a
scientific and practical direction. One of his subjects was
"The Uses of the Sun," another "The Motions of the Earth/'
a third "The Commerce of Britain/' a fourth "The Slave
Trade," a fifth "The Pleasures of College Life," and a sixth the
"Effects of Climate on the Minds and Bodies of Men."
After leaving the University, James became a civil engineer
of usefulness in his section of the State, as an assistant to Chief
Engineer Fulton, who was brought from Scotland at a salary
of $6,000 a year payable in gold, to improve the navigation
of our rivers. In passing from Wilmington down the beautiful
Cape Fear, I was shown by my intelligent friend, the late Henry
Nutt, some of James' works for deepening the channel, which
had withstood the floods and tides of sixty years. He was
likewise called into the service of his country as a legislator for
three terms, beginning with 1807, for two of them being the
colleague of a lawyer of great reputation in the old days, Wil-
liam Watts Jones.
The next arrivals were, a fortnight later, Maurice and Alfred
Moore of Brunswick, and their cousin, Richard Eagles, of
New Hanover; John Taylor of Orange, and from Granville
William M. Sneed, and three sons of Robert H. Burton, the
Treasurer of the University, namely, Hutchins G., Francis and
Robert H. Burton, Junior. It is pleasant to record that all of
these turned out to be good men. The two Moores were sons
of Judge Alfred Moore. Maurice served Brunswick County
in the General Assembly and then became a planter in Lousiana.
He it was who had the misfortune to shoot Governor Benjamin
Smith in a duel. Alfred Moore, whose bust may be seen in
Gerrard Hall, was a cultivated and popular man, reaching the
dignity, once considered as nearly equal to that of Governor, of
the Speakership of the House of Commons. He would have
gone higher, if he had not lacked ambition. His name and
FIRST STUDENT. 65
talents have descended to his scholarly grandson, Alfred Moore
Waddell. The father of Richard Eagles gave the name to
Eagles Island, opposite Wilmington. The son, like the father,
was a man of wealth and high standing in a cultivated com-
munity. John Taylor, son of the first steward of the Univer-
sity, was for many years Clerk of the Superior Court of Orange
and was the grandfather of our big-brained mathematician the
late Ralph H. Graves. Of the Granville men, William Mor-
gan Sneed was seven times State Senator and twice Commoner.
Of the three Burtons, Hutchins G. was thrice elected Governor
of the State, after being a Congressman. Francis Nash Wil-
liams Burton was a lawyer of large practice in Lincoln and the
adjoining counties, while Robert, his partner, was at one time
Judge of the Superior Court. A daughter of Judge Burton
married the eminent lawyer, Michael Hoke, and was the mother
of one of General Lee's best Major-Generals, Robert F. Hoke,
and grandmother of Secretary Hoke Smith. I give these par-
ticulars in order to show that the University made a good start
on its grand career. Its earliest sons were leaders in good
works.
The numbers reached forty-one by the end of the term. Dur-
ing the second term they rose to nearly one hundred, but such
was the dearth of good schools in the State that at least one-
half of them were unprepared to enter the University classes.
It became necessary to inaugurate a Preparatory Department,
or "Grammar School," for the benefit of these juveniles, many
of them belonging to .the "small-boy" genus. The profession
of teachers was then, and years afterward, at such a low ebb
that obtaining competent professors was a most troublesome
problem.
Among the earliest students besides those I have named we
find men afterwards notable for good works: such, for example,
benezer Pettigrew, a member of Congress, father of Gen-
eral J. Johnston Pettigrew, a still more eminent son of the Uni-
\ . Thomas D. Bennehan, famed for bounteous hospitality,
long a Trustee of the institution, which his father. Richard
lehan, assisted in its young days; James Mebane, Speaker
of the House of Commons, father of another Unn rad-
66 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
ute and Speaker of the Senate, Giles Mebane. I could name
many others.
HARRIS
The increase in numbers led to the election of a Tutor of
Mathematics, in the sphing of 1795. The choice fell on Charles
Wilson Harris, a recent first-honor graduate of Princeton,
nephew of Dr. Charles Harris, a noted physician of his day,
who taught at his home probably the first medical school in the
State. Young Harris had a strong mind, elegant literary
tastes, courtly manners, and weight of character. These two,
Ker and Harris, sustained the burdens of instruction and discip-
line during the first year of University life, and sustained it
with conspicuous fathfulness and ability. It was a great mis-
fortune that Ker the next year went off into infidelity and wild
democracy, thus raising up two sets of enemies in the Board of
Trustees, Christians and Federalists, so that he deemed it pru-
dent after eighteen months to resign his charge.
For the first year and a half, however, these two, Ker and
Harris, had the difficult and unpleasant task of classifying and
instructing the unorganized mass of all ages from mature young
men to mere boys, some with a smattering of algebra and the
-classics, others innocent even of arithmetic and grammar.
We have no letters of Dr. Ker written from Chapel Hill, but
by the kindness of William Shakespeare Harris and other rela-
tives this want is abundantly supplied by those of his associate.
Charles W. Harris was an elegant writer. His style is free from
ostentation, his ideas are clearly and strongly expressed, his
penmanship is good, and his spelling in advance of his age as a
rule. It is strange, however, that he gives to Chapel in Chapel
Hill two p's instead of one.
On the loth of April Harris writes to his uncle, Dr. Charles
Harris: "We have begun to introduce by degrees the regula-
tions of the University and as yet have not been disappointed.
There is one class in Natural Philosophy and four in the lan-
guages." He continues, "The constitution of this college is on
a more liberal plan than that of any other in America, and by
the amendment, which I think it will receive at the next meet-
ing of the Trustees, its usefulness will probably be much pro-
LETTERS OK HARRIS MUSEUM. 67
moted. The notion that true learning consists rather in exer-
cising the reasoning faculties and laying up a store of useful
knowledge, than in overloading the memory with words of
dead languages, is daily becoming more prevalent." He then
enters upon praises of Miss Wollstonecraft's book on the
"Rights of Women," as containing the true principles of edu-
cation, and states that though the laws at present require that
Latin and Greek be understood by a graduate, they will in all
probability be mitigated in their effect.
He was of a social nature, and deplored the lack of congenial
society. "My only resort," he wrote, "is to Mr. Ker, who
makes ample amends to me for the want of any other. He is
a violent republican and is continually deprecating the aristoci-
cal principles which have lately prevailed much in our execu-
tive." We can see that Harris' political faith was swerved by
this well-educated, able and experienced middle-aged clerical
politician, for he sneers at some strong words of praise of Wash-
ington by one Rev. Stanhope Smith, saying that "tho' he be
the greatest man in America the encomium smells strong of
British seasoning."
I fe rejoiced that the Trustees resolved to inaugurate a mu-
seum and took active steps to procure for it specimens.
Although the articles given have been lost, the names of the
donors should be remembered and the objects given recorded.
The context shows that some of the specimens were given three
n later.
"Honorable Judge Williams," An Ostrich egg.
Mr-. All<-n -Tones, Halifax, Pieces of Cloth made of bark brought from
Otaheite by Capt. Cooke. The tooth of a young mammoth from
the hanks of the Ohio.
k Burton, Granville, A sea leaf. A viol containing a reel.
Col. Adlai Osborne, Centre, A piece of Asbestos. A pine limb and a
piece of resin petrified.
I hit ili ins Burton, Senior, The incisors of a Beaver.
Messrs. Caldwell and Qillaspie, A Pocupine akin.
A Beech nut petrified.
Hi" Excel. Qov. Davie, A testaceous bracelet from an Indian grave
near Nashville. Curious stones, bones of nondescript animals,
specimens of Indian clothing, and th.-ii arts an<l manufactures.
68 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
As Harris' had read some medical books while living with
Dr. Harris, and, as there was no physician nearer to Chapel
Hill than Hillsboro, he charitably kept a small stock of medi-
cine for the students and the neighborhood, to be sold at cost.
He sent a plot of the University lands, well drawn, with a broad
avenue leading N. 69 E. from the contemplated Main (now
South) Building to "point-prospect" (now Piney Prospect).
The campus then contained 98^ acres ; about twice as large as
the present campus. His opinion of the suitableness of the local-
ity for its purpose, accords with Davie's "Most happily situ-
ated ; a delightful prospect, charming groves, medicinal springs,
light and wholesome air, and inaccessible to vice." "This last
enconium by Mr. Charles Pettigrew, the Bishop-elect from
Edenton, added when he visited us." The inaccessibility to vice
was a pleasing delusion, as the good Dr. Pettigrew found on a
subsequent visit. Two years afterwards he writes to Caldwell
of his dread lest his sons, John and Ebenezer, may have "all
fear of the Almighty eradicated from their minds by the habit-
ual use of oaths and imprecations, which report says, and which
my own ears have informed me, are too common impletives* in
the conversation of the students." Those conversant with the
social history of the times know well that the students used no
worse language than was common in all social gatherings of
men.
Harriss expressed much concern about the education of his
younger brother, Robert. "He is growing fast and receiving
none of those improvements which he ought. I could not pre-
vail with my father to let him come to this place. It can
scarcely be pecuniary want that hinders his complying with my
request. Nor can it be I hope any distrust of my principles,
as I have heard suggested. He and I have been very free in
speaking on tenets, and I never observed any great degree of
disapprobation. If the latter be the cause I have no more to
say."
There is only one other allusion in all his letters to the devia-
tion of his faith from that of his Presbyterian forefathers.
That looked only to the denial of the doctrine of the Trinity
* This word is not in Webster.
FIRST EXAMINATION. 69
as usually understood, not by any means atheism, or denials of
other truths of Christianity. If his apostasy had been rank,
his Ruling Elder father would have" regarded it not only with
disapprobation, but horror. Nor would that father have placed
his peculiarly beloved son, as within a few weeks he did, under
the charge of an infidel elder brother, all the more dangerous
because of his winning manners, strong mind and wide and
varied reading. I think it is clear that Charles Harris' unbelief
would in our day be regarded as not more heterodox than that
preached by Dr. C. H. Briggs, Dr. Wm. Robertson Smith and
other able divines, who have a large following in their respec-
tive churches, although regarded by the majority as lacking the
true faith. In other words, he was like those called among
Episcopalians, ''Broad Churchmen." It must be remembered
that a hundred years ago there was much greater intolerance
of differences of opinion than now.
The first public examination was held on the I3th of July,
1795, the first of the long series of Commencements, which
have produced more eloquence, brought together more distin-
guished men and beautiful women, provided a more abundant
supply of unadulterated fun, and married off more congenial
couples than any other similar occasion, in the land. Previous
notice was given in the newspapers, over the signature of the
Governor, Richard Dobbs Spaight. In an enthusiastic editorial
in the North Carolina Journal, it was stated that the "young
gentlemen" had submitted with a degree of cheerfulness and
promptitude to the regulations of the University, which does
them the greatest honor. The Commons have exceeded the
expectations both of students and of strangers. The spirit of
improvement, order and harmony, which reigns in this little
community, emulously engaged in the noble work of cultivating
human mind, is most commendable." The editor at the
same time gives glowing praises of the Academies of Thya-
tira, under Dr. McCorkle, the Warrenton, under Rev. Marcus
George, the Chatham under Rev. Wm. Bingham. and the New
Bern, under Dr. T. P. Irving, as capable of furnishing students
to the Univer
There is no contemporary account of this first Commence-
70 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
ment, but the deficiency is partly supplied by a letter from
Hinton James, heretofore mentioned, written when he was
about sixty years old. The public interest had not been aroused
sufficiently to ensure a large attendance of visitors. Only one
lady graced the occasion, the wife of the Governor, the first of
the long procession of the thousands of the brightest and best
of the womanhood of the land, Mary (Leach) Spaight, well
remembered as one of the most handsome and attractive of her
sex.
There were only about a dozen of the gentlemen of the State,
the leaders of the hosts of the friends of higher education.
Among them were "the University Father," General Davie. and
the Secretary of State, James Glasgow, whose frauds in his
office had not been discovered ; the merchant, James Hogg, and
the eminent Attorney-General and Judge, Alfred Moore, the
elder. These Trustees attended in pursuance of an ordinance
of the Board that at every examination it should be the duty
of one Trustee from each judicial district in alphabetical order
to visit the classes and report the result of their inspection to
the Board. As might have been expected, the attendance of
the Trustees, at all times spasmodic, soon ceased altogether.
It must have been an occasion of a staid and dignified nature,
with no regaliad marshals, or dancing, or other amusements, to
attract the fancy of young people.
Oral examinations in the class-rooms and declamations and
reading of compositions in one of the East Building rooms, fitted
up for a public hall, in the presence of elderly gentlemen and
Mrs. Spaight and probably Mrs. Mary Ker, the wife of the
Presiding Professor, constituted the exercises.
We have a letter from Davie written a few days afterwards,
in which he says that the students acquitted themselves well,
but with the refrigerating addition, "everything considered."
The Trustees were disgusted with the exorbitant charges of the
contractors, Patterson of Chatham and Hopkins, for extra
work; in Davie's opinion four times what they ought to have
been. There is abundant evidence all through the early records
of the watchful economy of the guardians of the interests of the
University.
PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT. 71
The letter was addressed to Treasurer John Haywood, who
was absent from the meeting on account of the death of his
first wife. It is interesting to see what kind of consolation the
free-thinker, Davie, offers to one afflicted. "I regret exceed-
ingly the various causes which produced your absence from th
Board. However, as the Arabs say, 'God would have it so and
men must submit.' Under misfortunes like yours there is no
comfort because nothing can be substituted. The only re-
course of the human mind in such cases is in a kind of philo-
sophic fortitude, the calm result of time, reason and reflection."
Contrast this with the Christian's consolation, "Sorrow not as
they who have no hope."
GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
On this occasion the Board determined to erect a house for
a Grammar School, which should contain three or four lodging
rooms, and thus relieve the congested state of the dwellers in
the Old East Building. It would also separate from the older
the very young students, some of whom were of such tender
years, though tough in conscience, that it was necessary for
their benefit to introduce corporal punishment. This school
building was situated in the woods, south of Rosemary Street
and west of the late public school, a place peculiarly lonely,
but near two never-failing springs of purest water.
Richard Sims, an advanced student from Warren County,
seems to have been the first master of the Grammar School.
In the month of December, 1796, was chosen Nicholas Delvaux.
and with him on account of the rapid increase of numbers, was
associated Samuel Allen Holmes, who had been a preacher.
The antecedents of both of these teachers arc unknown. Soon
afterwards Holmes was promoted to the University and \Yil-
liam Richards, late a teacher in the Academy of Mr. Marcus
George in Warrenton, was placed in the Grammar School in his
It has been mentioned that tli<K, , ,f the early ^indents who
wrote the best compositions were rewarded by having their
names posted on an honor roll. The first who won tliU dis-
tinction was in August, 1795, Richard Sims, of Warrenton,
72 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
his theme being "The Employment of Time." The second was
Thomas A. Osborne on Habit. The third was Thomas A. Os-
borne on the question, "Do Savage or Civilized Nations Enjoy
the Most Happiness." The fourth Edwin Jay Osborne on "The
Uses of Geometry." The fifth by Edwin Jay Osborne on "Self
Government." He divided honors in the sixth with Hinton
James, the themes respectively being, "The Uses of the Pas-
sions" and "The Uses of the Sun." In the next week the same
Osborne and Henry Kearney were the first, on "The Distinction
Between Resentment and Revenge," by the former, and "The
Uses of the Moon," by the latter. This honor roll was discon-
tinued after the first year.
THE LITERARY SOCIETIES.
The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies have been such a
large part of our university life that I must give their origin.
It was doubtless through the influence of Tutor Harris, who
had seen the benefits of the renowned Whig Society of Prince-
ton, of which he was a member, that the first literary society
of the University was formed, as his name is the first on the
list of signers to the preliminary articles. It was organized on
the 3d day of June, 1795, under the name of "The Debating
Society." The first President was James Mebane, of Orange,
afterwards of Caswell; the first Clerk or Secretary was John
Taylor, of Orange; the first Treasurer was Lawrence Toole,
who changed his name to Henry Irwin Toole, of Edgecombe,
grandfather of Bishop Joseph B. Cheshire; the first Censor
Morum, Richard Sims, of Warren, afterwards Principal of
the Grammar School.
The objects of the society were expressed to be the cultiva-
tion of a lasting friendship and the promotion of useful knowl-
edge. The members pledged themselves under hands and
seals to obedience to the laws of the society and due perform-
ance of the regular exercises. I give the names of those fathers
of the Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies.
Charles Wilson Harris Cabarrus.
Adam Haywood Edgecombe.
Robert Smith Cabarrus.
Alexander Osborne . Iredell.
THE DEBATING SOCIETY. 73
Edwin Jay Osborne Rowan.
William Houston Iredell.
William Dickson Burke.
James Mebane Orange.
John Pettigrew * Tyrrell.
Richard Eagles New Hanover.
Hinton James New Hanover.
Hay wood Ruffin Greene.
Richard Sims Warren.
Lawrence Toole Edgecombe.
Henry Kinchen Franklin.
William Morgan Sneed Granville.
Ebenezer Pettigrew Tyrrell.
William C. Alston Halifax.
Hutchins G. Burton, Senior Granville.
Evan Jones New Hanover.
John Taylor Orange.
Maurice Moore Brunswick.
Alfred Moore Brunswick.
Thomas Davis Bennehan Orange.
Francis Nash Williams Burton Granville.
Allen Green South Carolina.
Allen Jones Davie Halifax.
Hyder Ali Davie Halifax.
David Cook Unknown.
Nicholas Long Franklin.
George Washington Long Halifax.
There was no constitution eo nomine, but there were "Laws
and Regulations," some of which are worthy of mention. The
officers were a President, Censor Morum, two Correctors, a
Clerk, and Treasurer. The President and Treasurer held offie
for three weeks, the other officers for six weeks.
The Censor Morum was clothed with powers and duties
which would not be tolerated in this generation, "to inspect the
conduct and morals of the members and report to the society
those who preserve inattention to the studies of the University,
in neglect of their duties as members, or in acting in such a
manner as to reflect disgrace on their fellow-members." This
making the society responsible for attention to University exer-
bcrn long ago abandoned, after the effort came near
breaking it into fragments. This powerful officer, evidently
modelled after the august Censors of Rome, presided in the
absence of the Presicl
74 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The society met on Thursday evenings only. The members
were divided into three classes. These read, spoke and com-
posed alternately. There was a debate at each session, two
opposing members previously appointed opening, and then the
other members had a right to discuss the question, but were
not compelled to do so.
It was the duty of each member of the class whose turn it
was to "read" to hand in a "query," then called "subject of de-
bate," and out of these one was chosen for the next meeting
by the society.
It must be noticed that the "reading" mentioned above meant
the reading aloud of an extract from some author. Of the other
two classes one declaimed memorized extracts, and the other
read aloud short essays of their own composition.
Two votes were sufficient to negative an application for
membership. The term "black-ball" was not then in vogue.
The new members when admitted were required to "promise
not to divulge any of the secrets of the society." The strin-
gency of this provision has been since materially modified.
It was made dangerous to "take umbrage at being fined,"
and to denote it by word or action," because, if the fine should
be found to be legal, the accused must pay a quarter of a dollar
for his squirming. There was mercifully no penalty for show-
ing umbrage by a gloomy countenance unless the gloom was
evidenced by frowning or other facial action.
There seems to have been no fine for laughing or talking,
unless a speaker was interrupted.
The practice of wearing hats in the society, as is permitted
in the English Parliament, was forbidden. The President,
however, of at least one society, the Dialectic, was after some
years required to preside with hat on, often a high-crowned
beaver borrowed for the purpose.
The admission fee was one quarter of a dollar. If a member
absented himself for three months, without obtaining a diploma
of dismission, he must seek a new admission.
A member could leave the society without asking its consent,
nor was any student compelled to join it. But having once
left there could be no re-admission.
A SECOND SOCIETY. 75
It shows the high purpose of the founders of the society,
that the first motion made after the admission of members, at
the first meeting on June 3d, 1795, was for the purchase of
books. It passed unanimously. The mover was Tutor Harris.
The first speech made in this parent of the Dialectic and
Philanthropic Societies was by James Mebane who sustained
the affirmative of the first query ever debated, "Is the study
of ancient authors useful?'' He was answered by Robert
Smith. I am proud to state that the classics won the day.
At the second meeting, on June n, 1795, it was agreed to
admit no more new members. A great moral question was
then discussed, the names of the speakers being omitted. This
was "Is the truth always to be adhered to?" the decision In-ing
"that breaches of faith are sometimes proper." It is gratifying
to observe that the decisions of the queries debated were as a
rule conservative and sensible.
On the 25th of June, 1795, Maurice Moore moved that the
society be divided. The motion was laid over for one week
and on July 2d was taken up and carried. The new organiza-
tion was called "The Concord Society." We can only con-
jecture the cause of the new movement, as no reason appears
on the journal. It is possible that there was in it an element
of party feeling. Jeffersonian Democracy claimed to be the
peculia advocate of the "Rights of Man." The name Con-
cord, and the substituted Philanthropic, and the addition of the
word Liberty to the motto of the other society, look in this
direction.
Another reason for the division was probably to have the
number so small as to allow and require every member to per-
form some duty at each weekly meeting. The prohibition of
further addition to the membership of the first socierv seems
to show this.
A third reason for the change was, I think, hostility to the
nsive powers and duties !* the Censor Morum. heretofore
described. I make this conjecture because the officer was
omitted in the new body, and when it was restored after many
months hU <lnti< ^ were carefully confined to behavior of nu in
bers in society. Even this however proved unsatisfactory and
76 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
the name was changed to Vice- President. It will now be ad-
mitted that the seceding students were right in their attitude.
The Dialectic Society eventually came to the same conclusion.
For some weeks it was allowable to belong to both societies,
which was practicable as they met on different nights in order
to have the use of the same room. The first student, Hinton
James, and Maurice and Alfred Moore were for awhile active
members of both. When the duplicate membership was for-
bidden they elected the new.
I cannot find an official list of the "Fathers" of the Concord
or Philanthropic Society, but after carefully examining the
journal I think that the following can be relied on:
Hinton James New Hanover.
Richard Eagles New Hanover.
George Washington Long Halifax.
John Taylor Chapel Hill.
William McKenzie Clark Martin.
David Gillespie Duplin.
Edwin Jay Osborne Salisbury.
Evan Jones Wilmington.
Nicholas Long Franklin.
James Paine Unknown.
Alexander McCulloch Halifax.
David Evans Edgecombe.
Henry Kearney Warren.
Thomas Hunt Granville.
Lewis Dickson Duplin.
John Bryan Sampson.
Lawrence Ashe Dorse^y Wilmington.
Joseph Gillespie Duplin.
In all, 18.
The residence of James Paine does not appear further than
that he was from North Carolina.
The records of the Dialectic Society state that the following
remained in the Debating Society at the time of the division,
their full names and residences having already been given, viz. :
Messrs. Harris, Houston Toole, H. and F. Burton, R. Smith,
Bennehan, Kinchen, Sims, Haywood, Ruffin, James, Green, A.
Osborne, W. Dickson, Sneed, J. and E. Pettigrew, Davie, Me-
bane, M. and A. Moore. Of these, as was said, James and the
two Moores soon became members of the other, and John
Pettigrew followed a year afterwards.
CHANGE OF NAMES OF SOCIETIES. 77
The first meeting of the Concord Society was August 10,
1795. David Gillespie was the first President, Evan Jones the
first Treasurer, Henry Kearney the first Clerk. The first de-
baters were George W. Long and Henry Kearney, on the ques-
tion "Which is best an Education or a Fortune?" It is con-
sistent with the honorable career of the society that the decision
was in favor of education.
The first President, son of James Gillespie, of Duplin, mem-
ber of Congress for eight years, was evidently a most promising
student. By the courtesy of David S. Nicholson, I give a copy
of the certificate granted him on his leaving the University, the
first document in the nature of a diploma ever granted.
We, the undersigned Professors of the University of North Carolina,
have had under our particular care Mr. David Gillespie of this State.
He has studied Greek and Latin and the elementary Mathematics in
their application to Surveying, Navigation, etc. He has also read under
our care Natural Philosophy and Astronomy. His behavior, while at
this place, has met with our warmest approbation. Mr. Gillespie, being
about to leave the University to attend Mr. Ellicot in determining the
Southern boundary of the United States, we have thought proper to give
him this certificate.
CHAS. W. HARRIS,
Prof, of Math, and N. Phil
SAM'L HOLMES,
Prof, of Lang.
W. L. RICHARDS,
Teacher of French and English.
University, N. C., September 22, 1796.
To this was attached the certificate of Sam. Ashe, Governor,
attested by Roger Moore, Private Secretary, with the great
seal of the State, that the above-named were professors of the
University as alleged.
After working for about a year it occurred to the members
of both societies that English names were not of sufficient
dignity. Accordingly on the 25th of August, 1796, in pursu-
ance of a motion made by James Webb, of Hillsboro, a week
preceding, the name Debating was changed into its Greek equiv-
alent, Dialectic. And four days afterward, on the 2Qth of
August, 1796, the Greek Philanthropic took the place of (
cord, on motion of David Gillespie. I have no information
78 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
as to whether, when this name was adopted the pronunciation
was wrongly Phi-lanthropic instead of Phil-anthropic. John-
son's dictionary, then the standard, gives no countenance to
it, and I am inclined to think that the mispronunciation, pre-
valent here for many decades, arose from the custom universal
among students of abbreviating names in common use, and
from the euphonic wish to have the nickname sound like Di.
Those familiar with university life know well that under-
graduates would smash every dictionary in the land before
they would be called Phils., or, as it soon would have become,
Phillies.
The Fundamental Laws, afterwards called Constitution, and
the course of proceedings of the two societies were much alike.
In the Concord for a short while new members could be ad-
mitted by a majority vote. The first restriction was the re-
quirement of two-thirds in case the applicant was under fifteen
years of age. I notice no other material differences, and I
make no further distinction between the two in endeavoring
to reproduce their action.
In the declamations, then called "speaking," we miss Patrick
Henry's "give me liberty or give me death," because that
speech was written by Wirt long afterwards, nor of course do
we find Emmet's, "Let no man write my epitaph." In their
places were Cicero's denunciations of Verres, and Demosthenes'
thunderings against Philip, Micipsa's plea against Jugurtha,
Brutus over the body of Lucretia, Catalines' speech to his
soldiers, and the like.
It is surprising that the stock utterances of our Revolutionary
sires, such as Otis, Adams, Henry, Rutledge, R. H. Lee, were
not reproduced in our halls. It is in accord with the hatred of
Great Britain which had not all waned that there were no
selections from the great English orators.
The readings were extracts from history, poetry, the Spec-
tator, and the like literature. They were generally serious ; oc-
casionally comic, for example, "The Stuttering Soldier," "The
Bald-headed Cove," "Anecdote of Miss Bush." It shows the
difference in the habit of matutinal sleeping that one of the
essays was in ridicule of "The Bov Who Lav in Bed After
QUERIES DEBATED. 79
Sunrise." The extract chosen by David Gillespie from the
preface to Murray's Grammar, just out of press, was of suffi-
cient gravity.
Not many of the subjects of composition are given. Among
them I notice "Oratory," "Eloquence," "Unpoliteness," "In-
dustry."
But the subjects chosen for debates, and the votes taken
thereon, throw much greater light on the intellectual attitude
of the students. I therefore cull from the records of both
societies such of those subjects as will show the tastes and
opinions of the members during the first two years of the
university life.
I have already shown that the decision was that education
is better than riches. It was likewise decided that public edu-
cation is of more advantage than private, and horribile dictu,
that the schoolmaster is of more advantage to society than the
preacher. The members were of the opinion that wisdom tends
to happiness ; that modern history is of more value to students
than ancient ; that a liberal education is more conducive to hap-
piness than a savage life. The theory of Rousseau, that savage
is on the whole happier than civilized life, was at one time
affirmed; at another, negatived. It was voted that the French
language is of more value than the Latin.
In an unguarded moment one of the societies agreed to dis-
cuss whether traveling improves the mind, whereupon there is
the following curious entry, "As the question intended for
debate is not "thinkable," the opponents coincided in opinion.
The debate was therefore not a good one, but, after the regular
business was over, we debated on this question, "Does a man
with a competency, or he who is in a very affluent station,
enjoy most happiness." The admirers of Solomon will be
gratified to know that competency was successful.
This incident reminds me that Mrs. Delphina E. Mendenhall,
of Guilford, a Quakeress, presented to the Dialectic S< nitty
Dymond's Essays, advocating: universal peace. When a un-
dent I induced the Query Committee to report the question,
taken from the essays, "Is War Ever Justifiable?" Tl
debaters in the society declarH that it was altogether one-sided,
8O HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
refused to discuss it, and censured the committee for adopting a
query on one side of which nothing could be said. As it was
not my turn to speak, I had not crammed on the subject from
Dymond and was unable to bring forward a single Quaker
argument in order to avert the displeasure of the house.
The last educational topic will astonish readers of this gen-
eration. It was however discussed seriously in a literary so-
ciety of an American university, "Shall Corporal Punishment
be Introduced Into the University ?" The memory of smarting
backs and knuckles produced an emphatic No ! I must explain
that the small boys in the institution had not then been sepa-
rated from the rest and placed in a preparatory department.
The members were fairly orthodox, although infidelity and
lawless theories were so prevalent throughout the world. It was
decided that Religion makes mankind happy, that Self-Conceit
does not produce happiness, that the Bible is to be believed,
that the Profligate is more unhappy than the Moralist, that
Polygamy is not consistent with the will of God, that tempo-
rary marriages would not conduce to the good of society, that
Suicide can never be justifiable. Even on the concrete ques-
tion, whether Lucretia was justifiable in killing herself, it was
voted that the poor lady was blameable, although by her mar-
tyrdom she inaugurated popular government in Rome.
On what is called the Jesuitical doctrine of Pious Frauds, it
was voted that they are wrong, although on the similar question
whether it is ever allowable to tell lies the members agreed
with military men, statesmen and others that occasion may
arise to justify them. As to which is most despicable the
Thief or the Liar, the decision was that the Thief was the
worst. Indeed on another occasion it was solemnly voted that
he ought to be hung instead of receiving the milder punishment
of forty stripes save one. On the question, "Is Debauchery or
Drunkenness most prejudicial," drunkenness was pronounced
the lesser evil. The miser was considered an unworthy char-
acter evidently, because it was discussed whether we have the
right to kill him and distribute his property. He was spared.
A -blow was struck at the Sermon on the Mount when it was
decided that it is not consistent with reason to love one's ene-
THE TWO SOCIETIES. 8l
mies. It is gratifying that they thought that actions cannot
be politically right and morally wrong. Whether duelling is
C\XT justifiable was discussed several times. Twice it was sus-
tained and once the decision was adverse, though it is significant
that Tutor Harris then opened the debate. Salaried ministers
of the gospel should breathe more freely on learning that the
students ol 1/90 deemed it conformable to the Christian re-
ligion for preachers to get wages. Fun-lovers should be com-
forted in knowing their opinion, that "moderate fortune and
good humor are preferable to a large estate and bad disposi-
tion."
Other decisions were : that Health is better than Riches ; that
love of mankind is more prevalent than love of money; that
Flattery is sometimes useful ; that the pursuit of an object gives
greater happiness than the enjoyment ; that Pride is essential to
happiness ; that a man is happier in seeking his own? approba-
tion than in seeking that of others ; that a state of Nature is a
state of war; that the Immortality of the soul is not deducible
from reason ; that beasts have no souls. It is surprising that
young men in the last decade of the i8th century, with the
war spirit hot throughout the world, debated with warmth,
but could not be brought to a decision, the question, "Is it
justifiable to kill one who is threatening one's life?"
Among the moral and religious questions it should perhaps
be mentioned that the opponents of such amusements as danc-
ing, fox hunting, horse racing, and the like, had the strength
to bring- forward the query, "Is it politic for the Trustees to
permit a Dancing School at the University?" They were out-
voted.
During the first years of the University the students were
totally debarred from the society of ladies of their own age,
as the village was merely on paper. It is to be noted, however,
that none the less wn< their interest in all questions of a social
nature. "Does a matrimonial or single life confer most happi-
ness" was gravely decided in favor of marriage. "Are Talents
or Riches greater recommendations to ladies?" was asked, and
the society honored the fair sex by answering "Talents." "Are
ladies or wine most deleterious to stHdents?" was another ques-
6
82 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
tion, the palm for deleteriousness being awarded, I grieve to
say, to the ladies. Greater gratitude was shown, however, in
the decision of the next, "Is female modesty natural or af-
fected ?" nature getting the credit. The members wrestled with
this rather nebulous speculation, "Is love without hope, or
malice without revenge, most injurious," but never came to a
conclusion. I presume this was one of the "non- thinkable"
subjects. The members knew their own minds however on
this question, "Should a man marry for gold or for beauty?",
the preference being given to the red metal.
Of course questions of public policy were frequently de-
bated. Indeed one enthusiastic member proposed that the
Constitution of the United States should be discussed clause
by clause, but this was too great a task. The extent of the
powers granted by the Constitution, the unconstitutionality of
acts of Congress, seem not to have attracted attention. I find
only questions of expediency or the reverse. For example, "Is
an excise tax consistent with the principles of Liberty?" an-
swered in the affirmative. "Are standing armies useful?" an-
swered No. "Are the salaries of United States officers too
great?" answered Yes. "Is the neutrality of the United States
in the French-British War consistent with gratitude?" answer,
Yes. "Should the United States pay the British debts?" an-
swer, No. "Which is best a pure Democracy or a mixed gov-
ernment?'' answer. Mixed. "Should foreigners be allowed to
hold offices in the United States?" answer at one time, Yes;
at another, No. "Should army officers be appointed by the
executive or Legislature?" answer, by the executive. "Should
our diplomatic intercourse be diminished?" answer, No. "Is
there just cause of war by the United States against France?"
(February, 1797), decision, No. In April the same discussion
arose and the war spirit gained the vote. Should our Navy be
increased?" decision, Yes. "Should the United States further
negotiate with Algiers?" Decision, No. "Is it equitable and
politic to confiscate private property in war?" decision. Yes.
"Is Spain blameable for obstructing the navigation of the Mis-
sissippi?" decision, Yes. "Are treaties contrary to the Law
of Nations binding?" decision, Yes. "Should the United States
adopt Sumptuary Laws ?" decision, Yes.
THE TWO SOCIETIES. 83
It is remarkable that the question should have been debated,
"Is the Constitution of England or the United States prefer-
able?" The decision, as might be expected, was in favor of
the United States. The members pronounced themselves in
favor of a protective tariff. They anticipated the action of this
State sixty-one years in declaring for free suffrage for both
branches of the General Assembly. This shows the preponder-
ance of Western members. They likewise voted against the
use of paper money. When this question was called, Robert
r.urton, afterwards a North Carolina judge, and Nathaniel
Williams, afterwards a Tennessee judge, who had been ap-
pointed to open the debate, declined to speak for the reason
that they knew nothing of the subject. This excuse was unani-
mously disallowed and they were promptly fined.
When it was argued "Is peace or war most useful ?" ; it is
honestly recorded that the vote was in favor of war "from the
arguments." That Commerce is useful to Nations only passed
by a majority vote. As to the relative advantageousness of
Commerce and Agriculture, the preference was given to com-
merce. Was not this the old contest between Poseidon against
Athena, Neptune against Minerva?
On the slavery question the members on the whole took the
Southern view, yet there was evident a want of enthusiasm,
if not positive doubt. It is likely that the decision on the
query. "Whether Africans have not as much right to enslave
Americans as Americans to enslave Africans?" viz.: that
"Africans have as good right, if not better." was in a jocular
spirit. Hut there was no joking in the declaration that Death
is preferable to Slavery, but it is probable that they in.
slavery to white people. The fact, however, that the men '
discussed the- question "Whether slaves are advantageous to
the United Si nd "Whether the importation of \ f-
slave the United Slates;" shows that tl
was difference oi "pinion, although the majority was in th
fmnativc in both ca^rx. A spirit of doubt as to the beneficence
of the institution seems to be implied in the question "Should
ry he aholixhrd at this i notwithstanding that the
members answered no.
84 HISTORY UNIVERSITY. OF NORTH CAROLINA.
I give a few miscellaneous questions perhaps worthy to be
recorded. The right of the Legislatures of the States to in-
struct members of Congress was debated but not decided. It
is noticeable that a serious discussion was had as to whether
public offices should be venal, i. e., at liberty to be bought and
sold. The decision was adverse. It is in affirmance of what
political economists say of the abominable evils of the poor
laws of England at this time that a debate was had as to the
propriety of making any provision for paupers, although the
conclusion was favorable. The members voted that the fathers
should retain the power of disinheriting altogether their chil-
dren, although admirers of French ways contended otherwise.
The latter, however, succeeded in obtaining a majority vote that
Louis XVI. was justly beheaded. The members showed their
jealousy of the Federal government by voting on one occasion
that official salaries were too high, and on another that members
of Congress should be paid less wages than soldiers. They
voted at one tirne that bodily strength is better than valor in war,
and at another that ingenuity is superior to bodily strength. It
seems that the vegetarian theory, one of the first modern ab-
surd "isms," had penetrated to our wilds, because the prohibi-
tion of animal food was discussed, but it was too much to ex-
pect our keen-stomached students with visions of ham and roast
beef, or the savory fried chicken at to-morrow's dinner, to vote
against their consumption.
In the spring of 1796 both societies voted to substitute a play
for all other exercises, and the members made preparations
with enthusiasm. This action was probably stimulated by the
advent of a tutor, Mr. Richards, who had been an actor. The
scenery was purchased at Williamsboro, but it does not appear
why such apparatus was in that village. Such was the zeal
of the amateur Thespians that one of the members who agreed
to take two parts and failed without excuse was incontinently
expelled from one of the societies. I regret that I can find no
description of this great dramatic performance.
As showing the contrast between the reading room of 1796
and that of one hundred years later I state that a motion was
made in one of the societies that the Halifax- Journal be sub-
THE TWO SOCIETIES. 85
scribed for in behalf of the members; whereupon Alexander
McCulloch, brother-in-law of William Boylan, one of the edi-
tors, generously offered the use of his copy, and the motion
was withdrawn. A subsequent motion to buy the Fayettcrille
Hiticnu \\as defeated, as one paper was deemed sufficient. The
following is the first list of books ever purchased by either
society. It shows taste for solid reading not a novel among
them.
Locke on the Human Understanding.
\\ 'Hilstonecraft's Rights of Women.
Gillie's Greece.
Sully'- M.-moirs.
iiia <>n Crimes and Punishments.
Brown on Kqualit y.
.Mo-lirinf ^ Krrlc.-iastical History.
Goldsmith*! lli-tory of Kni:land, 4 volumes.
Gibbon's Decline and Fall.
Helvetius on the Human Mind.
Porcupine's Bloody Buoy.
1'oicupine's Political Censor.
Love and Patriotism.
The Federalist.
Smith's Constitutions.
The most active of the earliest members of the Debating So-
ciety were, in order of their names, Wm. Houston, Lawrence
Toole, Robert Smith. Francis Burton, James Webb, Richard
Simms, Alexander Osborne, Wm. M. Snced. Ilutcliins G. Bur-
ton. \Vm. Dickson and Samuel Hinton. In tin- Concord So-
the leader- were David (nllc^.i, . !;. J. ( kbonie. George
\V. I.OHLT. llintnn James, Evan Jiu-s. Henry Kearney, Nicholas
Long, Wm. Alston,. Davi' \. Dorsey, Joseph
r,ill(-], < . ( )f these David r.illexpir. K. J. Osborne and George
\V. Lonp; W (-R- most prominent.
The professors of the University were admitted to 1>e active
mem 1 the <>ther hut d< a appear
in the del>at-
EARLY STUDKNT I.IIT: Tin- IVi .
By the kindness of Miss Caroline I 1 ' uranddaui:hter
of Ebenezer r.tf-irw. wh.. with his l>rntlicr John wa
student of the l"i i tin- sprin- ,,f ,-,,; tl> r hr f. t
86 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
1797, I am able to give glimpses of the inner life of the Univer-
sity in its infancy from letters written by them to their father.
Their father was Rev. Charles Pettigrew, of Tyrrell County,
who was chosen Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church,
but was prevented, by the breaking out of yellow fever in Phila-
delphia at the time, and failing health afterwards, from being
consecrated. I have also been permitted by Mr. Norman Jones,
of Raleigh, to examine a letter dated April, 1795, written to
his mother by his ancestor, Nicholas Long, grandson of Colonel
Nicholas Long, of the North Carolina Continental line.
Letters by children to their parents were then as a rule
much more formal than is now usual. Long addresses his
mother as ''Honored Mother;" but the Pettigrews wrote "Dear
Father." Long's father was dead and his mother had married
a Methodist preacher, Rev. Daniel Shine. He sends his "re-
spects" to Mr. Shine. A married sister he calls Sister Hill,
and the husband of another sister he calls "Brother Green."
The Presiding Professor he called Rev. Parson Ker. The Pet-
tigrews sign themselves, or rather John signs for both, "your
dutiful sons." They always send their "duties" to their mother
and compliments to all others. In one letter the word "com-
pliments" was in the message to the mother, but it was
scratched out and "duties" substituted. Bishop Pettigrew's
letter to Jackey and Ebley, as he calls them, are exceedingly
affectionate and wise.
The boys saw no newspapers. Weeks intervened between
letters. The postage to Bertie County, where Dr. Pettigrew once
lived, is usually endorsed 17 cents. Once John informed him
that he was forced to pay at Chapel Hill 12 1-2 cents when his
father prepaid the same amount. The fatter afterwards re-
torted: "What you designed for frugality accidentally resulted
otherwise. You thought by your two letters on the same sheet,
or rather half sheet of post paper, to save expenses, but I find
44 cents on the letter. 45 is just the postage of three letters.
Your putting two wafers and two addresses has made it a
double letter for which they charge double postage." The con-
sistency of the charges of the Postal Department seems open
to criticism, judging from the foregoing statements.
THE PETTIGREW LETTERS. 87
We learn from these letters, and from other sources, some-
thing of the modes of travel to and from the University. Some
came on horseback, some in ' "chairs" or double sulkies, others
in carts. Long wrote that, if "the boy" would start by daybreak
with the horse, he might make the journey from his home,
Sandy Creek, in Franklin County, 65 miles, in one day. The
following extract from one of the Pettigrew letters shows the
difficulty of transporting persons and things. "Send up a dou-
ble chair with a portmanteau and a pair of saddle-bags (as our
chests will be too unhandy to be carried in a chair), in which
we could carry our clothes and some particular books, but as
there are a great many of them it would be needless to attempt
carrying them all in a chair. In my opinion it would be best
for the rest to stay until December when the boys who will
come from Bertie will be coming up in a cart, and as the cart
will be going back empty I have no doubt they would take
down a chest of books to Windsor, from whence they might
easily be conveyed to Tyrrell. My bed I can dispose of." They
were not expecting to return to the University.
Among other things they tell of the sad necessity of going
nearly barefoot, because of the non-existence of a shoemaker
in the village. They hope, however, that an itinerant mender
of shoes while on his circuit will come to their relief. They
asked their father to have pairs of new shoes ready at their
homes when the session shall be over, for, said they, shoes are
expensive at Chapel Hill, being 18 shillings or $1.80 a pair.
They marked the length of their feet oa the margin of the big
on which they wrote, thus giving us a hint of the rudeness
of the foot coverings of that day, no other measure than the
i^iven to the workman. If they had enclosed a
slip instead of notching the paper it would have subjected
tin- letter to double postage, i. e.. tin- postage of the order would
have been nearly 20 per cent of the cost of the article.
Another trouble they had was the difficulty f procurin
1< d. meaning one made of the soft feathers . They
slept for a while at the In HIM- of .1 family named Kimhall. in the
"iily room to be rented in town, but, the Kimhalls announcing
their intention to move to "Cainturk" (Kentucky), it became
88 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
necessary for the boys to move into the college building, and
hence a bed of their own was essential. They state that the
Steward, Mr. Taylor, had beds to rent for the enormous price
of 12, or $24 per annum. Their father earnestly cautioned
them against the danger of sleeping on hard boards after en-
joying the luxury of feathers all the summer, and saved them
from this evil by sending the coveted piece of furniture from
his home in the "chair" designed for the return of the boys
in vacation.
Moving into the Old East, they were forced to share the
apartment with four others, but they were comforted by the fact
that two of them were little boys of the Grammar School. Some
of the "small boys" they discovered were loud-mouthed nuis-
ances. They found in this room a more grievous nuisance even
than noisy "small boys" the bully. "One of our room-mates
desires," they wrote, "to reign king, saying if we would not
obey him he would use rough methods." Those who had
breathed the free air of the Albemarle could not submit to be
slaves. "This we disliked," they said, "knowing that no stu-
dent durst take upon himself the authority, and that we were
all on an equality, and to be room-mates and not one inferior
to another." Although the aspiring Kaiser was in a minority
of one to five, the Pettigrews changed their quarters, but John
remarked, "I shall say nothing of my new companions until
I get better acquainted with them." He added, "There is only
room for five or six more, unless the Trustees allow eight in
a room, which we earnestly deprecate. I find it very difficult
to get six well-behaved, it would be almost impossible to get
eight well-behaved, boys in a room."
As might be expected these growing boys were much con-
cerned about their food. They praised Mrs. Puckett when
they boarded with her, but the strictures on food at Commons
are generally severe. At one time they said "The bread is not near
so good as Fillis bakes for herself. It is impossible to describe
the badness of the tea and coffee, and the meat generally
stinks and has maggots in it." "Fillis" ("Phyllis'") is evidently
their mother's cook, and the bread for herself was in all prob-
ability old-fashioned ashcakes, i. e., lumps of corn-meal dough,
covered over with hot embers and so baked.
THE PETTIGREW LETTERS. 89
At another time these sons of a planter, who raised corn by
the boat-load on the rich eastern bottoms, wrote: "We are
afraid we will be pushed for provisions as Mr. Taylor (the
Steward) buys corn by the bag-full. In case of necessity we
shall get into hollow trees and do as the bears do. It would
never do to set off for home. We would perish on the road."
A more horrible grievance arose from those hideous ani-
mals, who, in the darkness of the night, hasten to imbrue their
jaws in human gore. Pine bedsteads with holes in the sides for
the cords, and the wooden chests of six young fellows, ignorant
of the arts of extermination, or too indolent to adopt them, gave
full play to the Malthusian doctrine of increase by geometrical
ratio, of these foes of man. We need not be surprised there-
fore at their rapid multiplication in one year. "We dread the
approach of warm weather," they plaintively wrote. "They
are five times as bad as last year, and then we were hardly
able to rest. We will not need any bleeding (by physicians).
There is one comfort, there are no mosquitoes." These noc-
turnal foes they called Sabines, an inappropriate name it ap-
pears to me, as the historians tell us those robbers carried off
young ladies; whereas young men were here the victims. The
next year they raise a wail of woe: "The Sabines have quite de-
feated us. We have given them the entire possession of our
room. None of us have been able to sleep in it for five weeks.
I generally spread out tables in the passage and pour water
around the legs. They are in general poor swimmers." All
these horrors, notwithstanding a by-law which ordered the stu-
dents to cleanse their rooms of bugs every two weeks ! How
their mother's heart must have ached at the persecution of her
darlings !
In October. 1705. is the first mention of a dismissal of a
student. The Pettigrew boys say he was "banished." As the
offence recalls a custom among onr ancestors which has be-
eome obsolete. T must, in the interest of folk-lore, explain it.
k P.nrton and Josepl after being prohibited, went
to a "Cotton Picking."
What was a Cotton Picking? T am able to give YOU the
information derived from two veracious witnesses, in their
youth participants in the game.
90 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Before the use of Whitney's gin had become common the
seed of cotton was separated from the lint by hand. This was
generally done at night, each member of the household having
his or her task. Each was compelled to fill one of his or her
shoes with seed before being allowed to "court the balmy," as
Dick Swiviller termed it. Of course, children and ladies of
small feet had the advantage over those of mountainous under-
standings who went late to bed. Darwin would explain the great
preponderance of ladies of little feet, such as we see in all
Southern gatherings, by the theory that females of former
generations, able to wear diminutive shoes, filled them with seed
early in the night, secured a larger amount of refreshing sleep,
became thereby more healthy and beautiful, and in consequence
always secured husbands, while the haggard faces of those
going late to bed condemned the unfortunate big-footians to
single blessedness.
Sometimes the owner of the snowy pile would invite the
young men and maidens to a Cotton Picking frolic, analagous
to quiltings, corn-shuckings, and log-rollings, providing tooth-
some refreshments. The cotton was placed in the middle of
the room, parties would pick against each other, and amid
good-humored rivalry and rustic merriment the work would
soon be finished. Then the floor would be swept and the neigh-
borhood fiddler, often as black as ebony, would strike up
"Molly put the Kettle on," or "T-u Turkey, Ty Tie, T-u Tur-
key Buzzard's Eye," or "Crow he Peeped at the Weasel," or
"Old Molly Hare," in such entrancing strains that every toe
in the assembly became stark crazy as if smitten by St. Vitus.
Even the legs of the table would quiver with excitement. A
jolly succession of reels and break-downs and "Cutting the
pigeon's wing" would ensue. If the preacher's influence pre-
vented dancing, games were substituted such as "Hunt the
Slipper," "Blindman's Buff," or "I'm Pining." Burton and
Green were attracted to one of these festivals, even as the
candle-fly seeks the blazing torch. They had their fun, but the
avenging eye of Dr. Ker was upon them. The sentence was
public admonition before the University. Burton, "like a little
man," took the medicine and afterwards won honors as a stu-
THE PETTIGRSW UCTTERS. 9!
dent. But Joe Green's pride caused him to decline to submit
and so sentence of dismissal was passed on him. I think it no
harm to give his name as heading the line of students whose
presence has been dispensed with by the Faculty ; first, because
he became a respected merchant of New Bern, his career not
being impeded by this incident, and secondly, his offence was
not a malum in sc, but malum prohibit u-m only.
It appears that Bishop Pettigrew requested his sons to give
him confidential information as to the manners and morals of
the students. They do so, but like loyal students ask him not
to divulge their disclosures, satirically remarking, "its (the
University's) character will be known soon enough to its dis-
advantage and confusion." Their secret report thus made was
that : "the students in general have nothing very criminal, ex-
cept a vile and detestable practice of cursing and swearing
which are carried on here to the greatest perfection. Even
from the smallest to the largest they vent their oaths with the
greatest ease imaginable. Hardly a sentence passes without
some of those high-flown words which sailors divert themselves
with/' "Their favorite book is Paine's Age of Reason." Doubt-
less this account is substantially true. Profanity and infidelity
were the fashion of the day. It should be taken, however, with
the explanation that John and Ebenezer were raised on a large
plantation, strictly and religiously, and probably were never as-
sociated with boys before. They do not give examples <>f the
oaths. Let us charitably hope that many of them were no
w.rse than "Go to the Dickens," "Deuce Take You," "Dtirn
It." "Dog Gone You," and like expletives, which some people
do not distinguish from more pronounced profanity. It is
comforting to have the report favorable as to drinking. Lranib-
Hiiij, and the like.
John writes that while Khenezer is unable for lack of funds,
he himself has joined a dancing school, sa\ini; that he could
not forego gaining what he calls "such a Denied acmniplish-
mcnt." He adds, "There are a number of students in the d
but not any ladies, and then- i< n<t as much order and r
laritv as if tin-re were several decent ladies" Tin terms were
$4 for six months' instruction.
92 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OK NORTH CAROLINA.
Their report as to study is, to use their expression, ''mid-
dling" favorable. They say: "the Seniors and others who are
old enough to understand its value study pretty closely, but
there are a great many small boys, half of whom do little or
nothing. They are the ones who make the greatest proficiency
in the art of -swearing."
The letter-writers praise highly Dr. Ker and Professor Har-
ris. For the particular information of Latin students I state
that they studied Eutropius and Cornelius Nepos before going
'into Caesar. Their testimony is that they learned more Latin
in a few months than in all their lives before.
As a contribution to the Society for Investigating Psychical
Phenomena, I give a strange coincidence. Bishop Pettigrew
and his wife both dreamed the same night that their sons were
sick, and at that very moment, although separated by all the
distance from Chapel Hill to Tyrrell County, about 180 miles
as the crow flies, these boys were in unusual good health, and
so continued for months. If only one of them had been, simul-
taneously with the dreams, a little ailing, even to the extent
of a head or tooth-ache, or groaning over the agonie*s of a
green peach or so, what exultation would have filled the breasts
of enthusiastic spiritualists.
We gather also from the letters something of the health of
the students and of the practice of medicine a hundred years
ago. John Pettigrew had an enlarged spleen when he came,
but it improved at Chapel Hill, although he was not cured. At
one time he took for it arrow-root steeped in brandy two or
three times a day. This remedy he quit because of the high
price of the brandy, 75 cents a quart. He then turned to Peru-
vian bark and snake-root, at one time ceasing for ten days
because he could obtain no snake-root. Twice his spleen grew
in size, but he attributes that to the want of exercise.
On April 12, 1796, he wrote: "There are 86 students here.
All are in perfect health except one taken with the rheumatism
last night." In a letter dated May 27, 1797, he wrote, "The
mumps is a disease which is very prevalent. There are 30 or
40 cases, but none have been hurt by them very much. Ebley
and I have had no symptoms as yet."
THE PETTIGREW LETTERS. 93
"The small-pox is seven or eight miles from here, brought by
a man from Norfolk. He is well, but it is rumored that his
mother has been taken. I do not believe that it will come
here, as people are much afraid of it and use all precautions.
It would certainly be destructive to this institution, as I have
no doubt it would kill one-half of those infected, as our blood
is in as bad a state as possible owing to the vast quantities
of butter which we eat, and we have no proper attendance.
But we would get horses and go home." The disease did not
reach Chapel Hill then or at any subsequent day.
John was a draughtsman and sent home a colored pic-
ture of the Old East, 1797, two-storied and only two-thirds of
its present length. [The bricks are of the original color, except
that between the first and second stories there is a broad white
band all around the building. There is a platform at each outer
door, the steps descending from it towards the north and south.]
Let me add that John's disease carried him off an exceed-
ingly promising man two years after he left the University.
Ebenezer became a prosperous planter ; his plantations Magno-
lia and Belgrade, in Washington County, were famous for their
fertility and good management. He was induced when a young
man to serve two terms in the State Senate and, after passing
middle life, to be a member of the House of Representatives
of the United States, but he preferred the happier life of a
private citizen. His youngest son was the lamented General
James Johnston Pettigrew, a graduate of 1847, wno seemed
to me to be the ablest man I ever met. Commodore Maury,
who had seen the greatest men of his day said this I know
to be authentic that if by any cause General Lee's place should
be vacated, General Pettigrew would be the fittest man to take
his place.
THE NEW PLAN OF EDUCATION.
In December, 1795, after a year's experience with the raw.
ly untaught youths of diverse ages and acquirements, the
institution was divided into two branches, called "The Prepara-
tory School" ami "The Professorships of the University."
plan is interesting because it is the idea of General Davie,
94 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
is far ahead of the times, anticipates in some respects the
work of Jefferson with the University of Virginia, and is very
similar to our present plan :
A. The Preparatory School.
1st. (a) The English language, to be taught grammatically on the
basis of Webster's and South's Grammar.
(1>) Writing in a neat and correct manner.
(c) Arithmetic with the four first rules, with the Rule of Three
(d) Reading and pronouncing select passages from the purest
English authors.
(e) Copying in a fair and correct manner select English 'Essays.
2nd. After this preliminary course the student must learn the Latin
Language, beginning with Ruddiman's Rudiments and then studying
Cordery, then Erasmus, then Eutropius, then Cornelius Nepos, with
translations. After these came Caesar's Commentaries, and Sallust,
without translations, but at the request of parents translations
might be used with them. Kennett's Roman Antiquities to be
studied contemporaneously.
When the students can render Eutropius into correct English and
explain the government and connection of the words, then they must
begin the study of the French Language. 1st, The Grammar; 2nd,
Telemachus; 3rd, Cyrus; 4th, Gil Bias.
The study of Greek is optional. If this language should be chosen
the pupil must study, 1st, The Grammar; 2nd, The Gospels in the
original, beginning when the French should have begun.
The rudiments of Geography must be studied on the plan of
Guthrie.
After the students begin the French, the French and Latin lan-
guages shall be so associated that both may be finished at nearly the
same time.
It is allowable to suidy all three of the above mentioned lan-
guages, in which case the student must finish the Gospels in Greek
when he is through the Preparatory School.
The English language shall be regularly continued, it being con-
sidered the primary object, and the other languages but auxiliaries.
Any language, except English, may be omitted at the request of
the parents.
II. Plan of Education under the Professorships of the University:
1st. The President.
Rhetoric on the plan of Sheridan.
Belles-Lettres on the plan of Blair and Rollin.
B. Professorships of the University.
a. Professor of Moral and Political Philosophy and History; the
study of the following authors:
Paley*s Moral and Political Philosophy.
NEW PLAN OF STUDIES. 95
Montesquieu's Spirit of Laws.
Civil Government and Political Constitutions.
Adam's Defence of DeLolme.
The Constitution of the United States.
The Modern Constitutions of Europe.
The Law of Nations.
Vattel's Law of Nations.
Burlamaqufs Principles of Natural and Political Law.
On History,
Priostly's Lectures on History.
Millot's Ancient and Modern History.
Hume's History of England, with Smollett's Continuation.
Chronology on the most approved plan.
b. Professor of Natural Philosophy, Astronomy and Geography,
1. General properties of Matter, Laws of Motion, Mechanical
Powers. Hydrostatics, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Optics, Electricity,
Magnetism.
2. Geography. The use of Globes, the Geometrical, political and
commercial relations of the different nations of the earth. Astron-
omy on the plan of Ferguson.
c. Professor of Mathematics.
1. Arithmetic in a scientific manner.
2. Algebra and the application of Algebra to Geometry.
3. Euclid's Elements.
4. Trigonometry and its application to the Mensuration of
Heights and Distances of Surfaces and Solids, Surveying and Navi-
gation.
Electives. Thus far the mathematical studies are obligatory.
The following might be pursued if desired. Conic Sections, The
Doctrine of the Sphere and the Cylinder, The Projection of the
Spline. Spherical Trigonometry, The Doctrine of Fluxions, The Doc-
trine of Chances and Annuities.
d. The Professor of Chemistry and the Philosophy of Medicine, Agri-
culture and the Mechanic Art*.
Chemi-try upon the most approved pl:m.
.-. /'/ -. SNOT <>/' I.<i</ua(jes.
1. Th- KnL'li-li Language Elegant Extracts in Prose and Verte.
fi Colln-tions.
2. Tin- L:itin language Virgil, Cicero's Orations, Horace's Epis-
tl--, including the Art of Poetry.
3. The Greek Language Lucian, Xenophon.
In addition to the rv^ular course, the Professor of Languages
Head, \vlu-n minimi, thr rcidinir of Cicero de Officiis,
Harare ;md I, ivy. nnd in the C.rrrk Longinus on the Suh-
lime, the Orations of Demosthenes and Homer's Iliad." The
96 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
rudiments of language are to be attended to, the different
forms and figures ot speech are to be noticed by the professor,
and comments made on the sentiments and beauties of the
authors; parallel sentences quoted, particular idioms observed,
and all allusions to distant manners and customs explained.
The students under the Professor of Languages are to de-
liver to him twice a week translations into English of some
classic, in which, "after expressing the sense of the author,
the spirit and elegance of the translation are principally to be
regarded."
The students of the other classes shall every Saturday de-
liver to the President a composition on a subject of their own
choosing, and he shall correct the errors in orthography, gram-
mar, style or sentiment, and make the necessary observations
thereon.
Those passing approved examinations on the studies of the
Preparatory School were entitled to be admitted "upon the
general establishment of the University."
Those passing an approved examination in English, and the
first four rules of Arithmetic with the Rule of Three, could be
admitted to study under the President and any of the Profes-
sors, except the Professor of Languages. In order to enter
his department the applicant must stand an approved examina-
tion on the English language, and on Caesar's Commentaries
and Sallust. But it was not required to translate English into
Latin.
No preliminary examination was required of one wishing to
study under the fourth professor, i. e., Chemistry, the Philoso-
phy of Medicine, Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts.
There were no prizes instituted by professors, but the Trus-
tees endeavored to stimulate study by offering to donate a
book to the best scholar in each department, viz. : a copy of the
text-book used therein. The early students either borrowed
or rented their text-books.
This plan of education is all the more observable because
it was the work of Davie after mature consideration. The
record shows that he offered it, that it was referred to a com-
mittee composed of himself, Judge Williams, Hogg, Haywood,
PLAN OF EDUCATION. 97
and Adlai Osborne, and was reported back and adopted. The
Xorth Carolina Journal of that date has, doubtless in Davie's
words, a statement of the object aimed at. He began by quoting
from the French Convention, "That in every free government
the law emanates from the people, it is necessary that the people
should receive an education to enable them to direct the laws,
and the political part of this education should be consonant to
the principles of the constitution under which they live/' He
proceeds: "The plan of Education established by the Board ap-
pears to be predicated on this principle, and designed to form
useful and respectable members of society citizens capable
of comprehending, improving and defending the principles of
government, citizens, who from the highest possible impulse,
a just sense of their own and the general happiness, would be
induced to practice the duties of social morality. A deep and
fixed conviction that it is degrading to be tributaries to other
States or countries for our literary and public characters, a
general and strong desire to promote education and exalt and
improve our national character, have given a tone to the public
sentiment and bestowed a degree of emulation upon individuals,
from which the most happy effects may be expected."
Davie remembered that many of the leading men of the Revo-
lution in North Carolina were from other States. Certainly
the degrading dependence of our State for its public characters
ceased after the establishment of the University. Not only
that, but the institution has furnished chief legislative, executive,
or judicial officers to all our Southern sisters, as well as to
the general government.
In correspondence with Caldwell on the subject of granting
degrees. Oavie gave a clear exposition of the principles under-
lying his scheme. "The variation of the plan from that of
other colleges makes the question of degrees a difficult one. A
bachelor's degree generally imports a knowledge of the learned
languages as well as the sciences. To confer such a degree
upon a person who can understand neither Latin or Creek d
not appear to be proper. The ruling or leading principle in
our plan of education is that the student may apply himself
to those branches of learning and scienre alone which are abso-
98 J1ISTORY L'NIVKkStTY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
lutely necessary to tit him for his destined profession or occu-
pation in life. One study does not imply the necessity of any
other, unless of one necessary to make it intelligible. But I
am well convinced of the utility and policy of conferring de-
grees and granting special certificates." He then asks criticism
of the following plan : First. The degree of Bachelor of Arts
(A.B) evidenced by a diploma in the Latin language, for pro-
ficiency in English, the sciences and either Latin or Greek.
Second. A diploma in English certifying knowledge and pro-
gress in the arts and sciences, to one omitting both the classics.
He does not suggest a name for this diploma.
These diplomas, as well as that of the Master's degree,
should be signed by the 1 'resident of the Board and another
Trustees. In addition to the diplomas, certificates should be
granted by the President of the University, specially Mating
the progress of the student.
After Davie left the State in 1805. Calduell acquired such
commanding influence as to assimilate this I'niversity to Prince-
ton, his alma mater. Only one diploma was granted, that of
Bachelor of Arts (A.B.), both Latin and Greek being essential
to obtaining it, and this rule continued for many years. After
the re-organization in 1875, Davie's plan somewhat modified
was re-introduced. Both classics were still required for A.I'..,
but a new degree, of equal dignity was adopted where
one classic is omitted, that of Bachelor of Philosophy,
while if both classics are omitted, equivalent sciences being
substituted, the degree of Bachelor of Science (B.S) is con-
ferred. Several great institutions, notably Harvard and Cor-
nell, now grant Bachelor of Arts, without requiring either
classic, and this institution has recently followed their example.
All universities grant certificates for special attainments.
It is remarkable that, after the University fell into the old
Latin, Greek and Mathematical curriculum, which prevailed
through so many decades, the scheme drawn by General Davie
should have been substantially revived in our days. As proving
the truth of this I mention the large liberty of electing studies,
the not rigidly requiring Latin and Greek as necessary to
graduation, the elevation of Chemistry, Agriculture and the
IM.AN 01- KIH'CATION. 99
Mechanic Arts to a separate school, which can be solely at-
tended, the requiring of classical and mathematical students a
moderate proficiency in science, and making advanced work in
those departments elective, the great prominence given to the
>tudy of English literature and the attainment of a clear and
graceful style in speaking and writing, the other languages being
expressly declared to be auxiliary to this, the elevation of the
French to equal rank with the classics, and the allowance of
t lie substitution of French for either Latin or Greek. Indeed
if we cut down our professorships to six, as was the case in
Davie's scheme, (President and five professors) it becomes ap-
parent that the changes of our day are mere centennial revivals,
although not intentionally so.
The plan of education of to-dav is an evolution mainly by
the initiation of the Faculty, the Trustees as a matter of course
ratifying their recommendations. In 1795, however, the Trus-
tees controlled this as well as the other details of the institution,
even prescribing text-books. Accordingly we find that the
scheme was soon so modified as to strike out Geography as a
required study in the Preparatory School, and Montesquieu's
Spirit of Laws. Vattel's Law of Nations and Hume's Hist>r\
of England in the I'niversity. Astronomy was to be on the
plan of Nicholson instead of Ferguson.
The difficulty of procuring books in the old times may be
conjectured by this fact, that the Trustees purchased as many
if the prescribed books, of others only three, to be
rented to the students at a moderate hire.
It was found impracticable to put the new scheme, requiring
a I "resident and five professors, into full operation for two
KM18: First, because of the want of hinds, and secondly.
LUSC the Trustees could not find a man possessed of the
, presidential ^ifts willing to take the place \ccord-
. Governor Samuel Ashe. President of the Hoard, and
I );ivie. Willie [ones, llo^. and Stone were appointed
to make- inquiry for a proper person to be p-
' and to ascertain tin- terms on which he could be procured.
Thn ihen balloted for and the follouin^
nnanimoiish clm-rn: Samuel F. \ld'rl,l<. P
IOO HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
of Moral and Political Philosophy and History; Charles W.
Harris, Professor of Mathematics; Rev. David Ker, Professor
of Languages. It was intended that Dr. McCorkle should have
charge as Presiding Professor, thus dethroning Dr. Ker.
But an unexpected difficulty arose. The canny Scotch-Irish-
man foresaw that, when the President should be chosen, he
would lose the snug residence provided for the chief executive.
He therefore demanded that in case this should happen his
salary should be increased to the extent of the annual value of
the residence. To this the Trustees declined to accede and so
Dr. Ker continued in office until the following July, the Uni-
versity classes being taught by Professors Ker and Harris, and
the Preparatory School by Nicholas Delveaux and Samuel
Holmes, Delveaux having one of the higher classes in Latin.
This rejection of the modest proposal of Dr. McCorckle was
bitterly resented by his friends, although soon forgiven by that
excellent man. Gen. John Steele, once a member of Congress
and then first Comptroller of the Treasury, wrote General Da vie
a letter couched in such severe terms as to break the friendly
relations between them. In the fall of 1799, after Davie's re-
turn from his mission to France, he endeavored to renew their
old friendship. General Steele's answer, of which he kept a
copy, shows that the sore was unhealed. He said, "My letur
was the dictate of what I considered at the time, and still
think, a just indignation for the ill treatment which Doctor
McCorckle received." ... "I have no sons to educate, and
my nephew (son of Dr. McCorckle) is relieved of the humili-
ation of acquiring his education at an institution whose outset
was characterized by acts of ingratitude and insult towards his
father." As he begins the letter with a dry "Sir," it is clear
that resumption of friendly relations was for awhile of a formal
and business nature.
The six months' term ending July, 1796, witnessed many
disorders among the students, the nature of which we can only
conjecture. This much is certain, that there was dissatis-
faction with Dr. Ker, that much against his inclination he was
constrained to send in his resignation, and the Trustees ac-
cepted it under protest that he had not given six months' notice
BY-LAWS. IOI
as required by law. Professor Harris says that he was a man
of talent, a furious Republican, and we learn from other sources
that he became an outspoken infidel. Dr. Caldwell is authority
also for the statement that another professor, Holmes, at that
time "embraced and taught the wildest principles of licentious-
When we remember that Harris, an excellent character in
tlier respects, likewise had imbibed heterodox principles, we
can easily see how a spirit of lawlessness and defiance of author-
it) became rampant in the young institution, and how bitterly
the Federalists among the students resented the violent partisan-
ship of the Presiding Professor.
'1 he by-laws of the University were also extremely vexatious.
The boys of the Preparatory School, whom it became lawful to
chastise as in other schools, were allowed to have rooms in the
I'niversity building, and the strictest espionage, which might
have been proper for their government, was enforced over
14'rown young men many of them accustomed to the largest
liberty at home. The tutors of the Preparatory Department,
sometimes undergraduates, were required to sleep among the
students to see that they kept their rooms in study hours, to
reprove and report them for every breach of the rules however
trivial. Moreover the professors were ordered to visit each
room twice a day. and monitors, one from each class, were
cted to be spies on their fellows and to report their misde-
meanors and even peccadilloes. The attempt several years
afterwards to prevent the monitors from shirking this obliga-
t on led, as will be seen, .to a serious disruption of the institu-
tion.
Tin rules governing the conduct of the students while eat-
ing at Commons were still more likely to produce miM\ feel-
The tutor must reprove one complaining of the food
unjustifiably in his opinion, and order one behaving unseemly
from the table. This indignity created wrath in the youth
>nl)jected to such public insult, banished in disgrace from his
' in presence of his fellows.
While some of these rules and practices were from time to
ificd. otl ;nued np to the end of the old regime
1O2 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
in 1868. Their abolition in 1876 has been productive of more
kindly relations between Faculty and students and general im-
proved conduct in the institution.
Notwithstanding the disorders of the term, the Trustees
who attended the examinations in July, 1796, including, among
others, Governor Samuel Ashe and General Davie, certified
that they were highly satisfactory and that many showed the
strongest evidences of industry and most promising talents.
The inspection began on Monday, the nth of July, and was
not finished until Friday, the I5th, Governor Ashe and a con-
siderable number of Trustees, in addition to the committee,
being present. The ladies did not vouchsafe their cheering
presence. It is recorded that "several classes and some of the
students received the marked approbation and applause of the
Board and 'the committee."
A clear view of the condition of the University at this second
Commencement is given in the report signed by General Davie
and Wm. Hinton, of Wake, the only Trustees who witnessed
all the examinations:
The first or Senior class, consisting of six, were examined
on Natural Philosophy and Mathematics and were distinguished
for accuracy and progress.
The second, or Junior class of 12, were examined on Geog-
raphy. Six merited the marked approbation of the committee
and were publicly commended.
The third, or Sophomore class, consisted of 12; were ex-
amined on Arithmetic and obtained approbation.
In Virgil and Cicero nine were examined. Those in Virgil
did not give satisfaction ; those in Cicero were somewhat better.
The Rhetoric class did well. That in English Grammar,
although numerous, acquitted themselves with approbation, as
did also the French class. The like applause was given to the
class in Caesar and Sallust.
The classes in Nepos, Eutropius and six other inferior classes
in the Preparatory School were satisfactory.
The Committee suggest that it is best to leave out Geography
from the Preparatory School, "as most of the scholars will
be too young to benefit much by the study in so early a state."
KXAMINATION OF 1796. 1O3
The action of the Board of Trustees at this time indicates
two fruitful sources of trouble, the existence of the open grog-
shops or taverns in the village, and the claim of the students
of the Grammar School that they were only under the au-
thority of their own tutors; and of the other students that those
tutors had no control over the University students. Ordinances
were passed prohibiting visiting of taverns without leave of
a professor, vesting the Preparatory teachers with disciplinary
authority over all the students and making them members of
the Faculty, but without a vote. Six months later the right
to vote was given, but the rule that the two tutors should
occupy the same room in the University building was repealed.
At the same meeting the students were authorized to attend
dancing schools with the permission of the Faculty. A letter
from (lovernor Spaight certifies to the teaching abilities of a
Mr. IVrrin. a French gentleman. "He does not undertake to
teach the Knglish dance, but the minuet and French dance, such
tillons. conges, etc." His terms were $2 per month, three
afternoons each week. Davie wrote, "I am very desirous that
my sons should be taught to dance well. There are some
French gentlemen at New Bern who teach dancing in the most
rlegant >t\le. They are really gentlemen and unfortunate
refugees from St. Domingo.'' Doubtless Mr. Perrin was one
of these refugres. ax was Mr. IMunkett, who taught music in
Mr. Monlecai's school in Warrenton a few years afterwards,
forced t< tlee from the atrocities of the negroes in the island
of Hayti. where they rose against the French, reduced from
affluence to poverty in a strange land.
In an unofficial letter Davie referred to another difficulty
which seems {< > have been rectified. "Serious, and I believe,
well-grounded complaints are made by the students against the
Steward, but Messrs. Ker ami Harris did not think proper
to mention them to the Hoard although the\ g*V assurance
to the students that they would certainly do so." It should be
remembered, however, that bis two KH18, llyder and Allen,
who had been aCCUStOined to luxurious living, probahlv im-
parted this information, and we have not tin- ( "iintt r statement
of the profeMOrs. The \in-th (\jrolimi .fun rtnil expressly ti
the contrary-- that the Commons was eminently satisf. |
IO4 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The Board of Trustees found that very few applications \vux-
made to them for the vacancies in the Faculty. It became neces-
sary to have a committee whose duty it was to ascertain by
correspondence or otherwise men of sufficient learning willing
to accept the positions, and with power to employ them. The
earliest committee was Judge Moore, General Davie, Willie
Jones, David Stone and Judge John Williams. Afterwards the
committee consisted of Hugh Williamson, Stone, Thomas H.
Blount and Treasurer John Haygood.
HISTORY OF DAVID KER.
As Dr. David Ker was first professor, and also, as Presiding
Professor, the first executive of the University, it is proper to
give his subsequent history. He lived for several years in
Lumberton, Robeson County, engaged in a small way in mer-
chandising; also pursuing the study of the law. Among his fast
friends were a family by the name of Willis, which emigrated
to Mississippi, and again became his neighbors and allies by
marriage. From Lumberton in July, 1800, he emigrated to
the Mississippi Territory, stopping several months with a friend
in Nashville, Tennessee. He settled finally at Washington in
the neighborhood of Natchez. He found the people, who had
been injured by tobacco and indigo, rejoicing in the profits of
growing cotton. An industrious planter in one year cleared the
price of a negro. There was not a considerable school in the
territory, but many planters had private tutors. He describes
the people as largely composed of British sympathizers and
"Revolutionary Tories," but with a few Republicans. He
avows to his correspondent, Senator David Stone, his willing-
ness to accept the office of Secretary of State, the present in-
cumbent. Col. Steele, being in a languishing state of health, or
of judge, as Judge Tilton contemplated resignation. He ret
minds Senator Stone that his principles were in harmony with
those of President Jefferson. His pecuniary resources becom-
ing: extremely slender, his wife opened a schoool for .eirls. in
which he was an assistant. The Governor, W. C. C. Claiborne,
appointed h ; m to the clerkship of the Superior Court of Adams
County, and soon afterwards he was made Sheriff. He then.
HISTORY OF DR. KER. 10$
on the recommendation of Senator Stone, who had years be-
fore nominated him as Professor of Humanity in our Univer-
sity, received from President Jefferson the office of Territorial
Judge. He is described as able and impartial. His career was
short, as he was cut off by disease contracted while holding
o>urt in an open house without fire in severely cold weather.
ntleman who knew him well describes him as a "man of
fine education, a classical scholar, well read in the principles of
moral and natural philosophy, of law and religion. His prin-
ciples were well formed and matured and his moral character of
tin- l>est model, firm, stem, inflexible, unyielding." His wife,
wh>so faith in the Chiistian religion was steadfast, burnt all
his writings, lest they might contaminate others. The brave
woman continued her school and educated her children, who
founded some of the leading families of Mississippi and Louis-
iana, many of whose members hold honorable positions in
their communities. Since the war between the States which
brought them nearly all to financial ruin, the unmarried wo-
men of the family have shown the spirit of their first American
ancestors, and have devoted themselves with enthusiasm to
teaching.
' M" the five children of Judge Ker, David died unmarried and
Sarah (Mrs. Cowden ) left no child; Eliza married Mr. Rush
Kutt. and has many living grandchildren. One is Charles
Clark, a prominent lawyer of San Jose, California; another is
;ent Prcntiss Nutt, once a lawyer of Washington, D. C.,
now a planter near Natchez, at the old homestead, Longwood.
rly all the rest of the Nutt branch are cotton planters in
isiana M- Mississippi.
Martha (or Patsey) Ker married Mr. Win. Terry, and Kit
three daughters, one of them still living on her plantation on
th<- Ya/'to. the widow of William P>. Prince. Another daugh-
arried Kvan Jeffries, a wealthy planter, and their .lc-cend-
numerous.
-MII of Judge Ker was John Ker. M.D., a surgeon in the
mole war. who was afterwards a successful cotton planter
member of the legislatures of Louisiana and Mi^i^ippi.
II. h-..l the religious faith of his mother, who lived with him
IO6 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
until nearly 91 years of age. They are both buried at the old
homestead, Linden, a mile from Natchez, by the side of Judge
and David Ker, who were removed from their first resting
place.
Dr. John Ker left six children, all of whom are dead except
the two youngest, Wm. Henry and Mary S. Ker, who reside in
Natchez. The oldest son, David, was a lawyer in Louisiana
and then a sugar planter. Besides daughters, David has a son,
J. Brownson Ker, a lawyer in New York City. Two of Da-
vid Ker's daughters are successful teachers in the same city.
The second son, John Ker, was a lawyer for awhile and then
a cotton planter. He served throughout the Civil War as Cap-
tain of a Louisiana company, was captured at \ icksbnrg.
After the war he resumed the profession of the law. His son,
Win. r>. Ker, is manager of a large sugar estate in Louisiana.
( )ne of his daughters is the wife of Hon. Murphy J. Foster.
once Governor of Louisiana.
Dr. Ker's third son, Lewis Baker Ker, left two sons and four
daughters, all living in Southern Louisiana.
The fourth son of Dr. John Ker is still living, Wm. Henry
Ker of Natchez. He left the Junior class of Harvard to join
the Confederate army and served throughout as a cavalry sol-
dier in th army of Northern Virginia. After the war he un-
dertook cotton planting, but not finding it profitable, adopted
the profession of teaching and has pursued it with enthusiasm
and success. For several years he has been Principal of the
Natchez White Public Schools, President of the State Board of
Education, and teacher in and once conductor of the Peabody
Summer Normals in Mississippi. Harvard lately conferred on
him the degree of A.B. At Harvard he was the stroke oar of
the Harvard crew. He married Miss Josephine Chamberlain,
and they have a son, John, living and two daughters, one of
whom married Mr. Richard Butler, a sugar planter of Louis-
iana.
Dr. John Ker's younger daughter is still living, a fine speci-
men of the noble class of "Old Maids," Mary S. Ker, who in
addition to her professional duties, cared for two generations
of orphaned nieces and great nieces. She has been steadily
CHAKI.KS \V. HARRIS. 1'RKSI I >I N '.(', l'R( >l : KSSOR. IO7
engaged r, teaching since 1871, with the exception of a year and
a half spent traveling in Europe. She has a place in the facultv
"f Stanton College, a female school in Natchez. It is to her
courtesy that I am indebted for much of my information con-
cerning tlu- family of Dr. David Ker.
I copy the modest inscriptions on the tombstones of the first
professor and the first lady who ever lived in Chapel Hill.
DAM i. KKR. MA in KER.
MI 'Mi in Ireland l<>rn in Ireland
1-Vhrnary. 17 30th March. 17.'>7.
Died in Mi>-i>-i|>|>i Died in Natchez
.Faniiary _' 1 . 1805. 30th Ni\ ember, 1847.
CHAKI.KS \V. HARRIS. I'RKSini.xc. I'KOI-KSSOK : JOSKIMI
CALDWELL, PROFESSC w.
It can well be imagined that, during the first two terms, or
us as they were called until 1818, the scheme of studies
laid down by the committee of which Dr. Corckle was chairman,
was not closely adhered to. The chaotic state of education in
the State rendered rigid classification impossible.
In consequence of the retirement of Dr. Ker. in the summer
of i7X>. the duties of PYesiding Professor, in addition to in-
-t ruction in Mathematics, were placed upon the strong but re-
luctant shoulders of Mr. Harris and there rested until his resig-
nation half a year afterwards much against the wishes of the
Trustees. While so engaged he gave to his work undivided
attention, grieving however over his abstinence- from his law
books. Whenever possible lie mounted his horse, and. riding to
Hillsboro, enjoyed refined ^>ciet\ in the families of the 11"
Norwoods. Webbs, and others. I 'uder his management the
student^ ^teadily improved, and at the examination in December
Allowed such proficiencx that the visiting Trustees published a
testimonial thereof.
As Mr. Harris bad i^iveii notice that he \\ould retire after the
oi the term in December, it became necevs;r\ to take
-upplv biv place. He himself, loving the Univer-
Uok much interest in the question, and Wftl freely om-
Milted by the Trustee-. Ivenu-mberin^ the character and rcpu-
IOS HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
tation for ability of Joseph Caldwell, who graduated with high-
est honors at Princeton in the class preceding his, and learning
of his subsequent success as a tutor, he confidently recom-
mended him for the Chair of Mathematics. It was a striking
proof of the strong impression he made on the eminent men
who composed the Board of Trustees, that they unanimously
elected his nominee. Caldwell had been engaged in teaching
mathematics at Princeton, was only twenty-three years of age,
but of matured intellectual strength. If it shall be. thought
that the Trustees were rash in calling so young a man to so
responsible a post, it should be remembered that they had a very
narrow range of choice. The historian. Dr. Hugh Williamson,
then residing in New York, commissioned by the Board to
enquire for persons competent, wrote, ''The salary offered
(about $600) is so small as to preclude any chance of in-
ducing any respectable man of learning to remove to a Southern
State, where, as they all believe, the chances of health are
greatly diminished." He says that: "men of moderate ability
expect to make more money in other business than teaching,
hence capable teachers are only among the clergy. The Pro-
fessorship of Mathematics in the College of New Jersey
(Princeton) has been vacant some time for want of a capable
man. It is unfortunate that people measure salaries by the
inflated price of provisions and the flood of real or fictitious
money. $2.50 for a bushel of wheat, half a dollar in a
tavern for breakfast, $1.25 a day for a common laborer, are too
high to continue. When Europe is revisited by Peace, prices
will fall and then we can employ teachers on moderate terms."
He advises that tutors In- enin'a.nvd if those worthy of being
called professors cannot be had.
By request of the Trustees, Harris apprised Mr. Caldwell
that the Chair of Mathematics was open to him. Before de-
ciding, the latter asked for a full statement of the condition
and resources of the University, which was at once given min-
utely and accurately. The following is the substance of this
answer :
There were about one hundred students "on the establish-
ment/' of whom about sixty were in the Preparatory Depart-
ment, leaving about forty in the University proper. Of the
CONDITION OF THE UNIVERSITY. 109
latter six were in the Moral Philosophy class and fifteen stud-
ied Mathematics. The Geography and Arithmetic classes had
about ten students each, the Latin class about the same, and
there were five or six in Greek. Each tutor in the Grammar
School had about thirty. "We imitate," he writes, "Nassau
Hall in the conduct of our affairs, as much as circumstances
will admit. The site at Chapel t Hill was selected because of its
healthiness. The expense of clothing is dearer than at Prince-
ton. Our diet at Commons is preferable to yours and at the
low rate of $40 a year." The buildings already completed
are one wing 98 feet long, containing sixteen rooms, "an ele-
gant and large house for the President," with outhouses, the
Steward's 1 louse. Kitchen, etc. The buildings to be erected are
a wing similar to the other, a Chapel 50 feet by 40, and a large
three-storied house 115 feet long and 56 feet broad. The
Chapel is contracted for to cost $3,000. The Trustees can
realize $15.000 more, with which they resolve to commence the
large building as soon as they can find an undertaker. The
Treasurer informed him (the writer) that the furlds, including
what was not at once available, could be stated at $30.000.
The I 'niversity labors more at the present for the want of good
teachers than anything else. If the buildings were completed
and all the professorships filled there would be 200 students.
The Professorship of Mathematics is worth $500 a year and
in a short time will be $600. The society in the neighbor-
lined is very uncultivated. When there is a little leisure a ride
"f 12 or 14 miles will find agreeable company, and the seminary
vasionally visited by the most respectable gentlemen in the
State. Tlie newness of the University causes things to be in a.n
unsettled state, but he expected that in a short time that a situ-
n here would he as agreeable and as profitable as any of a
like kind in the t'nion. Mr. Ker left much against his will.
and he himself would not wish to leave but fr the intention to
te himself to the profession of the law. < hir education
'incetoii. lie says, was shamefully and inexcusably deficient
mental Philosophy. He From I."ii(lon a <mall
atus in October. Tie advises that CaKlwell should visit
Philadelphia and learn tli 'he different kinds of electri-
110 HISTORY UNIYKRSITY 01- NORTH CAROLINA.
cal machines, air-pumps, telescope, microscope, camera obscura,
magic-lantern, quadrants, sextants and whatever else may be
found useful. He would often have appeared ridiculous in his
own eyes if he had not gotten a smattering of experimental
Philosophy by visiting Williamsburg (William and Mary Col-
lege) in Virginia.
This fair statement of our University situation procured the
acceptance by the Princeton tutor of the position tendered him.
His determination may have been aided by the fact that the
College of New Jersey was passing through a crisis, the cause
of which is not disclosed. In a letter to Davie he stated that
Dr. McLean, the Professor of Chemistry, from Glasgow, Scot-
land, whose salary was paid out of the private pockets of the
Trustees, was in the notion of applying for the same chair in
North Carolina. Moreover, Brother Smith 1 would like to have
proposals for a change and would be willing to make it if lie
could have direction of the plan of buildings, and their environs.
Caldwell significantly adds. "I do not now hesitate to say that
so far as the reputation of this college depends upon its immed-
iate professors, you have an opportunity of transferring it in a
great measure to the University of your State."
But alas! our Trustees did not have the funds adequate to
enable them to embrace this promising opportunity.
Joseph Caldwell, the new Professor of Mathematics, was a
son of a physician of the same name, of Scotch-Irish descent,
a resident of Lamington, New Jersey, born April 21. 1773, two
days after his father's death. His mother was Rachel Harker,
daughter of a Presbyterian clergyman of note, whose wife was
a daughter of a Huguenot refugee. Airs. Rachel Caldwell \va^
a woman of rare energy and discretion, instilling into her son
good principles, and under many privations in troublous times
securing for him such educational advantages as enabled him to
graduate at Princeton in 1791 at the age of 19. In recognition
of his superior scholarship he was awarded the honor of deliv-
ering the Latin Salutatory.
After leaving Princeton, Caldwell entered at once on his life-
work as a teacher, for a short while having charge of a sch< >< >1
'Samuel Stanhope Smith, D.D., President Princeton College.
SKKTCH <>K 10SKPH C.\U>\\ ELL. Ill
for young children, then for a year or so being usher, or assist-
ant, in a classical academy at Elizabethtown. His intelligence
and faithfulness wore so conspicuous in this position that in
April. 1705. he was chosen to be tutor in his alma mater, having
for his associate and life-long friend, John Henry Hobart.
While performing their duties as teachers both these tutors
wore pursuing theological studies. They soon parted, one go-
ing North to 1>oo>me famous as Protestant Episcopal Bishop of
Xow York, the other coming South to become eminent as a
preacher in the Presbyterian Church, exerting still wider in-
fluence as Professor and President of a State University.
Caldwell was licensed to preach the gospel while at Prince-
ton by the Presbytery of New Brunswick. Afterwards, when on
his way to Chapel Hill, he stopped in Philadelphia and preached
in the church of the celebrated divine. Dr. Ashbel Green. His
sermon made such a strong impression on the audience that he
was virtually o fife red the charge of an important congregation.
Dr. (iiven prevented any possibility of his yielding to this
tempting invitation, extremely attractive to a young man of
twenty-three years of age. by saying abruptly, "Mr. Caldwell is
mi his way to Carolina and to Carolina he is certainly to go.
To speak of other places will be in vain." The splendid career
of usefulness pursued by his young friend, is proof of the pious
wisdom of this great man in inculcating respect for the sanctity
of a contract.
1 )n September 6, 1796, Professor Harris wrote to Caldwell
ng the great pleasure the tidings of his acceptance
9 him. regretting that Dr. Smith is not agreeably situated
at Princeton, and promising to suggest to our Trustees to en-
deavor to make his removal to this ( niversity profitable and
Cable II' 1 advise,! ivliiujiiishment of the idea of coming
by water. To travel by public stage would cost $50, before
iiing Petersburg, i/o miles from Chapel Hill. The best
plan !> to purchase a small, hut VM id. h.-rse and a single chair,
'.heeled sulky, holding one pCTSOa), \ half-worn
i . if well made, would answer the purpose. With this trav-
:i1d he .1 on liMi-seback. In the chair -
INX could be carried main necessaries. This eoiild be made
112 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
cheap and healthful, and would occupy about thirty days. By
adhering to the post-route through the cities of Washington,
Alexandria, passing near -Mount Vernon, Richmond, Peters-
burg, etc., much entertainment and knowledge of geography
would be gained. The loss on re-sale of the horse would not be
considerable. Let Mr. Caldwell fill his trunk with one or two
pieces of linen, stockings, shoes, broadcloth, and whatever
clothing will be needed for a year, as these things are dearer
here than in Philadelphia and often not procurable. Trunks
should be sent by water to Petersburg, Virginia, in the care of
Grain and Anderson, who will pay charges and forward them
on to Hillsboro at once.
A more striking contrast between the old time and the new
can hardly be shown. The solitary professor journeying in
all kinds of weather in the open air, occupying over a month,
and trusting his baggage by a devious and uncertain route to a
point 12 miles from Chapel Hill, while the modern professor
makes the trip in comfort, even luxury, his baggage accom-
panying him, in less than twenty-four hours, and does not have
a broken-down horse and a worn-out vehicle on his hands at
the end of his journey.
Even before the advent of railroad transportation the raniditv
of travel greatly increased. In June, 1821, Rev. Wm. Hooper
wrote to his wife from New York City: "It is astonishing to
think that I should have left you Friday morning and on the
following Tuesday be in New York, 600 miles distant." His
route was first to Petersburg or Richmond, thence down the
river to Norfolk, thence by sea to his destination. I remark in
passing that the good doctor offered to preach on Sunday but
the Captain, ascertaining that his passengers objected, declined
to allow him.
Fortunately Dr. Caldwell kept copies of many of his letters,
and by the kindness of his step-son and executor these are in
the archives of the University. He had, according to the fash-
ion of the day, quite a diffuse style, and I take the libert\
giving often the substance of what appears to be 1 of historic
value.
One of the most interesting of these letters was written t<
CALDWEU/S VISIT TO RALEIGH. 113
"Rev. Sir" soon after his reaching Chapel Hill. He says, "I
arrived on the 3ist October (1796) and on the second day after
entered on the business of the class. The University is almost
entirely in infancy, cut out of the woods, one building of the
smaller kind is finished. The Trustees are endeavoring to get
an undertaker for the largest, 115 by 56 feet. The foundation
of the Chapel is laid but the completion is uncertain, as the
mason and his negroes have spent the favorable fall in raising
the foundation to the surface of the ground. According to
vment it must be finished by the ist day of July next. The
Trustees offer for the completion of the large building 10,000 or
12,000 pounds ($20 or $24,000). The President's house is well
finished. It is one hundred yards from the nearest building
of the University.
Soon after his arrival he made a trip to Raleigh. "The Legis-
lature in numbers appeared respectable. General Davie stands
foremost and an almost unrivaled leader in every capital enter-
prise." He spent the greater part of two evenings with Davie
and pronounced him "a man of good abilities and active in
every measure for promoting the honor and interest of the
State." "In the Legislature he seems like a parent stru girling
for the happiness and welfare of his children. No doubt he
frequently finds them refractory."
The youthful professor, having had a few days view of this
State of over 50,000 square miles, felt qualified to tell all about
its people. He said, "The State appears to be swarming with
lawyers. It is almost the only profession for which parents
educate their children. Religion is so little in vogue, that it
affords no temptation to undertake its cause. In New Jersey
it had a public respect and support. Tn North Carolina, and
particularly in the part east of Chapel Hill, every onr hcli-
that the way of rising 1 to respectability is to disavow as often
and as publicly as possible the leading doctrines of the Scrip-
tures. They are bugbears, very well fitted to scare the ignorant
and weak into obedience to the laws; but tlic laws of morality
and honor are sufficient to regulate the conduct of men of Id
arvl cultivated reasons. One rea-<m. why religion is so scouted
from the most influential part of K that it is tau-ht . -nly
6
114 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
by ranters, with whom it seems to consist only in the powers of
their throats and the wildness and madness of their gesticula-
tions and distortions. If it could be regularly taught by men of
prudence, real piety and improved talents it would claim the
support of the people."
It is amazing that a man of sense, as Caldwell certainly was,
should have expressed such positive convictions when he had
so little means of forming a judgment. A letter from his
friend, John Henry Hobart, then Tutor at Princeton, gives us
further insight into his views of things at Chapel Hill and
elsewhere. Hobart was pleased to see that "Caldwell's disagree-
able feelings were wearing off. The country must have pre-
sented a barren and gloomy prospect, and the manners of the
lower class congenial to it, except where the noise of intemper-
ate mirth gave liveliness to the dull scene. I have understood
that in Virginia especially the rich planters are men of hospi-
tality and polished manners. It is to be hoped that the rays
from your University, the Sun of Science, will illuminate the
darkness of society. Your Faculty seems to constitute a motley
group. Presbyterians and Arians, infidels and Roman Catho-
lics. The age of reason has surely come. Superstition and
bigotry are buried in one common grave. Philosophy and
charity begin to bless the people."
"I expected something better from Harris. I did not expect
that he would become the disciple of infidelity. I feel for
your situation thus deprived otf religious conversation and
society, exposed to the insults of the profane and scoffs of the
infidel. Your resolution to stand firm is worthy of your pro-
fession. Providence seems to have placed you in a position
where you will need much firmness, but where you may do
much good. It seems as if you were called to proclaim the
glorious truths of the Gospel, where they have not been known,
or known only to the contemned." Hobart then tells of the
losses of the Federalists in Pennsylvania and hopes that by
u the aid of Webster's and Fenno's papers you will be able to
make good Federalists of some of your North Carolina friends."
This Webster was the author of the Unabridged Dictionary
who once edited a political journal.
DAVID'S ESTIMATE OF CALDWELI*. 115
It appears from a letter by Thomas Y. How to Caldwell that
the latter had a conversation with Davie on the Evidences of
Christianity. He gave to How a summary of his arguments,
which were pronounced, judicious and forcible. Nothing is
said of the impression made on the mind of Davie. How is
alarmed at the progress of infidelity. He believes that the
French government sends emissaries to the United States to
convert the people to Deism in order to make them lose their
Republican virtue, and then France by intrigue and bribery can
control their policy.
\\ e have Davie's impressions of Caldwell, formed after a
six months' acquaintance. "The more I know Caldwell the
more I am pleased with him. I think him a respectable char-
acter and well qualified to fill the Mathematical and Natural
Philosophy chairs. Perhaps he has not studied attentively
Moral Philosophy and the Belles Lettres, but I believe him pos-
sessed of talent sufficient to attain to any proficiency in any
ice that may be necessary. I am very sorry that he has
notified his determination to leave us. He seems to think that
his constitution is too weak to undergo the anxiety and fatigue
of the President's place." It will be seen that this intention
was abandoned.
Mr. Caldwell, after resting only one day, began his duties
on the 2d of November, 1796, Harris having the
duties of Presiding Professor. When in accordance with his
notification the latter's resignation took effect, Caldwell. with
t reluctance, succeeded him in the management . Rev. Sam-
uel A. Holmes, who had been Tutor, being elevated to the Pro-
'-h:j> <>f Languages, W. A. Richards being teacher of
ich and r,erman. The Preparatory Department was under
the management >f Nicholas Delvaux. assisted by Richards.
1 give briefly the career of the exccllert PrdfeSSOf Harr'v
r hi< leavi'i" the rniver<My. He settled in Halifax. or
'iirt tOWflS, arriving there April m. i pi". He was spared
the u-ual drearv wait MI- <>\ a young praclili<>n.
"Jnveninr in the fall .'.me vrar. and in the
I sent, together with C]r< rth and
Murray, our minister to the 1 ! te with v
Il6 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
for peace with France. He intrusted the bulk of his practice
to Harris, so that the public soon learned his worth. In 1800
he was elected a Trustee of the University, and being placed on
the Visiting Committee aided in conducting the examinations
in June of that year. His legal abilities were so generally recog-
nized that he was urged by his Federalist friends to allow his
name to go before the General Assembly for the office of Judge,
but he declined on account of bad health. Hoping for relief
he made a voyage to the West Indies in 1803, but rinding no
benefit, returned and died January 15, 1804, at the residence
of his brother, Robert Wilson Harris, in Sneedsboro, on the
Pee Dee in the county of Anson. Before his death he returned
to the faith of his father, an elder in the Presbyterian church
at Poplar Tent. He was agreeable with his friends, reserved
among strangers, scrupulously truthful and honorable, an as-
siduous and accomplished scholar. Seldom has pulmonary con-
sumption carried off a more promising man.
Under the judicious management of Caldwell the spring term
of 1797 moved on harmoniously and prosperously to all out-
ward seeming, though we learn from his letters that he was
not pleased with some of his associates.
The cares incident to the office of Acting President so
weighed upon Mr. Caldwell that, as Davie wrote, he avowed his
intention to leave the institution. The Trustees, however, in-
duced him to remain by the election at the close of 1797 of
James Smiley Gillaspie as Professor of Natural Philosophy, to
be also Presiding Professor.
The examination of July 18, 1797, was quite numerously at-
tended by the Trustees, there being present Governor Benjamin
Williams, Judge John Williams, James Hogg, Adlai Osborne,
Willie Jones and Walter Alves. Their report was most favor-
able. "The Professors and Tutors deserve praise and thanks,
and the students approbation and applause, and both were ac-
cordingly given by the Trustees." "Rosy health appeared in
the countenances of the students, a few boys excepted, who
came from the eastern parts of the State." "The complaints
which have existed against the Steward have entirely sub-
sided."
EXAMINATION GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 117
\Ye have a letter from James Hogg to General Davie, explain-
ing that the duty of attending the Board of Trustees and the
necessity of leaving for home on the fifth day caused a too
meagre attention to the. examination of the classes of the Pre-
paratory Department. He reports that "Mr. Delvaux's classes
on Sallust, Caesar, Cornelius Nepos, Eutropius and two classes
on Corderius seemed to me to be taught with accuracy. It is
true that they had been prepared, but each student drew by
lot the chapter or section which he was to read. His students
in the French Grammar were satisfactory. He has a class in
the Latin Grammar which was not examined."
"Mr. Richard's classes on Telemaque and Gil Bias, French
exercises and in French Grammar made a satisfactory exami-
nation. A large class on the common rules of Arithmetic and
practice and a large class in English Grammar in general per-
formed well." There were two classes in reading and spelling
but there was not time to test the proficiency of the students.
Davie wrote that he feared that sufficient attention is not paid
to reading and spelling. He has heard complaint of the school
in this regard, especially in the northeast section of the State.
"A man of prominent character is necessary in the Grammar
School." He is sorry to hear of the differences between Del-
van x and Richards. They can be met by appointment of an
additional Tutor. Robert Moore is recommended, also Archi-
bald D. Murphey. from Caswell. Moore would probably teaeli
for his board and tuition. Davie adds, "It is so difficult to find
men for our purpose tolerably well qualified, that I am very
that Mr. Delvaux is to leave us. It is not likely that Wt
shall meet with his equal."
\Ve are informed in this report that Caldwell, in addition
to his dutio iu the University proper, taught about twenty
pupils in the Preparatory Department in reading.
Hogg's explanation of the chapters, to be examined on. hav-
ing been notified in advance to the students reminds me that
when s<--, I was at the school of Mrs. I l;r
'itt in Louisburg; she. apparently as a matter of
the words which we were to spell at the publk
examinations hv the " The more fav.Tahle
Il8 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
to the accuracy of the spelling than to the moral lesson incul-
cated. I very much fear that similar deceptions were not un-
common in "the good old days." It is remarkable that there
are in the archives of the University two valedictory orations
in Caldwell's handwriting, and a third endorsed as copied by
E. J. Osborne for him, which seems to imply that he supplied
members of the graduating classes with productions similar
to those which he had listened to with tearful eyes at Princeton.
His unbending rectitude of principle leads to the conclusion
that the matter was well understood by the students and the
public. I conjecture that similar deceptions are not uncommon
in our day. I have been occasionally requested by pupils of
distant schools to supply them with "original speeches," one of
them naming the subject "Love, the Causes of Love, the
Effects of Love," etc., but I have invariably declined.
THE PRINCIPALSHIP OF GILLASPIE.
The new Professor of Natural Philosophy, James Smiley
Gillaspie, as he spelt his name, was honored with the title of
Principal of the University, instead of Presiding Professor.
He was son of John Gillaspie, doubtless a near relative of Col.
Daniel Gillaspie, of the Revolution, and Senator from Guil-
ford. His home was at Martinsville, a village which took the
place of old Guilford Court-House. By inducing him to as-
sume executive duties and by adopting a resolution endorsing
Caldwell's course, the Trustees induced the latter to accept the
Chair of Mathematics. He voluntarily agreed to teach French
in the Preparatory Department, for which an allowance of $30
was made.
The first year of Gillaspie's administration was fairly suc-
cessful. His colleagues were Caldwell and Holmes in the Uni-
versity, and Richards and William Edwards Webb, a promising
member of the Senior class, in the Grammar School.
EARLY DONATIONS GOVERNOR SMITH.
I have chronicled the fact that Governor Smith offered to the
University warrants for 20,000 acres of soldiers' land warrants
at the first meeting of the Board in 1789, and handed over the
warrants at the second meeting in 1790.
GOVERNOR SMITH. 1 19
The munificence of Colonel, afterwards Governor and Gen-
eral Smith brought, however, no present funds into the treas-
ury. The warrants were for lands located in Obion County,
in the extreme northwest of Tennessee. By the treaty of Hope-
well in 1785 the United States ceded this territory to the Chick-
asaw Indians. In 1810 one of the most terrific earthquakes
which over afflicted the Mississippi Valley turned portions of
the land into lakelets. It was not until twenty-five years after-
wards that a sale was effected, which realized $14,000. Never-
theless it was certainly a graceful act to name our library build-
ing Smith Hall in -his honor, although it was delayed over half a
century. John Harvard gained immortality by a legacy of less
than $4,000 to the college at Newton, afterwards Cambridge,
in Massachusetts. I feel it a duty to give the man, who made
a much more munificent donation to oyr infant institution, this
special notice.
Benjamin Smith was a man of force. In the Revolutionary
struggle he was a special aid to Washington in the masterly
retreat from Long Island. He partook of the glory in defeat-
ing Parker's fleet at Charleston. In contemplation of war with
England or France, when his great chief was President, he was
made Brigadier-General of militia. When a struggle with
France was imminent, during the Presidency of elder Adams.
the entire militia force of Brunswick volunteered after a tiny
speech from him. In 1810, when the troubles with F.ngland
were culminating he was made General of the county forces. He
fifteen times State Senator from his county of I'mnswiek.
capital of the county was called in his honor Smithville.
With forgetfulness of the old hero and hankering after modern
kels, the name has been chancred to Southport. Hi- mem-
ory is still perpetuated not alone by the gratitude of the I'm'
ity. but by the name of the bleak island, which far out in
the ocean forms the dangerous projection ,f shiftinir sand.
r;.11rd by the ancient mariner in bis terror Vromontorium
mendum. or Cape Fear.
be advanced in rears Governor Smith lost hU health bv
liiprli livincr and bis fortune by too <j 'n'n. I To
became irascible and prone to resent fancied ^li-diK
I2O HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
tongue became venomous to opponents. He once spoke with
undeserved abusiveness of Judge Alfred Moore, and the insult
was avenged by one of the members of the Assembly from
Brunswick, Judge Moore's son Maurice, who next to Hinton
James was one of the first students of the University. The duel
was fought on the 28th June, 1805, in South Carolina, not far
from the seaside, where then stood the Boundary House, the
line running thro' the centre of the hall entrance. When North
Carolina officers sent in pursuit reached the house they were
unable to cross the imaginary line into the south side of the
house, where the duellists_and their friends, triumphant under
the jurisdiction of South Carolina, were laughing over their
fruitless chase. The second of Captain Maurice Moore was
his cousin, Major Duncan Moore, while General Smith was
attended by General Joseph Gardner Swift, whose "Memoirs,"
published only for private circulation and re-published by the
University in the James Sprunt Historical Monographs, is of
much interest. At the second fire the bullet of Moore entered
the side of Smith, and although not fatal was long the cause of
pain and discomfort. When some years after his death his
bones were exhumed for removal to another cemetery, the
"vengeful lead" was found among them.
It is sad to relate that in his old age he was arrested by the
attorney of the University, who, Smith alleged, was his per-
sonal enemy, and held for a security debt ; but on learning the
fact he was released by order of the Trustees with promptness.
Even after his death, it is said, his body was pursued by hungry
creditors, a ghastly power then allowed by law, and his friends
were forced to bury it in the darkness of night in an obscure
spot, where the money ghouls could not find it.
GENERAL PERSON.
About the time of the construction of the old East, the old
Chapel, or Person Hall, was begun. When funds ran low the
hearts of the Trustees were gladdened by the gift of $1,050 in
"hard money," said to have been paid in shining silver dol-
lars, for the purpose of finishing it, by General Thomas Person,
of Granville. He was an old bachelor, who, not having children
GENERAL PERSON. 121
of his own, felt impelled to help educate those of others. Gen-
eral Person was a wealthy planter of Granville County. He
was a sympathizer with the Regulators in their wrongs, but
did not approve their overt resistance. He was an active pa-
triot of the Revolution a delegate to the first assembly of the
people at New Bern in 1774, which met in defiance of the
prohibition of the royal Governor. He appeared again as a
member of the Provincial Congress at Hillsboro in 1775, and of
the Congress at the same place in the spring of 1776, by which
the State was organized for war, and which led the van in
authorizing the members of the Continental Congress to vote
for independence. He was one of the stout patriots who amid
the storms of war framed a constitution for free North Caro-
lina at Halifax in December, 1776. He was the second named
of the large and able committee which reported the Constitu-
tion for the consideration of the body, and did their work so
well that no changes were made in it. Nor was he trusted as
a legislator only. He was one. of the Provincial Council, which
constituted the Provisional government of the State prior to
the Constitution, and of the Council of Safety, which was its
successor. He was one of the six Brigadier-Generals of the
first military establishment. He was a member of the House
of Commons during the entire war, and either as Senator or
Commoner represented Granville County in the General As-
sembly for sixteen years. He always enjoyed the esteem and
confidence of our people. He was always a fast friend of edu-
cation and of the University. He was among the influential
men who formed the first Board of Trustees. He attended the
first meeting of the Trustees in 1790 at Fayetteville. For many
ra the "Old Chapel" was the place of divine worship and
of all public meetings. For some time the two societies held
therein their sessions. It witnessed the Commencement i
cises and conferring the diplomas. Until after our great Civil
War these documents bore on their face in sonormis I.., tin the
antiquated words, "in Aula Pers* mica." The ^rate-Mil Trustees
directed that a slab be inserted in front of the bnildin- with
the following inscription:
122 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
BY THE TRUSTEES
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA,
THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED
TO THE MEMORY OF
BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOMAS PERSON,
WHO EVINCED HIS PATRIOTISM
AND LOVE OF LEARNING
BY A PECUNIARY DONATION
WITH WHICH THIS CHAPEL WAS COMPLETED
IN THE YEAR 179
IN HONOUR OF WHICH MUNIFICENCE
IT IS DISTINGUISHED BY THE NAME OF
PERSON HALL.
OBIIT AN. 1
AET.
This pious work was never executed.
SUBSCRIPTIONS.
On January 9, 1793, Willie Jones and Wm. R. Davie, the
leaders of the Republican and Federalist parties in the eastern
section, in politics opposed, but personal friends, issued a joint
appeal for subscriptions, stating that they were clearly of the
opinion that the liberal education of youth must tend to pro-
mote the prosperity and happiness of the people. They hope
that "the gentlemen of the county of Halifax, on an occasion
so interesting to the rising generation, when the gentlemen of
the county of Orange had given near $2,000, will not suffer
any county in the State to exceed Halifax in supporting an
institution of such vast and general utility." The following
is a list of donations from the Judicial Districts:
Total Hillsborough District $1614 . 80
" Halifn x " 1608 .
" Wilmington " 2222 .
" Newbern " 950 .
" Fayetteville " 170.
Salisbury 158.50
Grand Total $6,723 . 30
In the appendix will be found the list of names a veritable
roll of honor. The subscriptions run all the way .from $5 to
$200. Wm. Cain, of Orange, Alfred Moore, of Brunswick,
soon to be a Judge, and Walter Alves, of Orange, were the
SUBSCRIPTIONS. 1 23
largest subscribers. The latter, however, added his own dona-
tion to a legacy willed by his father-in-law in order to make
up the $200. He was a son of James Hogg, changing his name
at his father's request. The $100 subscribers were Jesse Nevill,
of Orange; Wm. R. Davie, Willie Jones and Nicholas Long,
of Halifax ; John Burgwin, of Wilmington ; Governor Spaight,
Joseph Leech, Daniel Carthy, George Pollock, and Wilson
Blount, of New Bern. In the lists will be found ancestors of
many of the leading citizens of the State and friends of the
University, such as the Spaights, Donnells, Bryans, Davises,
Blounts, Greens, Osbornes, Halls, Moores, Ashes, Kenans,
r.urijwins. Wrights. Toomers, Joneses, Cutlars, Jameses, Hills,
Dudleys, Sneads, Waddells, Haywoods, Alstons, Malletts,
Longs, W r hitakers, Smiths, Watters, Hooper, Strayhorns,
Renchers, Johnstons, and many others, not counting those on
the female side.
It is particularly gratifying to see the name of Wm. Bing-
ham, the founder of the distinguished family of teachers in
our State, who gave $20, a large sum for a teacher, then a
recent settler among us. Rev. Dr. Samuel E. McCorkle showed
his interest by procuring $42 from his congregation. The Cen-
tral Benevolent Association, of Iredell County, subscribed $100
for the purchase of books and apparatus, and Rev. James Hall.
D.D., the Preacher-Captain in the Revolution, out of his meagre
salary sent $5.
It is evident that two or more of the agents procuring sub-
scriptions neglected their duty. It is impossible to believe that
so many well-to-do counties around Albemarle Sound ami in
tin- valleys of the Tar, tin- Xeuse above Craven, the Pee Dec,
tile Catawba. the Yadkin. and other rivers, would have been
totally unrepresented in this list if they had been properly can
ed. We should s^ive all the more praise to James I|.
W. K. Davie, Richard Dobb Spaight, Alfred Moore and Win.
H. Hill for successful activity. \Yni. Kan \ GfOVC \\"uld have
Undoubtedly Ljatlirrol a larger sum if lie had not been engaged
in his congressional <\ u \\,
'I IK- fojvLjoini; BUbsCI were not. however, pavahle at
"111: to tin- l;it-s fixed by th- mostly
in one or two y< .
124 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Besides these, were subscriptions of $460 in Wake and $80 in
Rowan, under the provision in the charter authorizing donors
of $20 to have a four years' free scholarship. In 1796 the
Trustees cancelled all these. It should be added that the first
donor of apparatus for instruction was Alfred Moore, then
called Colonel, a pair of globes ; and next to him was Richard
Bennehan.
MAJOR GERRARD.
In 1798 the Trustees were gladdened by the bequest of valu-
able lands and land warrants in Tennessee by a worthy Revolu-
tionary officer, a Lieutenant in the Fifth Battalion of the Conti-
nental line, whose first Colonel was Edward Buncombe. His
name was Charles Gerrard, a native of Carteret County, but
at his death a citizen of Edgecombe, married, though childless.
He was described in the North Carolina Journal "as a soldier
brave, active and persevering, and justly admired as a citizen,
husband, friend and neighbor." His rank as Lieutenant en-
titled him to a grant of 2,560 acres which he located in 1783
at the junction of Yellow Creek with Cumberland River, not
far below the city of Nashville.
This tract, the fruit of his toil and suffering and blood, he
regarded with peculiar affection, and when he bequeathed it he
requested in his will that it should perpetually remain the prop-
erty of the University. For thirty-five years the Trustees re-
garded this wish as sacred.
The spelling given is according to the original will of Major
Gerrard. Judges Gaston and Badger, in reporting the here-
after mentioned resolutions, adopt it. Afterwards the name
was wrongly confounded with that of the founder of Girard
College.
In addition to this tract, which was called his "service right,"
Gerrard bequeathed warrants which he had purchased amount-
ing to 11,364 acres. The story of the sale of these will be told
hereafter.
THE MAIN, OR SOUTH BUILDING.
I think it best to continue the history of the efforts for the
construction of the early buildings, although departing from
chronological order.
PLAN OF BUILDINGS. 125
THE SOUTH, OR MAIN BUILDING.
The first Trustees planned to have one long building facing
the East, as Orientalization was the fashion in architecture.
From its centre as I have mentioned stretched a broad avenue
to Piney (or Point, as it was then called) Prospect. From
want of funds the northern wing only was first erected. What
is now called the Old West Building was intended to be the
southern wing of the larger central structure. The whole was
to be exactly similar to the Insane Asylum which overlooks
Raleigh from Dix Hill. The design was to finish first the
northern wing, afterwards called the East, and now Old East,
then the Main Building and finally the north wing. This ex-
planation somewhat excuses the sale of lots on the north side
of the campus. The* University was to have a double front
eastward and westward.
When Professors Harris and Caldwell entered the Faculty,
with such influential Princetonians as McCorkle, Davie, and
Stone in the Board of Trustees, this plan gave way to the ortho-
dox idea of a quadrangle, which in England and Scotland is,
with more or less efficiency, a veritable prison for detention of
students at night ; and the name "Main" in course of time gave
way to South, the name "Wing" to East, and the University
now fronted north. About 1830, under the influence of Dr.
Elisha Mitchell, an abortive attempt was made to turn the front
to the south, and hence the useless south porch to Gerrard Hall.
In 1798, emboldened by the donation of Major Gerrard, the
Trustees concluded to begin the erection of the Main Building,
and the cornerstone was laid. Its walls reached the height of
a story and a half, and then remained roofless for years.
The cornerstone was laid, as had been that of the Old East
witli Masonic ceremonies. The following is tin* entry on tin-
Journals of the Grand Lodge located in Raleigh:
"On the Kjth of April, 1798, by order of its most worshipful
Grand Master, a special Grand Lodge was called at tin
versity of North Carolina for the express purpose of laying
the foundation and cornerstone of the principal college of that
inary and to join the Trustees of the ( 'nivcrsity in one .
ulation to heaven and the Great Architect of the universe for the
126 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
auspices of His eternal goodness and for the prosperity of
learning, wisdom and virtue of that college."
LOTTERIES.
In order to complete the Main Building the Trustees obtained
from the Legislature of 1801 the liberty of raising, by one or
more lotteries, not exceeding 2,000 pounds ($4,000). The pub-
lic conscience of that day saw no harm in calling in the aid
of the Goddess Fortuna for promoting religion, education, or
any other desirable end. The following was the plan of the
University lottery No. i: There were 1,500 tickets, costing
$5 each. Of these 531 bore prizes and 969 blanks. There was
one prize each for $1,500, $500, $250, $200, two of $100 each,
five of $50 each, ten of $10 each, and five hundred of $5 each.
The $250 prize was to belong to the last drawn ticket. The
prizes aggregated $5,500, leaving a net profit of $2,000. The
drawing was had under the superintendence of State officers,
Wm. White, Secretary of State, and John Craven, Comptroller.
The highest prize was drawn by ticket No. 1138, held by Gen-
eral Lawrence Baker, grandfather of a Confederate General of
the same name.
The scheme of the second lottery drawn in 1802 was as fol-
lows:
There was 1 prize of $1,000
1 " 500
2 " 250
1 " 100
to be the first-drawn ticket of the last day of drawing.
1 prize of $200 to be the last drawn ticket.
20 prizes " 100
15 " " 50
895 " " 10
931 prizes.
1864 blanks.
2800 tickets @ $5 each, $14,000.
The foregoing is the scheme as stated in the Raleigh Register.
As the prizes foot up $14,000 it is to be presumed that the Uni-
versity retained a large number of tickets and participated in
LOTTERIES. 127
the drawing. At any rate the net amount to the University
Treasury was $2,865.36. The net amount from the first lottery
was $2,215.45. The whole amount was, therefore, $5,080.81.
It is remarkable how completely public sentiment has changed
on the subject of lotteries. The hostility to them seems to
tend towards driving them from their last refuge, Church
Fairs. In 1802 the best men lent their names and active aid
to them. I have in my collections an autograph of George
Washington, date not given, signed to a lottery ticket. In
order to induce our citizens to buy the tickets of the University
lotteries, batches of them were placed in the hands of Trustees
and other friends of the institution, who were expected to use
their personal influence to procure purchasers. We have copies
of these letters of transmission. One is signed by Henry Potter,
Judge of the District Court of the United States, Henry Sea-
well, State Senator and afterwards Superior Court Judge, John
Haywood, State Treasurer, and Wm. Polk, President of the
State Bank. They assert that "the interests of the University
of North Carolina, and of Learning and Science generally
throughout our State, are concerned in the immediate sale of
the tickets." They continue with delicate flattery: "From a
belief that no measure calculated to promote the prosperity and
happiness of our country is indifferent to you, this request is
made."
In order to inspire confidence, the proceeds of sale were to
be sent to Benjamin Williams, who was not only Governor
but a man of character and wealth. With a sense <f propriety
characteristic of the old school of gentlemen his official title is
omitted.
The Commissioners of the second lottery were Messrs. Polk,
Hay \VMMI] and letter. They state that the want of punctuality,
in making returns by some of the agents for sale of the tickets
in the first lottery, had occasioned "much difficulty, delay and
embarrassment in the course of the drawing." Those who per-
formed their duty have the satisfaction that "their patriotic
and well-meant endeavors have proved effectual and have al-
ready brightened the prospect^ of thU institution, and of our
128 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
country throughout, so far as depends on a general diffusion
of Learning and Science." The Commissioners are sanguine
in their expectations of this mode of raising money, "however
illy it may comport with the wealth and dignity of the State."
The slowness with which the returns were made met with
the stern denunciation of the Treasurer, Gavin Alves, son of
James Hogg, who had by act of Assembly adopted his mother's
name. In a letter to the Commissioners he accuses the "back-
ward gentlemen" of shameful neglect of the trust reposed in
them. He asks leave to threaten public exposure. At any rate
"if neither sense of shame nor regard to propriety can actuate
them I must try what incessant importunity will do."
I find a third lottery advertised, identical with the second,
but the project was abandoned. More than was allowed by the
act of Assembly had already been realized.
It is painful to be compelled to record that $300 of lottery
No. i and $604 of lottery No. 2 had not been returned by the
agents of the University, mostly Trustees, as late as December,
1803. Measures were taken to notify delinquents that those
not accounting within six months should have their names pub-
lished in the newspapers. It was afterwards ascertained that
those charged with the value of tickets intrusted to them for
sale had failed to dispose of the same, so that it was a case of
carelessness, not fraud.
APPEALS FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS DONATIONS.
In February, 1803, the lottery money not being sufficient to
finish the Main Building, efforts were made to raise additional
funds by subscription. Col. Polk, President of the Board, is-
sued an appeal deploring the necessity of beholding its exposed
and roofless walls and the almost naked shelves of the Library.
He urged all "Patriots to come to the rescue, because no coun-
try can long remain free unless its religious, civil and political
rights are understood by the mass of its citizens." "Every one
contributing even one volume toward improving the minds of
youths, who are to succeed us on the stage of life, must feel
a self-approbation. On these youths the character and fate
of our country depends."
APPEAL FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS. 1 29
A Trustee for each Judicial District was appointed for the
receipt of contributions for the increase of the library, as well
as finishing the building, and as those considered most active
in behalf of the University were appointed I give their names :
Robert Montgomery, Senator from Hertford for the Edenton
District; Calvin Jones, a physician of Wake County of repu-
tation and public spirit; Joshua G. Wright, Commoner from
Wilmington, Speaker of the House, soon to be Judge in the
Wilmington District; Charles W. Harris, late Presiding Pro-
fessor of the University, of Halifax District ; Duncan Cameron,
Commoner from Orange, soon to be a Judge, of the Hillsboro
District ; Nathaniel Alexander, late Senator from Mecklenburg,
a member of Congress and soon to be Governor, of the Salis-
bury District ; Wm. Barry Grove, Member of Congress, of the
Fayetteville District ; and \Vallace Alexander, late Senator from
Lincoln, of the Morgan District.
The appeal was not greatly successful. $1,664 was raised in
cash. Some of the Trustees appointed seem not to have acted.
Charles W. Harris had the seeds of consumption and was soon
to start on his trip to the West Indies in the vain effort to
escape his foe. Wallace Alexander about this time closed his
honored life. The most active Trustees were primarily Wm.
Polk, and after him Robert Montgomery and Durant Hatch, of
Jones County. Col. Polk was not only successful in procuring
donations from others, fifty in number, but gave $100 himself.
Among the fifty are some notable names. Judge Cameron,
William Norwood, Henry Potter, Emmanuel Shober, William
Peace. John D. Hawkins, Robert Williams, Judge John Hall.
Theophilus Hunter, Wm. Creecy, Sherwood and William
Henry Haywood, and many other citizens of Wake and ad-
joining counties. John Spence West, of Craven, was likewise
active and raised $80 in addition to his own subscription of $20.
Ex-Governor Samuel Johnston, who had that year resigned
his judgeship, donated $100.
O July 3 1803. the Trustees concluded to ask again for
funds for the completion of "the Principal Building." An elo-
quent address was issued, prepared evidently by Governor Mar
tin. They claimed that literary institutions are the grand se-
I3O HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
curity of our liberties and that from them in great measure
all civil and religious information flows, that they qualify
young citizens to discharge their political duties with honor
and reputation. The Trustees boast with honest pride that
heretofore their guardianship has not been in vain. The aids
amply supplied by the acts establishing the University have
been taken away. This caused the disagreeable necessity of
resorting to lotteries, "a mode not the most honorable of rais-
ing money for the institution." The money thus raised has
been invested in stocks of the Bank of the United States, "not
to be drawn upon but under a pressing emergency." The peo-
ple were exhorted to equal in generosity that recently shown
by private donations and legislative endowments in several of
the United States. The success of this movement is elsewhere
shown.
We learn from Governor Stone that in 1800 another Repre-
sentative in Congress who was an active Trustee, William Barry
Grove, of Fayetteville, had procured, with funds placed in his
hands for the purpose, an electrical apparatus, and that Gov-
ernor Martin, then Senator of the United States, had ordered
as a gift a new telescope. About the same time the excellent
body of Christians, the Unitas Fratrum, or Moravians, through
Frederick William Marshall and Gotlieb Shober, donated $200
in cash. And then there was in 1802 a gift of a new pair of
globes. The letter accompanying the gift was written by Mrs.
Winifred Gales, wife of Joseph Gales, the editor of the Raleigh
Register, who was one of the contributors, but whose name was
not signed to the letter for some reason, possibly because her
husband edited the Republican organ, the Raleigh Register,
and the University was accused of being a Federalist institu-
tion. The letter was published in the Minerva or Anti-Jacobin,
the organ of the Federalists. As a good sample of the stately
style of the old days I give it complete :
To the Rev. Joseph Cold-well, Presiding Professor of the University of
North Carolina.
SIRS The Ladies of Raleigh, learning that the Globes belonging to the
University are too much defaced to be useful, respectfully present the
Institution with a new pair, 12 inches in diameter, with the latest dis-
coveries, with a compass, which they entreat you, Sir, to present in their
name.
GIFTS OF LADIES. 13!
Sensible of the literary advantages which the rising generation will
derive from this valuable seminary of learning, they beg leave to express
their affectionate wishes that it may continue to advance in the estima-
tion of the public, as well from the ability of the Professors, as the
aniuiivim-nts of the students, who, bringing into public life the knowl-
edge they have there imbibed, may at once be a credit to the State of
North Carolina, a crown of honor to their parents, and a blessing to
themselves.
May the past, the present and the future students distinguish them-
selves in society, no less by their literary attainments, than by a virtuous
course of conduct, which giving additional lustre to talents will render
themselves at once useful and honorable members of society.
We are with great respect,
Your obedient servants,
S. W. POTTER, SARAH POLK,
\\NA WHITE, ELIZA E. HAYWOOD,
ELIZA WILLIAMS, NANCY HAYWOOD,
NANCY P.OND, MARGARET MCKEITH AN.
PRISCILLA SHAW, MARGARET CASSO,
HANNAH PADDISON, REBECCA WILLIAMS,
ELEANOR H. P. SMITH, SrsA \\.\n I'AKISH,
MKARS, ANN O'BRYAN.
I am quite sure that neither in diction nor in penmanship can
the ladies of the present day excel the venerable mothers of the
city of Raleigh.
Anmno; them we notice the wives of Judge Potter, Secretary
of State White, Colonel Polk, Treasurer Haywood, Sherwood
Hay wood, Robert \Yilliams, the University Treasurer, and
of the lady, wife of Peter Casso, the tavern-keeper, who Ljave
the name to the baby son of her husband's hostler. Andrew
Johnson, afterwards President of the United States. Mrs. Anna
White was a daughter of Governor Caswell.
On the 2oth Xovember, 1803, the heart of Mr. Caldwell was
:<<! by the receipt of another ^ift from ladies, this time
from New Bern. It is addressed to him as "First Pn >iYxv , r
of the University," and is as folio
mi 1" iiianif.-l 0111 -oliril inli- f..r thr pi. .-]. i H \ ,,f tin-
hi-titutiim. over \\liidi \..u j.r.-idr. \\,- i,-,|in-t JTOB U) M06fK for tl..
I tin- l'hilo-.o|,|ii. .il QAM, :i Oumll.ilit. til.- IM--) \\,- could J.|o,nir. lillt
not the most valuable pift \\v \vmibl \\i-h 1o pn^mt.
Our m -.HI in -M -r In- iiuiilTcn-nt to t hi- |innnt in '
as it i- with the \irliip~ thai ini|.:.it .i\ility t.. DUUIlMn .in.I r.-lin. :
132 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
to life. Nor can we suppress the emotions of (we hope) an honest pride,
at the reflection that our native country boasts a seminary, where, by
the proper extension of Legislative patronage, its ingenuous youth might
be taught to emulate the worth of their fathers, where their minds might
be enlightened with knowledge, and their hearts impressed with a love
of justice, morality and religion; where they might learn to embellish
the manly and patriotic endowments, which constitute strength of char-
acter and qualify men to cherish "the mountain nymph, sweet Liberty,"
with all the arts that polish, all the charities that sweeten the inter-
course of social life. With great respect,
We are, Sir,
Your obedient servants,
MARY DAVES, MARY MCKINLAY,
JANE CARNEY, JULIA A. HAWKS,
HANNAH TAYLOR, AMARYLLIS ELLIS,
ELIZABETH GRAHAM, SARAH WOODS,
FANNY DEVEREUX, ELIZABETH ARNETT,
SUSANNAH JONES, ELIZABETH OSBORN,
ELIZABETH STANLY, JANE TAYLOR,
SUSAN GASTON, MARY NASH.
In his reply Caldwell refers pointedly to the unpopularity
of the institution, while claiming that it was unfounded. ''The
University," he says, "early excited expectations which were un-
fortunately too sanguine and premature to be realized. * 5
Though liberal education improves the young it cannot make
them perfect. Though the attainment of knowledge may be
rendered comparatively easy, it is chimerical to propose that
it shall be universal, or totally without expense. Add to these
the circumstance of raising and supporting the institution by
a species of fraud which the interested would execrate and the
popular would decry. * !t * Prejudice in some and want of
information in others were unhappily assisted by the indiscre-
tion and misconduct of youth." Notice that he attributes the
odium which had been excited against the University partly to
disappointment in regard to expense, to the clamor aroused by
enforcing claims to confiscated lands and debts, and to reports
widely circulated of the bad behavior of the students. He is
however so hopeful that he proceeds in a strain of eloquent
and courtly compliment to the fair donors. "The steadfast
friends of the University have sustained the trial in its severi-
ties, its toils and alternate despondencies, till they can bless
DONATIONS.
133
the new dawnings of prosperity, which gild the horizon of
their venerable years. For the animation they have felt in the
conflict they are greatly indebted to that sex, which best knows
ho\v to estimate the virtues that impart civility to manners and
refinement to life. The torch of patriotism which burned so
inextinguishably in their breasts has been peculiarly brightened
by the united flame of an honest pride in you, which kindled at
the reflection, that our native country boasts this seminary."
He closes with the last sentence of the letter of the ladies.
Among the donations of a minor nature at this period it is
recorded that ex-Governor Alexander Martin gave a pamphlet
of his own composition entitled, "A New Science, interesting
to the people of the United States, additional to the historical
play of Columbus." This presents the worthy patriot in a new
role of dramatic author. The General Assembly of the State
gave three volumes of a history of Geneva. The same Alex-
ander Martin presented a microscope and acromatic telescope
31-2 feet long, magnifying 70 times for land objects and 80
times for astronomical purposes ; Judge Alfred Moore, a pair
of globes; Hon. W. B. Grove, a barometer and thermometer ;
Professor Caldwell, a camera obscura. Other instruments were
purchased. To the Museum were donated objects of much in-
terest, such as by General Davie, three medals of Napoleon
at Marengo ; stained glass from Leon in old Spain ; Indian orna-
ments of copper found near Halifax; Indian pipes of curious
workmanship: by Charles W. Harris, inter alia, a Bezoar
stone from the stomach of a deer ; by Dr. Fisher, copper coins
of Rome; by Henry Young, a jointed or glass snake and a
"Bezoar stone from the stomach of a veal." There were vari-
ous other objects in the Museum, all lost in the casualties of
four-score years and ten. The fact that the Bezoar stones vol-
untarily relinqnMied tin- ownership <f diarms against evil
sl]<.\\s tin- derav of an ancient superstition.
In 1809 it was determined to make still another effort
funds for the completi-n of the South (or Main) Pr
in-. President Caldwell. Treasurer Haywood and Win. <
were the committee to draft an address to the friends of
ttion in the State; and Caldwell was authorized 1
134 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
through the State in vacation to secure subscriptions. The
plan was his. In that year and again in 1811 he visited the
more opulent parts of the State and secured about $8,220, and,
while our people were going crazy over their naval victories
in 1814, the rejoicing students moved into the completed South
Building. The undertaker, or contractor, had the fitting name
of John Close. There were 30 who gave $100 each. In the $100
list will be found such well-known names as those of Judge
Lowry, Judge Henderson, Judge Hall, Archibald Henderson,
William Boylan, Governor Williams, Chief Justice Taylor, Rev.
Andrew Flinn, D.D., then of Charlotte. Judge Donnell gave
$75, and Wm. Holt, of Wilmington, $40. There were 23 of $50
each, among them Joseph Gales, the editor ; General Beverly
Daniel, Governor Owen, John Gray Blount, General Thomas
H. Blount. Among the four $40 subscribers was Dr. A. J. De
Rosset, the elder. Among the six $30 subscribers we find Gov-
ernor Dudley. Of the seven $25 donors is Judge Potter. Of
the 13 $20 men are Wm. Peace, who gave $10,000 to Peace
Institute. There were 18 who gave smaller amounts, among
them General Joseph G. Swift, of the United States army, who
married Miss Walker in Wilmington, who was in the $10 list.
It is noticeable that the baleful effects of party spirit, the
luke-warmness, if not hostility to the University because the
President and at least the majority of the Faculty were Feder-
alists, are apparent on this list. The largest generosity was in
the seaport towns, where hostility to Jefferson's Embargo was
intense, while the farming section where Republicanism was
supreme gave little. The $900 of Orange was by five men,
one of whom was President of the University. The $300 of
Halifax was by two donors, that county, after the departure
of Governor Davie, being intensely Jeffersonian, and the $300
of Granville was also by two donors.
It is pleasant to see how the young Raleigh merchants, Wm.
Peace and Richard Smith, are found on the list; the former
afterwards, as said, being the founder of Peace Institute, and
the only daughter of the latter, by her bequest of $37,000 es-
tablishing the Professorship of General and Analytical Chem-
istry. In their company is seen the name of a learned divine, a
BENEFACTORS. 135
graduate of 1799, who after teaching and preaching in North
Carolina, soon became pastor of a Presbyterian congregation in
the city of Charleston in our neighboring State on the south,
Andrew Flinn, D.D.
Some of these benefactors have left memories of varied and
important services to the State. There are Governors, United
States Senators, Chief Justices and Judges, Attorney-Generals,
leading divines, teachers, physicians, farmers, lawyers, mer-
chants, in fine all the business pursuits of our people.
CHAPTER II.
CONFISCATED PROPERTY AND HOSTILE LEGISLATION.
In December, 1794, the General Assembly was induced to
make a grant to the University which brought to it little money
but much animosity. The preamble recites that the Trustees
have, with a laudable zeal for the promotion of literature,
erected a building for the use of the institution entrusted to
them and are prepared to commence the exercises, but have not
funds to proceed in the liberal manner, which the honor and
interest of the public demand. The act then gives the Trustees
all unsold confiscated land, including the forfeited rights of
Henry Eustace McCulloch, a British subject, for lands con-
tracted to be sold by him, title being withheld for security of
the purchase money. The Trustees were authorized to make
title on payment of the balances due. The donation under the
act was greatly weakened by the provision that all above twenty
thousand dollars should be paid over to the State, that only
the interest on receipts should be used, and that after ten years
the principal should be subject to the disposition of the General
Assembly.
The Trustees employed able lawyers to realize funds under
the act. The principal receipts were from the moneys due
McCulloch, for lands contracted to be sold to sundry inhabi-
tants of Mecklenburg and adjoining counties, and from the
sale of confiscated lands, principally of McCulloch. Adlai Os-
borne, of Rowan, a University attorney, reported sales from
June, 1795, to July, 1798, amounting to $14,946, most of which
were on credit. There were 77 buyers. The net amount re-
ceived up to November, 1807, was $7,160.58. In 1804 the
Court of Conference decided in the cases of Ray's Executors
v. McCulloch, and Trustees v. Rice, that the claim of McCul-
loch was by the Treaty of Peace of 1783 made good to him;
whereupon the General Assembly ordered the refunding of the
foregoing amount, which had been invested in United States
stock, to the State Treasury in trust for such of his debtors as
HOSTILITY TO UNIVERSITY. 137
had paid the Trustees. The University, however, had the re-
ceipt of the interest on the amount collected from time to time.
Notwithstanding this, as will be hereafter s^en, the act of 1794
was a distinct injury. It raised unfounded hopes and caused
the University to be hated in a very powerful section of the
State. It well nigh caused its ruin. Davie alludes to it in one
of his letters, evidently with little hope.
"If any man of proper literary merit could be found impru-
dent enough to engage with us as President upon the prospect
of our ten years fund, I hope the Board may have more dis-
cretion than to employ him. I still hope these funds may be-
come permanent. As the proceeds of the confiscated lands will
m \v soon be collected it may perhaps be in our power to employ
another professor." * * * Dr. McCorckle has pledged himself
to demonstrate to the Board at the next meeting that we are
able to employ all the officers the plan of education calls for,
and pay them liberally, too. I am afraid it will remain a prob-
lem notwithstanding the doctor's learning and talents."
\Ye learn from a letter of Caldwell written in January, 1804,
that it was his opinion that the chief cause of the outbreak of
the hostility against the University in the General Assembly of
1800 was the litigation instituted by the Trustees under the
authority of the act of 1794. Having enjoyed these lands for
about twenty years since the confiscation law was passed, it
was in accordance with human nature for their possessors to
be angry with a corporation which was actively pressing in the
courts suits on these old claims. We find that George Fisher,
of Rowan, a county adjoining that in which most of them re-
sided, made the motion, which was supported by all the mem-
bers from that and the adjacent counties with only four ex-
ns. t<> repeal the act.
A letter from a "Gentleman in Raleigh" to the editors of a
journal called "The Anthology." in relation t the literafm
th Carolina, states in regard t<> the I'nivrrsity :
"The Rev. Tnseph Caldwell, President of the University, is
tli< : nfic and literary character in the State. He is now
loved in writing a book on Mathematics intended a< a ^chool
book. Two sermons and an culo^ium mi General Washin
138 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
by him, which have been published separately in pamphlets,
are handsome specimens of his abilities."
"To a 'huge misshapen pile,' which is placed on a high rocky
eminence twenty-eight miles from this (Raleigh), has been
given the name of a college, and a donation from General
Thomas Person, built a neat Chapel. After considerable diffi-
culties were experienced on account of incompetent teachers
and insurrections among the students, the institution under the
direction of Mr. Caldwell, two professors and two tutors, ac-
quired regularity and consistency in its exercises. When our
enlightened Legislature discovered that education was incon-
sistent with Republicanism, that it created an aristocracy of the
learned who would trample upon the rights and liberties of the
ignorant, and that an equality of intellect was necessary to
preserve an equality of rights . influenced by these wise and
patriotic considerations the Legislature gave to themselves
again what they had before given to the University. The in-
stitution now languishes. Mr. CaldwelFs anti-Republican love
of literature, and not the emoluments of his office, induces him
to preserve in existence and by his influence, even the shadow
of a college. He is assisted by only one tutor; the funds do
not permit the employment of more."
Such was the popular odium at this time against the Uni-
versity that the General Assembly of 1800 not only repealed
the act of 1794, but, notwithstanding the strenuous exertions
of some of the ablest men of the day, went further and re-
pealed that of 1789, granting escheated property. So far as
the hostile legislation affected confiscated property, it was not
of much consequence, because the grant was to expire in 1804
and the courts would have forced the University to disgorge
the receipts from the mortgages and liens of McCulloch. But
the deprivation of escheats, if successfully carried out, would
have been fatal. It would have taken away the unclaimed land
warrants located in Tennessee, the proceeds of which were the
interest bearing endowment prior to the Civil War.
But it was not carried into effect. In the first place the
Court of Conference in the case of University v. Foy, I Mur-
phy, 58, decided the repealing act unconstitutional ; and although
VOTES FOR UNIVERSITY. 139
this case was overruled by that of University v. Maultsby, 8
I red. Eq., 257, the action of the court, and we hope a change
of sentiment, led the General Assembly in 1805 to restore the
escheats. One of the strongest advocates of such restoration
was Maurice Moore, heretofore described as one of the early
students. I have examined the votes on this drastic measure
and find them chiefly, but not entirely, on party lines. The
names of those who stood by the institution on this vital ques-
tion should be recorded.
The Senators were Henry S. Bonner, of Beaufort ; John
Johnston, of Bertie ; I. Lewis, of Bladen ; Benjamin Smith, of
Brunswick ; Caleb Phifer, of Cabarrus; William Gaston, of
Craven ; Ilythell Bell, of Edgecombe; Jordan Hill, of Franklin;
Thomas Taylor, of Granville ; Robert White, of Green ; Stephen
W. Conner, of Halifax ; Thomas Wynns, of Hertford ; Joseph
Masters, of Hyde; Durant Hatch, of Jones; Wm. McKenzie, of
Martin ; John H. Drake, of Nash ; John Hill, of New Hanover :
John M. Beauford, of Northampton ; David Ray, of Orange ;
Frederick Bryan, of Pitt; Elias Barnes, of Robe son ; Janus
Collier, of Warren ; Richard Croom, of Greene.
John Johnston was a nephew of Governor Samuel Johnston.
Wm. Gaston at the age of twenty-two was beginning his long
career of enlightened public service, always advocating liberal
and progressive ideas. He made a motion which would have
secured to the University all lands actually taken into the
'on of the Trustees, but it was voted down. Senator Ben-
jamin Smith is the same who, at the first meeting of the Moanl
in I7<)0. donated Tennessee land warrants to the new institu-
tion. He induced the Senate by his powerful influeno
e to refer the whole matter to a joint committee, but the
House refused to agree to it.
The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 32 to 23, bavin- al
ready passed the House by the decisive majority of Sj t-
Among the minority Senators I notice only one who attained
any eminence: Peter Forney, of Lincoln, who was afteruanU
a member of n. Of the majority. Senators Smith be-
1 .a^ton a member of Congress and Judge of the
Supreme Court of our State. \V\mix. after whom \Yint.
named, a member of Congi
I4O HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The members of the House who stood up against the ad-
versaries of the University were John Kennedy and Frederick
Grist, of Beaufort; Joseph Jordan, of Bertie; Street Ashford
and J. Bradley, of Bladen; Benjamin Mills, of New Brunswick;
George Ellis, James Gatling and John S. Nelson, of Craven;
Thomas C. Ferebee, of Currituck; Sterling Yancey, of Gran-
ville; Stephen Harwell, of Halifax; Robert Montgomery and
James Jones, of Hertford; Joseph Jordan and Adam Gaskins,
of Hyde ; John Moore, of Lincoln ; Jeremiah Slade, of Martin ;
Charles Polk, of Mecklenburg ; Samuel Ashe, Joshua G. Wright
and Alexander D. Moore, of New Hanover ; Samuel Benton ;
John Cabe and Absalom Tatom, of Orange; John Nixon and
Charles W. Blount, of Perquimans; Herndon Harolson, of
Person ; Richard Evans, of Pitt ; Evan Alexander, of Rowan ;
Henry Seawell, of Wake; James Turner and Thomas E. Sum-
ner, of Warren ; and Meshack Franklin, of Surry.
Of the above John Moore, Alexander Duncan Moore, Evan
Alexander and John Hill, brother of William H. Hill, who
assisted in selecting the site of the University, were members
of the Board of Trustees. Charles Polk was, I think, the
brother of Col. Wm. Polk, who, on account of his love of fun,
went by the name of "Devil Charley." Joshua G. Wright was
afterwards a Judge. Samuel Ashe was a worthy son of Gov-
ernor Samuel Ashe. Samuel Benton was a brother of Jesse,
father of Thomas Hart Benton.
Absalom Tatum had been a member of Congress, as were
also Evan Alexander and Meshack Franklin. James Turner
was in two years to be Governor, and then Senator of the
United States. Thomas E. Sumner was a son of General Jethro
Sumner of the Continental line, and soon afterwards emigrated
to Tennessee.
It seems evident that those who voted to sustain the Univer-
sity were not punished by the people for their action. It is
equally clear that its opponents did not lose the favor of the
people. More exciting questions occupied their minds.
In a letter written June 9, 1805, on the eve of his departure
to his plantation in South Carolina, Davie deplored the dis-
tressing state of the University on account of legislative hos-
LETTER OF BISHOP HOBART. 14!
tility. Great injury had been inflicted by this hostility on the
reputation of the State. He says, ''men of science in other
States regard the people of North Carolina as a sort of semi-
barbarians, among whom neither learning, virtue nor men of
science possess any estimation. * * * In South Carolina a
professorship is more eagerly canvassed than the secretaryship
of the government of the United States, the consequence of
the liberal spirit displayed by their Assembly. After a hand-
some and permanent endowment of the offices of the institu-
tion (South Carolina College) they voted $10,000 for purchase
of a library and philosophical apparatus. What a contrast. Poor
Xorth Carolina!"
It is interesting to inquire whether there were other causes
of the unpopularity of the University besides the litigation
under the act of 1794.
Naturally the reports of the misbehavior of students, un-
doubtedly bad, but grievously exaggerated, had a tendency to
\\euken the influence of the University, all the more because
none of the Faculty were known to our people. But papers in
our archives show conclusively that political feeling was the
chief cause.
A letter from John Henry Hobart, heretofore described, to
Mr. Caldwell in March, 1798, indicates the views of the two
friends about public matters. After a little badinage on the
subject of love and regret that Caldwell's health had not im-
proved, he said, "What think you of the honorable Congress?
Do you not think that they are in a fair way to rival the French
Convention? We have sometimes heard of members there
tusseling for the tribune (i. e., to 'get the floor'). Rut Mr.
Lyon has improved upon them and attempted to make spitting
in the face fashionable. Is it not astonishing that party spirit
should have shielded this infamous wretch from punishm
Dr. Oriswold has tried the thickness of his coarse hide, and I
only wish he had beaten him to a jelly."
"No direct news from our Commissioners. Tt appears that
the French Directory treat them with silent contempt. V.
will the American spirit be roused? Is it content tamrl
lick the dust? Can YOU ji"t infuse SORIC Federalism int<> vmir
142 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
neighbors in Carolina, and displace some of your present ig-
norant and pusillanimous members?"
The North Carolina Senators were then Alexander Martin
and Timothy Bloodworth ; and the Representatives, Thomas
Blount, Nathan Bryan, Dempsey Burgess, Wm. Barry Grove,
Matthew Locke, Nathaniel Macon, Joseph McDowell (of
Quaker Meadows), Richard Stanford and Robert Williams, all
men of good character and not one deserving the harsh lan-
guage of Bishop Hobart.
There is some evidence that Caldwell was indiscreet in re-
gard to the utterance of his political sentiments. We have
proof positive that there was a widespread opinion that he was
a bitter partisan.
On the 22d of February he delivered an address on the char-
acter of General Washington, who died about two months pre-
viously. The Senior and Junior classes requested a copy for
publication. They say "The theme, noble as it is, has received
additional splendor from the spirit of candor in which it was
discussed. The publication will refute the calumnies which
have been so industriously circulated."
Two or three years after this a man, styling himself "Citi-
zen," attacked the University fiercely in the public prints. One
of his charges was that "every effort is made to give direction
to the minds of the students on political subjects, favorable to
a high-toned aristocratic government." e * "The country
will be imbued with aristocratic principles because an aristocrat
is at the head of it."
In giving this a bitter denial, Caldwell says: "It has been
made the subject of declamation on public election grounds a
long time." * * * "I have common sense to refrain from sub-
jects upon which, if I were to enter into discussion with my
pupils, I should only incur their contempt. Politics is a subject
upon which youth will speak and determine with as much confi-
dence as men of any age, experience or study." He appeals to
the Republican members of the Board to say whether he sought
the office of executive head.
It was already recognized that Governor Davie was the vir-
tual head of the University. "Citizen" makes an ill-natured
fling at him.
DEFENCE BY CALDWEL.L. 143
Another cause of unpopularity was the fact that the manage-
ment of the University was in the hands of a self-perpetuating
body. The Board of Trustees filling the vacancies in its body,
having been Federalist in the beginning, naturally continued
so, although the people were generally Republican.
It seems strange that it should have been seriously attempted
to bring odium on the authorities of the University because of
the beginning- of the South Building. The correspondent "Citi-
zen" denounces it as "the palace-like erection, which is much
too large for usefulness, and might be aptly termed the 'Temple
of Folly/ planned by the Demi-God Davie." Caldwell answers
this sarcasm by showing that it was absolutely essential to the
progress of the institution. "No Northern college has more
than two persons in each room and the rooms are larger than
ours." In each room at Princeton are three windows instead
of two. Into our smaller rooms originally three beds and fur-
niture for six persons were forced, leaving hardly space for the
six inhabitants to turn without jostling one another. This was
endured for some years. The Board determined to put an
end to this. The Main Building was commenced and an order
passed that only four should occupy one room. This was bad
enough. "Here are fifty-six persons huddled together with
their trunks, beds, tables, chairs, books and clothes into four-
tern little rooms, which by the excessive heat of summer are
enough to stifle them, and in the winter scarcely admit them
to sit around the fireplace. When the weather permits they
tly to the shade of the trees, where they find a retreat from
the burr and hurry and irrepressible conversation of a crowded
society." They even erected huts in the forest for greater
privacy, but this was found to interfere with discipline, and
was prohibited by law.
The building was planned not by the "Demi-God Davie." but
by Governor Spaight. It was to have twenty-three habitable
rooms. "Tlu-sc with the rooms in the Kast I'nilding will
amount to }X. h.-ldii \\V have more than otioe
had over 70. The excess a!>< n>.,ni. lived
in the villa^' '\vi-ll winds up his statements with a spurt
!o<|uencc. "If rooms sufficient were hen- we would
144 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
100 students and our nation would have, not a Temple of
Folly, but a monument of glory to herself and a pledge of utility
and worth to all succeeding generations." He closes his dis-
cussion of this charge of Citizen with a trenchant sarcasm. "As
soon as the light of truth is thrown upon Citizen, the visage
from which issued such noisy and imposing declamation ap-
pears nothing more than one wretched blank of inanity and
dullness. Malignity and lust of sway are his guiding principles
and his composition unites with the boisterousness of a stentor,
the hardihood of callous feelings."
To the charge of "Citizen" that the University employed as
teachers men from other States, as far as Massachusetts, and
even from Europe, Caldwell admitted the truth and contended
that the only way to escape from this degrading dependence is
to facilitate education among ourselves, "the true method of
preventing an aristocracy of learning."
He complained bitterly of the unjust charges made against
the University. He indignantly affirmed that its enemies had
caught up flying rumors, not founded in fact, and then pro-
ceeded to multiply and misrepresent and aggravate until the
country was at length led to believe that the institution could
not be worse if it were filled with a parcel of inveterate demons
from among the damned."
I think I have shown that there were bitter partisan feelings
against the University, which naturally excited strong language
on the part of the pugnacious young Scotch-Irishman at its
head. Archibald Murphey, however, the young lawyer, ex-
professor, writing from Martinsville, (old Guilford Court-
house) , seemed to attribute less importance to hostile attacks.
"Be up and active, for the University suffers as much from
the supineness of its friends, as from the malignity of its
enemies."
The friends of the University generally trembled for its fate
during that alarming period. Judge Sitgreaves, writing to
Treasurer Haywood, says, "It would be a most painful idea to
suppose that after so much pains had been used by yourself and
others to get it on its legs it should by any accident be over-
turned. The aspect of the last legislature appeared to be rather
SCARCITY OF TEACHERS. 145
malignant." He sees no remedy except the election of a Presi-
dent, "whose weight of character will influence the Faculty as
well as the students."
David Stone, soon to be Senator and Governor, in a letter in
1800 to the same Treasurer Hay wood from Washington, where
lie was in attendance on Congress as a Representative, did not
agree with Sitgreaves, and mentioned a different difficulty en-
countered by the distressed University. "There is danger of
being entirely without teachers," but he hopes that the profess-
ors will stay. He argued against having a President because the
salary would not command a first-class man. "The operations of
the present government, or some other cause, has made money
so much to abound this way, and further East, and raised the
price of living to such an extravagant height, that salaries,
considered handsome with us (in North Carolina) are here
scarcely thought worth notice."
On April 15, 1800, Hugh Williamson wrote from New York,
then his residence, that he hoped to get for a professor a
clergyman, educated at the New Haven College (Yale), because
"his congregation originally small is greatly diminished by the
operation of politics. Many of his former hearers are so com-
pletely modernized and philosophised as to think with the
French National Convention that "Death is an eternal sleep."
He is more solicitious to get one who has the spirit of command
than one merely a good scholar. He quotes . . . Qni docet
indoctos licet mdoctissimus cst. Ipse tamcn breve doctior csse
queat.
CALDWEXL AS A CONTROVERSIALIST.
The worthy President was in those days a fighting member
of the Church militant. We have a long and extremely spirited
reply of his to an attack on the University for which he held
Basil Gaither, Senator from Rowan, Absalom Tatum, Com-
moner from the borough of Hillsboro. \\lio had once 1<
'1 of the institution. James Welbourn, Senator from Wilkes
William ommoner from Edenton, responsible An
analysis of this opm K-tter gives a pood idea of argument- HM <!
'he opponents of higher education a century
ll'a style an<l in.-Minor of answering them.
10
14 HISTORY r.XIYKKSITY OK \oRTH CAROLINA.
He begins by accusing them of being most conspicuous in
trying to ruin the University
1. The charge that it has been a costly institution is not true.
The State only gave property lying dormant and useless to the
public. This is correct with the exception of $10,000 loaned
and converted into a gift.
2. The cry that the poor are being taxed for the benefit of
the rich is but a trick of hypocrisy, the crooked policy of
imposture.
3. The attack is founded on an unreasonable envy, which
some men feel at the superior advantages of others.
4. It is objected that University education will bring mon-
archical principles upon us. It is impossible. The State is too
extensive, the land too much divided. Education at the I'ni-
versity only costs $100 per year. It cannot be engrossed by
the rich. Those making these objections are really afraid that
improved minds may oust them fmm their "seats of elevation,
leaving them at home to drink their \\hiskey until they are
besotted, or to drive their negroes in the cornfield."
Our youth educated abroad will have little State pride. The
effectual method of building up an aristocracy is to deny edu-
cation to all except those who are rich enough to send their
sons abroad," at a cost of $400 or $500. "It is a fact which
all witness that those, not North Carolinians, who come in
among us are able to supplant our own citizens in the transac-
tion of our own business. If education should become easy and
plenty among us, we shall preserve our public liberties from the
grasp of those who would otherwise engross all merit and
abilities and knowledge to themselves."
5. Forcing our citizens to send their sons to Northern Col-
leges sends out streams of wealth, and increases the advantages
they already have over us. Per contra by creating a University
of character we cause currents of wealth to flow into us. \Ve
are already obliged to send our wealth and commerce into Vir-
ginia, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. It is sought to force
us to give them other fruits of our labors, whereas we may
easily make reprisals on them.
As a specimen of CaldwelFs power of vituperation, I give
his peroration to this branch of the subject : "Be assured, gen-
C. \I.D\\ Kl.l. AS A CO.NTKoX KKSIA1.IST. 147
tlenien, the stupidity of your politics stall be known. . . . The
grave may open to you a retreat from public anger and con-
tempt, and you shall still live notorious monuments of that vile-
ness, into which a sinister, a malignant and insidious warfare
against the good of the country must very shortly descend,"
and more of the same sort.
He contended that "every national institution serves to gen-
crate among us a national spirit and character. ... It gives
a spring to the public nerve, and, by keeping it active, gives it
tone and power." "It is the very nature of a place of public
education to polish and give play to the springs of Inn nan
action, to spread abroad a desire of information, a spirit of
active enterprise, and the instruments of interest, which must,
without it, be buried in some distant part of the world."
7. Another argument for the University is that it trains at a
critical period of their lives youths of fortune, who would
otherwise waste their time and learn dissipation. They should
he considered the property of the country and such training
provided for them as will ensure improvement to their genius,
regularity to their conduct, and a love of religion to their
i< >ns.
It may he said, let the rich erect their own institutions,
The objections are
1. It is too expensive to have separate institutions for dif-
ferent classes of societx .
2. Education is the business of the public and should not he
ated.
% V Men of means should not he allowed exclusively to Mip
port the I 'nivcrsity
</. !'.< cause the students would not have a sense of ohl
tO the State, hut to the men of wealth WHOM b>um\ they
<-d.
/'. \ generOUfl people should desire the chief share in ell
what is most h, , n . .rahle and advantage. -us to thcms,
I'.nt C'aldwell here breaks ,,iV iut<> invective, "h ifl Mich men as
wh. roh a people, when von OtlCC get tl Into \ur
f tlie honor and tin- ihev
148 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Other arguments in favor of the University are urged. North
Carolina must come into competition with others. Will it do
to send to the national government men who know nothing of
the world, of civil government, of the power of speaking with
some degree of oratory; who have never strengthened and
quickened the powers of their minds by long study and the exer-
cise of reason ? Then the irate Scotch-Irish preacher bursts into
a fierce argumentum ad homines.
"It is by no means impossible that chosen as our congressmen
are by districts, you might make the people near to you think
that you were fit to make laws for a generation. But what
would be the result? The capital of the United States would
be to you like another world. The hall of Congress fitted with
members not only of as strong natural genius but of as perfect
education as any men in the country, would be a place where
you would shrink from the eye of every spectator. . . . You
would be glad to take shelter under a dumb and listening
silence. And when ymi heard the tongue of eloquence rolling
upon your ear the imposing accents of reasoning and harmony,
all that would be left for you would be to be shaped at the
will of skilful politicians."
"If you look at the representatives of this State for some
years this will be proved past controversy. ... It is true, in
a large representation, we may see that there will be some
who are senseless enough. But unfortunately for us, so large
a proportion of ours has always been of a cast so completely
inferior, being hardly able to show ;wo or three of respectable
talents, from among a dozen, that there is no wonder that cur
State, though so large and populous, is regarded in the very
lowest rank in the Union. ... In what light ought we t
view such men as you, who are striving with all your might
and main to condemn us to endless continuance in the same
unhappy lot?"
Caldwell then defends the University against the charg.
immorality.
9. "It is customary with you to raise a clamor about the inv-
ligion and vice which you ignorantlv affirm to prevail among the
youth who are educated at a University. You are industrious
PARTY FEEUNG AGAINST THE UNIVERSITY. 149
to search out every boyish trick which you can come to the
knowledge of, and you do not fail to paint every act in the
deepest colors of criminality and corruption. ... It is less
unjust to you to condemn a whole society of people for the in-
discretion or absurd behavior of a few, than it is for these few
to be guilty of some absurdities. . . . How dreadful, how un-
just, how hard it is that calumny must be forever watching, as
with a lynx's eye, the disorders of a few wrong-headed young
people, who are mixed up in a college with the body of the
students."
'1 hat the ferocity of party spirit was baleful to the University
i> further shown by a letter written by the eminent "Log-col-
teacher and righting parson, Captain of Cavalry in the
Revolution, Rev. Dr. James Hall, acknowledging the degree of
D.I), conferred on him in 1810. He was nettled that some-
time before his name had been proposed as a Trustee without
success. 1 le he^s that he be not again nominated, partly because
he was "n his 69th year and partly because an editor a "fugitive
Kuropean" [Joseph Gales] had characterized all clerical Feder-
alists as "Rebel Priests." His uniform character as a patriot
and the part he acted through the whole Revolution have not
'1 him from this and other most odious epithets. < hi
his co-presbyters had been elected a member. ( Rev. Dr. James
\Vallis i. the only Democrat in the Two Presbyteries, consisting
of at least thirty members. He urges that party spirit bad pre-
vailed too much in the choice of Trustees. ;md in counselling
that more of the clergy should be made members of the Hoard,
be asserts, that it is well known that no set of men under
heaven have done so much, or are cap'ihY of doin^ so much
be promotion of literature, as those of the clerical order.
Me then ives unstinted pr.t se to President Caldwcll. "1 query
hristendom ran produce Midi an example on that Mi' 1
and now may be found in the l'ir t' \orth
I le then announces that he intends to d<>n.r
able number of volumes- to the University, which v. .
Ifl done, a most pleasing proof that ibis m..M \\orthv man.
in his- day exerted w : dc inlluen. ' ; ncd no
malice for the injury which in his ..j)'ni..n the 1-Ydrr.ilist T
id don,- him.
150 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
When the escheats were restored in 1805, the same act made
the Governor for the time being the ex-officio President of the
Board of Trustees. Further popularity was gained by giving
the General Assembly on joint ballot the power of filling va-
cancies, and, to ensure regularity of attendance, two years con-
tinued absence from meetings forfeited the seat of the delin-
quent.
In 1807 the Board was rendered more efficient by making
seven members a quorum for transacting business. In 1809
balances in the hands of executors and administrators, remain-
ing for seven years unclaimed, were vested in the University.
And so were likewise balances due the State by Sheriffs and
mlicr officers prior to December 3ist, 1799, but of course claims
of such; venerable antiquity were not copious fountains of
wealth. It shows badly cither for the financial integrity of
the officers of the old times, or for the accuracy of their busi-
ness methods, that there were no less than sixty-eight judg-
ments and other evidences of debt against the same number of
defaulters turned over to the University. Among these there
were seven clerks, sixteen sheriffs, nineteen sellers of confis-
cated property, nine entry-takers, eight agents for sale of lot-
tery tickets in which the State, in behalf of the city of Raleigh.
was interested, one "Commissionary," i. e. Commissary, and
two judges. The dues of the judges, Samuel Spencer and John
Haywood, were for licenses of lawyers. The total amount due
amounted to the handsome sum on paper of $111,010 certi-
ficates and $38,942 in money.
COLLECTION OF ESCHEATS.
For the purpose of more thoroughly realizing the escheats,
which had been re-granted to the institution, the State was
divided in 1809 into ten districts and an attorney over each
appointed. Naturally the friends of education were chosen and
hence their names should be recorded. For the ist District be-
ginning with Ashe, Israel Pickens of Burke and Robert H.
Burton of Lincoln ; for the 2nd beginning with Rowan, Lewis
Beard of Salisbury; for the 3rd beginning with Anson, John
Cameron of Fayetteville and Alexander McMillan of Richmond
County; for the 4th beginning with New Hanover, Samuel R.
COLLECTION OF ESCHEATS. !$!
Jocelyn of Wilmington; for the 5th beginning with Chatham.
A. 1). Murphey of Hillsboro; for the 6th beginning with Hali-
fax. John Whitaker of Halifax; for the /th beginning with
Carteret, Wright C. Stanly and John T. West, both of New-
hern : for the 8th beginning with Hyde, John Roulhac of Mar-
tin County and Thomas B. Haughton of Washington County:
for the i)th beginning with Bertie, Samuel Turner of Bertie;
for the loth beginning with \Vake, Robert H. Jones of Warren.
Any two Trustees, with the Attorney, were authorized to
compromise all litigation. They might select three freeholders
to fix the price of land, which might be sold on a credit of one,
two and three years, with a discount of six per cent allowed for
cash. The Attorneys were allowed three per cent commissions
for selling, and two and a half per cent for collecting and pay-
ing over the money. In case of suit fees usual among lawyers
could be charged. Annual reports must be made. Amounts
over $1,000 were to be remitted in one month. Less amounts
within three months. As might be expected the commissions
were increased in special cases. In settling with Samuel \\.
Jocelyn he was, on account of great and signal services, allowed
ten per cent on sales, and was not charged with failure to col-
lect $3,218. This was very handsome, as his sales amounted to
$21,800.
At the same session of the Board Samuel Polk of Ten no
authorized to sell all the Gerrard lands except his "ser
right." 2,560 acres. Under this authority Col. Win. 1'olk lie-
came the purchase T at the price of $4,352. for all which could
be identified.
The receipts mainly from this source and from e-rheaN were
so liberal about this time that the Trustees were not only able t<>
for the South Building, but to buy $11,050 stnck in the
Bank of Newbern, $8,400 in the Bank of Cape Fear, and $2,OOO
in the State Bank of N. C. Twenty xhare< of the Newborn
Bank were bought i Judge Oaston at 15 per cent premium and
('ape I'Yar at 25 per cent premium of Judge Mur-
. Dividend^ of S and 10 per rent per annum were rereived
:te Bank in addition to a bonus of 17 i 'it.
in duty bound the Trustees Wtfi md watchful 'n
152 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
claiming the rights devolved by the law upon them, yet when-
ever a case appealing to their generous feelings came up they
were sufficiently liberal. I give one example: John R. Don-
nell, afterwards a Superior Court Judge, who graduated at the
University with highest honors in 1807, was the heir of an
uncle who owned a plantation in Lenoir County. As young
Donnell was born in Ireland, he could not, as the law then
stood, inherit the land. The Trustees in 1810 relinquished
their claim, taking the precaution, however, to have the General
Assembly approve their action.
I find an application for relief by Jonathan Price. In a let-
ter dated July 2ist, 1817, he stated that the State, in 1792 and
1794, loaned him and Christmas, (William Christmas, doubt-
less, the Surveyor who laid out the city of Raleigh, Senator
from Franklin), money to complete a map of the State from
actual survey. This debt was transferred to the University.
Christmas deserted him and Strother took his place. In this
work he had spent the prime of his life and his little patrimony.
The work commanded the admiration not only of our sister
States, but of European Reviewers. One of the English Re-
views pronounced the map worthy to be classed among the first
published of its kind in the world. Some of the States have
made provision for the publication of the maps of their terri-
tories "on the plan of that of Price and Strother/' and have
voted ample means for the purpose. He pathetically adds,
"May the persons employed reap the reward of their labors,
and not, like me, in the winter of their age, be left in the pinch-
ing hands of poverty, nor doomed to the melancholy reflection,
that on one hand a grave is yawning to receive them and on
the other a prison. But I should feel proud, even in a dungeon,
of the advantages which the present generation are receiving,
and which posterity will receive, from the time and fortune I
have devoted to my country ; and though my feelings make my
old hand tremble while I write, my heart beats with honest ex-
ultation in the recollection that my labors will survive me." He
applied to the legislature for relief. If that should be refused,
he offered, if the University withdraw the process issued
against him, to give one-half of all sums due him for maps
FIRST GRADUATES. 153
sold, and half of future sales during his life, reserving the other
half as a small pittance for his maintenance; after his death the
copyright and all unsold to go to the University. It must be
remembered that at this time a debtor could be imprisoned by
the creditor twenty days before taking the proper oath and
he ng released.
Three members of the Executive Committee, Messrs. Porter,
Hay wood and Polk, authorized the recall of the ca-sa which
had been issued and reference of the matter to the Board of
Trustees. At their next meeting further action for the collec-
tion of the debt, 698, i8s. was indefinitely suspended on pay-
ment of ousts, the reason given being the poverty of the defend-
ant. The offer of Mr. Price with regard to sales and copyright
generously not accepted.
The map referred to was the only large, or wall, map until
that of McRao was published in 1831.
Tin-: FIRST r,K \DUATING CLASS. TROUBLOUS TIMES.
The first Commencement during which diplomas were grant-
ed was on July 4, 1798. Seven young men headed the honor-
able procession of graduates of the University of North Caro-
lina.
It is proper to name all of these graduate fathers. Samuel
Hint. MI of Wake, a farmer; William Houston, a physician of
Iredell ; Hinton James, the first student ; Robert Locke, farmer
of Rowan ; Alexander Osborne, physician of Rowan ; Edwin
Jay Osborne, lawyer of Salisbury and New York; Adam A.
plant IT of Mecklenburg, all prominent and useful citi-
Houston, Locke and Springs were distinguished.
The Committee of Visitation after expressing their high sense
I the talents of the ^er.tiemen engaged in the competition in
amation, awarded the first honor to Mr. Nathaniel \V. Wil-
liam nesaee, tin- second to Mr. Richard Eagles of Kruns-
. and the third to Mr. John I',. I'.akrr of ('-airs. It api>
hat there was a tendency to ad pt dramatic acting, ('.eiu-ral
ongly advised against it.
He wrote. "Dramas are by no means so well calculated for
improvement in elocution as sin-le ipeecfol If the Faculty
154 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
insist on this kind of exhibition the Board must interfere. Our
object is to make the students men, not players." It appears
that very harsh criticism of the teaching and morals of the in-
stitution had been idulged in in some quarters. Davie remarks
concerning this : ''Human malevolence in some, interested views
in others, the ignorance and caprice of parents, will continue to
injure our institution, until it has acquired some stability, some
fixed character, and this process will require 4 some years."
The creation of the spirit of dramatic acting was due to the
influence of a very interesting person, William Augustus Rich-
ards, the Tutor in the Preparatory Department, of whom we
have an excellent sketch by Judge Murphey. He was a native
of London, and had a fair education. For some reason he left
home and enlisted as a common sailor, serving both on mer-
chantmen and men of war. Having aspirations for a higher
life, he deserted his ship at either Baltimore or Norfolk and
was saved from the searching party by the kindness of an old
lady, who had pity on his forlorn condition. By accident he
met the manager of a strolling band of players and joined the
company, gaining of course only a small pittance for his ser-
vices. In the course of their journeyings they reached War-
renton in North Carolina, the seat of an excellent Academy,
under the management of Mr. Marcus George, the teacher of
many of our best men, among them Chief Justice Ruffin and
Weldon N. Edwards, a member of Congress and President of
the Convention of 1861. Two of the Trustees of the Academy,
Dr. Gloster and Mr. Wm. Falkener, discerned in Richards qual-
ities superior to his station and procured his appointment as
assistant to Mr. George. Thence he was induced to come to the
University as Tutor, and till his death in December, 1798, dis-
charged his duties, in the language of the Board of Trustees,
"with singular reputation to himself and advantage to the insti-
tution." Judge Murphey says, "His acquaintance with the
stage in some degree vitiated his morals and gave an air of
affectation to his manners. But these defects he greatly cor-
rected before his death, and counterbalanced by his many good
qualities of mind and heart." He naturally was interested in
instructing the young men in elocution, and his proposal to
DISOKDKRS. 155
deliver lectures on oratory was accepted by the Trustees, but its
execution was prevented by his death. It was he who induced
the Literary Societies to join in substituting for a time a dra-
matic performance for all other duties. It is allowable to con-
jecture that the scenery in Williamsboro, a few miles from \Yar-
renton. which they purchased for the occasion, was the tristcs
reliquiae of the strolling company, which he left for more
serious and useful work.
The term preceding the Commencement of 1799 was especi-
ally stormy. For some reason Mr. Oillaspie became personally
obnoxious and the students broke out in rebellion against tin-
laws and the Faculty. They actually, according to the testi-
mony of Mr. Caldwell, "beat Mr. Gillaspie personally, waylaid
and stoned Mr. Webb, accosted Mr. Flinn with the intention
of beating him. but were diverted from it, and at length uttered
violent threats against Mr. Murphey and Mr. Caldwell, which
were never put into execution." The disorders were going mi
for a week. The students proposed to Mr. Caldwell that he
should assume the supreme authority, which request was. in
his o\vn language, "rejected with contempt. Tt was necessary
immon the Trustees for the appointment of a superinten-
dent and restoring submission to the laws." Three of the worst
offenders were dismissed from the institution.
The effect of these disorders, of course, was to diminish the
number of the students. While there were eight graduate*
in i/OO, there were only three in 1800. The Faculty all ten
1 their resignations, so that there was danger of the I'ni
: ty failing for want of teachers. In November. i-*,<
committee of the Trustees, by order of the Hoard, advertised
-sor of Natural. Moral and Political Philov, .j>h\ .
of tin- I.aii-jnages and P.elle- I.ettres. and of Mathematics. Thev
I that the salary and emolument- of each pi ship
had been upwards of 500 dollars per annum, excln ml
at Commons. A Tutor in the Preparatory Department
wanted at a -alarv of 200 dollars and boOftL The result
littering offer was the re-elertion of Caldwell to the
Chair of Mathematics, also . ,] C.illaspie . ling
'. and of \Vm. Ivlwanls \\Yhh to
3 in the place of Hoi'
150 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OP NORTH CAROLINA.
The early records of the University are so meagre and in
such confusion that we cannot ascertain definitely the causes
of this most disreputable riot of 1799. Certain facts which
have come down to us throw a light upon it.
We find an indictment of Prof. Samuel Allen Holmes by the
other professors, in the handwriting of Caldwell, charging him
with offences so serious as to show, if they were well grounded,
that he was an i8th century anarchist in theory, and a traitor
to the University in practice.
The charges in substance were that when he entered the
service of the University he was a Baptist preacher, but he
at once became an apostate. He advocated the doctrine that
there is no such thing as virtue that the love of virtue is a
mere superstition; that to shake off its obligations and to
bend to the circumstances and character of the times so as to
advance one's interest or ambition is the best morality. For any
man to profess to be governed by the fixed principles of justice,
of honor, of truth, or of generosity, is sufficient to stamp him
a hypocrite and a designing knave, that is lying in wait under
the.se characters for the happiness of others. He called in
question every truth of religion and then proceeded to shake
out of liis mind every moral sentiment. He openly avowed that
what is called virtue and integrity are deceptions and injurious
pretenses.
It is stated that Holmes was a trouble and a pest to Mr. Ker,
Mr. Harris. Mr. Caldwell, and Mr. Gillaspie. He undermined
their influence by blaming among the students their acts of dis-
cipline. Caldwell tendered his resignation in 1796 because "he
perceived that so long as he was to act with a feeble-minded
monk (Delvaux), an apostate and skepticized preacher
(Holmes), whose little mind was fruitful in every kind of
villainy which envy could suggest * * * and the only one in
whom he could place dependence was a man whose previous
life had not earned him an exalted character (Richards), it
required no great sagacity to discover that the public affairs
were not to be advantageously conducted."
Caldwell further stated that, not content with taking the
part of students charged with breaches of the law, Holmes
PROFESSOR HOLMES. 157
constantly vilified and slandered the other professors. In re-
gard to Caldwell he said among the students that indolence and
ignorance were his true characters, that he was unprincipled,
actuated by mean motives, and a drunkard, and that the more
effectually there should be an insurrection against the estab-
lished authority the better.
Notwithstanding this invective, when the subject of it died
in Raleigh about six years afterwards Caldwell preached his
funeral sermon. It was of such excellence that its publication
called for. I have been unable to procure a copy and ha vi-
no means of knowing to what extent the preacher modified his
unfavorable views, but his journeying twenty-eight miles and
the preparation of a written discourse tend to prove that Holmes
had discarded his anarchistic views. Moreover the Raleigh
Register, in which this notice is found, eulogistically states that
"for several years past Holmes was a Tutor in the Uni versa y.
in which situation he acquitted himself much to his own credit
and with great advantage to the establishment." The editor
mistakes in calling him Tutor, as he was Professor most of his
time of service. Remembering that the Register was a Repub-
lican paper, and the extreme bitterness of party spirit. I think
it probable that Holmes became a violent Jeffersonian, indulged
in the Voltairian, Tom Paine cant of the times, talked swellingly
of Big Liberty and the Rights of Man, and his tenets and con-
duct were misunderstood and distorted by his Federalist
leagues. He probably repented his errors. It was common
in those day- t<> talk in the strain of modern anarclii
Such differences in the Faculty would have produced di^c<>rd
in quiet times. Rut the times were not quiet. Fighting ami
drinking and gambling were almost universally fashionable and
of course could not be banished fn >m the n i of* the
I'nivcrsity. There was in the air a spirit of revolt against
authority, divine and human, which was felt in all ci'
whether of youth or manhood. V\\\\- M-h<><>K
for children found their pupils inclined to reckl8SneSI and
Nonlinatir.n. and fathers had liltl- 'ing inflii-
tin- children were but following their example.
It i* pn.Nal.le also that th- <j.ini of i disturbing
J5S hlSTHKY r.MYKKSlTY UI- NOKTil CAKOUNA.
element. Caldwell was a Federalist possibly others of the
Faculty. Certainly soon afterwards the institution was vio-
lently attacked in the newspapers and in the Legislature because
of their alleged opposition to Democratic principles. Party
spirit was so bitter during John Adams' administration, the days
of the Alien and Sedition laws, that friendly relations could
with difficulty exist between opponents. The followers of Jef-
ferson were charged with seeking to introduce mob-rule and
French Red-Republicanism, while they alleged that their op-
ponents were seeking to change our government into a virtual
monarchy. Republican students thought it highly patriotic to
insult and worry instructors, who, as they thought, were enemies
of the rule of the people, seeking to introduce an aristocracy,
if not a king.
This conjecture is sustained by the law passed by the Trus-
tees during that period. "No speech by a student shall have
any allusion to party politics. The Faculty shall be responsible
that nothing indecent, immoral or profane shall be spoken on
the public stage." The .first part of this prohibition was
destined to create an insurrection after a few years.
Tlu- difficulty of governing the students by reason of the
evil influence of Holmes was increased by the character of the
rest of the teaching force. The best of them (Caldwell) was
only 27 years of age, and a native of New Jersey, then a
month's distance from North Carolina. Gillaspie was a y<mng
native of the State, not a graduate of a college, evidently lacking
in the sound judgment and tact necessary to overcome these
difficulties. The beating of an executive officer is "unthinkable"
in our days, and is a sure sign of the want of what is called
personal magnetism, however well-intentioned was the officer.
The other instructors, Webb, Murphey and Flinn. were, as
I have said, young men, not yet graduated, although eminently
worthy.
But the most efficient cause of insubordination was the con-
duct of the Trustees. Instead of entrusting discipline wholly
to the Faculty they constantly interfered. The result was to
take from the Faculty their sense of full responsibility, and to
infuse into the minds of the governed a contempt for their
IXTKRl-'KRKNCK oK TRUSTEES. 159
authority. Mr. Gillaspie expressed bitterly the views of the
Faculty on this subject, in a letter written from Martinsville,
February 19, 1800. "When at the University I understood that
two of the dismissed students had been re-admitted. This in-
formation at first gave me some surprise and induced me to
believe that the institution would not be soon enough ruined
by the system of measures which had been previously formed.
Km upon further recollection I found nothing more than a
continuation of their resolution to support the students against
the Faculty. Such doings and undoings must be productive
of the worst effects/' Here was a rebellion, the professors
beaten and stoned, exercises broken up for a week, the three
chief offenders dismissed, and after about three months two of
them, on petition and submission, were re-admitted without
consulting the Faculty, by the Trustees, nearly all of whom were
politicians. They were good men too, Governor Benjamin
Williams. Col. Win. Polk, Judge Joshua C. Wright. Mr. John
JIay. ex-Ciov. Samuel Johnston, Mr. Wm. Porter, Gov. Benj.
Smith, Mr. Win. Hinton, Messrs. Wallace and Kvan Alexander,
Mr. Thomas \\ynns, Mr. John Moore (Lincoln), Mr. Thomas
I Mount. Excellent men, but their actions show that the wisest
may err in matters outside their usual callings. Caldwell had
strength as he grew older to break up the practice and it has
never been resumed.
Too watchful interference of the Trustees with the internal
management of the University is ludicrously shown by a letter
from Major Pleasant Henderson, the Steward. In a letter to
Walter Alves, Treasurer, he denounces the report <>f the Com
mittee of Visitation, "that hi* invariable service of mutton and
<f bacon to,, fat to be eaten had nearly starved the boys. This
:t CMme* like- a thunder-clap on me-, because I knew it \\a<
founded on information faNe as hell." lie confesses to "only
II muttons, about 500 pounds, u or 13 dinners. a1>ut seven
for the whole Cession. I )oes this look like f. -rein-
mutton on them?" Kven this small amount was bon-Jr
her leef. -h";tts nor chickens could be had. The doughty
the baron, but lie solemnly
:!d tin- committee conceive that the middlings .h'n'
l6o HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
thrown away?" The students had eaten all the hams served
to them when vegetables were scarce, and "certainly they ought
to have the fatter part." That the worthy patriot's feelings
were cut to the quick is shown by the statement : ''Appearances
are indicative of, if not ruin, the most severe stroke I ever had."
The University shared in the general admiration of the
Father of our country. The farewell letter that he wrote to
our people on his retirement from the Presidential office in
1797 was ordered to be read publicly to the students twice a
year. And when he died on the I4th of December, 1799, the
Acting President, Caldwell, delivered an address of such merit
that it was by request of the students and Faculty printed for
general distribution.
As Professor James Smiley Gillaspie (I adopt his spelling;
indeed Gillespie was universally pronounced Gillaspie) left the
University in 1799, I give some facts of his subsequent life. He
married Fanny Henderson, a daughter of Samuel Henderson
and Elizabeth Galloway. Samuel was a brother of Judge
Richard and an uncle of Chief Justice Leonard and of Archibald
Henderson. Elizabeth Galloway was one of the three girls, her
sister and Daniel Boone's daughter being the others, captured
by the Indians and rescued by Boone and others. Mr. Gillaspie
became a highly respected Presbyterian minister and with mem-
bers of the Transylvania colony, of which Richard and Samuel
Henderson, with others, were the founders, settled on lands
granted the company. His eldest daughter, Fanny, was the first
white child born in the limits of Kentucky. He left three daugh-
ters and one son, who is ancestor of Mrs. Conway H. Arnold,
of Montclair, New Jersey, wife of a Lieutenant in the United
States Nc.vy.
GILLASPIE RETIRES CALDWELL PRESIDING PROFESSOR GRAD-
UATES TO 1812.
The difficulty of procuring teachers in our State at the close
of the 1 8th century is indicated by the fact that, of the five
teachers in the service of the University in 1797, one was a
recent citizen of New Jersey, (Caldwell), another, was a French
Roman Catholic ex-monk, (Delvaux), a third was a strolling
CLASS OF 1799. l6l
player, a deserter from the English mercantile navy, (Rich-
ards). The difficulty was chiefly from the meagre salaries of-
fered. The dignity of a teacher's calling was not then, nor for
many years afterwards, if ever, properly appreciated, either by
parents or the public.
At the Commencement of 1799, July 5th, the second list of
graduates was announced. They were nine in number.
Francis Nash Williams Burton, Granville ; Wm. Dunlap
Crawford, Lancaster County, S. C. ; Andrew Flinn, Mecklen-
burg ; Samuel Allen Holmes, Chapel Hill ; George Washington
Long, Halifax ; Archibald Debow Murphey, Caswell ; John
Phifer, Cabarrus; Wm. Morgan Sneed, Granville; Wm. Smith
Webb, Granville.
George M. Marr passed the examinations but did not ask for
a degree. Burton, Flinn, Murphey and Phifer were distin-
guished. Murphey and Flinn were Tutors in the University and
Holmes had been a Professor. Flinn rose to be an eminent
Presbyterian minister of Charleston, S. C., and was awarded in
1811 the degree of D.D. by this University. Burton was a
prominent lawyer. Long died early. Phifer was often State
Senator from Cabarrus, as was Sneed from Granville ; while
Webb became a prominent physician in Tennessee, and Craw-
ford in South Carolina. Marr was a Representative in Con-
gress from Tennessee.
Of those who did not graduate, are to be noted Hutchins G.
I'.urton, a Representative in the State Legislature and in
Congress, Attorney-General, and Governor of North Carolina ;
rt Harris, an influential merchant of Salisbury and Sneeds-
boro. a brother of Charles W. Harris; James Mebane, Maurice
Mooi Pettigrew, Planter and Congressman; John
v. Richard IT. Sims, a Tutor in the University and
head of the r.rammar School; Robert W. Smith, seven times
itor from Cabarrus; James Webb, an eminent physician of
Hill- .1 a Trn- :he I'nivrrsity. P;ivil <
hU I Y'- Service, \va^ a Keprc-
V n in the Legislature; Richard and
influential planters from New I Ian
"ranklin Hy.
11
l62 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
A modest beginning was made of granting honorary degrees,
the Faculty nominating and the Trustees confirming. The hon-
orary degree of Master of Arts (Artium Magister, A. M.)
was conferred on Joseph Caldwell, the new Presiding Profes-
sor, Charles Wilson Harris, the first Professor of Mathe-
matics, and Joseph Blount Littlejohn, a member of the Legisla-
ture from Chowan. The academic degree of Bachelor of Arts
was given to the retiring Presiding Professor James Smiley
Gillaspie. This last honor indicates that the recipient was too
young and unlearned to be the head of the institution, as he had
learned by experience.
The Commencement of 1800 was held on June 28th. There
was a good attendance of Trustees. Besides Alexander Mar-
tin, Richard Bennehan, and David Stone, who were the Com-
mittee of Visitation, there were Samuel Johnston, James Hogg,
John Haywood, Wm. Polk, Walter Alves, and Evan Alexander.
The graduates were : William Cherry, Bertie County ; John
Lawson Henderson, Salisbury; Thomas D. Hunt, Granville
County.
Of these, Cherry had a brilliant but short career as a lawyer
-and politician. He was a member of the Legislature from
Bertie. Henderson was a member of the Legislature from
Rowan, State Comptroller, of high character and usefulness,
but not the equal of his more distinguished brothers, Chief
Justice Leonard Henderson and the leader of the Western Bar,
Archibald Henderson. Hunt was a physician.
Of those matriculating with this class Robert H. Burton, as
I have stated, was a Judge; Daniel Newman, a Representative
in Congress; William Peace, a much respected merchant of
Raleigh, Director of the State Bank forty-five years and founder
of Peace Institute.
Wm. E. Webb was Professor of Ancient Languages 1799-
1800, having been a student for several years. After leaving
the institution he taught school in Halifax County for a number
of years, with reputation. In 1809, 1810 and 1811 he was a
Commoner from his county in the General Assembly, and from
1809 to 1818 was a Trustee of the University.
Archibald Debow Murphey, a high honor graduate of 1799,
A. D. MURPHEY. 163
was Professor of Ancient Languages for the year 1800. He
was a native of Caswell, born in 1777, son of a Revolutionary
officer. After leaving the University he settled as a lawyer in
Hillsboro. From 1812 to 1818 he was a State Senator, and as
such was the most active of all our public men in promoting
a Public School System and Internal Improvements. His re-
port to the Legislature of 1819, on Uie public school systems
of different countries deemed most successful, is a marvel of
intelligent labor. From 1818 to 1820 he was a Judge of the
Superior Court, and in 1820 he was, under an act since repealed,
a Judge of the Supreme Court for one term as a substitute for
Judge Henderson, who had been counsel in important cases
then before the court. He was Reporter of the decisions of the
old Supreme Court 1804 to 1813, and of the new court in 1818
and 1819. He was a Trustee of the University for thirty years.
Shortly before his death he collected valuable material for a
history of the State, and to aid him in writing and printing it
the General Assembly gave him authority to realize $15,000
by a lottery. This material was used by Joseph Seawell Jones
(Shocco) in writing his "Defence of North Carolina" and by
President Swain in preparing his "War of the Regulation" and
other monographs. Judge Murphey's address before the two
societies of the University in 1827 is full of historical informa-
tion of value.
A letter from him to President Caldwell. dated December 29,
1808, indicates that, wearied with his professional pursuits, he
sometimes longed for the academic shades lie had resigned. 1 lc
tat his "prime of life" is spent in vulgar pursuits. The
improvement of the mind is suspended, the paths of \vi-
unexplored. He fears he will lose a relish for the j
of intellect; what is worse that he will lose that tine tone which
tile pursuit of kii"\v]edL: to the feelings, and without
which the world can afford but little happiness. While not
finding fault with Providence, he had often wished that fortune
had thrown into his way riches, that lie might withdraw i
distractions of petty business and at
cultivate tritt knowledge. Fortune has smiled on him
he left the University awl he .
164 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
ship until she enables him to live in independence and afflu-
ence." Alas ! the good man, notwithstanding a most honorable
career in public and private life, lost all his property by
unfortunate investments and suretyships, and was even sub-
jected for a short while to the indignity of confinement in
prison bounds for debt.
Judge Murphey was always a true and active friend of the
University. In the scholarly report on Public Education above-
mentioned he is emphatic in testifying to its good work and in
advocating State aid in its behalf. I give some of his language :
"This institution has been eminently useful to the State. It
has contributed, perhaps more than any other cause, to diffuse
a taste for reading among the people, and excite a spirit of
liberal improvement. It has contributed to change our manners
and elevate our character." He then urges the construction of
three additional buildings, i. e., two dormitories and one for
library and apparatus; that a library and suitable apparatus be
purchased, that two professorships be endowed and that six
additional teachers be provided. "\Vhen former prejudices
have died away, when liberal ideas begin to prevail, when the
pride of the State is awakem-d and an honorable ambition is
cherished for her glory, an appeal is made to the patriotism
and the generous feelings of the Legislature in favor of an in-
stitution which in all civilized nations has been regarded as the
nursery of moral greatness and the palladium of civil liberty.
That people who cultivate the sciences and the arts with most
success acquire a most enviable superiority over others. Learned
men by their discoveries and their works give a lasting splendor
to national character; and such is the enthusiasm of man that
there is not an individual, however humble in life his lot may
be, who does not feel himself blessed to belong to a country
honored with great men and magnificent institutions. It is clue
to Xorth Carolina, it is due to the great man (General Davie)
who first proposed the foundation of the University, to foster it
with parental fondness and to give it an importance commensu-
rate with the high destinies of the State."
The graduates of the first year of the Nineteenth century
(i8oO triples those of the last year of the Eighteenth. They
CLASS OF l8oi. 165
were: Thomas Gale Amis, Northampton County; Thomas
Davis Bennehan, Orange County ; John Branch, Halifax Coun-
ty; William McKenzie Clark, Martin County; Francis Little
Dancy, Edgecombe County; John Davis Hawkins, Franklin
County ; Thomas D. King, Sampson County ; Archibald Lytle,
Tennessee ; Wm. Hardy Murfree, Hertford County.
Amis had a very large brain and won distinction in his
studies. He afterwards sailed from Charleston without dis-
closing his object, and was nevermore heard from. Bennehan
was a wealthy farmer of Orange, a Trustee of the University,
and at Farintosh, his residence, dispensed a bounteous hospi-
tality ; Branch, Governor of this State and of the Territory of
Florida, and Secretary of the Xavy under Jackson; Dancy, a
lawyer of much reputation; Hawkins was often a legislator,
fifty years a Trustee of the University, one of the foremost in
building the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad. Murfree, founder of
Mnrfreesboro, was a grandfather of the eminent Southern
novel 'st. Mary Noailles Murfree who, under the pen name of
Charles Egbert Craddock, has so faithfully and impressively
delineated the characters of our mountaineers and the beauty
and grandeur of the Alleghanies. He was son of Colonel
Hardy Murfree, who aided in the daring and successful stunn-
ing of Stony Point. Clark was a planter, brother of the grand -
father of Chief Justice Walter Clark. King, probably an elder
brother of Vice-President William Rufus King, represented
Sampson County in the Legislature.
( >f the non-graduating matriculates with this class. Jesse
C'ohl) was a man of ability. Removing to Tennessee- In- became
the founder of an influential family, one of \\1vin. William ('
became Governor of that State. Nathaniel W. Williams was
a Judge of the Superior Court of Tennessee; Johnston r.lakelv.
aptain of the Wasp, captured the Reindeer, for \vh eh a
; medal was voted by Congress. He also cantured tin \t
lanta, and was lost at sea with his vessel. John Goode \\
lawyer in Virginia.
Of the Commencement speaker- IVr-i.lent Caldwcll n*
that "sonic portrayed in Ian- -11cn<li<l ;ml el.
xcellcncc of a Republican form riunent ami
1 66 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
scribed the glory of the American Revolution in glowing col-
ors." In the figurative language of a later date they evidently
"flew a magnificent spread eagle."
The Tutor for 1800 and up to 1804 was Richard Henderson.
He was the son of a brother of Chief Justice Henderson, who
emigrated to Kentucky to settle on lands sold to the Transyl-
vania Company by the Indians, which sale was repudiated by
the States of North Carolina and Virginia, but 400,000 acres
being allowed them by way of compromise. The son was a
man of worth and talents. After being principal of the Academy
in Hillsboro he returned to his native State and became a promi-
nent lawyer. The Trustees gave him the degree of A.B., though
he had not passed his examinations, because they were satisfied
with his classical and scientific training while Tutor.
In 1802 P. Celestine Molie was employed to teach French
for one year. Nothing is known of him except that, like most
foreigners instructing our youth in early days, he was the sub-
ject of merciless ridicule and frequent insults. Probably he
was either a French emigre or a refugee from Hayti.
Professor Murphey was succeeded in 1801 by one who has
profoundly influenced for good this and other States Rev.
Wm. Bingham, an honor graduate of the University of Glas-
gow, a Scotch-Irishman of Ulster. He emigrated about 1788
on account of political troubles, landed in Delaware, but soon
removed to Wilmington, N. C. He here preached and estab-
lished a classical school. I have mentioned that he was among
the first subscribers to the inauguration of the University. As
many of the wealthier inhabitants of the lower Cape Fear either
settled permanently or spent their summers on the hills of
Chatham, he transferred his school .about 1795 to Pittsboro,
and remained there until his removal to the University.
After resigning his professorship in 1805 he re-opened his
school at Pittsboro, but, concluding that Hillsboro had a larger
future, removed it to that town in 1808. Probably on account
of the drunkenness and rowdyism attending court towns he
soon bought a plantation five miles north of Mebane, named
it Mount Repose, and, erecting a school house of logs, there
taught until his death in 1825.
\VM. BINGHAM. 167
Win. Bingham was a man of force, high purpose, and power
of influencing ethers. According to the recollection of Hon.
Giles Mebane, once Speaker of the Senate, he was "about five
feet six inches tall, with no surplus flesh, weighing 150 or 160
pounds; very quick and brisk in his movements, walking erect
like a well-drilled soldier. He was bald, the boys nicknaming
him "Old Slick." He walked three miles to church on Sun-
days, leading his boarders. He wa-j reasonably talkative, and
sometimes jocose, but never undignified."
His wife was Annie Jean, daughter of Colonel Slingsby, of
the English Army, who was stationed at Wilmington during
the Revolutionary War, highly regarded by the Americans for
humanity and justice. Colonel Slingby's family remained in
Wilmington after the declaration of peace.
Professor Bingham left several children, the most prominent
being Wm. James, born at Chapel Hill in the house built for
the President. On his father's death he gave up his chosen
profession of the law and took up the school work at Mount
Repose, but soon removed to Hillsboro and thence to a farm
called Oaks in western Orange. He advanced still further the
fame of the Bingham School, and handed it on to his sons,
Colonels William and Robert Bingham, whose reputation as
teacher> extends throughout the Southern States. Professor
randson, Wm. Bingham Lynch, of Florida, is like-
.111 eminent teacher, while the husband of a great-grand-
daughter, Preston Gray, is Principal of a flourishing academy
called the Wm. Bingham School.
Dr. Caldwell has left a noble tribute to the character of Mr.
Bingham, the elder. He wrote, "His qualifications and virtues
were of that unobtrusive, but substantial cast, which merit and
must secure tin respect of every upright and generous bosom.
Whoever shall have occasion to be acquainted with this man
shall find him to be one of those whom the great poet of Eng-
land has denominated to be among 'The noblest works of
God.' "
It was charged by a bitter partisan thai Mr. Kin-ham
driven from the University because of his being a RcpuM
in politics. Dr. Caldwell emphatically denied this. He asserted
1 68 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
"Mr. Bingham was never exiled from the University. His vir-
tues were too sound and irreproachable for men of any political
principles even to feel disposed to injure him. When Mr. Bing-
ham left us I can assure 'Citizen' that his good qualities were
not unknown to the Trustees or the Faculty." By "Citizen"
he meant an anonymous critic of the University.
The graduates of 1802 were Adlai Laurens Osborne, of
Rowan ; George Washington Thornton, of Virginia ; and Carey
Whitaker, of Halifax County. All were praised for proficiency,
in studies. Osborne became a lawyer in full practice. Thorn-
ton was a physician.
Of the matriculates not graduating Jeremiah Battle was a
physician of prominence in Tarboro and Raleigh, and author
of valuable medical monographs ; John Rutherford London, of
Wilmington, a lawyer, planter and President of the Bank
of Cape Fear ; John Duncan Toomer, a member of the Legisla-
ture, Judge of the Superior and Supreme Courts.
Of the examination at the Commencement of 1802 we have
a full report by the Committee of Trustees, Messrs. Adlai Os-
borne, lawyer and Clerk of the Superior Court of Rowan,
Henry Potter, afterwards for many years Judge of the United
States District Court, a Trustee of the University from 1799
until his- death in 1856, and Charles W. Harris, lawyer at Hali-
fax. Ink- I'mfes^nr, tin- ivpnrt being doubtless written by Harris.
In the Preparatory School there were the following classes, two
in Reading and Spelling, two in Webster's Grammar, one in
Arithmetic to the Rule of Three, one in Latin Grammar, one in
Cordery, one in Latin Grammar, Aesop's Fables and Eutropius,
one in Eramus. Selectae de Pmfanis and Vocables, one in
Caesar, one in Latin Introduction, one in Sallust, one in Ovid
and Virgil's Eclogues, one in French Grammar, two in French
Fables, two in Telemachus, one in Gil Bias, one in Voltaire and
Racine. It will be difficult to show in modern days a better
program of studies.
The Freshman class of the University proper was examined
in three studies, Virgil, Latin Introduction and Greek Testa-
ment ; the Sophomore class in Cicero, Geography, Arithmetic,
Webster's Grammar, Syntax and Lowth's Grammar ; the Junior
CLASS OF l802 AND 1803. 169
class in Ewing's Synopsis, Algebra and Ferguson's Astronomy ;
the Seniors in Adams' Defence and DeLolme on the English
Constitution. In the next year, 1803, by the Freshman class, in
addition to Virgil, the Odes of Horace were studied and the
Dialogues of Lucian in the place of the Greek Testament ; in
the Sophomore, the Satires, Epistles and Art of Poetry of
Horace were added ; in the Junior Algebra, Euclid, Trigonom-
etry, Heights and Distances, Navigation and Logarithms, were
in the place of Astronomy; in the Senior class Blair's Lec-
tures, Millot's Elements of History and Paley's Moral Philoso-
phy were substituted for Adams and DeLolme.
The graduates of 1803 were: Chesley Daniel, Halifax
County: William P. Hall, Halifax County: Matthew Troy,
Salisbury.
Daniel was a teacher and a member of the Legislature ; Hall
was a teacher: Troy was a lawyer of standing, after being
a Tutor in the University Grammar School.
Of those \vho matriculated with them, Joel Battle was a plan-
ter and cotton manufacturer, one of the first in the State, his
factory on Tar river beginning to work in 1820: Thomas H.
Hall, a physician and Representative in the State Legislature
and s : xteen years in Congress: George Phifer. of Cabarrus
ity. a merchant and planter: Lemuel Sawyer, a representa-
tive in the Stair Legislature and sixteen years in Congress, a
Presidential Elector and an author: Thomas Hart Benton. a
member of the Tennessee Legislature. United States Senator
llri for thirty years, author: Joseph Hawkins. Slate
ptrolliT. Senator from Warren: Robert C. Milliard, mem-
<>f the Legislature from Xash: Rvhniond IVar-on. an
enlightened agriculturist, father of Chief Justice Pearson;
era! Court of Virginia.
In iSn.j the number of graduates advanced to v\ : Richard
ad, Plymouth : Thomas I'.r. ,\vu. I '.laden County: Richard
He- l\cntuck\ : Ufa* Jones, MootC County J Willie Wil-
lian -ity ; Jan Me Count v.
i) alread\ described. Willie Wil-
liam jr.i ,f Willie Jeoetj of EtarofatioMiry fame, was a
n in Raleiidi and a TftWtCCOf hi> \lrna Mat. -r. He was
I7O II 1 STORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
the donor of the site of the First Methodist church. Atlas
Jones, son of Edmund Jones, one of the University donors, was
a Tutor in the U. of N. C. and a Trustee, a lawyer and member
of the Legislature from Moore County. The humorous lawyer,
long a popular Representative in the Legislature from Anson,
Atlas J. Dargan, was named for him. Sneed was a physician.
We are fortunately in the possession of the recollections of Dr.
Wm. Hooper, who entered the Preparatory Department in 1804.
The Faculty consisted of President Caldwell, Prof. Bingham
and Tutor Henderson. The President was known among the
students as "Old Joe," though only thirty years of age and ex-
tremely active. Bingham's nickname "Old Slick" was because
of the glossiness of his hairless scalp. Henderson's small size
suggested his nickname, Little Dick. Matthew Troy and Ches-
ley Daniel presided over the Preparatory Department. All
things were fashioned after the model of Princeton, which prob-
ably imitated the Scottish universities. Students were required
to rise at daylight in the winter and to go to prayers by candle-
light. Troy taught the Jugurtha and Cataline of Sallust and
and to a well-behaved boy was kindly, but quick with the lash
on the idle and the wicked.
In the University proper Greek was required for a degree
first in 1804. Thirty dialogues of Lucian were at first sufficient.
It was thought necessary to have a native Frenchman to teach
properly his language, and "to torment him and amuse them-
selves with his transports of rage and broken English, was a
regular part of the college fun." Chemistry and Differential
and Integral Calculus were not in the course.
The South Building was still unfinished. The rough huts
of the students in the corners, picturesque but unbeautiful, were
still quiet retreats in fair weather, but the skill of the occupants
was not sufficient to protect them from rain.
The Junior and Senior classes only recited once a day. Geom-
etry was studied from a manuscript copy of a treatise by Dr.
Caldwell, which at a subsequent period was printed. The
copies of this made by the students swarmed with errors, which
fact was often alleged as an excuse for ignorance. The Junior
recitation was at u o'clock, after which some took to their
COMMENCEMENT OF 1804. 171
books, some stole off to hunting or fishing, while others would
make up a party for a dinner at James Craig's, called in dis-
tinction from the habitation of a man of the same name on the
Durham road, "Fur (or far) Craig's." This was of chicken-
pie or fried chicken with biscuits and coffee, costing twenty-five
cents a head, and was eagerly enjoyed as vastly superior to the
ordinary meals at Commons.
According to the recollections of Dr. Hooper the Commence-
ment of 1804 fell on the 4th of July, and it was duly celebrated
by the students. Thomas Brown, of Bladen, was elected (U-n-
eral and Orator, and Hyder Ali Davie second in command, by
the whole body of students. Says Dr. Hooper: "All things
being duly arranged the General, clad in full regimentals, with
cocked hat and dancing red plume, placed himself at the lu-ad
of his troops, (for we were all trained into soldiers for the
nonce), and marched up to the foot of the 'Big Poplar' where
was placed for him a rostrum, which he mounted, and all the
military disposing themselves before him, he gracefully took
off his plumed helmet and made profound obeisance to the
army. I can tell you nothing of the graduating class or their
speeches. My childish fancy was taken up with the military
display, though we had no music to march to but the drum and
the fife."
If Dr. Hooper's memory did not fail him, the march of Gen-
eral Brown or his nratimi was in add : tion to the program of the
:lty. The following is the official statement:
Representatives of the two societies were to deliver orations
on the 4th of July in honor of the day. These were < '.n-en H.
Campbell, Cadwallader Jones, Wm. B. Meares, David 1
Thomas Davis and John Taylor.
n the 7th of July, Saturday, ten pupils of the Prep
School were to compete for first honor, they having air.
'ned equal distinction in scholarship. Win. II
of these.
On the evening of Monday, the Qth, the members nf the
in the Preparatory Sdiool were to pr<mir
tions. Thomas Hawkins had the first Salutatory in Latin:
in KnirlUh : T"Im
1/2 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
the Valedictory, their scholarship being equal. Lewis Duke
had the first intermediate oration, William Henderson, the
second, and John Hooper, the third.
On Tuesday, the day before Commencement, fourteen stu-
dents from the Establishment, i. e., the University proper, were
to pronounce orations.
On the forenoon of Wednesday, the I2th of July, the day of
Commencement, the members of the Junior class made their
speeches. They were eight in number.
In the afternoon the Senior class delivered their orations.
Mr. Willie Wm. Jones, "having the greatest pretensions," 'had
the Latin Salutatory, which was the prize speech until 1838.
To Mr. Atlas Jones, being second, was assigned the Oration
in History.
To Mr. Thomas Brown, the Valedictory, he being third in
order.
Messrs. Richard Annistead and James Sneed delivered ora-
tions of their own choice.
It should be noticed that the prefix "Mr." was only given to
members of the graduating class. I cannot find when this con-
traction of Magister descended to tin- youngest Freshman;
about the time perhaps when girls of ten or eleven in boarding
schools obtained from the teachers the prefix of Miss (contract-
ed from Mistress or Ma^isUTess ) as a handle to their surnames.
It is now fashionable in the larger universities to substitute Mr.
for the titles, once prized, of Professor or Dr. The Preparatory
School was considered an integral part of the institution and
therefore had a place in the exercises.
In this year began the practice of assigning special addresses
to the highest honor men. Moreover it was ordained that the
Seniors should wear uniforms of neat, plain homespun cloth,
and the hope was expressed that their example of Patriotism
and Economy will be imitated hereafter. This was an evidence
of the deep feelings of resentment against England and France,
which led to the Embargo and Non-Intercourse Acts of Con-
gress.
CALDWELL ELECTED PRESIDENT. 173
CALDWELL PRESIDENT DAVIE LEAVES THE STATE UNIVKK-
SITY LIFE.
It has been mentioned that the Trustees had such an opinion
of the dignity of the office of President of the University that the
appointment was postponed from time to time. By 1804 Cald-
\\ell had shown such zeal and intelligence as Presiding Profes-
sor that it was evident to all that "the Hour and the Man" had
come. The following ordinance, prepared by two of the ablest
members of the Board, Wm. Gaston and Duncan Cameron, \\as
adopted unanimously and similarly confirmed at the regular
December meeting:
\\licrea>. experience has manifested the necessity of having a President
of the Uiiiver-ii\. and it is doubtful whether the Trustees have the
power of making a permanent appointment except at an animal meeting.
Be it therefore ordained, That a President of the University of North
ina be appointed to hold office until the next annual Tin-cling of the
TrnMeo. a Tnl that the said President discharge all those duties which
have heretofore been annexed to the office of Presiding Professor.
It was declared beneath the dignity of the President to be
dependent on tuition fees, and a salary of 500 pounds or $1,000
was voted him.
A ballot being had Rev. Joseph Caldwell was unanimously
elected. As a Trustee said at the time the choice was on ac-
count of his great talents and steady attachment to the I'ni-
versity.
At tin- next annual meeting the election was made perma-
nent
Tin choice was most happy. Caldwell was a man of en'
views, a scholar especially in the realm of Mathematics, with
a mind eager for the acquisition of knowledge in all directions.
II- had the widest sympathy in all enterprises promising b
ficial to the institutions of the State. He was a preacher
r. Tie was ntterlv fearless, in,], -fat i-al>le in
Hiar^e \ every duty, skillful in the administration <>f the dis
f. and which may K.
andcd by the prevail-- ' habits. II,- inspl
"lence. and. amnnij the disorderly, fear, lie \\a-> itfOl
and sw : '. and thought it not niulitfiiifi'
r race with midnight distnrlx-rv Al.. .\-r all the
1/4 HISTORY UNIVERSITY Ol ? NORTH CAROLINA.
Trustees had such implicit reliance on his wisdom and devotion
to the interests of the institution that they gradually abandoned
the pernicious practice of interfering in the discipline and al-
lowed the Faculty, under his dominating influence, full freedom
of action. Henceforth, while the habit of interfering with
the internal government was not for several years totally eradi-
cated, yet, whenever he showed decided displeasure, they sur-
rendered to his will.
The President was still to fill the Chair of Mathematics.
Wm. Bingham was Professor of the Ancient Languages.
Atlas Jones was his Tutor of all work.
The President was elected a member of the Board of Trus-
tees.
It was natural that, invested with as great autocratic power
as he was willing then to wield, he should assimilate the insti-
tution under his charge to his alma mater. Steps were taken
in this direction at once. The Trustees ordained that no de-
gree should be granted without a knowledge of Greek. No
student should enter the Junior class without passing an exami-
nation in 30 Dialogues of Lucian, Xenophen's Cyropedia and
four books of the Iliad, the Sophomore class of that year being
allowed to pass on the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, and the
Senior class of the next year being allowed to substitute French
for Greek.
For entrance into the Freshman class thereafter the applicant
must pass on Greek Grammar, Cornelius Nepos or Selectae de
Profanis. These were to be taught in the Preparatory School.
The ordinance for granting degrees for English branches and
the Sciences was repealed.
To add dignity to Commencement exercises it was ordained
that the President should wear a black gown.
A year after the election of President Caldwell he made an
unsuccessful effort to induce Rev. Marcus George, of the War-
renton Academy, to accept the Chair of Ancient Languages.
He stated that he had heard of the differences between Mr.
George and his Trustees, arising from their interference with
his management in presence of the pupils and before the public
eye. The past struggles of the University were alluded to. They
l.KTTKK OF CAI. DWELL. 1/5
sometimes threaten to terminate its existence, but "amidst the
darkest prospects it has always recovered with more certain
strength." Now it seemed to be almost out of reach of danger.
Mr. George was the teacher of Chief Justice Ruffin, Weldon
N. Edwards, and other eminent men, and had their unqualified
.rd.
Caldwell gives the number of students at seventy, more than
ever before in the University proper. The salary offered is
$333.33 from the Treasury and $7.50 from each student,
amounting to more than $850 a year, paid semi-annually in ad-
vance. He added that no self-interest prompted his letter, be-
cause as long as the vacancy should continue two-thirds of the
$850 would be added to his own salary, which implies that he
temporarily teaching the classes studying the classics, as
well as those in his own department of Mathematics.
In a letter written to a friend in Connecticut, whose name is
not known, the President gives a short resume of his life since
leaving Princeton in 1796. It has a tone of sadness but firm
resolve. "The difficulties, trials and anxieties" he encountered
were too numerous to be recorded within a short compass. He
tells of the recent death of his daughter and wife, adding,
"Such is the fallacy of human expectations and the transition
of present happiness." Treasurer Haywood, in a letter written
at the same period, thus consoles him : "Resignation, Religion
and Time must be relied on as the best Balm for the Heart
torn and wounded by privations of the tender and distressing
kind you experience/'
It was not many months after his elevation to the Presidency
before Caldwell received a flattering call to the Professorship
lathematics and Natural Philosophy in the College of South
Carolina. It was conveyed by a Trustee, Incite \Vm. John
<>f tin- Supn-me Court of the Tinted Sta: How student
ho Dialed that the salary as Professor was
<O per annum, and for preaching in the Chapel $500 was
by tin citi/. nhia. The
1 that lie would soon l>ee<.me President with a salary
T> and a house,
re was much consternation among the friends <f the I 'ni
176 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
versity of North Carolina at this offer. Treasurer Haywood
wrote: "I cannot but hope as a North Carolinian, that your
attachment to the infant institution of which you have the care,
and other considerations growing out of the remembrance of
the anxious and fatherly part you have taken in its continuace
and prosperity for years past and in the days of its greatest
trials and adversity, will lead you rather to consult your feelings
than your interest." * * * "Remain with us and go on to
cherish and strengthen the child of your adoption by a con-
tinuance of those parental cares and attentions which have so
greatly contributed to the support of its infancy." The mem-
bers of the Senior class, Green H. Campbell, John L. Taylor,
John R. Donnell, John C. Montgomery, Gavin Hogg- and
Stephen Davis, appealed to him in affectionate and laudatory
terms, certifying to the ability and the fairness of his adminis-
tration. Among other things they say "you have been the
director of our youthful pursuits, our guide, our teacher and
our friend."
The Board of Trustees unanimously passed resolutions 111;^-
iiijn' mi him the irreparable loss, which the University would
sustain by his leaving it. The result was, as he wrote to his
Connecticut correspondent, that finding his attachment grow
to the place and disliking changes he declined the appointment.
< 'r.-KliKiu-s nf i So:; \\uv l>cniamin Franklin Hawkins, Warren
County; Joseph Warren Hawkins, Warren County; Spruce
M.'icay Osborne, MirkK'iibiirjr County.
Of these, Joseph W. Hawkins was a physician and one of the
promoters and Directors of the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad;
Benjamin F. Hawkins was often Senator and Commoner from
Franklin ; Osborne was a surgeon U. S. A., killed at Fort Minis.
Of the contemporaneous matriculates, Joseph John Daniel was
a member of the Legislature, a Presidential Elector, a Judge of
the Superior and Supreme Courts, a delegate to the Convention
of 1835 ; John H. Hawkins was often a member of the Legis-
lature from Warren ; William Rufus King, a member of the
Legislature and of Congress from North Carolina, member of
the Convention of Alabama of 1819, United States Senator,
Minister to France, Vice-President U. S. A.
DAVIE LEAVES THE STATE. 177
In this year the State and the University lost the valuable
services of William Richardson Davie. He had a career of
uninterrupted success until 1802, when he was overwhelmed
by the wave of Jeffersonian Republicanism which swept over
the State. He was defeated, as any Federalist would have
been, by a much inferior man, Philip W. Alston. Ardent as he
\\ a> in his political opinions, the pathway to official or Congres-
sional usefulness was closed for an indefinite period. Practice
at the bar, of which he was one of the acknowledged leaders,
had no attractions to compensate him for the tedious journeys,
often in fervid heat or piercing cold or dismal rains, in perils
of high waters, over roads deep in sand or mud or cut up by
dangerous chasms. An uncle, for whom he was named, who
supplied the place of a father, dying when he was a child, had
bequeathed to him a plantation in Lancaster County, South Car-
olina, on the banks of the Catawba, near the line of the county
of Mecklenburg, with a proper complement of slaves, and he
resolved to retire from public life and spend his remaining
years in the quiet and ease of a country gentleman. We have
a letter from him June 9, 1805, saddened in spirit, of which I
extracts. After mentioning that he had returned from
South Carolina on the 5th he adds: "I have now again been
months on the road and return perfectly worn down. My
constitution cannot now bear that degree of Buffering, privation
and incessant toil which, when I enjoyed youth and health. \
me spirits and pleasure. Everything must yield to Time, and I
have submitted with as good a grace as possible. My plan of
life is to be completely changed, and those measures which are
leading me to a Repose I have long Milled for, and which is
cry day more necessary for me, are to commence
ihU fall. The plan involves some painful sacrifices, but they
are necessary and indispensable. A separation from friends to
whom my heart lias been tenderly attached for many years is
anion- the most painful of all these. I anticipate it. I feel it,
as a prelude to that last separation to which the laws of our
\af "! ns to submit."
He was mueh concerned at the attacks on the University by
Mibly and chaprim d at the inf f \ortli
12
178 HISTORY r.MVKUsm <>! NORTH CAROLINA.
to South Carolina in respect for higher education. He wrote:
"the friends of science in the other States regard the people of
North Carolina as a sort of semi-barbarians, among whom
neither learning, virtue nor men of science possess any estima-
tion. In South Carolina a professorship is more eagerly can-
vassed for than the Secretaryship of the government of the
United States, the consequence of that liberal spirit which has
been displayed by their assembly. After a handsome and per-
manent endowment of the offices of the institution they voted
$10,000 to purchase a library and philosophical apparatus.
What a contrast! Poor North Carolina!" We must believe
that Davie shared in the contempt which Federalist leaders gen-
erally had for the victorious Republicans, and this feeling
prompted these bitter words.
The prosperity of the University was still in his thoughts.
He advised that the choice of the new Professor of Languages
should be given to the President, and that as a rule he should
select all inferior officers, as the whole responsibility rested on
him.
After his removal to South Carolina Davie was never induced
to emerge from the retirement of a country gentleman, except
to IK- I 'resident of the Stair Agricultural Society. During
the War of 1812 he was tendered the position of Major-Gen-
eral, and the Senate confirmed the nomination. His constitu-
tion had been too much undermined to allow him to accept it.
He died November 8, 1820, leaving a reputation as a soldier,
a statesman, a lawyer and broad-minded citizen, of which the
University and the State are proud.
Lt.-Gov. Francis D. Winston sends me a letter written July
31, 1816, by General Jeremiah Slade, long State Senator frorn
Martin County, to his son Alfred, a student in the University,
containing an eulogy on Davie, which shows the strong hold
he had on his party friends. After praising the location of the
University as eminently suitable to study, he says : "This leads
me to regard with feelings of admiration little short of adora-
tion the character of the father of the institution, Wm. R.
Davie, who with a flow of eloquence which did honor to his
head, and a sympathy which did honor to his heart (for he shed
KLXUI.U-XTIONS OF 1>R. HUOFKK. 1/9
tears at the prospect of a failure of the Bill of Incorporation
as freely as a father would for the loss of a favorite child), he
bore down the powerful opposition, which was raised against
the bill. And altho' we greatly admire the site of his choice,
yet we still more wonder how he should have discovered it.
* After the Act of Incorporation was granted it was by his
exertions that the institution went into operation. * : You
may be led to inquire why so great and so good a man should
bury himself in the shades of retirement. It was at the time
when mad Democracy got the upper hand of the Constitution
and the Washingtonian administration, he pursued the dictates
of that sound maxim, 'when rogues bare sway the post of
li'inor is a private station.' '
Andrew Khea, Professor of Ancient Languages from 1806 to
1X14. was a Virginian. He is described by Davie in [797
"said to be of middle age with a family, of six years experience
in teaching, and highly spoken of." He seems to have escaped
animadversion hut lias left no traditional reputation as to learn
r teaching powers. That he was a widower is proved by
bis being required to sleep in the University Building and piv-
-eward's table. The Raleigh Register says lie was
vv distinguished scholar, but Dr. Hooper describes him as
i-natured. indolent man." I give some reminiscent-.
'-. Hooper, found in bis address al the t'uiYersity in 1859,
during the visit of President Buchanan. He was a student in
'reparatorx Department and then entered the I'nivc-rsMy in
" \- tlu- (inly dormitory that bad a ro,,f was tog crowded for
Mudy. many students left tlie'r nnnis as a p'.. Midy en-
tirely, and built cabins : n the corners of tin- unfinished brick-
walls of tbe South I'uilding. and quite comfortable cabins they
In Mich a cabin they hibernated and burned their mid-
night oil, Vfl -'" U !>rin- brought back the SWdllOWfl and
tile lra\es. the\ merged from their den and cho^e SMUK- shad\
limit where the\ made a path and a promenade, and in
that nnhowrivd pn .un-nadr all diligent students of those d. t \s
had to fdlow th tie with its diOiculties.
HFC up their best equipment^ : Ye remnants ,.f the
Per ,,)!
l8o HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
"Ah, ye can tell how hard it is to climb /
The steep where fame's proud temple shines afar!"
"They lived sub divo, like the birds that caroled over their
heads. "But how," you will say, "did they manage in rainy
weather?" Well, nothing was more common than, on a rainy
day, to send in a petition to be excused from recitation, which
petition /an in this stereotype phrase: "The inclemency of the
weather rendering it impossible to prepare the recitation, the
Sophomore class respectfully request Mr. Rhea to excuse them
from recitation this afternoon." The petitions were granted.
The following relates to studies in the Junior class: "The
Juniors had their first taste of Geometry, in a little elementary
treatise, drawn up by Dr. Caldwell. in manuscript, and not
then printed. Copies were to be had only by transcribing,
and in process of time they, of course, were swarming with
errors. ]>ut this was a decided advantage to the Junior, who
stuck to his text, without minding his diagram. For, if he
happened to say that the angle at A was equal to the angle of
I*, when in fact the diagram showed no angle at \\ at all. but
one at C, if Doctor Caldwell corrected him, be bad it always
in bis powr to say: "\Vcll, that was what I thought myself.
but it ain't so in the bonk, and 1 thought you knew better
than I." We may well suppose- that the Doctor was compl;
silenced by this unexpected application of the argumentnm ad
bominem."
"('.reek, after its introduction, became the bug-bear of college.
I laving been absent when my class began it, I beard, on my
return, such a terrific account of it that I no more durst en-
counter the Greeks than Xerxes when be fled in consternat'on
across the Hellespont, after the battle of Salamis. Rather than
lose my degree, however, after two years T plucked up courage-
and set doggedly and desperately to work, prepared hastily
thirty Dialogues of Lucian, and on that stock of Greek was per-
mitted to graduate. As for Chemistry and Differential and
Integral Calculus and all that, we never heard of such hard
things. They had not then crossed the Roanoke, nor did they
appear among us t : ll they were brought in by the Northern
barbarians about the vear 1818." The Doctor alludes to the
CLASS OF 1806. l8l
coining of Professor Mitchell, who for a time had charge of
Mathematics.
C.nuluates of 1806: John Adams Cameron, Virginia; Durant
Hatch. Junior. Jones County; James Henderson, Kentucky;
James Martin, Stokes County.
The first honor was awarded to Cameron, the second to
Martin.
Cameron was a member of the Legislature, a Major in the
War of 1812, Consul to Vera Cruz; Judge of the United States
District Court of Florida. He was lost at sea in journeying
froin Savannah to New York. He was a brother of Judge
1 )imcan Cameron.
James Martin was a son of Col. James Martin, of the Revolu-
tion, who was one of the Commissioners to locate the State Cap-
ital hence Martin street. After spending a year at the Univer-
sity as Tutor, he settled in Salisbury as a lawyer and had a wide
reputation. He was Superior Court Judge from 1826 to 1835,
and Senator from Rowan in 1823. He was a Trustee of the
I'niver.sity from 1823 to 1836, the last year probably being the
date <f his removal to Mobile, Alabama. He became Judge of
the Circuit Court of his adopted State.
the others. Hatch was a planter, and Henderson a physi-
cian in Kentucky.
( >f the non-graduating contemporaneous matriculates, \Ym.
I'.elvidere M cares was a prominent lawyer and member of the
L-- : xlature; Archibald H. Sneed, a Major I". S. Y: lames
Yonnir. of ('.ranville. a physician : John I'.urgex Maker, a
phyxidan and a member of the Legislature from <'.ate<: t'ullcn
! '.at tic-, a prominent physician and planter, first in this State and
then in Alabama; lames Smith I'.attle. an influential planter in
Kd-jecomhe (.', miity: Thomas I'.nr-c--. a lawyer of lai
n Halifax: William C. Lov< ;>el Hill, a l\cpr<
tativc in Congregfl fn>m the Salisbury District: William Miller,
member of the I.c-i-lature. Speaker of the HOUM-. Vtton
rernor, Charge d'At'f ( '.natemala.
In 1X07 the honor was conferred mi President Taldwell of
beii ted by tin- ('..inniisx],,,) as the astronomical <
"iKh running the houndarx lire b<-i\\<cn \r\\\
l82 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
South Carolina and Georgia. Governor Nathaniel Alexander
applied to the Board of Trustees for permission for him to act,
and General John Steele offered to resign as Commissioner if
necessary to secure him, saying, "My services may perhaps be
useful, his, I think, are essential." The Trustees with some
reluctance for fear that the discipline of the University might
suffer, granted the request, with the proviso that in his opinion
Professor Rhea could efficiently act as temporary head of the
institution. The reputation of President Caldwell was much
enhanced by his intelligent conduct of the delimitation of this
boundary. His work was satisfactory to the Commissioners of
the States interested, namely, John Steele, Montfort Stokes
and Robert Burton for North Carolina, and Joseph Blythe,
Henry Middleton and John Blasingame for South Carolina.
Owing to the uncertainty in the description in the act, the Com-
missioners recommended to the two States certain changes,
which the Legislature adopted. Thomas Love, Montfort
Stokes and John Patton for North Carolina, and Joseph Blythe,
John Blassengame (so spelt) and George W. Earle for South
Carolina, appointed to run the line by the new agreement, found
that impossible to be literally carried into effect, and reported
a change, which was adopted by both States in 1815. The line
between North Carolina and Georgia was confirmed in 1819.
Graduates of 1807: Duncan Green Campbell, Orange
County; Stephen Davis, Warrenton ; John Robert Donnell, New
Bern ; Gavin Hogg, Chapel Hill ; John Carr Montgomery,
Hertford County: John Lewis Taylor, Chatham County.
Donnell was the best scholar. He became a lawyer of large
practice, a Superior Court Judge and, marrying a daughter of
Governor Richard Dobbs Spaight. was one of the wealthiest
men of the State. Gavin Hogg was a Tutor of the University
for a year, then settled in Bertie County as a lawyer, and had
a large practice and wide reputation. Subsequently he removed
to Raleigh and was appointed by the General Assembly, in con-
junction with James Iredell and William H. Battle, to prepare
the Revised Statutes. He entered on the work with zeal and
ability, but was forced by ill health to resign and Frederick
Nash was substituted. By goodly income from his profession
M BODLHAC, . uoa*r ^ .1* 3Dtaltoic fcoratp
l>l M I c IK Sue II IV DIIMIIM 1 o| IsclT.
CLASSES OF 1807, 1808 AND 1809. 183
and by marriage he became the possessor of a large fortune.
Davis was a wealthy physician of Warrenton. Montgomery
and Taylor were likewise physicians. Campbell was a teacher,
lawyer and member of the Legislature of Georgia.
Of the matriculates four years before, Henry Chambers, of
Rowan, was a talented physician; William Green was a member
of the Legislature from Warren; James M. Henderson was a
physician; Henry Young Webb, member of the Legislature,
Judge in Alabama Territory ; John Henry Eaton, U. S. Senator,
Secretary of War, Governor of Florida Territory, U. S. Min-
ister to Spain, author of "Life of Jackson/' husband of the
beautiful and much talked of "Peggy O'Neil."
Tin- Graduates of 1808 were: John Bright Brown, Bladen
County; Robert Campbell, Campbell County, Va. ; John Cole-
man, Halifax County, Va. ; Wm. James Cowan, Wilmington ;
Win. Pugh Ferrand, Onslow County; Alfred Gatlin, New Bern ;
John 15. Giles, Salisbury; Wm. Green, Warren County; James
Anld Harrington, Richmond County; Wm. Henderson, Chapel
Hill ; Benjamin Dusenbury Rounsaville, Lexington; Lewis Wil-
liams, Surry County ; Thomas Lanier Williams, Surry County.
The best scholars were Lewis Williams and Thomas L. Wil-
liams, the former speaking the Salutatory, the latter the Vale-
dictory. The others honored were Wm. Green, John B. Giles,
Alfred Gatlin and John Coleman.
this class, Wm. Henderson, of Chapel Hill, was Tutor for
one year, beginning in 1811. He was afterwards a physician,
practicing in Williamston, Martin County, until his death Sep-
tember 15. 1838. He was born in 1789, the second son of
Major Pleasant Henderson and his wife Sarah Martin.
Lewis Williams was Tutor 1810-12. He was a native of
Surry; served 1813 and 1814 as a representative in the State
Mature. In 1815 he was elected a uiemhrr of CoOgn M and
d continuously until his death February u. 1842. He was
most highly respected and was known as the Father of the
^e; was a Trustee of the University from 1813 to his death.
His brother, Thomas l.anier William-. \\as a Judge of the Su-
e Court and also a Chancellor of Tennessee.
John 15. Giles and Alfred Gatlin were both Representatives
184 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
in Congress, while Giles was also a Trustee of the University,
a member of the General Assembly and of the Convention of
1835. Wm. P. Ferrand, a physician, was a Commoner from
Onslow; and James A. Harrington, son of Gen. Henry Wm.
Harrington, of the Revolution, was a member of the South
Carolina Legislature and a large planter; Benjamin D. Rounsa-
ville, a lawyer. John Coleman was a physician.
There were some prominent matriculates not graduating
with this class: Daniel M. Forney, of Lincoln County, a Com-
moner; Ransom Hinton, a physician in Wake; John D. Jones,
Speaker of the House of Commons, a member of the Conven-
tion of 1835, and a merchant and banker of Wilmington; John
Neale, a Commoner from Brunswick ; John ( )\\ t-n. a Commoner
from lUadc'ii, Governor 1828-30 and President of the Harris-
burg Convention which nominated Harrison. It is said that he
refused to run as Vice-President, and thus missed the Presi-
dency. John Neale, a member of the Legislature.
Class of 1809: John Bobbitt, Franklin County; Maxwell
Chambers, Salisbury; Abner Wentworth Clopton. Virginia;
John Gilchrist, Robeson County ; Philemon Hawkins. Warren
County; William Hooper, Chapel Hill; John llriggN Mebane,
Chatham County ; Thomas Gilchrist Polk, Mecklenburg County;
John Campbell Williams, Cumberland County.
With this class Greek was studied in the Freshman year and
the Iliad in the Sophomore. The best scholar was William
Hooper, the next Maxwell Chambers, and then John B. Bobbitt
and John C. Williams. The most eminent was William Hooper
who became a Baptist preacher. Professor of Languages and
then of Rhetoric in the University, Professor of Moral Phil-
osophy in the South Carolina College, President of Wake For-
est College, and author of printed addresses and sermons of
rare excellence.
Chambers became a physician in Salisbury of good reputa-
tion. He must not be confounded with the merchant of New
Orleans, a native of North Carolina, of the same name, who
bequeathed his property to Davidson College only part of
which could be taken under its charter. Bobbitt was a classical
teacher all his life and was highly regarded as such in the coun-
I
;
M
I
x i
[If. I
ffli
I
O ^
| S
CLASS OF 1809. 185
ties of Nash and Franklin. Many of the students prepared
by him took a high stand at the University. Williams was a
member of the Legislature; Gilchrist, Polk and Mebane, like-
wise in the General Assembly, and the last a Trustee of the
University.
Abner Wentworth Clopton, a native of Virginia, probably
Chesterfield County. He was a Tutor for one year beginning
with 1809, when he sent in his resignation, concluded in these
naive words: "I find it utterly inconvenient to receive no more
than $250 a year. I am willing to serve for $500 a year, and
am richly worth it." The Trustees agreed to give him $400 on
account of his special merits, but he was transferred to the
headship of the Grammar School, to have all tuition receipts and
$100 bonus. The tuition charges were $12 for the first and $8
for the second term, but during the War of 1812 he was allowed
in addition $5 per annum. He was a very efficient teacher and
the reputation of his school was high under his administration.
Hi-sides being a teacher, he was a physician and likewise a Bap-
tist preacher. He was evidently a shrewd trader. He induced
l\ev. Wm. Hooper to agree to give him $2,500 for his resi-
lence. the four acres now the Battle lot, then having indifferent
houses, a price generally thought to be $1,000 in excess.
Hooper soon repented of his bargain but Clopton held him to
it with a hawk's grip. After leaving Chapel Hill he settled
in Virginia, near the residence of John Randolph. of Koaimkc.
who highly appreciated him as a preacher.
Among the members of the class who did not graduate. John
! I'hifer was a Commoner, Horace B. Satterwhite, a physician
^alisbury; Henry H. Watters, an influential planter of
r.rnnswick County: Bartlett Yancey. one of the most eminent
nun of the State in his day, Speaker of the State Senate-. 1
native in Congress, an active TniMee of the I "niver*it\ ,
ami a 1 Vomoter of Public School Kduration : Win. S. I'.larkman.
a Commoner from Sampan; Abridgeton S. II. I'.tr phy-
>iciaii in Virginia.
-adtiates of iXm: Thomas Williamson Jones. I .a \\rencc-
. Ya.; James Kauntl. lor. Chatham County: John
Witherspoon, New P.ern.
1 86 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Jones was a physician; Taylor, Attorney-General and Trus-
tee of the University; Witherspoon, Presbyterian divine at
Hillsboro and elsewhere, President of Miami College, Doctor of
Divinity from his Alma Mater and of Laws from Princeton.
Mark Alexander, of Virginia, was with this class in the Senior
year. He became a member of Congress and member of the
Virginia Convention of i829-'3O.
Of the non-graduating matriculates Samuel P. Ashe, of Hali-
fax, and Thomas J. Singleton, of Craven County, were mem-
bers of the Legislature.
The honorary degrees were as follows: Doctor of Divinity
to Rev. David Caldwell, eminent teacher and member of the
Constitutional Convention of 1/88; Rev. James Hall, the
preacher-captain in the Revolution, Classical Teacher. Princi-
pal of Clio's Nursery ; James McRee, pastor of Centre church,
Mecklenburg County.
Master of Arts to the following: Rev. Samuel Craighead
Caldwell, pastor and teacher in Mecklenburg County ; Rev. John
Robinson, pastor of Poplar Tent church ; Rev. William Left-
wich Turner ; Rev. James Wallis, Principal of Providence
Academy in Mecklenburg; Rev. John McKamie Wilson, pastor
at Rocky River and Principal of a Classical School.
Commencement was ordered to be on the 24th of May, in
1812, on the first Thursday in June, with a six weeks' vacation
thereafter, and another four weeks' vacation beginning on the
second Thursday in December. In the next year the last
Thursday in June was substituted for the first.
The evil effects of the secession of 1805 and subsequent
troubles were especially evident at the Commencement of 1811,
there being no graduates, although the honorary degree of A.B.
was awarded to John Ambrose Ramsey, a former student of
high rank, who afterwards represented Moore County in the
General Assembly. Nor were there any matriculates of note
with the class.
In order to show the stately dignity of the old times I give
a copy of a Doctor of Divinity Diploma (D.D.) granted by the
University in 1810 to the eminent classical teacher, David Cald-
well. It is noticeable that the Latin of "Chapel Hill" is "Sac-
DIPLOMA OF DAVID CALDWl'LL. 187
rarii-Mons," or Mount of the Chapel. Those who worshipped
in Buffalo church probably did not know it by the name of
r.tibulus. which sonic authorities say designated a kind of ante-
lope. Alamance is correctly spelt Allemance, a name brought
over from (Germany by the settlers from that country. It savors
of pathos to find a document so formidable signed by a Presi-
dent, one Professor and two Tutors, being the only Socii, i. e.,
Faculty, in charge of the University.
SENATUS UNIVKRSITATIS
CAROLTNAE SKPTKMTKIOXAL1S.
<)\i\ii:r> IT siM.rus AD tjros n \; IM:I\I\H:IM.
SALUTEM IN DOMINO.
Quo rarior etiam inter doctos est summa peritia literaruin, quippe quo
jnultis aiduisque laboribn- vcr-atum, eo magis gloria rju- rmrminere
<l-lift. uti inter homin.-- - udium scientiae et virtutis augeatur, et qui
attigerint pro merito remuncrantur. Omnium quoquo inaximi refert,
eos qui in his valde praestant, non ignorari M-<! ubique designari, ut
tate honiinum. quani pluriimun proficiant. Qunniam i^ritur in hac
ii<>-tra ivpuMira iibi< onmmissum est artiuin opl imai uni st udium fovere,
ot eos in his apprime institutes aequo comim-mlan-. notum sit quod nos,
-es et Socii Universitatis Carolinae Septemli i<mali>. Davidem Cald-
jain inultis annis Pastorem Ecclesiarum Bubuli et Allemanciae
propter pietatem singularem, eruditionem eximiam, et mores probos,
Gradu Doctoral i in Sacrosancta Theologia condecoravimus, atque ei
Theologiam Sacrosanctam docendi et profiteiuli jMiic>tai-m concessimua.
Quorum in testimonium his literis patentihu- im-ti.i (liiographa appo-
nemus et easdem sigillo communi hujus Univer-itaii- obsignari cura-
vimus.
Datum ad Sacrarii Montcm in .l.>i mi > ( \i i.\\i i i . /'
AulaPersonicatertiokalendas \M>UI\V i;m \. I'rof.
lulii, Aniiit Saint U Millp.inm LUDOVICI s \\"ILLIAMS, Tutor.
igeeimo decem. GhnJXLMUfl lh\i'iit>c.\. Tutor.
- emphasizing the unfortunate interference by the Trustees
in the discipline of the institution, I give the substance of a
letter by the Secretary, Adjutant (ii-neral Robert William-
Dr. Caldwell in 1810. communicating ofticially a resolution of
the Board, recommending the re-admission .f a dismissed ><tu-
The Secretary, himself a Trustee, exproseil the hope
the Faculty will not herd it. "If you will make the stand,
Sir, it will in preference to all other method^ have a tendency
to brin- tin- Board to a proper sense of their duties. Tin \ .
;ir services for von have more friends on
l88 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
the Board than any other man whatever." * * * "Mr. Alves
and myself made talks against the report but it was carried by
one majority.'' This action of the Board is curious as giving
a good reason for its rejection, yet favoring its adoption. "In
their opinion Mr. Long did justly and completely forfeit his
rights as a student * : through his disorderly behavior,
rudeness and disobedience. * * :: They find a difficulty in
recommending that course which in consideration of the parents
of the young man would be most consonant with their feelings."
The regard for the feelings of the parents weighed down the
Ljood of the University. Dr. Caldwell endorsed on the letter
of (-eiieral Williams. "A new specimen of enforcement of au-
thority."
1 'resident Caldwell responded with hardly suppressed indig-
nation in a letter addressed to the Board. "If this College is
to !>e maintained the establishment must somehow be altered."
He ottered his resignation of the Presidency, hoping that it
would be accepted at an early a date as possible, and at the end
of six months absolutely. He was willing to remain in a subor-
dinate capacity on a salary of $800 a year, so that $700 and the
President's house might towards the salary of the new exec-
utive.
C.eneral Williams was right; the Trustees could not manage
without Caldwell. He was induced by implied, if not expressed,
promises of a change of policy, to retain his Presidency.
In 1811 occurred an outbreak, the facts of which are not
recorded. It is mentioned in a letter by a Trustee, Dr. Calvin
Jones, then living in Raleigh, to Dr. Caldwell. Dr. Jones says
that both inhabitants and strangers think that there never was
a more clearly marked case to justify the most vigorous exer-
of authority. The students met with reproof from every-
body, whether gentle or simple. Their crestfeathers were com-
pletely down. Dr. Jones was greatly surprised at the effort of
Governor Stone to get two of them into the Raleigh Academy ;
while he was not surprised that Mr. Sherwood Hay wood, a
"g'xl, polite, clever, worthy man, who never contradicted any-
one in his life," should have seconded his efforts. From this
we see that the authorities of the University objected to their
CLASSES OF l8ll AND l8l2. 189
dismissed students being received into preparatory schools, as
well as colleges.
The insubordination, whatever it was, caused all the mem-
bers of the Senior class, except John A. Ramsay, to forfeit their
diplomas. The others were Mark Alexander, Thomas J. Fad-
dis. \Vm. Gilchrist, Frank Hawkins, \\"m. J. Polk and William
.Moore, who passed their November examinations. They were
all good men. Moore was the best scholar in the class; Gil-
christ was next, afterwards a member of the Tennessee Legis-
lature. Faddis, Hawkins and Polk were physicians of good
standing, the latter of high reputation in Columbia, Tennessee.
They obtained their diplomas in 1813 ; the others did not return.
The Graduates of 1812 were: Daniel Graham, Anson
County; James Hogg, late of Chapel Hill; Thomas Clark-
Hooper, Chapel Hill ; William Johnston, Franklin County ;
M unlock McLean. Robeson County; Archibald McQueen,
Robeson County: Johnson Pinkston, Chowan County; Joseph
r.lount Gregory Koiilliac. I'.ertie County; William Kd wards
Webb. Granville County; Charles Jewkes Wright, Wilmington.
Of these Graham was Secretary of the State <>f Tcniu--
of great service to his Alma Mater in securing her military
warrants: H<gg. McLean and Pinkston, physicians ; Hoop*
lawyer; McQueen, a minister; Roulhac, son-in-law of Chief
Justice Rufriii. a highly esteemed merchant of Raleigh: Webb.
ProfY-si,r of .Ancient Languages in the University in i pr
has been narrated.
< )f the non-graduate-. Richard T. ttrownrigg. "f Chowan.
a planter and owner <>f fisheries also a member of the
: slature. lie removed to Columbia. Mississippi. David
Dan* physician of standing. whsc life WM accidentally
cut short.
The honorary degree of ' ! Lawfl < I. !..!>. W*
ferred on K, \. Ashhel Green. I ).!).. Pn-sidert ..f theo-llr*
< .11 i ; of ! 1 >ivinii\ < I > I > > < -n K< v
James Patriot Wilson, a clcrgvnian .f Philadelplr'a. anth<
wrks mi religions -nl>i''t v : and mi 1\ \ddison I
Washington aiul of Hampdrn
Sidney Colleges, and 1'f" \ in I'nion The. '
- . an anlh-.r.
K)o HISTORY IMYKRSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The following shows the compensation of officers, before the
election of Chapman :
President Caldwell. <;ilsiry $1000.
share of tuition 375 . $1375 .
Prof. Rhea 800.
Tutor Lewis Williams 300.
Tutor William Hooper 300.
George Johnston, Master of Grammer School, all tui-
tion and 100.
Robert Williams, Secretary-Treasurer 200.
Wm. Barboe, Supt. of Buildings and Grounds 20.
Total for salaries $3095 .
BY-LAWS.
From time to time the By-Laws or, as they were called, Or-
dinances were revised and much enlarged. I give some of the
changes, deemed of interest. The Faculty consisted of the
President, Professors and Tutors, the President having two
votes in case of a tie.
They must not be members of either of the societies or even
attend a meeting.
Each was hound to enforce- the laws and report all breaches.
They must hold monthly meetings and a report of their pro-
ceedings must 1>e submitted to the Trustees. A history of each
student must be kept.
Tlie winter session must begin on the 1st of January, if there
one student to form a class, .if not as soon as there shall be.
Examinations for admission were in the presence of all the
Faculty.
Tuition and board at Steward's. Hall were payable in advance.
If the student arrived at the middle of the session or after-
wards, he paid one-half.
Each student must buy a copy of the laws fo. 12 1-2 cents.
The certificate of membership was endorsed on the copy; and
each must pledge his truth and honor to obey the laws.
The Faculty were authorized to dismiss a student for general
worthlessness, without specifying a particular offence.
Even when not in study hours students must observe "proper
silence and respectful deportment."
i:\-LA\\ S. 10,1
Two or three declaimed before the Faculty each afternoon.
There were no exemptions except for natural impediment.
On Saturday forenoons all students recited Grammar, or
passages in Latin or Greek, or read pieces of their own com-
position.
The annual examinations, (Commencements), began on the
22d of June, or on the 23d if that day was Sunday.
If one was absent he was examined before all the Faculty.
Habitual indolence, or absences, was punishable according
to the aggravation.
1 Vficient students were either publicly mentioned as bad
- I'.-lars, or admonished privately, or "de-classed."
The Faculty assigned duties at Commencement. Refusal to
>rm them was punishable by loss of diplomas.
Instruction in morals and religion was required.
Insults to the people of the village and attacks on property
-bidden, and the village could not be visited in study
hours without permission. Students w r erc prohibited to "make
to keep cocks or fowls of any kind or f< .r
any purpose ; to keep dogs or firearms, and to use firearms with-
permission.
For intoxication the punishment was for the first offence
admonition before the Faculty; for a repetition public admoni-
or suspension.
For refusal to inform on a fellow-student the offender was
admonished or suspended. For combination against a la\\
Ter disrespect to the Faculty, all offenders, or leaders only.
M be punished.
On Sundays all ordinary diversion and exercises must be-
laid aside. Students could not fish, or hunt, or "walk far
but what distance should be called "far" was not <!<-
I. Manual or corporal labor could not be without permis-
sion.
A<! hauMed in the denunciation
isphemous, impious langttj mbited. Adn
lit lying or using indecent gesture or lan-
It" the falsehood was direct and malicious the punMi
isii.n or expuKi
192 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
If a student should refuse or delay opening his door when
ordered by a member of the Faculty, it could be forced at his
expense, and the occupant required to pay damages and be
otherwise punished if found breaking any other law. And so,
if a student should be sent for and refuse to appear, it was *'a
high contempt of authority."
Rooms must be kept clean, students must not introduce filth
of -any kind therein, nor throw on the walls, nor within twenty
yards of the building, any filth or dirt under penalty of being
censured and forced to remove the same.
Students were required to appear neat and cleanly, or be ad-
monished. but they were recommended to be plain in dress.
After January i, 1805, they, as well as the Faculty, were or-
dered to have black gowns and wear the same in Person Hall
at public meetings, but students must not wear a hat in the
buildings.
No student should build a hut, or retain one already built,
without permission. This refers to the practice of those seeking
privacy, having rough shelters in the corners of the partly fin-
ished South or "Main" Building, or under some umbrageous
tree.
Nor could students go out of sight of the buildings, or hear-
ing of the bell in study hours, or at any other time when the
bell might call them to duty.
Rooms were not retained for anyone absent at the beginning
of the session. At one period the students were allowed to race
for them, as soon as prayer was finished, on the first morning.
If the Faculty deemed any house improper for boarders, on
account of irregular manner of living, or disorderly or per-
nicious examples, they may report it to the Trustees.
As a rule there could be no rooming out of the University
building until there were four in each room, but exceptions could
be made if necessary for health, a certificate of a physician
being the only evidence of this necessity.
At the first ringing of the bell in the morning all should rise.
At the second all should go to the Chapel.
Students were forbidden to eat or drink at a tavern without
permission. By "tavern" is meant places where alcoholic liquors
were sold for drinks.
STEWARDS. 193
Dismission or expulsion was the punishment for associating
vvith an expelled student. All universities and colleges were
to be notified of the fact of expulsion and requested not to re-
ceive the offender.
Those suspended must not reside within two miles of Chapel
Hill.
The Presiding Professor must notify parents of proper ex-
penses and request them not to furnish their sons with addi-
tional funds.
The Faculty shall have power to forbid dangerous games,
and it was solemnly provided that no ball or other substitute
used in licensed plays and pastimes should be composed of
harder material than wound yarn covered with leather. This
probably was intended for base-ball, in which it was the practice
to put out a player by hitting him with a thrown ball while off
base.
For settlements of controversies between Faculty and stu-
dents and officers of the institution, individually and collect-
ively, six Trustees were annually appointed, who, with the
J 'resident, made a quasi-court, any three of whom were a
quorum. Their decision stood until reversed by the Board <>f
Trustees.
STEWARDS.
After the resignation of John Taylor, usually known as
Buck Taylor, Pleasant Henderson, a Major of Cavalry under
Col. Malready in the Revolutionary War, the youngest son of
Samuel and Klizabeth (Williams) Henderson, brother of Judge
Richard. \vho was father of Archibald and Chief Justice Hen-
derson, was for some years the Steward of the University. Be-
this position, he was during the sessions of the General
Assembly Reading Clerk of the House of Commons. He mar-
ried Sarah, daughter of Col. James Martin, brother of Govern. >r
ander Martin. The late Hamilton C. Jones, Reporter >t
the Supreme Court, married his daughter. He removed to
Tei : , 1831.
The next Steward was Samuel Love, who came to Chapel
Hill from Virginia. His son, Wm. Caldwell Love, was a
in 1X02. but did not graduate, settled in Salisbury as a
13
194 HISTORY rXlYKRSlTY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
lawyer, served one term in Congress, and was one of our Trus-
tees from 1814 to 1818.
Mr. Love was succeeded by Wm. Barbee, son of Christopher
Barbee, one of the donors of the University site. He lived for
some time in Chapel Hill and then succeeded to part of his
father's land, his home being on a conspicuous hill called "the
Mountain," about two and a half miles east from Piney Pros-
pect. As the village became more populous boarding at Com-
mons became less favored, especially among the wealthier stu-
dents. The compulsory feature was relaxed and finally abol-
ished. Mr. Barbee was a member of the House of Commons
in 1819.
In 1810 it was concluded to create a new office with a salary
of $20 a year, called Superintendency of Buildings and Lands.
The first Superintendent was John Taylor, the elder, usually
called Buck Taylor. He soon gave place to Wm. Barbee, the
Steward, who lu-ld both offices for several years.
BEHAVIOR OF OLD-TIME STUDENTS.
The records show that some of the students were abundantly
wild in the early sessions of the University. In addition to the
riots of 1798-99 the Faculty records, though incomplete, show
that drinking and fights and rowdyism were too frequent. A
distinguished statesman, Thomas Hart Benton, figured in a dan-
gerous fray, drawing a pistol on Archibald Lytle, of Tennes-
see, the difficulty occasioned by Benton 's having struck his ad-
versary's nephew-, a lad in the Grammar School. Lytle excused
himself for not engaging in a duel with Benton by the plea that
he had come a long distance at great expense for an education
and could not afford to be expelled. We have such entries as
these : "H. M. expelled for gross insolence in the Preparatory
School. T. N. suspended for six months and recommended for
expulsion for cutting C. I. over the eye with a stick." The
Trustees declined to expel him. As to the charge of theft
brought against one who afterwards became famous in the
councils of the nation, I conclude that it arose from a mistake,
distorted by the fierce party spirit of the day.
A member of the Grammar School, "M. J., severely whipped
for stabbing O. J. with a pen-knife in the shoulders." "W. R.
UREACHES OF THE LAWS. 195
suspended for kindling a fire in the house of the Trustees with
intent to burn it." "J. G. was suspended for stealing bee-
hives." Mr. Caldwell reports to the Trustees: "It is no un-
common thing for the students to go out at night at a very late
hour and take bee-hives from the inhabitants of the village and
the country round. They have found safety in the caution they
practice.''
Other entries are: "W. K. admonished before all the stu-
dents for exploding powder and refusing to go into recitation
when ordered." "R. A. carried a keg of whiskey into his room,
and he, A. J. and R. C. had a spree. He also associated with
two suspended persons. R. A. was sentenced (offence not
given) to sign a confession and read it before the students
assembled for prayers. H. N. was expelled by the Trustees for
gross insolence in the Preparatory School."
At a somewhat later period H. B. was expelled for insolence
to the President while suppressing a disturbance, firing pistols
in the buildings and breaking a window-glass over the head of
Tutor Clopton while holding recitation. I do not think that
'ass came into actual contact with the Tutor's cranium.
l\. S. was expelled for firing pistols and for throwing stones
at the Faculty. C. W. had the milder punishment of suspension
the rest of the session, as he only tried to break open a
Tutor's door, and helped carry off a carriage and a gate.
J. R. received a forced vacation of six months for firing a
pistol in college and helping block up the Chapel door, while
1. A. and R. B. got four months for firing pistols only. Public
admonition before Trustees, Faculty and students was meted
to J. W. for carrying off a carriage and gate and beam of the
bell. J. P. for rolling stnm-s in the passage of the building, J. I-
abstracting the irons of the bell. I\. 1... S 1\. and J. M.
for carrying off a carriage, and N. B. for threats of violence
[r. Johnston, the teacher of the Academy.
A brawl, which created great excitement, occurred during
the Commencement of 1^04 between TTrnry Chambers and a
pal Davir. H\dT \1 : . huniomu^h 1 l>v Or.
:>or. The annual ball was held in the dining-room of S 1
ard's TTall. The non-dancers stood around witnessing the
196 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
amusement, and among those in front stood Chambers. While
dancing Davie trod twice on the toes of Chambers, who de-
manded an explanation in such threatening manner as to in-
cense the offender. Whereupon, though there was disclaimer
of intention to insult, a fight ensued in the yard of the dwelling,
Davie using a knife on account, he alleged, of the disparity in
size between himself and antagonist, who was wounded, but not
dangerously. The Trustees, being in session, tried the case, and
on each signing a written declaration of regret and admission
of being in fault, graciously pardoned the combatants. Davie
expressed himself as especially grieved because he had used a
weapon when his adversary was unarmed.
T. J. fired a pistol in college but afterwards helped to put down
disorder ; C. D. C. "mischeviously trimmed" a horse in Mr. Tay-
lor's enclosure, but satisfied the owner. The sentences were
as follows The pistol-firer and horse-trimmer were admon-
ished before the Faculty and students; the carriage-taker and
Chapel-blocker above mentioned, were admonished before the
Board of Trustees.
I give those instances in order to show the character of the
pranks thought to be "smart" and funny. There were many
students who attended to their duties faithfully and obeyed the
rules. For example the idea of Vice-President King or Gover-
nor Branch sallying out at midnight and stealing bee-hives is
inconceivable. There were many like them.
The difficulties of government were greatly increased by the
existence in the village of one of those fruitful sources of evil,
a grog-shop, then called tavern. An Ordinance was adopted
prohibiting the students visiting it, but of course it was bnttitm
fulmen. Public opinion by no means condemned drinking ar-
dent spirits, and for many years, if the drinking by students did
not amount to excess, it was not regarded as a serious offence.
The University law r was directed mainly against intoxication.
To preserve order and detect offenders, the Tutors were charged
with the combined duties of detectives and constables. They
must with eager ears listen for sounds of revelry or even inno-
cent jollity and forthwith disperse the assembly, and report its
members for punishment. Besides this some Professor was
ordered to visit the rooms each morning. Of course, in addition
BREACHES OF THE LAWS. 197
to constant collision with high-spirited young men, such super-
vision had the tendency to impair their self-respect, and to make
them regard the Faculty as their natural enemies.
In addition to the foregoing I find in Cald well's handwriting
a memorandum of what he called "notable transactions," in
< >n the 28th of May a calf was placed in the Chapel and the
benches pushed up against the pulpit. On the 5th of June a
fence was built around the door of one Nutting and across the
. Captain CaldwelFs house was stoned. Before these of-
ferees were committed the house of the Steward, Major Hen-
11. was stoned, one of his buildings overturned, his gate
taken from its hinges and placed upon the pulpit.
( )n Sunday night the 27th of June a bee-hive was stolen from
John Taylor, carried to the Preparatory School-house, the
honey taken out and daubed over the floor. The hive was left
in the woods.
Saturday night, I4th of August, Yeargin's corn was cut. A
i number of toad-frogs and terrapins thrown into Monsieur
M olio's room. He was also insulted with the utmost license
in the dining-room and elsewhere; "nor was decency or order
anywhere observed." In the dining-room stamping and out-
>us insults; outside hollowing and extreme disorder.
Wednesday night. J^th of August, Molie's loom was burst
open and a bee-hive placed in it. His bed was filled with a
<|iiantity of hair. The intention was professed to drive him
from the University. President Caldwell adds the astounding
information that this method of getting rid of officers by un-
remitting insult, abuse and violence has grown up with the in-
stitution. It was to put a stop to outrages like the foregoing
that the ill-starred monitor experiment, hereafter to be de-
; >od. was made.
I 'resident Caldwell frequently bewailed the committal of
and the impossibility of procuring evid.
nsl tin- MiYnider.s. Tin- students on the other baud evidently
i his acquiring information in any manner not known to
I. On one occasion, in 1810. pistols were fired in the build-
nes thrown at the windows <>f a recitation room
198 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
while the Professor and his class were at their duties. Some
of the offenders were suspended and others reprimanded. Forty-
six students, a majority, including many good, orderly men,
presented a paper stating that they were "bound by every senti-
ment of honor and justice to request the names of those who
had given secret information to the Faculty." They charged
that injustice had been done to some of those disciplined and
iir^ed the "impropriety of such information being received as
evidence." "Falsehoods will be invented and we will be con-
victed without knowing our accusers, or having an opportunity
of acquitting ourselves of the charges against us." * * * "\\ c
anxiously hope that by granting our petition you will put it nut
of the power of envious and malicious informers privately in-
juring the innocent." The journals of the Faculty are so im-
perfect that it is not known how this attack on the fair dealing
of the Faculty was received, but it is certain that the name of the
informer was not given up.
In the spring of 1803, for some cause not now apparent, bitter
quarrels occurred among some of the students, convulsing the
student body and threatening to result in four or five duds.
Challenges were given and accepted. There was one meeting,
as the journal states that Samuel G. Hopkins, of Kentucky, and
John H. Hawkins, of North Carolina, were expelled ; the one
for being in a duel and the other for acting as second, but fur-
ther particulars are not given. Three or four other conflicts
seemed imminent. Unable to cope with the difficulty Caldwell
called in the help of the Trustees. The President of the Board,
a Continental officer of the Revolution, who fought all the way
from Brandy wine to Eutaw. Col. Wm. Polk, famous for his
chivalric courage and high sense of honor, responded with a
letter to the students at large, blazing with earnest depreciation
of their conduct. He is shocked by the report of the disgrace-
ful and disorderly state of the University. I give a few sen-
tences of his vigorous letter: "That students, almost grown,
should at this late and inauspicious day, be guilty of the deplor-
able madness and folly of rashly sacrificing their character and
fame, and laying in dust and ashes the fairest prospects of their
country, through the destruction of her best anchor and hope,
her University, is too much. It is folly in its most gigantic
THREATENED DUELS. 199
and hideous shape ; insanity replete with consequences too dire-
ful and deleterious to be tolerated. In fine a deed of the kind
meditated would operate as the worst of treason against the
State." But for the arrival of three students, Searcy, James
Benton and Xiinn. who gave the information that the dangers
were passed, he would have collected some Trustees and with
them visited the University "with the fixed determination to
expel with the most marked ignominy and disgrace any student
guilty of giving, bearing or accepting a challenge " If the
thing was not ended he urged Caldwell to send expresses for
r.eneral Davie, Walter Alves, Richard Bennehan and Duncan
Cameron, and notify him.
Col. Polk was a stern, determined, strong man, physically
and mentally, ready to fight any man on provocation, of com-
manding influence by reason of his war record, unyielding will,
a mind, not great but strong, vigorous and well-balanced, and
extensive possessions in North Carolina and Tennessee. The
would-be duelists probably expected his approbation. His letter,
therefore, couched in such threatening language, effectually and
promptly crushed the tendency to deadly conflicts as it has
turned out, forever. As showing the evil sentiments on this
subject once prevailing, I state that two students of the College
of South Carolina who had been friends, promising young men,
fought a duel with pistols for slight cause, one being killed and
the other so wounded that his life was blighted; and the second
of one of them was a prominent lawyer, afterwards United
States Senator Butler.
At this University there was no one killed or wounded. The
two students who had been expelled, on the motion by the bye
of General Davie, applied to have the sentence remitted, but a
committee of which ex-Governor Martin was chairman reported
against it and the application was refused. The Board adopted
a most stringent ordinance, commanding the Faculty to expel
and then hand over to the civil authorities all engaged in such
conflicts as principals or as aid
By the kindne^ of f'.eneral Knfu^ I'.arrin^er. we have a let
dated February 28, 1804, ly a ^pri-htlv undent. Henry C'l.
bers, to Adl.v a recent graduate, which
describes a 22d February celebration at the I Fnivcrsity, There
2OO HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
was prevailing what the physicians called "nervous fever." One
student, Philips of Edgecombe, uncle of ex-Judge Fred Philips,
had died from it, and his count r yman, Lemuel Sessoms, was
not expected to live. He goes on, "My dear fellow, amidst all
our afflictions of sickness, etc., we did not forget the 22d of
February; nay we cherished a lively recollection of the char-
acter to whom that day gave birth and celebrated it in a pleasing
and splendid manner. Yes; on that day we not only gave to
the world the strongest, most conclusive indications of our love
for the exalted, the immortal Washington, but showed incon-
testibly that we were hopeful votaries of Bacchus. About thirty
of the most respectable students subscribed for a supper to be
furnished by Mr. Nunn. The recent death of Mr. Philips pre-
vented our having a dance as was intended, after the Senior
class had finished speaking. Will you believe it that out of
that number there were but four or five sober. I, though stran^v
to tell, was one of this number; but it was almost impossible
for me to have been otherwise than sober as I was chosen Pres-
ident, and it was indispensable that I should keep cool. All the
Faculty attended by special invitation. They gave us some
-oo.l toasts, drank pretty freely, retired (except - , whom we
consider one of ourselves), early and left us to our own enjoy-
ment. - performed noble feats that day. He got intoxi-
cated twice. He, some others and myself, commenced drinking
wine at 1 1 o'clock in the forenoon and continued drinking until
one. By this time all found it necessary to go to bed to get
sober enough to attend the supper. This we did, and - - got
'all seas over' again. College exhibited a pretty scene next
morning. I am unable to describe it."
It is impossible to imagine such a debauch in our day. Cham-
bers was in the Senior class, a man of talent, afterwards a
leader in the anti-monitor dispute with the Trustees. He was a
physician of strength.
A DISASTROUS EXPERIMENT IN COLLEGE GOVERNMENT. THE
GREAT REBELLION.
The indignation aroused by such offences, especially the duel-
ing episode, prompted the Trustees in 1805 to adopt laws of
such inquisitorial severity as outraged the sense of justice among
THIC C.KKAT SECESSION. 2OI
the students. In the first place the President and Faculty were
required to take an oath before a Justice of the Peace or Judge
to execute the laws of the institution. Having thus quickened
the sense of responsibility of the governors the next move was
on the students. There was already, (as I have heretofore
shown), a by-law of the institution that the President should
appoint a monitor for each class "to mark absentees from Pray-
er- and Public Worship on Sunday, to note all profane swear-
ing or gross or vulgar language, and report at Prayers on each
Sunday morning."
They were notified that if they failed they would ''betray the
trust confided to them." Naturally this duty was neglected, as
the monitors were not willing to incur the odium of being "com-
rnon informers." It was determined by the Trustees to strengthen
this ordinance. Mr. A. D. Murphey, the young lawyer who
had recently been Professor of Ancient Languages, moved for
a committee to report amendments to the by-laws. Mr. Dun-
can Cameron, who then at the age of 28 was a lawyer of large
practice, afterwards also a Judge and President of the great
I lank <>f Xorth Carolina, with Murphey as chairman, con-
itcd the committee. Their report was unanimously adopted,
but there was only a bare quorum of the Board.
The ordinance required two monitors to be appointed by lot
from the twelve senior students of each class to serve one month.
They were to take an oath before some officer authorized to
administer an oath as follows:
"I. A. !., Monitor of ilic .-hi--. ui the e-t ;ihli>hment of the
rniv'i-it\ oj North ( ';ti<>liii;i. do -oh-mnly -wnir th;it I will faithfully
Lte tin- dntie- .t M monitor ! the -l;is*. .luring my oon-
tiiiiiiinri- in oilir.-. \\-itlinut t~p.ii. t;i\or or affection, to the host of my
nn.h'i -landing, -o li<-l|' me. (;!."
1. The dntie> were to preserve order ;nnoni_ r tin- -indent - in thp College,
MI .in.) el-ewhere. with power to -nppre-s every species of
ihirity. nppo-iiion |,\ . ( -indent to ;i nionitoi rny:i_'ed in preserv-
.,- M.,1,,1 ord.'i ,,f the in-litntion. wn- ;i ini-d'iii'.i not . to be punished
:n.it. ..i |inl>li. .idinollit ion. 1>\ -n-p-n-iMi, .,| olhn \\ise, R8 the
ini-ht d.--.-i \r.
Ill'- claMes W(M<- to -it together in tin- dining loom, tin- monitors
Tlie\ \\.-n- in\.--ted uith full pouei. .in. I it w:is th'ir ilu 1
iim iiniony the -indent- ;il th-ir i e.iprc-
. to |M-iinit no |. .iid t;ilkin-. l:inlnn: Of "ther improper be-
'202 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
havior, to suffer no waste of the provisions, nor suffer the same to be
abused at the table, nor allow any to be taken away, without the Stew-
ard's consent. In case of misbehavior they were directed to order the
offender away from the table. All students were bound to take their
meals at Commons unless excused on the plea of ill health.
3. They were strictly to watch over the conduct of the students at all
times during their continuance in office, and make report of every irregu-
larity and impropriety of behavior to the Faculty at the end of each
week. They were also to report all injuries to public buildings and
property with the names of the offenders.
4. At the ringing of the bell for meals the students were ordered to
repair to the dining-room, arrange themselves according to the order of
their classes on each side of the door, with their Monitors at the head,
and thus follow the Tutor into the room.
5. -Each class must sit by itself in the Public Hall with the Monitors
at their head. The Tutors and Monitors were enjoined to have these
formalities strictly complied with, "and in no instance permit the same
to be departed from."
6. The Monitors of the Junior and Sophomore classes were to be the
marshals at Commencement and make all necessary arrangements there-
for.
Those present when this astounding law was passed were the
President of the Board, Col. Wm. Polk, Duncan Cameron, A.
D. Murphey, Col. Edward Jones, Robert Montgomery, Adlai
(Jsborne and Wm. H. Hill.
They were among the best men of the State. Cameron and
Murphey were among the leaders in professional life and in leg-
islative halls. Public school teachers owe Murphey a peculiar
debt of gratitude. Jones was the able Solicitor-General. Mont-
gomery and Hill were members of Congress. Osborne was a
lawyer of large practice, as indeed were all the others except
Col. Polk, who was president of a bank and a wealthy planter.
Not one, except Murphey, had been a teacher.
Murphey must be held principally responsible for this ill-
judged measure. Public opinion deemed it the suggestion of
President Caldwell, but he denied it and appealed to the Board
of Trustees to confirm his statement. The ordinance was writ-
ten by a lawyer evidently. I can only account for the mon-
strous blunder on the part of men of such reputation for sagac-
ity by the following explanation. President Caldwell said that
in the great rebellion of 1799, when Gillaspie, the Principal, was
beaten, he and Murphey were threatened. It may be that re-
THE GREAT SECESSION. 203
sentment for such outrages unsettled his judgment, and Cam-
eron, a busy lawyer acquiesced because his friend, having lived
among the students, was supposed to have peculiar knowledge
<>f the subject. So clear to Murphey seemed the propriety of
rning the institution by the machinery of the criminal law,
just as are governed in large measure the German universities,
that he proposed to the Trustees to ask the General Assembly
to make the head of the University a Justice of the Peace. This
motion met with slender support. It is justice to him to state
that he soon changed his notions about the discipline of stu-
dents.
As the spirit of the proposed ordinance was the treatment of
the students like soldiers in service, it was naturally approved
by Col. Polk, who had been President of the Board for two
years. He was a man of autocratic temper, and had served
under the iron discipline of Baron Von Steuben of the school
of the great Frederick.
If our students had been a colony of wax-dolls they might
have submitted to this law without a murmur. If cruel tyranny
had crushed out all their instinctive sense of right and wrong
and made them a colony of liars and sneaks, they would ha\e
cringed, promised obedience and straightway systematically
fawned upon and deceived the professors; but, being American
! with independence of thought and abundance of pluck,
they received the ordinance with angry disgust and determina-
tion not to submit. Four Seniors out of seven, eleven Junior-
out of sixteen, twenty- four Sophomores and six Freshmen, in
all forty-five, being a majority of all the students in attendance.
and a very large majority of the ablest and most mature, pre-
< d a remonstrance to the Faculty and Trustees, at the same
time binding themselves to leave the institution if one of their
number should be punished. And to use their own language,
"If any MLMKT should withdraw from the league he should be
considered unworthy the attention of a gentleman," an ostra-
more terrible to the average student than death or expul-
dent Caldwell had not then learned the management of
Mi Carolina MndcnN. II the singular mi I
2O4 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
supposing that the requirement of an oath was the only cause
of the indignation. At his request a "pledge of honor" was
substituted for the oath, but the promise in other respects being
more stringent. The change was unanimously rejected by the
recalcitrants. After this, in December, 1805, the ordinance
was unanimously repealed.
As this was a disastrous experiment in college government, I
give in detail the substance of the ordinance substituted for
that requiring the oath, adopted about six weeks later at a
called meeting of the Board.
The Trustees sought to sustain their authority by "suspend-
ing for unlimited time" the obnoxious requirement.
Ity the amendment the Monitors were required to repeat and
subscribe, in presence of the Faculty and students, the follow-
ing promise, to be engrossed in large characters in a book, to
IK- kept for that purpose: "I, A. I'... Monitor of the. .. .class,
do promise and pledge myself that I will endeavor by a
faithful and impartial discharge of the duties of my appoint-
ment to prove my respect and veneration for a moral and re-
ligious conduct, my patriotism and love of honor, my attach-
ment to the interests of literature and science, and my filial re-
gard for the reputation and happiness of this University."
These fine words by no means buttered the parsnips of the stu-
dents, for there followed additional duties and requirements even
more exacting and odious than were in the previous ordinance.
The first gave power to the Monitors only over their own
classes. The second charged them with the duty of watching
the conduct and language of all students, as well as of their
own classes. They must forbid immoral and irreligious con-
duct and breaches of the laws; and not only those but every
species of irregularity and indecency, words so general as
necessarily to lead to frequent disputes. Like the Tribunes of
Rome their persons were made in a manner sacrosancti, it being
a misdemeanor to disobey or insult one. The same strict table
laws were re-enacted.
The Monitors must make weekly written reports, minutely
stating all breaches of the laws, all immoralities, irregularities
or instances of indecent behavior by any student, naming the
offender, especially reporting injuries to University property.
THE GREAT SECESSION. 205
Any student appointed Monitor, wilfully failing or neglect-
ing to discharge his duties, was to be punished by admonition,
or suspension not exceeding three months, and for second of-
fences suspended indefinitely, and reported to the Trustees for
expulsion.
It was further ordered that the Tutors of the Preparatory
School should visit the rooms of the students three nights in the
week, and anyone not in his room was liable to be reprimanded
by the aforesaid Tutor and punished by the President of the
University. And any Preparatory student under sixteen years
of age wilfully injuring the college buildings was to be pub-
licly whipped with not less than five or more than ten stripes.
If over sixteen years of age the punishment was public admoni-
and suspension for the first offence, and expulsion for the
second offence, "by the President without reporting to the Trus-
The foregoing summary shows that the objections of Cham-
hers hereafter mentioned were not without weight, and were
imt founded on a distorted view of the letter and spirit of the
substituted ordinance.
Contemporaneous letters show vividly the consternation
-ed by the great secession, as great in proportion to the
numbers of the community as was the march of the Plebians
\orne to the summit of Mons Sacer. The Steward, Major
Pleasant Henderson, wrote to a Trustee, Walter Alves, "The
crisis is awful. Communicate this fateful intelligence to Mr.
r.ennehan. I know how much it will affect him." Mr. Benne-
han. whose Christian name was Richard, was the grandfather
"f Mr. Paul C. Cameron, loni; one of our aMesl and most effi-
cient Trustees. He had resigned his Trusteeship the year be-
iint of bodily infirmity.
The President of the Hoard. Col. Polk, wrote to President
Caldwell : "The situation into which the imprudence and ill-
directed conduct of the Mredmi; students has thrown the insti-
tution is truly distressing/ 1 He announced that the Trustees
had agreed that tlins,- \\-ho had not left the Hill and are willing
ihmit. may do s> on terms, hut those who have d<s,Md
20O HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
without leave must apply to the Trustees. If the classes have
been so depleted as to make it impracticable to carry out the
system, it may be dispensed with; but, he added with the old
Von Steuben instinct of discipline, "when the classes grow the
ordinance must be enforced."
In another letter he says: "I. W. applies for re-admission.
The Trustees decline to act in individual cases, but will publish
general terms. They must promise to conform to the laws."
President Caldwell was of course deeply stirred. While not
originally responsible for the ordinance he endeavored with
zeal to carry it into effect, and he denounced the conduct of the
rebellious students to the Trustees with bitterness. In a letter
to Richard Henderson, urging him to accept the Professorship
of Languages, he predicted that one-half or two-thirds of "the
conspirators" will ask leave to return. He adds pathetically,
"If so many of the youth of our country can so easily sacrifice
the opportunity of science and aim with so little reluctance a
fatal blow at the very existence of the University, it is for those
who know by greater experience the value of such an institu-
tion to baffle the waves of adversity and steer the bark safely
from the storm which assails it." He then declares though
tempted by the offer of higher salary and a more congenial
chair, he had "foregone all temptations with the view of still
sustaining our tottering institution, assailed as it is by outward
foes and rent as it has been lately by an explosion of inward
insubordination, rashness and profligacy."
I find an allegorical paper among Dr. Caldwell's manuscripts
entirely in his handwriting, where and how published, or
whether published at all, I have been unable to ascertain, giving
a picture of the morals and manners of the students, which we
must hope, is far too highly colored. It is entitled "An Attempt
at a Foul and Unnatural Murder." Some parts of it are worth
quoting "A respectable matron who has a large family of
children became an object of odium and conspiracy among them
on account of the strict restraint she imposed upon their vices
and disorders. She had with infinite regret observed in them
for a long time a strong tendency to the practise of getting
drunk and then engaging in the acts of theft, lewdness and riot.
CALDWELt ALLEGORY. 2O/
which naturally incurred the necessity of much lying, equivo-
cation and duplicity." Those not participating, refusing to in-
form, "were involved in equal disgrace with the guilty." Also
many "engaged in the practise of gaming, profane swearing,
and insulting the people they met with," and when resistance
was encountered, "by threats of secret mischief or imposing
blustering attempt to ward off punishment." Also they fre-
quently played tricks, entered associations for making noise,
tumult, vociferation and confusion, to the interruption of the
family and the disgrace of their mother's house.
She fell upon the expedient of appointing some of the number,
if they could not prevent, "to make report to her of those who
misbehaved. As she knew the more perfect the restraint could
be made, the better it would be for her offspring, she required
the inspectors to be under oath to be faithful to their duty. The
reason of this particular was that their depravity had ripened
so far as it lay it down as a maxim, that mere promises were
of no force." "Only those promises which bound them to their
duty were pronounced to be of no force, but such as they made
to one another, binding them to faithfulness in their combina-
tion against the laws and rules of the family, as to conceal the
author of every immorality, and disorder, were deemed as sacred
and kept as inviolate as promises to do good among the general-
it" mankind."
"After six weeks trial, they remonstrated against the oath.
That was withdrawn and a promise of honor -substituted. Then
many grew outrageous and clearly evinced that it was not the
oath that had excited their aversion, but the necessity of giving 1
up their beloved habits of licentiousness." "They suddenly and
impetuously flew at her in a body, grasped her by the throat
and made a promiscuous outcry that they would rather die than
iiibmit tr, such tyranny, that the laws of morality were not made
"ting people. That God Almighty himself could not abide
by such laws and that as for religion they cared not lial
much for the privilege of an orison to the Supreme Reini:
did for the liberty of taking his name in vain, abusing Inn
habitually to his face, and damning all his pn.-env into eternal
perdition. It \\a<; enough 1<> bri 1 in1 the eyes of any
2O8 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
person of common feeling to see how unrelenting the exaspera-
tion was which the love of their vices had infused in them."-
"So blinded were they to the real nature of their habits, that
they acted as if they were doing no more than vidicating by a
desperate struggle their proper rights, while nothing could be
plainer, than that an indissoluble attachment to disorder and
libertinism had brought their feelings to so irritated a state."-
"Exerting every nerve they long kept their mother gasping and
half-expiring, till they gi ew weary of their efforts, and she extri-
cated herself from their clutches. Thus setting herself at lib-
erty they fled from the home, leaving a dread upon the mind of
the astonished and suffering parent lest they should ever become
troublesome by solicitation to be re-admitted. If such appli-
cation be made we hope that she will always remember, that if
she is not out of existence, it is neither for the want of a wish
nor of the utmost effort they could make to destroy her."
The records show that those applying for re-admission were
few. notwithstanding the repeal of the ordinance.
I have discovered among the papers of General John
Steele, a letter written to him by Henry Chambers, who was,
as I have said, a chief leader of the insurgents, showing the
students' side of the controversy. He begins by saying, "Every
friend to science must lament the injudicious conduct of the
Trustees in passing so odious a law. It was very objection-
able in theory but much more so in practice. It banished all
harmony. The consequence of every return of the Monitor
was a contention between the students and the teacher and the
students and the Monitors. Frequently have I heard the return
of the Monitor contradicted in the public Hall, though he was
acting under oath. What young man of feeling would be will-
ing to place himself in such a situation as this? Who would
suffer himself publicly to be called a perjured villain? And
the Monitor does this when he permits the correctness of his
returns to be questioned. When our Remonstrance was pre-
sented to the Trustees, they consented to take off the oath but
substituted a promise no less binding, and introduced some pro-
visions into the law which made it much more objectionable
than it was originally. Upon examination it will be found that
THE GREAT SECESSION. 2OQ
the Monitors have cognizance now, not only of the conduct of
their particular classes but of the whole school. Thus a mem-
ber of the lower class can admonish and return a member of the
Senior or Junior classes. And is it not degrading to put a
young man of the first stand in College under the absolute con-
trol of a little Boy ; a Boy that may be incapable of discriminat-
ing between proper and improper conduct ? It certainly is."
''Perhaps an apology is due you for troubling you with this
letter. I beg that you will ascribe it to the uncommon solici-
tude I feel to satisfy my friends as to the part I have acted. If
they condemn me it is my misfortune to be condemned for doing
what I conceive to be right and proper."
Chambers was one of the best students in his class and very
near to receiving his diploma. It must have been a profound
conviction that made him become the leader in the movement
of resistance and ultimately of secession.
A letter dated September 23, 1805, published by Dr. S. B.
\Yeeks in the University Magazine of April and May, 1894,
from John L. Conner to his brother, gives also the views of the
students as to the Monitor Ordinances. He called them op-
pressive and tyrannical. "A remonstrance, signed by forty-five
students, was handed to the Faculty and Trustees, a fortnight
before the expiration of the monitorial office. The Trustees
did riot repeal the laws but modified them, and in that modifica-
tion they also magnified them, being still more severe (the oath
excepted) than before." For the oath was substituted a solemn
promise. Those who signed the remonstrance were desired to
meet in order to decide: ist, Is the promise binding? This was
affirmed by a large majority. 2d, Is the law modified? The vote
on this was 22 in the negative against 19. "Of course, according
to the remonstrance and 'private obligation,' we were obliged to
leave College." Mr. Conner goes on to express his admiration
nf the speakers among the students. "The leinslatiire of North
Carolina cannot produce men of such accurate judgment, reas-
oning and fluent language as was displayed in the debates of our
honorable body. * * * Those who signed (with some excep-
tions) are the most respectable, both in their class and char-
acter."
14
2IO HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Conner gives his reason for joining the insurrection. "When
I was first asked to sign, I refused, alleging that I could agree
to be governed by the laws but not to be one that should en-
force them, that the law would not affect me as I boarded out of
College : that I should not be made a monitor for the same rea-
son, and that I was seldom among the monitors." He found
however that he was not only liable to be monitor but to be
forced to live in the College building. He had recently a severe
attack of rheumatism and if he should be sick in College he
would have very little attendance and stand in need of every
necessity. "The fare also in College is miserable, for it is com-
mon to see skippers in beef, which is the only flesh diet they
have. In this case they must fast, for by a later ordinance they
are debarred from getting a dinner elsewhere."
"Only four students, who signed the remonstrance, now re-
main in the village. The rest have returned home to their
parents and friends, who highly approve of their conduct.
They have no idea of their sons being perjured by an extorted
oath. The trustees have exhibited the affair in as bad a point of
view as possible, nothing more than what was to be expected.
However, they have since had the generosity to acknowledge
an error in judgment."
Conner concluded to remain in Chapel Hill and pursue his
studies privately. He adds naively, "I assure you that I should
not have signed, had I not thought myself justifiable in so do-
ing. But I had not the least idea in its terminating in such
disagreeable consequences." He subsequently accepted the
offer of the Trustees that the seceders might return on sub-
scribing a promise to obey the laws of the institution.
John Lancaster Conner was evidently a voting man of parts.
He was a lineal descendant of the Quaker Lord Proprietor, and
Governor of Carolina, John Archdale, and grandson of Em-
manuel Love, Secretary of the Province. He left the University
without graduating, probably on account of his rheumatism,
and died early.
It must be admitted that the seceders adopted the wrong
remedy for the evil of which they complained. They injured
themselves and injured the University. They inflicted severe
DAVIE'S OPINION OF THE SECESSION. 211
pain on those who loved them best, their parents and relatives.
They would undoubtedly have procured the repeal of the ordi-
nance at an early date by continued strong, yet courteous, peti-
tions. It was passed by a thin Board, a bare quorum. The
Trustees were judicious and well-meaning, and it was repealed
after only a few months operation. The secession and violent
language were a hindrance to early repeal, because the Trustees
could not yield to denunciation and threats.
That I am correct in this criticism of the action of the stu-
dents is sustained by a letter from General Davie to Treasurer
1 lay wood, of the date of September 22, 1805. His opinion had
commanding weight with the Trustees, and that was decidedly
against the ordinance. He wrote : "The late unfortunate occur-
rence at the University is much to be lamented on many ac-
counts, but most of all for the ill-advised measure which gave
birth to the conduct and feeling of the students. An ordinance
of the same kind was rejected several years ago on a full consid-
eration by the Board on the ground that the principle was im-
proper. These Monitors under the ordinance are not a species
if Magistrates but real spies, and human nature revolts from
the principle of espionage in every shape. The corruption and
depravity of London, Paris, and other large cities, render its
adoption necessary to the police, but the most degraded wretch
in the sinks of depravity could not be induced to accept it as a
public office, and always stipulates for the most profound
vv \\-ith regard to his employment. I do not believe that
the duty of Monitor or Censor has ever been carried further in
any -literary Institution than to note absences from prescribed
duties such as attendance on recitation, prayers, Church, etc."
He counselled absolute repeal of the ordinance.
He was, however, far from approving the violent conduct of
the students. He advised that tin- ring leaders should not bo
re-admitted. He added: "I have reflected much and serimsly
since this event on the cause of this spirit of insubordination,
and the means of preventing it. It has al\\. :ed in a
: derable < ihe ordinance mav he o msidnvd ns only
an accidental cans.-. T think the real canoes may he found in
the deficits of domestic education in the Southern States, the
212 ' HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
weakness of parental authority, the spirit of the Times, the
arrangement as to vacation, and some errors by the Board which
I will notice hereafter."
* 'Every man of discernment who has lived forty or fifty years
must have observed and lamented the general decay of parental
authority and the consequent presumption and loose manners of
our young men. Boys of 16 or 17 years, without judgment,
without experience as to almost any knowledge of any kind,
arrogantly affect to judge for themselves, the trustees and even
their parents in matters of morality, of government, of educa-
tion, in fact of everything. The effect of the other general
cause is visible throughout the whole of their remonstrance.
Nothing can be more ridiculous than Boys at school talking of
'sacred regard for their rights/ 'the high and imposing duty of
resistance/ and of 'denouncing laws/ etc., etc., the genuine
slang of the times,. culled from the columns of newspapers; yet
these very sounds are attended with the most mischievous con-
sequences. Over these causes however the Board has no power
or influence, but they must be considered to be counteracted as
far as practicable."
General Davie then states that he has observed that these
disturbances take place in the Fall of the year. This he at-
tributes to the great length of time the students have been con-
fined at College. "They become tired and disgusted with study,
their minds generally acquire a sour, gloomy and restive tem-
perament, producing a general predisposition to any measure
that may break up the session, or interrupt business and distress
the Faculty." To remedy this he recommended having trie two
vacations on the same footing, i. e. of the same length.
"The difficulty we have continually experienced in the man-
agement of youth at this institution, has obliged me to reflect
on the means we have used, and the nature of the Government
of such institutions. I am now perfectly convinced that the
best governed Colleges are those which have the most respecta-
ble Faculties, and the fewest written laws, and that we have
committed a serious error in making an ordinance for every-
thing, in other words legislating too much. It is now my opin-
ion that after describing the kind of punishment to be used in
the Establishment, and reserving in all cases the punishment of
DAVIE'S OPINION OF THE SECESSION.
Expulsion to be confirmed by the Board, the rest should be left
to the discretion of the Faculty."
"It may require some reflection to see the justness of this
remark, owing to certain habits among us of acting and think-
ing, and I will only add that the principles of parental govern-
ment are the true models for that of literary institutions for the
youth of all kinds from the University down to the common
schools.. The parental government has no written laws, and I
would observe that no mortal man could govern his family if he
adopted that mode. If he did his whole household would be-
come, like these students, lawyers and legislators, discussing
his ordinances, chattering about 'their rights/ 'despotism/
'duty of resistance/ etc., etc. They would form themselves into
revolutionary committees and be always deliberating, remon-
strating and revolting."
He doubted the propriety of publishing in the newspapers all
the distinctions made. The motive is good, but "it has the
effect of filling the young men with presumption, and a vain
imaginary consequence. Perhaps it is better to notice in the
papers the Commencement honors only."
' 'It is dangerous to depart from the paths of Experience/ is
a truth I am more and more convinced of every day I live."
General Davie left Halifax for his plantation in South Caro-
lina about the first of November, and this letter contains the
last counsels he gave to the institution which he so long cher-
ished. \Yith the exception of his recommendation of two vaca-
tions of equal length, the management of the institution has been
for many years on the line he advocated. During President
Caldwell's administration the Trustees ceased to interfere in the
discipline, and in 1876 the By-Laws were quietly laid aside and
the requirement that students behave as gentle-men was adopted
as the LM neral rule of conduct.
The repeal <>f the o1niM\iiiis ordinance did not brim-; back the
In 1805 there were only three graduates and in 1806
only four. In 1807 they rse to six and in iSoS to thirteen.
The following 1 the names of th< rs :
Of the Senior Class: Henry Y. Webb, of Ilillsboro; Henry
\an ; f.-hn < >wen. of Hladen : Random Hint-Mi.
of Wake 4.
214 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Juniors: Alfred M. Burton, Granville; Daniel Forney, Lin-
coln ; Wm. B. Meares, New Hanover ; Wm. Campbell, Cumber-
land ; Green H. Campbell, North Carolina ; James Young, Gran-
ville ; Henry G. Williams, Northampton ; John C. Montgomery,
Hertford ; James A. Cain, Orange ; James A. Harrington, Rich-
mond; John S. Young, North Carolina n.
Sophomores, then spelt Sophimores: John B. Brown, Bladen
County; Wm. Cowan, New Hanover County; Alexander Gil-
mour; Wm. Pegues, Cabarrus County; Benj. B. Hunter, Tar-
boro; Samuel Spencer, Anson County; Lewis Duke, Warren
County ; James Tignor ; Thomas Goode, Virginia ; John B. Jas-
per, New Bern ; Haley I. Inge, Louisiana ; Horace B. Satter-
white, Salisbury; Wm. Gilmour, Halifax; Wm. Maclin, Vir-
ginia ; Wm. W. Williams, Martin County ; Wm. Ferrand,
Rowan County (probably), Wm. Hayes, Pittsboro; Wm. Green,
Warren County; Levi Whitted, Orange County (probably);
John Jones, New Hanover County (probably) ; Palmer Mosely,
Lenoir County; John L. Conner, Pasquotank County; Wm.
Roulhac, Martin County 23.
Freshman Class: Philemon Hawkins, Warren County; Rob-
ert Collier, Chapel Hill; Joseph H. Pugh, Bertie County (prob-
ably) ; Henry Watters, Orange County; Wm. Hinton, Bertie
County ; John Williams, Warren County (probably) ; Wm. Wil-
liams, Martin County 7.
Some of these attained prominence in after life : John Owen,
was Governor; Henry Y. Webb, a Judge; Wm. B. Meares, a
State . Senator ; John Jones, Speaker of the House. Some
others attained the dignity of representing their counties in the
General Assembly. A few returned after a year's absence and
graduated. The majority settled down into the steady useful
life of North Carolina citizens.
The Trustees were evidently sore at their defeat. Probably
some of the seceding students obtained admission into other in-
stitutions. In 1807 a letter was sent to the Presidents of all the
Colleges in the Union, transmitting copies of "An Ordinance to
Prevent the Admission into the University of North Carolina of
Improper Persons as Students." It was signed by Governor
Benjamin Williams, as President of the Board. Accompanying
NOTICES TO OTHER COLLEGES.
it was a letter by him, stating that it was adopted because of
recent acts of hostility to authority and the laws, committed in
several American Colleges, and asking for a regular report of
expulsions and desertions.
The scope of the ordinance was
1. Refusal to admit into the University of North Carolina
any student expelled from any University or College, or who
has deserted therefrom to avoid trial for offences.
2. Requiring of all applicants for admission a declaration that
they have not been expelled and have not so deserted another
institution.
3. That the names, ages and residences of all such expelled
students and deserters shall be transmitted to all other institu-
tions, and also recorded in the journals of the Faculty and of
the Board. Similar lists transmitted from other institutions
shall be similarly recorded.
Tins document, apparently vindictive in its intent, by the use
"f the word "deserters," as applicable to students leaving the
institution pending charges, coupled with the inquisitorial char-
acter of the ordinance appointing Monitors, intimates that the
authorities regarded them as subject to control similar to that
used in the army over soldiers. The experiment is interesting
as a step in the transition from the old-time severity of Toll*
'.ell as family government, to the more free. and. as results
here proved, more satisfactory modern methods.
A difficulty which occurred in 1808 shows strongly the sensi-
tiveness of the Faculty in regard to their authority and that they
had in it lost their pluck in consequence of the "great Rebellion."
Because of di-<atisfactimi in regard to fare- in Steward's Hall
thirty-eight students, among them eight Seniors and nine
Juniors, in the liM being Mirh men as John I'ranch. .-.fterwanls
rnnr and Secretary of the Navy, James F. Taylor, Soliei-
For the State, Mark Alexander, a member ~
petition to the Faculty, stating their g - in
ig language. Among other things tliev said: "Having
C with patience for lerable time a failure "f the
. ard to comply with the bill of fare, and having
the ineff; ,f individual complaints to pr.diu-e an amend-
2l6 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
ment, and seeing that our rights are infringed upon-, we have
thought proper to petition the Faculty, in whom is vested the
power to enforce a compliance. Our grievances are daily ac-
cumulated, and they are such whose importance demands im-
mediate redress. We have long observed an insufficiency of
butter. The beef has been such as to shock every sentiment of
decency frequently unsound and covered with vermin. The
frequency of this shows that it proceeds from carelessness in
the Steward, and as such we require an alteration."
The paper was drawn evidently by Maxwell Chambers, of
Salisbury, afterwards a physician of that place, a relative of
Dr. Henry Chambers, leader of the great Secession. It was
considered by the Faculty to be offensive, the use of the word
"require" and the like savoring of rebellion. At their sugges-
tion another was substituted, stating that, "on reflection we have
discovered the inconsistency of our former petition, and there-
fore, conformable to your opinion and also to our own view, we
now offer one, in which is contained a plain statement of every
article, on which our complaints are founded." After enumera-
ting the charges in regard to the deficiencies of the table, they
"entreat the interposition of your authority for a redress of our
grievances."
I wish I could add, as old children stories concluded, "and so
they lived happily together," but the journal shows that two
students, one Senior John R. Stokes, and one Junior, Elias
Foord, refused to sign the amended paper and were suspended
from the institution. Afterwards Stokes petitioned the Trus-
tees for restoration, alleging that he meant no disrespect to the
Faculty by his conduct and promising obedience to the laws.
This was approved by the Faculty and the Trustees, after a
long preamble avowing their determination to sustain the au-
thority of the Faculty. They agreed to the request, "as an
offering- of kindness and favor." Stokes returned and took his
diploma, but Foord remained at home.
As the Faculty, when satisfied of the guilt of one accused,
often declined to accept his denial, it sometimes probably hap-
pened that injustice was done. In 181 1 I find a paper signed by
six students, some of whom undoubtedly were during their adult
FACULTY VIEWS OF INSUBORDINATION. 217
lives good citizens, "attest upon their truth that they heard a
certain person avow in such manner as to convince them of his
unaffected sincerity that he performed the self-same act for the
supposed commission of which J. Pinkston had been suspend-
ed." Pii^ton was reinstated.
The indignation of the friends of this student and another
was so great that when President Caldwell rose in the Chapel to
announce their suspension, twenty-three of their friends osten-
tatiously marched out in disgust. Among them were such men
as Charles L. Hinton, a State Treasurer; John G. B. Roulhac,
prominent merchant ; and Arthur Hopkins, a Chief Justice.
They miscalculated the firmness of the President and his Fac-
ulty, who promptly suspended them all. A strong and well-
written letter of apology and regrets, almost too fulsome, was
promptly sent in by the humbled insurgents. Hear them. "You,
Revd. and respected Sir, are conversant with the history of man
from infancy to maturity. You have taught the young idea
how to shoot. You have poured the fresh instruction over the
mind. You have fixed the worthy purpose in the glowing
breast."
"\Ve have acted improperly. It proceeded from the tempo-
rary absence of reason and reflection. We acknowledge our
error with contrition. We ardently solicit and respectfully
hope for forgiveness for this our late offence and particularly
for the conduct of those of tender age who may have been led
into error by our example."
"With that respect. Reverend and Revered Sir, that your
character and conduct universally command, and of which you
are so highly deserving, we presume to add that of our esteem
and individual affection, let the fate of this letter be what it
may
To this eloquent letter, which .likewise contained disclaimer
of intrntiopa! dUrr-pect and promise of future good conduct,
the cold answer was n-tnnird by the President, that after their
return to their homes the petition mi^ht be taken up and con-
f them were n-in-tau-d and t><,k their degrees.
In one case an extraordinary amount of contrition was de-
manded. The sentence was that ' der ^h"iild lu> in
2l8 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
nitely suspended unless he should acknowledge to the Faculty in
the presence of all the students that he had done wrong, secondly
that he should crave the indulgence and good will of the Faculty
and particularly of the President, thirdly that he should assure
the Faculty that he would obey the laws in the futurej|.
Sometimes the good President wrote out the letters of contri-
tion to be signed by the offenders. One of them is made to say,
when summoned to answer the Professors for neglect of duty,
"It is with shame and confusion I confess the low and vulgar
expressions in which I suffered my obstinate and indecent pas-
sions to vent themselves in return for their solicitude for my
welfare, * * * and I will never again be guilty of such lan-
guage, or of any voluntary infraction of the laws of this institu-
tion which is so sacredly devoted to the production and ad-
vancement of good morals and science- in the hearts and under-
standings of the young." The student who signed the above-
mentioned paper what is often called in the country a "lie-
bill," was so agitated that he forgot to dot his i's in William ; a
grammatical neglect of atrocious magnitude in those days.
Notwithstanding these occasional outbreaks it is refreshing to
find periods of tranquillity. A sentimental observer writing in
February, 1803, praises students and Faculty in glowing lan-
guage. He says "voluntary acquiescence stamps a reverence
on the minds of all. Contentment extends its influence through
every department and beams with placid serenity on every
brow."
SAYINGS AND INCIDENTS OF A COMICAL NATURE.
Comical incidents and sayings form so large part of Uni-
versity life that I record some as specimens of what in the old
days were considered amusing. I begin with two pictures of
incorrigible boys.
For a short while during this period little descriptive notes
were kept in a book, of which the following are specimens of
tiie worst. For the most part they are favorable.
"R. B. is very indolent, seldom or ever recites his lessons
well ; and absents himself from the class at recitations, and for
his absences seldom produces but frivolous excuses. He has
made very little improvement and the repeated admonitions of
AMUSING INCIDENTS.
his teachers are insufficient to rouse him to industry and to
induce him to apply himself to study."
"J. V., who reads nothing but Virgil, neither construes or
parses very correctly. He is possessed of only moderate genius
and is much inclined to be indolent. He takes little pains to
improve and seldom remembers on one day what he has been
told on the preceding. He is nearly grown and though he has
been much at school, he has made but little progress and cer-
tainly will never be proficient in the languages."
Of the anecdotes some are true, some mythical.
A letter written February 8, 1809, from Henry H. Watters
to his mother, who lived near Wilmington, shows that, while
the spirit of insubordination had not entirely died out, the buoy-
ancy of youth had caused the students to turn their attention to
other matters than resisting the Faculty, even using intensive
culture to promote the growth of sprouting beard.
"The young men have for some time been very irregular in
their conduct, and yesterday one received a public admonition
and six or seven a private one. None have merited suspension
or expulsion. A little mischief now and then is expected from
young men and only serves to remind teachers of their duty. I
have not spent but one quarter uselessly and that was in buying
cider. I have purchased other things, but they are necessaries.
I have received the articles which I purchased last fall at a
veiidue: A. Reaves, a noted gambler, was my security, so you
see I have not lost my credit. I had a pair of shorts made of
the cotton cassimere and am resolved to shine here, if not with
you. My beard and whiskers are sprouting finely. 1 shave
them once a week and greaM- them every night with tallow. I
am told by some of my fellow students that greasing is a fine
tiling to make them grow, and T have no doubt thai warm
her will accelerate the growth very much. You have again
attacked me about my om^li. I can tell von for the hundredth
time that T have none. Xext time you write to me about it you
'hall hear that T ince^antly spit hotheads f Mood every day,
thing, and am nothing but skin and 1>one."
!<-n the topics of conversation T have
written to Mr. I'.ovlan to send me hi< paper and apply to '
220 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
for the money. Mr. Caldwell is more fond of conversing on
that than on any other subject, and without some information
on the subject I will be unable to converse with him."
When Paul C. Cameron matriculated in 1824 he had a letter
of introduction from his father to a senior, James M. Wright,
son of Judge Wright of Memphis, who lived in the South Build-
ing. Young Paul was a typical Highland Scotchman in ap-
pearance. His hair was red, his face was red, and he wore a
suit of clothes of the color called turkey-red, made at home by
his loving mother. As he walked up alone from the hotel he
passed a group of students sitting on the steps of the north en-
trance of the Old East Building. One of them, attracted by
the passing flash of rubicund light, called out, ''Red Bird!"
The Freshman's blood. was as red as his face, hair. and gar-
ments. He stopped and offered battle. "I can't whip you all
at once," he savagely said, "but if you will come out one at a
time, I will whip every one of you." No one felt inclined to
accept the challenge. Young Wright took him in as his room-
mate and he never was hazed.
The following incident illustrates Dr. Caldwell in his gentler
mood. He descried a student fastening a goose to the ridge of
the roof of the East Building. "Ah, Joseph, Joseph," said he,
"I suppose thou art fixing up that poor bird there as an emblem
of thyself." This was the eminent editor of the National In-
telligencer, Joseph Gales. Dr. Hooper adds, "Perhaps that
severe cut from his teacher may have goaded the youthful tru-
ant to throw away the goose forever afterwards, reserving only
a quill to write himself into renown."
Among the mythical, I class that which tells of a plot to steal
Dr. Caldwell's carriage and haul it to the foot of the hill on the
Pittsboro road, a mile off, and leave it there. The Doctor, ever
watchful, not averse to what was not considered dishonorable
in that day, eavesdropping, heard of the scheme. When night
came he hid in the vehicle and was transported by the jovial
draught boys to what is now Purefoy's Mill, once Merritt's.
As they were about to return to their rooms, he poked his head
out of the window and blandly said, "Now, young gentlemen !
will you please haul me back to my residence?" As the ascent
AMUSING INCIDENTS. 221
was 250 feet towards the skies the chap fallen students were
nearly exhausted, so much so that no further punishment was
inflicted. I class this as mythical, although firmly credited in
the old University circles, because the same story is told of an
English pedagogue.
The next incident is probably true. The Doctor's nickname
was Bolus, abbreviated from Diabolus. He got wind of a pro-
ject to steal his turkeys, which he was fattening for some festi-
val dinner. Hiding near the coop, he heard one fowl searcher
stealthily creep therein and seizing the gobbler remark to his
confederates, "Here, boys, is old Bolus!" Then grabbing the
hen, "And here is Mrs. Bolus." The Doctor then rushed for-
ward so rapidly that in order to escape, the turkeys were drop-
ped. He had them killed next day and invited the marauders
and others to the dining at which they were served. After
carving he looked significantly at the ringleader and asked,
"Mr. - , will you have a slice of old Bolus, or do you prefer
a slice of Mrs. Bolus?" He then gave the same option to the
other delinquents successively. It is said that there was never
a more severe punishment.
At one time it was the rule to require written excuses for
delinquencies. Dr. Caldwell said, "Mr. , you have offered
seven excuses to four absences." "All right, Doctor! let the
surplus three go on the absences of next week."
After graduation, Matthew Troy was a Tutor in the Prepara-
tory Department the hero of a story recorded by Dr. Hooper
in his "Fifty Years Since." "I told you," he says, "that I re-
membered Mr. Troy with gratitude; but I believe nothing he
ever taught me imprinted itself so deeply on my memory, as the
burst of eloquence which the boys told me he had made, when
he was a student, upon the charms of Miss Hay, afterwards the
first Mrs. Gaston. Troy was given to the grandiloquent style,
and on that occasion Miss Hay, who was the belle of the day,
with a small party came to visit the Dialectic library. It was
then kept in one of the common rooms inhabited by four stu-
dents; and you may judijc of the tumult that was excited by
such visitation and lm\v much sweeping and fixing up was re-
quired, and how many fri-1it< n< d boys ran to the neighboring-
222 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
rooms, and shut the doors, all but a small crack to peep through.
On this memorable occasion, Troy had fixed himself in a corner
of the room, whence he could contemplate the beautiful appari-
tion in silent ecstacy. After she was gone the librarian called
him out of his trance, and said : "Well, Troy, what do you think
of her ?" "Oh ! sir, she's enough to melt the frigidity of a stoic,
and excite rapture in the breast of a hermit" ; to which he might
have added: 'And like another Helen, fire another Troy.' A
man that could talk in that way, appeared to me, in those days,
to have reached the top of Parnassus."
The following story was told me by Dr. Johnston B. Jones, of
Chapel Hill and Charlotte.
There came a long, lank student from a region where literary
culture was not abundant. The members of the Faculty were
generally preachers and attendance on Prayers in the Chapel
twice a day was rigorously enforced. At the end of the first
week the neophyte was reported habitually absent. He was
sent for in hot haste "to appear before the Awful Tribunal,"
as the students called Faculty meetings. "Mr. - !" said
President Caldwell in his severest tones, "the Faculty have
learned with deep regret that you have been in the last week ab-
sent from Prayers fourteen times. What have you to say, Sir ?"
With bland and innocent tones the culprit made the shocking
answer, "I don't hold with Prars, Sir!" Without deigning to
discuss the constitutional provision that every man has the
right to worship God according to the dictates of his own con-
science, he was sternly informed that if he could not hold with
Prayers, the University could not hold with him.
The late Judge William H. Battle, of the Graduating class
of 1820, is authority for the happening on our University ros-
trum of an incident, which is sometimes credited elsewhere.
A Freshman, who had a face of portentous gravity, had a coat
of Revolutionary pattern, blue, with brass buttons, with short
waist and tail reaching nearly to his heels. It was the rule that
the students in turn should declaim a short extract of prose or
poetry before the Faculty after evening Prayers. When our
Freshman's time came he mounted the rostrum and in a pecu-
liarly lugubrious and sing-song tone began Addison's Evening
Hymn. He made no gesture until he reached the lines :
AMUSING INCIDENTS. 223
"Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The Moon takes up the wondrous tale,"
and then he reached for the tail of his Revolutionary coat, and
gently waved it in the air.
Some years later I witnessed a ludicrous scene something like
that. A Senior of 1853, Wm. B. Dusenbury, was usually so
droll that every one expected from him a humorous speech,
called "a Funny." Senior speaking came on, when every mem-
ber of the class delivered an original oration. To the disgust
of his audience, whose risible muscles were ready, expecting to
be called into action by Dusenbury's wit, his speech was as dry
as that of the average orator. But fortunately for our fun a
tly happened to alight on his nose. Pausing in his utterance he
gazed at the annoying animal in a cross-eyed way, and deliber-
ately proceeded to catch him". After opening his hand to ascer-
tain whether he had succeeded, he proceed with his speech.
It was inexpressibly ludicrous. There was a wild burst of ap-
plause and inextinguishable laughter. Dr. Mitchell was sit-
ting several yards in front of me and it added to our amuse-
ment to see how his bald head and huge frame, rocking for
several minutes, gave evidence of his appreciation of the com-
icalness of the situation.
Dr. William Hooper says, "Our geographical recitations
were enlivened by some rare scenes, one or two of which I will
venture to relate.
' 'Mr. Sawney/ says the Professor, 'can you tell me anything
about the animals of Greenland ?' 'Yes, sir ; there's one called
the seal/ 'What kind of animal is it?' 'I don't remember ex-
actly, Sir, but I believe he says it is a very amphib a very am-
phibibolms kind of animal, Sir.' The boys plagued him about
this new kind of animal until he became as irritable as a nest of
>s by the way-side. Another student whom we will dis-
under the name of Ri\ 1 to amuse various com-
panions by tcllini: the Mory upon Sawney. Now Riggie was the
man that on^lit to have made people merry over the blun-
lie had LT"t his own nickname 1>y his ludicrous
pronunciation of Riira. a Ru^ian town on the T.altic. He was
1 where were the chief to wn< in Ru^ia. He mentioned
224 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
several, and among them Riggie on the Baltic, pronouncing the
first syllable of the last word as it is heard in balance. The
name Riggie stuck to him forever afterwards. But it often
happens that he who smarts under a joke is most ready to avert
pursuit by throwing ridicule upon others. Sawney, goaded by
Riggie's persecution, determined to avenge himself; so he laid
a trap for him. He got a friend to invite a company including
Riggie into his room, and to call for the story, while in the
meantime, Sawney concealed himself under the bed. Riggie,
alas ! unconscious of the Trojan horse within the walls, was
going on with his story, full sail, the audience convulsed with
the enjoyment and the anticipation of the paulo-post future;
when in the very fifth act of the drama, out popped Sawney
from his ambush, and pitched into the dismayed comedian. I
shall not attempt to describe the battle ; but it may well be sup-
posed that Sawney, with wounded pride and bursting with long
imprisoned rage, fought with more desperation, and that his ad-
versary startled by a foe emerging suddenly from ambush,
must have fought at a disadvantage."
Here is Dr. Hooper's description of Steward's Hall. "Do
you wish to know the ordinary bill of fare fifty years ago ? As
well as I recollect board per annum was thirty-five dollars !
This, as you may suppose, would not support a very luxurious
table, but the first body of Trustees were men who had seen the
Revolution and they thought that that sum would furnish as
good rations as those lived on who won our liberties. Coarse
corn bread was the staple food. At dinner the only meat was
a fat middling of bacon, surmounting a pile of coleworts; and
the first thing after grace was said, (and sometimes before),
was for one man, by a single horizontal sweep of his knife, to
separate the ribs and lean from the fat, monopolize all the first
to himself, and leave the remainder for his fellows. At break-
fast we had wheat bread and butter and coffee. Our supper
was coffee and the corn bread left at dinner, without butter. I
remember the shouts of rejoicing when we had assembled at
the door, and some one jumping up and looking in at the win-
dow, made proclamation 'Wheat bread for supper, boys !' And
that wheat bread, over which such rejoicings were made, be-
STEWARD S HALL. 225
lieve me, gentlemen and ladies, was manufactured out of wheat
we call seconds, or, as some term it, grudgeons. You will not
wonder, if, after such a supper, most of the students welcomed
the approach of night, that as beasts of prey, they might go a
prowling, and seize upon everything eatable within the compass
of one or two miles ; for, as I told you, our boys were followers
of the laws of Lycurgus. Nothing was secure from the devour-
ing torrent. Beehives though guarded by a thousand stings all
feathered tenants of the roost watermelon and potato patches,
roasting ears, etc., in fine everything that could appease hunger,
was fount! missing in the morning. Those marauding parties
at night were often wound up with setting the village to rights.''
A letter from State Treasurer Hay wood in 1803 to Dr. Cald-
well shows that according to modern ideas complaint of Stew-
ard's Hall fare may have been well founded. "In re matter of
having Mr. and Mrs. Love furnish butter at supper, we think
with you that a supper of Tea and Bread, or Coffee and Bread,
without either butter or meat, has few charms, and can be but
illy fitted to gratify palates accustomed to better fare, but the
contract has been made and published and cannot be changed."
He adds with apparent naivete that there would be "no objec-
tion to students adding Butter out of their private Purse, but
not to be charged to parents or guardians." He means that
the University should not include such self- furnished luxury in
fficial rendering of expenditures.
"Dr. Caldwell," adds Dr. Hooper, "seems to have made it a
part of his fixed policy, that no evil-doer should hope to escape
l>y tin- swiftness of his heels. He was in the habit of rambling
about at night, in search of adventures, and whenever lu- came
across an unlucky wight engaged in taking nfT a gate, building a
fence across the street, driving a brother calf or goat into the
Chapel, or any similar exploit <,f genius, lie n< > s, >>ner h<ve in
than he gave chase."
"1 will relate." said Dr. Hooper, one >f these nocturnal ad-
ventures, and it was only 'ununi r plurihus.'
"Dr. Caldwell was tin- | km \chilles pf Chapel Hill,
ami he had iimn fl for powers ,,f pursuit than of ,
for his antagonists uniformly to..k to flight. Yon call this
16
226 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
a 'fast age/ gentlemen, and so it is, but I don't know a man of
this generation who is faster than was Dr. Caldwell. He was
not satisfied to take two days in getting to Raleigh. He and I
have set out for the metropolis in the morning, and stopped the
first night at Pride's, ten miles this side, such was the state of
the roads. Who knows but such snail-like progress as this
suggested to him the first idea of the present railroad from
Beaufort to the mountains, the honor of which, I believe, is now
conceded to him ? Now, O ! muse, that didst inspire Homer
to describe Achilles' pursuit of Hector, three times round the
walls of Troy ; or thou, gentle muse, who didst breathe thy soft
afflatus upon Ovid when he described the race between Apollo
and fair Daphne ; or thou, Caledonian muse, who didst preside
over Walter Scott, when he sung the race of Fitz James after
Murdock of Alpine, or over Robert Burns, when he made im-
mortal the flight of Tarn O'Shanter from the witches, either
of you or all of the nine at once, assist me to describe the race
between President Caldwell and Sophomore Faulkner (James
T. Falconer), on the night of the day of 18. .. The
President lived at that time where the President's new residence
is being erected, and was returning about bed-time "from walk-
ing up and down the earth," 1 to see if any of the students were
where they ought not to be. As he was mounting the stile which
stood where Dr. Wheat's (now Dr. Alexander's) southeast
corner now stands, he spied two young men, busily engaged
in building a fence from that corner across the street to the
opposite corner. The lads had just before his appearance heard
that portentous snapping of the ankles, which was a remarkable
peculiarity of his locomotion. As soon as they heard this pre-
monitory crepitation, (a providential warning of danger, like
the rattle of the rattlesnake), one of the fence-makers, whose
nom de guerre was Dog, skulked into a corner and was passed
by. Faulkner sprang forward. But I forgot that Homer al-
ways spends a line or two in describing his heroes, before he
brings them into action. So I must suspend the race, till I have
given my audience some idea of Faulkner's person and char-
acter. He was a tall, bony, gaunt and grim looking fellow, with
lr The appropriateness of this sentence is evident, as his nickname was
Diabolus, or Bolus.
AMUSING INCIDENTS. 22/
shaggy threatening eyebrow had been at Norfolk during the
war of 1813-14, as a soldier or officer, and had contracted a
soldier's love of adventure and frolic, and, like Macbeth, would
have run from nothing born of mortal, if he had been engaged
in a good cause. But building a fence across the street at night,
hij conscience set down as a deed of darkness. His conscience
made him a coward, but perhaps it enabled him to run the
faster, and he might have escaped had any but "the swift-footed
Achilles" given chase. But fate had doomed him to lose this
race:
Forth at full speed the fence-man flew
Faulkner of Norfolk prove thy speed;
For ne'er had sophomore such need;
\Yith heart of fire, and foot of wind,
The fierce avenger is behind;
Fate judges of the rapid strife,
The forfeit death, the prize is life.
* * * * *
Jove lifts the golden balances that show
The fates of mortal men and things below;
Here each contending hero's lot he tries,
And weighs with equal hand their destinies.
Low sinks the scale surcharged with Faulkner's fate
Thus heaven's high powers the strife did arbitrate:
Just then the Fauldner tripped, and prostrate fell,
And on the sprawling body pitched Caldwell!
"Having thus disposed of one of the fence-makers, the vic-
torious President went back in quest of the other. After beat-
ing the bush awhile, he returned to the college, where in the
meantime, Faulkner, with clipped wings and fallen crest, had
ered a party in one of the rooms, and was telling the for-
tunes of the night. Little did he dream that his exulting con-
queror was standing close by, in the dark, listening to every
word. "And what became of Dog?" inquired one of the party.
"Oh ! Dog, he took to the woods, and I dare say he is running
\Yhen the court met, tin- next .lay. to try the delinquent*.
it appeared in evidence from the Tutor, that I >- WM the sobri-
quet of Junius Moore. He was accordingly startled by a sum-
mons served upon him by old Daniel Bradley, the college con-
!e, to api -re the Faculty as parnVeps criminis \\ith
Faulkner. Ontlcmcn, you have read Cicero's graphic dcscrip-
228 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
tion of the confusion of face and dumbfoundedness of Cata-
line's accomplices when the consul confronted them with all the
damning evidence of their guilt, you can conceive and none but
you, the looks and behavior of the two fence-makers, when Dog
was thus unexpectedly arraigned at the bar."
"As for Dog, he deserved a better name, for he was a native
born poet, and he and Philip Alston (a graduate of 1829), are
among the few of our alumni on whose birth Melpomene did
smile. Had Moore lived he might have written something to
justify these praises. Alston lived long enough to leave some
memorial of his genius, but, alas ! not long enough for our fame
or for his own.
"For Lycidas is dead, dead ere his prh
Young Lycidas and hath not left his peer!"
I cannot trace the Faulcon of the story James F. Faulcon,
of Granville. Junius Alexander Moore was a son of James, and
grandson of General James Moore, of Revolutionary fame,
whose father, Colonel Maurice Moore, was second son of
Governor James Moore, of South Carolina. His mother was
Rebecca Davis, aunt of the late eminent George Davis, of
Wilmington, and Bishop Thomas F. Davis, of South Carolina.
Junius was a lawyer, removed to Alabama and died in early
manhood, leaving daughters but no son. The following elegy
by him on a famous Chapel Hill horse has come down to us. It
certainly has merit.
1816. ON THE DEATH OF "SPREAD EAGLE."
Soft be the turf where rests thy honored head,
And sweet thy slumbers, much lamented "Spread."
May Spring's first dews thy sacred hillock lave,
And flowers perennial deck thy lonely grave.
Oft shall the pensive student, musing near
Thy home of rest, bestow the pitying tear
Think on thy former worth thy pristine grace ;
Thy fair proportions and delightful pace,
Say to himself, while memory arrays
Full to his view thy feats of other days
"Rest, honored Gray! above the ills of life
Fatigue, starvation and incessant strife.
No more with blows thy honor shall be stain'd;
No more with oaths thy honest nature pain'd;
ELEGY BY MOORE. 229
No more unshod shall flinty rocks assail
Thy tender feet or flies, thy graceful tail;
No more unpitied bend beneath thy load,
Or trace, with wearied steps, the tedious road,"
Tim- shall he say and with assiduous care,
Off from thy stone the covering bramble clear;
Cni \*> with his knife the letters of thy praise,
And sing the Veteran Champion of the Chase.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPMAN PRESIDENT His ADMINISTRATION.
In 1812 we find in the Raleigh Register an enumeration of
the improvements and advantages at the University. "In six
months the Principal (South) Building will be ready for the
reception of inhabitants. There will then be accommodations
for eighty students. There will be separate halls for the Dia-
lectic and Philanthropic Societies, one for the Library, and a
Public Hall for Prayers. Each of the Society libraries contains
800 to 1,000 volumes, that of the University 1,500, a total of
3,100 to 3,500 volumes. A society has been recently formed
for the study of sacred music. An organ ordered to be built
in New York is already finished. Public worship is held every
Sunday in Person Hall, which the students are bound to attend.
The Faculty consists of a President, three Professors and one
Tutor. The Academy for boys, under the charge of Rev. Abner
W. Clopton, is subject to the supervision of the President. In
it there are four classes. Every possible attention is paid to
improvement in reading, writing, spelling and the English
Grammar. Wm. Mimerall is now a resident of Chapel Hill for
the purpose of teaching the French language, and is well quali-
fied. The sessions run as follows : The first from ist of Janu-
ary to 24th of May. The second from the 2Oth June to the I5th
of November. The expenses are for the first session in the
dining-room and College, Diet, $30; Tuition, $10; Room-rent,
$i ; Servant hire, $1.50; Library, 50 cents ; Washing, $8 ; candles
and wood, $4; Bed, $3.50; Total, $58.50. For the second ses-
sion, the same. Plainness of dress and manners will be the rule."
It is noticeable that "every possible attention" was not prom-
ised for Arithmetic. Whether Rev. Clopton was weak in that
branch, or that he left it to be taught in the University classes
we are not informed.
Dr. Caldwell, although his masterly temperament indicated
that his proper place in the University world was that of Chief
Executive officer, was also a devotee of Mathematics. At this
period love of his chosen science predominated over his sense
PRESIDENT CHAPMAN. 23!
of duty for being chief ruler in the University world. He
longed for time in which he could complete his work on Geom-
etry and perfect himself in the knowledge of Astronomy and
use of astronomical instruments. He accordingly proposed to
the trustees to appoint a President in his place, and to give him
the chair of Mathematics. They graciously adopted the plan
and elected to the first place Rev. Robert Hett Chapman, D.D.,
a Presbyterian minister.
Rev. Dr. Chapman was a son of a Presbyterian minister of
New York, who was a warm Whig in Revolutionary days, Rev.
Jedediah Chapman. Robert was born in Orange, New Jersey,
and graduated at Princeton in 1789. He was then Instructor in
Queen's College, New Brunswick, until licensed to preach in
1793. For a year or two he was a Missionary in the Southern
States and was then pastor at Railway, installed in 1796, and
afterwards took charge of a church in Cambridge, New York.
To Dr. CaldwelFs letter asking him to allow the use of his name
for the Presidency of this University, he complied reluctantly
with the request, saying, "in doing this I conceive that I should
be called to relinquish the dearest object of my heart, the ad-
vancement of the cause of our Glorious Redeemer, but I would
hope that my usefulness in this respect would be enlarged."
He adds, "I am in the midst of usefulness and reputation in
this part of the world, but my salary, which the people have
refused to increase, is utterly inadequate to the expense of a
growing family." The letter is dated February 12, 1812.
The Committee on Nominations in their report to the Hoard
December 12, 1812, feelingly state that they accepted ilie resig-
nation of Dr. Caldwell, but "the unpleasant forebodings at the
.:nation of an officer so distinguished for his xeal, usefulness
and talents is in some sort dissipated by his willingness to ac-
cept the ProtV oj-ship ,,f Mathematics." Tin- Hoard nnani-
mot; d Dr. Chapman President, with a salary of $l,2OO,
and Dr. Caldwell. Professor; with $1,000. The Tn: ^-nt
Governor \Vm. Hawkins Chairman '>; Rev.
ph Caldwell. John Ha\\\ 1. \tvhibald D. Murph
ran Cat: Iviti Jones, David Stone. \tla< Jones, 11
-r. Mont fort Stokes and K'.-l.crt Williams ll-
232 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The latter must not be confounded with Robert Williams, M.D.,
of Pitt, also a Trustee. The General Assembly promptly elected
the new President a member of the Board of Trustees.
The administration of Dr. Chapman is generally thought to
have been a failure, but his defects seem to have been somewhat
exaggerated, and some of the troubles proceeded evidently from
the hot party spirit engendered by the war. He was a man of
sincere piety, of strong principles, zealous in the spread of re-
ligion. He was a preacher, according to the testimony of Chief
Justice Nash and Dr. James E. Morrison, very earnest, inter-
esting and effective. Judge Nash said : "He was more highly
gifted with power on his knees than any man I know. His
public prayers warmed the hearts of all who heard them." His
manner in preaching was earnest and tender and he was suc-
cessful beyond what is common in securing attention.
There was to his management of the University, however, a
fatal obstacle. He was a Peace Federalist and his students
were in favor of the war. It is difficult for us at this day to
realize the keen disappointment and even rage felt by our
people at the disasters on land, such as the surrender of Hull,
the failure of the Canadian Invasion, and the capture of the
Capital, and on the other hand the wild exultation over our
naval victories. The one conspicuous land victory, gained after
the signing of the treat of peace, that of New Orleans, carried
the American commander into the Presidential chair.
The Republican leaders had the address to turn the dissatis-
faction arising from the imbecile conduct of the war from them-
selves to their opponents. They claimed the credit of all the
victories and placed the discredit of defeats on the odious Fed-
eralists, who, they alleged, gave blue-light signals to British
ships on our coast, intrigued at Hartford to join New England
with Old England, encouraged Great Britain and discouraged
Americans by denouncing the war as unjust and inexpedient.
In the minds of most people Federalist was synonymous with
Traitor.
Dr. Chapman was too honest to conceal or to tone down his
views. The friction which the strict and irritative methods of
discipline made inevitable at all times, was considered more
OUTRAGES. 233
harsh in the days of unreasoning partisan hatreds. If the good
Doctor after peace was declared had continued unwaveringly
in his executive position he might have lived down the memory
of the outbreaks, which are connected so unpleasantly with his
name. Dr. Caldwell had experiences quite as disastrous to his
reputation as an administrator, but he continued so long and
bravelv in his position that his failures were forgotten in the
light of his subsequent successes. Dr. Chapman preferred to
go back to his more congenial work as a pastor and left his
reputation as a University President to the mercy of adverse
critics.
I give sketches of two outbreaks, which occurred during his
administration, which illustrate the peculiar difficulties under
which he labored, as well as the spirit of the times in Chapel
Hill.
About twleve months after his inauguration in January, 1814,
a series of outrages at night was perpetrated on his property.
Dr. Caldwell, who could not resist the impulse to take the place
of leader, determined to ferret out the offenders by process of
law. Accordingly he applied to a Justice of the Peace, Major
Pleasant Henderson, for a warrant against the unknown per-
petrators, intending to call up all the students and examine
them on oath. He was unaware that such precepts, called "gen-
eral warrants," had been resisted successfully in England by
John \Yilkes. had been decided to be illegal by Chief Justice
Camden, that our people were so much interested in the contro-
v as to name one county \\ilkes and another Camden, and
had prohibited such warrants in our fundamental law, the Dec-
laration of Rights. He forgot in his zeal that similar warrants,
called Writs of Assistance to enforce the Navigation Acts, had
led to armed resistance in New England and other commercial
ions. The Justice refused the application, being rightly in-
structed a^ 1o the unlawful!,' rnend warrants: but the
tOT, who c-.uld IK- no in. .re easily diverted from his pur-
pose than a well-trained hl<<>d hound from the track of a fleeing
criminal, amended the precept by inst-nini; the OUTICB "f five
Mudents. .\ lolenm OOUll WU Ix-ld. The panic in this little
nuinity cannot be imagined. There v,
234 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
of spirit." The charges were, ist, breaking into and entering
the stable of President Chapman, and cutting the hair from the
tail of a horse of the said Chapman ; 2d., "for taking away and
secreting a cart, the property of said Chapman ;" 3d., "entering
said Chapman's premises and turning over or throwing down
a house; 4th., taking from its hinges and carrying away one
of said Chapman's gates."
It is interesting to note the behavior of the students under
this trying ordeal. It is rather surprising that there was no
combination for the purpose of refusing to answer. Possibly
the Federalists among the students sympathized with the Presi-
dent. Some declared emphatically that they knew nothing
about the matter. Among these were Aaron V. Brown, Bryan
Grimes, father of the gallant General of the same name, and
John Y. Mason. Others said that they knew nothing them-
selves, but gave the names of suspected persons, some of whom
were undoubtedly not guilty. A few gave direct evidence tend-
ing to criminate Chambers, Thornton, Peebles, Knox and Hay-
wood, the men charged by Dr. Caldwell, and as these refused
to exculpate themselves, they were probably dismissed from
the University, though the record has been lost. I knew Fran-
cis A. Thornton nearly half a century afterwards, when he was
a member of the Secession Convention of 1861, a neighbor of
Nat. Macon, a mild-mannered, gentlemanly, venerable man,
with no suspicion of tar on his hands, tho' he was a fire-eating
Secessionist. Thomas J. Haywood lived to be a Supreme Court
Judge of Tennessee. All were probably good men moved by
party feelings. The justice's examination violated all the rules
of evidence. Leading questions were asked, the witnesses were
required to give their suspicions, and hears.ay evidence was even
admitted as to what suspicions were entertained by others, and
as to what students knew of any of the perpetrators. Among
the innocent men whose names were mentioned as suspected
was the eminent divine, Dr. Francis L. Hawks. A few, among
them Bedford Brown and Edmund Wilkins, lawyer of Virginia,
refused to answer these illegal questions, but strong men, such
as David F. Caldwell, George C. Dromgoole, Charles L. Hin-
ton, Charles Manly, Willie P. Mangum, appear to have made a
OUTRAGES. 235
clean breast of the facts they knew as well as the imaginations
of their hearts. This is strong evidence that there were not a
few who sympathized with the insulted President in his views.
There was a strong anti-war party in the State, probably in the
University, but they were of the modest and silent order.
Dr. Chapman was likewise insulted by receiving an anony-
mous letter which is quite unique, showing another outrage on
his property, not included in the warrant. It was superscribed
"Chapel Hill," and is as follows :
"DEAR SIR: Having been informed that you are anxious to know why
your gate-post was decorated with tar and feathers, this is to inform you
that it was intended by the patriotic students to deride Toryism, and as
a monument to the memory of the inspired politician and designing
traitor.
In a balmage, Sir, of delicious tar you will be as secure as Pharoah
and, in a hieroglyphic of feathers, rival in finery all the mummies of
Egypt."
I am yours, etc., FRIEND TO RELIGION,
BUT AN ENEMY TO HYPOCRISY. '
This precious morceau of literature proves that the persecu-
tion was distinctly in resentment for the supposed leaning to
Federalism of the clerical President. The insult is the more
pointed because in the direction he is dignified only as "Mr.
l\<>l)t. Chapman," ignoring his official and ministerial character.
In November following the Faculty report that, though dur-
ing this year they have passed through troublesome times, they
have been enabled to stand at their post and maintain the au-
thority of the institution. Some of the persons suspended last
session have returned, and. with scarcely an exception, have
been orderly. This session has been characterized by order and
attention to business, with the exception of some irregularities
originating in Steward's Hall, and for which one student was
suspended. It is essential to the growing prosperity of the Uni-
versity that further suitable provision be made on this subject
. management of Stewards Hall). \Yith the exr^ectation
that the Board will make such provision the Faculty consider
tlit Seminary as in a truly flourishing condition.
Tin- other outbreak was .n September 18, 1816. It injured
the reputation of tin- President still more because the sympathy
236 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROUNA.
of the public was strongly with the students rather than the
Faculty. The following account is substantially correct:
Wm. Biddle Shepard, a very able member of the Senior
class, belonging to an influential family of New Bern, connected
with the Donnells, the Blounts, the Bryans, the Pettigrews and
others, had some sentences in his oration submitted for correc-
tion, of a strong political character favorable to the Republican
party. These sentences, the President, exercising a discretion
vested in him, cut out and ordered Shepard not to deliver them.
This order, when the speech was delivered in public, was dis-
obeyed, whereupon the President promptly commanded him
to take his seat. The orator insisted on proceeding with his
address. Numbers of the students shouted, "Go on ! go on !"
The prompter, Wm. Plummer, continued to perform the duty
which he had undertaken. Shepard finished his speech in defi-
ance of the President, being vociferously encouraged and ap-
plauded. The next day the students had a meeting in the
Chapel and passed resolutions upholding the rightfulness of
his and their conduct.
The Faculty acted promptly and sternly. Forty-six of the
participants were summoned before them. Shepard was sus-
pended for six months, and also George C. Dromgoole, for
being the leader in upholding him. It was a material part of
the charge against them, that they declared they were justifiable.
The Trustees added the severer sentence of expulsion, declar-
ing that the interest of the University required that the diso-
bedience of which they were guilty should be punished in the
most exemplary way. Thomas N. Mann was suspended for
six months for participating in the riot, and "refusing to admit
his guilt." Plummer for prompting, applauding and afterwards
justifying his conduct, was suspended for four months.
The punishment of those, who in a public meeting disap-
proved the action of the Faculty and upheld the conduct of
Shepard and his aiders and abettor, was conditional. All who
would in writing acknowledge, 1st., that those who applauded
Shepard were guilty of gross disorder and disrespect of au-
thority ; 2d., that on the next morning they transgressed their
duty as students and as good members of society, by proceed-
THE SHEPARD RIOT. 237
ing with tumultuous noise and riotous behavior to the Public
Hall, and uniting in an unlawful and disorderly assembly for
the purpose of opposing the Faculty and violating the laws;
3d., that they hoped for forgiveness and solemnly promised
faithfully to submit to the laws of the University and deport
themselves as orderly members of society. A few refused to
sign the paper and were suspended. Among the signers were
such orderly students as Wm. M. Green, Wm. D. Moseley,
Hugh Waddell, and Hamilton C. Jones.
Notices of the suspensions were sent to all other colleges.
In talking with the students of that day after they had be-
come elderly men I derived the impression clearly that the
President was generally blamed for his conduct in this matter.
It was thought that, even if he concluded that Shepard's act
was worthy of severe punishment, he should have allowed him
to finish and prosecuted him afterwards. I happen to know
that Plummers father, Kemp Plummer, next year a Trustee,
sustained his son. The criticism appears to be just, but cer-
tainly the President is not censurable for enforcing a law of
the Trustees forbidding political speeches.
All the actors in this riot achieved success in life. The prin-
cipal, Shepard, was afterwards a leading lawyer, and member
of the State and national Legislatures. Plummer stood high
as a lawyer and business man, as Chairman of the County Court
<>f \\ arren, conducting its business with ability. Mann, after a
brilliant beginning' as a lawyer, member of the General As-
sembly and Charge d' Affaires to Guatemala, which position he
ohtained in tlu- hope of curing the pulmonary consumption,
under which he was suffering, passed away in early manhood.
Tin- fart has come down to us that Plumuier, while unable to
see the- impropriety of his conduct, was desirous t" returning
and obtaining his diploma. His father, thinking he had been
treated unjustly. refused to allow it. Moselv. I )n>ini;oole, Wad-
dell. Jom-s. Leak am! ire mentioned hereafter.
In < Vtohrr. iSio. in revenue doubtless f,, r thr aetioti of the
Faculty, a forerunner of the modern dynamiters perpetrated
a dastardly outrage on one of the Tutors. J,,hii Patterson. Wm.
M. ' ',! en. in a letter to one of the suspended. Martin Ann-
238 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
strong, told the story. "While sitting alone a few nights since
I was startled by a tremendous report, when on inquiry I found
that a brass knob from one of the doors had been filled with
powder and placed before Patterson's door with a lighted match
at the end of it. While in this state Glascock discovered as he
thought a piece of fire dropped by accident and picked up this
affair, but immediately dropped it. He had proceeded only a
few steps when it exploded, but without injuring him." It is
easy to see that his life, or his eyesight was in imminent danger.
So far as the discipline extended the Faculty were victorious.
Peter O. Picot, of Plymouth, writes to his cousin, Alfred M.
Slade, who had been sent home for some fault, in doleful jere-
miads: "All quiet here; the students seem to have lost their
energy and yield implicitly to the yoke. The storm has blown
over, but it has made impressions not easily to be eradicated,
for this place looks like some half-deserted village, where you
may see its inhabitants collected in small groups, talking over
the news of the day, some commiserating your unjust fate, and
others pouring out invectives against the Faculty for their pal-
pably erroneous decision and rash suspensions." * * * The
suspension of Shepard, Pltimmer and Mann * * was as un-
just and unfounded as disgraceful to its authors, who seem
to be callous to equity and justice." In a letter written three
weeks afterwards he says : "Never was a place so much altered
as this. The Chapel looks destitute. No crowds to hear the
news are seen running before a member of the Faculty. All
is still ! All is quiet ! With implicit obedience they bend to the
yoke, and undergo with patience the bondage of supercilious
domination." * * * "The poor Philanthropic members are to
be pitied for they have but thirteen members."
Wm. Mercer Green, from boyhood a model of correct be-
havior, wrote to his friend, Martin A. B. Armstrong, one of the
victims: "All again is quiet; the countenances of our most
noble and impartial Faculty are unclouded, and those of the
boys marked with contempt. The thought of the near approach
of the examination has dispelled all others, and the absence of
the suspended, we are only able to call to mind when we look
into the vacant rooms." Then follows an evidence of the tact
CHAPMAN RESIGNS. 239
for which Bishop Green was distinguished through life. "I
speak of others, my friend ; rest assured you are not forgotten."
While the first impulse of the students was to take sides
against the Faculty there was a partial reaction. Hamilton C.
Jones wrote in the February following the disturbance that
"Shepard and Dromgoole are very much censured by all the
sober part of the community. Shepard's speech has lost its
popularity, and notwithstanding the great puffing of the New
Horn editor has been stigmatized by every judge of literary
merit as a flowery piece of nonsense." It should be noted, how-
ever, that Jones and Shepard belonged to different societies and
feeling between the two was then bitter. In the letter in which
the above criticism occurs is found the following: "The Dia-
lectic Society is still in a very flourishing condition. The other
(Philanthropic), though increasing in numbers, degenerates in
point of talent." The writer too, though the Federalist party
was practically extinct, sympathized with its principles, and
afterwards followed Clay into the wigwam of the Whigs, while
Shepard continued to be a warm Republican and became a Dem-
ocratic leader.
It is altogether probable that this unfortunate trouble led to
Dr. Chapman's leaving the institution, for at the meeting of the
Board of Trustees next after its occurrence, November 23, 1816,
he "in solemn form resigned his office as President of the Uni-
:ty." The words "in solemn form" have an ominous sound.
His resignation was certainly associated in the public mind
with the disturbance, which political partisans and advocates of
free speech declared to be evidence of his incapacity. The let-
ter of resignation dated three days before asserts that his duties
had been performed "faithfully and successfully," and that he
was desirous to be more fully devoted to the gospel ministry.
He gave notice that his place would be vacant at the close of
the year 1817, but the Board accepted the resignation to take
effect immediately, .-i^m-ini;. however, unanimously to pay him
one-half year's salary ($800), and to allow him to retain the
President '< house until the end of the <ion. There i* a
not.r -ice of praises of his pnM ^Tvioes and regrets at his
departure. Judge Cameron wrote to Judge Mnrplioy on No-
240 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
vember 27, 1816, that he was glad Dr. Chapman had resigned
that he wished he had done so twelve months ago. "It would
have been much better for himself and the University." He
presumed that Mr. Caldwell and the Committee of Appoint-
ments would open an official correspondence with Dr. Neil on
the subject of the Presidency, but he sincerely wished that Mr.
Caldwell will resume the office himself. Dr. Neil was not again
mentioned; probably Dr. Wm. Neill, a Presbyterian clergyman
of Philadelphia, President of Dickinson College in 1 824^29,
an author.
The number of students, however, did not indicate any fail-
ure in Dr. Chapman's administration. For his term of four
years the aggregate was 352, averaging 88 yearly, while for the
four preceding years under Caldwell the numbers were 209,
averaging 52 per annum. There were 63 graduates of Chap-
man's term, averaging about sixteen, while for the four pre-
ceding years there were 24, averaging six per annum. Of
course most of the improvement was due to the spread of the
desire and the means for attaining higher education. The
war evidently stirred up the people. Taking the four years
after Chapman left and Caldwell resumed the reins we have
465 students, averaging 116, and 50 graduates, averaging 12 1-2
per annum. The next four years showed still better with 640
matriculates, averaging 160, and 119 graduates, averaging 30.
The reason for this rapid increase of prosperity will appear
hereafter.
Doubtless, however, Dr. Chapman must have had unpleasant
recollections of Chapel Hill. He had a grievous private afflic-
tion in the death of a daughter. In the village graveyard is a
marble slab, which records that Margaretta Blanch, daughter of
Rev. Robert H. and Hannah Chapman, died November 25,
1814, in the sixteenth year of her age.
We have the testimony of Rev. Dr. James E. Morrison, a
Tutor under Chapman, that he "introduced a most salutary
moral change." He required the study of the Bible, as a text-
book, and was the chief factor in organizing the Presbyterian
church at Chapel Hill.
The teaching of the Bible probably had a flavor of Calvinism.
In 1814 we find one class of the University Grammar School
HISTORY OF CHAPMAN. 24!
charged with 20 questions on the Catechism and 21 chapters in
a book entitled, "Beauties of the Bible." Another class had 39,
a third 38, and the fourth 77 questions in the Catechism. The
Senior class of the same school for entrance into the University
were examined on four books of the Aeneid, ten chapters of St.
John's Gospel in Greek, and 37 questions in the larger Cate-
chism, well known as that used in the Presbyterian church, is-
sued by the Westminister Assembly.
Dr. Chapman's degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred
by Williams' College, Mass., in 1815. After leaving the Uni-
versity he became pastor of Bethel church in the Shenandoah
Valley. In 1823 he had a church near Winchester, Virginia,
and then labored for a year or two as a Missionary in the hill
country of North Carolina. His next and last charge was at
Covington, Kentucky, in 1830. He was chosen to be a member
of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church in 1833,
and died at Winchester on his return, June 18, 1833, and is
there buried. In 1797 he married Hannah Arnette, of Elizabeth-
town, New Jersey, who died at St. Louis, July 7, 1845. They
left seven children, one of whom was Rev. Robert Hett Chap-
man, D.D., who is buried in the cemetery of the Presbyterian
church at Asheville, N. C.
Of the teachers of the University during his term I have al-
ready mentioned Professor Rhea. A sketch of Tutor Hooper
will be hereafter given. I find no further mention of John
Harper Hinton than that he was Principal of Caswell Acaduny
at Yanceyville in 1818, and probably afterwards. He was a
native of Wake County.
James Morrison, who was Tutor from 1814 to 1817, studied
divinity under Dr. Chapman and was ordained by the Or.
Presbytery in 1817. He was for a while a teacher in the Ra-
i Academy. He was pastor of New Providence church,
Rockbrirlge County. Virginia, from i8i() to 1857. He was
born in 1795 and died in 1870. Dr. Charles W. Dabnev. once
Director of the Kxperiment Station of North Carolina and State
Chemist, then President of the University of Knoxville. and
now of the University of Cincinnati, is a grandson of Or. Tames
Morrison.
Abner Wentworth Clopton, the Principal of the Grammar
16
242 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
School, has been heretofore described. He died March 21,
1831, praised in a newspaper of the day as an "eminent and
devoted member of the Baptist church, and one of the earliest
and most efficient promoters of the temperance cause, and was
equally attentive to the duties of the society of which he was a
member."
The University bells of the early period were very inferior.
A second was bought in 1813. We are told that this was
bought in Fayetteville ; it, however, was so inferior that seven
years afterwards another was procured. This latter on the
procurement of the new was hung in the back yard of Dr.
Mitchell's lot to be used when the clapper of the other was
stolen or in hiding. About the same time the Trustees gave
$50 for the transportation of the organ procured for the Uni-
versity by private contributions. This effort to make worship
in the Chapel more attractive was supplemented by authorizing
Tutor Hooper to procure shutters and a chandelier for the
same.
On the resignation of Professor Rhea in 1814 the experiment
was tried of a "Senior Tutor," with a salary of $500, authorized
to live out of the college buildings and to pay his own board,
instead of eating without charge with the students at Commons.
At the same time the Committee of Appointments were author-
ized to abolish Commons and rent out the building if they
thought best. The dissatisfaction implied in this resolution re-
sulted doubtless from the rise of prices in consequence of the
war. The Committee concluded to add improvements to the
building, paying Bennett Parton $456, and to allow an increase
of 10 per cent (to $33) in price of board. The Senior Tutor
was William Hooper, whose health, always delicate, probably
required the superior diet of his mother's table. There were
other Tutors, James E. Morrison and Abner Stith, and for part
of the time John Harper Hinton. In 1815 the Committee on
Salaries reported the salaries to be :
President $1,200
Professor of Mathematics 1,000
Senior Tutor 500
Two Tutors, $300 each 600
Board of two Tutors 150
Treasurer 200
$3,650
SALARIES. 243
To meet the expenses the University owned 314 shares
of bank stock, payings percent $2,512
Eighty students paying tuition 1,600
$4,112
The Committee were impressed with the policy, as well as
the justice of increasing the salaries of the highest officers by
contingent perquisites, depending on their industry, activity and
zeal. On their recommendation, therefore, the Board appro-
priated the dividends from the bank stock and one-half of tui-
tion receipts to be paid to all the officers and the other half to
increasing the salaries of the President and Professors only,
"in acknowledgement of their ability, industry and unwearied
diligence, by which it is hoped and expected they will acquit
themselves." This explains why the half of Dr. Chapman's
salary was stated on the acceptance of his resignation as $800.
The President was authorized also to cut firewood near the field
set apart for his use, out of sight of the village. This field was
west of the Pittsboro road. In the course of time it was found
unprofitable for agricultural purposes, and the Public School
Committee was authorized to build a cabin on it for a school
house.
In the following year a singular and ambitious plan was de-
1. under the appearance of improving the institution, of
indirectly increasing the salaries to meet the high prices of the
war. The Faculty were authorized to clear out the land to the
east of the campus on the roads leading to Raleigh, "so as to
command a full view of the distant horizon over Point Prospect
i now IMney ) to the east." As there were two roads, one on the
summit of the ridge and the other about a hundred yards to the
north, tliis permission included at least twenty acres of good oak
and hickory.
The reply made- by the Hoard to Treasurer Williams' request
for a clerk to ascertain balances due prior to his term, shows
that they were not indiscriminately generous. They voted that
tin- toni long experience and knowledge of the
J affairs of the University must be much better qualified to
unravel anything mysterious than a clerk." They thought it his
duty to make the inv u ami recommended that he
244 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
vote such portion of his time as will enable him to effect an
eclaircisement of the accounts."
The Board showed their caution in another ruling. They de-
clined to warrant the title to escheated land sold by them be-
cause if the title is good it will not enhance the price as the
purchaser is sure to investigate for himself. If the title is
doubtful they ought not to warrant.
One of the old-time "blue laws" was abolished at this meet-
ing. The by-law forbidding students to wear hats in the build-
ings was repealed, but with the provision that "they shall not
wear hats while addressing a member of the Faculty." An
oidinance was likewise adopted that applicants for admission
delaying to report more than twenty-four hours after reaching
Chapel Hill shall be in danger of being refused.
During this regime the excuses for absences from Morning
Prayers were noted in a book. I copy some of them to show
that our grandfathers acted as we do. The answers were
"Sick," "Unwell," "Was not waked," "Tardy," "Indisposed,"
"Did not hear the bell," "Weather bad," "Asleep." There is
no record of any punishments for non-attendance.
In 1815 a tardy sale was made of part of the Gerrard lands.
The statement shows the trouble experienced in the location
and the sale of land warrants in Tennessee, caused partly by
carelessness and partly by fraud. Judge Potter and Treasurer
Haywood, a majority of the committee, reported that Gerrard's
will mentioned 13,000 acres. A memorandum found among his
papers shows only 11,364 acres, so it is evident that he sold
some after making the will. He gave 640 acres for locating his
lands, leaving only 10,724. He requested that his "service
right," 2,560 acres, should not be sold, so deducting these they
had 8,164. Of these McKenzie's 640 tract was "land lost," i.
e., could not be found and this must be subtracted, leaving 7,524.
The following were also "land lost :"
On Mound Lick Creek 1,000 acres.
On Lumsden's fork 228 acres.
Blooming Grove tract 640 acres.
Part of three, but of these a small part was saved
and sold for $200 1,304 acres.
3,172
CAI4>WELI, AGAIN PRESIDENT. 245
Taking off these there were left 4,352 acres. Appraisers ap-
pointed by the agent of the Board valued these at $6,363.50.
Col. Wm. Polk bought at $6,400, payable one-half cash and the
rest when needed to pay for bank stock, which the Board had
resolved to buy. As a still further irritation it was discovered
after the sale that 428 acres had been leased for several years,
so the price of this tract was held up until this matter could be
adjusted.
The General Assembly had made provision for issuing other
warrants in the place of "lost lands," but it took time, trouble
and expense to recover them, and in the meantime prices fell and
sales were still further delayed.
It is certain that Dr. Caldwell was sincerely desirous of con-
tinuing in his Professorship of Mathematics. He endeavored
roiislv to find a successor to Chapman, of sufficient learning
and administrative gifts, but in vain. In addition to Dr. Neill,
already mentioned, the office was tendered to Rev. Lewis von
Schweinitz, D.D., LL.D., of the Moravian church, who in addi-
tion to his theological attainments was eminent as a Botanist.
Both nominees decline^ and the strong pressure on Caldwell
prevailed.
i.mvKi.i. AC.AIX PRESIDENT GRADUATES 1813-1819.
Rev. Dr. Joseph Caldwell was a second time elected President
of the University on December 14, 1816. According to the
stateliness of the old school a regular commission was issued
to him :
The President and Trustees of the
University of North Carolina
To the President Doctor Josfph Caldivell :
EtepOMDg confidence in your integrity, learnim: and Ability. \\
v nominate an. 1 appoint yon I'l.-.lmt of (he Cui\. -.ith
Carolina, with all the po\\er<. immunities, compensation^ ami endow-
ments thereto belonging, to commence tin- iii>t day of .lannarx . ls|7.
.Jons II \N \\oon.
II. Ron
Wm r.
Tin- answer of tin- "Id M-h<">1 President was likewise in writ-
id, "with ditlidenee I will aeo-pt it. and it' I -hall
ever be found t< have gone wmn^ \\\ di-ehar^c <>f the <lr
246 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
I hope that the members of the Committee and of the Board
in general will be ready to make allowances for defects, which
may easily in me proceed from frailty and error without the
intention of evil."
The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him
by the University in the same year.
The Trustees, who accepted Dr. Chapman's resignation, were
Wm. Miller, Governor and Chairman; Judge Henry Potter,
John Winslow, James Iredell, Calvin Jones, Atlas Jones, Rob-
ert Williams (of Raleigh) ; Henry Seawell, Robert H. Jones,
Wm. Polk, Lewis Williams, Simmons J. Baker and A. D. Mur-
phey. Dr. Chapman is also mentioned as present. Most of
these were present at the election of Dr. Caldwell on December
17, 1816.
The Faculty records are singularly deficient during Chap-
man's administration and for 1817. The following, although
incomplete, is accurate, I think :
The Graduates of 1813 were in number 14. The report of
the class standing of the members has been lost. The following
attained distinction. William E. Bailey was a Professor of An-
cient Languages in the College of Charleston; William S.
Blackledge was a Representative in Congress ; John H. Hinton
and Abner Stith, Tutors in the University of North Carolina
and afterwards Classical teachers. William J. Polk was a
prominent physician.
Of the matriculates with the class not graduating, Elijah
Graves was a Presbyterian preacher and a teacher of repute;
Alexander Long, a very popular physician, and Romulus M.
Saunders, a Judge, Congressman and Minister to Spain ; Rob-
ert Williams, State Adjutant-General and Secretary and Treas-
urer of the University.
To Rev. Jeremiah Atwater was given the degree of Doctor
of Divinity (D. D.)
The Senior class of 1814, in numbers 16, was of a high grade.
Aaron V. Brown was a member of the Tennessee Legislature,
Governor, Representative in Congress and Postmaster-General :
Charles L. Hinton, a planter, Trustee, Secretary and Treasurer
of the University, and State Treasurer ; Charles Manly, a Trus-
CLASSES OF 1814 AND 1815. 247
tee of the University 42 years, and Secretary and Treasurer 46
years, Governor of the State; Samuel Pickens, Comptroller of
Alabama ; James Morrison, a Tutor in this institution and a
Presbyterian preacher.
Of the Graduates of 1815, in numbers 18, some became
famous.
John H. Bryan was elected to Congress and the State Senate
at the same time, and chose the first. He was a Trustee of the
University 45 years. Robert R. King was a Tutor and then a
preacher. Francis L. Hawks, D.D., LL.D., an eminent preacher
and author, in early life Reporter of the Supreme Court of N.
C. ; Edward Hall, Judge of the Superior Court ; Willie P. Man-
gum was a Judge, Senator of the United States and President
of the Senate; Mitchell was Clerk of the General Assembly and
President of the Bank of Tennessee; Richard Dobbs Spaight
was the last Governor elected by the General Assembly.
The honors are not mentioned in the reports, but tradition
gives the highest to Croom, Bryan, Hawks and Spaight.
We have the exercises of the class of 1815. The Latin Salu-
tatory was spoken by Isaac Croom, the Mathematical Oration
by Richard Dobbs Spaight. There was a "Forensic Dispute,"
anticipatory of the Know Nothing Party, "Whether Civil Offi-
ces should be open to Foreigners ?" Matthew McClung opened
Respondent," Henry L. Plummer, called the Opponent, re-
plied, and Hu-h M. Stokes closed as Replicator. Another For-
ensic Dispute was "Whether Theatrical Amusements are Benefi-
cial?" between Robert Hinton, Respondent, Semuel D. Hatch,
Opponent, and Robert King. Replicator. A third dispute was
between Priestly Manguni. Stephen Snoc-d and Kdward Hill,
the subject being "Should a Penitentiary be immediately
ted?* 1 This was followed by an oration on Natural Phil-
osophy, by Stokely I). Mitchell, of Temu-sM-e. In the afternoon
there- was the Kn-li-h Salutatory by John H. P.ryan. t'ollo\ v l
by a three-handed dispute aj t> whether students should
subject to Military Duty, a theme whirh heeanie very acute
during our Civil War. Tin Respondent w*fl Matthew Moore,
the Opponent James H., ,p-r. the Rejl- !'. I'.rahani.
cis L. Hawks closed with the Yaledict. .1 \ . 1 :
were even then widely known and warmly admired.
248 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The other speakers at this Commencement were :
" Should the United States assist the South American Re-
publics against Spain and the Holy Alliance ?", by Broomfield L.
Ridley.
"The Character of the North American Indians," by James
H. Norwood.
"Will Greece emancipated attain the Eminence of Ancient
Greece ?", Daniel B. Baker.
"Perpetuity of the United States," Harry E. Coleman.
"The Effects of the French Revolution on Liberty," Benja-
min B. Blume.
"The Effects of the Invention of Printing," Augustus Moore.
"Should a Professorship of Law be established at the Uni-
versity ?", James W. Bryan.
"The Mahometan Religion," Thomas Bond.
. "American Literature," John W. Norwood.
"Should the American Colonization Society receive the pa-
tronage of the Public," Robert H. Booth.
The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on Rev. Levi
Holbrook.
Mr. Francis L. Hawks, who had received the degree of Mas-
ter of Arts from Yale College, was awarded the ad eundem
degree from this University.
Of the 1 6 Graduates of the class of 1816, those most notable
were : William Julius Alexander, a Trustee, member of the Leg-
islature, Speaker of the House and Solicitor of his district;
Thomas J. Haywood, Judge in Tennessee ; John DeRosset, phy-
sician of great promise, dying young ; Charles Applewhite Hill,
who left the University in 1804, Principal of Classical schools,
preacher and State Senator; John Patterson, Tutor U. N. C.
and preacher; James W. McClung, Speaker of the House of
Tennessee; John Y. Mason, LL.D., Attorney-General of the
United States, a Judge in Virginia, Secretary of the Navy and
Minister to France.
It was at this Commencement that the degree of Doctor of
Divinity was conferred on Rev. Joseph Caldwell, the newly
elected President.
There were eleven of the Graduates of 1817. The most emi-
nent was John M. Morehead, a strong lawyer, Governor of the
CLASSES OF 1817 AND l8l8. 249
State, President and chief promoter of the North Carolina and
other railroads, a chief factor in the industrial development of
the State, an active Trustee of the University for 38 years, mem-
ber of the Confederate Congress. Holt was a physician, but
especially distinguished as the pioneer in the introduction of
blooded stock. He was the first President of the State Agricul-
tural Society.
Of the non-graduates, Bedford Brown was a member of the
Conventions of 1835 anc ^ 1861, President of the State Senate,
United States Senator; David F. Caldwell, Speaker of the State
Senate, Judge and President of a bank; William B. Shepard,
member of the'State Senate and of Congress; John G. A. Wil-
liamson, member of the Legislature, Consul to Venezuela,
Charge' d' affairs at Caraccas.
For the term ending in June, the second half of the session,
the strange spectacle was presented of a University without a
Professor, Dr. Caldwell and his Tutors caring for the institu-
tion. They were William Hooper, Principal Tutor, William
1 ). Moseley and Robert Rufus King, followed in the autumn
by John Motley Morehead and Priestly H. Mangum. Moseley
some years afterwards obtained double compensation on the
ground that King was forced to resign on account of his un-
popularity with the students in the fall of 1817, and double
duties were devolved on him. He and President Caldwell were
the entire Faculty until Professor Mitchell began work in Feb-
ruary, 1818.
The Trustees concluded that the Principal Tutor, Wm.
Hooper, whose learning and teaching power were admitted,
should be elevated to the Chair of Ancient Languages. This
done and the office of Principal Tutor was abolished never
to be restored. The salary of the Professor of Ancient Lan-
guages was fixed at $800 per annum. At the same time tuition
raised to $30 per annum.
The Tutors of this period \\-ere men of power. Morehead and
Mseley are described elsewhere. Priestly Mangnm. brother
of the more eminent Willie P. Mangum, was a useful cit
ami a safe lawyer, for years Solicitor of the county of Orange,
ami also a Commoner in tin- Legislature. Robert Rufus King
250 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
was a Presbyterian minister of promise, called by death from
his work in 1822. But it was impossible for young men, how-
ever able, to have proper restraining influence among 108
youths, unaccustomed to discipline. We have glimpses of wild
deeds in this year. So incensed were the Trustees that they
instructed the President to invoke the aid of the criminal law
to punish the perpetrators of outrages on the buildings and
grove in the fall of 1817.
MITCHELL, OLMSTEAD AND KOLLOCK, PROFESSORS.
The Committee of Appointments reported to the Board in
November that they had selected for the Chair of Chemistry
Denison Olmstead, a graduate of Yale, and had allowed him a
year's study there before coming to the University. For the
Chair of Mathematics, made vacant by the elevation of Dr.
Caldwell, they had searched in vain in many directions for a
suitable man, but, not discouraged, they had at length found Mr.
Elisha Mitchell, of Connecticut, who had accepted their offer.
The choice was exceedingly fortunate as the newcomer was
not only accomplished and able, but was resolved, like his
President, to live and die among us. He was born August 19,
1793, and was, therefore, 24 years old. His native place was
Washington, Litchfield County, Connecticut. His father was
a farmer, Abner by name; his mother Phoebe Eliot, a lineal
descendant of John Eliot, the Apostle to the Indians, whose
Bible translated into their language is one of the famous books
of the world. From her grandfather, Rev. Jared Eliot, M.D.
and D.D., one of the most noted American savants of his day,
he inherited his fondness for Natural Philosophy, Botany and
Mineralogy. He was prepared for Yale College by Rev. Azel
Bachus, a noted teacher, afterwards President of Hamilton
College.
At Yale he graduated in 1813, one of the best scholars in his
class. Among his class-mates were Denison Olmsted, destined
to be his colleague; James Longstreet, author of Georgia
Scenes and President of the University of -Mississippi ; Rev.
George Singletary, an influential Episcopal clergyman ; Thomas
P. Devereux, an able lawyer and Reporter of our Supreme
E. MITCHELL, PROFESSOR. 251
Court; and George E. Badger, an eminent Senator and Secre-
tary of the Navy, who did not graduate.
After leaving Yale young Mitchell taught in the academy of
Dr. Eigenbrodt at Jamaica, on Long Island. In 1815 we find
him in charge of a school for girls in New London. The next
year he was appointed a Tutor in his college, where he dis-
charged his duties so faithfully and well that the Chaplain of
the Senate of the United States, a son of President Dwight, of
Yale, recommended him to Wm. Gaston, then a Representative
in Congress from North Carolina and a Trustee of its Univer-
sity, as learned in Mathematics, as a cultured man of letters
generally and as skillful in teaching.
On notification of his appointment Mr. Mitchell spent a few
weeks at the Theological Seminary in Andover, Massachu-
setts, receiving a license to preach as a Congregational min-
ister. He reached Chapel Hill on the 3ist of January, 1818,
and at once entered on his nearly forty years' service, with the
intelligence, zeal and success for which he was distinguished.
He was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian church in 1821.
In the fall of 1819 young Mitchell went back to Connecticut
in order to take to himself a wife. His bride was handsome,
intellectual and well educated, Maria S. North, daughter of a
physician of Xe\\ London. Mrs. Spencer in the University
Magazine of October, 1884, gives extracts from letters from
her after her arrival at Chapel Hill. The first is dated January
i. 1820. I abridge the narrative. It shows vividly the discom-
forts ,,f <.ld-time traveling. They started from New York Mon-
day before Christmas, 1819, and journeyed by boat to Klizabcth-
town. thence by stage to Trenton; thence by stage to Philadel-
phia, stopping a day to visit Peale's Museum. West's picture
and the Academy of Fine Arts. Thence thev t..,k boat down
the Delaware to New Castle: thence traveled b < to
PrendltOWn, where thev a-jain took a steamer, and after a m
light trip reached I'.altimore by siinri<e on Thursday. There
they bad time to visit the Roman Catholic Cathedral and other
places \fter b- ihry Iv.arded tile Mramer. United
Staffs, for X'.rfnlk. Martin-- at <) <.Y1ock. They had a delight-
ful trip, the dav being pleasant. One of their traveling com-
252 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
panions was Dr. Simmons J. Baker, whom they describe as a
man of liberal education, very lively and intelligent in his con-
versation a Trustee of the University. "He sets a higher
value on the amor patriae than any man I've ever known."
They reached Norfolk at I o'clock on Friday. As the stage was
waiting they missed their dinner and speeded to the head of
Dismal Swamp, eleven miles. Here they entered a canal boat
20 feet in length. " 'Twas sunset of a rainy Christmas eve
when we entered this boat and were drawn along for 22 miles
at the rate of four miles an hour." It was suggested that as
Christmas was a holiday for slaves and many runaways were
living in the swamp, firearms might be needed ; so the gentle-
men prepared their pistols, three in number for possible rob-
bers. The five locks and three bridges impeded their progress
so that they did not get through the swamp until 10 o'clock at
night. The driver of the stage for passengers had been restive
and gone off, so a one-horse gig and a one-horse cart for bag-
gage were procured, and they made their way to a country
tavern not far off, where they spent the night, sending to Eliza-
beth City for the stage to return for them. They ate breakfast
in that town and dined in Edenton Saturday afternoon. As the
steamboat for Plymouth was gone, in an open boat rowed by
four men, over a rough sea, one of the passengers bailing out
the water which poured through the gaping seams, the travelers
in seven hours reached Plymouth. Here their first care was to
unpack their trunks and dry their soaked clothes. They then
proceeded by stage by way of Williamston and Tarboro to
Raleigh, only to find that the stage to Chapel Hill had departed.
They hired a special conveyance, whose driver was suspected
of being a murderer, and the Professor thought it wise to hint
that he was provided with firearms. After a day's ride through
a country almost uninhabited the bride reached her new home
December 29th, and her husband preached his first sermon on
the following Sunday in the old Chapel or Person Hall.
For a while they boarded with Prof. Olmsted at the house
built for the President, that nearest to the University buildings
on the west, paying $288 a year for board, lodging and wash-
ing. Their host kept four servants besides the washerwoman.
OBSERVATIONS OF A BRIDE. 253
He had a wife and a son and, although a Connecticut man,
paid $350 for a slave girl as a nurse to the youngster. Their
household expenses were $1,000 a year.
Mrs. Mitchell expressed much admiration for the Doctor
and Mrs. Caldwell. She spoke of the lady as being sociable
and friendly. They gave a dinner party in honor of the new-
comers, a handsome dinner, handsomely served. The bride had
the honor of drinking the first glass of wine with Dr. Caldwell,
the sentiment being, "To Absent Friends." Womanlike she
tells her mother of what a Carolina dinner consisted: "Roast
turkey with duck, roast beef and broiled, broiled chicken, Irish
and sweet potatoes, turnips, rice, carrots, parsnips, cabbage,
stewed apples, boiled pudding, baked potato pudding, damson
tarts, current tarts, apple pies and whips."
She was pleased with her new surroundings, notwithstanding
the two hundred curious eyes of the students when she was in
the Chapel. She praises particularly the fine apples and abun-
dance of them. Thirty years afterwards the neighborhood was
equally distinguished for peaches. The orchards have been
allowed to go to decay. She whiles away the hours when her
husband is absent, by study, reciting to him at night. She asks
her mother to send her some fine thread, worsted yarn and
some needles, the package to be forwarded to New York in
order to come in the next box of books. Fine materials for
ladies work were not procurable at Chapel Hill in those days.
It was not long before Dr. Olmsted bought himself a residence
and tin- ynun^ couple started housekeeping in the home he
vacated, which they occupied for thirty-seven years.
At the same session the Committee on Buildings were author-
ized to erect a building embracing recitation rooms whenever
the funds would allow.
The vision of golden streams to flow from tin escheated war-
rnnts of Tennessee emboldened the Trustees in 1818, with <>nlv
one dissenting voice, to add the Professorship of Rhetoric and
ic and adjunct Professor .-,] Philosophy. Rev.
>ard Ko to fill the chair of
oric ami he^an at the same term with ( )lmsted. the fall term
of 1810. His <;alar\ jo. Tli< ;it held the Chair
254 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
of Moral Philosophy and Metaphysics. The Tutors were King
and Simon Jordan. The number of students during the year
was 1 1 8.
Dr. Kollock was born in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, June
2 5> I 795- His father, Shepard Kollock, was an officer in the
Revolutionary Army, and hence delighted to honor the Polish
patriot. The son graduated with high honors at Princeton at
the age of sixteen. He began the study of Theology under his
brother-in-law, Rev. John McDowell, D.D., and finished his
course under his brother, Rev. Henry Kollock, D.D., whose min-
isterial work was at Savannah, Georgia. His first charge after
ordination was that of the Presbyterian church at Oxford,
North Carolina, marrying during his first year, 1818, Miss
Sarah Blount Little John, daughter of Thomas Blount Little-
john. Coming to the University in 1819, he remained until
1825, when he accepted a call to the Presbyterian church of
Norfolk, Virginia, where he remained about ten years. He
then removed to New Jersey, and was for three years the suc-
cessful agent of the Board of Missions, after which he was
pastor successively in Burlington and Greenwich, both in New
Jersey. In 1860 his health failed and he accepted light work
in connection with a charitable institution in Philadelphia. He
died April 7, 1865.
Dr. Kollock married a second time Miss Sarah Harris, of
Norfolk. Several children and more grandchildren of this mar-
riage survive. A child, Sarah, of the first marriage, was one
of the highly esteemed principals of the excellent School for
Females of the Misses Nash and Miss Kollock. The Misses
Nash are daughters of a sister of Professor Kollock, wife of
Chief Justice Frederick Nash.
The election of Prof. Kollock caused an outcry against Presi-
dent Caldwell for filling the Faculty with Presbyterian preach-
ers. This he emphatically denied in a letter to Treasurer Hay-
wood, calling attention to the fact that Prof. Hooper was an
Episcopalian, and making the rather odd statement that he
would have been nominated to the Chair of Rhetoric and Logic
if he had been ordained as a preacher and could have rendered
to him as much relief in the pulpit as Mr. Kollock. Moreover,
ENLARGED CURRICULUM. 255
he contended that the best man should "be selected regardless of
denominational bias. It should be noticed too that Olmsted,
howbeit a Presbyterian, although he studied Theology, was not
licensed to preach. A letter from Treasurer Hay wood to Judge
Murphey of the date of April 26, 1819, shows that the President
was so chagrined at the postponement by the Board of his nomi-
nation, that he hinted at accepting a Professorship in the South
Carolina College. It is stated that the hesitation arose from
the fear that this placing the religious instruction in the charge
of two Presbyterian ministers might be against the Constitu-
tion, as exalting one denomination over the others. It is notable
that Treasurer Hay wood stated that he and Colonel Wm. Polk,
adherents of the Protestant Episcopal church, were of the opin-
ion that it was imprudent to elect one of their own faith, for
fear of giving offence to other denominations. As Professor
Hooper was then an Episcopalian, one other of the same faith
would have been a too heavy weight to be carried by the strug-
gling institution. This seems to prove that the prejudice from
the old hostility to the Church of England, allied with the odious
Colonial government, still lingered among our people. After
Kollock's election the Faculty stood, Caldwell, Mitchell, Olm-
sted, Kollock, four to one Episcopalian, tottering towards the
Baptists. As the Tutors changed almost yearly, I have not in-
quired into their religious proclivities.
THE ENLARGED CURRICULUM.
The scheme of studies was of course considerably changed by
the addition of the two new Professorships. For admission into
the Freshman class the following was prescribed :
In Latin The Grammar; Prosody; Corderius ; 25 of Aesop's
I-'al'l'-; Selects Veterae, or Sacra HiMoria; Cornelius Nepos
or Yiri Romae ; Mair's Introduction; Seven Books of Caesar's
:mentaries: ( )vidi Kditio Kxpnr^ata ; The Bucolics and
Books of Veneid in Virgil.
In Greek Grerk Grammar; St. John's Gospel and Th<
of the Apostles; Gl I.ncian'^ I )i.d- -^nes.
It is remarkable that neither Arithmetic nor Algebra is in
] ist.
The Plan of Education in the University was as follows:
256 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
For the Freshman Class
In Latin The whole of Sallust; Roman Antiquities; the
Georgics of Virgil ; Cicero's Orations ; Ancient Geography.
In Greek Graeca Minora continued ; first volume of Graeca
Majora; Antiquities. (The last included other ancient nations
besides Greece.) Ancient Geography.
In Mathematics Arithmetic; Algebra.
In English, etc., Modern Geography; English Grammar,
Composition ; Declamations ; Theses.
For the Sophomore Class
In Latin Horace entire.
In Greek Graeca Majora continued, First Volume ; ^ four
books of Homer's Iliad.
In Mathematics Algebra concluded; Geometry.
In English Geography, Theses, Composition, Declamation.
For the Junior Class, then called Junior Sophisters
Latin and Greek were both dropped.
In Mathematics Logarithms; Plane Trigonometry; Men-
suration of Heights and Distances ; Surveying ; Spherical Trig-
onometry; Navigation; Conic Sections, Fluxions.
Natural Philosophy.
In English Classics, Composition, Declamation.
It is observable that in the catalogue Conies is spelled
Conicks, and means of course Analytical Geometry. Fluxions
is now called Calculus; Natural Philosophy is called Physics;
Classics (spelled Classicks), meant the writings of great Eng-
lish authors, principally of Queen Anne's time.
For the Senior Class, then called Senior Sophisters
No Latin, Greek or Pure Mathematics.
In Natural Science Chemistry ; Mineralogy ; Geology ; Phil-
osophy of Natural History.
In Applied Mathematics Natural Philosophy; Progress of
the Mathematical and Physical Sciences; Astronomy; Chro-
nology.
In Philosophy Moral Philosophy; Progress of Metaphysi-
cal, Ethical and Political Philosophy; Metaphysics.
In English Logic ; Rhetoric ; Classics ; Composition ; Decla-
mation.
PLAN OF JUDGE MURPHEY. 257
The students had no laboratory work, but the Professor per-
formed experiments in Chemistry and Physics in the presence of
the class. Much attention was paid to composition and declam-
ation, which was supplemented by similar work, enforced by
fines, in the two literary societies. The Alumni of the Univer-
sity were therefore easily among the leaders in political life,
and had a good start in the professions of law and theology.
JUDGE MURPHEY'S PLAN.
It is interesting to compare the foregoing scheme of studies
with the plan of Judge Archibald Murphey, who distinguished
himself about this time by a very able report on Public Educa-
tion, and was a man of large experience at the bar, on the bench,
and in the General Assembly, and had professional experience
in the University. He moved for a committee to report "a re-
vised plan of Education," embodying "changes suited to the
present improved state of science and general knowledge;" also
to report a plan of new buildings. The following is the scheme,
recommended but not adopted. It is analogous to our modern
system of "Schools" or "Colleges," the term classes, however,
being used :
1. Class of Languages, embracing Greek and Latin ; Murray's
English Grammar ; Elements of Chronology ; Millet's Elements
of History ; Blair's Lectures.
2. Class of Mathematics. Pure Mathematics up to Fluxions ;
Mensuration up to Astronomy; Geography.
3. Physical Sciences. Embracing Chemistry, Mineralogy,
Geology, Philosophy of Natural History; History of the Pro-
gress of Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
4. Class of the Moral and Political Sciences, embracing
Philosophy of the Human Mind ; Ethics and Practical Morality ;
Elements of Theology; History of tin IV. Kthieal and
Moral Sciences; Political Philosophy by Paley; Constitution of
nitcd States by Puhlins; Political Konmmy by C.enith.
It is very notable that the distinguished T inline did not include
in his programme the study of th< iencet, Electricity or
mi; nor is there mention of Mechanic^. 1'iolopy and
similar branches now <;n much cultivated.
17
258 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
PRESIDENT FOLK'S CLASS.
The class of 1818 numbered 14.
The highest honor was conferred on James Knox Polk, after-
wards President of the United States, having previously passed
through the offices of Governor of Tennessee and Speaker of
the House of Representatives.
The second honor was won by William Mercer Green, after-
wards a Professor in our University, Bishop of Mississippi
and Chancellor of the University of the South, Doctor of Divin-
ity and of Laws. The third honor devolved on Robert Hall
Morrison, afterwards a Doctor of Divinity in the Presbyterian
church and President of Davidson College. The fourth honor
fell to Hamilton C. Jones, a prominent editor and lawyer of
Salisbury and Reporter of the Supreme Court. Besides these,
were Hugh Waddell, able lawyer and President of the State
Senate, Edward Jones Mallett, Paymaster-General U. S. A. and
Consul-General to Italy, and William Dunn Moseley, Speaker
of the State Senate and Governor of Florida. The Faculty
reported that the class was especially approved on account of
the regular, moral and exemplary deportment of its members.
Polk never missed a duty while in the institution.
Associated with these, but not remaining to take degrees, were
George C. Dromgoole, Speaker of the Virginia Senate and
Representative in Congress, a noted stump speaker.
The degree of Doctor of Divinity was granted to Rev. John
McDowell, of Virginia, and that of Master of Arts to Thomas
Pollock Devereux, of North Carolina. Dr. McDowell was of
New Jersey, for fifty years Trustee of Princeton College, and
was efficient as agent in collecting funds for its advancement.
Mr. Devereux, a descendant of Jonathan Edwards, was a Trus-
tee of the University of North Carolina, and Reporter of the
Supreme Court.
For the Commencement of 1819 the representatives from the
Dialectic Society were Wm. Hill Jordan, of Bertie, Thomas H.
Wright, of Wilmington, and Lucius C. Polk, of Raleigh, after-
wards of Tennessee. On the part of the Philanthropic Society
were Wm. H. Hardin, of Rockingham, afterwards of Fayette-
, Tucker Carrington, of Virginia, and Matthias B. D.
CLASS OF 1819 LETTERS OF STUDENTS. 259
Palmer, of Northampton County. The Debaters were Thomas
B. Slade and Anderson W. Mitchell. The question was "Ought
foreigners to be admitted to public offices in the United States ?"
Three men attained the first distinction, being declared equal.
Ihey were Walker Anderson, Clement Carrington Read and
\\ in. Henry Hay wood. Anderson had the Latin Salutatory,
Read the English Salutatory, and Haywood the Valedictory.
Besides the above, Thomas B. Slade, John M. Starke and
Paul A. Haralson were appointed by the Faculty to speak a
humorous dialogue.
The success in after-life of the honored men corresponded to
their college careers. Anderson, who was slightly superior to
Haywood was a Professor in the University and Chief Justice
of Florida. Haywood was a leader of the bar and United
States Senator. Read was a banker of very high standing. Of
the others, Simon P. Jordan was a Tutor in this institution and
then a physician ; James Turner Morehead, a sound lawyer and
member of Congress.
Contemporaries, not graduating, were John Lancaster Bailey,
of the Convention of 1835, an d Judge of the Superior Courts;
\V. F. Leak, Presidential Elector and member of the Conven-
tions of 1835 and 1861. Thomas N. Mann, heretofore men-
tioned; Alfred M. Slade, Consul to Buenos Ayres; and Mason
I.. Wiggins, State Senator. Rev. Wm. McPheeters, who had
gained fame as a preacher and head of the Raleigh Academy, a
Trustee of the University, was made Doctor of Divinity.
UNIVERSITY LIFE, 1813^20 LETTERS OF STUDENTS.
I am fortunately able to give information of interest with
respect to this decade of University history, derived from letters
by students. I'.ryau (.rimes writes to his mother in January and
April, 1813, regretting his inability to visit her during the ap-
proaching vacation because of the impossibility of hiring a
. I h- n quest! >ne or t\v<> waistcoats to !.< -cut him at the
next session. He is inconvenienced by having only three pair
of summer the washerwoman him-- in
clothes weekly and. therefore, he must every alternate v
wear a pair for seven days without change. All things seem
2(5O HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
to proceed in harmony in college. The students are exerting
themselves for examinations, having no time for sport. He
reminds his .mother that she had promised to write every month,
and he begs her to continue this frequency. He asks her to
excuse his penmanship because he has no knife wherewith to
mend his bad pen.
He testifies that he was received with great politeness, which
indicates that the evil practice of hazing did not then afflict the
institution. Before applying for admission into the Junior class
he spent several days in assiduously reviewing Arithmetic, his
passing on the Freshman and Sophomore studies not dispensing
with this branch. Mr. Grimes proved to be a good student, but
did not remain to graduate. He was in after-life a very influ-
ential and wealthy planter a most worthy citizen.
In October, 1816, Peter C. Picot gives the history of a fight
in which two students were involved. James R. Chalmers and
Thomas G. Coleman were among those suspended for the
Shepard riot. They concluded to sojourn at Hillsboro. A citi-
zen of that town volunteered to reflect severely on the conduct
of the stu'dents, for which Chalmers kicked him out of doors.
In the progress of the fight Coleman, whose nickname was
Cub, was severely choked. The offenders were about to be
consigned to prison when Judge Thomas Rufnn, a Trustee of
the University, appeared and settled the whole matter by a
compromise. The adversary of Chalmers declined to prosecute
him, on condition that the student, Coleman, should let the
choker go free, a curious example of the_doctrine of set-off.
Picot gives a pathetic story of Chapel Hill life. "The beau-
tiful and accomplished Miss P.'s father is no more. Though
the world will not grieve, nor has society to lament, for he was
to the former a burden and to the latter a disgrace, yet a help-
less girl, in the dawn of youth, has to mourn a disgraced father,
for he died in jail and laid there some time, until they sent to
the Governor to obtain leave to take him out. Oh ! if you could
have heard her shrieks and witnessed her lamentations it would
have pierced your heart and rent your soul. But she has got
pacified, and I had the inexpressible pleasure of accompanying
her last Thursday evening to preaching." The subsequent his-
LETTERS OF STUDENTS. 26l
tory of this consoled inconsolable damsel I have not been able
to trace.
Martin \V. B. Armstrong writes on January 31, 1818, for
money on account of unexpected expenses. He was one of a
committee selected to choose toasts for a dinner to be given on
the "birthday of our political father," and was bound therefore
to subscribe for the dinner. "According to custom the Com-
mittee had to treat those from whom they received the distinc-
tion." lie was also with five others chosen as a manager of the
ball to be given to the graduates at Commencement. For this
honor lie was "again forced to be at the expense of making
college drunk." He estimates the cost at two or three dollars.
He regrets the expense for suitable clothes, which according to
an account sent his father cost $56. He presses for more cloth-
ing for daily use. Cambric shirts are soon gone when they be-
come crazy and old, and he requests that his mother will make
him others. His cassimere pantaloons are worn through on
the seat and are thin on the knees, and his only other pair re-
quires washing after one week's wearing. "It will not be im-
proper," he adds, "to provide for another supply."
Hamilton C. Jones wrote in the same year to Major Abraham
Staples that the business of the Dialectic Society had been con-
ducted with order since the repeal of the law compelling mem-
to attend prayers, which had caused great disturbance. He
praises in the highest terms the President. Samuel T. Hauser.
of Stokes. The next question for debate was "Do we experi-
ence more pleasure in contemplating the works of Nature or
' rt ?" Jones was to advocate the claims of Xature. saving
among other arguments "because no na'Vtcr nor no sculpturer
can produce in the mind of man the exquisite *en*atinn pro-
duced in the mind of the Invrr t u-mplatimy the I
nating charm* of h\ I )ul<-in-a." I le ha* many >ther arguments
but this preponderate*. \\Y must presume that his adversary
contended *tout1y that the modern fine ladv is in a larcre d.
the work of \rt and made *ome n11us ; nn to the known fact that
-atelv in love w : th a fair one in the village.
HI he r'ftrrwnrd* marrird. Mi**, K1i/a TTrndr'
the notion was Indeed in the nnblic mind that Dr. Chap-
man failed n: n disciplinarian, the di*ord-rs of September.
262 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
must have been of some consolation to his friends. They heard
of three students, after loading up with corn whiskey, tumultu-
ously shouting on the streets of the village, breaking into a
kitchen, beating a negro, and insulting his owner and family
with loud vociferations. On the same day another threw stones
at a dwelling. On the same day, being God's holy day, two
others were drunken and noisy in the street. All but the stone-
thrower were suspended for four months, though they might
have escaped as the stone-hurler did by submitting to public
admonition in the Chapel. At the time of these rowdy occur-
rences S. H. was admonished for being deficient in scholarship,
often absent from his room and strongly suspected of partici-
pation in frequent explosions of gunpowder, and A. W. "after
repeated warnings was dismissed for negligence of studies."
We learn from a letter of James R. Chalmers, written in 1818
to Alfred M. Slade, that besides being suspended for partici-
pation in the street riots, one J. B. was charged with assisting
in transporting to the third story of the South Building a large
stone or other hard substance, with the intent to injure said
building. President Caldwell swore out a warrant against him
and he was keeping in hiding, attempting to collect evidence
of his innocence. Slade was urged to write a letter avowing
J. B.'s guiltlessness that "he may clear himself in the' eyes of
the Faculty, the Trustees and the world."
In the next month a too lively Virginian was charged with
the following offences :
ist. Torturing animals with spirits of turpentine. Doubtless
this was the primeval joke of attaching rags saturated with the
flaming fluid to the tail of an innocent canine, not with Samp-
son's motive of revenge on the hereditary enemies of his coun-
try, but for cruel delight over the antics of a frightened and
tortured beast.
2d. With lying.
3d. With slandering the Faculty.
4th. With threatening physical violence to a member of the
Faculty.
5th. With writing scurrilous and abusive stuff on the Chapel
walls about the same.
6th. With drawing a dirk on a student.
22D OF FEBRUARY DINNER FIGHTS. 263
The Faculty gravely came to the conclusion that the offender
was "not of a proper disposition to be an orderly student," and
sent him home.
Three months afterwards, on the glorious 22d of February,
Walker Anderson delivered an oration, after which a dinner was
given in honor of the stately and dignified George Washington,
with whom temperance and decorum were life-long habits. The
chronicle says that many were intoxicated. Deadly weapons,
dirks and pistols were drawn. Tu. C. and Th. C. had a furious
fight. Tu. C. drew a dirk. A. L, a peace-maker, in parting
them was stabbed in the arm. M. H. used a pistol in a danger-
ous manner in the crowd and J. S. took it from him.
There seems to harve been no punishment of these offences
other than signing pledges. The students were called on to
surrender their deadly weapons, to be retained while they were
members of the University. Six pistols and two dirks were
obtained.
The trials of the eventful year were not yet over. The whole
"establishment," as the University was often called, was con-
vulsed by a conflict between a student and a member of the
Faculty. We have a vivid description of it by Thomas B. Slade,
in a letter to his brother. I condense his story. The member
of the Faculty was Tutor Simon Jordan, and the student Wm.
Anthony, of Virginia.
There was "a woman in it." "Both escorted Miss Betsy
Puckett one Sunday to Mount Carmel, four miles from town,
on the road to Pittsboro. Anthony alleged that Jordan insulted
him repeatedly on the journey. Vowing revenge he tendered
his resignation as a student, which the Faculty declined to ac-
cept. Claiming to be of age, and therefore that he had the
right i^ withdraw, he armed himself with three pistols, a <lirk
and a club, and attacked Jordan, who was walking with R. R.
Kin.tr, the other Tutor. A crowd collecting, they were separated
without damage. Anthony was summoned IK- fore the Faeully,
where it was prove. 1 that he had called the President a liar. He
ards armed as before, attacked Ionian, win. 1i
small walking cane. A few M<>\\s \\ith the itid
changed, when Jordan, finding his weapon too light in rompnri-
264 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
son with his adversary's, dropped it and caught Anthony in
such manner as to render his club useless." I give the conclu-
sion in the words of Slade, who was a witness, as they throw
light on the frame of mind of the students generally. "They
now commenced a fight which created much interest among the
students, for the 'Dis' were warm for Simon Jordan, Anthony
being a member of the Thi' Society. It was held with equal
success by both parties for a few moments, when King called
upon me, as I was nearest, to part them. With his assistance
we parted them. I leaped for joy on its termination, for the
victory, as far as the fight was carried, was given to Simon,
both by his enemies and friends. Of the two combatants An-
thony is much the larger, but Simon much the more active."
Anthony still vowed revenge, but a warrant was sworn out for
his arrest and he deemed it prudent to leave the county.
About the same time James R. Chalmers, heretofore men-
tioned, gave a student who had left the University and returned
to attend to some business, a most unmerciful whipping. The
cause of the exasperation of the castigator is unknown.
We have several letters written by Thomas B. Slade while at
the University. He tells of a marriage between Richard
Thompson and Miss Nancy King, of the engagement between
Miss Eliza Henderson and Hamilton C. Jones, of the 22d of
February speech by Walker Anderson, which was very much
admired ; that Anderson and William H. Haywood are strug-
gling hard for the Latin speech, and that it is difficult to say
who will get it.
Afterwards, Slade gives a description of some of the students,
which shows that he had a good judgment of character. Wm.
H. Haywood, fully sustains the high reputation he had at the
Raleigh Academy, as a young man of the first talents. Clement
Read is also struggling for the Latin Salutatory. In the
Junior class Owen Holmes and Martin Armstrong strive with
him, but he has left them far behind, and their envy has led to
disputes, which have injured the Dialectic Society. Slade and
Anderson live together at the President's house (since burnt)
as lovingly as brothers, which is "unusual between persons of
different societies."
LETTERS OF STUDENTS. 265
James R. Chalmers is the same independent young man
is a warm friend and advocate of Haywood, "and consequently
ranks high." He has become more studious in his habits. He
is thought to be of all his class-mates the most brilliant. "His
compositions are excellent, display all the fire of imagination and
originality of genius."
John M. Starke, of South Carolina, since coming to the Uni-
ity has had a continued struggle for life, but his health is
greatly re-established. His mind and vivacity are unimpaired.
In conversation he excels.
James T. Morehead is the same blunt, plain old fellow, re-
spected by all and loves to hunt and fish as well as ever.
Ethelred Phillips has returned after his sickness and will join
the next Junior class. He is most assiduous and attentive. A
book is his delight and his talents are adequate to his applica-
tion.
David Williams has a most noble genius. Nature has be-
stowed talents lavishly upon him, but it is feared, for want of
industry, they will lie dormant.
David \Y. Stone is a fine young man and in mathematical tal-
ents is equal to any in the class. He has concluded to graduate.
The subsequent careers of these youths fulfilled the promise
of their student life.
1 '.esides those I have elsewhere mentioned, Martin W. B. Arm-
strong became a physician of repute in Greensboro, New Salem
and Salisbury. He was for a short while acting Clerk of the
Court of Stokes, and probably emigrated to Tennessee, where
his father had much land. He lost his diploma for striking
down Hay wood with a club, in consequence of words spoken at
a convivial banquet. James R. Chalmers settled as a lawyer
in Knoxville, Tennessee, and reached the dignity of Attonu-y-
f.rneral. James T. M on-head was a prominent lawyer of
nxbnro and a worthy member of Congress and of the State
tflhtUffe !!< W3t a bn.ther of (Governor M>reheal Kthel-
rol Phillips, nndr of Ju/ i Phillips, was a phv^Yian of
fame in North Carolina and Florida. He cured himself of
pulmonary consumption by extreme care as to clothing and diet,
to the extent of changing clothing on the sli-htevt change of
temperature, certainly every morning, noon and night through-
266 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
out the year. David W. Stone was a son of Governor Stone,
was first a lawyer and then the esteemed President of the
Branch of the Bank of Cape Fear at Raleigh.
In 1820 occurred a furious conflict between two students
named Martin, but of no kinship. Robert was from Granville,
tall, orderly and high-spirited, a grandson of Nathaniel Macon.
The other was Henry Martin, of Stokes County, strong and
pugnacious, a son of Colonel James Martin, of the Revolution,
by his second wife, the mother of Hamilton C. Jones. Robert
was a member of the Philanthropic Society, and while the So-
ciety was in session Henry Martin made his way into the attic
room above its Hall, and in leaping over the rafters fell through
the ceiling. As he was a member of the rival society this was
deemed an intentional insult and was resented by Robert Mar-
tin. The quarrel resulted in a fight, which came very near
causing a pitched battle between the members of the two so-
cieties. Governor Graham shortly before his death stated that
he witnessed the conflict. Henry, being the stouter, endeavored
to close with his antagonist, which Robert prevented by warding
off and returning his blows, slowly backing towards the well.
By these tactics they fought from the door of Gerrard Hall to
the well before they were parted. According to the Governor's
recollection, Robert was not thrown, but there is a contrary tra-
dition among his relatives to the effect that the Dialectic cham-
pion jumped on his prostrate breast, causing such internal in-
juries that he died soon after his graduation in 1822. Dr.
Hooper in his "Fifty Years Since" sustains in part at least this
tradition. He states that the Di "got his antagonist down and
beat him most dreadfully." My conclusion is that there were
two fights. President Caldwell thought best to prosecute the
victor before the Superior Court then in session at Hillsboro.
Dr. Hooper was one of the guard and tells the story of the pro-
ceedings : "It was a rainy night, the prisoner purposely kept
his horse in a walk, that we might not bring him into town at
night as a guarded criminal. So we rode up at breakfast time,
like a party of travelers to the hotel, where the Judge and prose-
cuting officer and a crowd of people were standing. Our mitti-
mus was examined, when lo and behold ! the Justice of the Peace
FIGHT OF THE TWO MARTINS. 267
who issued it had left out of the writ the initials of his office
'J. P.,' and without those magic letters it was as harmless as a
lion with his head cut off. So the whole proceeding was
quashed, the prisoner discharged, the expedition covered with
ridicule, and the escort went home pretty well sick of Sheriff's
business."
The feud did not, however, end here. The Di champion be-
came incensed at language reported as having been used by the
Phi while at Hillsboro, and seeking the latter in his room re-
newed the fight. We have no details of its result. The Faculty
dismissed the aggressor at once, and the wrathful feeling among
the students soon died down and gave place to other excite-
ments.
About the same time four other students, convicted of
"quarreling and fighting in their rooms," were called up and
made to sign a pledge to keep the peace.
An epidemic of explosions of gunpowder prevailed about this
time which gave the Faculty great annoyance. In the language
of the grave Secretary, Joseph H. Saunders, there could be no
object other than "to disturb society in a very violent manner,
except the additional one of sporting with the injury done the
order of the institution ; it must ever be considered an offence
of much aggravation." The punishment was dismission or
suspension according to the previous record of the student.
There was ingenuity expended in securing loud explosives. In
one case a hollow brass knob was covered over with lead and
filled with the powder. The noise made was pleasing to tin-
ears of the festive youths.
There is extant a contemporary printed letter from an un-
known traveler, who urged n]xn the students in the kindest
terms more civil behavior at public exhibitions. He deprecated
"expressions of contempt towards a decent stranger, who was
entertaining them with delightful music." "If a Granger (Miters
their room he is treated with marked politeness. Why not carry
into public conduct the same character of genteel breeding?"
"Surely the bloom and gaiety nf youth would receive embellish-
ment from gent! race :m<l dignity of bcbavior." He
warns them that then ict is becoming an insult
268 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
to the officers of the University and even to the fair sex, and
asks, "Is the enjoyment of wit and pleasantry impossible with-
out noise? Is it necessary to be boisterous in order to be
happy ?" There is no record as to whether this appeal had any
effect in mitigating the evil sought to be remedied. It is notice-
able that a French traveler in England in the fifteenth century
was amazed to find that people seemed to be unable to express
joy except by loud shouting, bell ringing, explosions of gun-
powder, and other "unharmonious noises."
While most of the students dressed plainly, those who held
the post of Marshall and Ball Manager, and the Commencement
speakers, had more costly apparel. We have a bill for one suit
of clothes. Black broadcloth coat, cost $34; Cassimere panta-
loons $14, and British Florentine waistcoat $8; Total, $56. The
late Judge Battle remembered that the University servant, a
worthy negro, known as Brad, kept a pair of boots for hire
to students only. They were in special request for visits to the
belles of Raleigh, Hillsboro and Pittsboro, who were famous
throughout the State for physical and intellectual attractions.
At the Commencement of 1881 we had an eloquent and in-
structive address by a class-mate of President Polk, an excellent
specimen of the old school, an octogenarian, Gen. Edward J.
Mallett, of New York, lately called to his final home. He was
introduced as having received his diploma sixty-three years be-
fore that day, and it was stated that for seventy years he had
never taken a glass of ardent spirits, and, therefore, that he had
still the inestimable blessing of mens sana in corpore sano, and
that other still greater blessing mens sibi conscia recti. In his
autobiography, printed only for his relatives, a copy being do-
nated to our Historical Society, we find an account of the ball
given in compliment to his class, when graduating. The follow-
ing description of his dress is interesting.
"The style of costume," said Gen. Mallett, "and even the
manners of the present generation are not, in my opinion, an
improvement on a half century ago. The managers would not
then admit a gentleman into the ball-room with boots, or even
a frock coat; and to dance without gloves was simply vulgar.
At the Commencement Ball (when I graduated, 1818), my
DRESS OF STUDENTS. 269
coat was broadcloth, of sea-green color, high velvet collar to
match, swallow-tail, pockets outside with lapels, and large
silver-plated buttons ; white satin damask vest, showing the edge
of a blue under-vest ; a wide opening for bosom ruffles, and no
shirt collar. The neck was dressed with a layer of four or five
three-cornered cravats, artistically laid and surmounted with a
cambric stock, pleated and buckled behind. My pantaloons were
white canton crape, lined with pink muslin, and showed a peach-
blossom tint. They were rather short in order to display flesh-
colored silk stockings, and this exposure was increased by very
low cut pumps with shiny buckles. My hair was very black,
very long and queued. I should be taken for a lunatic or a
harlequin in such costume now."
In 1827 the Trustees prescribed a uniform of dark gray in
summer and blue in winter, but six months afterwards changed
the winter color to a dark gray, so that it is probable that our
boys were the first in the State to wear the dress which is so
intimately associated in Southern minds with the tenderness,
pathos and heroism of the Lost Cause. A solemn ordinance
was adopted at the same time, w r hich sounds strange in our
ears, "The wearing of boots by the students is positively pro-
hibited." This law w r as passed doubtless on account of the fi-
nancial panic of 1825, but, like all sumptuary laws, was regu-
larly circumvented. The Seniors during the Commencement
at which they graduated were exempt from the prohibitory boot
law by special exception to the ordinance, and it was not long
before ambitious Juniors, Sophomores and Freshmen obtained
the distinguished privilege.
In a letter from his father. Joel Battle, a student in 1798-99,
to his s<>n. William, the late Jud.^e P.attle, is some homely advice
of value at this day. He cautions his son against jumping into
cold water when lint. "I ranijit dyM-nterv when at Chapel Hill
by that." He sends 2 3-4 vanN >f hmadeloth for a coat and
vest for his son's Commencement suit. As the Jnd-e was a
small man that was doubtless Miffieient. ( >n his -radnati
horse and x\X would he >ent f.r him. The driver will lead an
extra horse for him to ride Imme. fn>m whirh it appears that
' had only one seat.
270 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Information is given of the financial condition of the farmers
of Edgecombe in February, 1820. The writer had sold pork
in Virginia at $6 per hundred one-half cash, the other half in
four months. He started 152 hogs in the drove and got 143
to market. The other nine all returned home except one or
two. Those sold averaged 149 1-2 pounds, so that the drove
brought nearly $1,300. There was great distress for money
in the county. Thirty negroes had been recently sold in Tarboro
for debt. There were Sheriff's sales almost every day or two.
Wm. Ross bought a woman at $581 ; A. J. Thorp, at $300.
These doubtless have been "on account of those dangerous and
fatal rocks, imprudence and extravagance."
These extracts are given because "hard times" were a serious
obstacle in the path of the University then, and at other periods.
Six cents a pound half on credit for hogs driven over 100
miles, shows that money was hard to get.
THE VILLAGE OF CHAPEL HILL.
The government of the village of Chapel Hill was primitive.
All white males between 21 and 50 years of age were distributed
into classes and in turn patrolled the streets at night. Slaves
were liable to a whipping of ten lashes, or a fine of one dollar,
for being absent from home without a written permit from the
owner. Nor could a slave hire his own time.
Shooting firearms in the village "in sport, wantonness or li-
centiousness" was forbidden under a penalty of one dollar. But
firing on public occasions or musters was not only not pro-
hibited but encouraged. Two dollars was the penalty for work-
ing on Sundays in one's ordinary avocation, unless in case of
necessity or mercy. Nor, with like exception, could any person
buy or sell any article under penalty of five dollars, doubled
in case of sales by merchants.
The streets were to be worked by male white persons between
1 8 and 45, and black males between 16 and 50. Fines for whites
were inflicted for absences. Whipping for slaves was the rule,
but owners could save them from punishment by paying a fine.
The Commissioners were to pay one dollar for absence from
meetings without excuse.
LETTER OF GOVERNOR MOSELEY. 2/1
We are fortunate in having a description of the village in a
letter from Wm. D. Moseley, written in 1853. At the beginning
of 1818 Dr. Caldwell had almost as meagre a Faculty as he
commanded when he was presiding Professor in 1797. Wm.
Hooper, Professor of Ancient Languages, was on a health tour
in the South. Dr. Mitchell, Professor of Mathematics, did not
arrive for two months after the session opened. There were 92
students, and the President had his hands full, with his two
Tutors, in charge of so many unruly boys. The following is the
substance of Moseley's description of the village :
There was one street, running east and west, called Franklin
or Main street. The Raleigh and Hillsboro road crossed this,
that part to the south being Raleigh, that to the north being
Hillsboro street. East of Raleigh street were two dwellings
fronting on Franklin, that at the corner, the residence of Presi-
dent Caldwell and wife. The other, east of it, was the property
of Prof. Wm. Hooper.
On the north side of Franklin and east of Hillsboro street
was the dwelling of Mrs. Puckett, widow of the late John
Puckett, once Postmaster. This was the lot afterwards bought
by Professor Olmstead and by him sold to the University. Be-
tween the part of the campus fronting on Franklin street and
Raleigh street there were only two residences, Hilliard's Hotel,
afterwards the Eagle, and now Chapel Hill Hotel, and next to
Raleigh street the dwelling of Tom Taylor, a merchant, after-
wards sold to the University for Tennessee land. It is now
occupied by Dr. Eben Alexander. The Episcopal church was
not built until long afterwards.
In front of the campus, including the grounds where are now
the Presbyterian church and the stores of R. S. McRae and
H. IT. Patterson, was woodland, owned by the University. Be-
tween that and Hillsboro street were only two buildings. <
about half way, was a store belonging to Tom Taylor, and the
other, at the corner of Hillsboro and Franklin Streets, the home
of Wm. Pitt, now belonging to the heirs of Henry C. Thomp-
son.
lumbia street is perpendicular to Frnnklin in the western
part of the village. Between that and the part of the campus
272 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
fronting on Franklin were two residences only. That adjoining
the campus, now Central Hotel, was the residence of James
Hogg, father of the eminent lawyer, Gavin Hogg. Next to
Columbia street lived the widow Mitchell, who dispensed table
board.
Opposite James Hogg's was Major Pleasant Henderson's,
father of the attractive Miss Eliza. West of this about 150
yards was the store of Mr. Trice, and further still, at the corner
the blacksmith shop of Christopher or Kit Barbee.
At the southwest angle of Columbia and Franklin streets was
the famous boarding house of Mrs. Elizabeth or Betsy Nunn,
and south of that was the only other building on Columbia, that
of Wm. Barbee, long the Steward of the University.
At the junction of Cameron Avenue and Pittsboro streets was
the residence of Mrs. Pannell, whose fair daughter captivated
the heart of Tutor, afterwards Bishop James H. Otey, and be-
came his wife. Opposite Mrs. Pannill's on Cameron Avenue
was Mr. Watson's, the father of Mayor John H. Watson and
Mr. Jones Watson, merchant and lawyer, long esteemed citi-
zens of Chapel Hill. The father came near being a martyr of
the University. He was a carpenter, working on a third-story
scaffold of the South Building, when he stumbled and was pre-
cipitated over the edge of the scaffold. A friendly nail caught
the seat of his tow breeches, of tough flaxen fibre, and held him
suspended over the deep abyss, in a plight pitiable but safe.
There was no other house on Cameron Avenue to the west-
ward. All was forest, wherein were numerous chinquapin
bushes. Adjoining the campus was the President's house, then
occupied by the new Professor of Mathematics, afterwards of
Chemistry, Dr. Mitchell.
Governor Moseley overlooked the residence of the Principal
of the Grammar School, Rev. Abner W. Clopton, east of the
campus, now the Battle residence. The grove in front of it was
then thick woods.
The only college buildings were the East, the South and Per-
son Hall, or the "Old Chapel," now, largely increased in size,
devoted to the use of the Department of Medicine.
Governor Moseley remembered that the graveyard contained
about half a dozen graves. He recalled Rock Spring, southeast
MOSELEY'S LETTER. 273
of the campus, now Brickyard Spring, and the Twin Sisters,
north of the village, below which the waters were conducted
through a gutter, having a fall of about ten feet, and making
an excellent open air-down-pouring bath. The Davie Poplar
was even then, eighty years ago, called the Old Poplar.
In his distant home, said Moseley, living the life of a hermit,
worn out with old age, his six children all grown but one, he
rejoiced over the successes of the University, "much of it due
to Swain's great abilities and untiring energy." He felt glad
that the last vote he gave as Trustee was for him as President.
The records show where the students of 1819 had their dormi-
tories. I give the list, that it may be compared with Moseley's
description of the village :
In the East Building roomed 30 students.
In the South Building roomed 51 "
At Major Henderson's roomed 7 "
At President Caldwell's roomed 2
At Mr*. Pannell's roomed 3
At Mrs. Burton's roomed -
At Mrs. Craig's roomed 2 "
At Mr. Thompson's roomed 2
Mr. Mining's roomed 1 "
At. Mr. Kiltrell's roomed 1
At Mr. Barbee's roomed 1
Mr. Pitt's roomed 1
Mrs. Mitchell's roomed 4 "
At Mr. Strain's roomed 1
At Mr-. Nu mi'- roomed 1
109
It should be noted that tin- Mrs. Mitchell in this list was not
the wife of tin- Professor. As might be expected, Governor
Icy omitu-d some of the inhabitants, but very few. Cer-
\ Mrs. Craig and Mr. Kittrcll lived out of the village
aps others. Mr. Hnrtmi occupied Steward Hall. She took
the lmn<r with tin- burden that the ball might be conducted in
I <\ not know where wore
the - of Mr. Tli Mr. Moring and Mr. Strain.
Mrs. r.urtoti v<>nii widow of a citizen of the village,
who bar] die.] tin-
18
274 JIISTORV UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
It was at this period, 1819, that the management of Steward's
Hall as an adjunct of the University was discontinued and the
students allowed to get their table board where they pleased.
As long as the manager was an employee of the institution and
especially, as in the early days, compulsory eating at his table
was the rule, grumbling was the staple conversation and rowdy-
ism often prevalent. The village increasing in population,
Steward Hall was rented out on condition that the tenant, Mrs.
JBurton, should supply food to student applicants at not exceed-
ing $9 per month for the first year and $10 afterwards. This
plan was continued about twenty years longer, the compulsory
feature not being renewed.
This " Steward's Hall" was a two-story wooden building
fronting west, painted white, in the middle of what is now
Cameron Avenue, and exactly north of the Carr Building. It
was there that most of the students for many years boarded
at Commons, paying for the first year, 1795, $30, or $3 per
month ; for the next four years $40 per year, or $4 per month ;
in 1800 rising to $57 per year: in 1805 to $60; in 1814, under
the inflated war prices, to $66.50; in 1818 to $95; in 1839 to
$76, when the system was abandoned. It was in this building
that the "balls" of the old days were given, at which, tradition
has it, venerable Trustees and Faculty, together with their
pupils, with hair powdered and plaited into "pig-tails," and legs
encased in tight stockings and knees resplendent with buckles,
mingled in the dance with the beauteous damsels of the day.
Judge Battle, who graduated in 1820. boarded, as did James
K. Polk and others, at the house of Benjamin Yeargin near the
creek in Tenney's plantation, about a mile from the University
buildings, at the foot of a long, steep hill.
Governor Moseley stated that Polk and he were the first who
studied Conic Sections. They occupied the same room, that at
the southwest corner third story of the South Building, soon
afterwards to shelter another excellent student, William A.
Graham. The study was regarded by most students as ex-
tremely difficult.
CONDUCT OF STUDENTS.
Most of the misconduct at this period consisted of fighting
and annoyances to the Faculty. The war fever was partly the
L.UM.KSS CONDUCT. 275
cause of the former. The familiar songs were all boastful of
the deeds of Perry and McDonough, Decatur and Hull, and of
( icneral Jackson. But the war spirit was stimulated to action
partly by use of intoxicating liquors so common that the Faculty
hardly censured it except when drunkenness resulted ; even then
often not cutting the offender off from the institution. But this
was not the sole cause. There was evidently a fashion to resort
:< b.ulily injury for fancied insults. It is noticeable that it was
not considered derogatory to one's reputation to knock his an-
iist !<>wn with a club, without warning. T. D. Donoho,
afterwards a lawyer of repute, wrote to his friend Armstrong,
who had felled W. H. Haywood in this manner, that all his
friends sustained him as having acted properly.
Another class of offences was impertinent and offensive
lies and conduct towards the Tutors. Most of this arose
from irritation at being ordered by men, little, if any, older than
themseK vs. to repair to their rooms, when found visiting a
friend after 8 o'clock at night. A son of Chief Justice Hender-
usuallv a polite and good-natured youth, stoutly insisted
that tin- officer had no right to "order him about," and sub-
mitt- -ing sent home, "rather than surrender his rights
' man." Others, however, while obeying the officer's
commands secretly vented their spite by exploding gunpowder
at his door, throwing stones through his windows, shouting
-ive words from a distance in the darkness, and other like
'ities. ( >ne Tutor became so obnoxious by his tactless
rity that it became necessary to fortify his window-panes
with wooden slim
i" the Secretaries. Tutor Andrews, has left on record as
in a case on trial the dialogue between the Tutor and
.(Tender, whom lie found visiting a friend. It i<
worth (jiu)tin^- afl -liowing the actual working of a hard law.
Tutor- Mr. H. Do you know that the bell has runi;
o'clock?
:dent -Yes MfJ I know that it has runi;.
Tutor Do you not intnid to go to your room?
;dent I intend ! 140 by and by.
Tutor \Vh !r. H.?
:drnt -I wish 1" read KMIM more before I go.
276 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Tutor I require you to go to your room.
Student I shall go when I get ready.
Tutor Do you intend to say that you will not go to your
room?
Student I shall go as soon as I am ready.
Mr. H. was called before the Faculty and was asked "on
what footing he proposed to place himself in regard to this
transaction?" On his replying that he ought to have obeyed
the Tutor, and regretted that he had not, and that his purpose
was to obey the laws of the college, he was acquitted.
It is evident from the Faculty records that, while there was
viiM lance in detecting offenders and strictness in pronouncing
sentence, the law-givers were very placable provided the of-
fender acknowledged his fault, approved the law broken as
reasonable, and gave a written promise to obey all the laws in
the future. But there was sure punishment if there was refusal
to do either of these. There is good reason to believe that many
students considered the promises as not binding because they
were in the nature of duress. Falsehood was not considered
as heinous as at present. There are numerous cases of student ^
; iiswering for one another at Prayers, and the only punishment
was a reprimand. There was a striking case of a Senior posi-
tively assuring the Faculty that another, under probation, could
not possibly have gone to Pittsboro, become intoxicated there
and have done other wrongs, because to his knowledge he had
never left Chapel Hill. A Professor visited Pittsboro and
found that all this was false. In his defence the false wit-
ness avowed that he would not have lied for himself. His
punishment was holding back his diploma for a year. Card-
playing, even for amusement, was considered a high crime.
The players, as well as bystanders, whether occupiers of the
room where the game was carried on, or visitors, were sternly
dealt with. To escape dismission they were compelled to ad-
mit that it was wrong to play, that they regretted having
played, and would refrain in the future, and moreover that they
would never countenance a game by their presence, nor allow
it in their rooms. Where four students, after religious service
on Sunday, were whiling away the interval before dinner with
I.AWI.KSS COMH'CT. 277
a short hand, they were dismissed or suspended according to
their previous bad or good conduct.
Another trouble the Faculty had was in regard to horse-
racing. There was a track near the Hill, a few hundred yards
\\est of the railroad station. The races were inaugurated
largely by liquor sellers and gamblers, and were frequented by
many drunken and disorderly persons. The students were for-
bidden to attend, but some went disguised and undetected.
Those caught were suspended from the institution. One enter-
prising TeniHsseean, orderly and studious, stationed himself
where he could see the horses run, while he did not approach
the shout : ng. betting, riotous crowd. Was he guilty? The
verdict of the Faculty brings out so clearly the stately verbiage
-idered "good form" in that day that I quote it: "In the
disposition which the Faculty feel to act on the side of forbear-
ance, where the circumstances are susceptible of a different con-
struction in the mind of the offending person, it was resolved
ihrt the case of the sad \Y. L. be exempted from any other
s< queiice in the present instance than a warning given to
beware of acting in such a manner in regard to the rules of the
college a> bears the appearance of practicing evasion."
AS showing the leniency of the sentences, I give this case
which occurred in 1823: J. E. was convicted, ist., of frequent
absences from recitation without excuse; Jnd., intoxication;
Vl-. "f being a leader in a great noise and tumult in a public
4th.. fasteir'ng up the door of a Tutor's room; 5th, of
boisterous and profane swearing, 'aggravating this offence by
such a manner and by such circr..nstances as announced it to
be his intention that the oaths should be proclaimed in the ears
ol a member of the Faculty" : nth., of attending disguised in bor-
rowed garments at a lior -outran' to the express 01
of tin- Faculty: finally, of "habitual insubordination and li-
nt conduct." lie was suspended for only four
months. In another instance \Y. II- was ,' .ited
and very noisy. He was suspended for tWO mouths.
T. I*. \va> with a tlOISy assembly at <mc of the doOTt, 1 1 was
lay IM-P.I-C the jjl of February an sus-
led. A Tutor ordered him to leave the company. lie
d another crowd, and was ordered to !
278 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
that. He refused, alleging that he was in his legal rights. He
was required to acknowledge that he had done wrong and
would in the future obey the laws. The sentence was "until
said T. P. shall make the concessions stated he shall be dis-
missed."
A. F. rose to declaim his piece before the Faculty. Whether
from stage- fright or idleness he could pronounce only one or
two lines. Being told that he must perform the duty on the
next evening he avowed his determination never to do so. He
was dismissed. After a week's cogitation he changed his mind
and was required to perform the duty, express regret for dis-
obedience and promise to obey the laws.
W. E. N., intending to leave the institution, invited a number
of students to a drinking party at his room. A number as-
sembled. Four were found playing cards. They were ar-
raigned for this, not a word being said about the drinking. They
pleaded that the students always played during examination
week. This did not avail them and they were required to sign
a pledge, asserting that "the habit of card-playing tends to
create a dangerous attachment to that employment, and eventu-
ally to lead to the fatal practice of gaming," that they sincerely
regretted having played, because it is against the University
laws, and that they pledged themselves not to play again and
not to allow others to do so in their rooms. .One of the num-
ber refused to sign and was dismissed. He afterwards changed
his mind and was re-admitted on signing the paper ; and another,
acknowledging that he did wrong in declining to sign when
the others did, was pardoned.
W. H., the feast-giver, applied for leave to be absent at Com-
mencement, but the Faculty refused consent, and he went home
without it. For this and for the above-said feast he was dis-
missed. The context shows that the chief offence was the ab-
sence without leave.
J. R. and J. J. R. were charged with making a disturbance
at Prayers. They refused to express disapprobation of such
tumultuous proceedings or to give assurance that they would
refrain hereafter. They were dismissed. It appears that the
disturbance was an attempt to prevent the reading of a minute
AMICNDMKNTS TO CHARTER NEW BUILDINGS. 279
of the Faculty. What this offensive minute was is not re-
corded, but, as a student, J. F., had been dismissed two days
before for writing indecent words on the walls, and it was cus-
tomary to announce such sentences from the rostrum at the time
of Prayers, it is likely that the friends of the dismissed man
were manifesting their sympathy with him, and resentment at
his treatment.
It must not be supposed that such outrages as I have narrated
were continuous. There were long intervals of quiet, and there
were many students whose demeanor was never censurable. In
a report to the Trustees in 1822 the Faculty unanimously used
this language. "When we consider the numbers, industry and
virtuous and manly deportment of the young men who resorted
to this place for the purpose of obtaining an education we are
ready to congratulate ourselves on the great present and in-
creasing prosperity of the institution."
AMENDMENTS TO CHARTER OLD EAST ENLARGED OLD WEST
BUILT.
In 1819 important amendments to the charter, drawn by Bart-
lett Yancey, were enacted. By the charter of 1789 there were
five Trustees from each judicial district, in all 40. Vacancies
were to be filled by the other Trustees. The members present
with the President and Treasurer, or a majority without cither
of those officers, were a quorum. By act of 1798 the attendance
of the Treasurer was dispensed with. By act of 1804 filling
vacancies devolved on the General Assembly and the number
was raised to not exceeding eight for each district. P.y act of
1805 the Governor was made President of the Board ex officio,
but. if he wished, he could appoint a substitute. The Board
eouM vacate the M .it of a member who had not attended for two
years. By act of 1807, it being found difficult to secure a ma-
jority, seven were constituted a quorum, ami cuM appoint a
lent pro tempore.
The General Assembly Hid not carry out the law requiring
eight from each Judicial District. In 1821 there were in office
54 Trustees. These were continued, namely. John Havwood,
Benjamin Smith, William Polk. TTenrv P ' D.
Murphey. Duncan Caniet ->li CaMwcll. Thomas W '
28O HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROUNA.
Edward Jones, James Webb, Henry Seawell, Calvin Jones,
John D. Hawkins, Robert H. Jones, Jeremiah Slade, Joseph
H. Bryan, Robert Williams, William Gaston, Thomas Brown,
Francis Locke, Montfort Stokes, Thomas Love, Archibald Ale-
Bride, Atlas Jones, Lewis Williams, William McPheeters,
Frederick Nash, Thomas Ruffin, James W. Clark, John Stanley,
Bartlett Yancey, Leonard Henderson, John Branch, William
Miller, Simmons J. Baker, George E. Badger, Kemp Plummer,
Thomas D. Bennehan, Willie P. Mangum, James Mebane, John
Witherspoon, John B. Baker, James Iredell, William D. Martin,
Joseph B. Skinner, James C. Johnson, Enoch Sawyer, Alfred
Moore, John D. Toomer, John Owen, Gabriel Holmes, Romulus
M. Saunders, Lewis de Schweinitz, and Thomas P. Devereux.
The number was now increased to 65, being the number of
the counties, but the residence of one in each county was not
prescribed. Nine additional were elected, namely, Lewis D.
Henry, Francis Lister Hawks, Richard Dobbs Spaight, the
younger, Solomon Graves, James Strudwick Smith, M.D.,
Leonard Martin, Thomas Wharton Blackledge, Thomas ikir-
gess, and Archibald Roane Ruffin.
Vacancies were to be filled by the General Assembly. The
extraordinary power was given to the Board at their annual
meetings to remove a Trustee for improper conduct, provided
fifteen should be present. The usual quorum was fixed at seven.
Special meetings were authorized but they could not alter any
"order, resolution or vote" of an annual meeting. The restric-
tion on the power of special meetings was made more stringent
by an act passed in 1824.
The active Trustees at this period were William Miller, John
Branch, Edward Jones, James Mebane, Frederick Nash, David
Stone, Henry Seawell, President Caldwell, John Haywood,
Thomas D. Bennehan, William Polk, Wm. McPheeters, D.D.,
James Webb, Thomas Ruffin, A. B. Murphey, Simmons J.
Baker, Robert Williams, of Raleigh, James Iredell, of Edenton,
afterwards Raleigh.
In this year on the urgency of President Caldwell, the Trus-
tees resolved to add a story to the Old East and to build the
Old West of the same size, and also a new Chapel. The neces-
\\ I>T BUILDING.
,II:I:M:I. HAM. M.I i 11 Mm. I'.MOKI Hi \H.\\I .i |'<H:II.
FACULTY OPPOSE NEW BUILDINGS. 281
sary funds were expected from the Tennessee land sales, and
in anticipation thereof $10,000 was borrowed from the banks.
Two years afterwards $20,000 additional was authorized, and
the bank stock of the University, in the total 375 shares, pledged
for re-payment. Afterwards another $10,000 was raised in the
same way. The committeee recommended that the permission
of the r.eneral Assembly should be obtained but this was not
done. The salary of the President was at the same time in-
creased to $1,600.
The resolution to enter upon the construction of new buildings
was in opposition to the views of the Faculty. In an earnest
paper, in the handwriting- of Professor Mitchell, it was urged
that the true policy was to purchase books and apparatus. "The
first impression of enlightened strangers is uniformly favor-
able." they say. "P. ut when we show them our library and in-
form them that we have little or no philosophical apparatus, we
sink even more than is reasonable in their estimation."
It seems that the large room in the middle of the south side
on the first floor of the South Building, now the Law Room,
extended to the third floor, and was called Prayer Hall. The
Faculty recommended that a floor be thrown across this at the
id story and the space below be turned into two large lodg-
oonis, which by an arrangement common in other colleges
might he used for recitation rooms. The second story might
be used for a Library and Philosophical Chamber. The present
Library should be converted into two lecture rooms. These
changes would provide for i<y> students in all. and perhaps
px.m might be made in the fourth story of the South Building,
thus accommodating MO. The proportions of those living in
th<- University buildings to thosi- living without last session
The alterations would make the numbers 106
i. or no to .
Tin- petition vith this extraordinary argument and
prediction. If invested in apparatus, the property will not he
"Instrument! w : th careful , : 11 he as valuable
one hundr.-d as now."
Th- Trustees o.uld n<>t he diverted from their purpose, hnt
1 to purch.isc the apparatus, some of which after
282 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
the lapse of 75 years is still used. The floor was thrown above
Prayer Hall, but the room below was not divided but converted
into a Chemical Laboratory. The ceiling was built and the
rooms above made into a combined Library and Lecture Room
for the President and Professor of Rhetoric. The stately books,
dust-covered and unread, remained until the erection of Smith
Hall in 1852.
At the same time the cupola on the South Building was torn
down because of its ruinous and leaky condition, and the roof
made continuous. The cupola was not replaced until after the
expiration of over thirty years.
The work on all the buildings was left to Wm. Nichols, archi-
tect of the old Capitol at Raleigh. The plan was for him to
make contracts for lumber, labor and other things necessary and
obtain the funds for paying for the same from the Building
Committee, often advancing the amounts out of his own re-
sources. It was found that the two buildings and some repairs
and changes in the South Building would cost $26,587.54, in-
cluding $1,000 for commissions for the services and compensa-
tion of Nichols, including also surveying and laying off some
lots at Chapel Hill. The bricks were made on the University
lands, the water being obtained from the spring south of the
present Athletic Field known as Brickyard, but in old days,
Rock Spring.
After this settlement, which exhausted the funds on hand,
the Building Committee concluded that the prospect of sales of
Tennessee lands and collections for those already sold justified
them in proceeding with the erection of the new Chapel. A
bargain was made with Mr. Nichols that he should assume the
responsibility of all payments and await the convenience of the
Trustees for re-imbursements. Probably on account of the
panic of 1825 he was unable to meet the demands upon him.
The creditors urged their claims upon the Trustees. The Com-
mittee therefore deemed it best to stop the work and discharge
all the debts, especially as there was no prospect of funds
from any source necessary for completing the building. The
amount expended, together with compensation to Nichols, was
$3,410.14. There was abundant hostile criticism of his man-
END OF GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 283
agement. which the committee frankly admitted to have been
wasteful and costly. They excused themselves partly by their
distance from Chapel Hill and partly by the fact that the Super-
intendent was for several months disabled by a dislocated ankle.
EXIT THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL COMMENCEMENTS,
When Abner W. Clopton gave up the Grammar School in
1819, the University abandoned it. At that time there was an
uncommonly good classical school in Hillsboro called the Hills-
boro Academy. The general superintendence was under Rev.
Dr. John Witherspoon, but the active teacher was Mr. John
Rogers, who had distinguished himself in his profession at Wil-
mington. President Caldwell induced them to agree that their
institution should be preparatory to the University. Members
of the faculty could participate in the periodical examinations
of the pupils and those passing the examinations of the highest
classes had a right to enter the University on certificate of the
fact.
The old Grammar School house was then left to the bats and
owls, but was after some years in the occupancy of a family
whose head was the last survivor in this section of a class, im-
portant in the early settlement of the country, and interesting
figures in fiction that of the professional hunter. His name
was Peyton Clements.
Notwithstanding that the University ceased its connection
with a preparatory school at Chapel Hill, sundry teachers en-
deavored to supply its place. The first was a graduate of the
class of 1816, James A. Craig, who advertised extensively in
the Raleigh Register, then the State Gazette. We have no
means of knowing his success, but feel sure that parents at a
-i nee were not willing to send to him their boys of tender
rs. Certainly when Judge Hattle and others in 1843 an< ^
: attempted, with ;ip<-trnl teachers, to inauijiir.v
flourishing academy at Chapel Hill the number of pupils did
not exceed a dozen, not <.n<- >f whom was from abroad. The
schools here relied on local pair *id that \\a^ meagre.
Still from time to time, intermittently, there have been teachers
C and ^kill. and many of their hoy* have taken a
high stand in the \ *niver*ity.
284 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The first honor in the class of 1820 was assigned to Charles
C.. Spaight, the next to Wm. H. Battle. Then came Thomas
P>. vSlade, Thomas E. Read, Bartholomew F. Moore, James H.
Otey, and Thomas H. Wright.
In scholarship a shade the best, Charles G. Spaight, son of
Governor Richard Dobbs Spaight, the elder, who spoke the
Latin Salutatory, was a man of great promise. He represented
New Bern in the Legislature but his upward career was cut
off by early death. Next to him I '.attic, to whom the Valedic-
tory was assigned, was Reporter of the Supreme Court and
Judge of the Superior and Supreme Courts of this State.
Another honor speech was by Thomas B. Slade, on Natural
Philosophy. He emigrated to Columbus, Georgia, and became
the Principal of the first great female school in the State, a
Doctor of Divinity in the Baptist church. Read's career I have
not been able to trace. Moore was one of the m >st eminent law-
yers the State has had, particularly distinguished in constitu-
tional questions. James H. Otey was the venerable Bishop of
Tennessee. Wright was a physician and President of the Bank
of Cape Fear. Connected with this class, but not graduating,
was John Hill, of Stokes; a Representative in Congress and
member of the Convention of iS(i. dying soon after voting for
the ( )nlinance of Secession.
The subjects of graduating speeches not named above were:
Are Banks Beneficial to the Country?, debate by Thomas H.
lit and Matt. A. Palmer.
The Character of Thomas Jefferson, William Royal.
Ought Colleges to be in Populous Cities or Small Villa
debate by Phil. H. Thomas and R : chanl T. Smith.
Present State of Knowledge. I Bartholomew F. Moore.
Ought Defamation to be Publicly Confronted?, debate by
Wm. Lea and Henry C. Williams.
Influence of Surroundings on the Manners and Abilities of
Men. John C. Taylor.
( hight a License to be Required for the Practice of Medi-
cine ?, debate by Charles D. Donoho and Charles G. Rose.
Classical Literature. Thomas F. Read.
The Means of Acquiring Influence, Richard Allison.
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CLASS OF l82O AND 1 82 1. 285
Ought Interest to be Regulated by Law?, James F. Martin
and Cyrus A. Alexander.
The Advantages of Industry, David W. Stone.
The Character of American Indians, Wm. H. Hardin.
Ought Novels to be Interdicted by Law?, debate by John M.
Starke and Archibald G. Carter.
The Study of Nature, James H. Otey.
The degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred on Malcolm
Purcell and the honorary degree of Bachelor of Arts on
Ransom Hubbell. These were students of irregular standing,
but deemed substantially to have earned the degree.
The best of the class of 1821 was J. R. J. Daniel, who spoke
the Latin Salutatory. Next was Anderson Mitchell, who had
tin- Valedictory, and third and fourth were Edward G. Pas-
teur and Joseph H. Saunders, to whom were assigned respect-
ively the Natural Philosophy Oration and that on the Belles
I.ettres.
Intermediate honors were assigned to Willis M. Lea. \Yni.
S. Mhoon, Samuel H. Smith and James Stafford, pronounced
equal. Next to them were Nathaniel W. Alexander, Nicholas
I. Drake, Samuel Headen and Charles L. Torrence, also pro-
nounced equal.
Daniel became Attorney-General of this State and Repre-
M-mativc in Congress, then a planter in Louisiana; Mitchell a
Tutor in this Tniversity. a Representative in Congress and then
a Judge: Pasteur was a Judge in Alabama; Saunders, a Tutor
in this University, an Episcopal clergyman, who sacrificed his
for his tloek in a yellow fever pestilence in Pensacola. the
father of Colonel William L. Saunders, of the class of 1X54.
the others Mhoon became State Treasurer: Thomas J.
I.acey. a Judge in Arkansas; and George Washington Hay-
i. a leader of the Raleigh bar.
the 11011 -gradual- Whitaker was Attorney-General
'f N'ortb Carolina and settled in lo\\a after the Civil War.
\ matriculate of tb : I .eonidas polk. ^>u of Col. Win.
Polk, became a graduate of West Point, then P.Uh,
iana. I.ieutenant-General (.f the Confederacy, and was killed on
Pine Mounta n in ( '.eorgia in |S'<
J<S(> !,IST(;RV UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
l ; or the Commencement of 1821 there was projected a scheme
of exercises of portentous length. On Monday evening was
"Public Speaking," presumably declamations, by Messrs. Joel
Holleman, George W. Whitfield, James H. Dickson, Wm. M.
Inge, Alfred Scales, Abram Rencher and James Norwood.
On Tuesday evening was Public Speaking by Messrs. Robert
V. Ogden, Benjamin Sumner, George S. Bettner, Robert B. Gil-
Ham, Daniel B. Baker, John W. Norwood and John W. Potts.
On Wednesday evening were declamations by representatives
of the two societies. On Thursday, besides the speeches by the
honor men, were the following "disputes:"
1. Has the Art of Husbandry been advanced more by the
Philosophical Agriculturist than by the Practical Farmer? De-
baters, Wm. A. Mebane and Win. Murpli<
2. Have tin- Moderns equaled the Ancients in Eloquence?
Debaters, Robert Cowan and I'.ryan S. Croom.
3. Is it probable that the Aborigines of Ann-rca would ever
have equalled the Ancient Romans if they never had had inter-
course with tin- Europeans? Debaters, Frederick J. Cutlar and
Henry S. < Vanictt.
4. Is it Sound Policy in the People of North Carolina to open
and improve the navigation of their rivers and coasts? De-
bater.^ 1 '.en jam-in K I'.lackledge and G. W. Haywood.
5. Are early Marriages to be recommended? Debaters,
I Measant Henderson and William Shaw.
6. Is a Public preferable to a Private Education ? Debaters,
Rufus Haywood and James Taylor; Thompson Johnston. Um-
pire 1 .
7. Has the Advancement of the Arts promoted the Happi-
ness of Mankind? Debaters, Johnson Alves and Thomas J.
Lacey.
On November 22. 1821, probably by the potent influence of
State Treasurer Haywood, Charles Manly, a young lawyer,
who had married Hay wood's niece, was elected Secretary and
Treasurer of the University in place of General Robert Wil-
liams, deceased. The books of Williams were in such disorder
that an expert accountant, Daniel Dupre, was employed to
straighten them and the expense, $110, collected out of his
NK\\ SECRETARY AND PROFESSOR. 287
estate. There was no suspicion of fault except carelessness.
Manly was an excellent officer, and being a polished speaker,
of imposing manners, and an humorous reconteur, he was a wel-
come visitor to the annual Commencements for 48 years. In
1848 and* 1849 he attended as Governor and President of the
Board of Trustees, Major Charles L. Hinton holding the office
of Secretary and Treasurer until the expiration of his term as
Governor, and restoring it to him in 1850.
In January, 1822, the community was thrown into a small-
pox panic by the tidings that ten newly arrived students had
slept in Tarboro, a village where that fell disease was prevalent.
Among them were Augustus Moore, David Outlaw and Sim-
mons J. 1 laker. The Faculty promptly ordered them to be
"rusticated" five miles from Chapel Hill until the danger was
-ed.
< hi account of ill health Prof. Win. Hooper resigned his Pro-
rship of Ancient Languages and became rector of St.
John's Episcopal Parish in Fayetteville. He recommended as
his successor Mr. Manton Eastburn, of Massachusetts, after-
wards Bishop, as having distinguished literary acquirements,
particularly in the classics. He was a "brother of the young man
whose late untimely end Piety and Poetry must so long lament."
1'rofessor Hooper adds the suggestion that it might be agree-
able to many of the influential families of the State to have an
al representative in the Faculty.
President Caldwell, however, acting on the endorsement of
Professor Goodrich, of Yale College, recommended Mr. Kthan
Allen Andrews, of Connecticut. He would bring the Univer-
sity "merit, talent and solid worth." He was a Senior when
Messrs. Mitchell and Olmsteacl were Freshmen, obtaining the
first honor in a class of sixty; a fine scholar and of classical
-sion was that of the law, and he had been a
member of the Legislature. "1 \\< connections are numerous and
'table." \ strong pr Prof, Hooper wa
At the Commencement of 1822. the gradual < bring- 28 in
number, the highest honor men were Benjamin Sumner. who
delivered the Latin Salutatory: Robert N. Ogden. the Val
with an oration on the Moral Sublime; and Joel Hollcman
the Natural Philosophy address.
288 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Of the other orators, Benjamin F. Hay wood and Thomas Hill
dared to attack the venerable question, "Is Homer's Iliad Actual
History ?" ; Joseph A. Hogan endeavored to elucidate the char-
acter of Byron's Poetry; Lucius J. Polk and Wm. D. Pickett
discussed whether the new South American States wtmld con-
tinue to enjoy Political Freedom, while James Bowman dis-
coursed on Eloquence, whether eloquently or not does not ap-
pear ; Robert J. Martin plunged into State politics and proved
that a Convention should be called to rectify inequalities in
representation in the General Assembly. In the afternoon Wm.
B. Davies spoke on Belles Lettres, William D. Jones on Intel-
lectual Philosophy, Thomas F. Davis and Robert H. Mason de-
bated whether Studies, not having immediate bearing on Politi-
cal Life, are a part of a Liberal Education. The Cultivation of
Good Morals was inculcated by one whose name is not given,
probably by one of those to be preachers, John L. Davies, Wm.
A. Hall or James G. Hall, who had not already spoken.
Of the honor men of the class of 1822, Benjamin Sumner,
a relation of Brigadier-General Jethro Sumner, was an esteemc-d
Classical teacher and member of the Legislature; Robert X.
( >gden, Judge of the Superior Court of Louisiana, and Joel
Holleman, a Representative in Congress from Virginia. Other
members were Thomas F. Davis, Bishop of South Carolina ;
John G. Elliott, a quaint but able teacher, so cadaverous as to
receive the nickname of Ghost, which he good-humoredly
adopted as his middle name ; Fabius J. Haywood, a physician of
Raleigh, of large practice; Pleasant W. Kittrell, State Repre-
sentative of Granville, an esteemed physician and University
Trustee ; Wm. D. Pickett, a Judge of the Superior Court of Ala-
bama ; Lucius J. Polk, planter, Adjutant-General of Tennessee :
Abram W. Rencher, member of Congress, Governor of New
Mexico, and Charge d'Affaires to Portugal.
Of the non-graduates, conspicuous were Patrick Henry Win-
ston, of Rockingham County, a learned old bachelor, la\\
and Reporter of the Supreme Court, and Hugh McQueen, At-
torney-General of the State, a brilliant speaker of irregular
habits, who emigrated to Texas. He wrote a book called
"Touchstone of Oratory." He recommends the young orator
STATE GEOLOGIST CLASS OF 1823. 289
to strengthen his vocal chords by declaiming extracts of great
speeches as loudly as God gives him the power, preferably in
the depths of a forest.
STATE GEOLOGIST.
In this year (1822) the General Assembly authorized a Board
of Agriculture, and in the next year gave the Board authority
to employ a "person of competent skill and science to commence
and carry on a geological and mineralogical survey of this
State." The modest sum -of $250 per annum for four years,
and a year in addition, was appropriated. The Board employed
Professor Olmsted, who made a report which was published,
the first probably of any State in the Union. After he returned
to Yale the survey was continued by Prof. Mitchell, who made
one report. The appropriation was not renewed. Both Pro-
fessors made tours through the State. Part of the diary of Dr.
Mitchell is published as the James Sprunt Historicul Mono-
graph of 1906.
Of the class of 1823, in number 28, Richmond M. Pearson,
afterwards Judge of the Superior and Chief Justice of the Su-
preme Court, was first and spoke the Latin Salutatory. Wm.
S. Chapman was also first with the Valedictory, afterwards a
JmljLje in Alabama. Thomas G. Graham, second honor man,
was a physician; Robert B. Gilliam became Speaker of the
House and a Judge of the Superior Court; Daniel W. Courts
became State Senator and Treasurer; George S. Bettner was
a physician in New Bern and New York, and author of a book
called "Acton, or the Circle of Life;" James H. Dickson was
a physician of wide reputation, author of an admirable address
before the Alumni Association ; and James Augustus Washing-
ton achieved a national reputation as a physician.
Matriculating with these, though not graduating, were Wm.
M. Inge, a Judge in Tennessee ; Alexander D. Sims, a member
of Congress in South Carolina : and Thomas Jefferson Green,
a member of the Legislatures of North Carolina, Florida. Cali-
fornia ami Texas, a member of the Texas Congress when it was
a Republic and I ral in the Texan army.
The degree O f Doctor of Divinity was conferred on John
19
20.O HISTORY TMVKKSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Stark Ravenscroft, the first Episcopal Bishop of North Caro-
lina.
We have the list of speakers on Commencement Day :
Richmond M. Pearson, the Latin Salutatory.
Thomas G. Graham, Natural Philosophy.
Debate Ought Military Posts be established on Columbia
River?, Alexander M. Boylan against James K. Leitch.
Robert B. Gilliam, American Literature.
George F. Davidson, Character of the Irish.
James H. Dickson, Will the new States of South America
continue free?
James A. Washington, Superstition of the Hindoos.
George S. Bettner, Belles Lettres.
I )aniel W. Courts, Theatrical Entertainments.
Thomas J. Sumner, Oratory.
John Rains, Effects of the Waverly Novels.
Wm. S. Chapman, Sympathy, with the Valedictory.
The grades of Pearson, Chapman and Graham have been
mentioned. The third distinction was given to Bettner, Rains
and Washington. What was called the "intermediate" grade
was assigned to James H. Dickson, Robert B. Gilliam, Thomas
J. Sumner, George F. Davidson, Daniel W. Courts and Mat-
thias E. Sawyer.
Nineteen out of twenty-eight members of the Senior class of
1823 concluded, after they had passed their final examinations,
to celebrate the event by having a "high old time." They pro-
cured a large quantity of whiskey and brandy and carried it to
a gushing spring north of the village, known as Foxhall, doubt-
less a corruption of Vauxhall, once a London pleasure resort,
and proceeded to get on, as the phrase goes, a "glorious drunk."
The tradition of the extravagance of this carousal lingers yet
about the village. After the reason of one of them was in a
measure dethroned, he proceeded to make a wholesale toddy
by pouring the liquor into the spring, forgetting how rapidly
it would be diluted.
On being summoned before the Faculty the delinquents
pleaded that they entered into the revelry because it was the
last time they would be together, and these final "treats." as
c \i.n\\ KU.'S VISIT TO Kruopi-:. 291
they were called, were customary with the Senior classes. The
sentence was that ''proper concessions and acknowledgments"
shall be made by all, except one, and that then their diplomas
>h< 'iild be granted. Direful threatenings were made as to future
like disorders. The excepted student almost lost his diploma,
because, in addition to being inattentive to all his duties, he had
behaved in .a riotous manner on the streets after the "Senior
treat." Among the festive youths of 1823 were a future Chief
Justice, a State Treasurer, two Judges of the Superior Court,
four prominent physicians, several able lawyers and other like
i citizens. It is comforting to know that the excepted one
wrote such a feeling and dignified letter of contrition as to
induce the Faculty to pardon him and the tale of the class was
not lessened.
About this time two students were accused of writing scur-
rilous and defamatory letters. One confessed and was repri-
manded. The other, who falsely denied his guilt and had com-
mitted the same offence before, was suspended. He afterwards
attained high legislative and judicial positions. It is altogether
likely, though not so stated, that the defamation was abuse of
tin- Faculty.
(' \I.D\\ KI. i. 's VISIT To EUROPK.
In February. iSj-j. President Caldwell addressed to the Board
very important recommendations. The first was for the pur-
chase of more books. Much advantage was derived from the
nditnre for this purpose of the two dollars per annum fee
from each student, but this was not sufficient. Without it "\\e
must have become completely stationary, within limits, which if
known to others, would have been disgraceful." "A I'mf,
in a college without books in tolerable supply, is anal,
the creation of nobility, which for want of estate is obliged to
live in rags." I le thru compares a i ..... klesa Professor to a law-
without a legal library, to a shoemaker without awN or
inter with insufficient types. Hooks were much
: n Filmland than in \ md cheaper on the Conn
nent than in Filmland.
H. added that it was imp, the study of Nat-
ural. sometimes called Kxperimental. Phil, .s, ,ph\ . \\iihoui a
proper Mipp! ' of such a rcli
292 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
agent is necessary. "An Astronomical Clock, a Transit Instru-
ment, an Astronomical Telescope, are articles of high cost, and
if they be not really good, they are so much money thrown
away, only to tantalize us with standing objects of chagrin and
disappointment." Makers of philosophical apparatus, unless
carefully watched, will have their defective articles "mingled
with the mass of his instruments of the same kind and talked
off upon the terms of the best."
The President then modestly suggests his willingness to act
for the Trustees, paying his own expenses. He would be com-
pensated for the sacrifice by "personal improvement and acces-
sion of strength in regard to the affairs of the University." He
submits to the judgment of the Trustees. Whatever they shall
judge to be the best he "shall be prepared to admit in a moment,
and to settle upon it with the utmost complacency and condu-
siveness." The offer involved a trip to Europe, then a very ex-
pensive and prolonged journey, full of physical discomforts.
The Trustees felt strong enough to spend $6,000, to be di-
vided equally between books and apparatus, and accepted the
offer of the President. We have a long letter of his to Dr.
Olmsted giving some account of his voyage. The writer was
singularly lacking in enthusiasm, the wonderful sights of the
Old World not seeming to quicken the heart-throbs of the
back- woods mathematician. It is dated London, August 31,
1824. It was forwarded by "Y. A. Steamer, Thomas W. Evans,
Liverpool," and was received at New York October 4th. It is
as follows :
"It is now, it seems, more than two months since I arrived
at Liverpool from New York, and more than three since I left
the latter of these cities. After arriving in London I continued
nearly a month in the city, first visiting places and institutions
of importance and becoming acquainted with books and book-
sellers, and instruments and instrument-makers. Having in-
formed myself of circumstances and characters I made a num-
ber of purchases and engagements, and set off in a steam packet
which runs between London and Edinburgh. After a pas-
sage of 3 1-2 days we arrived on the Forth, where the scenery
of Scotland began to open upon our view. This was character-
CA1.DU KI.I. IN SCOTLAND. 293
ized by what is known as North Berwick Low, and Bass Rock
at the entrance of the Forth, as well as several other elevated
places, presenting the first appearance of those masses of rock,
of which Scotland seems very much composed. After having
a pretty rough passage along the British coast of the German
ocean, during which most of the passengers and myself too,
at last became sick, we found a beautiful contrast in the tran-
quility and glossy smoothness of the Forth. I continued in
Edinburgh 10 days, and then passing over to Glasgow, and
staying some days, I set out for Loch Lomond, Rob Roy's Cave,
the Highlands, Loch Katrine and the Trosachs, returning by
Callender, Doane and Stirling to Edinburgh, down the Forth
in a steamboat. I stayed two or three days between Loch Lo-
mond and Loch Katrine, among the mountains, in a house or
rather a cluster of buildings, called the Garrison, which had
been built 120 years ago, or more, as a station for troops, to
keep in check the wild clansmen of those times and subdue them
to the English power. The garrison is about a mile from Rob's
Cave, and from a spot where they tell us his house probaMy
stood. One object for staying here was to be for some time in
the country of the shepherds, whom I visited in their cottages
to observe their mode of life and opportunities and customs and
state of society. This is the tour which is very commonly made
by people from England and the Lowlands of Scotland, and its
objects have had much interest added to them by the writings
of Sir W. Scott. While in Loch Lomond I attempted to visit
the summit of Ben Lomond, the highest mountain but one in
Scotland, but when near the top I was driven back by a storm,
and was thus prevented from seeing those ( xtensive pmsp-
which constitute the principal object of the ascent.
"After my return to Edinburgh. rrtlectin^ to how little pur-
pose it is to be visjtin^ universities during tliei* vacations. MS I
had some occasion t< ace in Kdinlmriji. I concluded to
pone my visits to Cambride and Oxford till after my return
from the Continent, and traveled sometimes on fmt. hut for tlic
most part by coach to this place, whence T run
out for Paris this week. Present me respectiullv and .n
tionately to Mrs. Olmste.id and Miss lI.nnYt and all
frier-
294 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The apparatus bought by the President was the best manu-
factured in that day. It is a remarkable proof of his sensitive
integrity, that when part of it was lost by shipwreck, he offered
to the Trustees to replace it out of his own funds. The follow-
ing statement by our Professor of Physics shows that some of
the implements are in good order after the wear and tear, and
at other times, neglect and misuse, of three-quarters of a cen-
tury. Professor Gore further states that the full list of pur-
chases shows that they were made with excellent judgment.
Apparatus purchased by Dr. Caldwcll of \V. & S. .lonos. No. 30, oppo-
site Furnival's Inn Holhorn, London.
June 26th, 1829, and still in good condition:
1 3-fect Plate Klectrical Machine.
1 Jointed Discharger.
1 Powder House.
1 Diamond Spotted -lav.
1 Universal Discharger.
1 12-in. Convex Mirror in blackened frame.
i
Mrs. Fannie DeB. Whitaker has presented to the University,
among other papers found among those of her grandfather, Dr.
William Hooper, the account of Francis McPherson, for a por-
tion of the books purchased: 53 volumes of Delphin Classics,
89 to 141, were rated 55. 135., about $277.25, or i is. ($5.25)
each ; for binding 83 volumes, calf, lettered contents, hollow
backs and bands, 12 9$., or 3c. each; the packing case, ios.,
shipping expenses, duty, etc., 17; the whole bill being 77 is.
6d. This is given to show the prices of that day.
The account rendered by the President showed an expendi-
ture
For books $3,234 . 74
Philosophical and astronomical apparatus 3.361.35
Minerals . ._. 9.00
Boxing, packing, transportation and exchange* 632.92
7,238.01
which exceeded the appropriation ($6,000) by $1,238.01. This
excess was paid by the President, but refunded by the Board.
The number of volumes of books purchased was 979. Mr. Cat-
RECEPTION AT HOMi:.
tell, a bookseller in London, presented the University six vol-
umes in folio, the works of Thuanus, and the British and For-
eign Bible Society donated six volumes of the minutes of the
S >ciety, also 48 volumes, being copies of the Bible in different
languages.
( hie of Dr. Caldwell's most worthy pupils, the late Paul C.
Cameron, whose love and admiration continued fresh during a
long life of over four-score years after leaving his instruction,
gives a vivid picture of his reception on his arrival from
Europe.
"A trip to Europe was not then a summer's jaunt of a few
weeks, but caused his absence for nearly a year; and on his
return to New York he announced his arrival to Prof. Mitchell,
the acting President of the University, and the probable day
of his arrival in Chapel Hill. He was on time. The students
of the University resolved on a welcome. A brilliant illumi-
nation the first and only one ever made in these buildings
was resolved on and it was an entire success. Well do I recall
the splendor of that night and the procession of the students
to his residence and his stepping out upon the floor of the back
piazza the cheer after cheer that was given to the dear old
man. Falling into line, the march back to the college was com-
menced, and on our arrival at the front door of the South Build-
ing the President was escorted to a stand near the well, from
which he addressed the students and the entire village popula-
tion with the affection of a long absent father, for he was indeed
full of feeling, and it was with difficulty he could give utterance
to his words. He was escorted back to his modest home, ami
the impression prevailed that it was the happiest day of his
life the consummation of his supreme joy."
At their meeting in December. 1825, the Trustee- unani-
mously thanked the President for his "faithful and judieious
dU 1 ihe trust committed t him. and that he hr assured
of the unabated ronildenee of the TnMeev in his ability and
devotion, at no- honorable to him. gratifying to the Trustees
and useful to the community." The resolution was drawn by
Mr. P.adger. who ha.' Mlion for felicit-ui^ Kng-
lish.
296 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The highest honor men of the class of 1824 were Edmund D.
Sims, of Virginia; Matthias Evans Manly, Thomas Dews, and
William Alexander Graham. The second honor man was E.
J.-Frierson. The third, John W. Norwood, James H. Norwood,
Benjamin B. Blume, Robert Hall, Henry E. Coleman, Thomas
Bond, Augustus Moore and David Outlaw. Sims spoke the
Latin Salutatory, Manly the Valedictory, Dews the Mathemati-
cal Oration, and to Graham was assigned the Classical oration.
The other speakers at Commencement were:
Should the United States assist the South American Re-
public against Spain and the Holy Alliance?, by Bromfield L.
Ridley.
The Character of the North American Indians, by James H.
Norwood.
Will Greece emancipated attain the eminence of Ancient
Greece ?, Daniel B. Baker.
Perpetuity of the United States, Henry E. Coleman.
The Effects of the French Revolution on Liberty, Benjamin
15. I'.lume.
The Effects of the Invention of Printing, Augustus Moore.
Should a Professorship of Law be established at the Univer-
sity ? James W. Bryan.
The Mahometan Religion, Thomas Bond.
American Literature, John W. Norwood.
Should the American Colonization Society receive the pat-
ronage of the Public, Robert H. Booth.
Of the foregoing, Sims was Tutor in this University and Pro-
fessor in Randolph-Macon' and the University of Alabama;
Matthias E. Manly was Speaker of the State Senate, Judge of
the Superior and Supreme Courts of this State, elected in 1866
United States Senator, but not allowed to take his seat. Thomas
Dews became a very able lawyer, but dying early. William A.
Graham, State Senator and Commoner, Speaker of the House,
United States Senator, Secretary of the Navy, nominee for the
Vice-Presidency on the Winfield Scott ticket, member of the
Convention of 1861, Confederate States Senator, Trustee for
thirty-five years and a warm supporter of the University. To
him was assigned the classical oration.
CLASS OF 1824 NEW BUILDINGS. 297
Other noted graduates of 1824 were Daniel B. Baker, Judge
of the Superior Court of Florida ; John Bragg, member of Con-
gress and Judge of the Superior Court of Alabama ; James W.
Bryan, strong lawyer, Trustee of the University and State Sen-
ator from Craven ; A. J. DeRosset, physician and merchant of
Wilmington, Treasurer of the Dioceses of North and East Car-
olina and often Deputy in the General Conventions of the Epis-
copal church ; Augustus Moore, Judge of the Superior Court
of North Carolina ; John W. Norwood, able lawyer and member
of the Legislature; David Outlaw, member of Congress, State
Solicitor, State Senator and Delegate to the Convention of 1835 J
and Bromfield L. Ridley, Chancellor of Tennessee.
On December 19, 1824, Dr. James S. Smith addressed a com-
munication to the Board recommending the employment of a
regular physician for the students, to be compensated by a fee
from each. He expressed his willingness to undertake the work
himself, and in addition conduct a private Medical School to-
gether with an Eye Infirmary. Dr. Smith was a physician of
established reputation, a Trustee of the University, and had been
a Representative in Congress. The plan was not adopted until
three-quarters of a century later. Soon, however, there was
it need of skilled medical service.
In this year a settlement was had with Wm. Nichols, who en-
joyed the double position of supervisor and builder. The ac-
counts seem to show that there was a want of careful superin-
tendence by Nichols. One of the entries is, "to sundry persons
at sundry times, upon several drafts at sundry times by the
Building Committee" $7,402.04." The final account is "Labor
and material in repairing President's House, Steward's Hall,
getting timber, making bricks and building new Chapel, taking
down cupola from the South Building, repairing roof and build
ing- belfry," in addition to the expense of building the West
P.uildinir, $26,587.57. The Trustees became disgusted with the
continual drain from their treasury, and as the nreipN <>f sales
of Tennessee lands had greatly dwindled, the new Chapel (Ger-
ranl Hall) was suffered to be unfinished and unoccupied for
over ten years. The delusion that it was necessary to have the
Building Committee composed of memlx r^ of the Bonn!, al-
298 HISTORY UNIVERSITY ()] NORTH CAROLINA.
though they lived a day's journey from Chapel Hill, proved to
be very expensive in practice. The notion that college profes-
sors lacked practical sense was probably the cause of the de-
lusion.
SOME COLLEGE PRANKS.
Colonel Benjamin Forsyth was killed in battle in Canada in
the war of 1812 and gave his name to a county. The education
of his son, James N., was being paid for by the General Assem-
bly. In 1824 he forfeited his place in the University by irregu-
lar conduct. He afterwards entered the navy and was lost
with the ship Hornet, on which he was a petty officer.
One division of the Sophomores and the whole of the Fresh-
man class absented themselves from recitation on the morning
of Senior speaking. They were all required individually to
acknowledge the impropriety of their conduct, and pledge them-
selves to refrain from similar conduct in the future. All gladly
complied except R. J., who was dismissed. Ten days after-
wards he made the required promises and was readmitted.
In 1824 occurred a flagrant outrage. A. A. and L. K. loaded
themselves with whiskey in the village grog-shop, and arming
themselves, one with a club and the other with a pistol, "sallied
forth for the purpose of attacking the persons of different mem-
bers of the Faculty." They committed "violent outrages" on
two of the persons hunted.
The Faculty concluded that extraordinary proceedings were
necessary. The Trustees resident in Orange County were sum-
moned to meet with the Faculty to consider the case, namely,
Thomas D. Bennehan, Esq., Honorable Duncan Cameron,
Francis L. Hawks, Esq., Hon. Thomas Ruffin, Dr. James S.
Smith, Dr. James Webb.
The Faculty present were Rev. Klisha Mitchell. Presiding
Professor; Ethan A. Andrews, Joseph H. Saunders, Elisha
Young. Dr. Caldwell was in Europe.
The young criminals expressed their regret for their miscon-
duct, but it appeared to the authorities assembled impossible
that the peace and good order of the institution could be main-
tained, if such outrages were permitted to pass without exem-
plary punishment. The said A. A. and L. K. were therefore
LAWLESS CONDUCT. 299
expelled. As we now say. "the line was drawn" at cudgelling
the Faculty with sticks, while looking into the muzzle of loaded
pistols.
\Y. 1\. was dismissed for twice throwing brickbats into the
room of the Tutor.
A youth, who afterwards became a distinguished physician,
came from the village in a state of intoxication and disturbed
the good order of the College in a most outrageous and violent
manner. As this was the first offence, he was sentenced to
receive an admonition in the presence of the Faculty, and a
minute of the proceedings was read in the Chapel after evening
prayers.
There was ;i -trance occurrence, at this day not to he ac-
counted for. In November. 1828. after the students assembled
f>r divine worship in the Chapel on Sunday morning, thirty of
them retired from the hall, not all at once but by degrees. The
Faculty proceeded next morning to investigate the matter. It
was explained that two laws of the institution, one certainly
and the other apparently, had been broken. The first was ab-
from Divine service, the second combination or conspiracy
to l>n.-ak a law. The absentees were severally examined as to
their conduct. Seven at once gave satisfactory excuses, and
were allowed to retire. At an adjourned meeting six others
offered valid excuses for withdrawing. The remaining seven-
teen after being questioned disavowed any combination, and the
trial was ended. The causa causaus of the movement cannot
be ascertained. possibly some transient anger against the
>nu of the most orderly students were among the
ing party, for instance. \Vm. Katon. l\. II. Smith of llali-
: \\allader Join- of 1 I illsb. ,n .. Judge James ('.rant of
Iowa.
< Mi the resignation of Professor < Mmsted. passed into the
ownership of the I'niver.sity the dwelling occupied for many
- by Dr. James Phillips and of late by President \ enable.
a widow lady. Mrs. Purkeit. it was bought from
her for :M.,V" b\ Dr. Deni80fl < Hmsted. who ,n it
by way of additions and repairs. \fter having converted, to
bis language, "an awkward, inconvenient and rude struc-
ture into a hands, .me. comtnodiou- and neat dwelling." a <lc-
3OO HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
scription which must be deemed quite roseate by those who have
seen its perpendicular outlines and inconvenient interior, he
induced the Board of Trustees to take it off his hands at cost,
using the argument that the expense of removal from New
Haven and of living had exhausted his funds. The lot was set
apart for the use of the Professors of Chemistry, but between
Dr. Olmsted and Dr. Venable there was an interregnum of
over three-score years.
Dr. Olmsted resigned his professorship in December, 1825,
and accepted that of Mathematics in Yale College, (now Uni-
versity). In 1836 he was transferred to the Chair of Astron-
omy and Natural Philosophy. He published text-books of
value in the departments of science under his charge, and a
number of biographical memoirs. He made important observa-
tions on hail, meteors, the aurora borealis, etc., which were
published in the Smithsonian Contributions. He was born in
East Hartford, Conn., June 18, 1791, and died May 13, 1859.
His work in North Carolina has been described elsewhere.
The distinctions of the class of 1825 were awarded as follows :
ist. To John M. Gee, Wm. H. Hodge, and Marshall T. Polk.
2d. To Wm. J. Bingham, Wm. P. Boylan, James Martin,
James Moore, and John J. Wyche.
3d. In the order of their names, to Frederic W. Harrison,
Walter Alves, Albert Vine Allen, Burwell B. Wilkes, Wm. A.
Wright, and James C. Bruce.
The program at Commencement has been lost, except that
Polk spoke the Latin Salutatory, Hodge the Valedictory, Gee
the English Salutatory, Wright, Bruce Harrison and Alves had
what were called Intermediate Orations, but the subjects are
unknown.
Of these, Polk, a brother of President Polk, settled in North
Carolina at Charlotte, and was cut off in early life, considered
one of the most promising young lawyers in the State. His
son, of the same name, who became Treasurer of Tennessee,
not a son of the University, left children who are among the
best citizens of that State. Hodge was a physician of Tarboro,
and then of Granville. Wm. A. Wright was an able lawyer of
Wilmington and President of the Bank of Cape Fear ; Harrison
SICKNESS. 301
was a physician in Virginia; Bruce a wealthy and cultured
planter of Virginia, and member of its General Assembly ; Wil-
liam J. Bingham, the second able Principal of the Bingham
School, whose fame under him was extended; Wyche was a
Tutor of the University and Professor in Jefferson College,
Mississippi ; Alves, a physician in Kentucky ; Allen, a lawyer of
much reputation.
The honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) was con-
ferred on Nathaniel Macon, United States Senator; that of
Master of Arts (A. M.) on Charles Bailly and on John H.
Eaton, of Tennessee, a matriculate of 1803. To William Glas-
cock, of Virginia, a matriculate of 1816, was granted the de-
gree of Bachelor of Arts (A. B.)
In August and September of the year 1825 there was a very
serious sickness in the University, evidently typhoid fever.
Three students died Wm. H. Beard, Zenas Johnston, and
another whose name is not recorded. The acting President
reported that the first two brought the seeds of disease, with
them. From an unknown cause it was thought that the air
was worse than usual, as was shown by the pallid countenances
of the students generally. There were no ponds or marshes
near Chapel Hill and the disorder was attributed to "unknown
conditions of the air or water." The learned Professor drops
no hints of ferocious and treacherous bacteria. Skilled physi-
cians had stated that the elevated parts of the country had
red most. He recommends that a resident physician sin mid
!>< obtained, who should teach a class of medical students.
At that date the Faculty had no power to prevent theatrical
ami other shows. Urgent request was made that they be in-
vested with such authority. A band of strolling- players had
i nightly dramatic performances for a week and had re-
ceived, it was estimated, $383. more than $300 of which
students. Value received cannot possibly 1><
from such acting- and so can be exhibited in a room
're in this village. The use of the I' Chapel
was refused, as intolerable profanation. The General
My passed a law in compliance with the wishes of the Faculty,
n them prohibitory pow<
HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
It is remarkable that complaint was made that the well be-
tween the buildings had gone dry and the water at that of the
Steward's Hall was muddy. This must have been on account
of insufficient depth, as pure water in the former has been un-
failing for the last sixty years certainly. The latter was filled
up when the Hall was torn down about 1846.
It is surprising that when Gerrard Hall, designed for the
new Chapel, was begun the Trustees had it in mind to tear down
Person Hall. A vigorous remonstrance from the Faculty de-
feated this vandalism.
Dr. Mitchell makes the astonishing statement that the old
trees in the Campus were falling, and there was no under-
growth from which a supply of new trees was obtainable, and
he recommends extensive replanting. Thirty years afterwards
the old trees were so numerous that the English gardener
deemed it necessary to eradicate many.
About this time a prominent Trustee of Wake County, about
to remove to Tennessee, Gen. Calvin Jones, presented to the
University his "Museum of artificial and natural curiosities."
Probably some of these are somewhere among the University
collections, but it is doubtful if they can be identified.
NEW BY-LAWS.
On motion of Bartlett Yancey, a number of resolutions were
submitted to a Committee, and at the June meeting, 1825, were
substantially reported back and adopted. They were:
ist. The appointment by the Trustees of a Superintendent of
the property and financial concerns of the University, who
shall reside at Chapel Hill, give a $10,000 bond, and receive not
exceeding $500 salary per annum.
2d. He was to care for all the property of the institution and
carry out all orders of the Trustees.
3d. Each student shall pay him all his money, and shall
pledge his honor to pay all received at any time. The Super-
intendent shall out of the same pay college dues and other nec-
essary expenses, the repair of injury to College property done
by the student ; also such purchases of merchants as the student
may buy, and to the student not over one dollar pocket-money
each month.
\K\V BY-l.AU S. 303
4th. He shall pay the board of the student, provided that the
boarding-house keeper shall have written authority from the
Faculty.
5th. He must notify each parent or guardian of the student
as to the amount paid him, and at the middle and end of each
ion furnish them an account of expenditures.
6th. No student, under penalty of admonition or suspension,
shall purchase at Chapel Hill or elsewhere, wares or merchan-
dise, or spirituous liquors, without consent of the Faculty.
jth. Xo student shall change his room without permission
of the Faculty.
Sth. The Superintendent must visit all rooms at least once
a week, note the injuries and their perpetrators, and at the end
<>f the session take charge of the k<
nli. Scribbling and other injuries in passages by unknown
sons must be charged to those living on the same.
Thomas H. Taylor, a merchant of Chapel Hill, was appointed
to the office of Superintendent. He did not give satisfaction,
an<l in January. 1829, the Faculty were empowered to choose
the Superintendent out of their number at a salary of $200.
They settled on Elisha Mitchell.
me Trustees desired to erect another boarding house. In
tlie meantime the Board cf Visitors was authorized to employ
some person to live in Steward Hall and to have the privilege of
tin-wood and the use of the cleared land adjacent to the Raleigh
road free. The Board recommended the students to board with
him. One Moore agreed to rent it for six months, paying fifty
dollars.
\ uniform dress was prescribed; in summer a coatee of
dark gray mixture, chiefly cotton, decent and cheap, with white
pantaloons and waistcoat. In the winter the whole Miit must be
blu-. i'v a subsequent ordinance bine was changed to dark
jd. The v. prohibited. It - >m-
mended that the other part-* of the dresv should he plain and
nt. and the person! cleanly.
: <'iiiors at Commencement might dress a* the\
it being presumed that they would wish superior attire
on this momentous epoch in their 1
304 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Letters were ordered to be written to Trustees, three in num-
ber, who had not attended any meeting since their appointment,
asking them if they agreed to accept the office tendered them.
The movement led to no result. Three letters were written to
which there was only one response.
The annual Board of Visitors was reinforced by the addition
of President Caldwell, who was a Trustee. By this reinforce-
ment there was always one in attendance. For 1827 the other
members were Duncan Cameron, James S. Smith, and James
Webb.
Messrs. Yancey, Badger, and Moore (Alfred), were ap-
pointed, on motion of President Caldwell, to prepare a bill for
prohibiting the distillation or retailing of spirituous liquors at
or near Chapel Hill, and to prohibit the merchants of the vil-
lage from trading with the students. This was enacted into a
law. A Chapel Hill merchant was subject to indictment for
selling without Faculty permission to a student any article.
The liquor prohibition still exists. The other, always ignored,
was repealed years ago.
COL. FOLK'S BY-LAWS PROFESSORS PROTEST.
The next year a properly fitted up room in the College build-
ings was ordered to be assigned to each professor, and it was
made his duty to be in it from 9 a.m. to 12 m., and from 2 p.m.
to 5 each day, except "Sundays and other College holidays."
The object was to aid in the administration of discipline and
give occasional assistance to the students in their studies.
It was stated that the nightly visitations of the rooms of
students by the Tutors had been insufficient to maintain order
and insure the presence of the students in their apartments. It
was therefore required that each student's room should be vis-
ited by a professor at night at least three times a week.
This rigorous code was at the instance of Col. Wm. Polk,
who always regarded students in the light of soldiers in bar-
racks and professors as military officers. They were, with some
modifications, obeyed, by some without failure, by others spas-
modically, until near the beginning of the Civil War. They led
to numberless clashings and ill feelings. The halls and campus
were not lighted, and occasionally stones and cold water were
A HARD BY-LAW. 305
thrown at an unwelcome visitor. One, who was accused of
opening a drawer of the absent inmate, was forced to hide under
a table in order to escape the missiles through crashing glass.
Signals were invented which showed to the listening students
the progress of the professor, so that card-players would have
time to open their dictionaries, and the corn-whiskey bottle
could be safely hid. When the word DOGS ! or FACULTY!
was shouted from the window of one building, it was the sign
that those in another might expect at once the professorial
policeman. While the manners of some professors were so
agreeable that they were usually welcomed, others were so
rough that they became odious. Every species of disorder was
prevalent in the recitation rooms of these latter, partly in the
spirit of childish fun, but mainly for the annoyance of the
instructor.
The professors vigorously protested against the mandatory
provision in regard to spending their mornings and afternoons
in the College buildings, and nightly visitation of rooms. Dr.
Mitchell addressed an able letter to the Board, giving cogent
reasons against it. He himself could not comply, as he must
spend most of his time in his laboratory, which was in Stew-
ard's Hall. It was unfortunate that the professors were not
consulted, as they are in the position of both witnesses and
lawyers. The visiting rooms at night will do no good, as stu-
dents wishing to go on excursions will wait, as they do now in
of the Tutors, until the visits are over. The students will
not consult professors about their studies, as was found by
experience at Yale and at Chapel Hill. They are afraid of the
jeers of their fellows. If rooms were provided the professors
would undoubtedly be in them often and so secure better order
without requiring them to spend their mornings and evenings
in them. The professors have not been slow to improve the
work of the University of their own accord. As an instance,
when he came to Chapel Hill the t\\<> upper classes n cited only
once a day, the lower twice. The Faculty have continually
increased the number of recitations, and he believes that they
are more frequent than in any Northern college. The provi*-
ill be peculiarly burdensome for several reasons:
306 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
ist. As there is no market in Chapel Hill, the professors must
spend some time in providing for their families.
2d. For their own studies their libraries should be on hand.
They cannot be removed to the College rooms.
3d. Most of the professors are engaged in some study, which
would be broken up if this regulation is in force. Professor
Hentz, for example, ''perhaps is one of the most accomplished
Entomologists, perhaps the most accomplished in America."
He must ramble in the woods two or three evenings in the week.
The regulation will be a hardship: ist, Because professors
would be exposed to a charge of want of fidelity to duty; 2d,
it is an evil, because it precludes the possibility of exact com-
pliance with the laws, and thus gives excuse to students to
neglect them.
Such duties are not required of Professors in the American
Colleges, and those in the wild woods of Chapel Hill, deprived
of large libraries and scientific and literary journals, except
what they themselves supply, should not be loaded with duties
not performed elsewhere.
If this provision is enforced he apprehends that we will lose
Mr. Hentz, "a man whose fellow will not be found by the Trus-
tees in the whole Atlantic coast." He thinks that another will
be lost. "I shall not be regarded as meaning to threaten the
Trustees with the good luck of getting clear of the writer of
this letter. I have had an opportunity within the last two years
of exchanging my present situation for a professorship in a re-
spectable college in one of our Northern cities with a salary
of 2100 Dollars, and, if the allurement of 900 Dollars added to
his income, and the polished society of a great city, is not
enough to draw a Yankee away, it is useless to think by the im-
position of new duties to drive him away." While he deemed
himself fixed in Chapel Hill, it is likely that some of his col-
leagues might accept new and more congenial duties.
Dr. Mitchell was doubtless sincere in announcing his determi-
nation to stand by the University, because he had no love of
money and he looked on North Carolina as a luxuriant field for
botanical, geological, mineralogical and geographical discov-
eries, and he had resolved to explore it.
KKl'KAI. ASKKI) FOR. 307
President Caldwell made also an earnest request for the re-
peal of the law. He declared that visitation of rooms was the
most unpleasant and arduous duty the Faculty had to perform.
"They are exposed to petty tricks and occult, insulting behavior,
and capricious indignities. One of the chief inconveniences is
drenching with water, clean or foul, as they pass the steps or
walk the passages. Such tricks may be performed with great
perfection by the most trifling genius or idle inhabitant of Col-
\vho has no other feeling, but to exult in its dexterity and
admirable meanness, and then to pass the jest through the circle
f his companions, thus learning to connect in their feelings
derision and levity, instead of respectful deportment with the
person of a Professor."
The Trustees were partly persuaded by the arguments against
domiciliary visits. A compromise was made. Rooms were
allotted to the professors, and they were requested, not required,
to spend a portion of each day in them, and they were required
to make nightly visitations only occasionally. As late as 1849
certainly, perhaps later, each professor in turn was expected to
visit every room at some time at night during the week as-
cd him. It became customary to speak of Dr. Mitchell's
week, Prof. Hooper's week, and so on. Greater tact was shown
and insults to the Professors were rarely offered. When, how-
a "spree" was determined on, there was neither civility
nor forbearance shown.
Pnf. Mitchell, who possessed greater initiative than an.
his colleagues, about the same time induced the Faculty to
:nmen<l several changes.
Firstly, that the Inn^r summer vacation be abolished on ar-
its injury to the health of the students, and replaced by
of six weeks, immediately preceding commencement. I
Harvard and the South Carolina College. Another of four
nber was \>: A thrifty argument is
urged that the May vacation \\-oiild enable the summer clothing
C supplied at home. The ch, -ild enable tho-r OOH-
d with the I'liiversity t< the Stale M f6r I'-Mnieal
and ' .1 im]. objection that this nrrange-
t would not be nt to the members of the I'
308 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
appointed to attend the examinations is met by the half satirical
statement that, "after repeated alterations of the time and re-
peated attempts to adjust it to the various wishes of the differ-
ent individuals, the examinations have been obliged to be carried
on for several years without the presence of a single Trustee
until very near its close." It is suggested that suitable literary
gentlemen be employed and compensated for acting as exam-
iners.
If the change should be made the four weeks' recess to the
Seniors before Commencement should be abolished.
The memorial embodies a complaint that the present Super-
intendent, Thomas H. Taylor, had departed from the old custom
of paying the Faculty from time to time sums out of the tuition
money, that he retained all his own salary and otherwise appro-
priated the funds, leaving little for the members of the Faculty.
It is suggested that the Librarian should be paid for his
services.
The President's Report shows that lu- and his Faculty were
not yet emancipated from the interference of the Trustees in
small matters of routine. It is gravely asked that the hiring and
employment of servants be allowed them. They are disturbed
about the ordinance about wearing gowns at Commencement.
By whom were they to be furnished ? Shall all the Faculty and
students be required to don them? It appears that the Trus-
tees did not insist on the execution of this mandate.
A question most earnestly pressed by the Senior class was
that of a Senior vacation, i. e. a holiday given to them for one
month before Commencement. Occasionally the Trustees
ordered its abolition, but always a moving petition two or
three pages long touched their hearts and met a favorable
response to the prayer for restoration. One signed by William
Eaton and Rufus A. Yancey, son of Bartlett Vancey, is a fair
example, committeemen at other times being such men as
Thomas S. Ashe, Rev. J. Haywood Parker, Calvin Jones, Giles
Mebane, J. DeBerniere Hooper. The petition alleges firstly,
that the time was needed for the preparation of Commencement
speeches, and secondly, that as neither suitable cloth, nor a
skilled tailor, could be found at Chapel Hill, the graduates
SOCIAL LIFE; IN THE TWENTIES. 309
should be allowed to go home and there prepare such habili-
ments as would reflect credit on the University. The practice
lasted until the closing of 1868. Regularly for fifteen or twenty
years after the re-opening in 1875 the Faculty were called on
to negative petitions for its revival.
A riot, in which five students were engaged, shows a rough-
ness of manners not paralleled now. Becoming angry for some
cause with Wm. Barbee, the ex-Steward, who had been recently
in the Legislature, colleague of Willie P. Manguni. they pro-
eeeded one Sunday night to rock his house, crashing the win-
dow panes and even the sashes. Barhee swore >ut a warrant
against the leader and the others were summoned as witnesses.
To use the stilted words of the clerk of the Faculty, the wit-
es "resorted in their minds to such construction of the oath
and of the questions put to them, as in their apprehension
relieved them from the necessity of testifying in relation to their
companions, in consequence of which the protection of society
withheld from the person, the family and property of one
of its citizens." The leader and one other were dismissed.
The remaining three were suspended, two for four and one for
months.
SOCIAL LIFE OF CHAPEL HILL IN THK TWENTIES.
One of the most popular Chapel Hill belles of this period,
winning and beautiful, a good singer, accustomed to raise
the times in church service, was Miss Sarah Williams Kittrell,
whose father removed from Granville to a home about two
miles southwest of the University buildings, when 1 lie earried
farm and took student boarders. Tradition says that
she agreed to marry a promising Senior, afterwards United
tCS Senator, but the match was broken <>ff 1 treatise of his
poverty and great distance from Chapel Hill. After he became
us, he returned by invitation to deliver the annual Com-
> ement address, and bis <>ld boarding house keeper, M'-.
<-y Nunn, upbraided him for breaking faith with her fa\
Sally Kittrell. Learning that she was living in MJdv
n her <)<>tii year, Mr- W.
Kittrell of California. I wrote to her an.' d in reply a
310 HISTORY UNIVERSITY <!' NORTH CAROLINA.
most sprightly letter, giving- her reminiscences of Chapel Hill
society. I add that five of her sons and grandsons were officers
in the Confederate Army, and that during a visit of Miss
Winnie Davis to Texas she rode one hundred mi-les to pay her
respects to the ''Daughter of the Confederacy." The kindly
manner in which she speaks of her old flame indicates that their
engagement and its disruption, if true, left no permanent scar
on her happy soul. With her aid* and from other sources I
endeavor to depict the life of Chapel Hill in the twenties.
There were few residents of the village, but among them were
strong characters, male and female. Among the men Dr. Cald-
well and Dr. Mitchell overtopped all in learning and influence,
while in society Major Henderson and his four sons, James,
William, Pleasant, and Tippoo Saib,* all physicians, were most
agreeable and accomplished, "loved and honored by rich and
poor." The leader among the ladies was the wife of the Presi-
dent, a daughter of James Hogg of Hillsboro, who had moved
from girlhood in as polished society as the United States af-
forded. There were bright and handsome young ladies, edu-
cated at the female schools of Salem and Oxford, of whom were
Betsy Pannill, and Franky Burton who became the wife of
Thomas J. Green, afterwards a prominent lawyer of Virginia.
Wm. Barbee, son of Christopher (or Kit) Barbee, one of the
donors of the Univei sity lands, had several daughters, who were
very attractive, one of whom married Ilai Nunn, a skilled violin-
ist, who gave lessons in dancing; another Jesse Hargrave, a
merchant, and a third Dr. B. W. Cave, a physician of the village.
There was an excellent Sunday School held in Person Hall,
called the Chapel, now the Medical Building. The teachers
were Mrs. Caldwell and the wives of the Professors. The task
was memorizing five or six verses of the Bible and part or whole
of a hymn. Four score years afterwards the pious "Mother
in Israel" recalled vividly the moral and educational value of
this, one of our earliest religious institutions for the young.
*Note. The hatred of England by our people i> >lio\vn by their nam-
ing sons after cruel oriental despots, simply because they fought our old
enemy. Thus Davie had a Hyder Ali, Major Henderson a Tippoo Saib,
and a prominent citizen of Edenton a Tippoo Saib Haughton.
SOCIAL Ul-E IN THE TWENTIES. 311
The village teacher was called "Old Father Hughes," an
Englishman by birth, but devoted to his adopted country, a
thorough teacher and strict disciplinarian, using frequently the
rod on boys but gentle to the girls, who doubtless suffered
vicariously when the blows descended on their brothers and
sweethearts. In one end of the school-room at play hours the
good Father added to his petty tuition receipts by the sale of
pickled oysters and ginger cakes, into which traffic went every
penny which the children could raise. After Father Hughes,
came Rev. Abner Clopton, a Baptist preacher, teacher of the
Preparatory school of the University.
A- might be conjectured from the increase of the income
from the students and in the number of the Faculty, together
with a small addition to their salaries, the village became larger
and more modern between 1820 and 1830. The ladies arrayed
themselves in finer clothes, improved their houses with added
rooms and with paint, cultivated grass and flowers on their
lawns, frequented the University and Society libraries, rode to
hear preaching sometimes in the neighborhood churches, es-
pecially Mount Carmel, induced services in the University
Chapel, prayed fervently but never aloud, at prayer-meetings,
and inaugurated reading clubs.
Notwithstanding this forward movement, luxury was un-
known. Modern children and their parents would regard the
mode of life at this period as one of intolerable hardship. As a
rule, to the boys and girls was allowed only one pair of shoes for
tlic year, which of course implies that naked feet were fashion-
able except in free/ing weather. M.st families kept cows, and
on farms nxen. \Yhni these ceased to be producers their end
1 by the deadly axe or brain-piercing bullet, the
flesh reserved for the table, and the ^kin* *ent to the tannery to
be converted into leather. Then one hv one the children placed
their feet on the outspread hide under direction of an itinerant
shoemaker, who marked the shape with knife or chalk and
made hv hand t 1 . rough but serviceable. < >ften from
want of skill th a tightn. r a mis-
placed protuberance, which canned Buffering analogous to that
experienced 1,\- a high-caste Chinese girl. Then too there was
312 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
a looseness around the ankles which admitted snow, and the
urchin came in from his winter sport with his feet well nigh
frozen.
The food was plenteous and palatable. In addition to the
poultry, hogs and beeves, which all raised for themselves, rac-
coons abounded on the creeks, opossums and squirrels in the
forest, partridges, larks, doves and hares swarmed in the fields.
As winter came on great flocks of wild pigeons darkened the
air, often resting at night in the oak trees, where they were
slaughtered by the wheelbarrow-full. Owing to the abundance
of persimmons, the opossums were so fat that their superabund-
ant grease was used to make smooth the wagon axles ; their fur
and that of hares, minks, muskrats and raccoons were fashioned
into winter caps for the boys. Then too there were many fish
in the creeks, and part of the daily task of the pretty black-eyed
Sally Kittrell was, accompanied by a brother, to visit their fish
traps and bring in the catch for the breakfast fry.
The clothing was mostly home-made. Small patches of cot-
ton were planted, and for some time the seed was picked out by
hand. Each child had his or her task, and after all were fin-
ished they were regaled with cider and apples. After this,
lessons for the next day were studied by the light of split light-
wood or pine knot. Tallow candles were a luxury, reserved
for a great occasion, such as a preacher's visit, or a festive
gathering.
Mr. Kittrell, the father, imported the first cotton-gin ever
seen in this part of the world, not much larger than a sewing
machine. After this there was more cotton raised in the neigh-
borhood. The date of the importation is not exactly known,
but it was prior to 1833, when he removed to Alabama. The
clothing was woven on the family loom.
Before the advent of the Whitney gin, tobacco was largely
raised. The market was Fayetteville. The hogsheads contain-
ing the leaf were placed on little wheels and thus rolled to Fay-
etteville, a horse pulling each. The driver would be absent
two or three weeks. His return was hailed with delight, for
each girl expected a calico dress and a pair of shoes, to be worn
only on Sundays.
SOCIAL LIFE IN THE TWENTIES. 313
The course of life was simple and happy. There was no
umbrella, but neither snow nor rain deterred from school and
no one was afraid to be wetted. There was little physic bought,
but dyspepsia was never heard of. Trading was mainly by
bartering. Money was scarce, but the family never incurred
debt. Sally Kittrell never had twenty-five cents of her own
until she was grown.
X n withstanding all privations, there was probably more
hearty fun than in our day. Although they danced no germans,
and some were not allowed to dance at all, there were many
social gatherings, with just enough work to make play enjoyable
cotton-pickings, husking bees or corn shuckings, log-rollings,
hog-killings, house-raisings, quiltings, and even spelling bees.
In some of these the girls did not take a hand, but they cheered
their beaux to feats of skill and strength, and after the work was
all joined in games and pleasant talk, not sparing the
piquant anecdote and boisterous laugh. Conspicuous among
all the maidens, doubtless the only survivor of all her associates,
was Sally Kittrell, beautiful, graceful, agreeable, dutiful, pious,
whose memory of Chapel Hill after seventy years is still green,
who in her distant Texas home, radiating loving influences all
around, remembers her old home with so vivid clearness and
such tender love that she signs the long letter written entirely
by her own hand
"In my QOth year, seeing and hearing as well as ever.
A daughter of Chapel Hill,
SARAH WILLIAMS GOREE."
The "National Jubilee" was celebrated at Chapel Hill <>n the
4th of July. 1826, the semi-centennial of the Declaration of
Independence, with enthusiasm. There was, according to the
local chronicle, "the good humor and cordiality which should
1 >e the characteristic of Freemen." There was a proces-
sion at eleven o'clock to Person Hall. The famous Declaration
read by one who had fmiijit for it in the Revolnti.
-Tgle, Major Henderson. It wa pmperlv enunciated, for
the gallant Major, a brother of Judge Richard llmdei
314 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
selected for thirty-nine years to be Reading Clerk of the House
of Commons on account of his sonorous voice. The oration
was by a young lawyer, William McCauley, graduate of 1813,
son of Matthew McCauley, a donor of the site of the Univer-
sity. He doubtless bearded the British Lion in the manner
fashionable on such occasions. At one o'clock a dinner was
served at Mr. S. B. Alsobrook's hotel, and at night there was a
ball, at which Virginia reels and cotillons were danced to the
lively tunes of Ilai Nunn's violin.
In the autumn of the same year a horse-race was held in a
mile of the village, the principal objects being betting and gam-
bling. The Faculty forbade the students to attend it. One
disobeyed and was suspended therefor. Another stood afar off
and witnessed the running but did not go into the crowd. He
was excused.
There was at all times during the earlier decades of the Uni-
versity delight among the students to engage in the explosion
of gunpowder. There are numerous complaints of the prac-
tice and prosecution of the offenders. The following grave
entry is a sample of the solemn opinions of the Faculty : "This
mode of producing disturbance in the College Buildings for
some few nights past, as it is a method of producing disorder
full of evil effects, and apparently having no other object but
to annoy, is highly reprehensible."
Other by-laws were added to the lengthening roll. The Pro-
fessors and Tutors were required to furnish the Trustees pres-
ent at examinations with the names of the members of the
classes, so that "the Trustees may be enabled to have their own
opinion upon scholarship."
Each Professor and Tutor was required to keep account of
the scholarship, regularity and moral conduct of the members
of his class, and furnish an abstract of the same to the parent,
and also to the Board of Trustees.
The students were not bound to promise more than once obed-
ience to the rules.
Erasmus D. North was the best scholar and spoke the Salu-
tatory Latin oration, in the graduating class of 1826, 21 mem-
bers.
CLASS OF 1826. 315
The following were declared equal and next to North : Dan-
iel Moreau Barringer, who had an oration on Modern Lan-
guages; Samuel E. Chapman, the Valedictory; William Nor-
wood, on Political Economy ; Oliver W. Tread well, on Classical
Literature.
Archibald Gilchrist, Thomas W. Watts, Henry T. Clark,
Silas M. Andrews, Richard S. Croom, James A. King, Henry
I. Elliott, Ferdinand W. Risque, Thomas S. Hoskins, and
r^e W. Morrow spoke what were called Intermediate Ora-
tions, while William J. Anderson, Henry I. Brown, Wm. B.
Dunn, Samuel I. Johnston delivered Forensics.
Of these honor men. ;~orth was for a short while Professor
of Languages in our University, an Instructor in Yale, and a
physician ; Barringer, a member of Congress and Minister to
Spain ; Chapman, a reputable physician of Newbern ; Tread-
well, a Tutor in this University; and Norwood, an Episcopal
Doctor of Divinity over a large congregation in Richmond,
Virvinia. Of the others, Clark became Speaker of the Senate
and Governor ex officio in 1861-62.
Of the non-graduates, was Paul C. Cameron, a wealthy
planter, State Senator, active Trustee of the University for
twenty-seven years.
In 1827 died John Hay wood, one of the charter Trustees of
1789 and continuously thereafter. He was always a member
of the Committee of Appointments and other like commit!
and was one of the most active and regular in attendance. His
popularity in the State is h<>wn by his annual election as State
Treasurer without opposition for forty years (1787-1827). and
by his name being given to a western county and to an eastern
town. In December. 1828, the Trustees, "in consideration of
his long continued and useful services" rendered to the Univer-
sity. granted a scholarship to his s>n. William Davie Haywood.
There is no record. Imwevi r. ,,i his entering the
EXERCISES OF 1827 MURPIIKV'S ADDRESS.
The multitudinous speeches ..n the programme of 1826 proi.
ably led to the radical change of 1827. In that year began the
s of orations by eminent men elected by tin- two I.iti
Societies alternately. The Dialectic had the first choice, which
316 HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
fell on ex-Judge Archibald Debow Murphey. His address was
in the main historical and reminiscent and was perhaps the last
work of one who had done much for his State. His portrait in
the Dialectic Hall, taken at this time, shows that his physical
powers were rapidly waning, but his mind was strong and lucid.
A contemporary writer in the Raleigh Register testified that "the
debility of his body gave an interest to his appearance. Unas-
suming, yet easy and insinuating in his address, clear and dis-
tinct in his enunciations, perspicuous and eloquent in his style,
he was sustained through a long and eloquent oration by the
admiration and applause of a crowded assembly. None of his
audience will soon forget their own emotions, or the glow of
sympathy imparted to them by the orator's beautiful remem-
brance of his friend and patron, the late Wm. Duffy."
The writer described the exercises as "No longer, as on
former occasions, a monotonous succession of heavy and unin-
teresting speeches, but a Literary Banquet, where the different
tastes of the audience were gratified by alternate displays of
Oratory and Wit." "We were all particularly pleased with a
little 'ludicro-comico' piece written and (as the Dramatists say)
gotten up by one of the Professors, and called, I think, 'Im-
provements in Modern Duelling.' It was well delivered Tues-
day evening by five young gentlemen, and exhibited in the most
ridiculous attitude certain late exquisites and proficients in that
sublime art." As Dr. William Hooper was skillful in this kind
of writing, conspicuous in his own address : n iS'5 ( ). entitled
"Fifty Years Since," it is evident that he was the author.
It was at this time that, on motion of Chief Justice Ruffin,
the once-a-month holidays, which had been in vogue for some
time, were discontinued, to the great discontent especially of
boys of a smaller growth, or less studious disposition.
The speakers of the graduating class of 1827 were: Richard
Henry Lewis, the Latin Salutatory; Charles B. Shepard, the
Valedictory ; Thomas P. Hall, Oration in Greek ; Lorenza Lea,
Oration in French ; Alfred O. P. Nicholson, Oration on Politi-
cal Economy ; Jesse H. Lindsay and Alexander Mackey, Inter-
mediate Orations.
CIvASS OF 1827. 317
Of these, the best scholar, Lewis, became a wealthy planter
of acknowledged ability, cultivation and influence. A nomina-
nation for Congress was tendered him by his party, the Demo-
cratic, but he declined it. Charles B. Shepard, next to him,
was a member of the State Legislature and a Representative in
Congress, dying at the early age of 37 ; Lea was a Tutor in the
University, then a minister of the Gospel and President of
Jackson College, Tennessee; Nicholson was a lawyer in Ten-
nessee and held many honorable positions, including the Chief
Justiceship of that State's Supreme Court, and United States
Senatorship; Lindsay was an influential wealthy citizen of
Greensboro, president of a bank and member of the Legisla-
ture; Robert A. T. Ridley, of Oxford, became Speaker of
the House in Georgia and a member of Congress; Lewis
Thompson was a wealthy and able farmer of Bertie and promi-
nent in the Legislature ; Warren Winslow became a member of
Congress and, as Speaker of the State Senate, acted as Governor
in 1854; Thompson Byrd was a Tutor in the University and a
minister of the Gospel ; Absalom A. Barr was also a minister.
Of those who matriculated with these but did not graduate,
was Calvin Graves, a State Representative and Senator, mem-
ber of the Convention of 1835, Speaker of the Senate, and as
such gave the casting vote for the charter of the North Carolina
Railroad.
The report of the Acting President in 1828 was gloomy. The
Faculty should be nine, whereas four were lacking from this
number. North Carolina and the neighboring States had been
explored in vain for competent Tutors. ;md Professor Olmsted
had hern written to for them. The strength of the Professor of
Mathematics, Phillips, was waning under his arduous labors.
Professors and teachers 'jvm rally are amoni: the most laborious
of men. They cannot be deficient without lx in- infamous, nor
can deficiencies and blemishes fail to expose them i. repr-
and scorn, if every imperfection be excluded 1>\ an accurate.
prompt and comprehensive knowledge nf tin- abstract and scien-
tific analv-i- -m which they are ernpl"
1 successor of Jud-c Murpliev. ch..sen 1
Philanthropic S"ciety :^ tin- -unit f
318 JIISTOKV I/MVKKSITY OK NORTH CAROUNA.
1828, was Alfred Moore, son of the Judge of the same name.
He had been Speaker of the House of Commons, but preferred
private life and the companionship of books to the storms of a
political career. He was one of the early students, who reached
Chapel Hill after the doors of the University were opened in
1795, was faithful to duty, and afterwards lived a useful and
honorable life. It was a great disappointment to the company
that sickness prevented his filling his engagement. His bust
is in Gerrard Hall, the property of the Philanthropic Society.
The Raleigh Register praises the speeches of the graduating
class as free from the usual bombast and false ornament, dis-
playing sound sense and strong discrimination. Richard H.
Rattle was pronounced the best scholar and had the Latin Salu-
tatory. The next best, Henry S. Clark, had the Valedictory.
Then came John L. Taylor, with the French, and Thomas P.
Johnston, the Natural Philosophy orations.
Henry I. Toole's subject was The Objects of Education;
James D. Hall's was Mental Philosophy; John L. Taylor's
French speech was Le Caractere et regne of Louis Quartoze.
There was a debate between Edwin G. Booth and Edwin R.
Harriss whether the Southern States should turn their atten-
tion to agriculture. James N. Nesbitt and John P. Cause dis-
cussed whether political parties, not founded on local interests,
were prejudicial to the strength of nations. T. J. Cakes ad-
vocated internal improvements. The Valedictory by Clark was
the last address by students. President Caldwell, as was his
habit, then delivered a feeling and wise talk to the graduates.
Of these, Battle was a life-long invalid, but strong enough to
be Secretary of a Life Insurance Company and Commissioner
of War Claims against the State, by the appointment of Gov-
ernor Worth. He was often Commissioner (now Alderman)
of the city of Raleigh. He had a strong and original mind.
Clark reached the honor of a seat in Congress. Taylor was a
physician of high standing, and Johnston was a Presbyterian
minister and missionary for twenty-three years.
Of the non-graduates, J. S. Gatlin was a Surgeon in the U. S.
Army, killed in the Seminole war ; Rev. Nehemiah Henrv Hard-
CLASS OF 1828. 319
ing, a Doctor of Divinity in the Presbyterian Church ; Richard
Caswell Gatlin was an officer in the United States Army, then
a Confederate States Brigadier-General and Adjutant-General
of North Carolina in the darkest hours of the Civil War.
The honorary degree of Master of Arts (A. M.) was con-
ferred on Win. Glascock, M.D., of Virginia, and on John Hill
Wheeler, afterwards the author of Wheeler's History and
Wheeler's Reminiscences.
Kthan Allen Andrews remained at the University until
1828, devoting himself to the close study of the ancient classics,
in which he continued for the rest of his life. In that year he
accepted the position of the Professor of Ancient Languages in
the New Haven Gymnasium. A year afterwards he established
the New Haven Young Ladies' Institute, conducting it with
success for five years. He then took charge of a similar insti-
tution in Boston. Here he remained until 1839, when having
in conjunction with Soloman Stoddard published a Latin Gram-
mar, which met with favor among teachers, he returned to his
home, inherited from his father in New Britain, and devoted the
rest of his life to the preparation of school books. The follow-
ing is a list of his books, besides the Grammar mentioned:
First Latin Book; Latin Reader; Viri Romae; Latin Lessons;
psis of Latin Grammar; Questions on the Latin Grammar;
Latin Exercises; Key to Latin Exercises; Caesar's Commen-
taries ; Salltist ; Ovid ; Latin Dictionary.
Professor Andrews was intellectually, morally and in manners
a very superior man.
He died March 24, 1858, aged 71 years. His two daughters
married successively Prof. Edward D. Sims, a graduate f the
University <>f North Carolina in 1824.
TROUBLKSOM
The Trustees were occasionally embarrassed by petitions fr.m
persons who claimed that they were injured by escheated pr >p
injj in the University. One Mary I '.ell stated the pitia-
"act that by twenty-five years bard labor in keeping a public
1 her husband bad arrumulated some property, the
of which under the law vested in her husband: that on his
32O HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
death without heirs half of the property devolved on the Uni-
versity; that she was sixty years old and could not live on
what the statute allowed her. "I am a poor widow, citizen of
a country whose policy and well regulated government does
not need the assistance of property drawn from old age and
infirmity, leaving me to starve, in order to support most valua-
ble institutions."
The minds of the Trustees were torn by the conflicting ideas
of natural pity and fiduciary duty. They finally concluded to
invest the money and pay the interest to Mrs. Mary Bell so
long as she should live.
They seemed to experience no difficulty in deciding another
case, which in our times would be considered hard. A free
negro had a daughter, the slave of another. He bought her,
and she then became the mother of a boy. The woman's father
died without kin and intestate. His child and grandchild being
his personal property became the property of the University.
They were ordered to be sold. This sounds hard, but it was
proved to the Board that they were in the lowest stage of pov-
erty and degradation and that it would redound to their happi-
ness to have a master. It must be remembered that slaves were
considered to be as a rule in a better condition than free negroes.
One of the saddest claims which devolved on the University
was that of Governor Benjamin Smith, the first benefactor. In
his old age he became surety for a man who owed the institution,
and the Trustees felt compelled to enforce payment. There is
on record a petition by him for extension of time, which was
granted. The tradition already mentioned that he was impris-
oned has a modicum of truth, but the detention was only for a
short while and, as he himself says, by the hard action of a
lawyer, who was his personal enemy. The Trustees released
him as soon as the matter was brought to their attention. It
must be remembered, too, that ex-Governor Smith was hope-
lessly insolvent, and if the University had released him from
the debt, his other creditors and not himself, would have reaped
the benefit. All his valuable lands on the Cape Fear were sub-
ject to the judgment obtained by the United States to make good
the defalcations of Collector Reid, for whom he was bondsman.
WORTHLESS ESCHEATS. 321
It may be well to give other cases, showing the working of the
escheat law.
At a later date, 1852, a sale of an escheat on behalf of the
University created some local excitement. A lot on which was
an old building, once used as a school house, but then in ruins,
had been for yeais claimed by no one. The University attor-
ney had it sold. The sum bid was one dollar. A memorial
signed by six leading men of the town stated that the school had
been closed because of sickness from a local cause, which had
been removed, and plans for its revival were renewed. But
"there comes an agent of the University who blasts the almost
open blossom of our Hopes, thereby robbing perhaps many a
poor boy from becoming a useful and prominent member of
society, who might have been brilliant lights and added others
to the many great luminaries who claim the University as their
Alma Mater, but now left without a light must mope in darkness
and ignorance."
After several pages of similar rhetoric it was stated that the
attorney found a bidder at one dollar, and took a conveyance
to himself and sold the lot to a widow for $80, who proceeded to
tear down the house and cut down the shade trees. Then the
widow was threatened with a suit and she made a moving ap-
peal to the Trustees, stating that she was about to be ruined.
It does not appear that the pathos and eloquence of their peti-
tions effected their purpose. Indeed, the petitioners seemed to
have made the mistake of applying for a remedy after instead of
before the alleged wrong was done. The attorney (General
letary) asserted positively that the people generally ap-
plauded his conduct. The amount received by the University
was only eight dollars.
In 1861 the Trustees were notified of a possible windfall of
distributive shares. Judge John M. Dick, a Trustee, while
riding the Mountain Circuit; wrote that Acque to geh, Wage
t. to-mali. Jack Rabbit. To ga kce la son Betsy, and 330 other
Cherokee Indians living in Western North Carolina, had died
since the Treaty of 1836. The attorney of the Indians, William
H. Thomas, took out letters of administration on their estates.
bojid for $33,400, and collected $54 for each of the de-
21
322 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
ceased, and it did not appear that any return had been made to
the court. As th^ University realized nothing from this claim,
it is to be presumed that Colonel Thomas made a satisfactory
explanation.
A dissipated Freshman, Spencer Reeves, was dismissed in
1829 for giving a drinking and card-playing frolic, and follow-
ing it up on Sunday night by illuminating his windows with
bunches of lighted candles. It is sad to chronicle that after
some years he became so degraded from drink that he slew his
sister for refusing to give him part of her property and was
righteously hung for the crime the only instance of an alumnus
dying on the gallows.
J. S., who participated in the spree, was saved by his previous
good character and by taking the iron-clad pledges.
At the same time four students were dismissed for going
home at the end of the session without permission which either
had been asked for and refused, or had not been asked for at
all.
At the Commencement in i82<). described as very brilliant, a
now feature was introduced. Representatives from the Junior,
Sophomore and Freshman classes competed in declamation.
The orator before the two societies chosen by the Dialectic
Society, was Professor William Hooper, who returned to the
I'niviTsity in 1825 as Professor of Rhetoric and Logic, and
three years afterwards was made Professor of Ancient Lan-
guages. The contemporary chronicler says that he was a deep
and severe thinker, as well as profound and eloquent rhetorician.
The best scholar among the graduates was Franklin L. Smith
of Mecklenburg, to whom the Latin Salutatory was assigned.
Next was Richard R. Wall of Rockingham County, with the
Valedictory. Then were John Potts Brown, of Wilmington,
with an oration on Natural Philosophy ; Sidney X. Johnston on
Geology, and David M. Lees on Ethics. Debates were had
between James A. Johnston and James E. Kerr on the question,
"Is the backwardness of North Carolina due to moral or physi-
cal causes?"; between Burton F. Craige and Osmond F. LOIU.
as to whether Daughters should be educated as well as Sons;
and between Thomas W. Dulany and Wm. Eaton, as to whether
Europe was benefitted by the Independence of Greece, while
CO MM 1C N C 1C .\ I K N T OF 1 829. 3 J ^
Rufus A. Yancey and Philip W. Alston wrestled with the great
problem, whether in the aggregate the Destinies of Europe were
Beneficially Influenced by the French Revolution. Richard M.
Shepard of Newbern discoursed on Modern French Literature.
The best scholar of the fourteen graduates, Smith, died in
1835 with rising reputation as a lawyer. Wall was a physician
of high standing, Brown was a commission merchant of the
nrm of DeRosset & Brown of Wilmington, and Brown & De-
Rosset of Xew York. Johnston was a physician and member
of the Convention of 1861. William Eaton was author of a
valuable law book, Attorney-General and Senator from War-
ren ; Craige, who dropped his middle name, was a Representa-
tive in the Congress of the United States and of the Confeder-
acy, member of the Convention of 1861, and as such offered the
( )n finance of Secession ; Alston was an Episcopal minister and
a poet.
Among those matriculating with the class, but leaving before
nation, may be mentioned Wm. Dallas Haywood, for years
Mayor of Raleigh: Henry A. London, a very influential mer-
ehant of Pittsbon , : Cameron F. MacRae, a prominent Episcopal
minister of this State, of Georgia and lastly of Maryland ; James
llryan \Yhitneld, State Senator.
The honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity fell on Rev. John
Robinson of 1'oplar Tent, and Rev. John McKamie Wilson of
Rocky River, both of Cabarrus. Resides being pastors of pow< i .
they were principals of excellent classical schools.
The Trn<tee> present were Governor ( hven. Dr. S. J. llaker,
1 . Xash. John D. Hawkins, William Robards, John Scott,
Irhane. Dr. J. S. Smith. Arch. Mcliryde. James Webb.
R<\. Dr. \\ni. Mel 'heeler^. Rev. Dr. John \YithcrspMon. !'
ident Caldwell and Secret. nivr Manly.
The honorary d< : mted were as follows, on the Rev.
:n ] ; .mpie. President of \Vi11iam and Mary College, after-
ward- Rector of a church in Richmond. Virginia, formerly of
\Yilmin-ton. \. ('.. Doctorate of Divinity.
The sani' nucule. < if the !'
m C'hurch of \r\\
Tin r of \ru mi IVotYsx, ,,- Jamc^ IMiillips
and \larrr1his 1 I- 'lie I "ni\
\ortb C'arolina.
CHAPTER IV.
COMMENCEMENT OF 1830.
At the Commencement, on Monday evening there was decla-
mation by James Lea, William Owen, Julian E. Sawyer, Wm.
Smith, John S. Hargrave, Thomas F. Jones, Solomon Lea.
On Tuesday evening, the 2ist of June, the speakers were
James Grant, J. DeBerniere Hooper, Wm. W. Spear, Jacob
Thompson, Thomas S. Ashe, Michael W. Holt, and James O.
Stedman.
On Wednesday, there were original speeches delivered by
representatives of the two Societies.
The best scholar, to whom was given the Latin Salutatory,
was Nathaniel H. McCain. James W. Osborne was next, with
a speech on Moral Philosophy. Next came Cicero Stephens
Hawks, whose subject was Influence of Rewards Bestowed on
Distinguished Characters. The fourth in scholarship was John
A. Backhouse, to whom was assigned the Valedictory. The
fifth in scholarship was Richard K. Hill, with a speech on Polit-
ical Economy, and sixth was Aaron J. Spivey, whose subject
wa "The Use and Abuse of Parliamentary Debates." The
next honor men were George G. Lea, who spoke on the Import-
ance of Liberal Education to all professional men ; then Mr.
W. L. Kennedy, on the Influence of Periodical Literature, and
lastly came Rawley Galloway, who discussed Design in the Con-
stitution of Nature. Benjamin F. Terry and William K. Ruffin
debated whether the gold mines, recently discovered in North
Carolina and elsewhere, are attended with greater advantages
or disadvantages to our State and to the Union. There was
evidently in the air dread of inflation of the currency and diver-
sion of labor from other pursuits, as well of the evils of making
haste to be rich.
John H. Edwards and Elisha Stedman, both afterwards
physicians, discussed this question : "Could the United States
maintain its Constitution if the Atlantic Ocean did not separate
COMMENCEMENT OF 1830. 325
her from Europe?" J. M. Stedman's thesis was whether there
could be a Permanent Government without Education.
McCain removed to Mississippi, and was a highly respected
and successful planter. Backhouse had a strange career. He
3 of tine promise, was a Tutor of his Alma Mater after grad-
uation ; then studied theology, teaching at the same time. After
being ordained a minister of the Gospel, he was deposed for
net unbecoming a minister, and died early. Osborne was a
prominent lawyer and Judge, member of the Legislature and of
the Convention of 1861. Hawks was Bishop of the Protestant
Kpiscopal Church of Missouri. Hill was a teacher of repute in
North Carolina and Texas.
At the Commencement of 1830, Hon. John H. Bryan, who
changed his home from Newbern to Raleigh, chosen by the
Philanthropic Society, was the orator. The reporter described
his effort as chaste and eloquent.
The report of the President at the annual meeting of the
Hoard in December, 1827, deplores the falling off in numbers.
This was attributed to three causes: 1st, the establishment of
rniversitics and Colleges in Virginia, Tennessee, South Caro-
lina. and Georgia; 2nd, to the financial stress and unparalleled
eciation in the pecuniary resources of the people; 3rd, vast
efflux of population to the West.
He also informed the Hoard that the Main Building was in
ruins. It had not been occupied for years. The materials
the work wretched. The experiment of em-
.1 Superintendent of Buildings not connected with the
I 'ni versify. at a salary of $20. was unsatisfactory. Prof. Mitch-
-nnied the duties.
i- 1X25. - Tin; GKNKK \i. . \ssr.Mr.i.s AIM-I.IKH
Tli<- financial panic of 1X25, with its sequelae, was in truth a
MI! blow to the University. The receipts from Western
lands and payments for those sold were largely cut off. The
tuition receipts diminished with the number of students. The
d-hu to the banks, incurred for building the Old West and work
he ' ld East and unfiiiishrd Gerranl Hall, were unpaid.
326 THE; UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The Trustees thought that turning 1 off Professors would destroy
the prestige of the institution, and therefore borrowed money
to meet their salaries. By 1830 the University seemed on the
verge of ruin. Energetic steps were necessary to avert it. The
President of the Board of Trustees called a special session to
consider the matter. It was on the 2ist June, 1830, at Chapel
Hill.
There were present, Governor Owen, Dr. Caldwell, Messrs.
John H. Bryan, Willie P. Mangum, Charles Manly, James
Mrbane, Alfred Moore, John M. Morehead, Wm. Robards,
John Scott, James S. Smith, John Witherspoon, D.D.
On motion of Judge Mangum, a committee of seven \\n\-
appointed to draft an address to the Trustees, setting forth the
urgent necessity for them to meet in Raleigh on the iQth of
July. Dr. Caldwdl was directed to send by express, that is, a
special messenger, a copy to every Trustee within a reasonable
distance of Raleigh, and to the rest by mail.
Considering the difficulties of travel in the hot July days, there
was a very respectable attendance, about one-third of the Trus-
tees. Their names should be held in remembrance. They
were : Governor John Owen, Dr. Caldwell, Messrs. George E.
Badger, Thos. D. Bennehan, John H. Bryan, Duncan Cameron,
James Craven, \Ym. Gaston, John D. Hawkins, Louis D. Henry,
James Iredell, Charles Manly, Alfred Moore, Willie P. Man-
gum, Angus Mcl.ryde, Frederick Nash, Wm. Robards, Thos.
Ruffin, Romulus M. Saunders, John Scott, Hugh Waddell,
James Webb, W. McPheeters, D.D. Of these, nine were resi-
dents of Raleigh, ten of Orange, one of Fayetteville, one of
Moore County, one of Franklin, one of Craven, one of Kinston.
None except those from Fayetteville, Moore, Franklin, and
Kinston lived more than one day's distance from Raleigh, and
they only a two-days' easy journey. It is possible that Messrs.
Gaston and Henry were in attendance on the Supreme Court.
On motion of Mr. Gaston, not then a judge, a strong committee,
Messrs. Iredell, Cameron, Moore, Henry, Bryan, Webb, Rob-
ards (State Treasurer), and Waddell, were appointed to report
the debts and resources of the University, and recommend a
plan of relief.
UNIVERSITY FINANCIAL I'nNDlTlON. 327
The Committee, through Mr. Iredell, reported the next day
tin- following statement:
ASSETS.
IKUCS State Bank stock ($2,300) if at par.
_M1 -hurt- N.-\vtx>rn Bank stock ($24.100) if at par.
Ill shares Cape Fear Bank stock ($11,100) if at par.
.ludrnu-nt in Wake County Court, $2.805.
Interest from July 1, 1829.
Bonds for lands sold in Tennessee, comprising warrants adjudicated
in 1X20 and 1822, the Resolution warrants, and Smith and Gerrard hinds.
The whole estimated in 1820 and 1822, to be worth $240,642. Probably
not worth so much.
DEBTS.
Decree for Jacques le Gorde, $1,230.83; interest from
July 1, 1828, say, in all $1,405.11
Balance due Faculty 1,158.
Due State Bank 17,524.24
Due Xewbern Bank 6,978 . 12
Due Cape Fear Bank (i,39( .
Due United States Bank 4,057 . iM
Total debts $37,518.73
Average annual expenses $8,200 .
Tuition receipts (82 students) 2,304.
Deficiency ..................................... $5,896.
\v-ruj_'> annual receipts from western lands the last four years, about
$ii.OOO. -ubjiM-t t< lari;- 'Ir.lnH i< >n- f..i .-\p-n-r< of < oll.vt ion.
The Committee recommended :
1. That tin- ju.li.Mii.-iit in \\ak<- Court be collected and applied to the
Le Gonli- il'ht ami that to the Faculty.
2. The Cape 1 n I '.auk will accept their own stock at 80 per cent. It
18 reconuiM-nli-<i that payment In- made in ttn^ manner
That 5 shares of Cape Fear stock be sold at not less than 76 cents
in the dollar and proceeds applied to the U. S. Bank debt.
\ Ih.n L'li ihftTet Oi BUti Hank -to.-k w paid to that H.mk at 75
cento, if tlo-y will be received at that j.n.-.-. which is probable.
5. That 2f> shares of Cape Fear Bank stock be sold at not less th.m
to in th.- dollar and the proceeds paid to the State Bank.
328 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
6. As the value of Bank of Newbern stock is uncertain, none should be
sold at present.
7. After these payments the debts will be as follows:
To the Bank of Newbern $6,978. 12
To the U. S. Bank, about 3,682 . 26
To the State Bank . 13,849 . 24
Total $24,509.62
And the Trustees will have 241 shares of Newbern Bank stock. Esti-
mating this at 60 cents in the dollar, its supposed value, the University
will owe about $10,000. Probably this might be paid by receipts of
western lands in two or three years, but it is not certain thai the l^anks
will wait so long. Besides, nearly $6,000 annual deficiency in the sal-
aries of the Faculty will be due.
The Committee therefore recommended that the General As-
sembly be memorialized for aid until the lands in Tennessee
can be sold.
The report was concurred in, and Messrs. Ruffin, Cameron,
and Gaston were appointed to prepare and present the special
memorial to the Legislature as was recommended. It was
drawn by Chief Justice Ruffin, and, like his writings generally,
is very thorough, strong, and comprehensive. It sketched the
action by the Legislature towards the University from 1789,
and showed that the only grant then of value that was available
for its support arose from the Tennessee lands, which came
from the escheated warrants vested in the institution. Accord-
ing to the last report of the agent, there were 106,051 acres,
including the 20,000 acres given by Governor Smith and about
9,000 acres by Major Gerrard. Sales had been made and bonds
taken to the amount of $71,081.24. It was deemed unwise to
press the sales of more lands or the collection of these bonds at
present, because of the financial condition of the country, and
because the lapse of time is strengthening the University titles,
which so many are ready to attack or weaken in courts and in
the Legislature. The value of the unsold lands was estimated
eight years ago at $240,642, but that is probably high.
The actual cost of the buildings belonging to the University
was $95,537.41, besides annual outlays for repairs. The Library
REPORT OF COMMITTEE. 329
and apparatus cost about $10,000, and are still worth about that
sum. Part of the debt arose from the necessity of providing
accommodations for the large number of students, from 150 to
200, whose health was endangered by overcrowding. The
money was borrowed from banks in which the University cwned
stock to tin* amount of $37,500, for which par was paid. The
total debt amounted to $37,518.73. We now see that the stock
should have been sold, instead of contracting loans on pledge of
the same, but no one could foresee the rapid decline in its mar-
ket value, and in the dividends. The most careful and astute
investors, and successive Legislatures, made the same blunder.
By the sales of stock at 75 and 80 recently ordered by the Board,
the debt has been reduced to $20,124.55. The Treasurer has on
hand $3.143.-'! . but of that, $2,790 is payable to the Faculty for
their salaries. There remains 241 shares in the Bank of New-
bern, but they have no market value, and the bank is not paying
dividends.
With ample resources in prospect, the actual income is nearly
r.oth n^. The tuition fees have been fixed at $30 per annum,
so as to meet the wants of people of limited means. At the
enlargement of the institution, nearly 200 students paid an
amount sufficient to meet the annual expenses. From various
CHUM'-, ehiefly the general distress for money, and the erection
"t well-endowed colleges and schools, the number is diminished
to alxnit So. The Faculty consists of a President at a salar
>ur Professors at $1,400 each, and two Tutors at $400
each. The expenses may be stated as follow-:
<>f the F;i,-nty ............................. $7,360.
! roasurer, SupcrintondMH ;nnl iix-iilrnluK 840.
Tnt.>i.-i i|.., n th- '.-1.1 1,207.47
FoUl $9,407.47
l.'.hi.-i |.i..l:il>li> luiti'in tW, ' 100.
lMi.it .. $7,007.47
If the State will assume the deht t.. the hanks. tlu- deficit will
He $5,800.
Tlir Trustees have no nir.ms now available* for meeting this
330 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAKUUNA.
alarming deficiency. It would not comport with the dignity of
the State to ask individuals to support a public institution, nor
would such an appeal be successful. The Faculty cannot be
reduced without seriously impairing the efficiency of the instruc-
tion and the prestige of the institution. "By a slight exertion
of the fostering care of the Legislature, this Institution, de-
manded as well by the wishes as the welfare of the people, may
be revived. In the course of three or four years at the f urther-
est, the decision as to its right to escheated land in Tennessee
will be rendered. If favorable, the prosperity of the University
will be fixed beyond the reach of mischance. If unfavorable, it
must be, like the colleges of some of our sister States, wholly
dependent on annual appropriations, or close its doors."
The memorialists venture to suggest that the General Assem-
bly shall pay the debt, and in addition grant a small appropria-
tion for three or four years, or else apply some of the bank stuck
owned by the State to the extinction of the debt. If neither
plan meets with favor, "it may then be considered, whether it be
wise and politic that the public should suffer its own child and
favorite Seminary to be overwhelmed by the interest accruing
on this large debt whilst a Literary Fund of a greater amount
is lying in the vaults of the Treasury, or deposited in the banks
for their own use and emolument." It is suggested that a lean.
without interest, be granted from this Fund, enough to dis-
charge the debt, say $21,000, and in addition for three or four
years supply the deficiency in the annual receipts heretofore
mentioned. But the Trustees will be compelled to accept a
loan even on the most disadvantageous terms, as they cannot
meet the interest on their debt, much less the instalments re-
quired by the Act of 1829 to be paid."
As Chief Justice Ruffin was considered one of the ablest law-
yers, not only in this State, but in the Union, I give in his own
language his opinion of the value of higher education.
"Your memorialists refrain from indulging in extended re-
flections, though obviously growing out of the occasion, upon
the vast importance of education ; its influence upon individual
happiness; its tendency to enlighten and purify the mind; to
chasten and correct the evil passions and propensities of our
MEMORIAL TO LEGISLATURE. 331
nature, and soften the affections ; to enlarge the sphere of human
action and promote enterprise and the arts ; multiply useful men
and increase their capacity for usefulness ; and in a popular
eminent to inform the community at large, and dispose them
to cherish, and qualify them to defend, their free institutions.
All these considerations address themselves so powerfully and
directly to the understanding, that every man, and much more
every member of your honorable body, must estimate its im-
portance highly. In North Carolina every person, who is rid
enough to remember when the University was not, must have
observed, and cannot but testify to the effects most salutary of
stablishment."
The memorial then shows that the I'niversity bad gradmied
more than 460 of her sons, and about the same number had
attended her instruction without waiting to obtain degrees.
"These seven or eight hundred alumni now fill with honor to
themselves and to the College, and with usefulness to their
country, most of her posts of distinction, trust, labor and re -
sibility. in her Legislatures, her Judiciary, her professions,
her schools, besides adding greatly to the mass of general in-
formation caught from them in the intercourse of Society and
diffused through the body of our citizens. Many, who have
.lit employment and homes in distant sections of the Union,
make us favorably known in sister States, adorn our character
and their own. and. cherishing a grateful memory of the land
of their birth, thank <*,od, that though they do not live in North
Carolina, they were born on her soil, and were educated under
her pat n ma-
Then follows a panegyric on the Professors and Tutors.
"They are able teachers, -liscreet governors, and kind friends of
their pupils." The praises of Dr. Caldwell are so peculiarly
adulatory as t. Mi^est that, in the opinion of the Chief Justice,
the recently earned popularity ..f the I^MM! I ftoctor, "ii aCCOIinl
bis Carlton letter-, falling in with the general enthusiasm for
building railroads, would win r the in-iitir
hieh be was well iii-b the per- .nifical ion. After a glow-
ing tribute to his rliaracter and pre einiiu arn-
332 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
ing, piety, to his qualifications eminently suited and always equal
to his responsible station, to his enthusiasm for education, and
the love and respect of his pupils, to his repeated refusals of
more lucrative positions elsewhere, it is added, "The mind
revolts from the thought that this venerable and venerated
Apostle of Science and Virtue, should in the natural life of his
frail body survive the child of his mental labors for thirty-four
years, that he should now be compelled to abandon the scenes
of his studies and usefulness through such a long course of
time, and seek another abode, after witnessing the downfall and
ruin of that institution, which has thus engaged his individual
attention and from which he has shed abroad through the land
the lights of knowledge, of science, social duty, public virtue,
private probity, and Christian piety."
Tin- memorial was adopted, and Governor Owen, as Presi-
dent of the Board, was requested to communicate it to the Gen-
eral Assembly. Messrs. Cameron, Henry, and Saunders were,
appointed to confer with the Select Joint Committee of the
General Assembly, with full power to act in place of the Board
in -vgard to financial relief.
I now give the action of the General Assembly. The part
of tin- Governor's message transmitting the memorial of the
Trustees, was in the Senate referred to a select committee, con-
sisting of Senators Speight, Askew, Hill, Jones, Ward, Kerr,
McKay, and Williams of Franklin. This committee, on De-
cember 24, 1830, made its report, accompanied by a bill without
the second provision hereinafter recited, giving the Legislature
full power over the University charter, property and instruction.
That was inserted on motion of James J. McKay, Senator from
Bladen, afterwards Representative in Congress, a Jeffersonian
Democrat, who probably had constitutional scruples about the
State's aiding any institution not under its entire control. The
amendment was adopted by a vote of 35 against 26, those who
voted in the negative being more ardent friends of the Univer-
sity. The names of these minority Senators were George O.
Askew of Bertie, David W. Borden of Carteret, Abraham
Brower of Randolph, Pinckney Caldwell of Iredell, Samuel
Davenport of Washington, John M. Dick of Guilford, Edward
VOTE ON STATE AID. 333
C. Graves of Sampson, John Hill of Stokes, Edmund Jones of
Wilkes, Jonathan Lindsay of Currituck, Clement Marshall of
Anson, Wm. B. Meares of New Hanover, Stephen Miller of
Duplin, Wm. Montgomery of Orange, Wm. D. Mosejy of
Lenoir, Caleb Perkins of Camden, Joseph Ramsey of Chatham,
Richard Dobbs Spaight of Craven, Gabriel Sherard of Wayne,
Henry Skinner of Perquimans, Wm. M. Sneed of Granville,
Robert Vanhook of Person, Edward Ward of Onslow, Wm. P.
Williams of Franklin, Hillory Wilder of Johnston, Louis D.
Wilson of Edgecombe.
After the adoption of the amendment, the bill passed the
Senate by a vote of 40 to 19, the peculiar friends of the Univer-
sity with the majority, except Senators Dick, Hill, Lindsay,
Marshall, Perkins, Ramsey, Sherard, Skinner, and Wilder.
Meares was absent. Of those who refused to accept the amend-
ment. Senators Dick, Meares, Spaight were alumni. One
alumnus, Charles L. Hinton of Wake, voted in favor of tin-
amendment. All the Senate Committee were against it except
McKay of Bladen and James Kerr of Caswell.
The bill passed the House by 70 to 48. It is evident that the
hostility of the Trustees was not foreseen, because we find with
the majority such friends of the University as Evan Alexander,
Daniel M. Barringer, John Bragg, Joseph A. Hill, Geo. C. Men-
denhall. Spencer O'Brien, Thomas McGehee, Council Wooten,
Jonathan Worth, John H. Wheeler, Richard Allison, l.artlett
Shipp. Or. Thomas Hill.
Thus in response to the eloquent, wise and feeling memorial
"f the T -lie General Assembly fed its child with a stone
of striking angularity and hardness. The Literary Hoard was
required to lend the rniversity $25,000 for live years, with
'in date, on tin following conditi<
First, that the sum loaned should be a lien >n all the Univer-
sity pn.p.-rty. real and personal, in i n and to be ac-
quired. Tin- Trustee^ should signify in writing their assent
to this lien.
Second, the Trustees must a-ree that the Legislature might
r modify or alter the charter .f the institution, so as to
ne to th<- State its management, and the possession and
osition of all pn ; |] and
334 TH ^ UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Third, the Trustees must discharge all debts having a lien on
University property out of the proceeds of this loan.
At that time it was thought that the University was pro-
tected by the decision of the United States Supreme Court in
Dartmouth College vs. Woodward, against the encroachments
of the Legislature without the consent of the Trustees. At this
day, however, under the State's constitutions of 1868 and 1876,
and the decisions of the Circuit Court of the United States and
of this State in analogous cases, it is settled that the Univer-
sity is a State institution under legislative control. The Trus-
tees of 1831, indignant at being called on to turn over the
University to the Legislature, and encouraged by a prospective
remittance of $7,500 from Tennessee, unanimously rejected the
loan. For immediate needs they borrowed $4,000 from the
I ' ranch Bank of the United States at Fayetteville.
Such was the pressure of the debt, that Col. Polk and Messrs.
James Alebane and James Webb, were appointed a committee
to offer for sale the unimproved lands of the University around
Chapel Hill, if this had been done we would now have blasted
rocky old fields in the place of our beautiful forest with all
the purchase-money i;one. A small sum was realized by the sale
of the Preparatory School Acre. The school had been closed
for over ten years.
An abortive effort was made to obtain funds by subscription
for finishing the new Chapel, begun years before. A committee
was raised, but no funds.
THE OBSERVATORY.
President Caldwell had always been fond of the Science of
Astronomy. It was on this account that, in 1813, as I have
shown, he was called on to be the scientific expert on the part
of North Carolina in running the South Carolina boundary
line. He built on the top of his dwelling a platform, on which
he would take the Seniors in squads of three and four, and
point out to them the heavenly bodies. He erected in his gar-
den a sun dial, which stood until the invasion of the Federal
cavalry. He also built two pillars, still standing, covered with
vines, their eastern and western faces accurately showing the
true Xorth and south line in his dav.
OKSKKX ATORY. 335
In 1830 he determined to erect a building in which he could
use the astronomical instruments bought by him in London.
It was finished in 1831, and he is thus entitled to the credit of
inaugurating the first observatory connected with an institution
of learning- in America, that of Professor Hopkins at Williams
College being in 1836. Dr. Caldwell's building was on the
highest summit of a hill north of the Raleigh road, near the
village graveyard. The structure was about twenty feet square,
without a portico or entry hall, and with a window in each of
its eastern and western faces. Through the center was a pillar
of masonry on its own foundation, and on a circular disk on the
top was the Altitude and Azimuth instrument. A slit through
the northern and southern faces and through the flat top afforded
a range of 180 degrees for the Transit. The Altitude and
Azimuth Telescope stood on a circular disk of sandstone, which
capped the pillar. It was protected from the weather by a
wooden structure, drawn backwards and forwards on a railway
by a windlass and rope. The adjacent trees were felled so as to
command a view of the horizon. The instruments used were a
Meridian Transit Telescope, made by Simms of London, an
Altitude and A/.imnth Telescope, also by Simms. a Telescope
for observations on the eartli and sky. 1 )olland of London, an
\stronomical clock, with a Mercurial Pendulum, by Molineux.
Besides these, whicli wen- stationary, there were a sextant, by
Wilkinson of London, a portable Reflecting Circle, by Harris of
London, and a Hartley's quadrant. \Yith the Astronomical
clock and the Transit. President Caldwell, assisted by IV
Mitchell and Phillips, obtained the longitude and latitude
of the South Building. ;<> 17' \V. and 35 54' j i " NT, Thi<
calculation was made in the mathematical room in the South
Building in tin- srcnd story opposite the well.
< >|>srrvati< >ns \\crc made bv President Caldwell and Dr.
Mitchell and the older Dr. Phillips- for the longitude and lati
tude of various places. , ,n KrlipM-s and on Comets and other
al phenoiin-i!. lost.
This institution had a short life. The building WE5 pf bad
materials and fell rapidl After the death of
'well it became i ibe instruments. In
336 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
1838 the building was destroyed by fire, tradition says, kindled
by a student. The sound bricks were used to build a kitchen
for President Swain on the lot next to the Episcopal Church.
The site of the old Observatory is easily recognized by the
fragmentary bats and the cedars clustering around the shrunken
basement.
President Caldwell, while he was averse to debt and kept free
from it, had no propensity to accumulate money. He built the
Observatory out of his own funds, at a cost of $430.29^. The
Trustees, however, reimbursed him a few days before his death.
After removal from the Observatory, most of the instruments
were for years unused. Dr. James Phillips and his son, Dr.
Charles, thought that the interior of the dust-covered telescope
was a safe place for hiding valuables from the incoming Federal
soldiers. They accordingly deposited their watches within its
recesses. They underestimated the keen-eyed seekers for hid-
den treasures. But the commanding officer was in love with
the President's daughter, and forced the lucky finders to dis-
gorge.
MRS. ROYAU
In this period an American woman, said to have lived among
the Indians as a captive, coarse and ignorant, Mrs. Anne Royall
by name, was the authoress of "Sketches of History. UtY. Man-
ners, in the United States, by a Traveller." In 1830 was pub-
lished her "Southern Tour, or Second Series of the Black
Book." She visited Chapel Hill the preceding year and evi-
dently was avoided by the Faculty ladies, as her pen was dipped
into gall when she wrote of her visit. Her first impression was
unpleasant, as the inn keeper's lady met her with the question,
"have you no man with you ?" The Univeristy, she said, was
in a most delightful situation, sitting upon an eminence, in the
midst of a handsome grove, but, to the disgrace of the State, is
under the influence of a woman, the President's wife. She is
ruled by priests, the priests are ruled by money, and she rules
the University. The institution, which cost so much money, is
under the dominion of "these she wild cats, a Priest loving
woman, fleecing the last cent of pocket money from the innocent,
unsuspecting young men. Meantime they are ruled by a rod of
MRS. ROYALS. 337
iron by this she wolf. Not a step dare the hen-pecked Presi-
dent take without apprising this tyrannical woman." As Mrs.
Royall was leaving Chapel Hill, a tall, genteel young man
stepped into the stage. He had been dismissed, she said, for
"smiling in church." The students, fine, manly looking young
men, came to take leave of the dismissed man. In the opinion
Irs. Royall, he deserved a statue, and "so would any man
who would raise his voice against such hypocrites and besotted
fools." "This young gentleman possessed more virtue and
honor than the whole posse of the Faculty, with Madam Presi-
dent to boot."
The truth is, that the student was dismissed for bad behaviour
at the preaching in the village chapel on Sunday night, before
the arrival of the preacher. There was much noise, vocifera-
tion, laughter, and tumult. "The house was turned into a scene
of wild riot." After the arrival of a member of the Faculty, he
persisted in ill-behaviour, conspicuously disregarding the order
of the place, was directed to leave the house, but refused to obey.
On the next morning at Prayers he interrupted the prayer by
scraping with his feet. He had repeatedly been guilty of dis-
order, and had incurred the censure of the Faculty.
Mrs. Royall was either a malicious, untruthful woman. or
demented. Mrs. Caldwell was a woman of talent, of polished
manners, and excellent heart. She naturally dominated and
tone to the village society, but her husband was distin-
guished for his independence of character and inflexible will.
Neither she nor any other human influence could dominate or
lead him. T quote from the bitterness of thr slighted vanity of
Mr>. Royall. because, although lon^- a^c consigned to oblivion.
her l>ook was once the theme of amused conversation. 11
vitriolic satire on Chapel Hill ladies is really a lii^li trihn 1
their conservative feminine virtues. \ot..ri<t\ M-ckm-. "man
females could get no o>unU-n;r them.
After leaving North Carolina, Mr^ I\\a11 sojourned in
Washington City, \\hm- 1 in writing vitupei
bool 1 a "Paul Pry" new full of scandal
-d and convicted .|" the crime of beii
he was sentence
22
33^ THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
tin- old common law punishment of being ducked in the Poto-
mac, but, modern ideas being against the infliction of this primi-
tive rough penalty on a woman, the Court was induced to sub-
stitute a pecuniary fine.
At the Commencement of 1831, the Freshman competitors
were Julius C. S. Bracken, of Caswell County ; Thomas Pollock
Burgwyn, of Craven County; William H. R. Wood, of Ala-
bama; Thomas G. Haughton, of Edenton; Pleasant Buchanan,
of Alabama ; James B. Shepard, of Craven ; John Gray Bynum,
of Stokes County; Addi Edwin Donnel Thorn, of Greensboro.
For Tuesday evening the Declaimers were' James N. Neal,
of Chatham ; William H. Owen, of Oxford ; William N. Me-
bane, Greensboro; Julian E. Sawyer, Elizabeth City; Thomas
L. Clingman, of Surry County ; Thomas W. Harris, of Halifax ;
John H. Haughton, of Tyrrell County; James R. Holt, of
Orange.
Of the Class of 1831, numbering 15, the best in scholarship
was John DeBerniere Hooper, who spoke the Latin. The
Valedictory was the next highest, by Calvin Jones, of Temu>
see. Next to him was Jacob Thompson. His subject was, "in-
ducements to the men of talents to improve their powers."
Then was Lemuel B. Powell, who spoke on "National Pride" ;
then Giles Mebane, on the Most Effectual Means of Promoting
National Wealth, and Thomas J. Pitchford, on the Advantages
Derived from the Study of Natural History. Then came John
L. Hargrove, on the Influence of America on the Future of
Europe ; James O. Stedman, on Christianity as a Civilizer ; John
H. Haughton, on Christianity and Civil Liberty; Thomas F.
Jones, on the Intellect of the North American Indians ; Samuel
B. Stephens, on the Fine Arts ; and Thomas P. Armstrong, on
the great question, "Ought the Legislature to Provide for Public
Liberal Education ?'' ; Samuel S. Biddle, on the effect of multi-
plying Coll'eges on Education ; Michael W. Holt, on the Com-
munity of Interests between North and South American Re-
publics. After this, the following subjects were debated: "Is
the Salic law correct in principle and practice?", by Charles C.
Wilson and Thomas W. Harris ; "Are Honorary Distinctions in
College expedient?", by Stephen S. Sorsby and Thomas E. Tay-
1NST1TUT1-; OK EDUCATION.
lor; "Is the character of the Athenians or Spartans more
worthy of admiration?", by George Hairston and Thomas E.
Taylor; "Can a Christian properly become a Soldier by pro-
fession ?", by Thomas W. Harris and Rufus M. Roseborough ;
"Would it be expedient for the United States to employ Ex-
ploring Expeditions for the advancement of Science?", by
Thomas B. Hill and Richard H. Smith; "Is National Calumny
properly an Occasion of War by the Law of Nations ?", Cadwal-
lader Jones, Stephen S. Sorsby and Samuel A. Williams.
These are the most pretentious Commencement Day exercises
on record. All had places on the programme except Doak and
('.rant, probably absent. Some spoke twice, as seen above.
The honor men did well in after life. Hooper was Tutor and
then Professor successively of Latin, of Modern Languages,
and of Greek and French in the University. Jones was a Pro-
fessor in the University of Alabama and Chancellor of West
Tennessee. Thompson was Tutor, lawyer, Congressman from
.Mississippi, Governor, Secretary of the Interior, Inspector-Gen-
eral of the Confederate States. Powell was a physician of repu-
tation. Giles Mebane was an able and upright member of the
^slature. President of the Senate; Thomas J. Pitchford a
prominent physician and State Senator.
Amon- other strong men was James Grant, a Judge of the
Superior Court of Iowa and a benefactor of the University.
The only honorary degree was that of Master of Arts, con-
ferred .in John Tate, of North Carolina.
The ( 'ration before the two Societies was delivered by !\< \.
\Vm. M Rector of the Episcopal Church in Hills-
. of the Dialectic Society, a ^rarhiate of iSiS.
NORTH CAROLINA INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION.
During the week, on the 22d of June. 1831, an origan:
made of ilu- frirn<N of education into an association railed
"The North Carolina Institute of Kdncation." A oonstitir
and hy-laws \\viv adopted on motion . -nin M. Smit!
Milton, who n j n a highly
interesting and a] >r Sinim- I ikor.
' fartin. \va* nnanim-.n^lv elected i t. and \Vm.
34O T11E UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Pheeters, D.D., of Raleigh, Rev. Wm. M. Green, and Hon.
Frederick Nash, of Hillsboro, Vice-Presidents. Dr. Walter A.
Norwood, of Hillsboro, was Recording Secretary, and Mr. Wm.
J. Bingham, Corresponding Secretary. The Executive Com-
mittee were Professors Mitchell, Wm. Hooper, and James
Phillips of the University. The Committee met and elected
Hon. Alfred Moore, of Orange, Orator for 1832.
Lectures* were appointed to be given at the Commencement
of 1832, as follows : On Imperfections in "Teaching in Primary
Schools," by Prof. Wm. Hooper ; on "Elocution, with Particu-
lar Reference to Reading," by H. S. Ellenwood, of Hillsboro ;
on "Lyceums and Similar Institutions," by James D. Johnson,
of Oxford. The subject selected for discussion was, "The Pe-
riod Necessary for Preparing for College."
The Corresponding Secretary was directed to obtain for the
Institute the "Annals of Education," and five copies of the
"Kducational Reporter," afterwards reduced to one copy.
TK.M i-KRANCE SOCIETY I)K. MnviiKi.i.'s ADDKKSS.
In the summer of 1829, some of the students formed them-
selves into a Temperance Society. It had a marked effect in
causing a decline in the drinking of spirituous liquors. In
1831, Professor Mitchell delivered a very able discourse before
the University at the request of the Society. It was printed,
and the strength of his argument and the excellence of the sty It-
extended the reputation of the speaker. By the kindness of a
friend, I have a copy, and quote a few sentences which vividly
portray the downward career of the drunkard.
"It seems hardly necessary to state in detail how fatal are
habits of Intemperance to the poor wretch who has become their
victim. Standing perhaps high in the society of which he is a
member, he finds the respect with which an antecedent life of
virtue, temperance, and integrity have been rewarded, passing
silently away, like the snows of spring beneath the influence of
the sun. The old, whose conduct used to show how highly
they prized his friendship, and the young, who were once so
eager to exhibit evidence of their esteem and regard, now ;
WOKS OF A PRl'NKARP. 341
him by without more than a cold and distant salutation. His
opinions no longer have the same weight in cases of doubt and
perplexity. His neighbors think that a cloud has settled down
upon his judgment, and darkened that mental eye once so clear
and keen. * * * His affairs are involved in confusion and
disorder, and either his schemes are not laid with his usual
:ity, or the turns of accident or misfortune are very much
against him. He finds that he has lost a portion of his power
for both physical and mental exertion. His family appear
melancholy and dejected, and it is in vain that he wakes up all
\ it and tries to revive their drooping spirit. They used to
meet him when he returned from a distance with countenances
lighted up with smiles and welcome home the protector, hus-
band, friend, and father. But the time comes at length when
his wife and children no longer rejoice at his return, but, as he
approaches they stand silent; their hearts wrung with unuttered
sorrow, and turn away their eyes and refuse to look upon the
ruin and degradation of what was once so venerable and lovely.
Oh, if there be one thing beneath the circuit of the sky. of which
there is any hope that it will awaken the strong U-elin--
nattire that are either asleep or dead within him, and rouse him
to one last despairing effort to shake off his chains and regain
his freedom, it is that distress of his family. I'.ut often, as we
know, even that is unavailing. The voice of the strong appe-
tite he has created is stronger than the voice of nature, and the
mansion that has hitherto been the abode of love and |u
the very scene of his excesses, and when bis brain is
'd to frenzy, the arm of violence is perhaps raised against a
woman the wife of bis bosom, or against those childivn. who
Id be the object of his tendcn-st 1<,\v. I'nt why pursue
the melancholy story, the particulars ,,f which, from the unhappy
ioncv of their occurr* but too well kn>wn to us all ?
\Vliy speak of the ruin of h : s credit, 'be wasting of hi^ prop-
the quarrels (with hU best friend-, too.) into which be is
. when petulant and ill-natured through the effect of
tion '" 1 1 lire from hi
'iMVjlli forsakr him. His estate is squandered, and his
children .dth that should ba\ down to
342 THE; UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAKOUNA.
them from their ancestors, is intercepted in its descent by the
author of their being, whom the law of nature that binds even
the brute creation, required to be their friend and protector),
are driven away to seek their fortune in some foreign land or
distant shore.
"The poor wretch himself feels at length the access of those
diseases, of which he has so long been sowing the seeds. The
poison he has for years been taking into his system operates
decisively. He sinks beneath a complicated load of disorders
and infirmities shall I say into a late or an early grave?. An
early grave, inasmuch as he has but just reached the age when
the sober and temperate part of mankind are in their prime a
late one also, for he has long si no ceased to IK- useful in the
world, and ceased therefore to execute the office for which God
created him, and for which his life was prolonged fn m day to
day."
"If the youth of a country be neglected, no matter what may
be its physical advantages, or the form of its government, its
soil may be fertile as the border of tin- Nile, its government
monarchical, aristocratical, or democratical, as you choose, that
country, taken as a whole, will be poor and wretched. * * *
We may borrow the pen of Draco, and write the statute book
from end to end in letters of blood ; we may crown the summit
of every mountain and hill with a gibbet and a prison amidst
all that apparatus of law and justice, vice will present herself
with a bold and unblushing countenance in the most public
places, and laugh the lawgiver and judge to scorn."
"The moral and religious education of the children of the
drunkard must be miserably neglected. How will he dare to
assemble his children about him to unfold and explain to them
the distinctions between good and evil, vice and virtue, with
their eternal sanctions recommend the one and warn them to
avoid the other he whose conduct is an open violation of the
laws and morality and religion every day he lives?"
"The mind in ancient days did not demand the application of
stimulants more than the body. The orators of Greece and
Rome needed not those aids to eloquence, which our modern
statesmen and declaimers employ. To the poet, the fervor of
his own bosom to the philosopher the regular and natural op-
Till-; DROMGOOLE MYTH. 343
eration of his own vigorous and unclouded mind, were fully
sufficient for the production of those masterpieces of taste and
wisdom which have been the admiration of every following age.
The lips of Moses, the Jewish lawgiver of David, the sweet
.jer of Israel of the holy and sublime Isaiah of the Re-
deemer of mankind, were never polluted by the products of
distillation."
These extracts are given because Professor Mitchell is known
in have been a many-sided man in science, but it is less known
that he possessed no little literary ability. As said elsewhere,
his reputation as a writer of sermons and addresses was ob-
scured by his monotonous and awkward delivery. It is worthy
of notice that he believed that the ancients did not use did not
know how to make distilled spirits, that the "strong drinks"
mentioned in the Bible, meant the products of simple fermen-
tation from honey, grain and substances other than grapes, and
neither "wine" nor strong drink were much stronger than
cider or ale. He states that our whiskey, brandy and other
liquors did not influence the morals and happiness of man-
kind earlier than the end of the reign of James I. of England.
THE DROMCOOLE MYTH.
There is a notable tradition dating from this year. Peter
Dromgoole of Virginia came to enter the University in 1831.
He was fond of card-playing and of wild company. He
;t matriculate. He took offence at a remark of one of the
professors and refused to submit to further examination. After
a few days he disappeared and was never heard of afterwards.
A story was started that he was killed in a duel and his body
fully concealed. His uncle, Hon. George C. Dromgoole,
one of our alumni, an able lawyer, came to Chapel Hill and for
weeks investigated the case. It is said that lie wafl satisfied
thai there was no truth in the rumor. The room-mate of Peter,
ry reputable man, Mr. John r,uxtm \Yilliamx <-f Warren
County, in a letter to the press, Mated that he never heard of
-inr into a quarrel, and that IK i Chapel
Hill in a public stage. I conclude ihat In -haincd t-
nnicycd to what was then the turbulent Southwest, and
344 Tl1 ^ UMV1CKSITY OF NORTH CAROUNA.
was killed in a brawl or assassinated. A modern tradition
originating within my knowledge places the scene of his fatal
duel on Piney Prospect, and asserts that he was buried under
a rounded rock on its summit. Certain stains of iron in the
rock are pointed out as drops of his blood, and a still later
story is that his sweetheart, Miss Fanny, hurried to stop the
combat, arrived too late, went into rapid loss of reason and
health, and was buried by his side. The spring at the base of
the hill, where the lovers are said to have sat and cooed, bears
the name of Miss Fanny's Spring. This last story is embodied
in a short poem of merit by Mr. L. B. Hamberlin, an Instructor
of Expression in this University, and that of Texas, and pub-
lished in our University Magazine of 1892.
The persistency of belief in student circles in the Dromgoole
legend and its accretions throws light on the growth of similar
legends elsewhere and in the times of old. It doubtless sug-
gested to Edwin Fuller in his novel of Sea-Gift to create a
fatal duel in which De Vare was killed. Some credulous young
people unblushingly avow their belief that the rains and snows
of three-quarters of a century have not washed out Dromgoole's
1 spots on a rounded granite rock.
G ASTON 's ADDRESS.
At the Commencement of 1832 the address before the two
Societies was delivered by Hon. William Gaston, chosen by the
Philanthropic Society. It met with public favor to a most ex-
traordinary degree. It ran through four editions, the first of
5,000, published by the Philanthropic Society, a second shortly
afterwards by LaGrange College, Alabama, a third by Mr.
Thomas W. Whyte at Richmond, Virginia, with a strong com-
mendation by Chief Justice Marshall. It was also published in
part in various periodicals and entire in the North Carolina
University Magazine of 1844. To satisfy the popular demand,
the two Societies in 1849 jointly issued a new edition.
It is remarkable that when the public mind was inflamed pecu-
liarly on account of the bloody insurrection of Nat Turner in the
preceding: year the orator should have frankly avowed himself
an advocate of the ultimate abolition of slavery, and that the
COMMENCEMENT OF 1832. 345
audience cheered the utterance. "Disguise the truth as we
may," he said, ''and throw the blame where we will, it is Slav-
ery which, more than any other cause, keeps us back in the
career of improvement. It stifles industry and represses en-
terprise it is fatal to economy and providence it discourages
skill it impairs our strength as a community, and poisons
morals at the fountain head." This bold language did not
weaken his standing in the State. Six months afterwards,
although a Roman Catholic, and the Constitution contained a
clause inhibiting men of that faith from holding office, he \V;IN.
by the General Assembly, elected a Supreme Court Judge. He
accepted the office, being persuaded that the clause was con-
trary to the Declaration of Rights and therefore void. One
cause of the popularity of the address was the eloquent denun-
ciation of Disunion and praise of the Constitution, at a time
when South Carolina threatened Nullification and many openly
advocated Secession.
The Graduating Class had 36 members and was notable for
merit. The honors were as follows : The best, Thomas L.
Clingman, who had the Latin Salutatory. Next, John Hay-
wood Parker, who had the Valedictory. Thomas S. Ashe,
speaking on the Application of Steam to the Arts, being third.
and James C. Dobbin, on Mental Philosophy, being fourth.
As a rule, the members were successful in after life. Of the
honor men, Clingman was a Representative in Congress, and a
Senator, also prominent in State legislation. He was. more-
over, a Brigadier General of the Confederate States. Parker
an Episcopal clergyman of power; Ashe \va< a Senator
of the Confederate States and Justice of the Supreme Court of
this State. Dobbin was an able member of the State Legisla-
ture ami Secretary of the Navy. To this clftftfl l.el. >iu;e.l Rich-
ard PI. Smith, a sound lawyer, wise memher of the Legislature,
and Delegate to the General Conventions of the Kpi^ropal
Church: Cadwallader Jones, S"1iV : tor for his Circuit ami C
nrl in the Confederate army, and John II. Hamilton, a verv able
lawyer, ami efficient in the (Vneral Weniblv in ^liapMi--; the
n of thr St.v
\imm,r the non-i;ra<lna' n'nent physician. \Yni. F.
346 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Strudwick, of Hillsboro. Of the matriculates of 1832, Charles
G. Nelms, of Anson County, after reaching the rank of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel, lost his life in the Civil War.
The honorary degree of Master of Arts was granted to Rev.
Jarvis Barry Buxton, Rector of the Episcopal Church of Fay-
etteville, and Rev. Samuel Lyle Graham, of Virginia.
The second meeting of the North Carolina Institute of Edu-
cation was on June 19, 1832. Mr. Alfred Moore delivered the
Annual Address according to appointment. Rev. Dr. Win.
McPheeters and Messrs. Wm. Hooper and Wm. J. Bingham
were appointed a Committee to report on questions and sub-
jects for the next Commencement. Mr. James Grant, after-
wards Judge Grant of Iowa, moved that a Committee be ap-
pointed to memorialize the Legislature on the subject of Popu-
lar Education. The motion was carried, and Wm. Gast<>n.
Frederick Nash and David L. Swain were appointed.
The Institute adjourned until 3 o'clock, at which time \\as
heard the lecture on Primary Schools by Prof. Wm. Hooper.
It met with such favor that it was published in pamphlet form.
He began by stating that good schools cannot abound in com-
munities where all are engaged in clearing and subduing new
lands. Then his first point was that the imperfections of our
schools were due to the circumstances of our youth, raised amid
active toil and hunting and fishing, and the slack discipline of
parents. He was noted for his numerous illustrations. I give
a sentence or two as showing this, and also the nicety of his
scholarship. "Will it be wonderful if a youth sent from do-
mestic indulgences, should find school ungrateful and accuse
his teachers of being cruel, that he should recite with mournful
recollections, and still sadder forebodings, that awful Greek
verb, tupto, to beat, particularly in the passive voice, tuptomai,
I am under beating now; etuptomen, I was under beating a
little while ago, and then the dismal future, tuphthesomai, I
shall be beaten but above all the tenses (denoting the immi-
nence of his dangers), tetupsomai, I shall be very soon beaten
again" He then argues for more severe training, praising the
father of John Adams, the President, who, when his son \vas
reluctant to learn Latin, put him to ditching as a punishment.
DR. HOOPERS IDEAS AI'.OUT SCHOOLS. 347
A second injury to improvement comes from the employment
of cheap teachers and want of proper valuation of superior men.
Due applause should be given to the superior schools.
The third cause of imperfection of primary schools is the
scarcity of able teachers. Among the deficiencies is the neglect
of the common rudiments of English education. Another is
the omission of the greater part of the classical course. A
third defect is the want of spirit and energy in imparting in-
struction. "The manner a schoolmaster should have is much of
the promptness, energy and decision of a military officer, giving
the word of command to a company of soldiers."
Another improvement in our schools would be the use of oral
lectures. Apparatus, maps, plans of sieges, etc., military en-
s, should be used ; for example, the line of march in one
of Caesar's campaigns in Gaul, the columns of the two armies,
and all the testudos, vincae and battering rams which were em-
ployed. The trustees of academies should provide such.
The proper construction of schoolhouses should be attended
u>. They should be built with an especial eye to the purposes
to which they are to be applied. Stoves should be provided
instead of fireplaces. He states, that the celebrated Round Hill
in Massachusetts, and the Newbern Academy in this State-
approach near to his beau ideal of a schoolroom. He then
describes what he considers the best with floor of brick laid
upon plank, to prevent noise, not omitting the small cell for
confining the unruly.
Professor Hooper then gives some hints on female education.
making the criticism that some seminaries attempt too much.
"The whole encyclopedia of knowledge is embraced in the list
Indies ; and the young lady, by the time she reaches her
: n danger of thinking her umarian. geographer.
lomer, chemi ;>aintn- and whatnot."
h a strong argument for the establishment of a
innry for the Edit !h>lintist t r.< "\Ve have M-mi
naries for training up physicians lawyer*; and divines; even
-lianics Irani their trades under that
t important ami difficult l>UMn< hi-.mng the int< '
moulding tli- "ion and wielding the na<cent dlCI
348 THE UNIVERSITY OF XoKTll CAROLINA.
those who are soon to be rulers of the world, is left to mere
accident, or falls to the lot of the most common and inexperi-
enced characters."
"We know not how many young persons have been ruined or
injured by unskillful management at "school."
The address shows that the author largely anticipated the
ideas now ruling the world of thought on the subject of educa-
tion.
In 1832, on the 2ist of June, the Institute of Education had
another meeting. The Committee on Addresses and Questions
for the meeting in 1833 made their report, which was adopted.
Joseph A. Hill, of Wilmington, was appointed to deliver the
Annual Address, James D. Johnston, of Oxford, to read a paper
i >n Lyceums, Rev. Frederick Nash, on A System of Elemen-
tary Schools for North Carolina, Walker Anderson on "Excit-
ing Emulation in Literary Institutions by Rewards and Dis-
tinctions."
PLEA FOR BALLS.
Those acquainted with college life are surprised at the in-
tensity of earnestness felt in this microcosm, miniature world,
over matters trivial in the estimation of those who move in the
greater world. An abstract of a petition to the Trustees in
J 833, signed by Christopher C. Battle, John H. Watson and
William P. Webb, written by Battle, will illustrate this. They
were a Committee appointed by a mass-meeting of students,
for the purpose of procuring from the Board of Trustees per-
mission to use a room in Steward's Hall for the Commencement
Ball. The petitioners are "sensibly touched with the delicacy
of presenting their petition at so early a peri. d ( X< .veniher 6th) ,
but, knowing not whether there will be another meeting of the
Trustees before Commencement, the strongest motives of policy
constrain their sending it in now, though stamped with the
impress of prematurity." The intellectual improvement and
gentlemanly accomplishments caused by dancing would justify
a special ball-room, and if the New Chapel were completed,
they would have asked permission to fit up the old Chapel for
the purpose at their own expense. It would be extreme pre-
sumption to argue the propriety of balls, since the Trustees
SOPHOMORIC KI.oorKXCK. 340,
"deduce conclusions from the wisdom of experience. 1 ' No
genius, however promising, can effect much in the present en-
lightened era, destitute of the polished accomplishments.
Since on this retired Hill of Science, we are precluded from
the improvement of Society, we feel an inevitable drawback
upon our literary acquirements. As balls greatly promote gen-
tility, acquiescence in the petition is earnestly asked for. Waiv-
ing all personal concern, wo strenuously advocate its principles
as promoting the best interests of the institution, as enhancing
the splendors of our Commencements, and as contributing much,
very much, to the gratification and pleasure of the adored Fair,
who honor us with their company on that universal jubilee."
The Trustees could not stand against such eloquence. The
Ball Managers in their gratification concluded to send special
invitations to all the great men in the State. Young Battle (a
brother of Judge Battle) wrote to the Governor, Swain, a per-
sonal letter, asking him to attend the Ball, "in order to give dig-
nity and stability" to it. The Governor replied, regretting that
lie could not attend, and suggested that "agility" would be more
needed than "stability." Battle was so afraid of this becoming
known to the students, that he made his colleague, Judge Webb.
promise to keep the correspondence secret, which he did faith-
fully until after their graduation.
In 1^33, Tutor John DeBerniere Hooper resigned his place
in order to bVcnme a teacher in the Episcopal School in Raleigh,
which had been inaugurated with great promise of usofulm- .
-which however for various causes failed a< a M-hool for 1
but afterwards as St. Mary's C.irls' Srho.il became a pOWCl
!. The Sophomore i which si
tin- strong hold the Tutor had on their admiration.. The ':>
of the Committee accompanying the resolutions is Mioh a char-
f the peculiar style which lias given the
name of Sophomorir to a <p, , tatory, that I quote
srntrnrr.. In truth. i'o In'xiorv of a I'nivorsity would ho com-
withont embalming a vj K rimen of sneb euphuism.
ran<lilo<|ueii' :v well .'
"In every day O m awful and ill-
sound in it. but when wr
350 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
to be parted, and perhaps forever, with one who has labored so
diligently for our present happiness and future aggrandisement,
and who, by his own example of piety and virtue, has also
pointed out to us the bright and glittering paths of morality,
we are constrained to transcend the usual cold formalities of
separation and bid you that word bearing in its aspect our true
expressions of grief in a valedictory letter." . . . "Now since
we are all in the glow of youth and health, and have ample
opportunity, let us take an affectionate and deep-impressioned
farewell, such a one as long-cherished friends take when they
part with the expectation of meeting no more on this side of
eternity. Working out the great course of Nature, some dire
pestilence may sweep across our country and fell you or us, and
perhaps both ; war and famine may hurry us into oblivion, or an
earthquake may submerge us; to part we must, and whether we
ever again shall meet is on the fluctuating tides of chance,
therefore let us part as convicts doomed to die, but not despair-
ing of hope. To the reckless and unthinking this may indeed
appear more the outward expressions of grief than the spontan-
eous emotions of sorrow-stricken hearts, but they should recol-
lect that we are about to bid adieu to him that has so honorably
conducted us through the Sophomore year, to him that has laid
the foundations of our future eminence, to him that has con-
nected the beauties of the scholar and the refinements of the
gentleman. It belongs alone to the viper to implant his fangs
in the bosom that warmed him, but to a man who is endowed
with the finer sensibilities of his God, it belongs to repay in a'
two-fold proportion every generous and benevolent action."
. . . "Now, iii all the emotions which the word naturally sug-
gests, we bid you an affectionate 'farewell.' In the name of
the whole class, 'farewell.' "
It was in 1833 that Messrs. Gaston and Badger gave the opin-
ion that the Board had the right to sell the "service tract" of
Maj. Charles Gerrard, at the mouth of Yellow Creek in Tennes-
see, notwithstanding the wish expressed in his will that it should
be retained by the University. Colonel Polk as attorney made
the sale, $6,400 for the 2,560 acres, and $2,000 of the proceeds
was voted to the finishing of the new Chapel. It was resolved.
UNIVERSITY ATTORNEYS. 351
that in order to manifest a grateful sense of the liberality of the
donor and perpetuate his memory of it, this building be forever
known as Gerrard Hall. Col. J. B. Killebrew, the late very in-
telligent ex- State Geologist of Tennessee, informed me that the
tract is not of especial fertility, and that the iron deposits once
reported to be in its limits are of little value.
In 1832 the list of attorneys for the University was revised.
On motion of Louis D. Henry the requirement of a bond was
dispensed with, as being unusual, and sometimes mischievous,
because excluding superior lawyers, who consider the require-
ment a reflection on their professional character. I give their
names as a 'matter of history. The numbers begin in the moun-
tain counties.
. Joshua Koberts ........................................................ Aslu-\ ill*-
_'. Anderson Mitchell ................................................... <tatcs\ illc
6rt H. I'.nrton .................................................. Lincolnton
\. Washington Morrison .......................................... Mecklenlnir'.:
">. ClfiiKMit Marshall ......................................................... Ans.n
'ohn M. Mick
7. John \V. Norwood
John l>. Kcrlrs .................................................... Fayi'tt'villr
.lohn 1). Hawkins .......................................... Franklin County
in. Thonia- 1'. |h-Yt-rMi\ .................................................. Ualndi
11. William I >. Mos.-ly ............................................ Lenoir County
I'J. Hanly L. Holmes ........................................................ Clinton
1::. Joseph A. Hill ..................................................... Wilmington
II. Matthias K. Manly .................................................. \-\\t>nn
I'.. r.*-nj. -I. Num.- .....................................................
Hi. Joseph K. IJoy.l ........................................................ Tariu.ro
17. John B, I lawk- ..................................................... Wash MIL' ton
.lohn I., liail.-y ................................. ! th Cit\
In the same year the Board sold at public auction their 243
the Bank of New Bern. The average price per share
63.10 i-J. the purchasers being Col. \Vm. Polk and Me-
John Snead and Alfred Jones. The purchase money, $15,-
208.56, was at once paid on the debts to the Bank of New Bern
aii.l the State Bank, leaving only $1,500 due the branch of the
of New Bern at Rale
352 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
REMOVAL TO RALEIGH.
Ex-Governor and ex-Senator Iredell, who had recently re-
moved from Edenton to Raleigh, moved that a committee of fif-
teen members be appointed to consider the expediency of trans-
ferring the University to the seat of government, one of the
committee at least to be from each Congressional District. The
President of the Board, Governor Swain, appointed the follow-
ing:
.lames Iredell Chairman
John 13. Baker ( Jatrs
Win. A. Blount Beaufort
John H. Bryan Craven
John Owen Bladen
William S. Kobanls ( iranvillc
John D. Toomer Cumberland
John M. Morcliead (iiiilford
John ( Jiles Hawaii
Wm. J. Alexander Mecklenburg
Thomas Love Hay wood
Lewis Williams Surry
James C. Johnston Chowan
While it is not known that this committee was favorable to
removal, it is certainly open to criticism that, with such wise
Orange County trustees to choose from as Judge Duncan Came-
ron, Dr. Joseph Caldwell, Judge Frederick Nash, James
Mebane, Dr. James Webb, Thomas D. Bennehan, Rev. Dr. John
Witherspoon, Alfred Moore, Judge Willie P. Mangum, Dr.
James S. Smith, John Scott, Hugh Waddell, all very active
friends of the University, their county, more interested than any
other, had no representative.
Most of the committee were often called on to visit Raleigh
on private or official business. . Owen and Robards had recently
resided there. Johnston was a relative of the chairman, Iredell,
and often visited him at his home in Raleigh. Four of them,
Dr. S. J. Baker, General Blount, Mr. Bryan and Mr. Henry,
removed to the capitol, and Dr. J. B. Baker was a relative of Dr.
S. J. Baker. Although a majority of these trustees might have
been expected to favor removal, the committee in December,
1833, reported that it was inexpedient at that time. Notice was
COMMENCEMENT OF 1833. 353
given that it would be called up at the next meeting, but the
measure slept forever.
There was a spirited discussion of this question between two
Seniors Crenshaw of Wake, and Proteus E. A. Jones of Gran-
ville at the ensuing Commencement. It is said that Mr. Cren-
shaw of Wake, "applied the lash" to Orange. He contended
that Wake County would welcome the University. He sarcas-
tically remarked that no one in that county would get votes by
running about and telling the people that he would persuade the
Legislature to force otudents to work on the roads. This was
probably aimed at Joseph Allison, a Representative for that and
other years, and often Senator, whose reputation for saying
things pleasing to the people was very high. Mr. Jones of
Granville, with much animation and ingenuity, . vindicated
Orange, and opposed removal. The question was not brought
again before the Trustees. The University was in such condi-
tion that all its energies were required to enable it to stay in
Chapel Hill.
The Commencement of 1833 was held without the presence of
Dr. Caldwell, whose health required a visit to Philadelphia.
The strong man's constitution was steadily giving away to the
assaults of an incurable disease, and the most eminent surgeons
advised against lithotomy. The joltings over the long rough
roads gave him exquisite anguish, which he bore with the forti-
tude of a martyr. Professor Mitchell, the senior professor,
presided as his lieutenant, at the request of the Trustees.
The address before the Literary Societies was delivered by
George E. Badger, chosen by the Dialectic Society, who had
stood from early manhood among the ablest and best in our
State. It is said by the chronicler to show "accurate and pro-
found thought, strength and vigor of expression, interspersed
here and there with a caustic sarcasm forcibly applied." \Y
his praise is well merited it did not meet with the success ob-
tained by that of Judge Gaston.
John Gray Bynum carried off the first honor, and spoke the
Latin Salutatory. Junius B. King and Wm. N. Mebane were
next and equal, and Mebane drew the Valedictory. King took
the Philosophical Oration, and Solomon Lea that on Belles
2:;
354 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Lettres. The other honor men were Julian E. Sawyer, Addi E.
Thorn and Wm. H. Owen, and to them were allotted the In-
termediate Orations. Wm. M. Crenshaw and Proteus E. A.
Jones, as heretofore stated, discussed the question whether the
University should be removed to Raleigh ; Edmund Jones and
Josiah Stallings wrestled with the problem, "Will the Emanci-
pation of the Slaves in the West Indies be Beneficial?" and
W. E. Kennedy and Henry I. McLin, "Whether the Recent
Revolutions in Europe Will Be Productive of Good to the
Human Race?"
In after life Bynum was a very strong lawyer and influential
in the State Legislature, but missed high political preferment.
Mebane was an able and useful Presbyterian minister and King
embraced the same calling, and held similar rank in Alabama.
Lea was in the front rank of Methodist preachers, a tutor in
Randolph-Macon College, President of Farmville Female Sem-
inary, and then of Greensboro Female College. Sawyer was
likewise a minister, as well as Thorn. Owen was a much
respected Tutor of Ancient Languages, and then professor
of the same at Wake Forest College. Edmund W. Jones was
a State Senator, a councillor of State and member of 'the Con-
ventions of 1861 and 1865.
The degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on Rev. John
Avery, rector of the Episcopal Church of Edenton, and Prin-
cipal of the Edenton Academy, and that of Master of Arts on
Rev. Philip Bruce Wiley, a teacher, and also Episcopal minister.
Joseph Alston Hill, son of one of the Commissioners to select
the site of the University, William H. Hill, very early in life
attained distinction as full of promise of future usefulness, and
was cut off before reaching middle age. The speech delivered
by him before the Institute of Education justified his reputation,
being full of wit, fancy, elegance, good sense. He described
with much effect his sufferings at the Preparatory School in
Chapel Hill, and pleaded for a more sparing use of the rod.
The reporter however thought that the number and appropriate-
ness of his classical quotations proved that the scourgings he
had received had not been in vain.
A lecture on Lyceums by Mr. James D. Johnston of Oxford,
COM MK NO-; MK XT OF 1834. 355
showed extensive research. The veteran editor, Col. R. B.
Creecy, states that Mr. Johnston was an uncommonly able
teacher.
Prof. Walker Anderson closed by giving his experience in
the education of females. It is unfortunate that this paper is
lost.
The North Carolina Institute of Education seems to have had
no other meeting. As Dr. Wm. Hooper was evidently a leading
spirit, if not the promoter of it, I conjecture that the distractions
caused by the long, painful and fatal sickness of his step-father,
President Caldwell. withdrew his attention from everything
extraneous to his regular duties. It is notable that the profes-
of chemistry ( Mr. Mitchell) and of mathematics (Mr.
Phillips), declined active aid to it although they became mem-
bers. It is significant that in 1831 the Executive Committee
were MOM--. Mitchell, Hooper and Phillips, and in 1832
Messrs. McPheeters, Hooper and Bingham. It was a brave
effort, however, on the part of its promoters. One hundred and
thirty of the leaders of the State became members.
At the Commencement of 1834, Prof. Mitchell presided.
Pn-sident Caldwell still languishing with his painful disease.
The newspaper correspondent was enthusiastic over the im-
proved behavior of the students. The obstreperous plaudits.
with which they used to deafen the audience, no matter when in
-it of place, were either omitted altogether, or exchanged
; udicious signs of approbation. The feeble health of the
^ident was sympathizin^ly commented on. His altered ap-
ance presented a sad contrast with the active steps and
-ful disposition, which once distinguished him.
The class was the last which graduated before the death of
-ident Caldwell. James T.iddle Sliepard was the best and
had the Latin Salutatory. Abraham F. Morehead was the
. with the Valedictory. Then followed David MoAlli
who spoke on Political Kconomy. Wm. Pugh P.ond and Wm.
Pinckney Cunn were next and equal. P.ond spoke on the Drain. i
and C,unn on Astronomy. Samuel K. I 'lake And Samuel Wil-
liam- the query whether a College Education was
ntial to General Culture: Thorna* C.oelct 1 lauiditon and
356 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Thomas Jasper Williams, Whether Manufacturers would be
beneficial to the South; Henry Watkins Miller and Harrison
Wall Covington, Whether Institutions for Public Education
should be under control of the State, and William Brown Carter
and Albert Gallatin Anderson, Whether a Medical Board would
be of benefit to North Carolina.
Of the honor graduates, Shepard became a member of the
General Assembly and United States District Attorney. He was
the nominee of the Democratic party for the Governorship when
Wm. A. Graham was elected in 1846. He was a fine speaker,
but too wealthy to undergo the drudgery of the bar. More-
head, a brother of Governor Morehead, was Tutor of the Uni-
versity, wrote some short poems of merit and was a promising
lawyer when carried off by pulmonary consumption in 1837.
McAlister was also a Tutor, and then a physician. Bond was
a Judge and member of the Legislature in Tennessee, also a
preacher of the Baptist Church.
Of those who gained no honors, Henry Watkins Miller was
one of the ablest lawyers and most eloquent orators in the
State. He was elected to the Legislature at the beginning of
the Civil War, and died while a member.
Of those matriculating but not graduating, Edwin Alexander
Anderson graduated at Yale, was an able physician, President
of the State Medical Society. A President of this University,
now of the University of Virginia, was named after him Ed-
win Anderson Alderman. One matriculate Wm. W. Avery
lost his life in the Civil War, as will be hereafter described.
The honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, (LL.D.) was con-
ferred on George Edmund Badger, late Judge and afterwards
United States Senator, on Thomas Ruffin, Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court, and on Levi Silliman Ives, Bishop of North
Carolina ; that of Doctor of Divinity on Rev. Andrew Syme of
Virginia, of the Episcopal Church. That of Master of Arts on
Samuel Smith.
AID TO CALDWELL.
President Caldwell's disease proved to be beyond the sur-
geons' skill, and caused him excruciating pain the remainder
of his life. Possessed of remarkable fortitude, he did not at
HELP FOR CALDWELL. 357
nee lay down his accustomed work. In December, 1833, the
disease had made such ravages on his strength that for the first
time he asked for help. At his suggestion it was ordered that
when the President was unable by failure of health to take a
>nal and active part in preventing disorders in and among
the College Buildings and the vicinity, the professor of oldest
standing should be peculiarly vested with the responsibility and
r to aid in the active duties of the Presidency. Thus
Elisha Mitchell was at first partially, and then entirely, the
acting President until the advent of President Swain.
Although President Caldwell insisted on doing his part in
action, the Trustees determined to relieve him to some
;it. On motion of Wm. Julius Alexander, an Adjunct Pro-
>rship of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy was created,
with a salary of $1,000, soon raised to $1,240. The Standing
Committee of Appointments elected Walker Anderson to the
Chair. The house expected to be purchased from Thomas H.
:or, that east of the Episcopal Church, was promised to
him.
The following by-laws, regulating the conduct of students,
the last proposed by President Caldwell, and they, to-
ith that above mentioned, in regard to the Senior Pro-
fessor, show clearly his disciplinary ideas.
mandate was laid on every member of the Faculty to be
ant in carrying out the laws of the College, and to report
transgressions.
It was declared to be a great object of the Trustees in assign-
ing rooms in the buildings to Tutors, that they should individu-
ally and unitedly suppress disorders, not only in their own, but
in all the buildings. They c'uM not be absent without permis-
f the President.
'I'h Tutors must ^. to their recitation rooms a reasonable
tinu- before the bell rings and teach the whole hour, unless bell
for dismission should sound earlier.
ng other provisions, after several years of entreaty on
the part of the Seniors, the vacation asked for by them of one
li prior to Commencement, wa^ -ranted. This became
d pract: to the L; tion of those
358 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
who had speeches to prepare for Commencement, and the de-
light of those to whom text-books were a torment.
As Professor Wm. Hooper owned his dwelling and Prof.
Anderson rented one, they were allowed a commutation of $75
per annum, which was about the rental of the best houses in
Chapel Hill.
Our modern football has not unrivalled distinction of peril
to life and limb. The President reported that the favorite game
of the students, known as Bandy, or Shinny, was dangerous,
especially if played with a round wooden ball. The players
were frequently knocked apparently lifeless and were incapaci-
tated for duty several days. The students themselves were
once so shocked that they voluntarily gave up the sport, but
renewed it. It was so firmly established by prescription that the
Faculty doubted their power of prohibiting it without the pre-
vious action of the Board, which action, however, was not had.
Rev. Dr. Wm. McPheeters, the Principal of the flourishing
Raleigh Academy, earnestly pressed raising the standard for
admission into the University. This was acceded to, and the
following requirements were enacted.
In Mathematics, the whole of Arithmetic (Barnard's or
Adam's) and Young's Algebra to Simple Equations. In the
Classics, Jacob's Greek Reader, the whole of the prose ; or Grseca
Minora and the latter part of Jacob's Greek Reader ; the whole
of Virgil, and Cicero's Select Orations, except the Philippics.
The work of the Faculty was assigned as follows :
President Caldwell to hear each week (if his health permit,
and if not, Professor Anderson to hear for him), three recita-
tions ; Professor Anderson, six recitations ; Professor Mitchell,
eight recitations; Professor Hooper, eight recitations; Profes-
sor Phillips, eight recitations; three Tutors, each nine recita-
tions.
For the coming session the President, or Dr. Mitchell, was to
appoint three Tutors, temporarily, but from and after the ist of
January, 1835, the Trustees were to appoint three, at a salary
of $500 each. One should be styled Tutor of Ancient and
Modern Languages, one of Ancient Languages, and the- third
of Mathematics.
PROFESSOR ANDERSON'S SCHEMK. 359
RECOMMENDATION OF PROFESSORS JUDGE ANDERSON'S
SCHEME.
The President and Professors were requested to report to the
Board such alterations as their own experience and acquaint-
ance with other colleges might suggest.
The Faculty, in response to this request, made the following
recommendations, probably the last important paper in the
handwriting of Dr. Caldwell, his legacy to the University.
That there shall be three Tutors. One with a salary of $750,
to be styled the first or principal Tutor, to teach Latin and
French. A second is to teach Greek, and the third Mathe-
matics. It has been found by experience that the present
salary, $400, is not sufficient to retain our best scholars. Tutors,
as a rule, must be educated by this institution. Weight of char-
acter is of very great importance, as well as scholarship, and
this combination cannot be assured for a length of time on so
small compensation as heretofore paid. The following scale is
deemed best : A graduate who has never taught, $450 ; a gradu-
ate who has taught one year, $500 ; a graduate who has taught
two years, $600. The regulations for the duties of Tutors to
be as heretofore adopted.
The standard of Education in the best Northern colleges is
higher than in our University. It is recommended to advance
to theirs' by degrees. If we were to adopt those of Harvard
and Yale, we would for a year have no Freshman class. The
Trustees were asked to confer the authority to fix the terms of
admission on the Faculty.
Individual members of the Faculty submitted separate papers.
The most elaborate and novel recommendation was by Walker
Anderson, a man of much experience, good sense and honesty
of intention. He began by avowing his veneration and respect
for his colleagues. The defects he will point out do not involve
any censure on them.
The first defect is the low standard of scholarship, not prr-
haps in comparison with other colleges, but still certain. Our
graduates in the large majority of cases, carry witli them the
most slender and superficial knowledge of what they studied.
There are two causes for this. One is the deficiency of primary
schools. The second is the utter inapplicability of 1
360 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
discipline to the regulation of boys. Some half dozen of the
lower classes are stimulated by the hope of distinction, but the
multitude, unambitious, unconscious of the value of time and
opportunity, and secure in the panoply of college principles, are
impenetrable to motives Professors can present.
The second defect is the nature of the discipline. This is
moulded to suit the needs of mere boys, and the necessary strict-
ness is irritating to the young men. Boys learning Latin and
Greek and the elementary parts of Mathematics, as is the case
with our two lower classes, ought to be in school under a
master.
The third defect is the isolation of the University. He be-
lieves that a village has all the temptations and evils of a city,
without the restraining influence of an enlightened and Chris-
tian community.
He might mention other defects, but these are sufficient to
show that a change should be made.
What are the remedies ?
1 . Better academical instruction.
2. The subjection of boys to school discipline until they have
obtained probable discretion.
3. A more elevated standard of scholarship, both in the Lan-
guages and Sciences.
4. That the students should be placed in the reach of an im-
proved and Christian society.
5. That these objects be accomplished without adding mate-
rially to the expense of the institution.
It is proposed that the institution be divided into two depart-
ments, "The Collegiate Institute of North Carolina" and "The
University of North Carolina." The former to be located at
Chapel Hill under a Rector and three Tutors, and to be mod-
elled after the high schools of Europe and our Northern States.
In this should be taught, under the most improved school dis-
cipline the studies leading up to our Junior Class.
2. The University should be located in a town, preferably in
Raleigh ; its officers, four Professors, one to be President, name-
ly, one of Mathematics and Astronomy, one of Chemistry and
Natural Philosophy, one of Moral Philosophy and Political
PROFESSOR ANDERSON'S SCHEME. 361
Economy, and one of Belles Lettres and Ancient Literature.
There should be three classes, the course to occupy three years.
The Professors should be ready, if necessary, to teach in other
departments. It might be expedient, after awhile, to add a
Professor of Law. They should reside under the same roof
with the students. The object should be to have a University
of the highest grade. The half grammar school and half col-
lege which we have now, can never be different from the
present.
As to the expense
The present expenses for the teaching force is $8,560. The
officer to assist the President on account of his declining health
receives $1,240. When he is no longer needed the annual
charge will be $7,320. The tuition fees are about $3,000, leav-
ing near $4,500 to be provided from other sources. Under the
proposed arrangement, the salaries of the Rector ($1,200) and
the three Tutors ($600 each) will amount to $3,000, which
would be discharged by tuition fees of those receiving an ele-
mentary education. It might be best, however, to employ an
able Rector and let him receive all fees and be responsible for
all expenses.
Tlu-re would then be in the University proper, at Raleigh or
elsewhere, the President and three Professors. Let them re-
ceive $1,000 each, and, in addition, the President have two-
fifths of the tuition money, and the other Professors to have
one-fifth each. If there should be forty students, these officers
would receive about the amount now paid them. The charge
on the University would be about $4,000 a year, which is less
than at present.
As to the Buildings
It is recommended that a part of the funds to be derived from
<-e lands be invested in a building to contain four
lecture-rooms, and accommodations for 64 students, or have
50 students and rooms for the President ami his family. Such
ucture would cost $10,000, and the rent of rooms would
pay 8 per cent on that sum. If the number of students should
. they mi^ht be provided i'"i in the same manner, and
so Professors and Mmlmts would lc under the same roof.
362 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
In another letter Judge Anderson expresses the opinion that,
if the foregoing changes be adopted, there ought not to be any
Tutors. The most unlearned pupils require the best teachers.
The Freshman and Sophomore studies are taught with less
efficiency by inexperienced preceptors than the more advanced
portions, and should have the most skillful teachers. The dis-
cipline, too, is devolved upon young men, possessing no author-
ity, nor weight of character, with the students. The Professors
ought to live among the students, as at the University of Vir-
ginia. Professor Anderson closes his letter by declining the
proposition made to him, to give instruction in Natural Philoso-
phy, Astronomy, Moral Philosophy, Political Economy, Rhet-
oric and Logic. He cannot attend to the business of two and a
half Professors.
Dr. Mitchell wrote that he was not furnished with such facts
and dates as would entitle his opinion to respect. He suggested
that the Faculty should correspond with other institutions, and
report plans founded on information gathered. It is possible
that being the locum tcncns of the President, he deemed it
wrong to criticize the institution, which was the product of the
labors and thoughts of Dr. Caldwell.
Prof. Wm. Hooper, of the Department of Ancient Lan-
guages, answered the enquiries of the Trustees with much earn-
estness, especially directed against the consignment of the two
lower classes to Tutors. These contain thirty to thirty-five
members each, while the upper classes have only fifteen or
twenty. He described the Tutors as almost always recent grad-
uates, without authority of character and of scholarship,
scarcely a whit superior to their pupils. It is not to be ex-
pected that such novices equals to-day and superiors to-mor-
row should command respect and enforce good order. The
result is the total prostration of good scholarship and considera-
ble relaxation of discipline. At present the whole instruction
of three Professors, and the partial instruction of a fourth, will
be given to the Senior class. Of one hundred or more Uni-
versity youth, about sixty-five or seventy are starved with a
meagre taste of knowledge, while the favored minority are
stuffed even to surfeiting. The experience of Northern Col-
SCHEMES OF HOOPER AND PHILUPS. 363
leges, which employ numerous Tutors, is like that of our Uni-
versity. This statement is made on the authority of Professor
Stuart of Andover.
Professor Hooper, in January, 1834, sent to the Committee
of Appointments a formal protest against the recommendation
by the majority of the Faculty of the immediate choice of a
Professor of Rhetoric and a third Tutor. The reasons for the
protest may be inferred from the foregoing invective against
the Tutorial system and the neglect of classical instruction in
the lower classes. He closes by saying that he has done his duty
in laying before the Trustees the true state of his department.
If the evil be not remedied, he will feel himself absolved from
the responsibility of attempting to make classical scholars at
this college and "resign himself to the tranquillity of despair."
He asks for an Adjunct Professor to share his labors.
It would not be fair to the Tutors, most of whom were of
ability and high character, not to mention that Dr. Hooper, on
account of ill health, often took very gloomy views of his sur-
roundings. Dr. Caldwell at this time informed the Board that
the Professor had been subject to another attack of hemorrhage
from the lungs, which was somewhat copious and continued for
some time. He recommended the appointment of a Professor
of Greek, if possible, and thus take one of the Ancient Lan-
guages from the shoulders of Prof. Hooper.
The Professor of Mathematics, Rev. James Phillips, sent in
a spicy report and recommendation. He stated that In- had
been engaged in the business of teaching for twenty-five years,
the last eight of which at this place, and though he had met
with discouragements, he could not recollect a single case of
entire failure. After an impartial review of what had been
effected here, he is compelled to say that he has on the whole
failed of his object. Some of the causes, at least, may be
traced to the following sources: I. The bad method of teach-
ing in our schools. 2. The inexperience and incompetency of
our Tutors. 3. The low estimate placed on tin- mathematical
:ices here and in the State. 4. The obstinate determination
on the part of some stud do as little as po This
niiirht be obviated by refusing diplomas to them. 5. Tli<
364 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
examinations are too short, should be superseded by written,
and time given to those examined to collect their thoughts.
With regard to the proposal to demand of matriculates an
acquaintance with Algebra, the following suggestions are made.
The system which embraces the synthetic to the exclusion of
the analytic modes of instruction, is defective, i. The analy-
tic is more concise and admits of greater amount and variety
of instruction in a given time. 2. It is more uniform, general
and comprehensive. 3. It is the easiest and imposes no unnec-
essary load on the memory. For this statement he quoted La
Croix and La Place. 4. The best treatises on Statics, Dynamics,
and Physical Astronomy abound with analytical formulae, which
would be unintelligible to those unacquainted with analysis.
5. It induces the habit of investigation and compels the student
to think for himself.
If it be objected that the deficiences of our students are such
that the standard ought to be lowered rather than raised, it is
answered that no increase of difficulty is intended; that this
University ought to enter into honorable competition with those
who have introduced analytical Trigonometry and Geometry,
and that the interests of society and not that of individuals
ought to require not only the quantity but the quality of in-
struction.
He therefore recommends that there should be required for
admission into the Freshman class, the whole of Arithmetic,
practical and theoretical, and Algebra as far as Irrational and
Imaginary quantities in Young's Algebra, or a fair equivalent
on the same subject in any other treatise. This would place
our University on a level with the most respectable institutions
in our country.
In a report two years before this, Dr. Caldwell, with his
accustomed strength, urged that the Faculty might be allowed
to employ and pay scholarly men to attend the examinations.
The plan of relying on Trustees had failed. Few had for years
come at all, and they had dropped in near the close of the period.
He tactfully suggested an argumentun ad homines. A very
scientific person may not be qualified to be a Trustee, and so one
may properly be elevated to a seat on the Board, who is very
imperfectly, if at all, prepared to become an inquisitor into the
EXAMINATIONS AND VACATIONS. 365
scientific attainments of a student. This point was thoroughly
appreciated by the boys under examination, who well under-
stood that, no matter how wise they looked, gentlemen fresh
from attendance on the Courts or Legislature, were necessarily
rusty on Greek roots and differential co-efficients.
Moreover, the presence of learned strangers would have a
strong moral effect on idle students. Having often been re-
proved by their instructors, they become revengeful, deal in
charges of oppression, partiality, prejudice and even personal
enmity. In this they encourage and fortify one another
against authority, and are studious of open or secret methods of
evading or resisting the laws. They look on examinations
only as other instruments of oppression and unite together to
set them at naught. A Faculty may act with unexceptional
prudence, and strive to maintain parental and benevolent feel-
ings in all their intercourse, and yet find it difficult to prevent
the success of the idle and dissipated, whose object is to pre-
cipitate all into confusion and inefficiency. They have a need
of reacting force from without. This may be provided with
incalculable effects by subjecting the merits and demerits of
students to examiners called in from society at large throughout
the State.
At much length he argued in favor of having the vacations
in the spring and fall, when the weather is pleasant. "In the
summer the eastern students now become saturated with ma-
laria. In the winter the students leave their habitual protec-
tion for exposure on their journeys three to five or six days,
"through the storms of winter, and through mire and water,
if the weather be soft, but through ice and snow if it be cold."
The good doctor even became poetical for once. The obj<vt
of vacations is to allow the students and members of the Fac-
ulty to restore tone and energy to the system languishing with
inaction, and to the mind worn with exertion unbalanced by that
<>f the body. To this is necessary daily activity with pleasant-
ness and variety of outward scenery. With this end in view,
who of us would select the fiery ardors of the summer solstice,
or the chilling blasts or snows of mid-winter? Though they
seem illy sort it is hard, to avoid the repetition of those
lines which we all have so often heard :
366 Tin: IMVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
" Who can hold a tire in hand,
By thinking on the frosty Caucasus?
Or wallow naked in December's snow,
By thinking on fantastick Summer's heat?
Ah no ! the apprehension of the good,
(jives but the greater feeling to the worse."
The student should have acquaintance with the society and
the world, which can be better had in the pleasant seasons.
He urged other objections to the existing plan. One is that
many students, on account of the difficulty of traveling, remain
at Chapel Hill, peculiarly liable and often succumbing to temp-
tation.
He mentions with indignation the depredations of the villa-
gers on the woodlands of the University, and suggested the
employment of a ranger for stopping it.
The part of the foregoing report in regard to the vacations
was referred to Messrs. Nash, Caldwell, Jos. B. Skinner, and
D. L. Swain, who recommended that the vacations should be
six weeks long, beginning on the last Monday of April and the
first Monday of October of each year. The Board refused to
concur in the proposition, and also rejected the further recom-
mendation that the Commencements shall be held in the middle,
and not at the end of the sessions.
Instead of employing experts, the Trustees were divided into
five classes, their duty being in rotation to attend the examina-
tions, those attending, not exceeding five, to be paid $1.50 per
clay for expenses. It is needless to say that even this gilded
bait did not often attract them. One Committee was secured,
who recommended that the pay should be $3.00 and ten cents
mileage, but the Trustees did not grant it.
The President ineffectually urged that the Professors should
hold their office during good behaviour. In practice this has
virtually been the rule. In rare cases the Trustees acted on
their legal right of dropping an obnoxious Professor without
specifying any misbehaviour.
It is to the credit of the Philanthropic Society that, at this
time, under the leadership of strong members, like Richard B.
Creecy, Haywood Guion, Wm. B. Rodman, James B. Shepard,
and Ralph H. Graves, it offered $1,000 as a contribution to-
mi: ii AKmxr.ER. 367
wards a new library. They proposed a room forty feet square,
with six windows and three fireplaces. The finances of the
University did not allow the acceptance of the offer.
A contract of sale of fifty acres of the forest, now called
Battle Park, was made with Prof. Wm. Hooper, which was
cancelled on his leaving the University. The large trees were
mostly cut off under this contract. The white oak trees were
left to supply hogs with acorns. There are remnants of a stone
wall enclosure extending into the Park.
THE HARBINGER.
In 1834 there was published by Isaac C. Partridge, under
the auspices of the Faculty, a weekly newspaper called the
Harbinger. The terms were $3.00 if paid in advance, $4.00 if
delayed six months, the publication being conditioned on ob-
taining six hundred subscribers.
The objects of this novel enterprise, as stated in the Prospec-
tus, were very ambitious and patriotic, "to diffuse literary
information with correct taste, to impress the importance of
popular and academic education, and explain the best methods
discreetly but with independent freedom of stricture ; to discuss
subjects on which it is important to enlighten the public mind;
to furnish events and circumstances occurring among our-
selves, that deserve notice; to exhibit science in popular form
that will solicit curiosity and be generally intelligible; to
promote the cause of Internal ImprovenuMit ; and to give a
competent portion of the political and religious intelligence of
the time, with studious exclusion of all party character."
The opinion is expressed that the public had long expected
such a publication from the site of the University, "the express
purpose of which is to cultivate and diffuse valuable- kn
edge, such as is already treasured up and is constantly increas-
\\ith the progress of tin
Fears are expressed as to the promptness of remittances,
which was all the more necessary, "as the enterprise will be
wholly without profit except the necc- itineration to the
publishers and his employees. A periodical paper in all its
movements must by the very terms run against time, and every
experienced and reflecting man knows tin- truth expressed by
368 THE; UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Dr. Johnson, that he, who enters the lists with time for his
antagonist, must toil with diligence not to find himself beaten.
Every one who favors the Harbinger with his patronage we
hope will do it with presence of mind to the importance of
fidelity in his remittance. On this the establishment must
depend for its support."
Then the publisher comes in with a modest disclaimer that
he "would not enlarge on the qualities of the proposed periodi-
cal even to excite in the bosom of his fellow citizens a disposi-
tion to give it countenance and support, lest while consulting
that object, he might seem to expose himself to the charge of
making vain promises, or raise expectations too high to be
fulfilled. But that a paper of such a character, as perhaps has
been already imagined in the minds of his readers, is desirable
in our State, he cannot but think few will deny."
The prospectus closes with the request that all to whom
copies have been sent will not only subscribe for themselves,
but procure subscriptions from others. Moreover, the pub-
lisher naively asks all the papers in the United States not only
to copy it, but to act as agents to further its object. It is dated
January 26, 1833, and it was hoped to begin publication by the
first of the following June.
We do not have a file of the Harbinger, but fragments of it
were cut out and pasted in a book, from which we are enabled
to get a glimpse of its character. Judging from the subjects
discussed and the style, the mixture of humor and gravity,
Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Wm. Hooper were evidently the chief
contributors. I give abstracts of some of the leading articles.
There is a very intelligent paper on "The Stars," suggested
by the great fall of meteors on the night of November 13, 1833.
The writer suggested that they were "Terrible indications of
war between certain members of the editorial corps in North
Carolina" (a Raleigh editor had recently felled another with a
bludgeon), or "the Legislature are going to have a stormy
session," or, by their laws, "wage fatal war upon the best
interests of their constituents." This ridicule was then useful,
as many ignorant people were really frightened. The article
then treats, ist of Lightning, 2nd, of "Fire-balls or proper
THE HARBINGER METEORS. 369
Meteors," 3rd, of the Aurora Borealis, 4th, of Shooting Stars,
5th, of Ignis Fatuus, 6th, of San Elmos. The first is pro-
nounced the most dangerous of all. As to the Fire Balls, after
giving three hypotheses, the author believes in a fourth, that
they are terrestrial comets, which, becoming visible to us when
in their perigeum, and, electrified passing through the atmos-
phere, discharge their electricity with an explosion that rends
off part of their mass, and pass on. Shooting stars are very
common, but never so brilliant as on the morning of the I3th
November, 1833. The author, however, thinks their number
was exaggerated, as he saw only one at intervals of two or
three seconds, but greater numbers may have fallen earlier in
the night. Of the Aurora Borealis, he states that it was so
brilliant on the night of September 28, 1828, in Paris that the
fire companies turned out and drove furiously through the
streets, thinking the city was on fire. It is produced by "elec-
tricity in motion, we cannot tell why or how." Of the Ignis
Fatuus, he says that he has been tempted to pronounce it a
delusion, but its appearance is too well authenticated to be
doubted. The chemist can form nothing like it. It is "like
rotten wood, which according to our theories ought not to be
luminous, but it shines notwithstanding." There is a note here
which resembles the style of Dr. Mitchell laughing at the
Professor of Ancient Languages. " The words ( Jack-o'-
the-Lantern, Will-o'-the-Wisp) will afford to the future in-
vestigator of the English tongue, when it shall have become
a dead language, an ample field for dissertation. If we may
be allowed to substitute the signs of the dialects of Greece for
those he will use, we may suppose him to state that the original
form was Jackwithalantern, which became lonice, Jackotru-lan-
tern; Doric, Jackomelantern ; Attic, Jackalantern. He will
also remark, that Willwithawisp is altogether irregular t
an obsolete root, as Haireo makes eilon in the second aon
San Elmo is a Spanish name for a meteor of electric or .
When there were two the ancients called them Castor and
Pollux.
TK. Yiilirarly call' I :"i\ l:l-- ."xi
24
37O THK r.MVKKSITY OI- NORTH CAROLINA.
Another article, published April 24, 1834, strongly praises
Tudor's Travels in Mexico and the West Indies, as one of the
best books of travels that has been published at a period pro-
lific in works of this kind. The critic, evidently Dr. Mitchell,
is rapturous over the magnificent scenery, "the bold and salient
outline, the close association of light and shadow" in these
countries. He jocularly adds that "it seems as though our
country were intended for the residence of a race of prudent
republicans, who are to raise fine crops of tobacco, wheat, corn,
cotton, and rice ; construct railroads and dig canals ; make good
laws and steer the ship of state, driven and buffeted though
she be by a tremendous northeaster, in safety over the ocean of
ages, but that the improvised child of genius must be nourished
and inspired amid the happy valleys or on the wild rocks of
Mexico." The allusion to the "tremendous northeaster" seems
a prophecy of our terrible Civil War, but, if Mexico has ex-
celled us in children of genius, it is not at all apparent. Nor
can we assent to the snow covered peaks of our neighbors as
being superior to the grandeurs of Niagara Falls and the Yel-
lowstone Geysers.
Another editorial is entitled "A Meditation among the
Pines." When the breeze blows through a forest of long-
leaved pines, the mind of the writer is moved to speculate on
the beauty, the usefulness and antiquity of the trees. There
are botanists who believe that plants have sensations of pleas-
ure and pain analogous to those of man, "But though we may
indulge in these dreams in regard to a healthy and vigorous
oak or hickory, it seems difficult to extend them to the pines.
Driving their roots into a mass of arid sand, and with leaves
just large enough to whistle and sigh with, but not to be the
means and seat of enjoyment, an old Pythagorean might be
excused for believing them the appointed abodes and prisons
of all the misers who have ever trod the earth to look down
upon the yellow sand and find in it an image and likeness of
that which engrossed their affections in other days."
Changing the thought, the goodness of the Deity is discerned
in this most useful tree, covering what without it would be a
worthless waste. It was probably introduced on this continent
THK. 11 AK1MNV.KK MASTODON. $" \
during the ages when lived here the mammoth and the ele-
phant.
The excavations of the Clubfoot and Harlow Canal disclosed
bones of the great Mastodon, "part of which found their way
to Dr. Jones' Museum and a couple of teeth were sent to the
University, it is believed, by Captain (Otway) Burns." Af-
terwards were discovered the jaws of a young elephant, with
teeth sound, which fell into the hands of Mr. Fulton, the late
State Engineer, who carried them off to Georgia. Mr. Lucas
Henners, one of the few men of North Carolina who uncler-
1 the value of the marl beds, presented to the University
a "magnificent tooth of a full-grown elephant in good preserva-
tion. " The Jones here mentioned was Dr. Calvin Jones of
\Yake County. Fulton was a Scotch civil engineer, employed
by the State at a salary of $6,000 a year to make our rivers
navigable.
An apology is made for wandering from the pine. "The
character of this communication would be at variance with its
title, if there were an intimate connection between its first and
latter part." It is signed by "N."
In another issue is given a description by Mieliaux of the
method of making tar, pitch, turpentine, and gas, the long-
leaved pine being the chief source. It is annotated by "X."
who states that illuminating gas was made by letting melted
rosin flow on anthracite coal. He predicts a great future for
the manufacture of oil from cotton seed, "when a little addi
tional perfect inn is given t> the machinery for the separation of
the outer porous coat from the oleaginous seed/ 1 a prediction
verified.
There is a very vivid description of a storm oft" Ilatteras by
"J. 1. T." Although professedly written < m Chipboard, if there
is anv truth in the narration, it must have been detailed from
memory. "Our mainmast ha- gOftt by the l.arbnanl. OUf
ging and sails, split into a thousand ribbon*., commingliiu
,re wild! ng in the wind. Dismay and d<
depicted "ii cvcrv countenance. . . . For sixteen da\s \\ e
en driven at the mercy of the winds and \\;i\<
beautiful and accomplished Miss 'imng the
372 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
passengers . . . tossed upon the roaring waves. Were she but
safe I would willingly embrace the fatal ingurgitating billow.
If we are destined here to find a grave, may the same wave
receive us both/'
There are several articles on "Rural Economy." In them
Kenrick's New American Orchardist is highly praised, and
much valuable advice is given. Kenrick described 235 vareties
of apples, 251 pears, 87 peaches, 20 nectarines, 19 apricots, 63
plums, 43 cherries, 56 grapes, and a number of almonds, cur-
rants, gooseberries, raspberries, etc. A statement is made which
may be new to some readers, that a graft on any stock will
keep pace in the changes it undergoes with the stock from
which it is derived. Part of a paper on the cultivation of the
vine in Madeira, published in Silliman's Journal, is given, in
order to show that peculiarities of soil and exposure even on
the same farm must be observed, in order to obtain good
results.
A very intelligent editorial, signed "N" (undoubtedly Dr.
Mitchell) gives the best methods of producing fire. After
mentioning the old method of rubbing two pieces of dry wood
together, of striking a flint with steel, and by the sunglass, he
describes the phosphorous vial, into which a splinter, with
sulphur coating the end, was thrust and rapidly withdrawn.
For this, some ten or twelve years before, there was substi-
tuted Hertner's Eupyrism, from Paris. This was a vial con-
taining strong sulphric acid and a bundle of matches, the latter
headed with chlorate of potash and a little starch or sugar,
colored with vermilion. The fire was produced by contact .f
the acid with the potash and starch or sugar.
"Very recently a new fire apparatus has been introduced
under the name of Lucifer Matches." The making of thcs
described, and the prediction ventured that "this little appa-
ratus appears to be superior to and likely to supplant every
other." The writer does not mention the "chunk," or frag-
ment of burning wood, which good housekeepers covered up,
when they retired to sleep, nor the perpetual fire kept burning
in old Rome by the Vestal Virgins, from which the citizens
could obtain a spark when desired.
THE: HAKUINV.KK I-;NC.KA\ i.\v. ON STKICI. \ n/rrkKs. 373
There is an excellent article by the same pen on "Engraving
on Steel." "N" explains engraving on wood, on stone, and on
plates of copper, a soft metal, and then shows how plates of
steel were softened by heating with iron filings and so became
enough to be cut by the tools of the artist, then hardened
by heating with charcoal. This interesting statement is made:
"When the adherents of the Bonaparte family wished to ex-
cite a feeling in their favor a few years since, some small prints
were brought into the market and sold at an insignificant price,
well executed on steel and exhibiting the appearance of Napo-
leon at the time of the most remarkable events of his life
when yet a stripling he directed the siege of Toulon, afterwards
at the bridge of Arcola, in Egypt, passing the Alps, at Tilsit,
Austerlitz, Fontainbleau, and St. Helena." I have one of
the>e prints, a bunch of violets, showing the features of the
Kmperor, Maria Louisa, and their son.
In a paper on Crocodiles much skepticism is shown about
WaUTton's claim, that he rode on the back of an alligator into
the water, twisting one of his forelegs over his back as a bridle.
It is suggested that it requires enormous strength thus to han-
dle the arm of the animal, and that the beast would be more
likely to sink in the mud at the bottom than to retain buoyancy
sufficient to float with a large man on his back. Quotations
are, however, made from Pliny, asserting that the Egyptians
would mount a crocodile in the water and when he opened his
mouth thrust a club between his jaws, so that they could not
be closed, and thus easily capture him. Dr. IV-ocke. in his
observations on Ejjypt. places the locality nf riding on land,
not in the water.
< >f an article on Matlu-miit ics only the title remains.
\ very interesting discussion is ojyen as to whether a vult-
ure', in our land called turkey liu/./ard, finds his food b\ sis^ht
or h\ scent It had been the general opinion, supported by
the authority of the ornithologist. Wilson, that it was by his
acute sense of smell, but in 1826 Audubon furnished for
Jameson's Journal an article, detailing some careful cxj
ments which tended to prove that Turkey Buzzards, at 1. .
depend for the discovery of their prey on si^hi. Charh-s \Va-
374 TH E UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
terton. author of "Wandering in South America," ridicules
Audubon. He says, "I grieve from my heart that the vulture's
nose has received such a tremendous blow. ... I have a fellow
feeling for this noble bird. We have been for years together
in the same country. We have passed many nights amongst
the same trees ; and though we did not frequent the same mess,
still we saw a great deal of each other's company." Waterton
relies on the fact that a large serpent lay untouched under thick-
trees, until it was putrefied, when the birds found it at once.
He thinks it strange that vultures, if they rely on sight, do not
pounce down on sleeping fowls, even on men, who in the
tropics take their siesta in the open air.
On the other side, Dr. John Bachman instituted a series of
experiments lasting a month in order to settle the question.
The professors of the Medical College of Charleston were
observers of his work. They all agreed that the turkey buz-
zards of that region are guided entirely by sight.
The critic of the Harbinger was, however, not satisfied. He
says, "We cannot help suspecting that it will turn out at last
that the buzzard has both eyes and a nose, or at least nostrils.
Nor can a Charleston bird be considered a perfectly fair expe-
riment, bred as he has been in the smoke and steam of two or
three thousand kitchens, and amid the offal of a large city, and
differing therefore from a buzzard inhabiting the fields and
forests of the back country, as much as the keeper of a dram
shop does from a thoroughgoing member of a temperance
society. The former, if he be allowed to apply his nose to the
bung-hole of a whiskey barrel, can hardly tell what is in it,
while the latter will detect a man if he has been indulging in
half a thimbleful of beverage, at a distance of something less
than a hundred yards."
It is a little surprising that the writer, evidently Dr. Mitchell,
should call our vulture a buzzard. A buzzard is a species of
hawk. Turkey-buzzard is the correct name, according to Web-
ster, Audubon, and others.
It is also surprising to see our learned Doctor using the
following language : "There is some room for the suspicion
both in his (Waterton's) case, and that of Audubon, that they
THE HARmNC.KK ROTATION or CHOI'S. 375
have studied the art of writing a book of travels in the school
of Gulliver, the Baron Munchausen. Mandeville, and the re-
nowned worthies of that class." Knowing Audubon as we do,
we can hardly realize that a well-read and accomplished scholar
should suggest the possibility of his veracious description being
munchausenism.
It appears that there was an article on Sound, but it is not
preserved. There is one on the economic uses of the long-
leaved pine. Its products were much sought after in those
days when steam was not used or used but little. The pro-
ducts are enumerated as lumber of various kinds, turpentine,
spirits of turpentine, rosin, tar, and pitch.
A paper by J. Hamilton Couper on Rotation of Crops as
adapted to the Southern States, published in the Southern
Agriculturist, is highly praised. Much emphasis is laid on
the statement that, "it is now ascertained that a living vege-
table does not merely leave in the earth a quantity of nutritious
matter that is not adapted to its own subsistence and support,
but deposits under the form of an exudation from its roots a
quantity of vegetable substance, upon which neither itself, nor
any other plant of the same species, can feed, but which is well
fitted to become the sustenance of another of a different kind."
This fact is now made available especially by our more ad-
vanced farmers in the use of nitrogenized bacteria.
The writer mentions that Dr. Sondley of Newburg District
had discovered that a "new and valuable indigenous gra
(Leersia Orizoides), is a good food for cattle, that it is found
in the neighborhood of Chapel Hill and recommends that it
be tried on damp and cold lands.
Tin-re is also an appeal for improved roads so intelligent
that it would delight the heart of Professor Holmes and the
other advocates of similar beneficent a: in our day. The
MacAdam process was preferred.
It must not be supposed that the columns of the Harbinger
contained only scientific discussions. "N" prints a love-poem,
a valentine, a particular favorite of his in "his days of fancy,
li and frenzy," some stanzas of which he still regarded as
376 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
very beautiful poetry. The authoress was Miss Ella Trefusis.
I give two verses out of eight as specimens :
O man ! how little dost thou know
The sources whence our pleasures How :
man ! how little canst thou share,
The soft refinements of the fair !
Those heavenly nothings which we prize,
Your grosser appetites despise;
Never in your hacknied bosom live
Those loyal sentiments which give
A sacred character to love,
And prove its mission from above.
Alas ! my every wish was thine:
lint the world shared my Valentine.
The following is possibly a good description of an engaged
couple-
Think, Mellidor, on former days.
Think on the thousand winning ways,
l'>y \\hieh my heart thou did'st obtain !
The fond, fond look, the melting strain.
The fre.|iient letter, praises bland.
This tenderly imprisoned hand :
Full many an eve together past.
K:rh eve more valued than the last ;
When by the sun's declining rays
1 dared the transitory -_ r a/e.
Kcad in those eyes that flame divine,
Now felt but by thy Valentine!
The last of the original articles which I notice are on the
history of the State. Searches, it was urged, should be made
for documents. The biographies of officers and soldiers should
be written. The conduct of Cornwallis' army during the in-
vasion of 1780 and 1781 should be investigated. Stedman, an
Englishman and a Tory, says, that "at Halifax some enormi-
ties were committed by the British, which were a disgrace to
the name of a man." What were these enormities? What
influence upon the American cause by the fighting Quakers,
the Highlanders, and the Regulators, should be looked into, as
well as that of the Tories of Rutherford and west Lincoln.
Another valuable paper was on the counties of North Caro-
THK II. \RP.1 NV.1CK HARVARD IN 1834. 377
lina. their date of erection and the origin of their names. The
statements are as a rule accurate, but as Williamson and Mar-
tin were followed there are a few errors. For example, North-
ampton County was not called after a county of the same name
in England, but in honor of the Earl of Northampton, father
of Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, Prime Minister.
Surry County was named after Lord Surrey, who opposed the
American war. in office under Rockingham. Surrey was after-
wards Duke of Norfolk.
These historical articles are over the pen name of "N," un-
doubtedly from internal evidence, Dr. Mitchell, as has been
said.
Besides the well-written and instructive editorials, there was
the usual supply of clippings, including useful facts and humor-
ous anecdotes. Among the facts is a statement that Harvard
College in 1830, excluding buildings, library, apparatus and
mds, had property amounting only to $460,624. Of this
amount only $149,171 was applicable to the universal use of
the college, the balance belonging to the theological and law
departments, and including the funds pledged to salaries and
professorships, etc. The annual expenditure for 1832 was
$41.054; income, $40,962. In about seventy years Harvard
University has increased to near 6,000 students, over 500
teachers, over $15,000,000 of property, and an annual income
of more than a million dollars.
Tin* Harbinger soon came to an end, doubtless from want
of pecuniary support, as has been the fate of all journals in
North Carolina, which appealed to love of knowledge and
literature.
miilar nature to the Harbinger, the Columbian Reposi-
tory, printed at Chapel Hill, was projected in 1836 by Hugh
Hieen. No specimen of ii is known to exist. Probably
'1 with the first number. The unfortunate habits of
the otherwise gifted editor and the limited number of those
likely to be interested in his journal rily bronchi it
an untimely end.
37$ THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
SALE OF TENNESSEE LAND WARRANTS.
While President Caldwell was languishing on his couch of
pain, the bodily agony equalled by his grief for the distressed
condition of the institution he loved more than life, plans were
maturing on the wise initiative of Duncan Cameron, President
of the Bank of the State, one of the shrewdest financiers of
his time, which ultimately gave the University an endowment
and filled her halls with students. This beneficent result came
from the sale of her land warrants and other assets in the
State of Tennessee. The trials and difficulties encountered in
pushing these claims deserve a detailed narrative.
The grant of Carolina to the Lords Proprietors in 1663 and
1665 extended nominally to the Pacific Ocean, called the "South
Sea" in the charter, but of course as Great Britain became the
owner only to the Mississippi River, this river was the real
western limit. By the acts of 1782, 1/83, and 1784 of the
General Assembly of North Carolina, the warrants for lands
granted to its officers and soldiers of the Continental Line were
to be located in a region in the western part of the territory,
now the State of Tennessee, called the Military Reservation,
with the proviso that if sufficient tillable land could not there
be found, other unappropriated land could be substituted. A
land office was opened, afterwards known as John Armstrong's
office, for the entries under said acts, and also under the Act
of 1783 for the redemption of specie certificates, issued for the
expenses of the war.
In December, 1789, North Carolina passed the Act of Ces-
sion of the territory of Tennessee to the United States, which
was approved by Congress April 2nd, 1790. The rights of the
officers and soldiers were not forgotten. The Governor of
North Carolina was to have power to perfect their titles by
grants ; rights of occupancy and pre-emption theretofore grant-
ed were preserved, and all entries already made, which inter-
fered with prior entries, might be located elsewhere in the ceded
territory. With these exceptions, the sovereignty over this
territory passed to the United States.
In 1796 Congress admitted Tennessee into the Union, but
ESCHEATED LAND WARRANTS. 379
the unappropriated lands were not ceded to the new State.
Tennessee, however, claimed that Xorth Carolina's rights ex-
pired in 1792, for the reason that the time for procuring grants
was by the act of the Xorth Carolina Assembly limited to that
date, that there was no reservation of the power to extend the
time, and that all extensions of the time for soldiers to claim
their bounties made after 1792 were null and void.
In disregard of this claim the General Assembly of North
Carolina granted extensions from time to time until 1801, when
this body barred all claims not presented by ist of June, 1803.
lly an act of 1807 that of 1801 was repealed and applications
were directed to be made to the Legislature, and warrants to
issue .only on its resolution. In 1819 the Governor, Treasurer
and Comptroller were made a board, vested with the authority
reserved to the Legislature in 1807.
Before this Board of 1819 the University presented its
claims for very many warrants. A large number was allowed,
laid before an adjudicating board appointed by the State of
Tennessee, allowed by them, patents issued, placed in the hands
of locators, and subsequently grants issued.
Although the State had published the names of the Conti-
nental officers and soldiers and notified them of the warrant s
awaiting their application, a large number never came forward.
Presuming that these delinquents had died without heirs, the
General Assembly, by resolution, in 1821 directed that a num-
ber of undelivered and unclaimed warrants in the names of
' entitled should be delivered to the University. And in
1824. in order to stop the clamor of the people of Tennessee
that the tlow of warrants was inexhaustible, the Secretary of
State was ordered to close the muster roll and make out p
rants in the name of the University for all the remaining mm
claimants.
I. -t us tlOV '-ti, -thin- MI" the OOUne Of legislation in
Tennessee and in Congress. In \/^t Tenm- rtcd her
right as a S?. the |>"\\< 1 in
the United States, to all ungranted lands within her limits.
even thos,- claimed by the Unitrd States. She asserted that
the national title uas abandoned when she was admitted
380 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
the Union without expressly reserving that title, but as the
claim was not allowed, she refrained from opening a land office.
In 1801 she confirmed all prior entries, warrants, and grants
already made and directed that Tennessee grants be issued on
such warrants. At the same time she prohibited by heavy
penalties any further action by North Carolina surveyors and
entry takers. In 1803 Tennessee appointed Judge John Over-
ton as agent to make a "friendly explanation and adjustment"
of these differences with North Carolina. This resulted in the
Act of the General Assembly of this State of December 2nd,
1803, passed subject to ratification by Tennessee, which was
given, and of Congress, which was not given. This Act gave
Tennessee the function of perfecting title to claims of .lands
reserved to North Carolina in the Act of Cession, subject to
certain restrictions, that which concerned the University being
the exclusive right retained by North Carolina to issue military
warrants.
In 1806 Congress, in a spirit of liberality and compromise,
ceded to Tennessee, subject to North Carolina's reservation
in the Act of Cession, and also to certain Indian titles, the rights
of the United States to about one-third of the State, approxi-
mately from sixteen to seventeen million of acres, of which
after satisfying all North Carolina claims to this section there
remained in 1838 about eight million acres. The United States
retained title to about one-third of the State. The boundary
between the two sovereignties was called "the Congressional
reservation line." It began where the main branch of the Elk
River crosses the southern boundary of the State, thence due
north to Duck River, thence northwesterly down Duck River,
nearly to Centerville, thence due west to Tennessee River,
thence down the Tennessee to the northern boundary of the
State. In official reports the area west and north of this line
was estimated as 6,840,000 acres, of which 942,375 acres were
granted by North Carolina previous to the Act of Cession.
As soon as the Act of Congress of 1806 was accepted by the
Tennessee Legislature, that State opened her land offices for
satisfying the reserved claims of North Carolina. The lands
south of the French Broad and Holston Rivers were excepted.
ESCHEATED LAND WARRANTS. 381
In 1811 North Carolina claimed the right to perfect titles to
lands west and south of the Military Reservation line, and
sent a surveyor. Col. Thomas Love, for the purpose. After
he had surveyed about 50,000 acres, the Tennessee Legislature,
as heretofore mentioned, passed a prohibitory act with heavy
penalties on the surveyor and register, and disbarring and
fining any lawyer who should bring suit on such claim.
North Carolina thereupon, in 1815, memorialized Congress,
claiming the right, and complaining of so much of the Act of
1806 as gave Tennessee 200,000 acres for colleges and acad-
emies. Of course Tennessee presented a counter memorial. In
this it was stated that the lands east and north of the Reserva-
tion line had been exhausted without satisfying North Caro-
lina's claims, and Congress was requested to authorize these
claims to be located in the Military Reservation. Congress
complied with this request and, by Act approved April 4th,
1818, authorized Tennessee to perfect titles by grants to all
locations prior to the Act of Cession, and "also to issue grants
within said territory on all valid warrants of survey, interfer-
ing entries, certificates, grants and locations, that had not been
actually located or granted east and north of the reservation
line, and that were removable under the North Carolina Ces-
Act." In pursuance of this authority, Tennessee in 1819
opened a land office, and the time for satisfaction of such
claims was from time to time extended until 1839. It was
calculated that 3,567,801 acres were adjudicated after the Act
of iSiS to meet these claims, leaving to the United States
In -tween 2,300,000 and 3,300,000 acres, which were ultimately.
in 1846, donated to Tennessee.
Another element of trouble was the claim of the Chick. si \s
Indians to lands stretching from the Ohio River south into the
c of Mississippi, including the western part of Tenm
which was recognized by the United States by the ri<nmiv;o
t\ of 1786. By trcatio in 1805, 1816 and 1818, the Chick-
< ded all their lands east of the Mississippi River l ; or
the territory north of tin- Tennessee River, the price paid in
was $12,000 a year for twelve years, of which $4.
382 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
paid in sixty days. For that west of that river, Governor
Isaac Shelby being the commissioner of the United States,
there was agreed to be paid $300,000 in fifteen annual instal-
ments of $20,000 each, besides presents, $7,000 or $8,000 worth,
to the chiefs. It is stated that three thousand Indians were
present when the treaty was negotiated. The Indian title
being thus extinguished, there was no further obstacle to the
location and sale of soldiers' warrants within these limits.
Now, for the first time since Governor Smith's donation of
20.000 acres in 1792, his beneficence became available.
Still another complication arose from the frauds by the
Secretary of the State of North Carolina, James Glasgow, and
the Registrars of the Land Office in Tennessee, John and
Martin Armstrong. The latter converted to his own use large
sums belonging to the State, for which an uncollectible judg-
ment was obtained and given to the University by the State.
And moreover these frauds created suspicions of false entries
and such confusion of claims as materially increased the hostil-
ity of Tennessee towards the just demands of the institution.
The Trustees of our University lost no time after i8i<) in
obtaining their grants from the State of Tennessee. An oppo-
sition grew up, on account of the magnitude of the University's
demands, so fierce as to threaten the adjudication of all remain-
ing warrants. Judge Archibald D. Murphey and Hon. Joseph
H. Bryan, the latter an ex-Member of the United States House
of Representatives, were appointed to secure the interests of
the institution. Judge Murphey journeyed to Nashville, ascer-
tained by private conferences with the members and his attor-
neys the best possible terms, and asked for and obtained per-
mission to address the General Assembly. He spoke during
the working hours of two days. When he concluded, Felix
Grundy proposed that Jenkins Whitesides and James Trimble,
who had in full the public confidence, should be appointed com-
missioners to investigate and adjust the claim of the University,
with power to compromise disputes and to grant exemption
from taxation as asked for. The leader of the opposition
accepted the proposition, and it passed the Assembly.
ESCHEATED LAND WARRANTS. 383
On August 26th, 1822, these commissioners came to an
agreement with Attorney Joseph H. Bryan, by which grants
should issue upon the warrants owned or acquired by the Uni-
versity, and that they should be exempt from taxation until
January i, 1850. The University on its part agreed to transfer
to East Tennessee College, now University of Tennessee,
twenty thousand acres, and to Cumberland College, now Uni-
versity of Nashville, forty thousand acres, the assignments
being subject to contracts previously made for procuring and
locating the same. The University further agreed to warrant
the title to 45,000 acres at $1.50 per acre, with interest, liability
to end unless adverse claims should be made by January 1st,
1831. This was duly ratified by the Trustees of the University
and the General Assembly of Tennessee.
After giving to the Colleges of East Tennessee and Cumber-
land their shares of the warrants then in hand, there remained
to the University of the 1,823 warrants only 4,476 acres. The
application to the General Assembly for their location was
refused, but Judge Stewart of the Circuit Court, on a suit for
mandamus, founded on the statutes in existence, instituted by
James Trimble for the University, ordered the Secretary of
State to adjudicate them. It was hoped that the Secretary
would likewise under this decision adjudicate the warrants of
1824 and subsequently, but he declined to do so until the ques-
tion should be passed on by the Supreme Court. Before that
J>ody the University was represented by James Trimble, Felix
Grundy and Alfred Balch, who argued in vain. The applica-
tion was rejected. Soon after this argument. ex-Judge Trim-
ble's valuable services were lost by his death, and ex-Judge
\Ym. S. I'.rown was employed in his place.
A special session of the Legislature being called, Jiidj^e
Murphey addressed a strong memorial to that body, which was
'1 by Mr. P.rowii, who-.' x|,,-eeh was said by the Secre-
tary of State i" have been "the most splendid effort of human
intellect lie had ever witnessed." Mr. Crahb. the omnsel for
Cumberland College, he wrote, was "as usual very respecta-
ble." Maj.r Abram Maury (pronounced and often writte-i
Mnrrax >. a representative, manifested his "usual /eal and
384 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
honest independence" for the bill, and was ably sustained by
Mr. Grundy, also a member. The opponents, however, pre-
vailed by a vote of 20 to 18.
At a subsequent session, on application of the attorneys of the
University, a hard compromise was offered. In 1825, after
much furious opposition, an act was passed providing for a
commissioner to adjudicate the validity of all military war-
rants, presented to him by the University or the East Tennessee
or Cumberland College, not exceeding in all 105,000 acres, for
which certificates would be issued for land west and north of
the Congressional line, in 25-acre tracts, which should be sold,
first to actual occupants at fifty cents per acre, next to general
purchasers at one dollar, and after a limited period at fifty cents
per acre, and lastly the residue at public auction ; one-third of
the proceeds to be paid to the University, one-third to the com-
mon schools of Tennessee, and the remaining one-third to the
two aforementioned colleges. Under this act the University
received' in cash $15,002.68.
I now proceed to show what was done by the Trustees in
working this mine, so full of difficulties and disappointments*
The management of the Western lands was left to the Com-
mittee of Appointments, Archibald D. Murphey and Thomas
Ruffin being added, the other members being John Haywood,
Henry Potter and Wm. Polk, the Governor being ex-officio
Chairman, when present. Duncan Cameron was added in the
following year. In December, 1825, the Trustees denominated
the committee, so increased, as the Land Committee, and con-
ferred on them full power "to adopt such course in respect to
the land claims as to them shall seem most beneficial to the
interests of the University." Besides those already named,
from time to time until the creation of the Executive Commit-
tee in 1835, George E. Badger, Thomas P. Devereux, James F.
Taylor, William Robards, Charles Manly, Wm. S. Mhoon,
James Iredell, and Romulus M. Saunders, besides Governors
Burton, Owen, Stokes and Swain, were members. Ichabod
Wetmore, agent in Raleigh, of the Bank of New Bern, was
appointed Secretary at a salary of $250 per annum.
HENDERSON AND DICKENS APPOINTED AGENTS. 385
As Col. Wm. Polk often visited Tennessee, having large
interests therein, he was vested by the committee with power
to employ agents on such terms as he thought best. On Au-
gust 5th, 1821, he made a contract with Col. Thomas Hender-
son, Jr., late editor of the Raleigh Star, of whom Governor
Swain said "No citizen succeeded in conciliating the warm
regards of a greater number of personal friends than he." He
was to procure evidence as to all persons who had served in the
Continental line of the State who had died without heirs
capable of inheriting land. He was then to lay the same before
the Governor, Public Treasurer and Comptroller the Board
of Adjudication appointed by the General Assembly of this
State in 1819, and if passed, then before the Board of Adjudi-
cation in Tennessee the Governor, Secretary of State, and
Register of the Land Office. For compensation he was to
receive one-half of the warrants.
Col. Henderson proceeded to his duty with alacrity and suc-
cess. He appointed sub-agents, agreeing to assign them part
of the warrants, what proportion does not appear, and on Oct< >-
ber 3rd was ready for a division. This was done, leaving to
the University warrants calling for 147,853 acres. Other war-
rants besides these were subsequently realized, as will be seen.
As an agent residing in Tennessee was necessary for locating
and selling the lands, Colonel Polk selected a man of ability
and means, Samuel Dickens of the county of Madison, post-
office, Spring Creek, a recent settler, who had been a member
of tlu- North Carolina Legislature from Person County and a
Representative in Congress in 1810-1817. To him in iSji
was given power "to do all things to maintain, secure and pre-
the rights and interests of the University." The appoint-
ment was fortunate, as through a lon^-eontinuing agency he
proved himself to be vigilant and wise. He had charge not
only of the - ' warrant^, but of those -ivm to the I'ni-
vernor Smith and Major < '.errard. His compcn-
n for locating the lands was that usually ^iven. vi/.. 102-3
per cent of the value of tin- land- mrveyed, payable in land.
\\X over, his commission
386 TUK UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
six per cent at first and afterwards ten per cent. In locating,
he had a partner, Dr. Thomas Hunt, a graduate of the Uni-
versity in 1800, the firm under the name of Hunt & Dickens,
having a numerous staff of young men "in the woods." In
dividing in 1823 the lands given for locating, the decision was
"by lottery," or as we say, by lot. For the purpose of securing
an equitable division all the lands were grouped into two divis-
ions, northern and southern, and each division into two classes ;
first class being tracts worth $4 per acre, and second worth
less than $4 per acre. On May 3rd, 1823, Dickens estimates
the $4 lands of the northern division at $37,589 and those under
$4 at $46,31475. The aggregates of the southern division he
estimates at $57,153 and $56,007 for the corresponding classes.
Deducting 162-3 per cent from these amounts, the University
had the prospect of realizing $164,220, less six per cent for
selling and paying over. The net receipts of warrants subse-
quently acquired were in addition to this. A dangerous ob-
stacle encountered was the hunting up by speculators of heirs,
or pretended heirs, of the soldiers whose warrants were trans-
ferred to the University. Expensive litigation became neces-
sary. So satisfied were the Trustees that the bulk of these
new-found claims were fraudulent, and that they were owned
by speculators who paid a trivial sum for them, and moreover
that it was impossible to distinguish the false from the true,
that they adopted a resolution to yield to no claim, no matter
how plausible. They determined to interpose every objection,
technical or otherwise. To this the kindhearted Treasurer
Haywood entered his protest.
The instructions to the agent, January 2ist, 1826, drawn by
Judge Murphey, show the precautionary measures adopted.
The agent was ordered to place a tenant on each tract, so as
to make the statute of limitations begin to run. If a squatter
was already in possession he would be induced to leave, and
adverse claims should be bought in, the seller conceding the
fact that they were for the University. Suits should be com-
promised, if deemed advisable. But, says the instruction, "let
the suits remain on the dockets for several years that specula-
tors may be kept in the dark as to the true state of things. Not
UNIVERSITY ATTORNEYS IN TENNESSEE. 387
many suits will probably be brought if there be no decisions.
Speculators will anxiously wait and look out for the decision
,before they adventure far." As the University guaranteed
the title to the warrants assigned to the Tennessee colleges
against all claims made prior to 1831, suits should be avoided
by all safe means until 1832. As it had been settled by the
Tennessee courts that claimants were barred by the statute of
limitations on the lapse of three years from the "appropriation,"
if not of the "emanation" of the warrants, the agent was in-
structed to ascertain from the counsel of the University the
meaning of these terms and to complete whatever was needed
to make the statute begin to run. It was hoped that they meant
the issuing by the Secretary of State of North Carolina. If
so, the University was already safe.
Three thousand dollars cash was sent Mr. Dickens to meet
expenses of various kinds, including counsel fees.
The counsel of the University in Tennessee at that time were
ex- Judge James Trimble and Felix Grundy, partners, of whom
Mr. Dickens wrote that Grundy was the greatest orator and
Trimble, the soundest lawyer; at other times ex-judges John
Overton and Wm. L. Brown, Jenkins Whitesides, Alfred Balch,
Pleasant M. Miller, George S. Yerger. Besides these, there
were local lawyers to attend particularly to suits in their respec-
tive enmities. Win. Washington was one of them. The prin-
eipal lawyer for the University of North Carolina was Arelii-
bald 1). Murphey, general counsel in this State and special in
tlie State of Tennessee. The Land Committee likewise re-
tained Win. C.aston and George E. Badger, as general counsel
in all >uits in which the t "niversity should be interested. After
"ii became Supreme Court Judge, Th<mas I 1 . Devereux
his place.
The lawyer- ronrerned with the settlement of the land di>-
pnt( - were men of the hijjiesi repute in the traiismontane coun-
try. John < )verton. horn in Virginia, younger brother of (ien-
TliMinas < >vertoii. Andrew Jackson's second in his fatal
duel with l)irkins,,n. had been a judge of the Superior ami
Supreme Court > of Tennessn-. a man of soundest judgment,
ami noted as a real estate lawyer. Jenkin Whitevidrx. a native
of Pennsylvania, wa ; :list in land laws and had an im-
388 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
mense practice. James Trimble was born in Virginia, lived for
a time in Knoxville, and was a judge in the eastern circuit. He
moved to Nashville in 1813 and there practiced law until his
death in 1824. Trimble was the soundest lawyer. He taught
law to some of the most eminent men of the State, such as
Samuel Houston, Wm. L. Brown and George S. Yerger. Fe-
lix Grundy has a national reputation for oratory, second only
to Clay and Webster. Born in Kentucky, he distinguished
himself in the legislature and reached the dignity of a Judge-
ship of its Supreme Court. He settled in Nashville in 1807
and at once attained a large practice. He was soon elected a
representative in Congress and was so ardent in support of
the war of 1812, that its opponents declared that it was brought
on by " Madison, Grundy and the Devil." In 1829 he was
elected to the United States Senate. He was Attorney-General
of the United States under Van Buren and again a Senator in
1834 and until his death in 1840. He was a wonderfully suc-
cessful criminal lawyer. It is stated on good authority that he
defended 165 criminals charged with capital crimes, only one
of whom was convicted and executed. There is a legend that
he once caused to be printed a false almanac in order to deceive
the jury as to a date.
Pleasant M. Miller was also a native of Virginia. He set-
tled in Knoxville and was a Representative in Congress from
that district. In 1824 he removed to West Tennessee, and
after twelve years of full practice was elected Chancellor. His
letters, notwithstanding that he wrote "I have went there" and
spelt cession with an initial S, show that he had a vigorous and
original mind.
George S. Yerger's father, of Dutch descent, settled in Le-
banon, Tennessee. The son was a bright lawyer. He was
Reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court of his State and
its first Attorney-General. He removed to Mississippi and was
eminent there.
Wm. L. Brown and Alfred Balch are not mentioned in Cald-
well's History of the Bench and Bar of Tennessee. Brown
was afterwards a judge, and a very able one.
SALES AND EXPENSES. 389
At their meeting in 1823, the Board of Trustees ordered
j 5,000 acres to be sold under direction of the Land Committee.
The agent, Samuel Dickens, executed the trust with faithful-
ness and sound judgment, except that, owing to good offers
made, he sold somewhat more than the number specified. His
action was approved. From time to time other sales were
authorized. Previous to and during 1824, 6,873 acres realized
on credit $21,067. I" l & 2 5 were bargained 7,560 acres for
^02; in 1826, 11,180 acres for $32,474; in 1827, 2,001 acres
for $5,668; in 1828- '9, 4,273 acres for $13,190; in 1830-'!,
<>.jfo acres for $18,383 ; and in i83i-'2, 6,103 acres for $17,831.
A total of 44,207 acres for $131,415.10. The price averaged
a trifle less than $3 per acre. The land unsold in December,
iS^_>. \\as 112,602 acres.
The sales were generally made on credit of one, two and
tli roe years, with interest from date. The agent at the above
date (1832) had collected $52,436.71, leaving a balance due on
notes of purchasers $78,978.39. Including interest, the balance
was $94,587.31.
< >f the cash there was paid to the University up to January
i. 1833, $34,657.50, leaving $17,779.21 to be accounted for.
This was expended by the agent for the following items :
i>t. Commissions for selling, collecting and transmitting.
2d. Compensation to agent for.attention to suits.
3d. General superintendence, etc., etc.
4th. Locative interest in certain warrants not divided until
sale and payment.
5th. Attorney's fees.
< ih. 'IV
7th. Drafts paid on order of the Committee on account of
buildings at Chapel Hill, $1,114.24.
These drafts, $1,114.24. should have been added to th.
paid the University. Doing so, we have receipts into tin- \\.
n ry of $35,771.74, and the expenditures for real i/ in- this
amount $16,664.97, i. e., about 32 per cent of the total.
In January, 1832, the agent reported that there In-longed to
the University, excluding the Gerrard lands
39O THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
59,264 acres unsold, valued at $i 16,397
14,724 acres Resolution lands, valued at 24,039
20,000 acres Smith lands, valued at 20,000
93,988 acres, valued at 160,436
The "Resolution lands" were those ordered to be given the
University by resolutions of the General Assembly in 1821.
The report of 1834 shows that there had been sold by the
agent in all 47,077 acres, for $125,150.05. There had been
collected and accounted for $56,814.17, being $4,377.46 in addi-
tion to what was reported in 1832. There still remained due
the University $68,335.88, principal, and a large amount of
interest.
Besides the receipts from the agent, there was had from the
State of Tennessee under the Act of 1825, as heretofore men-
tioned, $15,154.04 1-4, making a total in cash account of Ten-
nessee lands $50,925.78 received into the treasury.
With regard to the title of the University to the aforesaid
lands, the agent hoped that by the decision of the Supreme
Court in the case of Dunlap vs. McXairy, the statute of limi-
tations placed them beyond controversy.
The Register of Tennessee became alarmed, on account of
public clamor, and stopped issuing grants on some of the "Reso-
lution warrants." It was hoped that he would resume without
further trouble. None of the warrants for which grants were
actually issued were included, nor was a tract of 2,551 acres
about which was a suit with John Terrell.
The tenants placed on the lands prior to 1826 for the purpose
of claiming actual possession by the Trustees, generally de-
serted in order to settle their own lands. This caused the agent
to make some sales to people of no means, who would not
otherwise have been accepted.
There was pending one suit against East Tennessee College
for 2,500 acres and one against Cumberland College for 640
acres, both brought before the expiration of the guaranty, but it
was confidently expected that there would be no others. There
were some other claims, however, which might give trouble,
UNIVERSITY ATTORNEYS. 39!
but it was recommended to be quiet until the seven years limita-
tion expired. The decision in Dunlap v. McNairy was popular
with a large majority of the people. George S. Yerger was
one of the few lawyers who understood the law correctly and
was paid a fee for arguing the case.
The foregoing statement shows the history of the escheated
Tennessee land claims up to the end of Caldwell's administra-
tion. The compensation to the attorneys was in land and
money. To Joseph H. Bryan and Archibald D. Murphey
were given $1,000 in money and warrants for 640 acres of land
each. The Tennessee lawyers were likewise usually paid both
in land and money, but the amounts to all do not appear. Judge
\Y. L. Brown received $1,500 cash and no land. P. M. Miller
received $1,000 in money and a 64O-acre tract. The agent said
that Miller thought his services worth much more. He ex-
pected the Board to order Major Dickens to convey to him
two tracts instead of one of choice land, 640 acres each, and
$1,000 in cash.
I note that while Major Dickens praised Brown and Miller,
he makes no mention of the services of Balch. The Secretary
of State, Graham, gives the credit of the passage of the compro-
mise largely to Judge Brown, after Balch had been driven from
the field.
An interesting fact is that Balch counted confidently on the
influence of Andrew Jackson and John H. Eaton, United
States Senators, who would convince the members of the Gen-
eral Assembly that Congress would never cede the public lands
in Tennessee to the State, as long as the University claims were
unsettled. They were expected to be in attendance on the
General Assembly. Judge Murphey likewise regarded Jackson
as friendly to the University. As Eaton was a University man
and was warmly esteemed by Jackson, who made him his Sec-
retary of War, it is probable that here we see an instance of the
potential influence of the alumni. The Secretary of State,
Daniel Graham was also an alumnus, having migrated to
Tennessee from the county of Anson, and all his influence was
exerted in favor of his Alma Mater.
39 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The suit in equity of Ivey against Pinson and Hawkins,
brought out clearly the point in the attack on some of the Uni-
cersity titles. Ivey claimed that he was a soldier in the Conti-
nental Line. Believing him to be dead without heirs, the Uni-
versity obtained his warrant as an escheat, caused it to be
located and sold the land to Pinson, who sold to Hawkins.
Ivey then brought suit against Pinson and Hawkins, alleging
that he was the soldier entitled to the warrant, and therefore
to the land located under it; moreover, that the doctrine of
escheats was not applicable to such warrants.
The defendants contended that the University should be a
party to the suit, to enable it to contest the identity of Ivey;
also to set up the defence of the statute of limitations,' 45 years
having elapsed. It was also contended that, as the proper au-
thorities had passed the warrant, and invested the land located
under it in the University and its assignee, Pinson, it was
prima facie the property of Pinson 's vendee, and if there were
any grounds of relief it lay in the emanation of the warrant
under a mistake of fact, and the University should be a party
in order to contest the alleged mistake. It was claimed that
Ivey, if not barred by lapse of time, at all events could only
get damages for the value of the warrant, and a suit for dam-
ages should be in the common law court, whereas this was in
equity.
The Chancellor strongly inclined to the opinion that the
University was a necessary party, but he would not order a
dismissal of the suit at once. As to the other point he doubted,
but rather believed the complainant could not get the land. He
continued the case until the next term.
Ivey had sold his claim to two speculators, who made it their
business to hunt up old soldiers or their heirs and buy up their
supposed rights. The agents and attorney of the University
felt deep interest in the case, not because of the value of the
land in controversy, but because a swarm of speculators were
ready, if the plaintiff succeeded, to precipitate litigation which
would have been ruinous. In the lower court the plaintiff was
successful. The Supreme Court was divided. The Legisla-
ture authorized the Governor to appoint a special judge to
LITIGATION IN TENNESSEE. 393
untie the knot. The new judge, Nicholas Smith, and Judge
John Catron, afterwards a judge of the Supreme Court of the
United States, divided in opinion, and then Judge Andrew
\Vhyte came in and proposed to join Smith in the decision for
the plaintiff. To this the counsel for the University strenu-
ously objected, because Whyte had not heard the second argu-
ment. It required a threat of impeachment to turn him from
his purpose. The court directed a new argument, but Overton
and Miller declined to speak again. Then Andrew L. Martin
was employed to file a written argument, especially covering the
evidence and facts in this particular case, rather than the gen-
eral principles so ably discussed by the other counsel. The
decision was against the defendants, who appealed to the Su-
preme Court of the United States. Through the agency of
Hon. Lewis Williams, Daniel Webster was employed for the
University, who, because the University was an institution of
learning and of moderate means, charged a retainer of only
$200, to be added to in the event of victory. I have been
unable to find this case in the Supreme Court Reports. Per-
haps it was compromised.
Col. Dickens wrote that he had seen enough to convince him
beyond doubt that all the large speculators in University claims
wholly relied on perjury, and hence the constant necessity of
having agents to attend to getting up counter-testimony and
attorneys to cross-examine fraudulent witnesses. One Hugh
a preacher, was about to bring forty suits, when it was
discovered that by forgery and perjury he had been a long time
committing frauds on the United States Treasury.
Nor were open enemies only to be watched and thwarted.
<f the University counsel, a man f eminence, had, because
of the delay in the payment of an additional $500, written him
graceful letter, threatening to retire from the service of the
University ami hinting at the extent of mischief he might do
to her.
And then, after sale effected, necessarily on credit.
ere slowly made, and it was dangerous to attempt
coercion by suit. Not only was hatred aroused which might
and did find i ion in hostile legislation, but "judges were
394 TH E UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
ready to grant injunctions on all imaginable allegations, even
on plain notes of hand." This accounts for the slow collection,
which forced the Building Committee at Chapel Hill to resort
to the banks.
Such public prejudice was worked up by the speculators in
military warrants, that the Board of Trustees, in 1826, deemed
it advisable to issue a public defence. At their request one of
their number, George E. Badger, then thirty years old, who
had just resigned his Superior Court judgeship, prepared an
able argument, which was printed in pamphlet form and dis-
tributed extensively in North Carolina and Tennessee. The
author contended that, with but few exceptions, the adversa-
ries of the University in these claims were not the brave men
who fought for their country, nor the children of such, but
greedy and cunning speculators. " From the Trustees the
lands are sought to be wrested, in order to minister to a restless
speculation, stimulated into action by grasping avarice, laying
its plans of acquisition with coolness, and bringing to their
execution all the machinery of crafty villainy." The defend-
ants, on the other hand, are the University and the Tennessee
Colleges. "By them the funds are destined for purposes of
great public utility. Without knowledge, exertions can not be
made for our country with success, either in the cabinet, the
Senate, or the Field. Even war is a science in which mind
vindicates its superiority over brute force, and mere courage,
the most common of all possessions, is of little avail without
genius to suggest and skill to execute. These colleges are
destined to fill our land with learning and with virtue; and
thus to give to our republican edifice both stability and beauty.
It is a purpose a wise man will aid and a good man approve.
It awakens everey generous emotion in its behalf, and leaves
us only unmixed abhorrence for those who are willing to sac-
rifice alike the Soldier and the College; who are eager to
defraud both valor and learning, and are intent alone on the
gratification of a cupidity, unjust in its origin, rapacious in its
extent, and reckless of everything but its own aggrandizement."
Mr. Badger, however, spends his strength chiefly in showing
that even honest claimants soldiers or their heirs, have no
BADGER'S ARGUMENT AGAINST CLAIMANTS. 395
rights to which the University should yield its claims. The
scope of his argument is :
ist. That the Act of 1782 was not a contract for future ser-
vice, but only a bounty, purely gratuitous. This mere dona-
tion could be withdrawn at any time.
2d. In 1783 a time was fixed beyond which there could not
be acceptance of this bounty. After various extensions, the
General Assembly, in 1801, barred claims not presented by the
ist of January, 1803. By the Act of 1807, that of 1801 was
repealed, and all applications were directed to be made to the
General Assembly, and warrants to issue only on their resolu-
tion. By the Act of 1819, the Governor, Treasurer and Comp-
troller were made a Board, vested with the authority reserved
to the Legislature in 1807.
3d. These commissioners ordered the warrants to issue to
the Trustees. The State of Tenneessee adjudicated and al-
lowed them and patents were issued and legal titles vested in
the Trustees.
"The claimants, heirs, or assignees of the officers and soldiers
ask either ist, the value of the warrants as personal property,
or, 2d, that the Trustees be ordered to convey to them the
lands on which they were located. It is clear that the 2d can
not be maintained. The claimant never had any right to the
particular land covered by the patent. But in order to gain
his case the claimant must have a superior equity. This he
has not. The sovereign offered him a gift, fixing the time in
which he should apply. She extended the time. Again he
failed to apply. She for the third time extended the time,
called on him to exhibit his claim to the Legislature. She
then appointed a Board to receive these claims. She had
vely published her muster rolls for general information.
Thirty years elapsed, and she was justified in concluding that
the claimant was dead without heirs or had abandoned the
bounty offered. She recalled it and gave it to an institution
intended to disseminate knowledge and virtue among her sons,
and to enlighten with wisdom and arm with rational valor her
future statesmen and defenders." For thirty year* the claim-
ant slept upon his claim, neglected every invitation, until his
3</ THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
State bestowed the bounty on an institution willing to use it
for public merits. Where is his equity ? Shall the fund never
be available for the purpose of public benevolence or private
usefulness ?
Again, the question of right to these warrants has been de-
termined by competent authority. North Carolina, by com-
pact with Tennessee, reserved to herself the right to issue mili-
tary warrants. Having the right to issue, she had the right to
decide who was entitled. She established a Board to make
this decision. That Board adjudged certain warrants to the
t'niversity. This adjudication is the act of a sovereign State
and can not be attacked in the courts of another State. If
Tennessee thinks herself aggrieved she must demand redress
of North Carolina and if refused she can resort to the Judi-
ciary or Legislative Department of the Union. The Courts
of a State have no power over controversies between States.
And so the claimant's course is to apply to North Carolina for
redress, being restricted of course to application to her Legis-
lature.
Moreover, the authorities of Tennessee have settled the ques-
tion. A board elected by her have adjudicated these warrants.
"The two States the sovereign parties to the compact have
by solemn and deliberate acts determined the right of the
Trustees to these warrants. It can not then consist with the
dignity and honor of either, that private individuals shall dis-
turb what they have decided."
This defence of the University claims, and especially the
high ground, that they were really the claims of the State of
North Carolina, was suggested by two of the Tennessee law-
yers, ex-Judge Overtoil and Pleasant M. Miller. By making
the question a controversy between States, it was thought that
Congress would require its settlement before considering the
further question of surrendering to Tennessee the residue of
the public lands within her limits. To impress the imaginations
of the people of Tennessee and their representatives it was
further urged that a prominent lawyer, preferably Judge Mur-
phey, appointed by resolution of the Trustees, and if possible
of the General Assembly, should visit the General Assembly at
UNPOPULARITY OF UNIVERSITY CLAIMS. 397
Nashville in the character of an envoy extraordinary and ask
for a hearing.
Mr. Miller fully sustained Mr. Badger as to the character
of those interested in the claims. "Companies of speculators
are hunting up claimants. They will swarm around the Legis-
lature and procure some act favorable to their views. Nash-
ville is the focus of all the mischief. They are backed by the
mob, who sympathize with the alleged poor soldier cheated out
of his land. He is a stern judge who can stand up against the
clamor. One of them has given away, surrounded by men
clamorous for bread."
The Secretary of the State, Daniel Graham, in a letter to
Colonel Polk in 1825, gives a vivid picture of the attitude of the
public mind to the claims of the institution. "You, who have
seen us here in the fullness of our democratic power and level-
ling spirit can form some idea of the difficulties to be encount-
ered in a conflict with occupant privileges and prejudices. There
is in the Legislature the strongest spirit of Radicalism. Propo-
sitions to permit further location of escheated warrants are
treated as 'rank Toryism against our sovereign rights.' Balch,
as counsel for the University, was driven from the field, and it
required seven weeks negotiation, with the aid of Judge
P.r< >wn's commanding genius, to patch up by a bare majority the
compromise of 1825. There was a grievous pelting of illiberal
calumny heaped upon the Old North State, its officers and
friends, but they took it like a prudent Israelite, looking more
to the security of his usury than to the opinion of men. The
sounds of fraud, perjury, corruption, speculation, gentlemen's
children grinding the face of the poor. etc.. etc.. are still tin-
ling in our ears."
aham advised that tin- Trustees should accept the terms
proposed, a- they are the best that will be offered. Kvni this
meaMire would tint have pav M -d if the relief to the people <nuth
of the French I'. road and lloKi,, n had not been included. "Kven
if the I'niversitv cnuld C1 -d in -enm- the tift\ ti\<
mainin^ warrants adjudicated it would be impossible to Wale
n without including land alnad\ orrupicd. and as the Ten
See law anthori/ed compensation for improvements, tin
398 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
mation to be made by neighboring occupants, little would be
left for the University. Again, the Compact under the Act of
1822 does not exempt from taxation the warrants afterward ac-
quired, and so rabid was the hostility that some members of the
Legislature proposed to repudiate the contract. Even if some
relief could be ordered by a United States Court, a decision
could not be obtained before the land would be covered by
'squatting occupants,' who have a powerful influence on fron-
tier legislation. There is a fixed leveling demagogical spirit
prevailing, not only against a foreign literary institution, but
even against Tennessee colleges. The most influential cham-
pions of the University were Haling in the House and Hall and
Frey in the Senate. Some of our natural allies, Carolina by
birth, yea even alumni of the good mater, tucked down their
tails, as a Kentuckian would say, or 'took the water/ as a
Tennessean would say, before the dreaded influence of popular
breath."
Such was the popularity of their cause that the House of
Representatives refused to hear Balch and Brown, the Uni-
versity attorneys, except by memorial. Balch afterward in
asking for large compensation is eloquent about his exertions.
He had assisted in securing the compromise but did not feel
at liberty to state the mode of his exertions, though consistent
with justice and honorable deportment. When afterward the
General Assembly prohibited further locations, he applied for
and obtained a mandamus from the Circuit Court, for over
three thousand acres, and on appeal argued the case in the Su-
preme Court. In 1824 he endeavored to get relief from the
General Assembly, expending his time and money, though with-
out success. This year he went to Murfreesboro where the As-
sembly met, during the first week in the session, remained there
thirty-six days. His language hints at countless beverages
freely bestowed on thirsty legislators. He expended $50 to $60
more than his tavern bills. It is certain that he "was not plead-
ing law," for "what good would light and truth do with such
men?" Judge Murphey, who was his co-worker, "could tell
how much feeling is sacrificed and how much anxiety is suf-
fered by those who are the active agents in procuring any
capital measure adopted by a Legislature of Tennessee."
K Xl-XTTlVK Co. M M1TTEE CONSTITUTED. 399
In addition to his work as a lawyer and lobbyist, he claimed
that his most valued services to the Board, though unobtrusive,
were in thwarting the schemes of speculators, and discouraging
innumerable applicants by stoutly maintaining the justice of the
I'niversity claims and fighting off adverse decisions of the
courts. Especially he had induced the Chancellor to announce
that if the University had sold a warrant or the land without
notice, the bona fide purchaser was protected. This had quieted
i\-ars on the part of purchasers. Even if the sale was with
notice the purchaser could only be made to pay the price of the
warrant and the fees for locating, not the value of the land.
Malch thought that there were points of weakness in the
claims of the University which made it advisable for them to
accept the compromise of 1825. These were : first, the failure in
the Act of Cession of 1789 to declare that the reservation in-
cluded equitable, as well as legal estates ; and second, the omis-
sion to state what ceremonies should be substituted for that of
"office found," according to the ancient law books, in order to
consummate the escheat of the claim of the soldier. These points
were "anxiously considered and regarded with heavy doubts."
"Was Xorth Carolina able to pass any law concerning lands, or
claims to lands in Tennessee, after she ceded that territory to
the L'nited States, and especially, after it became a state in
lialch pressed for additional compensation. As yet he had
received only a land warrant. As we hear no more from him
doubtless his soul was satisfied with a cash payment.
CREATION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
On January 2, 1835, the Trustees determined to place the
management of the University in the hands of an Executive
iniittce of seven Trustees, of whom the President of the
Boanl i the Governor), should be ex oftcio. a member, the other
six to be elected annually by the Board; the Secretary of the
Board to be Secretary of the Committee.
Their powers were:
i. All those of t lie 1, and Committee, of the (/..mmittiv of Ap-
pointment >. and the UniMing Committee.
4OO THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
2. To sell the property and effects, real and personal, of the
University.
3. To change and regulate the course of studies and dis-
cipline.
4. To dismiss any Professor or Tutor for such cause as they
may deem sufficient.
5. To fill vacancies in their own body.
6. To keep a Journal and lay their proceedings before the
next annual meeting of the Board.
This change, which has proved of signal benefit to the Uni-
versity, was made at the instance of Mr. Cameron. It has
given unity and efficiency to the management of the institution.
The Committeemen have been chosen with reference to their
residence in Raleigh, or easy access to it, and the understanding
has been, and on the reorganization in 1875 was expressly en-
acted, that they have, in the recess of the Board, all powers
not forbidden to them. In 1874 the Executive Committee \vm'
authorized by Act of Assembly, and their number afterward
was increased to nine.
The first chosen were Duncan Cameron, George E. Badger,
William McPheeters, Charles Manly, Frederick Nash and "Wil-
liam A. Graham. Governor David L. Swain was Chairman c.r
officio as well as a member. At their first meeting on the loth
of January, 1835, Cameron was elected Chairman, win-in -vi-r
the Governor should be absent.
At a meeting held on the 5th of March, 1835, Governor
Swain offered resolutions, prepared by Duncan Cameron, ap-
pointing Charles Manly the agent of the University to have a
final settlement with the Tennessee agent, Samuel Dickens, and
empowering and directing him and Col. Dickens to sell all the
lands of the University in that State, at public or private sale,
in bulk or in parcels, as they might think best. The preamble
given as the reason for this heroic course, that the condition of
the University is languishing and precarious for the want of
certain and available funds, and the resources of the institution
in Tennessee, on which it relies solely for existence, are un-
available, complicated and far removed from the immediate sup-
ervision and control of the Board of Trustees. Another reas n
CHARLES MANLY COAGEJNT. 4OI
might have been given that there was then a revival of specula-
tion in Western lands.
Provided with a full power of attorney, which enabled him
and Colonel Dickens to do whatever the Board had power to
do, Mr. Manly arrived at the home of his colleague in Madison
County, in West Tennessee, about the middle of July. He made
his final report on the 21 st of November, 1835. After consulta-
tion advertisement was made that all lands not sold privately
would be offered on the I7th of September in the town of Jack-
son, County of Madison, at public auction on a credit of one,
two and three years.
The prospects of a satisfactory sale of all lands did not seem
bright. Colonel Dickens, since his last report, had disposed of
many eligible tracts as were sold, a few by Mr. Manly after the
advertisement. Those that remained were the remnants of what
had been culled over for fifteen years. They were in the counties
adjoining Kentucky, unsuited to cotton and near Kentucky
lands, which could be had for twenty-five ^cents per acre. A
large area owned by non-residents depressed the price, while the
millions of fertile acres in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana,
Arkansas and Texas at almost nominal prices had called off the
attention of immigrants.
On the other hand no one could predict when the tide would
turn in favor of Tennessee, and delay would involve loss of in-
terest and payment of taxes. It is true that some thought that
the University lands were non-taxable under the compact of
1822 whereby 60,000 acres were surrendered to Tennessee Col-
leges, but it appeared that this compact had never been ratified
by the Legislature and the new constitution of Tennessee au-
thorized no exemption. It was concluded to go on with the
auction sale, making vigorous efforts by special notices to in-
vestors to procure bidders, privately or publicly. Such notices
were also given to men of wealth in the State who might take
an interest in the subject.
FINAL SALE.
The lands bequeathed to the University by Major Charles
Gerrard had all been sold, but the 20,000 acres donated by < .
ernor Benjamin Smith still remained. Of these 15,000 acres
4O2 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
were well night unsalable, almost of no value. They had been
shaken up by the great earthquake, called by the settlers "the
Shake," and were largely covered by the waters of the Obion
river, which in places formed extensive lakes and swamps.
Other portions were rocky and unfit for cultivation. After
much negotiation 42,345 83-100 acres at one dollar per acre,
and the 20,000 Smith acres at seventy cents an acre were sold
to Messrs. Orme and Gifford, of Boston, for a Northern com-
pany, and the $56,345.83 purchase money was paid by drafts on
New York and Philadelphia.
This sale included all the University land except three tracts,
which were in litigation, and eight other parcels aggregating
5,020 acres, which Secretary Manly expressed the desire to pur-
chase for himself on such terms as the Executive Committee
should deem fair. He made collections of bonds for rent of
part of the Gerrard lands due before their sale, $543.48 and "a
tolerable good work horse and three mule colts." "Finding
the animals rather inconvenient baggage for a stage coach, he
converted them into cash at the price of $204."
The Secretary highly praised the fidelity, energy and ac-
curacy of his associate, and gave a statement of his accounts
from 1822 to the period of their joint action. He had sold
59,319 acres for $160,147.05, and had paid into the University
Treasury $69,618.94, having disbursed on warrants of the Land
and Building Committee, fees to attorneys, taxes on lands held
under the Resolution warrants, his own compensation and other
contingencies, $23,613.96, showing uncollected $81,079.71 and
$10,309.13 interest; total uncollected $91,388.90.
The Secretary and Treasurer then gives a condensed state-
ment of the financial condition of the University November
21,1835:
Cash in the Treasury $77 2 35-99
Bonds for lands sold, in the hands of Col.
Dickens 91,388.90
Bonds of one Kelly for land 1,500.00
Bonds for rent of Gerrard lands before
sale 53348
Interest of Trustees in litigated lands 1 ,000.00
Making an aggregate of $171,658.37
FINAL SALE. 403
He estimates that at least $150,000 of this amount can cer-
tainly be realized and invested, the interest on which, added to
the tuition receipts, will exceed the annual expenses of the
present establishment by $4,000.
On motion of Governor Swain the Executive Committee gave
the report their entire concurrence, and as compensation for
the services of Mr. Manly the eight tracts of land, amounting
to 5,020 acres, mentioned in the report, were conveyed to him.
In addition to the trials and discomforts of traveling by stage-
coach and on horseback, amid perils of robbers and perils of
waters, and of transacting business in a wild, sparsely settled
country, the agent was prostrated by a long spell of fever. To
add to his embarassment, the wife of Colonel Dickens, his as-
sociate, lay for many weeks at the point of death, preventing
her husband from leaving his home. Considering these things
and the long absence from home and from his business, the
fee does not seem excessive.
In November, 1837, the Trustees concluded to dispose of all
their uncollected claims for land sold, and also their interest in
one or two small tracts, for which suits were then pending, to
their agent Colonel Samuel Dickens for forty-five thousand
dollars, payable in equal installments in one, two and three
3, to bear no interest until the end of the first year.
\ at u rally there was in those troublous days difficulty in
transmitting money. One draft for $13,000 by John Williams
on J. M. McCulloch & Co., of Petersburg, Virginia, was pro-
1. but finally settled by drafts, on Brander, McKinne and
Wright. New Orleans, in five, seven, ten and fifteen months.
These were all protested for non-payment, and the Trustees
compromised the claim for $2,385 which was paid over to the
Attorney of the Hoard in Mobile. On his failure to account
.jnent was obtained against him, from which nothing was
realized.
remarkable that the Midden acquisition of comparator
wealth, after a long struggle with extreme poverty, did not un-
<; the ideas of economy held by the Trustees. The applica
of Professors James Phillips and William Hooper for free
tuition for their sons was refused, although both were clergy-
404 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
men. The Board proceeded to enlarge the institution with ex-
treme caution.
It must not be understood that an utterly safe deliverance of
the Tennessee lands was had. Orme and Gifford brought suit
on account of the defective titles of some of the tracts, which
gave trouble for several years, but the funds of the University
were not greatly affected thereby. They also brought a suit in
equity to set aside the sale, but failed. A few parcels were lost
to those having superior titles and the Trustees made good their
warranty. The attorneys of the University were Samuel Mc-
Clenehan and Thomas Washington. As much as $1,700 in fees
were paid the former and $800 to the latter. The Trustees,
who had charge of the University from 1868 to 1875 were in-
duced to prosecute a suit for the recovery of a tract, the title of
which had been passed to Orme and Gifford, or was long ago
lost by the Statute of Limitation. A bill of costs, including
lawyer's fees, of over $400 was the sad result.
THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY.
It seems proper to give a history of the Library up to the
death of President Caldwell. I am aided by an eight-page
pamphlet on the subject published by Fisk P. Brewer (A. B.
Yale), Professor of Greek in this University, 1869-70.
In the charter of the University the importance of a Library
is indicated by the direction that it shall be called by the name
of its largest donor. As no one appeared to claim the honor,
after about fifty years, the building was called after Governor
Benjamin Smith, on account of his gift to the infant institution.
The first book given was a folio copy of Bishop Wilson's works,
one of a number presented to Congress by his son and by that
body distributed to the States. The resolution of Congress
March 22, 1785, is recited on the fly-leaf and then the follow-
ing: "In pursuance of the above resolution the undersigned,
delegates from the State of North Carolina, have agreed to
transmit the works of Dr. Thomas Wilson to Newberne, to be
deposited there in the Library, belonging to the Public Acad-
emy, till the time arrives, which they hope is not far distant,
when the wisdom of the Legislature, according to the express
DONATIONS TO LIBRARY. 405
intention of the Constitution, shall have caused a College or
University to be erected in the State.
HU. WILLIAMSON,
JNO. SITGREAVES.
The next donation was by the "Father of the University,"
Wm. Richardson Davie, thirty-nine volumes of such histories as
thse of Hume and Gibbon. Richard Bennehan gave twenty-
t volumes and Joseph Blount Hill an Encyclopedia of
eighteen volumes.
Next came Rev. James Hall, D.D., the Revolutionary captain
of cavalry, with forty-nine volumes. Joseph Gautier of Bladen
C>unty. a lawyer of ability and a State Senator, bequeathed
by will his library of about 100 volumes, mostly in the French
language. Besides public documents, nearly one hundred others
contributed by Judge John Williams, James Reid of Wilming-
ton. David Ker, first presiding professor; Abraham Hodge, the
editor, of Halifax; the Centre Benevolent Society of Iredell,
through Rev. Samuel E. McCorckle, D.D. ; Francis N. W.
P.urton of Murfreesborough, Tenn. ; Win. Henry Hill, repre-
itive in Congress, of Wilmington; Edward Jones, Wil-
mington and Chatham County, Solicitor General ; and General
Calvin Jones of Wake and then of Tennessee. In 1812 it was
reported that there were in the Society libraries 800 to 1,000
volumes and in the University library 1,500.
In 1803 it was enacted by the Board that every student
ild be considered as using the public library and should pay
\ for the privilege. The fee was fifty cents per term or one
dollar per annum. This was doubled in 1813. We ha\
;d of 174 books bought with thi> fund in the three \
ending 1816. Afterward in iS_>4 there is a mention of forty-
three volumes and >i\ty-four numbers of journals purchased
for $350*25. As there is no further mention of receipts from
the si.urce it is probable that the tax was abolished, the students
icir funds for the building up of tin- Soeiety Ii1>rari<
Among the regulation* were the following: A borrowed
book could be kept out tli Lc8. < Mily junior* and >eniors
d take an Encyclopedia. The Faculty fixed the price of
406 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
"hiring books/' i. e., those text-books which were kept on hand
for this purpose. Of course injuries to books must be paid for.
"The Librarian's salary was one-half the fees. His duties
were light. The library was for some years in the President's
house, in the room at the head of the stairs; afterward in the
University building.
There were few works which undergraduates cared to read.
The late Judge Battle said that it was a matter of pride to
borrow them, and then use them as dead-falls for the swarm-
ing mice. The tall tomes of St. Augustine were as efficacious
in slaughtering these troublesome rodents as was their great
author in crushing the religious heresies of his day.
In 1822 the Faculty reported to the Trustees that the chief
need of the institution was the procurement of books and ap-
paratus. If five thousand or even one thousand dollars should
be at once expended for this it would be a great relief of the
distressing want. In 1824 President Caldwell went into the
subject at length and earnestly. He began by testifying to the
usefulness of the purchases made out of the library fees. He
urged that it is perhaps hardly considered that a Professor in a
College, who is without books in a tolerable supply, is analagous
to the creation of nobility, which for want of estate is obliged
to live in rags. He compared the bookless professor to a
lawyer without copies of the statutes and reports of decisions.
So a Professor of a College should "employ his whole time and
utmost diligence in the extension of his knowledge by the ex-
amination and study of the multitude of authors who have
written upon the subjects upon which it is his business to teach
and deliver lectures." He then gave illustrations of shoe-
makers without awls and lasts, of carpenters without planes
and chisels, and printers with one or two fonts of worn-out
type. "We have, however," he said "been greatly relieved by
the resource furnished by the library money, with which we
have had it in our power to furnish some supplies of that
species of food on which, as instructors, we are called upon to
subsist and grow."
Dr. Caldwell then asked for $6,000 for books and apparatus
for instruction, offering to go in person to Europe at his own
INCREASE OF LIBRARY.
407
expense to make the purchases. As had been stated the offer
was accepted, the money to be equally divided between addi-
tions to the library and apparatus. The books, 979 in number,
were placed in the library by December, 1825. Donations were
made by a bookseller in London of Thuanus in six folio
volumes and fifty-four volumes by the British and Foreign
Bible Societies.
In 1827 the Board expressed its intention to appropriate
$250 per annum for additions to the library, abolishing the $i
tax on students, but owing to want of funds no purchases were
made. Each professor sent in a list of works needed in his
department, but there was no response. Dr. Mitchell recom-
mended nine, including Gillie's History of the World. In
expectation of an up-to-date collection it was enacted that a
student should not take a book from the shelves. It must be
delivered by the Librarian. Each Tutor in turn was to be
Librarian.
The Record Commission of the English Government from
1833 to 1841 donated to the University eighty-three folios and
twenty-four octavos, which was accompanied by twelve books
and many pamphlets written or edited by Charles Parton
Cooper, the Secretary of the Commission. Among the books
presented by the Commission is a copy of the Domesday Book,
compiled by order of William, the Conqueror.
In 1836 Professor Mitchell journeyed to the North for the
purpose of examining a mineralogical collection. He reported
that the greatest need of the University was books, philo-
sophical apparatus, cabinets of minerals, rocks and shells, for
which eight or ten thousand dollars should be expended. "We
have a professorship of modern languages," he said, "and with
the exception of a broken copy of Voltaire's works and some
old books of controversy between the Catholics and Protestants,
presented many years ago by Gautier of Elizabeth, in Bladen,
have hardly a French work in Italian, Spanish and Portugese
we have nothing. Books are continually published in the dif-
ferent departments of science and learning, which the profes-
sors must have, without which the library of the University
can not be respectable."
408 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Tutor W. H. Owen was the most active of the early librar-
ians. In December, 1836, he reports about 1,900 books in the
Ifbrary, kept in the lecture room in the south building, the
second story, south side, for years called Governor Swain's
recitation, or lecture, room. He states that the munificence of
individuals, conspicuous in the early history of the University,
had ceased, and there had been very little since the Caldwell
purchases. When the Trustees allowed the Faculty to choose
from their number a receiver of dues from students, the profes-
sors agreed to discharge the duty alternately, and to give one-
half of the compensation allowed them for the purchase of
books. Since the change of this plan and the appointment of
Professor Mitchell as permanent bursar this* source of en-
largement ceased.
The report- of the librarians show that there were no addi-
tions made by purchase, the increase coming only from public
documents of the United States and this State, together with a
fV\\ acts and reports of other States. Hon. B. F. Moore,
Chairman of a Select Committee, reported that not a volume
h;i> been purchased by the Trustees during the last quarter of
a century. The professors have, in some instances supplied
tin- means of instruction in their own departments by most in-
convenient draughts upon private resources. This latter state-
ment was especially true of Professors Mitchell, DeBerniere
Hooper and James and Charles Phillips.
In 1850 a handsome new building, called by a belated act of
justice, Smith Hall, was erected for accommodation of the
library. It is modeled after a Greek temple. The hall is eighty-
four feet long, twenty feet high and has five ample windows on
each side. An agreement was made with the students that
the annual ball might be herein, an arrangement which would
have marred the legitimate usefulness of the library if the
books had been in demand. Professor Hubbard, who was its
chief officer for several years ending 1868, wrote that "the Col-
lege Library was never open to the students ; on two occasions
only, as I remember, consulted by persons from abroad ; and
almost never, except as told above (used by Governor Swain
and the Librarian) used by members of the Faculty."
DR. MITCHELL S LIBRARY BOUGHT. 409
After the death of Dr. Mitchell his books, 1897 in number,
were purchased for the Library. Many of them are still valu-
able, but the others, owing to the rapid advance of the sciences,
are mostly out of date. The collection includes works on history,
theology, the classics, general literature and the sciences. In-
cluding these and a few donations, together with constant ad-
dition- of public documents, the library numbered about seven
thousand volumes. During the Civil War they were kept in a
room in the Old East building for safety, but were carried back
to Smith Hall after the reopening in 1875.
In 1885 tne Trustees resolved that dancing should no longer
be allowed in Smith Hall, and two years afterward the Uni-
versity Library was consolidated with those of the two societies.
There are now about 40,000 volumes in the total.
Prior to r838 the Librarian was appointed by the Faculty
every half year. After that date the Senior Tutor was <M
officio Librarian. This rule was broken in 1865 when Rev. Dr.
F. M. Huhbard, Professor of Latin, was chosen. We have the
names of none of the early officers except Tutor Joseph H.
Saunders, in 1824. Tutor Wm. H. Owen held the office from
1836 to 1843. Then came Tutor Ashbel G. Brown for twelve
years, succeeded by Professor Hubbard, President Swain oc-
nnlly taking joint charge, until July 1868. Then came
Prof. Fisk P. Brewer for one year, 1869-70. The officers since
the reopening in 1875 will be given in the second volume of this
history.
Tin- Library contained some unique volumes, for example:
Tlit Klemcnts of Geometric of the most ancient Philosopher
Elucide of Megarn, Faithfully (now first) translated into the
.lish inuni: by H. P.illingsley, Citixen of London. \Vhere-
unto are annexed eertaine Scholies, Annotations and inuenl
of the br-t Mathematicieiis. Ix.ih of time pa>t and in this our
With a very fruitful praeface made by M. 1. I )ee. speci-
fying the Chiofc Mathematiral Sciences. \\hat they are and
whereunto commodious ; win- m-taine new
Secrets, Matliematieal and Mechanical, until tlu>e our < ;
greatly missed. The fly leaf at the 1- tin- nan
Montuela, a distinguished I-'n-neli mathematician. The
<>f publication, 1570, is on the last page.
4IO THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Among the donations of Dr. Hall is an interesting book
entitled Derodon's Logic, 1659. On the fly leaf is "E. Libris
Dan: Hyd: e Coll: Wadh : Anno Domini 1696. This
Professor Brewer says shows that it belonged to a member of
Wadham College in Oxford University. Another legend of a
latter date is "Ex libris Guli. Livingstone," probably Win.
Livingstone, Governor of New Jersey during the Revolution
and afterward, and author of works, civil and military.
Another of Dr. Hall's gifts is a Latin paraphrase of Milton's
Poems, 1690, by Gulielmus Hogaeus. It begins, "Primaevi
cano furta Patris, furtumque secutae."
President Swain said that the Library contained books do-
nated by the great Napoleon. He asserted, also, that for in-
trinsic value it was worth more than the Society collections, an
estimate in which few concur.
The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies from their begin-
ning in 1795 accumulated libraries of their own. In the main
the books were judiciously purchased out of a fund provided
by annual taxation of the members. Care was taken to pro-
vide histories and other works useful in the preparation of
debates, as well as fiction, poetry, travels, and drama. As
the libraries were open only two or three hours a week, the
opportunity for research was meagre, but continuous access
was given to the Commencement Debaters. A catalogue
printed in 1835 by the Dialectic Society shows the following
aggregates: Periodicals, 371 volumes; Epistolary, 77, Voy-
age and Travels, 106; Politics and Law, 72; Poetical, 2^2:
History, 356; Natural History, 37; Geographical, 27;
Dramatical, 106; Theological, 196; Biography and Memoirs,
248; Novels and Romances, 493; Miscellaneous, 583. Total
bound volumes, 2,954; and ten maps. The Philanthropic So-
ciety library was equal to this, so as early as 1835 there were
about 6,000 well-selected books in the two, probably the best
collection in the State.
The high-water mark of numbers during Caldwell's ad-
ministration was reached in 1823, when there were 173 matric-
ulates. The loo mark was crossed in 1817. From 1817 to
1827, both inclusive, the matriculates were 108, 120, no, 127,
UNIVERSITY DECADENCE AND DEATH OF CALDWELL. 41 1
146, 165. 173. 157, 122, 112, 76. They continued under a
hundred for four years. From 1831 to 1836, inclusive, they
were 107, 184, 109, 101, 104, 89. The highest number of
graduates was thirty-four in 1824. It will be noticed that the
falling off in numbers of the University was prior to the panic
of 1837. What were the causes? Doubtless there were more
than one. The panic of 1825 and the low prices of farm pro-
ducts must have kept off students. Morever, President Cald-
well's agonizing disease often deprived him of the power to
attend to his duties. This, of course, partly paralized the pro-
gressiveness of the institution. Then again, the net receipts
from the sale of the Tennessee lands became almost nothing,
and the payment of the interest on the $40,000 debt to the banks
left not a sufficiency to pay the salaries of the Faculty. This
led to resignations so that in 1829 there was one vacant profes-
sorship and two tutorships, in 1830 one professorship, in 1831
and 1832 two professorships, in 1833 one. A fourth trouble
was the Nullification controversy, principally in South Caro-
lina, but extending to the adjoining States, and at one time
threatening Civil War. Its effect on the University is shown
clearly by the following statistics. In 1820 there were seven-
teen; in 1821, nineteen; in 1822, sixteen, students from South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennesee, and Kentucky, while
for the five years ending with 1833 there was from those
States only an average annual attendance of five. South Caro-
lina in 1830 had no students at all, and for three years, 1829-
1832, inclusive, did not exceed one.
DR. CALDWELL'S DEATH.
On the 27th of January, 1835, the sufferings of President
Caldwell were ended. His death brought grief to the officers
and alumni of the University, and to the friends of education
and enlightened progress throughout the land. He had stood
by the cradle of the University, had worked for it through its
infancy up to strong manhood ; had 'been tin- most potent factor
in placing it on the highest table-land of Southern institutions.
1 1< had lived to see its pupils in all positions of usefulness and
412 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
honor throughout our Southland, and he had their profound
admiration. He had won the position of educational headship
in our State. He was the recognized authority on matters con-
nected with mathematical and astronomical questions.
The early history of Dr. Caldwell has been already given.
As a preacher, although not eloquent, he was an orthodox
and fervid expounder of Christian principles. Some of his ser-
mons were sought for with a view to publication, and a few,
notably that on the death of Washington and at the funeral of
Prof. Samuel A. Holmes, were printed in pamphlet form by
admiring hearers. His style was elevated, too diffuse for mod-
ern taste, yet highly appreciated by his contemporaries.
Dr. Caldwell was on several occasions driven into print on
account of attacks on himself for alleged aristocratic views,
and on the institution under his charge. His adversaries found
that he wielded with potency the weapons of ridicule and of
sarcasm.
In his private relations he was neighborly, amiable and be-
loved. His accomplished and able step-son, Rev. Dr. William
Hooper, has shown how the grave, almost stern, University
President, at home disdained not the relaxation of genial
humor, radiated happiness around him, was affectionate and
kindly to all from his brilliant wife to the humblest slave.
He wrote a series of letters to the public over the nom de
plume of Carlton, advocating, with much wealth of argument
and information, gathered during his visit to Europe, and by
reading, the construction of railroads. This gained for him
the reputation of being one of the fathers of internal im-
provements in our State. He advocated with similar intelli-
gence and ability common school education and thus took rank
with Judge Murphey and Bartlett Yancey as a pioneer in this
great work. It has been mentioned that he was the State as-
tronomer in locating part of the Southern boundary of the
State.
It was in recognition of his services to the State and its
institutions that the General Assembly of 1841 conferred on a
Piedmont county the name of Caldwell, the only county which
honors a teacher.
Dr. Caldwell was a man brave and strong, of tireless energy,
RESOLUTIONS OF EULOGY. 413
a scholar yet a man of action, stern in discipline, yet of kindly
heart, a true Christian, firm in his Presbyterian convictions,
but never intolerant towards others, a preacher fervent and
forcible, a teacher patient and inspiring.
The following resolutions of the Trustees, whom he served,
have the merit of truth without exaggeration :
Raleigh, 6th of February, 1835.
On motion of Governor Swain.
Whereas, the Executive Committee with the deepest emotions
of sorrow have received intelligence of the death of Rev.
Joseph Caldwell, D.D., President of the University.
Resolved, unanimously, that by the eminent purity of his
life, his patriotism and zeal in the cause of learning, and his
long, faithful and disinterested public service at the head of
the University, Doctor Caldwell has approved himself one of
the noblest benefactors of the State and deserves the lasting
gratitude and reverence of his countrymen.
This eulogy was read in public at the next Commencement.
The students of the University passed the following resolu-
tions, Haywood W. Guion being chairman and C. C. Battle
secretary. Accompanied by a well-written letter they were
forwarded to Mrs. Caldwell by Wm. P. Webb of Alabama,
Wm. B. Rodman of North Carolina, and Robert W. Henry of
Virginia :
Resolved, that the students of the University of North Caro-
lina, deeply affected by the melancholy death of our much es-
teemed President, Joseph Caldwell, do convey to his bereaved
family a proper expression of our profound sense of his
acknowledged worth, and our unfeigned sorrow for his irrep-
arable loss, which they and society have thereby sustained.
Resolved, that each of us do wear a suitable badge of mourn -
in testimony of our sorrow for his death and the cherished
recollections associated with liis name.
The reply of Mrs. Caldwell is in excellent tasfc
'ie Students of the University.
Young Gentlemen: It was with no common fooling i
your affectionate comiminiratiiii to me this morning. It ^
very gratifying to have the sympathy and condolence of so
414 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
many friends. Be assured you have my gratitude and best
wishes for your present and eternal welfare, and may the God
he served, whose loss we all deplore, lead you to choose and
serve your Creator, in the days of your youth. May he direct
and support and guide you, and at last lead you to those
heavenly mansions where all is peace and joy.
With sentiments of respect and regard,
I am yours, etc.,
HELEN CALDWELL.
He was first buried in the middle of the village cemetery,
which was originally designed for use of Faculty and Students
of the University as well as the inhabitants of Chapel Hill, in a
grave dug and walled, in pursuance of his orders. The body
has been twice exhumed. In November after his death at the
instance of the Philanthropic Society, it was taken up under
the direction of Alfred S. Waugh, an artist, in order to get
a plaster cast of his features. The bust then executed is in
Gerrard Hall and is a faithful reproduction. The grave was
again reopened on the 3ist of October, 1846, and the remains
were reinterred by the side of his wife on the east side of the
old monument.
Judge Frederick Nash and Rev. Wm. McPheeters, D.D.,
were appointed by the Trustees to erect an appropriate monu-
ment over his grave. In the first impulse of enthusiasm a shaft
worthy of the man and the University was contemplated. We
find that Mr. Robert Donaldson, of New York, sent designs,
as did the sculptor, Alfred S. Waugh. These were submitted
by the Trustees to David Paton, a Scotchman, one of the
architects of the Capitol, but there is no record of any report
made by him. Eventually, in 1837, the design submitted by
Thomas Waite, an energetic, but careless, master mechanic,
who then had charge of carrying on the repairs of University
buildings, was adopted.
This monument was of sandstone from one of the quarries
near the University, either that on the plantation of Robert W.
Strowd, or that of Solomon Morgan, since bequeathed to the
University by his daughter, Mrs. Mary E. Mason. The shaft
was cut by J. B. Turney, a skilled mechanic. It soon began to
THE OLD MONUMENT. 415
crumble and grow dingy. Moreover, the plan was to insert
on the eastern face a marble slab with appropriate inscriptions
in Latin, written by the scholarly teacher, Dr. Wm. McPheet-
ers. When the slab came from the workman at the North, the
Latin was found to be, by careless workmanship, so atrociously
bad as to be beyond amendment. The professor of that
language in disgust seized a hammer and smashed the offend-
ing marble into fragments. The unfortunate stone became of-
fensive to good taste and all interest in it was lost. No in-
scription was ever cut showing to whom the structure was
reared. When the New West building was erected its front was
in close proximity to the rugged and gruesome stone. The only
recognition of it was the raising of hats by the processions as
they marched near it at Commencements.
The site chosen was, at the time, thought to be sufficiently
remote from any building then standing or likely to be erected.
Its inconvenient proximity to the New West building shows at
once the progress of the University, and the want of foresight
in the able Committee. To their minds six and seven score
students were gratifying numbers and the locality selected was
hidden away from the active life of the University. The history
of the new monument will be told hereafter.
At the request of the Executive Committee Prof. Walker
Anderson, soon to leave the institution for his eminent career
at the bar in Florida, at the ensuing Commencement, June,
1835, delivered an eloquent and appreciative address on the
career of the deceased President. He was peculiarly well
fitted for the task, having been his pupil, a professor in his
Faculty, and his assistant. He thus had a more intimate knowl-
edge of the character of his superior officer than was vouch-
safed to others. The address was printed and much enhanced
the reputation of Judge Anderson as a graceful and eloquent
orator. It was his last work for the State and the institution
which he had served so long.
I give some specimens of his style : "The religious character
of Dr. Caldwdl was not the formation of a day, nor the hasty
and imperfect work of a dying bed. * * * He had made
ion the guide of his youth; it beautified and sanctified the
416 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
labors of his well-spent life ; nor did it fail him in the trying
hour, which an all-wise, but inscrutable Providence permitted
to be to him peculiarly dark and fearful. The rich consolations
of his faith became brighter and stronger amidst the wreck of
the decaying of flesh ; and, if the dying testimony of a pure and
humble spirit may be received, death had for him no sting
the grave achieved no triumph. * * His hope of a
happy immortality beyond the grave was to him a principle of
strength that sustained him amidst the conflicts of the dark
valley; and to us, who witnessed the agonies of his parting
hour, a bright radiance illumined the gloom which memory
throws around the trying scene. On the evening of the 24th of
January his terrible disease made its last ferocious assault.
* * * By the exercise of prayers and other acts of the holy
religion he professed, he strengthened himself for the last con-
flict, and spoke words of consolation and hope to his sorrowing
friends. But death was yet to be indulged with a brief
triumph, and for three days his sufferings were protracted with
such intensity that his vigorous and well-balanced mind sank
beneath the contest. We willingly drop the veil over the bitter
recollections of that hour, and we take refuge in those high
and holy hopes which were the last objects of his fading con-
sciousness, and which had lent to the long twilight of his mortal
career some of the light of that heaven to which they had
directed his longing gaze.
"The labors of a useful life, to use the thought of an old
stoick, are like things consecrated to God, over which mor-
tality has no power. 'Haec est temporis nostri sacra ac dcdi-
cata; quam non inopia, non metus non morborum incursus c.v-
a git at.' The pure and patient spirit had escaped its narrow
and tempest-stricken prison house, the wasted form is resting
from its sore conflict in the blessed hope of a joyful resurrec-
tion, but those consecrated acts of his useful life remain with
us, to spread their beneficent influence through successive
generations. * * * We may say, without the fear of con-
tradiction, that the whole present generation of the citizens of
North Carolina owe to the memory of Dr. Caldwell gratitude
as well as admiration ; and that we are indebted to his agency,
WM. HOOPER.
.IAMKS IMIII.I.Il'S.
I.I I > II A MITCHELL.
ll I'Mi l| !..
< IIABLBS W. IIAlti.
' r inli!.-
417
directly or indirectly, more than to any one individual, for the
very remarkable change that has taken place in the moral and
intellectual character of our State within the last forty years. I
speak not only of the fruits of his labors, as a faithful in-
structor and ripe scholar; I speak of the whole moral in-
fluence of his life and labors as a Christian minister, an en-
lightened and active patriot, as one who conscientiously ful-
filled all the duties binding him as a man and a Christian ; I
claim to write upon his tomb the proud and safe defiance
'Ubi lapsus?' "
An honor appropriate to the career of the first President was
resolved on, the erection of a building near the east of the
South building, corresponding to Gerrard Hall, to be known as
Caldwell Hall, and to be used as a laboratory, library and
lecture room. Waite, the Superintendent, was instructed to
take measures for its construction, but his management of the
finishing of Gerrard Hall and of the repairs of other buildings
was so extravagant and unbusinesslike that further action was
suspended, as it proved, indefinitely. For twenty years after-
ward the honor to Caldwell was talked of, but never executed.
The marble shaft of 1847 was thought to be sufficient.
SUMMARY OF CALDWELI/S FACULTY.
The changes in the Faculty during President Caldwc-ll's
second term, not already mentioned, may be seen in the folio w-
immary :
The President himself in 1816 changed from Mathematics
Moral Philosophy. In 1834 he added Astronomy to his
Elisha Mitchell was in charge of Mathematics and
Natural Philosophy (Physics), from 1817 to 1826, when he
took the chair of Chemistry, Mineralogy and Geology and
hrld it for the remainder of his life.
Denison Olmsted was in 1817 Professor of Ch< .md
Mineralogy. In 1825, in consequence doubtless of having been
<-n Director of the State Geological Survey, he added
Geology to his title. He resigned the same >T
ban Allen Andrews was Professor of Languages from
1826 when his title was changed to Professor of
27
418 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Ancient Languages, which continued until his resignation in
1828.
Walker Anderson, elected Adjunct Professor in order to aid
President Caldwell, was a native of Petersburg, Virginia, born
July n, 1801. His parents were Daniel Anderson, a merchant,
and Mary R. Cameron, a sister of Judge Duncan Cameron, of
North Carolina. Graduating with highest honor at this Uni-
versity in 1819 he studied law under his uncle, Judge Cameron.
Having on his 2ist birthday married Phebe R. Hawks, sister
of Rev. Dr. Francis L. Hawks, he was induced to become the
principal of a boarding school for females in Hillsboro. He
was called from this position to the University, at first as
Professor of Rhetoric and Logic, and then as Adjunct Profes-
sor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy.
Resigning his chair in 1836 he emigrated at once to the
Territory of Florida and engaged in milling and mercantile
business. Failing in these he entered on the practice of law,
and soon won emiMce therein. Florida was admitted into
the Union as a stateTfi 1846 and in 1851 the Legislature or-
ganized her Supreme Court. Mr. Anderson was the first Chief
Justice. He resigned in 1853 and died in Pensacola January,
1857. He had fourteen children, of whom three are living.
Judge Anderson was a man of loftiest and purest character,
of most winning manners, of fine literary taste, and possessed
of an easy, flowing style. He was a member of the Protestant
Episcopal Church.
William Hooper was Professor of Languages from 1817 to
1822, when he resigned for his work as Episcopal minister. He
returned in 1825 and was for three years in charge of Rhetoric
and Logic. In 1828 he succeeded Andrews in Ancient
Languages and held that place until 1837 when he left finally
the service of the University.
Shepard K. Kollock was the first Professor of Rhetoric and
Logic, in 1819, and resigned in 1825. This chair was vacant,
except for a few months in 1828, but Professor Mitchell volun-
tarily added the duties to his own, during much of the time.
James Phillips succeeded Mitchell as Professor of Mathe-
matics and Natural Philosophy in 1826 and held that chair
PROFESSOR HENTZ. 419
until his death. He was not elected without opposition. Mr.
Ferdinand R. Hassler, an eminent mathematical author, seemed
to have been the favorite of President Caldwell, but he probably
declined to be a candidate. The claims of Matthias Evans
Manly, a tutor, destined to a most honorable career in the
profession of law, were pressed, the President admitted his
ability, but while not opposing, declined to recommend him,
probably on account of his youth, he having graduated only
t \\ . . years before.
Nicholas Marcellus Hentz was elected Professor of Modern
Languages in 1826 and held the place until his resignation in
1833. This chair was established under a resolution offered.
by Mr. Badger, that a "Professor of Modern Languages, in-
cluding French, Spanish and as far as possible other living
languages of Europe be employed." Treasurer Haywood,
Judge Potter and Rev. Dr. McPheeters voted aganst it, prob-
ably on economical grounds. Although a majority of the Board
were thus liberal at a time when they were borrowing money
wherewith to pay the Faculty, they approved unanimously the
report of a committee, of which Colonel Polk was Chairman,
that it was highly objectionable to pay one Raleigh newspaper
O, $1.25, $3.50 and $4.50 for advertisements for which its
rival charged only $2.50, 75c, $1.87 1-2 and $2.50, aggregating
r one and $7.62 1-2 for the other. These sums were
the total expenses for advertising for the year. As the news-
rs were of opposite politics it is easy to understand Colonel
Polk's criticism.
Mr. Hentz seemed to have had little opposition though the
-idem very much distrusted the employment of foreigner-.
He urged in a general way on the Board tlu-ir probably in-
ability to enforce discipline, arising from the impossibility of
their understanding the disposition of American youth. Weight
of character and personal influence are as much needed as
m<4\ He especially inclined to a Virginian applicant, who
'<! the pen name, Inconnue. whose real name was Gessm-r
\\ . Harrison, afterwards a noted educator and author. It i*
able, too, that the President distrusted the reliions principle
of the foreign born.
42O THE: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Mr. Hentz was born in France July 25, 1797, and emigrated
to America in 1816. In 1825 he married Caroline Lee, daughter
of General John Wright, of Massachusetts. He taught Modern
Languages at Northampton in that State, and at Chapel Hill,
Covington, Kentucky ; Cincinnati ; Tuscaloosa, Tuskegee, Ala-
bama; Columbus, Georgia; and Marianna, Florida. At some
of these places he was principal of schools. He was an agree-
able and accomplished man and a good teacher. He was dis-
tinguished as an entomologist, wrote a monograph on the
Arachnidae (spiders) which is of high authority. While at
Chapel Hill he occupied two small houses on the lot of Kemp
P. Battle. On the walls of the upper room of one of these, and
in glass cases, were numerous insects impaled on pins, some
dead, others lingering, the modern humane method of asphyxia-
tion not being generally used. He is said to have imported for
his dwelling the first lightning rod in the village, in consequence
of some strange freaks played by the electric fluid during a
storm. He died in Florida November 4, 1856.
His wife, Caroline Lee Hentz, was born in Lancaster, Massa-
chusetts, in 1800. She was beautiful, versatile and accomp-
lished. She wrote a novel, a poem and a play before she was
thirteen years old. Like her husband she painted elegantly in
water colors. A tragedy by her, called "Lamona," was pub-
lished. Her novels were much admired when published, but
are now not read. Among them are Lovell's Folly, Rana, The
Planter's Northern Bride, Linda. In Lovell's Folly she por-
trayed some inhabitants of Chapel Hill, among them "Doctor
November," then the carriage driver of the President, and
Venus, his wife. Mrs. Hentz preceded her husband in death
by a few months.
While at the University this admirable couple met with a
heart-rending tragedy. A sprightly son of three or four years
old, with his father's name, fell from a chair and was instantly
killed by the fracture of a bone in the neck. He was buried in
the garden of Dr. Mitchell's residence, now Professor Gore's.
Rev. Cornelius P. Vermuele was Professor of Ancient
Languages for a few months in 1830 during the absence of
Professor Hooper on account of sickness. The tutors were:
TUTORS MITCHELL CHAIRMAN. 421
John Motley Morehead and Priestly Hinton Mangum for 1817;
Robert Rufus King and William Dunn Moseley for 1817-18;
Hamilton Chamberlaine Jones and Simon Peter Jordan for
1818-19; S. P. Jordan and R. R. Kng for 1819-20; S. P. Jordan
and James Hervey Otey for 1820-21 ; Joseph H. Saunders and
Anderson Mitchell for 1821-23; J. H. Saunders and George
Shonnard Bettner for 1823-24; J. H. Saunders, G. S. Bettner
and Elisha Young for 1824-25; G. S. Bettner, Matthias Evans
Manly and Edward Dromgoole Sims for 1825-26; E. D. Sims,
John Jenkins Wyche and Oliver Wolcott Treadwell for 1826-
Silas Milton Andrews, J. J. Wyche and O. W. Treadwell
for 1827-28; Lorenzo Lea and O. W. Thompson for 1828-29;
Thompson Bird for 1829-30; Henry Grantham Smith and John
Allen Backhouse for 1830-31; H. G. Smith, John DeBerniere
Hooper and Jacob Thompson for 1831-32; J. DeB. Hooner, J.
Thompson and Giles Mebane for 1832-33 ; Jas. Hogg Norwood,
Thomas Lapsley Armstrong and Wm. Nelson Mebane for
1*33-34. Thomas Burgess Haywood held the position for
awhile in this year. Samuel Richardson Blake, William Pugh
!' nid and Harrison Wall Covington were the Tutors for 1834-
In 1828 a Tutorship was offered to James D. Johnston,
the able teacher of Oxford, but was declined, although a salary
of $800 was annexed. David McAllister, Wm. Henry Owen,
and Abraham Forrest Morehead taught in 1835. In January.
1*35. < Hven tendered his resignation, and David Francis Bacon
of Connecticut was chosen in his place. On his declination.
n was induced to remain. A. Burgevin was two years
Professor of Modern Languages.
MnvnKi.1. CHAIRMAN or IVUTI/TY.
After the death of Caldwell to the arrival of President Swain.
Mr. Klisha Mitchell continued to he the Acting President. It
lia> been stated that Dr. Win. Hooper de-sired the office. Of
thi- there is no evidence, but the tradition that lie wa.s in favor
ntinuance of Dr. Mitchell, is probably true.
GHAIMATKS 1835.
The highest h.moj- man of the class of 1835 was Haywood
\Villiam Onion. \\!IM ^x^c the Salntatorv. The iu \t to him.
declared equal, were Augustus J. Foster and \Vm. Peter \\Vhh.
422 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
They drew lots for the Valedictory, and Foster won it. Hon-
orary orations were assigned to Samuel H. Ruffin, James Hill
Hutchins, Wm. Alexander Rose, Henry Lee Graves and James
Campbell Smith.
Guion became a leader at the bar, an efficient President of
the Wilmington, Charlotte and Rutherfordton, now Carolina
Central, Railroad Company, and author of a scientific work,
called the Comet; Foster was a farmer and a most efficient
Justice of the Peace, unable to engage in active pursuits by
reason of being a victim of rheumatism. Wm. P. Webb was a
Judge in Alabama. Of those not gaining honors, C. C. Battle
was a lawyer, Private Secretary to Governor Dudley, and a
volunteer in the Mexican War. Richard B. Creecy is a useful
and honored editor and lawyer and author of many monographs
illustrative of the history of our State, now (1895) the oldest
living graduate of this University. One matriculate, Colonel
Clarke M. Avery, was killed in battle.
Of those not graduates,. Johnston Blakeley Jones of Chapel
Hill and Charlotte, was a physician of skill and genius, and
John Archibald Bingham was a preacher and teacher in the
noted Bingham School, his brother William J. being Principal.
The chief feature of the occasion was the eloquent eulogy,
already mentioned, on the character of the late President Cald-
well by Professor Walker Anderson.
A meeting of the Institute of Education was held, but the
proceedings were not recorded, except that Professor Mitchell
gave a talk on Agriculture.
Thomas S. Ashe, a recent graduate, afterwards Judge of the
Supreme Court of the State, was elected Tutor, but declined.
It was stated that he was in all respects an excellent student.
The Commencement of 1835 under the management of Pro-
fessor Mitchell. Chairman, was the first after the death of Dr.
Caldwell. The Trustees ratified all the acts of the Executive
Committee, including the resolutions about the late venerated
President. The students, with the happy buoyancy of youth,
had begun to make preparations for the usual ball, but the
Faculty thought it would be heartless and unbecoming. Both
sides appealed to the Trustees, who sustained the Faculty.
ELECTION OF EX-GOVERNOR SWAIN. 423
Messrs. Perrin Busbee and Green M. Cuthbert managed the
case for the students, doubtless with ability, for they were men
of superior talent. Their letter to Governor Swain, asking
him to be an honorary Ball Manager, "in order to give dignity
and stability to the occasion," and his letter of refusal, were
deemed of sufficient importance to be spread on the Minutes
of the Committee.
The Committee, while deeming this contemplated violation
of funeral etiquette to be under their cognizance, administered
a mild rebuke to the Acting President Mitchell for summoning
them to adjudicate some cases of discipline. They refused to
consider them, alleging that they belonged to the jurisdiction
of the Faculty.
At the same time quite a sharp implied rebuke was adminis-
tered to some members of the Faculty by a resolution that,
whenever one should be absent without leave a pro rata deduc-
tion should.be made from his salary. Possibly the offender
was Tutor Bacon, as he was shortly afterwards legislated out
of office, $150 being paid him for compensation for the re-
mainder of his year.
This was a very notable meeting, because held on the 2Oth
of June, 1835, when the important State Constitutional Con-
vention of that year was sitting in the Presbyterian Church at
Raleigh. There were twenty-nine Trustees present very emi-
nent men. They took steps to secure worthy candidates for
the office of President by recommending the Executive Com-
mittee to "open correspondence with distinguished literary men,
and in other ways," the election to be at the next annual meet-
ing. The President's salary was fixed at $2,000 per annum
and the use of a dwelling.
ELECTION OF SWAIN.
On the 5th of December, 1835, David Lowrie Swain, on the
nomination of Duncan Cameron, was elected by ballot Presi-
dent of the University. It is not stated that the vote was
unanimous, but, as there was no other nominee, his majority
must have been large, as tradition so states. He was fond of
mentioning that, while he desired the place, he was unwilling
424 Til 1C UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
to have it without the support of the strong men of the Board.
He therefore consulted Judge Frederick Nash and asked him
to confer with ex-Judge Duncan Cameron, and he would be
guided by their opinion. The latter was enthusiastic in his
favor, the former acquiesced, and the Trustees generally ap-
proved.
He was elected on account of having been by his talents and
winning manners, a wise, energetic, successful administrator
in the high public offices to which he had been elected. Born
on the 4th of January, 1801, he was well taught by the skilled
Rev. George Newton of Asheville, in the classics and mathe-
matics. He entered Sophomore Class of the University of
North Carolina in 1822, but, on account of the bad health of
his father and straitened means, in a few months he left the
institution for the study of law under Chief Justice John Louis
Taylor at Raleigh. He began practice in 1822 at Asheville,
with immediate success. He served in the House of Commons
1824 to 1829, when he was chosen to be Solicitor of the Eden-
ton Circuit, and was transferred the next year to the Superior
Court bench. The General Assembly, on the 1st of January,
1832, inaugurated him ('.overnor. By successive elections he
continued in that high office for three years. After leaving
the executive chair, he was an active member of the Constitu-
tional Convention of 1835. I* 1 a ^ these positions he studied
with care and decided intelligently the questions which came
before him. In our State history he was peculiarly learned,
and in that of the United States, well versed.
Although Professor Wm. Hooper sneeringly said, "the peo-
ple of North Carolina have given Governor Swain all the offices
they have to bestow and now have sent him to the University
to be educated," he was by no means an illiterate man. Gov-
ernor Perry of South Carolina in his book of Reminiscences,
states that he was the best scholar at the classical school of
Mr. Newton, and was proficient in Homer and other ancient
authors. He was known to quote lines from the Iliad after
his coming to Chapel Hill. He had a tenacious memory, was
well acquainted with the genealogies of the leading families of
the State, and excelled as a popular speaker. His person was
425
very imposing, over six feet high, but so ungainly that number-
less witticisms were perpetrated on its deviation from the
standards of manly beauty. An old Whig, boasting of the
triumph of his party in a debate m the Legislature, said : "The
Democrats were beating us until old 'Warping Bars' from
beyond the mountains thrashed them out." But notwithstand-
ing this defect, his genial temper, ready wit, his kindliness, his
gift of speech, made him a favorite in all companies, while his
industry in preparation on the questions under debate and
skill in arranging his argument made him a formidable antag-
onist. I add that in a long life his integrity was never im-
peached, and that he was prudent in the management of his
private affairs. His great popularity in the State was a mani-
fest gain to the University.
The new President was of a goodly lineage. His father,
George Swain, was of sturdy New England stock. Emigrat-
ing to Georgia, he was soon a member of the State Legislature
and of the Constitutional Convention. For the sake of his
health, he removed to a small farm near Asheville. Here he
planted fruit trees, some varieties imported from New England,
d the crops usual in his region, and carried on the trade of
a hatter. For years he was also Postmaster of Asheville. Like
Xew Highlanders generally, he highly valued education, and
gave his children the best available opportunities.
Governor Swain's mother was of a prominent North Caro-
lina family, said to have been connected with Governor Ralph
Lane, who led a colony to Roanoke Island. Her name was
Caroline Lane, the widow of a good man, named Lowrie. She
of Colonel Joel Lane, long State Senator from
\Yake, who sold the site of the seat of Government. Another
l.n.tlh r was Jesse Lane, whose son, Joseph, was a General in
van War, a Senator from Oregon, and a candidate for
the Vice-Presidency on the Breckenridge ticket .
It wa- intended by the Trustees that the new President
should occupy the dwelling on the west side of the Campus on
Cameron Avenue, originally built for its chief officer. But
President Swam disliked to dispossess Professor Mitchell of
. and his wife did not approve the duelling last <
426 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
pied by Dr. Caldwell, because inconvenient for young children.
That next to the Episcopal Church on the east was preferred,
and was the executive mansion until 1848.
There was much speculation as to whether the high standing
and personal popularity of President Swain would bring new
students. In his favor was the relief of the University from
severe financial strain ; against him was the panic of 1837 and
the depression of many following years. As late as 1845 cot ~
ton, the chief Southern money crop, brought only five cents a
pound. Remembering this, we conclude that his administra-
tion had a very successful beginning. There were only 89
matriculates in 1835, entering in the fall before his election.
In 1837 there were 142; in 1838, 164; in 1839, 160; in 1840,
169; 1841, 167.
The Faculty starting with President Swain were Elisha
Mitchell, Professor of Chemistry, Geology and Mineralogy;
Wm. Hooper, of Ancient Languages ; James Phillips, of Math-
ematics and Natural Philosophy; Walker Anderson, of Rheto-
ric and Logic ; A. Burgevin, of Modern Languages. The
Tutors were Wm. H. Owen, of Ancient Languages, and David
McAllister, of Mathematics.
Some friction arose between Dr. Mitchell and the new Presi-
dent because of a criticism by the latter as to the deficiency of
class work done by the Department of Chemistry and Geology.
The sensitive Doctor showed that by adding his conducting of
prayers and preaching of sermons, and his duties as bursar, to
his lecture work, he was not behind any other professor. The
ruffled tempers were soon appeased, and his relations with his
chief were henceforth harmonious.
CLASS OF 1836.
The village of Chapel Hill being of sparse population, and
circuses, theatres and such like entertainments being excluded,
Commencements were important occasions. The number of
equipages and visitors was surprising. The day was the first
Thursday in June, selected so as not to conflict with the courts
of the neighboring counties. On Monday night of 1836 there
were declamations by members of the Freshman class, namely,
COMMENCEMENT OF 1836. 427
Wm. R. Walker, Gaston H. Wilder, Wm. F. Brown, Dennis
D. Ferebee, James H. Headen, Duncan K. McRae, and Thomas
D. Meares.
On Tuesday night the declaimers were Augustus Benners,
James Sidney Smith, George Davis, J. W. Evans, John O. L.
Goggin, J. J. Jackson, and James Somerville of South Carolina.
Of these. Brown, McRae, Smith, Benners and Goggin did
not remain for graduation. Smith was a lawyer and Assem-
blyman with reputation as a speaker. Two of this year's
matriculates, Lucius J. Johnson, Major, and Oliver H. Prince,
Captain, lost their lives in the Civil War.
On Wednesday the orator chosen by the Philanthropic So-
ciety, Henry L. Pinckney, a Representative in Congress from
South Carolina, was to deliver an address, but was unable to
be present, on account of sickness. He forwarded a copy of it
to the Society, and at their request it was read by the President.
The newspaper correspondent reported that he "performed this
duty to the entire satisfaction of all and gave promise of mak-
ing an able and popular President."
In assigning the honors of Commencement day to the mem-
bers of the Senior class, it was resolved, 1st, that only two
separate distinctions be awarded to the two best scholars ; the
remainder to be divided into two orders, to one of which hon-
orary, called Popular, orations to be assigned, the other to be
required to prepare "Forensics."
To Wm. B. Rodman was assigned the Latin Salutatory, the
highest honor. To Lawn no \\ . Scott, the Valedictory in
iish. To James E. Crichton, Ralph H. Graves, Win. W.
Hooper, Thomas Jones, Frederick X. Me Williams, and Charles
L. P< "Popular Orations."
To the remainder were assigned what were called Forensics.
Speeches at Commencement \\ere by all the Seniors. The
subjects are of interest as showing what young men were think-
about in the closing years of Andrew Jackson's admin,
tion.
The Salutatory in Latin. Win. I 1 ,. Rodman. History. Kalj.li
H. Graves. Tin- Intinence of Fame on Genius, Fred N. Me
Hams. The Influence of Catholicism on Free Institutions,
428 THE: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
James H. Crichton. Shall the Indians be Trained to be Free
Citizens or Made Slaves? debate, Thomas Gholson, Thos. S.
Jacocks. Should Universal Education be Enforced?, James
Saunders. Should Texas be Annexed to the United States?
Debate, Benj. I. Howze, Wm. L. Stamps. Should the United
States Recognize Texas? Debate, James E. Hamlet, Henry
K. Nash. The Indians of North America, Thomas Jones.
The Inequality of Genius, Wm. W. Hooper. Should Educa-
tion be Compulsory?, Charles L. Pettigrew. Should England
and France Restore Poland? Debate, Robert G. McCutchen,
Thomas Stamps. Is the Salic Law Just and Wise? Debate,
John A. Downey, John G. Tull. Valedictory, Lawrence W.
Scott.
Although there was a recess for dinner, this formidable pro-
gramme illustrates the superior patience of our fathers and
grandfathers.
Of the honor men, Rodman was one of the ablest lawyers
of the State, and reached a seat on the Supreme Court bench.
He was also a Colonel and member of the Convention of 1868;
Sott was a lawyer and also a physician; Crichton was a phy-
sician, Graves a Tutor of Mathematics at the University and
then Principal of a classical school of very high standing and
co-Principal of the Horner School, father of the late very able
Professor of the same name ; Hooper was a physician, who died
early; Jones was a minister of the Gospel; Pettigrew, brother
of "General J. J. Pettigrew, a successful planter and of wide
influence. Of those without honors, Henry Kollock Nash was
a member of the Legislature, Presidential Elector for Scott
and (iraham, and of high rank as a lawyer and orator.
< >t" the matriculates with the class not graduating were
Andrew Jackson Donaldson, nephew and Private Secretary
to President Jackson, Minister to Piussia and Germany, and
candidate for the Vice-Presidency with Fillmore; and William
H. Polk, brother of President Polk, Charge d'Affaires at
Naples.
Professor Mitchell and Rev. Dr. McPheeters were appointed
a committee to examine the curricula of the leading colleges
of the United States and report as to what advance should be
CABINET OF MINERALS. - 429
made in order to assimilate the University of North Carolina
to them. They found that there was substantially little differ-
ence in the terms of admission, and no change was then made.
Among other events of this year, a Civil Engineer, W. D.
Riddick. was employed to investigate the sandstone formation
east of the village to ascertain if a quarry of building stone
could be secured. Material for the steps and window-sills was
obtained at two places, as is shown by the sunken pits, but has
not proved to be durable. The first Caldwell monument is
from this rock. As only $13 was paid the engineer, the exami-
nation could not have been extensive.
Professor Mitchell, while on one of his annual visits to his
old home, was instructed to examine the cabinet of minerals
belonging to Dr. J. H. Griscom. The good doctor, evidently a
Quaker, wrote from Philadelphia in December, 1835, with an
artlessness not expected of those living north of Mason and
Dixon's line, that his price was $1,500, but if he could not get
that he would take $1,250, and if a sale could not be effected
by the spring he would take even less. Professor Mitchell
was not much impressed, stating that he believed better results
could be obtained by purchasing of M. Moldenhauer of Heidel-
burg, Germany. He adds : ''Baron Laderer, the Austrian
Consul, has one that he holds at $4,000. He has paid more
for single specimens than Dr. Caldwell did for the whole cabi-
net he purchased for the Trustees." As it is stated elsewhere
that Caldwell paid only fifteen dollars, the Baron must not have
had v^ry costly stones.
While on this journey, Professor Mitchell went out of the
way to inspect Northern colleges, in order to inform the Tru-
tees of our deficiences Yale, "the Methodist College in Mid
dletown," now Wesleyan, Washington College at Hartford.
Brown University at Amherst. IK- \\a> furnished with letter-
itn.dnction at Harvard and Princeton, but "was so little
ified by what .In- had already seen that he neglected t< HM
I l< advi>ed that instruments purchased .should 1>e tlu^e
useful for illustration In-fore a class, and gave a gentle criticism
of Dr. Caldwrll's ]>n: n Kiin-p,-. tin- Astronomical Clock.
the Altitude and A/.imuth instrument, and the Transit, "all
430 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
good and necessary in an Observatory," but consumed a large
part of the funds. Two thousand dollars are needed for the
department of Natural Philosophy.
While the appropriations for Chemistry were once liberal,
there was then needed $1,000 additional to meet its wants,
including Apparatus for Electro-Magnetism and the Polariza-
tion of Light.
He stated that the University had a Professorship of Mod-
ern Languages, but the only books owned were a broken copy
of Voltaire's works and some old books illustrating the con-
troversies between the Catholics and Protestants, the gift of
Senator Gautier of Bladen County. We had nothing in Italian,
Spanish or Portugese. Books are continually published in the
different departments of science and learning which the Pro-
fessors must have and without which the library can not be
respectable. It is remarkable that the Professor in enumera-
ting the modern languages in which our deficiency was appa-
rent, omitted altogether German. He seemed to think \\e
needed instruction only in Latin tongues.
For all these needs, $8,000 or $10,000 should be expended.
If a larger telescope should be desired, $1,200 or $1,500 must
be added. One at $1,200 had just been received at Middletown
from Leubours of Paris, and Princeton was expecting one m< nv
costly from the shop of Fraunhofer.
The Professor then takes up the question of cheap board
for poor students. The usual plan has been the establishment
of Commons with dearer and cheaper tables, of which the
boarder can take his choice. This is liable to great objections.
We are brought into collision with the most capricious and
unmanageable part of the student's system his stomach. All
of them lead an inactive life, and therefore have not the raven-
ing appetite they have at home after a day's work or hunting.
The Steward's Hall is a common source of vexation and dis-
turbance at all colleges. It is suggested that students earn-
estly desirous of an education, ''willing to live on very plain
food and make out their dinner on Greek roots and Conic sec-
tions," shall have a house where they can manage for them-
selves. The Professor hopes, with the approval of the Trus-
GERRARD HA 1. 1. FINISHED. 431
tees, with the funds accruing from the tuition money, to provide
such an establishment.
Dr. Mitchell was, when this letter was written, temporary
President, and his recommendations were made as such. It
does not appear that he carried into effect his plan of helping
poor students to cheap board, but in recent years it has been
adopted with great success. The Steward's Hall was rented
to persons willing to charge reasonable rates to students, but
the latter were not compelled to patronize its tables. Among
those who entered into the obligations were John B. Tenny,
Mrs. McCauley, widow of Wm. McCauley, Mrs. Caroline
Scott, widow of John Scott, who removed from Hillsboro to
Texas and died soon afterwards, and Miss Sally Mallett. In
1847 tne wings were given to President Swain to be used in
erecting a servants' house, and the main structure was sold.
The building designed for public exercises, Gerrard Hall,
wax finished in 1837. As most of the exercises during the
were of a sacred character, it was known as the New
Chapel. Person Hall, or the Old Chapel, was soon given up
to lectures, divided into four rooms for this purpose. The
chief carpenter and manager was Thomas Waitt, a man of
force but careless in his financial dealings ; extravagant, but not
chargeable with dishonesty. He was succeeded by Kendal
Waitt, probably his son, who was for many years the carpenter,
locksmith and plumber for the institution. They were from
\\-\\ Kngland.
In this year the vacations were enlarged to six weeks in
summer and the same in winter.
An entry in the Treasurer's book of 1836 brings to mind that
the astutest of men could be caught by the fallacious hopes
of what are now called "boom towns." Peter Brown was a
hanlheaded, closefisted lawyer, a native of Scotland, who ac-
cumulated a fortune of $200,000. A town was laid out at the
junction or the Cape Fear and Haw Rivers, which it was ex-
pected to be connects! with tin- na-an 1>y slackwatcr na\
and to become a prosperous commercial city. It was
named after the State Treasurer, John Hay wood, and aspirol
to be the capital of the State and the site of the Univer
432 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Many leading citizens hoped to share in the golden harvest by
buying lots, aniong them the sagacious Peter Brown. When
he turned his real estate into money in order that his Scottish
nephew might obtain the fund under his will, his Haywood
investment escaped his memory, and the University, by escheat,
obtained $25, not for each front foot, but for the whole acre.
One - Seabrook was appointed Tutor of Modern Lan-
guages at $600 per year. The Faculty books show that he did
not accept the offer, but for several months, February to May,
1836, A. Burgevin was numbered among the Professors, his
chair being that of Modern Languages. Of him we know
nothing.
After paying off pressing debts, the Trustees bought from
the State 100 of the five per cent certificates of $1,000, each
bearing five per cent interest, issued under an Act passed in
1835, "to provide for paying for the Shares reserved to the
State in the Capital Stock of the Bank of the State of North
Carolina." In 1837 the certificates were surrendered in ex-
change for one thousand shares of stock in the bank. As the
bank paid an average of eight per cent dividends, the $8,000
annually thence derived, together with the tuition money, occa-
sional escheats and interest on money loaned, constituted the
income of the University until the ruin of the Civil War.
GRADUATES OF 1837.
The Commencement of 1837 was ne ^ in Gerrard Hall. The
newspaper of the day, the Raleigh Register, describes it as a
"commodious building, with large galleries, just completed
with becoming taste and good style." The reporter became
enthusiastic and poetical in depicting the occasion. "It is the
first young budding of fame to a Collegian, to see an ocean of
bonnets and ribbons, and the banks of snow gauze waving and
rustling at his appearance, as if the gentle south had breathed
on a wheat field ; but it is the full bloom of popularly, if, when
he retires, he shall see the ocean toss with emotion that rolls
beneath its surface."
On Monday night came the Freshmen declaimers, generally
called Competitors, Tod R. Caldwell, John W. Cameron, Win.
CLASS OF 1837. 433
H. Henderson, John A. Lillington, Duncan Sellers, Albert
Shipp and Wm. M. Shipp. The Sophomore Competitors were
George Davis, Joseph W. Evans, James Summerville, Wm. R.
Walker, Dennis D. Ferebee, James H. Headen, Walter A.
Huske. All graduated in regular course.
The address before the Literary Societies was by Hon. Rob-
ert Strange, a Senator of the United States, who had been a
Judge of the Superior Courts. He was a polished speaker, a
graduate of Hampden-Sidney College, especially successful as
a criminal lawyer, when appearing for the defence.
The Representatives chosen by the Dialectic Society were
Benjamin M. Hobson, Joseph John Jackson, Thomas D.
Meares, and by the Philanthropic, James M. Burke, Hazell W.
Burgwyn, and William S. Pettigrew. William J. Long was
added by the Faculty.
In those days there was no prize to the winner and no ad-
judication by a committee or by the audience, as to the merits
of the speakers, but the best always learned from his friends
the good news of his triumph. All these became graduates
except Burke, who died three years afterwards.
The honors in the Senior class were awarded, the highest to
Wm. Waightstill Avery, who spoke the Valedictory, and the
next to James G. Womack, with the Latin Salutatory. Hon-
orary orations were next assigned to the following, whose
rank was in the order of their names. Augustus Benners, on
The Importance of Southern Literature. Perrin H. Busbee,
on The Causes which have retarded Political Economy. Peter
W. Hairston, Future Prospects of our Country. Leonard H.
Taylor, Character of the Aborigines of America.
Forensic orations, that is, those carrying no honor, were
assigned to Alexander Swann, Samuel B. Massey, George Hoi-
ley, and Kemp P. Alston. Afterwards Massey, Alston and
Holley were excused, and Swann being displeased with the re-
port, refused to stand the examinations and speak.
The first-honor man, Avery, attained a distinguished posi-
tion at the bar and was a leader in the Democratic party. He
was Speaker of the State Senate and a Senator of the Con
28
434 TH E UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
erate States. He was killed in 1864 while repelling a raid of
bushwhackers on Morganton. Womack was a physician in
Tennessee. Benners, the next scholar, was a lawyer and mem-
ber of the Legislature in Alabama. Busbee was an able law-
yer, of large practice and Reporter of the Supreme Court. He
was cut off in middle life; Hairston was a wealthy planter of
much influence; Taylor was a physician of great repute in
Granville.
Some non-graduates of this class were Wm. Barringer of
Cabarrus, a Methodist minister, accidentally killed while super-
intending the building of the Greensboro Female College;
Joseph Branch, Attorney-General of Florida ; Richard S. Sims,
a physician in Virginia. Two matriculates were killed in
battle, General Isom Garrett of Alabama and Thomas Ruffin,
Colonel, of Goldsboro.
On the i Qth of June of this year there appeared in the Ra-
leigh Register, a bad-tempered attack on the University under
the guise of a reply to a circular of the Executive Committee.
It was asserted that the Legislature had expended on the insti-
tution nearly half a million dollars; that it was cruel to dismiss
a student for contracting a debt; that the terms of admission
were far below those of Columbia, Yale, Harvard and other
institutions; that no certificate of character was required for
entrance ; that the situation of Chapel Hill was bad, except for
health; that visitors had extreme difficulty in being accommo-
dated ; that the Faculty are under a moral compulsion to throw
open their doors and virtually keep houses of entertainment
without charge ; that clergymen were excluded from the Board
of Trustees, that a majority of the Faculty belonged to one
denomination ; that religion was not provided for the South
Carolina College in a measure failed because its head was an
infidel ; that the University of Virginia had Religion engrafted
into it by its friends ; that there should be a Christian chair ;
that lampooning the Faculty at Commencement should be
stopped ; that merriment should not be excited by such express-
ions as "Old Charley," "Mike," etc., designed to ridicule some
peculiarities of Professors; that ladies were the subject of
vulgar sarcasm ; that there was want of commanding elevation
LIQUOR ORDINANCE. 435
of character; that good schools were needed in different parts
of the State; that the Chair of Ancient Languages should be
divided; that there should be a separate chair of Civil Engi-
neering; that there were five institutions under control of only
three denominations; that if the University should not be im-
proved it would be of little value; that there were only 101
students out of 750,000 inhabitants, and only 66 were citizens
of the State, whereas Massachusetts had three colleges and 600
students; that of 500 or 600 preachers in the State, only about
20 had collegiate training.
These criticisms are either petty or untrue. President Swain
did not reply.
In 1837 tne ordinance in regard to intoxicating liquors was
strengthened by making it a dismissable offence to bring them
into the college buildings. The same penalty on one publicly
intoxicated was enacted. A committee of the Trustees, of
which Wm. Gaston was chairman, reported in favor of making
the resolution of the Faculty on this subject a by-law of the
institution. Since that time drunkenness, private as well as
public, and indeed drinking spirituous liquors of any kind, have
been made grave offences. The use of wine was not prohibit ed
under this resolution, but was left to be dealt with under the
general laws of the institution, punishment following drinking
1" excess.
It is evidence of the conscientious regard for duty to the
public shown by the Trustees of this day, that in the petty
matter of detail of covering the South Huilding with tin, it did
not occur to them to charge the President solely with its exccn
tinn. One of the Executive Committee, General Samuel K.
r.'tttersoii, was associated with I 'resident Swain in having the
\\<>rk done.
A resolution was parsed for building two new dormitories.
but the project was abandoned. The Societies pressed th
e Other structure, urging the necessity for greater accmn
niodation for their libraries and debating halls. An argument
made that rooms should be provided for "frank" indents,
n called beneficiaries. As the by-law stood, these conld
not live in the college buildings, unless there were vacant
.ere accommod.r
436 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
In pursuit of the ignis fatuus of prohibiting merchant's
credit to students, the President was directed to prosecute
offenders and to dismiss the students accepting it. The law
proved a dead letter. Merchants continued to break it and
parents seldom failed to redeem the pledges of their sons. No
criminal prosecution was ever instituted.
All the officials of the University retained their faith in by-
laws, regulating the conduct of "the establishment," to use a
favorite term of old days. All of them from the beginning
were referred to President Swain and Dr. Mitchell, who were
to rewrite them and submit them to a revising comimttee, Pro-
fessor Phillips, Green and Hooper. They had little influence
for good. An able student afterwards, Colonel David M. Car-
ter, deliberately attempted by experiment to ascertain how
nearly he could come to breaking the law without crossing the
line. When summoned before the Faculty, he appeared, by-
laws in hand, and ingeniously argued that he had not trans-
gressed them. They have been proved to be useless and have
not been reprinted since the re-opening in 1875. So important
did the Faculty regard these rules that Governor Morehead
and Secretary Manly were requested to explain them to the
students in the Chapel, which request was probably complied
with.
REV. DR. WM. HOOPER.
As Prof. William Hooper left the University finally in 1837,
a sketch of him is here given. He was born in Hillsboro, Au-
gust 31, 1792, the son of William Hooper, a merchant, whose
father of the same name was a signer of the Declaration of
Independence. His mother was Helen, daughter of James 1
Hogg, one of the commissioners who selected the site of the
University. His father died when he was a boy, and his
mother, as has been said, became the second wife of President
Caldwell. He entered the University of North Carolina, ob-
tained his degree of A.B. in 1809 and A.M. in 1812; was
Tutor in the University 1810-1817, and Professor of Ancient
Languages 1817-22. He studied at Princeton Theological Sem-
inary 1812-13. His mother was a member of the Protestant
Episcopal Church, and naturally he followed her footsteps for
DR. WM. HOOPER. 437
a time. He was made a Deacon in 1819, and ordained Priest
in 1822. He resigned his professorship and was Rector of
St. John's Church, Fayetteville, 1822-24. In 1825 he rejoined
the University, as Professor of Rhetoric and Logic, 1825-28,
and then held his old 'chair of Ancient Languages until 1837.
In 1831 he became dissatisfied with the doctrines of the
Episcopal Church on the subject of regeneration and infant
baptism, and joined the Baptist denomination. In 1838-40 he
was Theological Professor in Furman Institute in South Caro-
lina ; Professor of Roman Literature in the South Carolina
College, 1840-46, and President pro temp ore; President of
Wake Forest College, 1846-49; teacher of a classical school for
- near Littleton, 1849-51 ; Pastor of the Baptist Church at
Xewbern, 1852-54; President of the Chowan Female Collegiate
Institute. Murfreesboro, 1855-61 ; teacher in the Female Semi-
nary, Fayetteville, 1861-65, and associate principal, with his
son-in-law, Professor John DeBerniere Hooper, of Wilson
Collegiate Seminary for Young Ladies, 1866-75, when he re-
moved with his son-in-law to Chapel Hill. He received the
honorary degree of Master of Arts (A.M.) from the College
of New Jersey, now Princeton University, in 1888; that of
Doctor of Divinity from the University of North Carolina in
. and that of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) elsewhere.
Dr. Hooper married in December, 1814, Fanny P., daughter
of Colonel Edward Jones, Solicitor-General of North Carolina.
They had seven children ; William, a physician ; Edward, also a
physician ; Mary, who married Professor J. DeBerniere Hooper,
her second cousin ; Joseph Caldwell, a teacher ; Elizabeth ;
Thomas Clark, a lawyer and teacher; and Duponccau, who was
mortally wounded at ksburg. The descendants of I )r.
per are the only descendants of Wm. Hooper, the signer,
his other children having left no J>MU.
I )r. Hooper was distinguished for accurate and varied schol-
arship and literary power. lie wrote no book, but many of
his sermons and addresses were printed and were widely appre-
ciated for the soundness of their teachings, ami their 1 iight-
fully interesting style. I have given e nun one Kifty
Years Since" delivered at the Comnu-iuvnx-ni of 1859.
43$ TH E UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
addresses were usually of a religious or educational character,
but occasionally he deviated from this rule. Once he made a
severe attack on the code of morals of the legal profession, and
was answered with the keenest satire by Judge Edwin G. Reade
in what were called the Pickle Rod Papers.
Though often brimming over with delightful humor, he
was sometimes subject to melancholy. Some thought that his
accidentally killing in his boyhood a young girl relative left a
permanent impression on his mind. It is more likely that im-
pairment of his health, which more than once caused him to
change his residence and his pursuits, was the cause of his
occasional gloominess of spirit. This did not prevent his be-
ing a genial companion, or interfere with his laborious reading,
enlightened teaching, or heart-searching sermons.
On July 4, 1876, Dr. Hooper, by invitation, attended the cele-
bration at Philadelphia of the Declaration of Independence.
He died on the iQth of the next month and, at his request, was
buried by the side of his mother at the base of the Caldwell
monument.
At the Commencement of 1838, Charles Manly delivered the
address before the Alumni; an earnest plea for pride in the
University. The annual address was by Wm. B. Shepard,
an accomplished lawyer and member of Congress, who ably
proved the value of the classics as a liberal education. His
accepting this trust shows that he had forgiven his dismissal
for injecting politics into his Senior speech of 1816.
In preparing for this Commencement, the Faculty disclaimed
all right to control the expression in the speeches of political
opinion, not in violation of good taste. This resolution was,
after some years, repealed, because such expressions were
offensive to part of the audience.
The Freshmen Declaimers were C. C. Graham, V. A. McBee,
Wm. J. Clarke, F. M. Pearson, J. J. Norcott, A. O. Harrison,
T. H. Scott, and Samuel Hall.
Those from the Sophomore class were J. H. Headen, W. H.
McLeod, W. A. Huske, J. A. Islington, F. H. Hawks, A. H.
Caldwell, Thomas D. Meares, and Wm. Thompson. All of the
Declaimers became graduates except Norcott and Hall. The
COMMENCEMENT OF 1838. 439
latter became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia ;
and Caldwell, prominent at the bar and of weight in the Legis-
lature. Meares a very forcible speaker in the Convention of
iSni and in the Legislature.
The Society representatives were Wm. Marcellus McPhee-
ters, who spoke on the Disadvantage of Early Entrance into
Political Life.
Isaac N. Tillett on the Pernicious Influence of Great Talents
without Moral Integrity.
John W. Cameron, on Party Spirit.
Jarvis Buxton. on National Pride.
John N. Barksdale and Dennis D. Ferebee debated the great
question whether there should be Liberal or Strict Construction
of the Constitution.
Barksdale, Cameron and McPheeters were of the Dialectic
Society, the others of the Philanthropic.
In awarding the distinctions in the Senior class of 19 mem-
bers, Green M. Cuthbert and George R. Davis were pronounced
first and equal. The second rank was assigned to Joseph
Washington Evans, James Summerville, Albert Gallatin Hub-
bard, and William Richmond Walker ; the third to Joseph John
Jackson.
A special distinction was given Benjamin Mosely Hobson
for proficiency in Composition. On drawing lots, Davis drew
what was recently made the prize, the Valedictory, leaving the
Latin Salutatory to Cuthbert. The others had original speeches
in English on various subjects. The Commencement was pro-
nounced to be brilliant. The addresses were said to show
"manliness of thought, a propriety of diction in the composi-
tion, indicating much strength of mind and high intelleetual
culture."
We have- the rest of the scheme of the exercises. After
prayer and Cuthbert 's Latin Salutatory, J. W. Evans spoke on
the Importance of Exclusive Application to Collegiate Stud-
lames Summerville on the Influence of Steam Navigation
nr Relations with Kurope ; W. K. Walker on the A. lap
:i of the I'nited States to the Advancement of Literature;
H. W. r.urgwin. on the Pernicious Influence of Unprincipled
44 TH E UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Politcians ; N. W. Herring on the causes of the Present Pros-
perous Condition of our Country ; and Colin Shaw and Wilson
W. Whitaker debated whether the Oregon Territory should be
colonized by the United States.
Then was the adjournment for dinner. On reassembling,
A. G. Hubbard spoke on the Causes which have retarded Amer-
ican Literature ; J. J. Jackson on the Influence of the American
Congress on the Eloquence of the Country; K. H. Lewis on
the Nature and Tendency of Executive Power ; Wm. J. Long,
on the Propriety of Educating Southern Youth at Southern
Institutions; Benj. M. Hobson, on the Mutual Relations and
Interests of Virginia and North Carolina; Gaston H. Wilder
on the Spirit of the American Government. The Valedictory
by George Davis followed, then the Report on the public Ex-
amination, then the Degrees were conferred, and lastly the
Benediction.
Of the 'first-honor men, one was especially distinguished in
after life, George Davis. The middle letter of his name, R.,
inserted from boyish fancy, was dropped after he left the Uni-
versity, this action possibly hastened by his fellow-students
insisting that it stood for Rascal. He became eminent for
eloquence, legal ability, and loftiness of character, reaching the
dignity of Attorney-General of the Confederate States, and re-
fusing a seat on the State Supreme Court bench. Cuthbert, his
rival, was a lawyer in Newbern, of good style as a writer, much
sought after as the orator on anniversary occasions, of fine
promise as an adviser in law, but cut off in early manhood by
pulmonary consumption. Many of his kin were excited by
his example to seek higher education and in teaching and other
vocations exerted broad influences for good.
Of those who attained second and third honors, Hubbird (or
Hubbard) and Jackson were prominent lawyers and Repre-
sentatives in the Legislature.
Of those receiving no honors, John J. Roberts became an
Episcopal minister, Professor of French in this University,
after qualifying himself in France, and Principal of High
Schools for Females in New York and Massachusetts ; McCau-
ley, a grandson of one of the donors of the University site, was
DR. MITCHELL'S REPORTS. 441
a Captain in the Confederate army and Senator from Union.
Wilder was Senator from Wake and Receiver of confiscated
property under the Confederacy.
Of the non-graduates, Joseph B. Cherry was a member of
the Legislature. Four matriculates, Gen. L. O'B. Branch,
^eant Thomas H. Lane, Colonel Gaston Meares and Private
George M. Ruffin, were killed in the Civil War.
The critical correspondent of the year before, "C," continued
his fault-finding, though in a lesser degree. There were in-
stances of lampooning the Faculty, he wrote, and of lugging
in politics, which the President promised to correct. Bad taste
was shown in lauding distinguished men in their presence
better wait until they are dead. The Faculty afterwards pro-
hibited political speeches and all allusions to any officer of the
institution.
DR. MITCHELL'S REPORTS.
Professor Mitchell, who had been appointed Bursar the pre-
ceding year, made semi-annual reports of his actings as Bursar.
I doubt if any financial officer ever mixed as much humor with
his dry figures. I give a specimen. On November 29th, writ-
ing to Secretary-Treasurer Manly, then Clerk of the Senate, he
I do suppose the business connected with this same
Bursarship is of as complicated and vexatious character as is
done in North Carolina. There have been paid in this session
omething more than 1,200 dollars. This I have to pay out,
*nd not a little of it in tens, fives, fours, and thus and so on
down to a few cents, and to keep all these matters regular be-
n Trustees, Faculty, Parents, Students, Merchants, Board-
ing-house Keepers, Washerwomen and niggers, and be able to
prove that all is correct at any time, requires that a man be
wide awake. A student changes his boarding-house or his
H rwoman, and neither party dreams that it can be of any
importance to note the time. S-> I have to investigate the
le matter and make all straight as best I can. 1 should
do better if I had to do with mm knowing what the rules and
proprieties of business are, but the Petticoat has the ascendancy
at the Hill. My principal customers are women, some 15 in
442 THE UNIVERSITY UF NORTH CAROLINA.
number married women, widow and maid to say nothing of
those that are neither and such a time as I have !
"Hoping that you may get plenty of wisdom and enlighten-
ment or of folly and fun during your attendance on the Mag-
nates of the Land (General Assembly), I remain,
"Yours, E. MITCHELL."
Again, he describes the condition of his dwelling. "The
fences are in ruins, the piazza, in front could hardly be sup-
ported by all the props that could be collected. The rain pours
through the roof. We are obliged to exercise no little skill in
the sleeping apartments to keep dry. The repairs were com-
menced in 1833, and have been going on slowly ever since."
The records show that this dismal condition was at once
rectified.
The Doctor's letters and accounts are in an excellent legible
hand, with almost no corrections. They show that he charged
himself with the tuition dues of every student, so that non-
collections, unless excused by the Faculty, on the ground of
poverty, were deducted from his commissions.
I give another specimen of the Doctor's humorous reports.
In November, 1841, he states that he journeyed to Hillsboro to
receive the funds forwarded for the payment of the salaries
of the Faculty, and "a jolly set of fellows they are. They have
folded up their lanthorn jaws and look sleek and greasy like
so many monks. With this excellent salve applied to their
feelings, they will improve wonderfully and give the boys a
mild and gentle examination."
He had sent on to John Randolph Clay, our Charge d'Af-
faires in Vienna, $1,200, and had received the invoice for the
cabinet of minerals purchased by him for the University and
had effected insurance from Trieste to Petersburg. The Cap-
tain stopped at the Ionian Isles for a load of currants, which,
he interjects, "are not currants but grapes," and so vitiated the
policy. As the University had twice lost goods and their price
by want of insurance, he had ordered a new insurance or ratifi-
cation of the old. He goes on to state that M. Partosch, the
Curator of the Emperor's Cabinet, certifies that the collection is
BURSAR S REPORTS. 443
\\orth more than 3,000 florins (48 1-2 cents each, or $1,455).
"The letter of Mr. Clay has taken a load of at least a ton and
a half from my mind."
He informs Mr. Manly, who, by the by, was not averse to the
pleasures of the sideboard, that there are three bottles of Tokay
in one of the boxes, so when he comes up he shall be permitted
to look at it through the sides of the bottle and smile at it
through the cork the utmost that can be allowed to one sup-
posed to share in the late Temperance movements in Raleigh.
In thinking of this famous wine he was reminded of the
antiquated maiden, who, rehearsing the attractions of her youth,
mentioned the lover who
Stole her slipper, filled it with Tokay,
And drank the little bumper every day.
\Yhen the Doctor could not recall the writer of these lines,
it is not perhaps remarkable that his daughters promptly re-
minded him.
The Doctor then shows the difficulties he has in regard to
collections of tuition money. Although he charged himself
with every student, it was impossible to collect from all at once,
as they must wait until funds are sent by parents. Why not let
him render his account at the end of the term and show what
he has collected and in what instance failed. Those being re-
ported as deficient would be stirred to promptness. Students
would doubtless acquiesce. The ancient Greeks and Romans
when they captured a city first ravished the women and mar-
ried them afterwards. This acquiescence was doubtless due to
the fact that the practice was well understood in international
law. as to which he refers to Dr. Swain, in charge of that de-
partment, who discusses the matter at large with zeal, interest
and feeling. It appears that the Trustees did not change the
mode of keeping accounts, but after his death allowances were
made sufficient to cover all losses. No instamv is known of
any student being excluded for not settling hU bills.
The collection of minerals, an exceedingly tine one, ai
in due time, and forms what is known as the Vienna Cabinet
linerals.
444 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Besides collecting and paying out money, Professor Mitchell,
whose soul thirsted for all work, as well as all knowledge, had
charge of the grounds and repairs of the buildings. As cattle
were allowed to run at large, it became necessary to surround
the part of the campus on which are the buildings with a per-
manent fence. The Professor introduced from his native State,
Connecticut, the durable walls of stone. Beginning in the year
1838, he exploited every stony hill on University land and
hauled their granite treasures over improvised roads. Traces
of these roads and broken rocks prized out of their beds, but
found too heavy for the wagons, remain to this day. When-
ever the University mules became jaded, the Professor substi-
tuted his own, and when the great task was finished in 1844,
the Trustees paid him liberally. Part of the campus, reaching
to the Raleigh road, was designed to cover fifty acres, but
Professor Charles Phillips some years afterwards calculated
the area to fall half an acre short. The campus, a much larger
area, included land, to the east and south of the walls.
The system of rock walls, as they are called, was extended
to most of the Professors' residences and was adopted by many
citizens of the village.
i Mi December 4th of the same year President Swain reported
disturbances Saturday and Sunday nights and that two or three
students had been dismissed in consequence. A more serious
offense was the burning of the old, unoccupied Observatory
building heretofore described. The pecuniary loss was small.
The President wrote : ''This ill-starred building has from the
period of its creation been a nuisance rather than a benefit to
the institution. The instruments were removed and the house
abandoned two years since and on examination, more than a
year ago, the walls being found partly dilapidated and the wood
work wrotten (rotten), the Faculty advised that it was not con-
sidered worth repairing."
This worthlessness, however, the President contended furn-
ished no excuse to the incendiaries and he asked the instruc-
tions of the Executive Committee as to whether the criminal
law of the State should be resorted to in order to discover the
offenders. He stated that the laws and usages of the Uni-
COMMODORE ELUOTT's GIFTS. 445
versity afford clear evidence that the institution of a criminal
prosecution has not been regarded within the discretion of the
Faculty. It is remarkable that it is impossible to discover from
the letter whether the sagacious President advises that wit-
nesses shall go before the Grand Jury, or have the terrifying
threat, like a dark and lightning laden cloud, to deter from
similar offences in the future. Such displays of caution are
not uncommon in the President's history. They are in truth
part of his policy. He could be abundantly firm when occasion
justified.
There is on record the following letter of Captain Jesse D.
Elliott, of the U. S. Ship Constitution, a native of Maryland,
who served with distinction in the battle of Lake Erie and in
other engagements in the War of 1812. He succeeded Com-
modore Perry in command of the Erie fleet :
U. S. S. CONSTITUTION,
Norfolk, August 6th, 1838.
To the President and Trustees of the University of North Caro-
lina, Chapel Hill:
GENTLEMEN: During my different excursions in a recent
and long cruise, in command of the Mediterranean Squadron,
I collected numerous valuable fragments of ancient marble, and
other antiquities ; among them the accompanying portion of one
of the pillars found at Marathon, and erected in commemora-
tion of the memorable defeat of the Persians, together with
the top of a Sarcophagus taken from the excavation at Mem-
phis, which I request may be presented to the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, through the hands of Sailing
Master Wm. P. Muse, who accompanied me in most excur-
sions. Very respy, Yr. obt. Svt., J. D. ELLIOTT.
On December nth, 1838, the students of the Univer^
ugh a Committee composed of Dennis D. Ferebee, Tod l\.
Caldwell, and Calvin H. Wiley, petitioned for extension of the
winter vacation from four to six weeks. They urged :
ist. That the Colleges of the United States generally 1.
e weeks in tl
446 THE UNIVKKSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
2nd. Students who reside at a distance must remain at
Chapel Hill or else forego "meeting with their friends under
the parental roof in the joyous season of Christmas, or merely
seeing them and then returning, which is perhaps equally pain-
ful."
3rd. The wearied would have time to become rested and the
debilitated to recruit strength sufficient for the summer cam-
paign.
4th. The Committee believed that no regulation, which may
conduce to render College life more pleasant and useful, will
meet with the disapprobation of the Trustees.
The petition was granted after some delay.
THE ABORTIVE DELPHIAN SOCIETY.
The unsuccessful attempt to establish the Delphian Society
deserves special notice.
The seceders were mainly from the Dialectic, only one mem-
ber from the Philanthropic Society joining them. The mem-
orial address by them to the Board of Trustees, asking for
recognition and the counter memorial state the grounds of the
movement.
The Committee, in strong language, portrayed the bitter sec-
tional feeling between eastern and western students. The
members of the Dialectic Society are mainly from the West,
those of the other from the East. The moment a new student
arrives at the Hill he is seized by the members of one of the
two, receives every attention, has every wish gratified, taken
to the libraries, introduced to other members, is flattered and
cajoled. If this isn't sufficient to secure him, every little incon-
sistency or rash act of the other society is pressed upon him.
He then, during his University course, not only imbibes feel-
ings of aversion to those in his own society not living in his
section, but dislike to those of the other society, which are not
dissipated because from the arrangement of the dormitories
they can not be dissipated or softened by mutual intercourse.
These positions are elaborated at length, the argument being
directed against compulsory joining either society. Protest is
especially made against the right to eject the Delphians from
THE ATTEMPTED DELPHIAN SOCIETY. 447
the College building on the grounds that the Trustees have as-
signed the rooms to the members of the old societies. The
Committee ask a fair division of rooms, it being gently hinted
that otherwise the Delphians will not be present at the next
session to make any claims.
The ties which once bound the Delphians to the other so-
cieties, it was alleged, are dissolved now and forever. They
have formed a body for mutual improvement in oratory and
science, for advantages impossible to be secured in bodies con-
taining as many members as the Dialectic and Philanthropic
Societies. It is believed that "the Trustees will hardly con-
descend to throw aside the dignity of their office for the purpose
of taking sides in puerile associations for literary improvement.
There are but few, if any, of the members of the old societies,
who do not find the duties arduous and fatiguing. From the
increase of numbers these duties have become a burden rather
than a pleasure. For advantageous improvement fifty are suffi-
cient for any literary body."
The Delphians seek recognition by the Trustees. They be-
lieve they will eventually equal in usefulness to the University
the other two societies. The ill-feeling heretofore existing be-
ing divided among three bodies will be less harsh and per-
manent. They ask for one-third of the rooms, agreeing to have
the same responsibility for damages as had been promised by
the Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies, with the understand-
ing that rooms not occupied by Delphians may be used by mem-
bers of the other societies, they becoming responsible for dam-
The memorial is dated November 291)1, 1838, and is signed
hy Thomas D. Meares of Wilmington, a fair student ; John A.
Maultxby of Columbus, one of the best in his class; and \Vm.
H.I hidley of Wilmington, not fond of his books, a son of G
rnmr E. B. Dudley. All were inilnential.
A committee of the Dialectic Society, all strung men. \V. H.
Henderson of Kentucky. Isham \V. C.arn .it < >f Wake County,
and John Worthy Cameron of Richmond County. \vntc to
v Manly, stating that "for private retsoni icveral in
<li\ idnals had lately withdrawn and wholh
448 THE UNIVERSITY Of NORTH CAROLINA.
from the body, that by the Qth chapter of the last revised code
of laws the rooms of College therein appropriated respectively
to the two Societies belong exclusively to themselves." The
Society desires to know whether this will be adhered to, and if
not, whether its guaranty against dilapidation does not cease.
The Society acted with singular moderation and good tem-
per. Reciting in a preamble that false reports were in circula-
tion that unfairness and injustice had been done the seceders,
knowing that in differences of this nature a spirit of concilia-
tion must first come from the majority, it was "Resolved, that
if it meets with the wish of the dissenters, our differences be
laid before a committee consisting of the following gentlemen :
Governor Dudley, Governor Swain, Judge Cameron, Judge
Rurfin, Charles Manly, Esq., and the Rev. Wm. McPheeters,
for their examination and adjustment, and we agree to abide by
their decision."
A committee, namely J. N. Barksdale, J. W. Cameron and I.
W. Garrott, notified the Executive Committee of this action.
They stated "that the only ostensible reason for the withdraw-
ing is the existence of certain laws, which have been adopted
in our constitution and executed for many years, requiring a
regular attendance at prayers and recitations, and others regu-
lating the moral deportment of our members, which were coeval
with the very foundation of the Society. If any other causes
exist they were not made known at the time of the withdrawal."
They add that the Society authorize them to promise that if
any one wishes to return, neither his withdrawal nor his ob-
stinacy in rejecting the measures of reconciliation, shall be an
obstacle to his readmission.
It appears that after this communication, a letter was received
from Secretary Manly, kind in tone, but suggesting that some
of the laws were too stringent, if not tyrannical. This was laid
before the Society and an answer adopted, which was reported
by a new committee, Wm. F. Brown, I. W. Garrott and W. H.
Henderson.
It is asserted that the laws requiring attention to University
duties and regulating morals have met, so far as was known,
with the approval of the older members, and especially of Sec-
PROTEST OF DIALECTIC SOCIETY. 449
retary Manly, as was expressed in his address at the preceding
Commencement. Efforts have been yearly made to repeal these
laws by obtaining the votes of the new members, but in vain.
Some of the present Freshmen who voted for repeal are now
advocates of the laws. "If the Society's retaining in its code
laws, which tend to make its members regular in their attend-
ance on prayers and recitations, and to suppress drunkenness
and vice, be considered tyrannical and oppressive, then the
members of the Dialectic Society confess themselves guilty of
this charge, but that the majority ever exercised any tyranny
or oppression over the minority, the committee do most posi-
tively deny." Only about one-half of the minority seceded,
the others are staunch members of the Society. Does not this
show that the charge is imaginary. It is obvious that it is to
the interest of the Society that the seceders should return, and
the committee pledge themselves that the return of all, or any,
"will be hailed with joy." Efforts have already been made to
this end. The proposition of the Society to refer all the ques-
tions at issue to arbitrators was returned without answer by the
Delphians, because it was addressed to "The Dissenters," in-
stead of the Delphian Society. Another objection was that one
member had seceded from the Philanthropic Society and could
not be called a dissenter from the Dialectic. A request that
the ex-Dialectics should consider the proposal separately was
refused.
The committee profess the highest regard for Secretary
Manly and request him to lay their letter before the Trustees.
the whole matter be probed to the bottom, and the
escutcheon of the Dialectic Society will be found as bright and
untarni-lie<l as when our predecessors had it in their keeping."
In December, 1838, the letters from the Dialectic Society and
" a committee of students styling themselves the Delphian
." were referred by the Board of Trustees to a comnr
consisting of Messrs. Badger, John H. Bryan, and Secretary
Manly. In January, 1839, the committee, through Mr. Bryan,
reported that it was inexpedient to eMahlish a third lite;
society. The Board concurred in the report and referred the
29
450 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
matter to the Executive Committee. On the loth of the same
month these met and were so much impressed with the gravity
of the situation thai they requested Governor Dudley and
Messrs. R. M. Saunders, John H. Bryan, and Charles Manly,
a quorum of the committee, to hold a meeting at Chapel Hill
"to consider, hear and determine these disputes." This was
done. The Delphians were reasonable, and after an eloquent
appeal by Secretary Manly, the society was dissolved.
There is an old saying in substance that the real controlling
motive for human action is not that which is publicly given.
This is probably true as to the reasons given for the attempted
formation of the Delphian Society. About four years ago an
eminent physician of St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Wm. Marcellus
McPheeters, son of Rev. Dr. Wm. McPheeters, revisited his
alma mater, which he left about fifty years before. On his au-
thority, and that of Hon. S. F. Phillips, I give the chief causes
of the secession movement. Thomas Davis Meares of Wil-
mington was a dominant force in the Dialectic Society. He had
a ready, forcible and often eloquent style of speaking. He was
a prime favorite of his set, mostly city-bred and leaders in balls
and social entertainments. While he was of an open, manly
nature and manners, and personally entirely free from snob-
bishness, many of the members thought that his associates
formed themselves into a species of caste, claiming social
superiority. McPheeters, the son of a Presbyterian minister,
the principal of a school for boys of wide reputation, the
Raleigh Academy, came to the University city-bred and well
taught. Owing to his father's scruples about dancing and
similar amusements, he naturally did not become a follower of
Meares and was persuaded to be his competitor for the office
of Representative at Commencement. Much to his surprise he
was elected. The ardent friends of his opponent attributed the
result to hostility to him as an eastern man, the sectional feeling
on the subject of inequality of Representation in the General
Assembly not having died out. They concluded that if so
popular a man as Meares is beaten they were bound to be in
a hopeless minority.
t'.RKHK AND LATIN CHALKS. 451
I remember being in the lobby of the State House of Repre-
sentatives twenty years after this society trouble and being
struck with the impassioned earnestness with which the same
Thomas D. Meares, then a Representative from Brunswick,
accused other sections of 'being hostile to the lower Cape Fear
country and especially Wilmington, because they opposed aid
to a railroad projected for its benefit. There could be no doubt
of the sincerity of his convictions. He felt strongly and spoke
strongly and the aid was granted. The eastern and western
feelings which culminated in the Convention of 1835 caused
the schism in the Dialectic Society in 1838. In this, as at other
times, the University was a little world, containing in miniature
the aspirations and passions of the larger community of which
it formed a part.
SEPARATE CHAIRS OF GRF.EK AND LATIN.
In 'August, 1838, the Professorship of Ancient Languages
was abolished and separate chairs of Greek and Latin were
established. The professorship of Modern Languages was
changed into the more modest chair of the French Language.
Manuel Fetter of New York was chosen to the chair of Greek
and John DeBerniere Hooper to that of Latin. Charles Marey
was appointed to teach the French Language, to hear seven
recitations per week, in addition to giving instructions in Topo-
graphical drawing. His salary was $750 per annum. At the
same time the Faculty were required to introduce Civil Engi-
II.LT. upon such plan as they deemed advisable and expedi-
rnt. This was not carried into effect, the Executive Committee
reserving the right to abolish the foregoing improvements if the
from tuition money should fall below $7,000 per annum.
Manuel Fetter was of German descent, born in Um>
Pennsylvania, in 1809. Noticing his bright parts Rev. Win.
ustus Muhlenberg, the eminent divine and author, took
charge of his education and trained him to an unusual knowl-
e of the classics, Hebrew, French, and German. It was
expected that he would enter the ministry, but after atu-n<l
school at Flushing. Long Island, and Andover, he cm-
braced the profession of teaching. The testimonials submitted
45 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
to the Board of Trustees were exceptionally strong and he was
unanimously elected. He brought with him his young bride,
a lady of great vivacity and kindness of heart and fitted to
adorn the social life of Chapel Hill.
For reasons probably personal Professor Marey, who was a
Frenchman born, was accorded only the rank of Instructor.
He was a man of good accomplishments and handsome
physique, but his usefulness was ruined by his fondness for
ardent spirits. After serving a year the President heard an
uproarious row going on in his recitation room. Hurrying
thereto he found the Instructor too drunk to teach, mercilessly
guyed by his class. The President sternly said, "Mr. Marey
(pronounced Mar-ee), I will take charge of this class. You are
relieved, sir." With lofty and drunkrn gravity, Marey replied,
"If you give this order as President of the University, I obey.
But if you give it as David L. Swain I demand satisfaction !"
On being assured that the action was official, he vacated, speed-
ily left the Hill and soon the news came that he had been killed
in a brawl in Charleston, South Carolina.
ikui-y.r i.. \RITIES OF CONDUCT.
Owing to the resignation of the Clerk, Prof. J. DeBernk-iv
Hooper, coupled with the extreme illness of President Caldwi 11.
and the interruptions caused thereby, there were no further en-
tries of cases of discipline decided by the Faculty until January.
1836. After this there was for awhile a marked diminution of
disorder. There was a fight in which a dirk was drawn and an-
other in which a pistol was used only to intimidate the victim
from resisting a beating with a stick. There was the running off
to Pittsboro of three students under the strong suspicion of in-
toxication. We read of an egg-nogg frolic in a room in col-
lege, for all of which appropriate punishments were meted out.
suspensions and pledges for the drinkers, while the man with
the pistol was dismissed. With these exceptions all was very
quiet until 1838. On the first Saturday night of the session of
that year an organization, styling itself "The Ugly Club." with
horns and tin pans and lusty lungs and whatever ingenuity can
devise to make a noise, including of course the College bell.
BREACH OF RULES.
453
was organized, to banish sleep from old and young.- Nineteen
if them were caught and made to sign the appropriate pledge.
To illustrate the patience of the Faculty this case is given.
J. 1. continued to talk audibly in Professor Hooper's recitation
room, although pointedly admonished to refrain. He was* then
requested to leave the room which he refused to do. The
Faculty gave him three opportunities to admit his error, kindly
reasoning with him on the subject and explaining to him that
obstinacy would certainly incur the penalty of dismission. As
he continued obstinate a resolution to suspend him was adopted.
IK re Professor Hooper interceded and the Faculty rescinded
the resolution. This could not have happened in the days of
Caldwdl.
In the summer of 1838 the proceedings of The Ugly Club
were described as particularly disreputable. The members were
;uise<l with lamp black, gave gross insults to sundry citizens
'ie village, threatened violence to members of the Faculty
and "committed trespasses of peculiarly low and disgusting
character on private property."
\V. G. was the leader. He promised amendment, but did
int keep his promise. He rode a horse through the west build-
ing, was repeatedly reproved for disorders in the recitation
rooms and irreverence at prayers. He was suspected of various
disorders of an aggravated character and was frequently
;it from recitation. He was dismissed, but on the usual
pledge and at the request of his class he was retained. In a
months, however, he was dismissed again. It is noticeable
that dismissed students were now readmitted without promis-
to obey the laws in the future.
A novel case pivsrnu-d itself in this \var. At the Senior
king in November om- of the most orderly was found to be
icated on tlir Stage. II: was that lie drank wine
rder to drclaim with animation and that, beini; nnac-
to stimulants, he took too much by mistake. The
ntiy passed law about drunkenness compelled the Faculty
id him for two months.
\talaterdateaSeniorwholud nerved himself with "Dutch
to a colleague sir him. in a serio-
454 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
comical whisper, "if my time doesn't come on shortly, I'm
afraid my liquor will die out."
A number of the Seniors, during the Senior vacation were
delinquent in attending prayers. They were called up and in-
formed that further unpunctuality in this regard would forfeit
their diplomas.
The Ugly Club of 1840 seems to have been comparatively
mild mannered, as only five participants were haled before the
Faculty and duly lectured.
The behavior in the Chapel, during divine services, was such
as might have been expected from compulsory attendance, es-
pecially when in the winter there was no fire. We find constant
complaints of disorderly conduct. The three clerical members
of the Faculty, Mitchell, Phillips and Green, were appointed
a special committee to report on the best means of enforcing
order on such occasions. Their recommendations are not on
record, except that two of the college servants were ordered
to attend during divine service. Their potent aid must have
been needed to remove the obstacles to decent worship prepared
by busy and impious hands the night before. These obstruc-
tions were sometimes piles of lumber, sometimes tar on the
benches, sometimes a patient bull yearling fastened in the nave,
vulgarly called ''bull-pen." One recommendation of the com-
mittee in regard to order in the Recitation room was adopted,
that spitting on the floor should be a misdemeanor. The
recommendation that the students should sit in the alphabetical
order of their names was laid on the table, but afterwards
adopted.
FRUITLESS MOVEMENT FOR A CHAPLAIN.
In 1836 the Societies petitioned the Trustees for the appoint-
ment of a regular Chaplain according to the plan of the Uni-
versity of Virginia. They offered to contribute $200 per annum
toward the salary, provided that the Faculty and students would
pay $400. The Trustees agreed to this, promising to pay the
latter sum out of the University Treasury, a Methodist, Episco-
palian, Baptist and Presbyterian to be employed in rotation.
President Swain in 1837 applied to the Methodist Bishop, Rt.
Rev. Dr. Thos. A. Morris, for the assignment of Rev. E. Wads-
UNIVERSITY CHAPLAIN. 455
worth, a very competent man, husband of a sister of Mrs.
Swain. Bishop Morris gave a peremptory refusal, stating as
his reason that Chapel Hill was small and, apart from the Uni-
versity, presented insufficient prospect of successful labor to
justify making it a regular station to be supplied annually ; and
to supply it for the sake of the University, once in four years,
would not probably justify the deduction of time and labor to
be made from the regular work of itinerant ministers. Besides,
when the next Methodist year comes around there may not be
at command such a man as the University would chose for a
preacher. President Swain was greatly disappointed at the
failure of a scheme which he thought likely to relieve the Uni-
versity from the accusation of being under the influence of
two denominations only, Presbyterians and Episcopalians, with
the incidental advantage of having his wife's sister a resident of
Chapel Hill. It was conjectured by some that Bishop Morris
thought that all the energies of his church should be devoted
to the upbuilding of Randolph-Macon College.
The reply of Bishop Morris was regarded as final and the
President recommended, with the approval of the Faculty, the
election of Rev. Wm. Mercer Green, as Professor of Rhetoric
and Logic, with four recitations a week, to be likewise Chaplain.
His duties as Chaplain were to preach in the Chapel once a week
and to conduct morning prayers throughout the year. Profes-
sor Mitchell was to hold evening prayers and of his own motion
relieved Mr. Green of one-half of his Sunday morning preach-
ing. The Faculty offered to pay $300 toward the new profes-
sor's salary of $1,000, and house rent, but the Trustees refused
to accept this liberality. In consideration of being relieved of
preaching every alternate Sunday Mr. Green took additional
teaching, namely a class in elocution, and coaching the Seniors
and Commencement Speakers, besides correcting original
speeches and theses.
Rev. Mr. Green, born in Wlmington. \va>. when elected,
Rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in llilKhon-. He
had held this charge since 1825. He graduated with hi^h IHMUT
in 1818 in the class of which President James K. Polk was the
leader. He was particularly distinguished for attention to the
45^ THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
duties of the Dialectic Society. He was ordered Deacon in
1821 and the next year was ordained Priest. His first charge
was St. John's Church, Williamsboro, in Granville County.
While at Hillsboro he was Superintendent of a Female School
of high standing. He was a man of great industry, the kind-
liest temper and manners, of fervent piety and faithfulness to
every duty. He entered on his labors in 1838.
At the same time a salary of $100 a year was voted the
Librarian of the University, Tutor Wm. H. Owen. This was 
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