Washington College - Pegasus Yearbook (Chestertown, MD)

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History of Washington College No person who attempts to study the history of the College can fail to realize that much of it has been lost forever in the fires that have so often visited this institution. Much can probably still be done by dili- gent research among the musty records of the county, but, aside from the loss of manuscripts which were known to have no duplicate, we fear that there will always be many events in the College ' s life that will remain unknown. What we present here has been gathered from Washington College — Yester- day, Today and Tomorrow, published by the College ; George Washington in Kent County, edited by J. Alexis Shriver ; The Minutes and Proceedings of the Visitors and Governors of Washington College, 1816-1848, kindly loaned by Dr. J. S. William Jones, Dean of Washington College ; and Volume I, Number 6, of The Washington Alumnus. The Editor. 172 — The Kent County public school is founded. ij8o — Dr. William Smith arrives in Chestertown and six months later takes charge of the Kent County School. 1782 — Petition by the school for a college charter — £10,000 is raised by Dr. Smith for the support of the embryo college. August 18, 1782 — George Washington writes to Dr. William Smith from his headquarters at Newburgh: I am much indebted for the honor conferred on me by giving my name to the college at Chester .... as it will remain a monument of their esteem .... If the trifling sum of fifty guineas will be con- sidered as an earnest desire of my wishes for the prosperity of this Seminary, 1 shall be ready to pay that sum to the order of the Visitors whenever it is their pleasure to call for it .... October 1 , 1782 — The Maryland Legislature grants a college charter to the college at Chester. May 14, 178s — The first commencement exercise takes place and the stu- dents engage in forensic dispute both in Latin and P nglish on Whether the state of nature be a state of war? and the visitors also enjoy four orations — one m PVench and two in Latin. The ceremony for the dedication of the original college building is enlivened by two French orations, a pastoral pla) ' , and a salute of thirteen discharges of cannon to Governor William Paca, who made the main address of the day. May, 1784 — George Washington visits the college and the students perform The tragedy of GUSTAVUS VASA, the great DELIVERER OF SWEDEN from DANISH OPPRESSION, a performance breathing throughout the whole the most animated sentiment of Liberty, Heroism and Public Spirit. June 24, 1789 — George Washington receives the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Washington College. 178 — Dr. William Smith returns to the presidency of the University of Pennsylvania and the Rev. Colin Ferguson, D.D., is appointed in his place. 1791 — The annual appropriation of the State of Maryland discontinued entirely. PEC F S J S i l 9 3 X

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((■ lull pillars and the doorway of Keid Hall.

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)6a= 4 i-q6 — It is noted at this time that for $16.00 all the branches of learning which are taught ma}- be acquired . . . . iSiJ — Annual appropriation from the State is renewed to the extent of $800.00 per annum. October 16, 1S16 — A new curriculum, divided into Latin, G reek, Mathe- maticks. Belles Lettres and Physics, is adopted. The Belles Lettres group con- tains such subjects as Moral Philosophy, Logic, Natel ' s Law of Nations, and English Grammar. The subjects that bother the students in Mathematics are Fluxions, Conic Sections, Euclids Elements and Mensuration. Noi ' cinbcr 6, 1816 — Mr. Joseph G. Cooper, then President of Washington College, announces to the students that the late sleepers who did not answer to their names in the roll call would be fined twelve and one-half cents ; that any student who might trifle away his time in any w ' ay would also be ow-ing the institution twelve and one-half cents ; that for the student who came to recita- tion unprepared there was a fine of fifty cents — with private admonition for the first oiifense, public admonition for the second, and expulsion for the continuance of the habit. June 16, 181 ■ — The College is authorized to hold a lottery whereby $30,000 is expected to be raised. July iQ, 181J — The resignation of the Rev. Mr, Cooper is accepted. October 10, i8iy — Mr. Gerald E. Stack is made temporary head of the College. December 30, 181 — The. Rev. Francis Waters is accepted as principal of the College. July ly, 181Q — The students find rules for their conduct in their newly organized dining hall. Among them are : There shall be no running about in the dining room, nor any pulling or throwing victuals during meals. As soon as thanks shall have been returned after meat, the students shall leave the dining room in the most respectful order, and shall not carry out with them any victuals, nor any property belonging to the steward. It was also added that the vacation shall commence on the tenth of August and the session shall commence on the thirteenth of September following. eighteen . P E C =» S LI S r?»