Washington and Lee University - Calyx Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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ton, they bestowed their funds upon the Academy which now bore his name. The accumulated value of the fund was about twenty-five thousand dollars. In December. 1802, the Academy building was destroyed by fire, and in 1803, the work of the school was conducted in rented buildings within the limits of Lex- ington. Before the end of 1804. a building was constructed on the grounds of the present university, from which the ruins of the old academy are still visible. By act of the Legislature in 1813. the name Washington Academy was changed to Washington College. In 1826, an impor- tant impulse was received through a bequest, the ul- timate value of which was over forty-six thousand dol- lars, from John Robinson, a native of Ireland, a soldier under Washington. and during his last years a trustee of the college. The three endow- ments already secured, amounting to but little more than one hundred thousand dollars, formed the financial foundation on which Washington College rested until nearly three-fourths of the nineteenth century were completed. Soon after the outbreak of the Civil War the work of the college was dis- intinued, most of its students nlisting in the Confederate army, under the name Liberty Hall Volunteers. The buildings and other property were much injured when Lexington was occupied by the Federal army in June. 1864. At the close of the war, the college being without in- come, borrowed money on the pri- vate credit of some of the trustees for the repair of the buildings, and the work of rehabilitation was at once begun. About thirty years 14

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distinguished son. and within a few yards from the grave of his college friend, The first important gift received by Liberty Hall Academy was conferred by George Washington. In recognition of his services in the Revolution, the Legislature of Virginia, in 17S4. presented to him a number of shares in a canal company. Washington refused to accept these for his own benefit, but after some years of delay, his attention was called to Liberty Hall Academy, to which be soon afterward gave them. The generous gift by Washington was gratefully accepted by the trustees of the Academy. Their letter of acknowledgment was preceded by an act of the Legislature, in January, 1798, changing the name of the school to Wash- ington Academy. To this letter, the following reply was given: Mount Vernon, 17th June, 1798. Gentlemen — Unaccountable as it may seem, it is nevertheless true that the address with which you were pleased to honor n e, dated the 12th of April, never cane into my hands until the 14th inst. To promote literature in this rising empire and to encourage the arts have ever been amongst the warmest wishes of my heart, and if the donation which the generosity of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia has enabled me to bestow on Liberty Hall — now by your politeness called Washington Academy — is likely to prove a means to accom- plish these ends, it will contribute to the gratification of my desire. Sentiments, like those which have flowed from your pen excite rry gratitude, whilst I offer my best vows for the prosperity of the Academy, and for the honor and happiness of those under whose auspices it is conducted. Geo. Washington. Trustees of Washington Academy. The property thus bestowed on Wash- ington Academy still yields an annual income of three thousand dollars to Washington and Lee University. The bequesl of Washington served to inspire another gift. The Cincinnati Society was an organization of surviving officers formed at the close of the Revolutionary War. with branches in each of the several States. In 1802, the Virginia branch decided to dis- band. Inspired by the example of Washing- 13

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afterward, the Congress of the United States granted remuneration for the de- struction of property by the invading army. On August 4. 1865, General Robert E. Lee was elected president. After carefully considering the subject he accepted in the following letter, part of which we emphasize : Powhatan Co., 2-1 Aug., ' G5. Gentlemen — I have delayed for some days replying to your letter of the 5th inst., informing me of my election by the Board of Trustees to the Presidency of Washington College, from a desire to give the subject due consideration. Fully impressed with the responsibilities of the office, 1 have feared that I should be unable to discharge its duties to the satisfaction of the Trustees, or to the benefit of the country. The proper education of youth requires not only great ability, but, 1 fear, more strength than I now possess, for I do not feel able to undergo the labor of conducting classes in regular course of instruction. I could not, therefore, undertake more than general administration and super- vision of the institution. There is another subject which has caused me serious reflection, and is, I think, worthy of the consideration of the Board. Being excluded from the terms of amnesty in the proclamation of the President of the United States of the 29th of May last, and an object of censure to a portion of the country, I lrava thought it probable that my occupation of the position of President might draw upon the College a feeling of hostility, and 1 should, therefore, cause injury to an institution which it would be my highest desire to advance. I think it the duty of every citizen, in the present con- dition of the country, to do all in his power to aid in the restoration of peace and harmony, and in no way to oppose the policy of the State or General Government directed to that object. It is particularly incumbent upon those charged with the instruction of the young to set them an example of submission to authority, and I could not consent to be the cause of animadversion upou the College. Should you, however, take a different view, and think that my services in the position tendered me by the Board will lie advantageous to the College and country, I will yield to your judgment and accept it. Otherwise I must most respectfully decline the office. Begging you to express to the Trustees of the College my heartfelt gratitude for the honor conferred upon me, and requesting you to accept my cordial thanks for the kind manner in which you have communicated its decision, 1 am, gentlemen, with great respect, Your most obedient servant, R. E. Lee. Messrs. John W. Brockenbrough, Rector; S. McD. Reid, Alfred Leyburn, Horatio Thompson, D. P., Bolivar Christian, T. J. Kirkpatrick, Committee.