A. B.
THOMAS C. JOHNSON, Virginia.
JOSEPH SUTTON, Virginia.
ALEX. B. PIERCE, N. Carolina.
BENJAMIN Z. HERNDON, S. C.
WILLIAM G. CONNOR, S. C.
SAMUEL D. SANDERS, S. C.
IRA I. CRENSHAW, Virginia.
THOMAS R. EPES, Virginia.
JOSEPH T. REESE, Georgia.
LUCIEN H. LOMAX, S. Carolina.
GEO. E. WYCHE, N. Carolina.
A. M.
ISAAC C. CROFT, S. Carolina.
WILLIAM H. BATTE, Virginia.
JOSIAH F. ASKEW, Georgia.
CHARLES F. BURNLEY, Virginia
AMOS W. JONES, N. Carolina.
JAMES W. WIGHTMAN, S. C.
JAMES R. WASHINGTON, Ga.
Rev. DAVID S. DOGGETT, Virginia (honorary).
Rev. David S. Doggett was elected to the chair vacated by the resignation of Professor Sims.
1842-1843.
This year the second decade of the College commenced. The year was marked by great financial pressure, which was partially relieved by the sale of some of the funds of the College. A part of the proceeds of the sale was used to pay off a debt on building account and the rest for current expenses. At the low rates of college fees, the current receipts failed to meet salaries and other expenses.
In the annual report of the Faculty mention is made of a decrease in patronage, caused by the financial condition of the country and the establishment of colleges in other Southern Conferences; so that it was again necessary to ask the Board to do something to increase the income of the College.
This year a French course was introduced for the first time, and E. A.
Blanch was elected tutor of French.
At the annual meeting, June, 1843, a committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Chambers, Rogers, Alexander, Leigh, and Early, to recommend a plan for the relief of the College from financial embarrassment. This committee reported as follows:
1. That it is absolutely necessary to raise a permanent fund of $20,000 to sustain the institution, and if we fail in doing so, it must and will go down.
2. That the Agent be instructed to endeavor to obtain one hundred subscribers of $500 in money or in bonds, the interest to be paid annually at the sessions of the Virginia and North Carolina Conferences, and the principal within a period not to exceed ten years, no subscription to be binding until $10,000 shall have been subscribed, the principal to be kept as a permanent fund.
The Faculty of the College showed their spirit of liberality and self-denial by the following communication:
"The Faculty, with a view to contribute all in their power toward the establishment of the College, propose to give to the Board of Trustees the sum of five thousand dollars, the same to be paid in five years by a relinquishment annually of $1,000 on their salaries upon the following conditions, viz.:
"1. That the balance of their salaries be paid promptly.
"2. That the donation shall cease before the expiration of the five years, unless the exigencies of the institution shall require it."
[Illustration: GEORGE W. BENAGH, A. M., Professor, University of
Alabama.]
It being necessary to raise funds to pay the professors, Messrs. H. G. Leigh, D'Arcy Paul, Dr. Archibald A. Campbell, George Rogers, and Edward R. Chambers offered to loan the College $500 each, and Messrs. H. B. Cowles and Landon C. Garland $250 each, on the 25th of December next; and Rev. W. B. Rowzie, Agent of the College, offered, that if the amount of his collections should fall under $500, to make up the deficiency in a loan.
[Illustration: JUDGE EDWARD R. CHAMBERS, Professor of Law 1842-'43.
Trustee of the College. Judge Circuit Court. Member of Virginia
Convention 1851 and 1861.]
The above record is given to show the great financial strait of the College and to bring to mind the liberality of the members of the Board and the Faculty. But for this liberal action the College would have ceased its work, as so many others were forced to do.
Some steps were taken at this meeting to establish a Medical Department in the College.
The following degrees were conferred, June, 1843: