Part 10 (1/2)

The degrees conferred at the close of the year were:

A. B.

GEORGE B. JONES, Virginia.

THOMAS B. GORDON, Georgia.

ROBERT C. GILLIAM, S. C.

WILLIAM H. DENTON, S. C.

WILLIAM H. Ba.s.s, Virginia.

MARCELLUS STANLEY, Georgia.

THOS. S. ARTHUR, S. Carolina.

THOS. H. CAMPBELL, Virginia.

THOMAS H. JONES, Virginia.

WM. W. HEREFORD, Mississippi SAMUEL B. SCOTT, Virginia.

EDWARD WADSWORTH, N. C.

OLIVER P. WILLIAMS, S. C.

A. M.

CHARLES W. BAIRD, Virginia.

THEOPHILUS STEWART, Georgia.

JOHN T. BRAME, N. Carolina.

EDWARD H. MYERS, Florida.

JAMES M. FITTS, N. Carolina.

HENRY E. LOCKETT, Virginia.

JAMES R. THOMAS, Georgia.

EZEKIEL A. BLANCH, Virginia.

GEORGE W. BLAIN, Virginia.

YEAR 1841-'42.

At a called meeting of the Board held April, 1842, Prof. E. D. Sims tendered his resignation. The law of Virginia at that time prohibited a person from marrying the sister of his deceased wife. The Professor was about to marry Miss Andrews, the sister of his former wife, daughter of Prof. Andrews, author of Latin Grammar, and therefore was compelled to leave the State to marry her.

The loss of a Professor so capable and eminent as Professor Sims was much regretted by the trustees and the friends of the College. Under the circ.u.mstances, it could not be remedied, for there was no one to take his place in the special English course. He had been elected to take the chair of English in the University of Alabama, which he accepted. At this inst.i.tution he formulated a course of instruction in English based on Anglo-Saxon, similar to the one he had taught at Randolph-Macon. Here he proceeded with the work on the Anglo-Saxon Grammar and Dictionary.

This work he was not long permitted to prosecute. He died in 1845. Forty years after his death the ma.n.u.scripts of his Anglo-Saxon works came to Randolph-Macon in an unexpected way. Rev. Mr. Stephan, of Missouri, found them at a second-hand bookstore in St. Louis, and noticing the name of Professor Sims on the t.i.tle-page, he purchased the lot, embracing other papers, and sent them to the writer. Prof. Sims labored faithfully, but ”others have entered into his labors.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: SAMUEL D. SANDERS, A. M., M. D., _Professor Southwestern University, Texas._]

Rev. Dr. Capers, of South Carolina, was elected to fill the vacancy, and also president of the College, President Garland having tendered his resignation.

In the annual report in June, 1842, the Faculty say: ”Our pecuniary embarra.s.sments are becoming serious, and unless effectually relieved, it will be impossible to keep up the operations of the inst.i.tution much longer. The trustees cannot give this matter too much patient reflection; and if it be practicable to sustain the inst.i.tution in this respect, we have no fears for its success in all others.”

The reorganization of the Faculty was recommended, also some modifications in the course of study; also, the establishment of a ”School of Law.” This school was established, and Edward R. Chambers, an eminent lawyer of Boydton, elected Professor.

The degrees conferred June, 1842, were:

A. B.

THOMAS C. JOHNSON, Virginia.

JOSEPH SUTTON, Virginia.