9146. WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE, Rivalry.—
When the college [of
William and Mary] was located at the middle
plantation in 1693, Charles City was a frontier
county, and there were no inhabitants above the
falls of the rivers, sixty miles only higher up.
It was, therefore, a position nearly central to
the population, as it then was; but when the
frontier became extended to the Sandy river,
three hundred miles west of Williamsburg, the
public convenience called, first for a removal
of the seat of government, and latterly, not for
a removal of the college, but for the establishment
of a new one in a more central and
healthy location; not disturbing the old one in
its possessions or functions, but leaving them
unimpaired for the benefit of those to whom it
is convenient. And indeed, I do not foresee
that the number of its students is likely to be
much affected; because I presume that, at present,
its distance and autumnal climate prevent
its receiving many students from above the tide-waters,
and especially from above the mountains.
This is, therefore, one of the cases
where the lawyers say there is
damnum absque
injuriâ; and they instance, as in point, the settlement
of a new schoolmaster in the neighborhood
of an old one. At any rate, it is one of
those cases wherein the public interest rightfully
prevails, and the justice of which will be
yielded by none, I am sure, with more dutiful
and candid acquiescence than the enlightened
friends of our ancient and venerable institution.
The only rivalship, I hope, between the old and
the new (the University of Virginia) will be in
doing the most good possible in their respective
sections of country.—
To Patrick K. Rodgers. Washington ed. vii, 328.
(M.
1824)
