foundation, its material, and the architect of the buildings, and we hope ere long to see its stately walls and spire ascending to their summit. Ere long we hope to see it adorned with an elegant village, accommodated with all the necessaries and conveniences of civilized society." This address was followed by a short prayer, which closed with the united Amen of an immense concourse of people.
The building, since called the East, having been sufficiently prepared, Mr. Hinton James, of Wilmington, the first student, arrived on the Hill the 12th day of February, 1795, and the exercises of the institution were soon after commenced. The first instructor was the Rev. David Kerr, a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, who was Professor of Ancient Languages, and he was assisted by Samuel Allen Holmes in the preparatory department. Shortly afterwards Charles W. Harris, a native of Iredell County, in this State, and a graduate of Princeton College in New Jersey, was appointed Professor of Mathematics, but he held the office only one year, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Caldwell, who was also a graduate of Princeton, and a native of New Jersey. The first commencement, at which the degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred, was held in the year 1798, when seven young gentlemen, among whom was Mr. Hinton James, received that degree.
For several years after the erection of the first building, the accommodations for the students, both in the collegiate and the preparatory department, remained nearly the same. The old Chapel and the East were the only edifices, and the latter was then only two stories high, and contained but sixteen rooms. The old chapel was the Aula Personica in which the degrees were for many years conferred.
The South building was commenced, carried up a story and a half, and then left for a long time in an unfinished state. We are told by Dr. Hooper in his admirable address before Alumni of this institution, entitled "Fifty Years Since," that the students who could not well prepare their lessons in the crowded dormitories of the East, were in the habit of erecting cabins in the corners of the unfinished brick walls of the South, where they could pursue their studies to better advantage. But Dr. Caldwell, who was then President, could not long endure this state of things; and by his active exertions, the sum of twelve thousand dollars was raised by subscription, which enabled the Trustees to have the South building completed. This was done in 1812; and about the year 1824, the West building was erected and an additional story was put upon the East. Shortly afterwards the new chapel was built; and in 1848 extensions were added to the East and West buildings, which was done mainly for the accommodation of the two Literary Societies, whose two rooms in the third story of the South had become too small for the increased number of members. The buildings since erected have been the University library, and the wings to the East and West. The two last were finished and prepared for occupation only a short time before the commencement of the war. The beautiful and commodious Society Halls contained in them have been the admiration of all beholders.
At the commencement of the institution, and for several years afterwards, the range of studies was very contracted. Greek was not introduced into the course until 1804, and in the year 1807, we learn that Morse's Geography was one of the principal studies of the Sophomore class. The higher mathematics were not introduced until the Rev. Elisha Mitchell came here as professor of that science in 1819. The same year witnessed the advent of Denison Olmsted as the first Professor of Chemistry; and in the year following, the Rev. Shepherd K. Kollock, was in like manner the first Prosessor
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