USA > Maryland > Anne Arundel County > Annapolis > The Ancient City.: A History of Annapolis, in Maryland, 1649-1887 > Part 26
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In 1806, though a political lend. the nature of which has not been handed down to us, the State appropriations to St. John's and Wash- ington College were withdrawn.
The necessary buildings had been erected, the Professors appointed, a number of young men from all parts of the State and from some of the sister States had been drawn to it ; and thus, when the fondest hopes of its friends were more than realized, the Legislature so far ignored its solemn obligations as to pass an Act for the revocation of the grant made to St. John's in the Act of incorporation. "Each party," says FRANCIS SCOTT KEY, (the author of our great national hymn. " The Star Spangled Banner," and an alumnus of St. John's, ) referring to this action of the General Assembly-"caught at the advantage to be gained by the apparent popularity of the measure, and the real interests and honor of the State were sacrificed by each." The distinguished WILLIAM PINKNEY, who eloquently, but vainly, re- monstrated against the passage of this Act, predicted that "the day which witnessed the degradation of St. John's College, in the very dawn of its promise, would prove the darkest day Maryland had known." For some time the usefulness of the college seems to have been almost entirely destroyed, as no lists of graduates appear until 1810. Nothing seems to have been done to repair what is now conceded to have been a great wrong, until 1811, when the sum of $1,000 was re- stored. In 1824, a lottery was granted to the college. the proceeds of which, amounting to $20,000, were invested in bank stock, from which an annual income of $1,200 was derived, until about thirty years afterwards, when the whole fund was expended in erecting a dormitory for students and dwellings for professors.
It was not until 1832, that the Board of Visitors and Governors of the College, in a memorial to the General Assembly, having set forth in a most clear and forcible way the unanswerable character of their legal claim, the Legislature was led to increase the grant to $3,000, at the same time, however, providing that the Board should agree to accept this sum "in full satisfaction of all legal or equitable claims which the College might have, or be supposed to have, against the State." Here was, if not a plain case of duress, at least a case of "Might vs. Right." "There is no question," says President Garnett, in 1880, "that if, at any time before 1819, when the Dartmouth Col- lege decision was rendered, and 1832, suit had been brought, the full amount of the arrearages (then over $100,000) might have been re- covered ; but, in defense of the Board of Visitors and Governors, it may be said that they believed their rights were entirely in the power
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of the State and without any means of being enforced ; so the deed of release was executed and entered upon the records of the Court of Ap- peals."
The Board of Visitors and Governors, however, having become con- vinced of the arbitrary character of this settlement of their claim against the State, submitted, in 1859, with the consent of the Legis- lature, the following points to the decision of the Court of Appeals :
"[. Whether the appropriation made in the charter constitutes a contract on the part of the State which could not be legally repealed by the Act of 1805.
"2. Whether this latter Act is not a violation of the Constitution of the United States.
"3. Whether the charter constituted such a contract as, if entered into between individual citizens, would be legally binding upon them."
All three of these points (Vol. 15, Md. Reports p. 330) were unani- mously decided in the affirmative. When, however, a few years thereafter. suit was brought to recover the amount of their claim- over $300,000. inclusive of interest-it was held by the Court that the Board of Visitors and Governors could not avoid the release given in 1833, and the suit was accordingly decided against them. Inasmuch, however, as eminent lawyers, among them the Hon. Reverdy John- son, himself an alumnus of St. John's, maintained that under the terms of the charter itself (Acts of 1784, Chapter 37, Section 16), the Board had transcended its powers in granting this release, measures were taken for an appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States. Pending this proceeding, however, the Board, feeling reluctant, as they affirmed, to seek redress for the wrongs of a Maryland College in a tribunal beyond its jurisdiction, addressed a memorial to the Legis- lature of 1866, in response to which, and, doubtless, in recognition of this appeal to their sense of justice, the General Assembly appro- priated the sum of $12,000 annually for five years from June 1st, 1868.
Humphrey Hall, standing to the right of McDowell Hall, was erect- ed in 1834, for the accommodation of students, and for the improving and extending the library and philosophical apparatus of the institu- tion. "This was done by the exertions of the Principal, Rev. Hector Humphreys, D. D., who by visits to different parts of the State, suc- ceeded in obtaining donations aggregating over $12,000."
The building soon after its erection was described as being "de- signed for one of the professors, and the students ; there are twenty private rooms in it, intended for the separate studies for members of the advanced classes, and two large dormitories for pupils in the pre- paratory branches. A building like this had long been needed. It will accommodate at least sixty students in all the departments."
During the war between the Federal Government and Seceded States, the buildings and grounds of St. John's College were seized by the Government for military purposes. Its commons were turned into a camp, its halls into quarters, and its laboratory into a stable. During this period the educational functions were suspended and the State's appropriation withdrawn. It was revived and restored in an aggregate sum by Chapter 101, Acts of 1866.
The College buildings were soon put in thorough repair, and Dr. Henry Barnard, of Connecticut, late Commissioner of Education, was
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elected Principal, by whom the College was reopened in September, 1866.
By Chapter 393, Acts of 1872, the College, in addition to the $3,000, already received it was given a further grant of $12,000 per annum for six years. This was a renewal of the grant of 1868.
The same Act gave $5,000 for "increasing and improving the Col- lege library, laboratory, philosophical apparatus and cabinet." This Act also directed to be paid to the Visitors and Governors of St. John's "the sum of $10,000 per annum, payable quarterly, to be ap- plied by them in furnishing board, fuel, lights, and washing, to two of the students, educated free of charge for tuition, from each Sena- torial District of this State, and appointed by the Commissioners of the Primary Schools, by and with the advice and consent of the Sena- tor in their respective Senatorial Districts, after a competitive exami- nation of the candidates, provided, that the said appointment shall not be held by the same student for more than four years, and that each student, receiving such appointment, shall give his bond to the State of Maryland for such amount, with such security, as may be approved of by the Principal of said College that he will teach school within this State for not less than two years after leaving College."
By Chapter 315. Acts of 1878, the appropriation of $12,000 addi- tional to the $3,000 of contrac; was voted the College for two years ; and the ten thousand to Senatorial Scholars was reduced to $7,500 per annum. The candidates for Senatorial scholarship, by this Act were required to produce before the School Commissioners of their respective counties and the city of Baltimore "satisfactory evidence of their moral character and of their inability, or the inability of their parents, or guardians, to pay the regular College charges."
The appropriations of $7,500 per annum for Senatorial scholarships, and $3,000 for general expenses continues to the present.
The College, during its existence of a century presents a long array of honorable names that acknowledge St. John's as their alma mater. Among them are :
Daniel Clarke, Associate Judge of the First Judicial District ; John Done, Judge of the General Court, Judge of the Fourth Judicial Dis- trict, and of the Court of Appeals of Maryland ; Clement Dorsey, Judge of the First Judicial District ; Benjamin Ogle, Governor of Maryland ; Ninian Pinkney, Clerk of the Executive Council, of the class of 1793 ; Richard Harwood. Adjutant-General of Maryland ; John Carlisle Her- bert, Member of Congress and Speaker of the House of Delegates of Maryland ; Alexander Contee Magruder, Judge of the Court of Ap- peals, Reporter of the Decisions of the same Court ; John Seney and John C. Weems, Members of Congress. of the class of 1794 ; Robert H. Goldsborough, United States Senator ; Francis Scott Key. author of "Star Spangled Banner ;" John Ridgely, Surgeon United States Navy ; Washington Van Bibber, Member of Congress, of the class of 1796 ; John Leeds Kerr. United States Senator ; John Tayloe Lomax, Judge of the Court of Appeals of Virginia, of the class of 1797 ; Alex- ander Hammett, Consul at Naples ; Thomas U. P. Charlton, Chancel- lor of South Carolina ; William Rodgers. Surgeon United States Navy ; Tobias Watkins, Auditor in United States Treasury, and Assistant Surgeon United States Army ; John Wilmot, Adjutant-General of Maryland, of the class of 1798; Thomas Beale Dorsey, Attorney-
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General of Maryland and Chief of the Court of Appeals; Dennis Claude, M. D .. Treasurer of Maryland ; George Washington Parke Custis, of the class of 1799 ; Nicholas Harwood, M. D., Surgeon United States Navy ; George Mann, Lieutenant United States Navy ; James Thomas. Governor of Maryland. of the class of 1800 ; James Murray, Examiner General : Charles W. Hanson, JJudge of the Sixth Judicial Distriet : Alexander C. Hanson, Member of the House of Representa- tives and United States Senator ; David Hoffman , Professor of Laws in the University of Maryland ; Charles Sterrett Ridgely, Speaker of the House of Delegates, class of 1802: John Contee. Lieutenant U. S. Marine Corps : William Grason, Governor of Maryland : Christo- pher Hughes, Charge to Sweden : Thomas Williamson. Surgeon United States Navy, of the class of 1804 : George Mackubin, Treasurer of Maryland ; John Wesley Peaco, Surgeon U. S. Navy and Governor of Liberia : Daniel Randall, Deputy Paymaster General, U. S. Army ; Hyde Ray, Surgeon U. S. Navy ; John R. Shaw, Purser U. S. Navy ; Seth Switzer, Consul to Guayaquil ; William T. Wooton. Secretary of State, of the class of 1806 : Thomas Randall. Judge of the District Court of Florida : John Ridout, Visitor and Governor : John Gwinn, Captain U. S. Navy ; William Latimer, Admiral U. S. Navy ; Wil- liam HI. Marriott, Collector of the Port of Baltimore, of the class of 1810 ; Nicholas Brewer, Judge of the Circuit Court of Anne Arundel ; William Caton, Surgeon U. S. Navy : Reverdy Johnson, United States Senator, Attorney-General, of United States, Minister to England ; David Ridgely, State Librarian, author of " Annals of An- napolis, " William Greenbury Ridgely, Chief Clerk in the Navy De- partment at Washington : John Nelson Watkins Adjutant -General of Maryland, of the class of 1811 ; Thomas S. Alexander, L. L. D., George G. Brewer, Register of the Land Office : John Denny, Sorgeon United States Navy ; John Johnson, Chancellor of Maryland ; Landon Mercer, Lieutenant United States Navy : Richard Randall, M. D. U. S. A., and Governor of Liberia ; Francis Thomas, Member of Con- gress, Governor of Maryland, Minister to Pern : Ramsay Waters, Register in Chancery ; John B. Wells. Surgeon in United States Army ; George Wells, President of the Maryland Senate : William Williams, M. D., President of the Maryland Senate, of the classes from 1811 to 1821 ; Alexander Randall, Member of Congress and At- torney-General of Maryland, of the class of 1822 : Nicholas Brewer. of John, Adjutant-General of Maryland : Burton Randall. Surgeon United States Army, of the classes from 1822 to 1826 : John Henry Alexander, L. L. D. ; William Harwood, State Librarian. Professor at the Naval Academy, School Examiner of Anne Arundel County ; William Pinkney, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Maryland ; William H. Tuck, Judge of the Court of Appeals : John Bowie, Lieutenant United State Navy, of the class of 182: : John Randall Ilagner, Paymaster United States Army : Thomas Karney, Professor of Ethics and Librarian in the United States Naval Aca- demy ; Ninian Pinkney, Medical Director, U. S. Navy : Augustus Bowie, Surgeon U. S. Navy ; Sprigg Harwood, Clerk of the Circuit Court ; John H. T. Magruder, State Librarian ; Richard Swann. State Librarian, of the class of 1830 ; Rev. Orlando Hutton. John Greene Proud, Poet before the Alumni ; F. W. Green, Member of Congress ; Peter V. Hagner, U. S. Army, of the class of 1834 ; Abram Claude, Professor of Chemistry St. John's College, Mayor of Annapolis, of
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the class of 1835 ; William R. Hayward, Commissioner of the Land Office ; Rev. Samuel Ridout, class of 1836 ; William Tell Claude ; Henry II. Goldsborough, President of State Convention of 1864, Comptroller, Judge of Eleventh Judicial Circuit ; William H. Thomp- son, Professor of Grammar in St. John's College ; Marius Duvall, · Medical Director of the U. S. Navy ; William R. Goodman, M. D. ; Philip Lansdale, Medical Director U. S. Navy : William Levely, Surgeon United States Army. of the class of 1838; Frederick Stone, Judge of the Court of Appeals, of the class of 1839; Luther Giddings, Major of the United States Army : George S. Hum- phrey, Lieutenant. United States Army : Richard Grason, Judge of the Court of Appeals of Maryland. class of 1841 ; Llewellyn Boyle, Lieutenant United States Army and State Librarian ; John Thomas Hall, Lieutenant United States Army ; James Kemp Harwood, Purser United States Navy : Thomas A. MeParlin, Surgeon United States Army : John Schaaff Stockett. State Reporter of the Court of Appeals, of the class of 1844; Nicholas Brewer, State Re- porter of the Court of Appeals ; Richard M. Chase. Secretary of the Naval Academy ; James Munroe, Mayor of Annapolis, class of 1846; James Shaw Franklin, Clerk of the Court of Appeals : John Mullan, Captain United States Army ; Charles S. Winder. Captain U. S. Army, and Brigadier General Confederate States Army ; class of 1847; James Revell, State's Attorney for Anne Arundel County ; Thomas J. Nelson, Paymaster U. S. Army, class of 1849; Charles Brewer, Surgeon in U. S. and C. S. Armies ; William Sprigg Hall. Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Ramsey County, Minnesota, class of . 1852 ; Daniel R. Magruder, Judge of the Court of Appeals, class of 1853 ; John HI. Sellman. Paymaster United States Navy, Collector Internal Revenue, class of 1857 : Andrew G. Chapman, Member of Congress, class of 1858 ; John W. Brewer. Assistant Surgeon United States Army : William Hersey Hopkins. Vice Principal of St. John's College, President Female College of Baltimore. class of 1857 ; Samuel T. Mccullough, Lieutenant Confederate States Army, class of 1860.
In 1857, there was added to St. John's College Pinkney Hall, con- taining 46 rooms. When in thorough repair it will accommodate 140 to 150 students. Its floorings were greatly damaged during the occupancy of the College by the United States troops in the civil war. Its dimensions are 38 feet frout, 95 feet deep, and is four stories. The Gymnasium is in the rear of the space between McDowell and Pink- ney Halls. The two professors houses to the right of Ilumphrey Hall were built in 1855, the fine double house, intended for the use of the Principal and Vice-Principal, was built in 1857.
The following was the faculty of 1886 :
Thomas J. Fell, University of London, England ; Acting President, Professor of Ancient and Modern Languages, and Lecturer on Me- taphysics, Moral Philosophy and Evidences of Christianity ; A. Sager Hall, Graduate and Doctor of Philosophy of Michigan University, Professor of Natural Philosophy. Astronomy, Chemistry. Zoology and Botany, and Lecturer on Mineralogy and Geology ; C. W. Reid, Pro- fessor of the Greek and German Languages ; Charles W. Foster, U. S. A., Professor of Military Science and Tactics, and Lecturer on In- ternational and Constitutional Law ; J. H. Baker, Assistant Engineer U. S. N., Professor of Higher Mathematics and Mechanical Engineer-
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ing ; C. W. Cain, Professor of Mathematics and Acting Professor of English Literature ; C. W. Reid. Superintendent of the Preparatory Department and Librarian ; J. E. W. Revell, Tutor in the Prepara- tory Department ; John L. Chew, Tutor in the Preparatory Depart- ment.
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CHAPTER XLIV. PRESIDENT WASHINGTON'S VISIT TO ANNAPOLIS.
On Friday morning, March 25th, 1751, President Washington, ac- companied only by his private Secretary, Major Jackson, arrived in Annapolis. Intelligence having been received of his intended em- barkation at Rock Hall, he had been anxiously expected on Thursday evening-but the Governor, and several other gentlemen, who had failed to meet him, were compelled to return without tidings. "The vessel, which contained the chief treasure of America, did not enter the river Severn until ten o'clock, in a dark tempestuous night. She struck on a bar, or point, within about a mile from the city; and although they made a signal of distress, it was impossible, before day-light, to go to her relief. The guardian angel of America was still watchful ; and we are happy in assuring our countrymen that the health of their dearest friend has not been at all affected by an accident far more distressing to those who were apprised, or rather apprehensive, of his situation, than to himself."#
At 10 o'clock on the same day attended by the Governor, and a number of respectable citizens, he visited St. John's College, and ex- pressed much satisfaction at the appearance of this rising seminary, He then pursued his walk to the government house. At three o'clock he sat down to a public dinner at Mr. Mann's with a numerous com- pany of the inhabitants, and continued at table until there had been circulated the following toasts, each of which was announced by the discharge of cannon-
1. The People of the United States of America.
2. The Congress.
3. The dearest Friend of his Country.
4. The State of Maryland.
5. Wisdom, Justice and Harmony, in all our Public Councils.
6. Agriculture, Manufactures, Commerce and Learning ; may they flourish with Virtue and true Religion.
7. The King of the French.
8. The National Assembly of France.
9. The Sieur la Fayette, and the other generous Friends to America in the day :f her Distress.
* Md. Gazette.
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10. To all those who have fallen in the Cause of America.
11. The Patriots of Nations and Ages.
12. The Powers of Europe friendly to America.
13. May all the inhabitants of the Earth be taught to consider each other as Fellow Citizens.
14. The Virtuous Daughters of America.
15. The Perpetual Union of distinct Sovereign States under an effi- cient Federal Head.
On Saturday the President again dined with a large company at the Government House ; and in the evening his presence enlivened a ball, at which was exhibited everything which the little city contained of beauty and elegance.
The little city was in a whirl of delightful excitement during the entire stay of its illustrious visitor, all care seemed suspended; and the inhabitants of the whole town were made "happy in contemplating him whom they considered as their fastest friend, as well as the most exalted of their fellow-citizens. and the first of men."
On Sunday, the 27th. the President left Annapolis on horseback, escorted, as far as South River, by a company of gentlemen. Here the most of them took leave of him, but Governor Plater accompanied him to Georgetown, where the President stayed some days before he began his arduous and patriotic journey through the Southern States.
A pleasant outgrowth of President Washington's visit to Annapolis was the following correspondence :
ANNAPOLIS, April 7th.
To The President of the United States.
Sir :- We. the Faculty of St. John's College, beg leave to express the sincere joy which the honour of your presence in our infant semi- nary afforded us. In common with all those who superintend the education of youth, we must feel a lively gratitude to the defender of liberty, the guardian of his country, and consequently the great patron of literature. But as this seminary was begun since the united voice of our America called you to preside over its most important interests, and ensure to them the continuance of those blessings which your calm foresight and steady fortitude had been the happy means of pro- curing, it seems in a peculiar manner to look up to you with filial respect. That it dates its birth from this grand era, which has placed you at the head of fifteen distinct Sovereign States united into one mighty republic, is regarded by its friends as an auspicious circum- stance and flattering assurance of its future eminence and usefulness. To the friend of virtue and his country, the rise of a college, where the youth of generations, yet unborn, may be taught to admire and emulate the great and good, must give a heart felt delight, as they promise perpetuity to the labours and renown of the patriot and hero.
Our earnest prayers, that a kind Providence may constantly watch over you, and preserve a life, long, indeed, already, if measured by deeds of worth and fullness of honors, but too short as yet for your .country.
Signed in behalf, and at the request, of the Faculty,
JOHN MCDOWELL, President, To the Faculty of St. John's College,
Gentlemen :- The satisfaction which I have derived from my visit
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to your infant seminary, is expressed with real pleasure, and my wishes for its progress to perfection are preferred with sincere regard.
The very promising appearance of its infancy must flatter all its friends (among whom I entreat you to class me) with the hope of an early. and at the same time. a mature manhood.
You will do justice to the sentiments. which your kind regard towards myself inspires, by believing that I reciprocate the good wishes contained in your address, and I sincerely hope the excellence of your seminary will be manifested in the morals and science of the youth who are favored with your care.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
President Washington gave a proof of his friendly sentiments to- wards St. John's by installing his ward, George Washington Parke Custis, as a student in the institution. Two nephews of Washington were also students of the College.
CHAPTER XLV. CHRONICLES OF ANNAPOLIS FROM 1777 TO 1810.
[1177.] The General Assembly, at its February Session, 1877, passed a resolution. under which the Court of Appeals was to be com- posed of five Judges. The first Judges were Benjamin Ramsey, Chief Judge : Benjamin Mackall. Thomas Jones, Solomon Wright. James Murray, Associates. They were appointed December 12th, 1778.
The Acts of February Session, 1771, Chapter 15. made the .Talbot Court House" and Annapolis, the places of the meeting of the Pro- vincial Court. afterward changed into the General Court. It was a Court of original jurisdiction. The first Judges, appointed March 9th, 1778, were William Paca, Chief Judge : Nicholas Thomas and Alex. Contee Hanson, Associate Judges. This Court met in the room which, in the State House, gave place to, and is now occupied in part by the State Library.
[1783.] In 1783, one I. Chalmers. a goldsmith. of Annapolis, Mary- land, issued silver tokens as a speculative venture of his own. They consisted of shillings, six-pences. and three-pences, now rare, the two smaller pieces particularly so. Dr. John David Schoff, who visited this county in 1783-4, gives the following account of these coins :
"In the United States, Annapolis has the honor of having furnished the first silver money for small change. A goldsmith of this place coins on his own account, though with the consent of the government. After the depreciation of the paper money, it became customary and necessary, throughout America, to cut the Spanish dollars, in two, four and more pieces for change. This dividing became soon a pro- fitable business in the hands of expert cutters who knew how to cut five quarters, or nine and ten eighths out of a round dollar, so that. shortly every one refused to take this kind of money otherwise than
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by weight or at discretion. To get over this embarrassment the said goldsmith assists in getting the angular pieces out of circulation, by taking them in exchange, with a considerable advantage to himself, for pieces of his own coinage."#
[1783.] At Washington's reception, the day before he resigned his commission, Mr. Mann furnished the supper at the State House. Ninety-eight bottles of wine, two and a-half gallons of spirits, nine pounds of sugar, a lot of limes, music and waiters, and a dozen packs of cards were supplied, and the Governor directed Col. Mills of the An- napolis Coffee House, to furnish the people with punch and grog to the value of £10 10s.
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