would suggest the principal figure in the glowing lines of the Poet: "Ac, veluti magno in populo quum sæpe coorta est But he was not destined to see that day, and an early death deprived the State of one that seemed to be born for a part so noble, and not unfrequently needed. Nor in this retrospective view would it be possible to omit the most careless of students, the most ingenious of men, Charles Stephens-absent minded, forgetful of College bell or College exercise, but never at fault in detecting a SOphism, or weaving the chain of argument. In after times, when he would rise in the Legislature, on some knotty point of Parliamentary or Constitutional law, the absence of all ornament of speech or gesture, and of all attempts at the arts by which an audience is flattered, could not prevent him from being listened to with profound attention. No man wielded a keener dialectic. The blade glittered to the eye, but the weapon was held in a harmless hand. Had he been bent on cutting his way to distinction by subverting the exist ing order of things, the social fabric would have had no more formidable adversary. His Dialectic would have hardly been resisted by any establishment; because all things mortal contain some error; and to the keen logician every weak place furnishes a point of assault, and an opening to the enemy. But Stephens was conservative—the severity of his logic was tempered by the mildness of his disposition. He lived in peace, which he loved; and died surrounded by affectionate friends, who admired his genius, but valued more the qualities of his heart. Nor should Waring be forgotten, already skilled in the knowledge of human character. His observant spirit naturally led him to the study of medicine, in which he rose to high and merited distinction in Savannah. Nor the noble-minded D:Pont, cf kindred race, but of warmer temperament; who also chose the path of medicine, but was too soon removed to reap the honors civil and professional, which he was so well qualified to win. Nor Miller, even then remarkable for the talent which afterwards raised him to the highest distinctions in the State. Nor Gill, whose early death deprived society of all that might be expected from his hardy sense and constant application. Nor must we forget the leaders of the classthe bland Murphy, and the inflexible Gregg. They were the real students, who, like true soldiers, never forgot the rules of discipline, but studied for the first honors, and won them gallantly. And could I forget thee; the soul of honor and the joy of friendship, George Butler-the most gallant of men, the most genial of spirits! The profession of arms well accorded with his martial character; and though his plume was not destined to wave in the battle's storm, and the fortune of war confined his service to a barren field; yet no more devoted son rallied to the flag, under which he would have been proud to die for his country. Nor does the trump of Fame bear to the winds the echoes of a name, where the soldier's zeal was more gracefully blended with the tenderness of a gentle heart. But the youth instinct with great ideas, the Scholar, the Bard, the Genius of the school, remains. How shall I describe thee, William Harper? Careless, simple and negligent, he lived apart, in the world of his own genius-his imagination brought all things human and divine within the scope of his intellectual vision. For him it was equally easy to learn or to produce. It was not to be expected that such a mind could find occupation in any enforced routine-He was no candidate for the honors of College, though he received a distinguished appointment; in fulfilling which he delivered a poem, almost an improvisation, on the death of Montgomery. It is very common to underrate the Imagination, as an element of power. It is imparted in a high degree to but few, and the opinion of the majority proceeds from imperfect and superficial knowledge of the subject. Works of the Imagination are measured by the standard of utility, and condemned by common minds as frivolous. The character of Genius suf fers in the same way when tried by the estimate of Prudence. Nor can it be denied that, for common affairs, originality and invention are of little value; nor that the finest parts must yield the palm to the intrinsic value of good sense. Fancy, Imagination, Memory, nay-Reason itself,are of little avail without the presence and moderation of that sober guardian. But the great mistake of the common judgment is, to suppose that between genius aud good sense there is some principle of opposition. The very reverse is true; good sense is essential to genius, and the example of William Harper is a striking corroboration of the truth. He was a true poet; of imagination, all compact; and if he had given the reins to his genius, would certainly have devoted himself to the Lyric Muse. But "dura res et—novitas”—the exigencies of common life, and the little encouragement bestowed on literature, determined otherwise; and he embraced the legal profession. How completely he refuted the idea that an imaginative or æsthetic mind is ill adapted to the severest legal studies, is known to all South-Carolina. His judgments, contained in Bailey, Hill and the later reporters, from 1830 to 1847, are an enduring monument of his judicial fame; and his defence of the South, on the relations existing between two races, is so profound in conception, so masterly in execution, as to cause a wide-spread regret that his pen was not more frequently employed in philosophical investigation. The distinguished men that have proceeded from this place, furnish the best evidence of the successful cultivation of learning in this College. If we were to follow the stream of time, we should meet with many a name to prompt the eulogy of departed worth; but I forbear. Though the ornaments of succeeding years might claim the tribute of friendship, or challenge the praise of a more eloquent tongue, these contemporary portraits are reflected in the glass of memory, and later years come not within the field of its vision. Rather is it within the purpose of this celebration to enquire how far the results have corresponded with the expectations of the friends of the College, and what hopes may be reasonably entertained of the future. As to the past, there is much ground for gratulation in the effect which this College has had in harmonising and uniting the State. In 1804, sectional jealousies were sharpened to bitterness, and there was as little unity of feeling between the Upper and Low country, as between any rival States of the Union. Although the suppression of such jealousies is, in part, attributable to the removal of some anomalies in the Constitution, much the largest share in the same good work, is due to the attractive force of a common education. To the insensible operations of the same influence, must also be referred the liberal provision that has been made for general education by the establishment of free schools. And if the benefits of such schools have not yet equaled the full measure of usefulness expected from the system, the failure arises from peculiar circumstances, and affords no just cause for discouragement. Wherever there is a resident Proprietary equal to the duty of their position these schools have not failed to answer the purpose of diffusing the elements of learning. Nor let the limited education of the poor be contemned. It is much more the spirit of instruction than the amount which is imparted, that interests the State. By the instruction received in the most backward school, the learner is put in communication with a higher degree of learning. It is the natural order of things to proceed by steps, and if this gradation do not exist in the social fabric, it is a serious defect. The influence of the College, like the ambient air, should extend on all sides-upwards to the regions of discovery, and downwards to the smallest tenement of rudimental instruction. In this way, the blessings of civilization are extended by a sound and healthy state of public opinion; and if we compare the progress which the State has made since 1804, we shall have no reason to withold our assent from the conclusion, that the hopes with which the College was inaugurated, have not been disappointed. As to the future, we trust that the College will be true to its mission as the nurse of an enlightened public opinion. From this source should issue not only the rays of knowledge, but the light which disperses the mists of prejudice. Knowledge is a step in the improvement of society, but it is not the only de sideratum. Very pernicious errors may prevail in the midst of much intellectual activity, and opinions long discarded by cultivated minds may still exert a wide-spread and pernicious. influence. In eradicating such weeds from the minds of the young, the public Instructor has an arduous duty, in which every encouragement is to be given to his efforts. It is in the College that the reformation of popular errors should begin. Education is the hand-maid of civilization, which includes morals and manners as well as learning. But if opinions which reason condemns, find shelter in colleges, where shall we look for improvement to begin? Education is valuable to society, because it improves the moral sense and developes the energy of the mind. The fruit of such culture should be shown by an exemption from popular error or local prejudice. When the College is but the echo of the popular voice, there is room to surmise that the culture has been neglected, or that the Professor has labored upon an ungrateful soil. A liberal education implies a superiority to common errors; and deep regret must follow the disappointment of that expectation. But it is still more deplorable when the College becomes a place of refuge for exploded fallacies; among which none can be more pernicious than that false sentiment that resistance to authority is an honorable impulse. Now Fidelity is the very bond of Honor, and lends its sanction to all the demands of lawful authority. To promise, and fail to perform, is always a reproach; and if the default be wilful, it entails the heavier penalty of disgrace. But lawful authority imposes obligations of equal weight with those which are clothed with a promise. To set against such obligations, considerations of personal will, interest, or opinion, is characteristic of sordid egotism, and inconsistent with the first principles of Honor. A liberal education implies a keen sensibility to every duty which Fidelity enjoins; and over the portal of every College should be inscribed in letters of gold, OBEDIENCE IS HONORAble. And now, considering the feeble beginnings of 1804, when the course of the Senior year would hardly be considered in these days a qualification for the Sophomore--when the whole array of Faculty consisted of three Professors, and the Philo |