The New England Magazine, Volume 1, No. 1, January 1886 | Page 6

college funds. Dr. Sears was succeeded by Rev. Dr. Alexis
Caswell, a graduate of the University, and for more than thirty-five
years an honored and successful professor in the Institution. He was
thus thoroughly conversant with its history, and familiar with its special
needs. The Rev. Dr. E. G. Robinson, the present active and efficient
president, entered upon his duties in the fall of 1872. He, too, is a
graduate of the Institution over which he now presides, being a member
of the class of 1838.
The buildings of the University are ten in number. Of these the oldest is
"University Hall," which has already been described. This venerable
structure, so rich in historical associations, and so dear to all the
graduates, has recently been thoroughly renovated and modernized, its
external appearance remaining the same, at an expense of nearly fifty
thousand dollars. The "Grammar School Building," now rented to
private parties, and occupied as at first for a preparatory or classical
school, was erected in 1810, the cost having been defrayed by
subscription. "Hope College" was erected in 1822, at the expense of
Hon. Nicholas Brown, who named it after his only surviving sister,
Hope Ives, wife of the late Thomas Poynton Ives. "Manning Hall" was
erected in 1834, also at the expense of Mr. Brown, who named it after
his revered instructor, the first President of the College. "Rhode Island
Hall," and the "President's Mansion," were erected in 1840, at the
expense mostly of citizens of Providence; Mr. Brown, with his wonted
liberality, contributing ten thousand dollars. The "Chemical
Laboratory" was erected in 1862, through the exertions of Professor N.
P. Hill, late United States Senator from Colorado. The new "Library
Building," which has been pronounced by competent judges to be one
of the finest of its kind in the country, was erected in 1878, at a cost,
exclusive of the lot on which it stands, of ninety-six thousand dollars.

Both the building and the grounds were a bequest of the late John
Carter Brown, a son of the distinguished benefactor. The new
dormitory, "Slater Hall," was erected in 1879, by Hon. Horatio N.
Slater, a member of the Board of Fellows, and a liberal benefactor of
the University. "Sayles Memorial Hall," which was dedicated, with
appropriate ceremonies, in June, 1881, is a beautiful structure of granite
and freestone, erected at the expense of Hon. William F. Sayles, a
member of the Board of Trustees, in memory of his son, who died in
the early part of his collegiate course. It is used for daily recitations,
while its spacious hall, adorned with portraits of distinguished
graduates and benefactors, serves for Commencement dinners and
special academic occasions.
The "Bailey Herbarium," the "Herbarium Olneyanum," and the
"Bennett Herbarium," contain altogether seventy-one thousand eight
hundred specimens, arranged in good order for consultation, and
constituting an important addition to the means of instruction in Botany.
The Museum of Natural History and Anthropology, in Rhode Island
Hall, contains upwards of fifty thousand specimens, implements, coins,
medals, etc., classified and arranged by Professor J. W. P. Jenks. The
Library, which dates back from the year 1767, when the Rev. Morgan
Edwards collected books for it in England, numbers sixty-three
thousand choice and well bound volumes, and a large number of
unbound pamphlets. Among the recent additions is the valuable and
unique "Harris Collection of American Poetry," bequeathed by Hon.
Henry B. Anthony, a graduate of the University, and for twenty-five
years a member of the United States Senate. The books of the Library
are arranged in alcoves according to subjects, and free access is
allowed to the shelves. The funds of the University, according to the
report of the Treasurer for April, 1885, amount to $812,943. There are
sixty-six scholarships for the aid of indigent students, and also
premium, prize, and aid funds, amounting to $40,000. The Library
Funds amount to $36,500.
The Faculty consists of the President, twelve Professors, two assistant
Professors, five Instructors, two assistant Instructors, one Librarian, one
assistant Librarian, a Registrar, and a Steward. The present number of

undergraduates, according to the annual catalogue for 1885-86, is 239.
The number of graduates, as appears from the triennial catalogue, is
3,191. About one fourth of this number are in italics, indicating that
they have been ordained and set apart for the work of the Christian
ministry. Of these upwards of one hundred have appended to their
names "S. T. D.," including bishops eminent for their piety and learning,
missionaries of the cross in foreign lands, presidents of theological
schools, and religious teachers whose names are conspicuous in the
republic of letters, and whose virtues and deeds are held in grateful
remembrance.
FOOTNOTES:
[A] Brown University, the Charter of which was granted in 1764, is the
seventh American College in the order of date.