Page:Samuel F. Batchelder - Bits of Harvard History (1924).pdf/279

 vided that the first incumbent was Joseph Story of the United States Supreme Court. Judge Story had already declined the Royall Professorship, and was far from willing to accept the new one; but as its founder firmly insisted on withdrawing the gift unless the chair was filled in accordance with his wishes, Story finally consented, and became Dane Professor. At the same time the Royall Professorship was filled by John H. Ashmun, of the class of 1818. The latter was to supplant Stearns as general manager of the school, and to keep things going as “drill master” while Story was away at Washington. The new incumbents were imaugurated in August, 1829, and the real history of the school began.

Story’s fame was already world-wide, and the public interest in the Supreme Court and its members was at a pitch never equalled before or since. Almost on the instant the school acquired a national reputation. The number of students in the very first year of the new régime was no less than thirty, and rose by leaps and bounds to one hundred and fifty. The dismal little library was rapidly augmented; and in spite of liberal expenditures for books there was a handsome surplus of funds. In less than three years the need of larger quarters became imperative. Again Mr. Dane came forward with a generous contribution, and a temporary loan of more. A separate building in the College Yard was