Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 27.djvu/362

 354 Southern Historical Society Papers.

humble mountain inn was honored with the presence of one of the grandest and most dignified conclaves that ever met anywhere. Prof. George Tucker says, in his Life of Jefferson, that President James Monroe was one of them. If he be mistaken in this, it is cer- tain that two ex-Presidents of the United States, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, were in it, with nineteen worthy associates, sev- eral of whom were fully the equals of President Monroe. Judge William Brockenbrough was one of these.

Mr. Jefferson was made President of the Board, who appointed a sub-committee of six to consider and report on all the duties assigned them, except that relating to the site of the University. They were engaged in their noble work until August 4th. Three sites were offered: at Lexington, at Staunton, and at Central College, where our renowned University, lately sprung up anew from her ashes, now rests, surrounded by such surpassing beauty.

The Board, having voted that it was not necessary to visit, as was proposed, the competing locations, proceeded on the third day to make the selection. Staunton obtained two votes, Lexington three, and Central College sixteen, one of which was Judge Brocken- brough's. Each site offered material inducements in its own favor, but the Board said to the legislature: "Although the act required them to receive any voluntary contributions which might be offered for the benefit of the University, yet they did not consider this as establishing an auction or as pledging the location to the highest bidder." Have there not been too many auctions in similar cases?

The Board also adopted an elaborate report, drawn up by Mr. Jef- ferson, which was, with some amendments, signed by all the twenty- one members present and transmitted to the legislature. Mr. Jefferson's signature was the first; Judge Brockenbrough' s was the fourth. Thus our now famous University may be regarded as having been launched, by this august assemblage. Some years afterwards, one of Judge Brockenbrough's brothers (Arthur) was its Proctor. A son of the Proctor, Wm. H. Brockenbrough, studied law there under Prof. John A. G. Davis, and settled in Florida, of which he was appointed Territorial Governor, and where he became distin- guished as a lawyer and a judge. He also represented Florida in Congress. Thus Virginia has produced three judges Brocken- brough ; and Dr. Austin Brockenbrough was a valuable member of the county court of Essex, over which he frequently presided. A daughter of the Proctor married Senator Maxwell, Confederate States Senator from Florida, and their daughter, Lucy, married Rev. Ev-