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 WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY 491 stiff, and the forehead, as in most French works of art at that period, probably some- what too retreating. A succession of portraits, from that of the elder Peale in 1770 to that of Sharpless in 1796, exhibit his countenance, and some of them his person, with various merit and success, and through all the changes wrought by a quarter of a century. To all the other traits of excellence in his character he added profound convictions of religious truth, firm faith in an overruling Providence, and rev- erence for the Chris- tian church, of which he was a communi- cating member. See " The Writings of George Washington, being his Correspond- ence, Addresses, Mes- sages, &c., with a Life of the Author, Notes, and Illustrations," by Jared Sparks (12 vols. 8vo, Boston, 1834-'7; the "Life" published separately, 8vo, 1839); the "Life of George Washing- ton," by Chief Jus- tice Marshall (5 vols. 8vo, Philadelphia, 1805 ; revised and abridged, 2 vols., 1832), and by Wash- ington Irving (5 vols. 8vo and 12mo, New canal company which the legislature had granted to him, and the name of the institu- tion was changed to Washington college. In consideration of retiring this stock the legisla- ture agreed to pay to the college 6 per cent, on $50,000 annually for ever. In 1803 the Cincin-. nati society appropriated their funds, amount- ing to nearly $25,000, to Washington college ; and in honor of this endowment the " Cincin- nati professorship " was founded. The " Rob- inson professorship "'was created by an en- Washington and Lee University. York, 1855-'9) ; and smaller biographies by David Ramsay, James K. Paulding, C. W. Upham, J. T. Ileadley, Mrs. 0. M. Kirkland, and others. WASHINGTON, William Augustine, an American soldier, born in Stafford co., Va., Feb. 28, 1752, died in Charleston, S. C., March 6, 1810. He was the son of Baily Washington, and was educated for the ministry, but entered the con- tinental army with the rank of captain. He took part in the battles of Long Island, Tren- ton, and Princeton, and afterward commanded a troop of light horse in South Carolina. For his conduct in the battle of Cowpens he re- ceived a silver medal from congress. He was captured at Eutaw Springs (1781) and kept a prisoner till the close of the war, when he set- tled in Charleston. In 1798 he was made a member of Gen. Washington's staff with the rank of brigadier general. WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY, an insti- tution of learning at Lexington, Va. Its germ was the Augusta academy, a mathematical and classical school established by Robert Alexan- der near the site of Greenville in Augusta co. In 1776 its name was changed to Liberty Hall. In 1785 the institution was removed to near Lexington, and in 1803 to its present site with- in the limits of the town. It was chartered in 1782. In 1796 George Washington gave to it the 100 shares of stock in the James River dowment of $40,000 realized from a bequest made in 1826 by John Robinson, one of the trustees. During the civil war its sessions were suspended. In June, 1864, when Lexington was occupied by Gen. David Hunter, much damage was done to the institution; its chemical and philosophical apparatus was destroyed and its libraries were greatly injured. After the war liberal contributions were received from vari- ous parts of the country. Soon after the death of Gen. R. E. Lee in 1870 the name was changed to its present form. The presidents of the col- lege, with the dates when they entered upon their duties, have been as follows: the Rev. William Graham, 1782; Samuel L. Campbell, M. D., 1796; George A. Baxter, D. D., 1799; Louis Marshall, M. D., 1830; Henry Vethake, LL. D., 1834; Henry Ruffner, D. D., LL. D., 1836 ; George Junkin, D. D., 1848 to 1860 ; Gen. Robert E. Lee, 1865 ; Gen. G. W. Custis Lee, 1871. A distinguishing feature of the system of instruction is the arrangement of courses of study into distinct elective schools or departments. The student may select such schools as he wishes, not fewer than three in the academic department ; but in each there is a prescribed course of studies, from one to three years, which he is required to pursue. The sev- eral schools are adapted to certain courses of study, to each of which is attached a corre- sponding degree. Instruction is by lectures and