| Citation |
PG-P.783.017
16 Jul 1783:22, 23 (2770)
Chester, in the state of Maryland, May 16, 1783. On
Wednesday last, the 14th instant, was held the first
commencement of Washington College, . . . [2 3/4 column
report on event, with following relevant sections:]
. . . In the evening of the same day, Dr. Young's tragedy of
The Brothers, notwithstanding the difficulty of the
composition, was acted with the greatest applause before a
vastly crouded and discerning audience, by the graduates and
some others of the students. Messrs. Charles Smith and John
S[cott], who had before distinguished themselves in
Tamerlane and Bajazet, as well as in some principal
characters in other performances, during the last years of
their education, concluded their scholastic labours in this
way, by shining in the character of the Two Brothers!
The day following. . . [laid the cornerstone of the new
college, and a Pastoral Dialogue was spoken, beginning:]
When Athens flourish'd with the Grecian reign,
And chiefs and heroes liv'd--a God-like train!
When by her arms each neighbouring state was sway'd,
And Kings an homage to her warriors paid --
. . . [32 more lines]
[At end of report:]
The Valedictory Oration, delivered at the first commencement
in Washington College, in the State of Maryland, May 14,
1783. by Charles Smith, B. A. . .
[oration, with the following at end.]
It comes! it comes! the promis'd aera comes!
Now peace and science shall disperse the glooms
Of war and error-and, with cheerful ray,
O'er long benighted realms shed heavenly day.
Hark! the glad muses strike the warbling string,
And in melodious accents, thus they sing--
"Woods, brooks, gales, fountains, long unknown to fame,
. . . [7 lines]
Haste, O ye gales, your spicy sweets impart,
In music breathe them to the exulting heart!
. . . [6 lines]
Thrice welcome to these shores, here ever dwell
With shade and silence, far from dire alarms,
The trumpet's horrid clang and din of arms--
. . . [34 lines]
Hark! Other Homers, Virgils touch the string,
And other Popes and Miltons, joyous, sing;
Find other Twit'nams in each bowery wood,
And other Tibers in each sylvan flood!
Lo! the wild Indian soften'd by their song,
Emerging from his arbours, bounds along
The green Savannah, patriot of the lore,
Of dove-eye'd wisdom--and is rude no more.
. . . [16 more lines]
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