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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 417
Finally, a body called the Senatus Academicus was formed, con
sisting of the governor, the judges of the Superior Courts, and the
trustees, the duty of which body was to sit in review upon the action
of the trustees, with power to confirm or to reject. On November 23,
1800, the Senatus Academicus formally organized the university by
the election of a president, at a salary of $1,200. Mr. Baldwin recom
mended for this position Prof. Josiah Meigs, of Hartford, Conn., an
old acquaintance whom he had met when a tutor at Yale. Final action
was not taken by the board at this time, but Professor Meigs was elected
professor 'of mathematics, with an intimation that he might be asked
to take the presidency later on. The curriculum of studies embraced
little more than the classic languages, re-enforced by mathematics, with
perhaps an occasional lecture on mental and moral philosophy; but
this small segment of the circle of knowledge represented the whole
range of the liberal arts in pioneer days.
Without delay the trustees were authorized to select a site for the
proposed institution.
Pursuant to these instructions, the trustees met and, after repeated
ballotings, decided to locate the college somewhere within the limits of
what was then Jackson, now Clarke County; and accordingly a com
mittee consisting of John Milledge, Abraham Baldwin, George Walton,
John Twiggs, and Hugh Lawson was appointed to choose a site for the
buildings. During the summer months thereafter this committee met
at Billup's Tavern on the Lexington road, and proceeded thence to
visit a number of localities. At last, by a unanimous vote, they chose
a site belonging to Mr. Daniel Easley, at Cedar Shoals, on the north
fork of the Oconee River. The property in question was not embraced
within the lands which belonged to the university, but it was purchased
by Mr. John Milledge, who deeded the same to the university as a gift.
There were 633 acres in this tract, beautifully situated on the heights
above the river and thickly wooded with luxuriant forest trees.
As an appropriate name for the locality which was to become the
state's capital of culture, it was decided by the trustees to call the new
seat of learning Athens.
The institution itself was .called Franklin College in honor of Ben
jamin Franklin, the New England philosopher and statesman, who,
at one time had acted as agent for Georgia in adjusting Colonial affairs.
While the Legislature's gift'of land to the university was valueless
at the time, it eventually yielded to the institution an income of
$100,000, in addition to which the donation made by Governor Milledge
produced, first and last, something like $30,000, and proved to be the
main dependence of the college at sundry times, when in dire distress.
The greater part of the town was built upon the Milledge tract, thus
providing the institution an income from the sale of lots; and in recog
nition of the debt due to her earliest benefactor the university created
the Milledge Chair of Ancient Languages, which still exists.
On the arrival of Professor Meigs in Georgia the office of president
was relinquished by Mr. Baldwin and at his direction the former was
placed at the helm of affairs. Under the direction of Professor Meigs
temporary buildings constructed chiefly of logs arose in the virgin
wilderness; and these furnished the crude beginnings out of which
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