Old Virginia and her neighbours

WILLIAM AND MARY. 129was the first in America to establish a chair ofHistory and Political Science ; and it was one ofthe first to pursue a thoroughly secular and unsectarianpolicy. Though until lately its numberof students at any one time had never reachedone hundred and fifty, it has given to our countryfifteen senators and seventy representatives incongress ; seventeen governors of states, andthirty-seven judges ; three presidents of the UnitedStates, — Jefferson, Monroe, and Tyler ; and thegreat Chief Justice Marshall.^ It was a noblework for America that was done by the Scotchparson, James Blair.As for Governor Nicholson, who was sodeeplyinterested in that work, he played a memorablepart in the history of the United States, whichdeserves mention before we leave the subject ofhis connection with Virginia. When he was firsttransferred from the governorship of New Yorkto that of the Old Dominion, with his Nicholson'shead full ofexperiences gained in New a'^u^onVf"^York, he proposed a grand Union of the^^^ colonies.English colonies for mutual defence as'ainst theencroachments of the French. King William approvedthe scheme and recommended it to thefavourable consideration of the colonial assemblies.But a desire for union was not strong in any ofthese bodies, and as for Virginia, she was tooremote from the Canadian border to feel warmlyinterested in it. The act of 1695, authorizing thegovernor to apply X500 fi'om the liquor excise tothe relief of New York, shows a notably generous^ William and Mary College Annual Catalogue, 1894-95.