19151 Elisha Mitchell, D. D. 161 



into University lands, leaving the Trustees, Faculty and the 

 public to guess at his motives. The favorite conjecture was 

 that he designed a Botanical Garden, but there was no authority 

 for the guess. 



Let me not be understood to imply that his labors were often 

 in vain. As Bursar, besides receiving and disbursing University 

 moneys, he had charge of the University grounds and buildings.' 

 His success is still evident in the picturesque rock walls around 

 the campus, the roads he built and other improvements. 



Dr. Mitchell published no great book but he was active with, 

 his pen. I have heretofore mentioned his Geology of jSTorth 

 Carolina, his Chemistry, his notes on Botany, and Facts and 

 Dates. Without attempting minute descriptions I give a list 

 of his contributions to journals and newsjDapers and of his pam- 

 phlets, not heretofore mentioned. 



1. Contributions on scientific subjects to Silliman's and 

 other journals. I suggest that some student search for these 

 and describe them. 



2. Pamphlet in defence of Presbyterian tenets, in answer 

 to Bishop Eavenscroft, the first Bishop of I^orth Carolina. 



3. Pamphlet, proving that Slavery is righteous according 

 to Holy Scripture and sound reason. 



After publishing this Dr. Mitchell revisited his birth-town 

 and was mortified that the authorities of his Church refused to 

 invite him to occupy its pulpit. 



4. A series of letters in the Raleigh Register attacking the 

 Report of Dr. Ebenezer Emmons on the Deep river deposits of 

 coal. Dr. Emmons claimed that there was a valuable coal basin. 

 Dr. Mitchell contended that the indications were only of a 

 four feet seam, with inclinations of about 18 degrees to the 

 surface of the earth, and that there was no evidence of a diminu- 

 tion of this incline. Actual working sustains Dr. Mitchell. 



5. Address before the ISTorth Carolina Agricultural Society 

 at the Fair in 185G, in which he gave much valuable informa- 

 tion on Agricultural Chemistry. 



6. Letters to the Raleigh Register in reply to General 



