ADDRESSES 257 



organized November 8, 1863, with John A.Andrew as presi- 

 dent, Allen W. Dodge as vice-president, and Charles 

 L. Flint as secretary. The question of the location 

 of the college was the occasion of considerable debate. 

 A number of influential men, including Governor An- 

 drew, Professor Agassiz, and President Thomas Hill, 

 favored making the agricultural college a department of 

 Harvard. The decision of the legislature and the trustees 

 was in favor of a separate institution. It was characteris- 

 tic of our great war governor, that no sooner was the de- 

 cision of the legislature made in favor of a separate institu- 

 tion, than, abandoning all his previous opinions, he entered 

 heartily into this plan and cooperated to the extent of 

 his power. Several towns offered to comply with the re- 

 quirement of the legislature, that $75,000 for the erection 

 of buildings be pledged before any portion of the public 

 funds should be given to the college. Amherst was finally 

 selected. On the 29th of November, 1864, the Hon. Henry 

 F. French was elected president of the College. He was 

 a man thoroughly identified with agricultural pursuits, 

 had written a work on drainage, and was widely known 

 by his contributions to the different journals. It was felt 

 that his knowledge of the subject and his large experience 

 in men and affairs ensured his success; but he failed to 

 meet the demands of the situation; and after two years, a 

 difference of opinion having arisen between himself and 

 the trustees as to the proper site for the college buildings, 

 he resigned. Ill luck seemed destined to pursue the College 

 at its founding; for his successor, Professor Paul A. Chad- 

 bourne, for many years an enthusiastic and successful 

 instructor in the natural sciences at Williams College, 



