Sect. III.] United Stales of America. 193 



was «oon carried into execution. He was named 

 in the charter as the first president, and acted in 

 that capacity till the year 174.2*. 



This college, though liberally endowed, has not 

 flourished so much as its friends could wish. For 

 more than seventy years after its establishment, it 

 had rarely more than twenty students at any one 

 time. The habit of sending young men to Eu- 

 rope for their education had continued so long, 

 that many of the more wealthy persisted in it after 

 they had a college erected among themselves. 

 Within a few years past the number of students 

 has considerably increased, and the prospects of 

 the institution are becoming much more favour- 

 able. 



* The rer. James Blair was born and educated in Scotland, 

 whwe he obtained a benelite in the episcopal church. On ac- 

 count of the unsettled state of religion which then existed in that 

 kingdom, he quitted his preferments, and went into England, 

 near the end of the reign of Charles II. The bishop of London, 

 considering him as well qualified for the office, both as to talents 

 and piety, prevailed on him to go to Virginia as a mi;ssionary, 

 where he was highly popular and eminently useful ; and in 

 1689 obtained the appointment of ecclesiastical commissary for 

 the province. Though the charter wds given for " William and 

 Mary college," about the year 1693, and though he was named 

 therein as the first president, yet he does not appear to have en- 

 tered on the duties of this office till the year 1729, from which 

 period, until 1742, he discharged them with faithfulness. Mr. 

 Blair was a learned and exemplary man, respected and useful in 

 his various stations, and died at a good old asre in 174-3. lie 

 published four octavo volumes of discourse-;, under the following 

 title : Our Saviour's Divine Sermon on the Mount explained ; and 

 recommended in divers Sermons and Discourses. London, 1742. 

 This work is spoken of with high approbation by Dr. Doddrid"e, 

 in his Fmmilj p.xpositor. 



Vol. III. O 



