43 



1 have thus sketched the birth of the college, and the labors of 

 parturition. Like all children, it must now be tried by the ills and 

 chances that flesh is heir to; its period of dentition, and want of 

 nourishment, by perils nearly unto death, trials by fire, trials by 

 poverty, -threats of abandonment, orphanage, and of baby farming. 



The corporation was organized November 18, 1863, with his Ex- 

 cellency John A. Andrew as President, Allen W. Dodge as Vice- 

 President, and Charles L. Flint Secretary. The magnanimity of 

 Gov. Andrew is shown from the fact that after the report of the 

 legislative committee he not only yielded all opposition, but entered 

 into a most zealous cooperation with the trustees in carrying out the 

 work assigned them. In the midst of duties and cares before unex- 

 ampled, during the anxieties and turmoils of a great civil war, he 

 found time to attend their meetings and joined with their executive 

 committee, consisting of Messrs. French, Colt and Davis, in visiting 

 Amherst in June, 1864 to examine their location. 



On the 17th of March, 1864, a letter was received from Dr. 

 Thomas Hill, President of Harvard College, making- suggestions in 

 favor of the Bussey estate, but it was known to the trustees that the 

 views of Dr. Hill and Prof. Agassiz were not generally supported at 

 Cambridge. In April and earl} 7 in May the trustees viewed the ad- 

 joining premises of Mr. Phineas Stedman, and of Chester W. Cha- 

 pin near Springfield, the Kemp farm in West Springfield and the 

 Luddington farm ; in Northampton, the farm of Dr. Denniston ; the 

 Fairbanks farm; that of Mr. Clark, near Florence; the Day farm, 

 and that of Dr. Prince, near the Northampton Lunatic Hospital, of 

 which Dr. Prince was then superintendent; the farms of Cowles, 

 Cobb and others, here in Amherst; at Lexington, the farm of Mrs. 

 Gary ; and at West Newton, the Winchester farm then owned by T. 

 P. Chandler. But the towns of Lexington. Springfield, Northampton 

 and Amherst only, " offered to secure by valid subscription or other- 

 wise, the sum of seventy-five thousand dollars, for the purpose of 

 erecting suitable buildings thereon." On the -25th of April the 

 trustees decided to locate in Amherst by a vote of 

 For Amherst 8, 

 Springfield 3, 

 Lexington 1, 

 Northampton 1. 



At this time the trustees were further instructed by an elaborate 



