47 



botanic garden, and all was promise when the college met with this 

 first great loss. 



On the 7th of August, prior to the opening of the college, Prof. 

 Clark was elected president, Henry H. Goodell professor of modern 

 languages, and Ebeuezer S. Snell of mathematics. On the 2d of Octo- 

 ber following, the college was opened to students, of whom forty-seven 

 were admitted before the close of the term. The college was at last fairly 

 launched, and the prayers of the trustees, who since their incorpora- 

 tion had held thirty-five meetings on as many days, were about to be 

 answered. President Clark was peculiarly fitted after these great 

 discouragements, by his energy, enthusiasm and hopefulness, to 

 encourage his fellow laborers, and to excite enthusiasm in others. 

 He was the man of all others to start a college, if not to run one. I 

 shall not dwell upon his character or his work, inasmuch as at the 

 last dinner of the alumni a year ago a full and eloquent eulogy was 

 presented by President Goodell, which is still fresh in the minds of 

 those who heard or read it ; as also the tribute to his memory in 

 the last report of the college. During his administration in 1867 the 

 Washington Irving Literary Society was founded. Mr. Wilder gave 

 1300 specimens of choice plants to the plant house. In 1868 the 

 Legislature authorized the governor to issue arms and equipments 

 to the college, and Congress had passed the act annexed.* 



In 1868 the Legislature allowed $50,000 for the further erection of 

 buildings. In 1868 President Clark also procured a meeting of the 

 New England Agricultural Society for a trial of plows on the farm, 

 and a country meeting of the State Board of Agriculture ; the north 

 dormitory, north boarding house, botanic museum and Durfee plant 

 house were completed. The same year Charles A. Goessmann, the 

 modest, industrious, learned and faithful professor of chemistry was 



OFFICERS DETAILED FOR COLLEGES. 



SEC. 1225. The President may, upon the application of any established college or uni. 

 versity within the United States, having capacity to educate, at the same time, not less 

 than one hundred and fifty male students, detail an officer of the Army to act as president, 

 superintendent, or professor thereof; but the number of officers so detailed shall not 

 exceed thirty at any time, and they shall 1)6 apportioned throughout the United States, as 

 nearly as may be practicable, according to population. Officers so detailed shall be gov 

 erned by general rules prescribed from time to time by the President. The Secretary of 

 War is authorized to issue at his discretion and under proper regulations to be prescribed 

 by him, out of any small arms or pieces of field artillery belonging to the Government and 

 which can be spared for that purpose, such number of the same as may appear to be 

 required for military instruction and practice by the students of any college or university 

 under the provisions of this section; and the Secretary shall require a bond in each case, 

 in double the value of the property, for the care and safe keeping thereof, aud for the 

 return of the same when required. 



