530 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF 'WESTCHESTER. 



On the East site of the Harlem Railroad contiguous to the village of 

 Fordham. on an eminence called Rose Hill, is situated St. John's College, 

 a Roman Catholic institution. This place enjoys all the advantages 

 peculiar to the country, a pure and vigorous air and retirement which is 

 bo favorable to the formation and growth of studious habits; while at 

 the same time its proximity to the city, by means of the railroad, is a 

 great convenience. This institution, the only one of its kind in the 

 State, was first opened for the reception of students on the 24th of June, 

 1S41. 1 ' It was incorporated by an act of the Legislature passed April 

 10th, 1S46. The following is an extract from their rules and regula- 

 tions: " The system of government will be mild and paternal, yet firm 

 in enforcng the observance of established discipline. The utmost at- 

 tention will be paid not only to the intellectual, but also to the moral 

 education of the pupils. As to their domestic comfort, every thing 

 which parental affection can desire will be found and supplied in the as- 

 siduous attention and skilful management of the Sisters of Charity, to 

 whom the charge of this important and highly responsible department is 

 mainly confided." The college, which contains the rooms of the various 

 professors, library, &c, is a large, elegant, and commodious edifice. The 

 hall is adorned with some valuable engravings from Raphael's frescoes 

 in the Vatican, presented by the late Pope Gregory XVI., to the Right 

 Rev. Bishop Hughes. The oil pictures consist of a " Madonna de la 

 pesce," a copy from the original by Raphael. This picture is from the col- 

 lection of the late Joseph Bonaparte ; the " Entombment of the Saviour," 

 a copy by William Franquinet. The head of St. Joseph in this picture 

 is finely painted. The wooden building attached to the gardens on the 

 south was formerly the residence of Colonel John Watts and his wife, 

 the celebrated Lady Mary Alexander, daughter of Major General Lord 

 Stirling. The church is a very large and handsome structure of stone, in 

 the Gothic style. It is intended to embattle the tower, and carry up the 

 spire. The windows, which are filled with some excellent stained glass, 

 give the interior a very pleasing appearance. The apostles, St. Peter 

 and St. Paul, and the four evangelists are depicted in six windows — three 

 on each side. These figures are executed in the best style of modern 

 stained glass; they stand on floriated Gothic pedestals of gold, sur- 

 mounted by a rich canopy of the same. At the foot of the pedestal a 

 gold escutcheon, containing the name of each apostle and evangelist. 

 The whole were made to order, expressly for this church, at St. Omers 

 in France. 



Adjoining the church on the west is the new divinity school of St. 

 Joseph ; the grounds are extensive, and in a state of high improvement. 



