who had been sent by Congress to preach up liberty and independence in the Southern States, was induced to become its president, but the school was suspended about February 15, 1780, and was never resumed. The cause for this suspension of activity was due, no doubt, to the war and to the presence of British troops in that locality. By an act of the assembly in October, 1784, Liberty Hall Academy was said to have fallen "in an entire state of decay" and was transferred from Charlotte to Salisbury and the name changed to Salisbury Academy, but this change should be considered as a removal and revival, not as a new institution, for seven out of fifteen of the old trustees were included in the new board. After the closing of Liberty Hall Academy, the Rev. S. C. Hall maintained for many years a classical school of high grade at Sugar Creek, near Charlotte, where young men were prepared for college. After the close of the Revolution Dr. Thomas Henderson conducted a high school in Charlotte for a number of years.

Education and the constitution of 1776.-The English institution known as Queen's College, but better known by its American name, Liberty Hall Academy, was the connecting link between the old régime and the new, between the British system and the system of the new Republic. It was the last to seek a charter from the Crown. It was the first to receive it from the independent Commonwealth. In fact, a new impetus was given to education in the constitution of 1776. This constitution, adopted by assembled delegates at Halifax, N. C., December 18, 1776, says in its forty-first article:

"That a school or schools shall be established by the legislature for the convenient instruction of youth, with such salaries to the masters. paid by the public, as may enable them to instruct at low prices; and all useful learning shall be duly encouraged and promoted in one or more universities."

This clause is a literal copy of the forty-fourth section of the constitution of Pennsylvania, which had been adopted on the 28th of the preceding September, except that the phrase “in each county" after the word “established” was left out of the North Carolina constitution. These two States, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, were the first in the Union to put into their free constitutions a provision for the erection of schools.

Science Hall, Hillsboro, was the next institution to secure incorporation under the new constitution. William Hooper, the signer; Governor Alexander Martin; Governor Thomas Burke; Thomas Hart, the grandfather of Thomas Hart Benton; and Nathaniel Rochester, the founder of Rochester, N, Y., were among the incorporators. It was given the same privileges as Liberty Hall Academy. This act was amended in 178 i when the old Episcopal church was vested in commissioners and devoted to general religious uses on Sundays and to the uses of the school on week days. The school could confer no degrees, but was allowed to raise money by a lottery. This is probably the first instance in the history of the free State in which the aid of the government to schools extended beyond the mere formal granting of charters.

Granville Hall, in Granville County, seems to have been in more than the usual sense a child of the State. It was chartered in 1779, and we find Richard Caswell, governor; Abner Nash, speaker of the senate; and Thomas Benbury, speaker of the house of commons, as the leading trustees. They were instructed to purchase 500 acres of land and erect suitable buildings. The act recited that large sums had been subscribed for support of the school. After 1780 Rev. Henry Pattillo (17261801), a Scotchman who had emigrated to America in early manhood and had studied privately under Rev. Samuel Davies, became principal of this academy. He had already taught in Virginia and in Orange County, N. C., and is said to have

1 Martin's Private Acts, 142–144.

2 Martin's Private Acts, 87-88, and supplementary act, 124-125. See also laws of 1797, ch. 45.

He

spent some twelve years in teaching. The success of his pupils indicates that Pattillo was a faithful teacher, but we have few facts concerning his schools. had been a member of and chaplain to the provincial congress of North Carolina, and chairman of its committee of the whole. He was a man of literary tastes, and, although narrow circumstances and a large family were drawbacks in his career, was an author of considerable pretensions.

1

He published in 1796 a geographical catechism. As this seems to have been the first text-book printed by a citizen of the State, and was intended for the schools as well as family use, it deserves more than a passing notice.

It was intended "to assist those who have neither maps nor gazetteers to read newspapers, history, or travels." It contained as much of the science of astronomy and the doctrine of the air" as was judged sufficient for the farmer and for the student who either had or did not have an opportunity to pursue these studies further. It is dedicated to General Davie, and the "fourth inducement for publishing," the author says, was that "I did, and still do, hope my book may bring me in a few dollars, which will be welcome guests when they arrive." He begins with a description of the earth's surface. From this he turns to the zodiac, explains this, and passes on to a general description of the planets. He feels it necessary to argue in favor of the heliocentric theory of the universe, and the whole has an intensely religious tone. His account of Uranus is interesting: The seventh and most exterior of all the planets was discovered a few years ago by Dr. Herchell [sic], which, in honor of the British King, he called the Georgian Planet." On comets he says:

"Their uses are mere conjecture. Some judge them the seats of punishment where sinners suffer the extremes of heat and cold. Mr. Whiston says a comet approaching the sun brushed the earth with its tail and caused the deluge, and that another will cause the conflagration."

After this survey of the planets he returns to geography and begins with Europe, "the smallest but most improved quarter of the world." Of Spain he says:

"Spain claims as much territory in North America as thrice the United States; extending from the isthmus of Darien to the polar circle; and from the Pacific Ocean on the west to Canada, Mississippi, and the gulph of Florida, on the east. In such a vast extent of coast they have many ports and harbors, the chief of which are New Orleans, on the Mississippi: Vera Cruz, Campechy, Honduras, St. Jago and Porto Bello, on the gulph of Florida; and Aquopulcho and Panama on the Pacific. These dominions contain Mexico, New Spain, and many other provinces. Spain owns in South America from the Carribean Sea to the Straits of Magellan."

Of Turkey he says it "is about 1,000 miles in length from Chotzim, near the border of Poland, to the southern point of the Morea; and from Oczakow, on the Nieper, to Dalmatia on the Adriatic, nearly as wide. This empire contains the ancient Peleponesus, now Morea, Achaia, Greece, Macedon, Illyricum, Bulgaria, Wallachia, Moldavia, and parts of Tartary. The capital of the whole empire is Constantinople." All of which goes to prove that geography, like history, needs to be constantly rewritten.

When America is reached the author is carried away with his subject. He thus describes the beginnings of the Revolution:

"Britain backed her claims with a fleet and army, and the devoted town of Boston felt the first vengeance of offended royalty. O my dear country! never forget your then situation. Without an army; without a general bred in the school of war; without great or small arms fit to oppose the unconquered forces of Britain; without a treasury; without an ally; without a single frigate to oppose the first naval power on earth-a power deemed our mother, among whom we had a million of relations, friends, and correspondents-to oppose the King whom we honored to idolatry! At this awful period Congress met, under a load of public cares, inconceivable by all but patriots. It seized the helm; it became a center of union

1 Halifax, Abraham Hodge, 1796.

and of motion to the scattered colonists, and made a common cause with Boston. The continent, as by an electrical shock, caught the noble and enthusiastic spirit of liberty and resentment. Heaven pointed out George Washington as the instrument by whom it would save his country."

He then reviews the States, and coming to North Carolina, speaks of the infant university as follows:

"A university is established by act of assembly, in Orange County, with liberal appointments by the State, and numerous benefactions. It is yet in its infancy; has about sixty students, and if under the government of good and learned men, must prove an extensive, blessing as well as an honor to the State. What can more loudly call for the prayers of all good people than that God's blessing may reside on our principal seat of learning, from which fountain are to flow those streams that must poison or purify our country. Its short progress has been rapid; may its success be glorious!"

Smith Academy.-In 1782 Smith Academy was chartered in Edenton. This academy was the gift of Robert Smith, a lawyer and merchant of that town, who died in 1782. Among its trustees were Judge Iredell, Governor Samuel Johnston, and Dr. Hugh Williamson. Their annual income was not to exceed 3,000 Spanish milled dollars per year; they were to "appoint their public visitation of the academy once every six months, when they shall examine what progress is made by the several students, at which visitations they may, for the encouragement of learning, give certificates to any students concerning the progress they have made in any species of learning," but they were not to grant "degrees or titles, such as the degrees of bachelor or master of arts or doctor in any faculty."1

Innes Academy.--In 1783 the legislature chartered Innes Academy in Wilmington. This school was based on the gift made in 1759 by Col. James Innes, who bequeathed his plantation, Point Pleasant, near Wilmington, a considerable personal estate, including slaves, all his books, and £100 sterling for the use of a free school for the benefit of the youth of North Carolina. The charter provided that the rector, professors, and tutors of this academy, and of all other academies and public schools" established by law in the State, should be free from military duty so long as they held their respective offices. Pupils, also, who entered any of these schools at the age of 15 or under were exempt from military duties so long as they remained in the schools. Of the history of Innes Academy we know, unfortunately, very little. A building was commenced after the incorporation, but before it was finished a theatrical company was organized in Wilmington and the lower floor was fitted up for use as a theater. This arrangement was consummated by a perpetual lease to the Thalian Association. In 1803 an act "for the relief of Innes Academy" recites that most of the old trustees were dead, had refused to act, or had removed to distant parts of the country. A new board was appointed and was given authority to reorganize. The land bequeathed by Innes was then still in the hands of the trustees.?

Martin Academy.-The Innes Academy represented the extreme east. The same legislature, April, 1783, incorporated Martin Academy in what is now Washington County, Tenn. This was the first literary institution in the Mississippi Valley. John Causon was the president of its board of trustees, and it was granted the same powers as Liberty Hall Academy in Charlotte. In 1795 it became Washington College. Samuel Doak was its president from its organization in 1783 until 1818.

Davidson Academy, located at Nashville, was another Tennessee institution which received its charter from North Carolina in 1785. Rev. Thomas B. Craighead, Hugh Williamson, Gen. Daniel Smith, Col. William Polk, Anthony Bledsoe, and Gen. James Robertson were among the incorporators. The school was

1 Martin's Private Acts, pp. 101-102; McRee's Iredell, I, 516, II, 8, 68, 303.

2 Laws of 1803, chap. 34.

located in Spring Hill meetinghouse, and here Mr. Craighead officiated for twenty years or more-in the week on intellectual, Sundays on spiritual things. The academy received 240 acres of land from North Carolina, from which it realized about $20,000. September 11, 1806, the academy was rechartered as Cumberland College; it was rechartered November 27, 1826, as the University of Nashville, and under the administration of Philip Lindsley had an extended career of usefulness. Then came a period of reverses. Under an act approved March 24, 1875, a connection was made with the trustees of the Peabody fund, and through this union the Peabody Normal School has absorbed and taken the place of the older institution and the academy, intended for the training of youth in Davidson County, has grown into a great school for the training of teachers for the whole South.1

The movement thus begun was soon to extend from one end of the State to the other. The act which chartered Martin Academy, in Washington County, Tenn., also chartered Morgan Academy, in Burke County, N. C. Davidson Academy was to serve, as we have seen, for the district of middle Tennessee; Martin Academy for eastern Tennessee; Morgan Academy for western North Carolina.2

There seems to have been a fear that the State was in some way responsible for these academies, so it was provided that neither of them should be considered "one of those seminaries mentioned in the constitution, to oblige this State to support any president, professors, or tutors of either of the said academies, or other charge or expense thereof whatsoever."

Zion Parnassus was another Presbyterian school which exerted a wide influence. It was not chartered and had no connection with the State. But its distinct normal department, the first in North Carolina and probably the first in America, but of which I have been able to find nothing more than a mere statement that it existed, and Dr. McCorkle's connection with the University of North Carolina, demand that its work be recognized at least. Rev. Samuel Eusebius McCorkle (1746-1811) was a native of Pennsylvania, a graduate of Princeton, and a Presbyterian missionary. He established his school at Thyatira, on the road between Salisbury and Statesville, in Rowan County, in 1785. In this school worthy but needy young men were given tuition and furnished with books. The school continued ten or twelve years. The course of study was modeled on Princeton, and six of the seven students forming the first graduating class of the University of North Carolina had been prepared there; forty-five of his students became ministers. He was offered in 1795, but declined, the professorship of mental and moral philosophy in the infant University of North Carolina. This professorship would have made him virtually president of the institution. He had a considerable library and was quite prolific as an author.

OTHER ACADEMIES.

Besides the academies already mentioned there are many others whose history has come down to us in most cases only in the acts of incorporation. The general character of these acts is the same. A number of persons, sometimes including representative men of the State as well as those of local prominence, were given corporate powers and absolute control over the management and direction of the school, and were usually made coöptative. The schools generally had power to grant certificates, but the right to grant degrees was specifically denied. These acts also gave power to the trustees to sue for and recover by action of debt or otherwise the sums of money which had been subscribed for the schools, but on which payment had been refused. In some cases the pupils and teachers were

1 Merriam, History of Education in Tennessee; and Martin's Private Acts, 156-156.
2 Martin's Private Acts, p. 119.

exempted from service in the militia. Some were named for the most prominent benefactor, and provision was made for this in case a person should claim such distinction at any time in the future. The trustees usually chose the teachers. There was sometimes exemption from taxation. In the earlier charters special provision was made that such were not to be considered as any of the academies. for which provision had been directed in the constitution.

Academies chartered in 1785:

Dobbs Academy, at Kinston, Dobbs (now Lenoir) County.

Grove Academy, in Duplin County. This school seems to have been successful. "The Greek and Latin languages will be taught, and also the sciences."

Chartered in 1786:

Franklin Academy, Louisburg, Franklin County.

Pittsboro Academy, Chatham. County; in 1797 it was allowed to raise $700 by lottery.

Pitt Academy, located at Greenville, which had been recently called Martinboro, in Pitt County. Among the incorporators were Governor Caswell, Hugh Williamson, and William Biount.

Warrenton Academy, in Warren County; among the trustees were Rev. Henry Pattillo, Gen. William R. Davie, Governor Benjamin Hawkins, Nathaniel Macon, Gen. Thomas Person, and Willie Jones. By a later act they were authorized toraise $3,000 by lottery. Further, a surplus of £250, then in the hands of the commissioners of the town, was directed by the legislature to be paid over to the school in accord with the wishes of the town. This seems to have been the first instance in the history of the State of local taxation for schools. In 1795 this academy was under the charge of Professor George, a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin.

Chartered in 1789:

Richmond Academy, Richmond County.

Currituck Seminary of Learning, Currituck County.

Chartered in 1791:

Onslow Academy, Onslow County.

Stokes Seminary, Wadesboro, Anson County.

Chartered in 1793:

Tarboro Academy, Edgecombe County.

Lumberton Academy, Robeson County.

Raft-Swamp Academy, Robeson County.

Chartered in 1797:

Murfreesboro Academy, Hertford County.

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Montgomery Seminary, in Montgomery County, near the town of Henderson," which town has since disappeared from the map.

Bladen Academy, Elizabethtown, Bladen County. In 1808 the trustees were empowered "to rent out the fishery on Cape Fear River in the commons of the said town" for three years, and the money arising from the same was to be applied to the academy, but this act was repealed in 1809.

Chartered in 1798:

An academy in Guilford County.

Unity Academy, at Unity Meetinghouse, Randolph County.
Adams Creek Academy, on Adams Creek, in Craven County.
Smithville Academy, Brunswick County; authorized to raise $7,000 by lottery..
Salisbury Academy, Rowan County. In 1812 the commissioners of Salisbury

1 For the acts chartering these institutions before 1790, see Martin's Private Acts of North Carolina (Newbern, 1794). For the acts after that date, see the annual or session laws.

ED 97-88