408 of the other pieces. At the close of the speaking there were many who thought that Mr. Klosterman would receive much consideration in the making of the decision. ; Charlton Brice Thompson, of Coving- ton, Ky., the winner of the medal, was the second speaker on the subject, “Richelieu.” He combined, more than any other of the men, ability as a speaker with an essay of very positive merit. Mr. Thompson’s treatment of his subject was as unique as it was forceful. with an effective climax, and it was characterized by dignified language and terse sentences. His delivery was force- ful, though it had a tendency to become monotonous. There were places where a longer pause or slower enunciation would have improved the etfect. The last speaker was William Moses Jones of Copeville, Texas; his subject, “Sir Thomas More and William Tyn- dale.” Mr. Jones’ piece was distinctly an essay and not an oration. With practically a double subject, he found it difficult to keep a single theme, and as a result there was a slight confusion at times in the minds of the listeners. His treatment of the subject was able, and showed thorough acquaintance with the men and their times. He threw much energy into his speaking, but his voice . lacked power, and his stage presence was inclined to be awkward and un- weildy. 3 MR. THOMPSON’S SPEECH. The closing paragraphs of Mr. Thomp- son’s speech are here quoted: “Richelieu gave the nation what it craved in the system best adapted to its need. He made a just estimate of the people with whom he had to deal. To him the idea of self-government was repugnant; his reason, the unpolitical nature of the people of France; his vindication, a hundred years of consti- tutional mockery. For France has never escaped from centralization. The failure of the Fronde only left absolutism the stronger. The Revolution itself did not do away with despotism but strengthened it. It would be difficult to imagine a more perfect tyrany than that of Robespierre, or of the forms of the government that followed, culminating in an absolute one-man power. To-day, Paris lives under the administrative sys- tem of Napoleon which embodies the principles of Richelieu. A score of con- stitutions have failed to transform the traits of character embedded in the race, made firm by centuries. Glorious in language, these written frames of govern- ment are full of sound and fury, signify- ing nothing. France has a parliament, but it is bureaucracy that governs it. Centralized France has been, and cen- tralized she seems destined to remain. “On the prime elements of French na- ture, Richelieu seized with the instinct of a statesmen. He worked along the lines of natural development and so his system did not perish with his death. It was a permanent mark that he stamped upon his nation. He stands out as the embodiment of the French unity and greatness, the epitome of the political genius of France. Coming at a time of great national disaster, when the monarchy needed one more great man to make it absolute, he supplied that need, and the political system of the nation was settled forever. ‘I leave his monarchy exalted, and his enemies destroyed,’ wrote Richelieu of Louis Thirteenth. He might have added ‘I have stamped on France a system that centuries shall not efface.’ ” AN EXPULSION FROM YALE COL- LEGE IN 1814, [By William Koot Bliss.]} _The persons interested in this event were three in number; of these the first was Jeremiah Day, who was a tutor in the College from 1708 until 1801, Professor of Mathematics and Natural History from 1801 until 1820, and President of the College from 1817 until 1846. The second was James Breckenridge, a planter residing at Fincastle in Virginia, who had been a Brigadier-General during the war of 1812, was a member of Congress from 1809 to 1818, and an associate with Thomas Jefferson in founding the Uni- versity of Virginia. The third was Cary Breckenridge, a son of General The whole essay was a unit — four or five hundred dollars, Breckenridge, who was admitted to Yale College in 1813 when he was seventeen years old. Jeremiah Day was the lad’s college guardian, for which service he received a commission of five per cent. on all money paid by him for the lad’s account, | The story is told in the following let- ters, the first of which, postmarked at New Haven, is addressed to Hon. James” Breckenridge, Member of Congress, Washington City. YALE CoLiece, Mar. 1, 1814. Dear Sir: Yours of the 22d of Feb- ruary I received yesterday. To-day I called on your son, and found him well. He has perhaps been prevented from writing, for some days past, by the de- mands upon his time from his collegiate exercises. He labours under some dis- advantages, from a partial deficiency in the studies preparatory to his admission into College. He probably thinks it necessary to apply himself with perser- vering assiduity to the branches of litera- ture and science, to which his class are attending. His conduct, while he has been here, so far as I can learn, has been irreproachable. With much re- spect, Sir, yours obedt. servt., JEREMIAH Day. The second letter has the same ad- dress as the first, is postmarked “Free,” and encloses an account of Cary Breck- enridge’s expenses at New Haven from November 13, 1813, to March 11, 1814: YALE CoLiece, Mar. 28, 1814. Dear Sir: I have received yours of the 23d, requesting to be informed what sum of money will be necessary for the expenses of your son till December. I had supposed that five or six hundred dollars a year was sufficient for one in his situation, before these extraordinary times. But since the war and Embargo, the prices of apparel, fuel, and provi- sions have risen above all former exam- ple. Perhaps he may have occasion for during eight months to come. I enclose the account of his expenses, for the Winter past. I found that a number of his former bills were unpaid, when he entered College. These, amounting to 136 dollars, I have placed at the end of the account. With respect, Sit, : . Yours, etc., JEREMIAH DAY. Cary Breckenridge in account with Jere- miah Day. 1813 Dr. Nov. 13. Tocash for pantaloonsin Junelast $ 5.02 ee COAL At FANG: oi veg og Se 8.93 <9 coat, 2 pr. pantaloons, and 2 vests in Oct.. 71.22 24 aS washing last summer. 7.58 ~ bill of furniture, etc. last summer __._--- 17.48 " FOOUM rene os 3-34 et g weeks board at 2.50. 22.50 _ $136.07 1814 Jan. 4 To College Treasurer’s bill_.______ 12.10 ins steward’s bill__....___- -97 26 Edinburgh Encyclopedia_____- 16.00 28 waisted? Bilbo h ee 4.41 Feb. 2 Cast dor bee i oa 5.00 8 UPON Petite sioic 2 S68 12 *S \ GhassiGal taxes... 2252. - 2.00 Mar.1zt To board 1o weeks at 250 and 7 WECES RE S00.) 56.00 WOOG@ Be ii ete So 22.00 SARI dn ee 6.38 cash at suudry times__.______- 36.00 $208.61 To commission of 5 per COI es ee ee 14.93 $313-54 1813 Cr. : NOUV. 5 BY CISh SO Ore 150.00 Balaneé 2csg3 23 ts coass ak $163.54 The third letter is addressed to “Fyncastle, Botetourt County, Virginia,” and is postmarked “25 cents’: YALE CoL_ece, April 27, 1814. Dear Sir: I have received yours of ‘the 16th inclosing $400 dollars for the ‘use of your son in college. Mr. Dag- gett was so good as to exchange the Georgetown bills, in New York, for such as are current here. The continuation of your son’s account, I defer sending, till the close of the term, about two weeks hence, when the collegiate bills are made up. With respect Sir, Your obedt. servt., - JEREMIAH Day. The fourth letter is addressed like the preceding, and is postmarked “Free”: YALE COLLEGE, Sept. 19, 1814. Dear Sir: Your son left here this morning, in company with Mr. Daggett, ~ WELL MADE. to spend a week in New York. I pro- - posed to him to delay his journey, till he could hear from you. he knew you would approve of it; and he had made his arrangements to go with Mr. Daggett. I have heretofore mentioned, that his qualifications, on admission into the Col- lege, were such as called for the utmost exertion on his part. of the Winter his health was such as considerably to-retard his progress, and to render it doubtful whether he would be able to maintain his standing with his class. Another turn of indisposi- tion, this Summer, has thrown him still farther into the back ground. It is now the opinion of his tutor, and of the Faculty that he cannot continue in his class, with advantage or reputation to himself. His ill health cannot be im- puted to him as a crime. It is a mis- fortune that he has not been able to apply himself, with unremitting assid- uity. But it would be a greater calamity to continue him in a class, in which all his exertions would be insufficient to carry him along, without constant em- barrassment. The method of instruc- tion is such here, that little or no ad- vantage can be derived from it by one who is not well prepared for the situa- tion in which he is placed. The Faculty have desired me to ex- press to you their opinion, that it will be for the interest of your son, to re-’ move him the College, at least for the present. Perhaps his constitution will be found better fitted for active scenes, than for sedentary habits. Should you think it advisable, however, to persevere in completing his education, he can re- turn here at a future period, and take any standing for which he is found quali- fied. In this, there is nothing disreputa- ble. Instances occur, every year, in which persons from ill health, or for other reasons, join a different class from the one to which they originally be- longed. With respect, Sir, Your obedt. servt., JEREMIAH Day. The fifth letter is addressed to Hon. James Breckenridge, Member of Con- gress, Washington, and is postmarked cFree”’: YALE CoLiecE, Nov. 19, 1814. Dear Sir: : gett left this place for Washington, your son proposed to accompany him, as far as New York. After some hesitation I consented that he should go, and re- turn speedily. Directly after, I took a journey into Vermont, and was absent several weeks. On my return, I found a letter from him, dated some days pre- vious, in which he requested me to send him money to settle his bill in New York, and bear his expenses back. I forwarded him 40 dollars, and he soon returned. I have not seen him, for some days past, as I have been confined to my But he said. During some part. =o When Mr. Dag. house by ill health. It would be de- sirable that he should soon know your pleasure with respect to his future ar- rangements.- With respect, Sir, Your obedt. servt., JEREMIAH DAY. The sixth letter is addressed like the preceding and is postmarked “Free”: YALE CoLiece, Dec. 15, 1814. Vege ire = 2 * . Your son. as been unoccupied since he returned from New York. He appears to have no in- clination to prosecute his studies any further. He appears to be directing his views to active life, rather than to the employments of a student. He has been very much dissatisfied with his tutor, and has treated him with such marked and open disrespect, as to call for the we eLeuer a: of the Faculty of the Col- ege. : It will be dangerous for him to re- main long in this town without employ- ment. He will be exposed to the com- pany of the idle and the vicious, with- out being controlled by the authority and advice of the officers of the College. It seems important that some arrange- ment concerning him should soon be made. I believe it is his own wish to leave this place shortly. With great respect, Sir, Your obedt. servant, JEREMIAH Day. The next letter is also postmarked “Free”: YALE CoLiece, Dec. 24, 1814. Dear Sir: Your favor of the 18th I received last evening, containing a re- quest that I would give you an account of the affair between your son and his tutor, Mr. Hull. He had, for some time entertained an aversion to Mr. Hull, from a suspicion, which I believe was unfounded, that Mr. Hull was unreason- ably prejudiced against him. A few evenings since, an unusual disturbance was made, in that part of the College where Mr. Hull resides. He went out at his door, and supposed he saw your son in the space. Some time after, the disturbance was renewed. Mr. Hull then went into one of the chambers at the head of the stairs, where he found your son in company with other stu- dents: Mr. Hull said. to ign (ie a you Breckenridge who have been mak- ing this disturbance?’ He replied, in terms of very pointed contempt and abuse, accompanied with menacing ges- tures. - In conversation with me afterwards, his apology for his conduct was, in the first place, that he had no previous de- sign of insulting Mr. Hull, but was provoked to it, by being charged with that of which he had not been guilty; and in the second place, that he didn’t e é on TE TENT : ] (i one pa | mrrree € p EB | \ \ \ ) = 1 Sas. TO | cc S| 3Y. =