By degrees there appeared other similar
free schools, though they were never many nor adequate. But the first
Assembly after the Restoration had made provision for a college. Land was
to have been purchased and the building completed as speedily as might be.
The intent had been good, but nothing more had been done.
There was in Virginia, sent as Commissioner of the Established Church, a
Scotch ecclesiastic, Dr. James Blair. In virtue of his office he had a seat
in, the Council, and his integrity and force soon made him a leader in the
colony. A college in Virginia became Blair's dream. He was supported by
Virginia planters with sons to educate -- daughters' education being purely a
domestic affair. Before long Blair had raised in promised subscriptions
what was for the time a large sum. With this for a nucleus he sailed to
England and there collected more. Tillotson, Archbishop of Canterbury, and
Stillingfleet, Bishop of Worcester, helped him much. The King and Queen
inclined a favorable ear, and, though he met with opposition in certain
quarters, Blair at last obtained his charter. There was to be built in
Virginia and to be sustained by taxation a great school, "a seminary of
ministers of the gospel where youths may be piously educated in good
letters and manners; a certain place of universal study, or perpetual
college of divinity, philosophy, languages and other good arts and
sciences." Blair sailed back to Virginia with the charter of the college,
some money, a plan for the main building drawn by Christopher Wren, and for
himself the office of President.
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