gret that they could not be present. First came the repast—and a cheery time they had of it. Many of the guests had never met before. And now they were here, assembled in the interest of the higher education in California, and at the same time renewing the associations of youth and of the various colleges from which they came.

The scene was indescribable. All were young men, measuring lances together for the first time. Everything was refined and becoming to cultivated people. But the air of that room was electric with wit and humor, poetry and wisdom, till eleven o'clock, when the assembly reluctantly broke up. The short-hand reporter did his best to get something of it down on paper, but the finest things eluded the quickness of his pencil. It was the saying of all, that they had never seen the like of it. There was no effort about it. Much of the sparkle of the occasion was due to its novelty, and to the President, Mr. Tompkins, whose ability in guiding such a meeting was something marvelous. There were toasts and responses, and interjected speeches, and quick repartees, and all in such fine taste that every last thing seemed to be the best thing. The hours just flew, and it was an unwelcome surprise when the train-whistle gave the signal to break up. Before adjourning, however, it was determined to organize the alumni into an association, to meet annually in this way with the College of California at its commence

ments.

The next day was Commencement Day, when our first graduates were to receive their degrees. At eleven o'clock in the forenoon the church was full and overflowing again. First came the exercises of the graduating class; after them a poem by Bret Harte, followed by an oration by Newton Booth. The degrees were then conferred in due form, and so the college rounded out the full outline of its work, thereafter to go on from year to year. Commencent exercises are so much alike that no detailed description needs to be given of this occasion. Its peculiar interest to us consisted in the fact that it was our first, and that it represented the full VOL. VI.-3.

four years' course of study usually pursued in the best Eastern colleges.

From this time, the College went on from term to term, and from year to year, with a growing spirit of true college life. Commencements succeeded each other with only the usual variations incident to such occasions, and the "Associated Alumni" assembled with us in still larger numbers every year.

Meantime, the attendance at the College School went up to two hundred and fifty boys, taught by twelve instructors, giving the whole or a part of their time to the work.

At this time we received Dr. Shedd's letter, declining to accept the presidency. Very soon thereafter the Board of Trustees elected Rev. Dr. R. D. Hitchcock, and asked Dr. Bushnell, Mr. Billings and others, to see him, explain our situation, and if possible secure his acceptance of the appointment. All these delays in getting a President seemed to oblige me to remain in the office of VicePresident much longer than I had planned or desired. Though much against my inclination, I continued in the work, a great deal of which was irksome and disagreeable to me, in the hope of soon transferring it to other hands.

PLANS PROJECTED FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE BERKELEY PROPERTY.

In the summer of the year 1865, it was thought that the time had come to begin to make plans for the improvement of the Berkeley property, with reference to the removal of the College to it at no very distant day.

These plans contemplated the proper location of the college buildings, and the improvement of the grounds between the two ravines, and the laying out of the lands outside in a proper way, to attract the right kind of population to be near a college. It was the purpose of the Trustees to give such a study to this problem as to make no mistake for those coming after to regret, when it should be too late to remedy it.

Fortunately, at that time, Fred. Law Olmsted, of the firm of Olmsted, Vaugh & Co.,

He went, and made a series of careful observations. He then outlined the method of improvement he would suggest, in conversation to the Trustees. They were so convinced of its wisdom, that they voted to employ him, at large expense, to make a topographical survey, and lay out the entire grounds for the purposes contemplated. The thoroughness with which he studied the conditions of his problem is indicated, when he says in his final report: "I visited the grounds under a variety of circumstances, in summer and winter, by night and by day. I visited the other suburbs of San Francisco, and studied them with some care; and, without being able to express a definite estimate of the degree of difference between their climate and that of Berkeley, I think I am warranted in endorsing the opinion that the climate of Berkeley is distinguished for a peculiar serenity, cheerfulness, and healthfulness."

After making a complete topographical survey of the entire grounds, Mr. Olmsted returned to New York in the fall of 1865, taking his notes and outline maps with him, in order there to complete the work for us. In July, 1866, he sent us his plan, in detail. It was shown upon a very large topographical map of the property, together with smaller drawings laying down road-lines, giving methods of construction, etc., to be used in the field. This plan was accompanied by a printed pamphlet of twenty-six pages, going into a thorough discussion of the theory and method of town and college improvement in circumstances like ours.

It contemplated expenditure no faster than there was means to meet it, but it proposed a plan of improvement comprehending the entire property, and consistent in all its parts, according to which whatever was done should be guided. It located the principal college

to convenience of access, and to the best architectural effect as seen from each other. It appropriated the grounds, and laid down the avenues and paths. It described the method of constructing the road-bed, gutters, drains, bridges, and cross-walks. It suggested plantings and shrubbery on either side that would remain green, to shut off the brown and sterile aspect beyond, in the dry season. This whole improvement plan was made to conform as closely as possible to the natural features of the ground. The principal road followed the stream in its windings, even up the ravine to the garden cottage, and turned where there is a beautiful view westward through the gorge and out upon the bay. "The extent of the sylvan lanes which I have described," says the report, "would be about five miles. At several points upon them there would be very fine distant views, each having some distinctive advantage. The local scenery would also at many points be not only quite interesting, even without any effort to produce special effect by planting, but the roads are laid in such a way as to make the most of the natural features, while preserving their completely sylvan and rustic character, being carried in frequent curves in such a way as to make the best use of the picturesque banks of the arroyos and the existing trees upon them. These are sometimes allowed to divide into two parts. Notwithstanding the varied curves which the arrangement involves, the general course of the lanes will be found simple, and the connection between the more important points sufficiently direct. A tract of low flat ground, twenty-seven acres in extent, surrounded on three sides by moderate elevations, two of which retire so as to form a long bay or dell, is proposed to be formed into a small park or pleasure ground. The site is naturally more moist, fertile, and meadowlike than any other in the vicinity, and a considerable number of old and somewhat quaint and picturesque oaks are growing in a portion of it. This occurrence, with a thick growth of underwood, and of rank herbaceous plants, leads me to think that if it were thoroughly

considerable time, an engineer was employed to make the measurements for the building of the dam across Strawberry Creek, at the point before alluded to, in order that they might be in readiness when wanted. In view of the improvement-plan, tree seeds had been obtained from the East and elsewhere one and two years before, and the growth of young trees now filled quite a large nursery. Some houses were built on homestead lots sold by the College, and fine improvements were begun on the grounds around them. Other lots were planted and cultivated, in anticipation of use for residences.

FINANCIAL.

The business men of San Francisco gave the funds with which to start the College School in 1853, and the active business men of San Francisco and the other cities of the State gave nearly all the money to the College that it ever received by donations. The wealthiest men did not incline to give. They were applied to, many times over, not only by officers of the College, but by business friends who had special influence with them, but they were not men who appreciated the College as much as some other things.

The College School, soon after its beginning, became self-supporting, and continued to be so, erecting its own buildings, and paying its own expenses. But the College, of course, when it was organized, did not. Colleges never do. Their tuition-income is very little, compared with their expenses.

To provide the means for starting the College, and carrying it on for the first few years, a time-subscription was made by business men, as before stated, to come in in annual payments. While these subscriptions should continue, it was expected that we could get a President, the endowment for that office having been already subscribed. In respect to Professor Hitchcock, however, we were disappointed, for his letter declining to come reached us in May, 1866.

We knew well how the older States had always helped the newer States in founding their colleges, and, although the era of large

gifts to colleges had not then begun, we still felt sure that we should receive something that would amount to a substantial assistance. In order to do this, we first secured the adoption of the College by the "Western College Society," as one of the institutions recommended by them to the public as deserving support and endowment.

Then remembering that we were young, and quite unknown to the Eastern public, and that our College was also as yet unknown, and far away, a brief statement of its origin, history, constitution, and progress was submitted to a large number of the most prominent friends of education in the East-presidents and professors of colleges and universities, and ministers of various denominations-and they were requested to give us in writing such an endorsement of it to the public as they thought it deserved. The letters written in response to this request were unexpectedly full and cordial, unreservedly approving our plan, and earnestly commending our institution to the generosity of all friends of education. Then the statements that had been thus submitted to these gentlemen, together with their replies, were printed in a neat pamphlet, and sent widely through the Eastern States, to those who were known to be supporters of educational institutions. The cause seemed to us to be of such magnitude, and the necessity for help so great, that, armed with such endorsements, we felt sure of obtaining at least the usual help given to new colleges in the West. But in this, also, we were sadly disappoint.

ed. It seems strange, even now, that it should have been so. The principal reason seems to have been indicated in the report of one of our professors, who made a thor ough canvass at the East for subscriptions "Nine out of ten to whom I applied, said 'You are rich enough to endow your own college. Why come here for money, wher there is so much in California ?'"

But whatever was the reason, or the com bination of reasons, the fact is, that after al our efforts, continued through several years not nearly ten thousand dollars ever came t our College from the East.

It was the plan that the Berkeley improvement should be carried on as means might be obtained from the sale of homestead-lots, and that the balance still due of the purchase money for a portion of the land should be paid from the same fund. The sale of these lots was reasonably successful, and the income would have met all demands on this department of our enterprise, had it not been necessary to divert so much of it to meet deficiencies in the college current-expense income. For in 1857 our time-subscriptions for that purpose had expired. Having received little help, and no endowments from the East or elsewhere, we were obliged to try to raise another time-subscription for current expenses.

This effort proceeded slowly, and met with many difficulties. Business was depressed. The war had but recently closed, and wartaxes were yet high. The currency of the country was unsettled and fluctuating. Our business men had subscribed generously to the College several times, but now, in the uncertainties as to the future, they hesitated. Moreover, within a few years we had lost six of our earliest, most zealous, efficient, and generous Trustees-three of them by death, and three by removal from the State. The places of such men could not be at once fully supplied by new elections. The situation became perplexing. If current college expenses, which were all the time increasing, must be met by the sale of the homesteadlots, that sale would have to be forced, and, of course, at low prices, and soon all would be gone.

"You have here organization, scholarship, patronage, success, reputation, but you lack money; the State has money, but has none of these things: what a pity they could not be brought together!"

He probably was led more particularly to say this because, as chairman of a Legislative Committee, he was then in search of a location for a State " Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College."

About that time, Dr. John Todd visited us. He had been at Ann Arbor, and had seen the distinguished success of Michigan University, and described it in a very attractive way. Besides, just then the State University "idea" was very popular before the public throughout the country, especially as represented by Michigan and Cornell Universities.

All these things led naturally to the question whether a State University here could not be made to solve the problem, both of the proposed Agricultural Institution and our college, and by one endowed and well supported institution fill the place of both.

This idea struck some of us with regret and apprehension. But as it was discussed confidentially among the Trustees and contributors to our college, it seemed to gain general assent, as possibly, under the circumstances, a wise measure. If only we could have been sure of realizing as good a university as that of Michigan, it would have been easier than it was to surrender the College for the sake of it. But we were not sure. Nevertheless the decided opinion among the Trustees and donors came to be, at last, that it was best to take the risk, and transfer the College to a University, if the State would undertake to establish and maintain one.

It was in this juncture of affairs that we held our Commencement, in June, 1867. Governor Low was present. In view of what saw, he was led to say:

The Gov

Governor Low was consulted. ernor had been a warm friend of the College from the beginning, and a liberal contributor to its funds. He decidedly approved of the university plan, and expressed his high appreciation of the contemplated offer on the part of the College. He thought it wor unite all interests, whereas they had