civilization to their swarthy brethren, who were sitting in the
thickest darkness of heathenism in the primeval forests of the New
World. Societies, as well as individuals, manifested a deep and
practical interest in the work.

We can only touch upon some of the more salient points of this
subject. But it is especially worthy of note, that the elevation of
the Indian race, by the education of its youth, was not an idea of New
England, nor indeed of American, birth.

In Stith's "History of Virginia" (p. 162), we find in substance the
following statements: At an early period in the history of this State,
attempts were made to establish an institution of learning of a high
order. In 1619, the treasurer of the Virginia Company, Sir Edwin
Sandys, received from an unknown hand five hundred pounds, to be
applied by the Company to the education of a certain number of Indian
youths in the English language and in the Christian religion. Other
sums of money were also procured, and there was a prospect of being
able to raise four or five thousand pounds, for the endowment of a
college. The king favored the design, and recommended to the bishops
to have collections made in their dioceses, and some fifteen hundred
pounds were gathered on this recommendation. The college was designed
for the instruction of English, as well as Indian, youths. The Company
appropriated ten thousand acres of land to this purpose, at Henrico,
on James River, a little below the present site of Richmond. The plan
of the college was, to place tenants at halves on these lands, and to
derive its income from the profits. The enterprise was abandoned in
consequence of the great Indian massacre, in 1622, although operations
had been commenced, and a competent person had been secured to act as
president. This is believed to have been the first effort to found a
college in America.

Passing to the middle of the century, we find the distinguished
Christian philosopher, Robert Boyle, appointed governor of "a company
incorporated for the propagation of the gospel among the heathen
natives of New England, and the parts adjacent in America," and that,
after his decease, in 1691, a portion of his estate was given, by the
executors of his will, to William and Mary's College, which was
possibly, in a measure, the outgrowth of the efforts of Mr. Sandys and
his coadjutors, for the support of Indian students.

In 1728, Col. William Byrd, in writing upon this subject, lamen