In the third session (1870-'71) the effort to build the Library building for the halls and libraries of the two literary societies was inaugurated. Up to this time the two societies had occupied the ante-rooms attached to the chapel, which were very cramped and inconvenient. Who was the first to suggest the building of the new edifice is not known to this writer, but it is well known who the parties were who did the main work in raising the funds. They were, on the part of the Washington Society, Charles Carroll, of North Carolina, and H. C. Paulett, of Virginia; and on the part of the Franklin Society, William W. Smith and Jordan W. Lambert, of Virginia. An old alumnus offered to give to the Society which should raise the largest amount a copy of Audubon's _Birds of America_. [Illustration: JORDAN W. LAMBERT, _Franklin Hall Builder._] This enterprise was prosecuted with great zeal and skill, and the building devised by the young men, let to contract by them, and paid for by them (in most part), went on to completion. It was the first brick building ever erected on the campus, and the first ever built in the town. More will be said of this in due time. At a called meeting of the Board, held in Richmond, February, 1871, the committee appointed to make sale of the buildings and property near Boydton reported the sale of the same to Henry G. McGonegal, of New York city. The sum of the purchase money was $12,500. This included the claim on the United States government, which was transferred with the property to the purchaser. This sale was a great sacrifice, embracing as it did the two large College buildings, the Steward's Hall, Hotel, and President's residence, all brick structures, and, in addition, the old Preparatory School building (also brick), and three other dwellings, and several hundred acres of land. But the pecuniary obligations of the College were heavy and pressing, and the rate of interest, even on bonds secured by real estate, ten per cent. Under these circumstances, the sale was ratified, and the Board parted with the old premises, built, for the most part, in 1830-'32, at a cost largely over $50,000. At the annual meeting in June, 1871, the President, in his report, spoke in high terms of the studiousness and good deportment of the students. The whole number in attendance was 142. The prospects for further increase were encouraging. Prof. W. W. Valentine resigned the chair of Modern Languages, chiefly on account of delicate health. He was a faithful officer and a nice gentleman; he enjoyed the respect and regard of his colleagues and the Board. Great embarrassment had been experienced on account of want of funds to meet promptly the salaries of the Faculty.