At the second meeting of the Board of Trustees, held October 30, 1830 (Rev. John Early, chairman, presiding), the Building Committee reported the plan for the main College building, with cost of erection. William A. Howard and Dabney Cosby were the contractors. The plan embraced a centre brick building fifty-two feet front by fifty-four deep, with wings east and west sixty-seven and a half feet each, making a total front of one hundred and eighty-seven feet, all four stories high. The contract price for the same, except painting, tin roof, casement of the library, and seats in the chapel, to be finished in "a plain, workman-like manner, of the best materials," to be $14,137, and it was to be ready for occupancy by the spring of 1832. The committee also reported the purchase of two hundred and fifty-seven acres of land from several parties, including previous purchase, the several tracts forming a solid body. Rev. H. G. Leigh, Agent, made report as to the finances, as follows: Monies collected to date, . . . . $ 941 59 Subscriptions deemed good, . . . . 27,762 70 Total,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $28,703 29 Rev. William Hammett, an eloquent Irish minister, was appointed agent for soliciting additional funds. Of the subscriptions made by citizens of Mecklenburg county, the name of William Townes heads the list with $1,000, the largest subscription to the College funds in early times. He was not a Methodist, nor a member of any church, but he was one of the earliest and best friends of the College. On the early subscription lists there were about five hundred names. Next to the subscription of Col. Townes, there were none above $300. The third meeting of the Board of Trustees was held April 15, 1831, Rev. John Early, chairman, presiding. The following items of business transacted are noted: Rev. Thomas Adams, a local minister, of Lunenburg county, was elected in place of Rev. James Smith, who resigned his membership. A "Stewards' Hall" was authorized, the cost of the building of which was not to exceed $4,000. The chairman of the Board was authorized to advertise that the Board would proceed to elect at the next meeting (in October, 1831) a President, Professors, and Masters. The salary of the President to be elected was fixed at $1,000 for the first year; salaries of the Professors for the first year, $800. The fourth meeting of the Board was held October 13, 1831, Rev. John Early in the chair. At this meeting Rev. H. G. Leigh, Agent, reported subscriptions amounting to $9,873, and Rev. William Hammett, $13,047, in all $22,920. The South Carolina Conference was formally invited to unite and co-operate with the Board in the support of Randolph-Macon College, with the proviso that should the Conference agree so to do, the Board would elect six members Trustees from the bounds of that Conference. Rev. Martin P. Parks was appointed the Agent to communicate with said Conference and to solicit subscriptions.