"MY DEAR BROTHER,--The poor condition of my health through this entire session thus far admonishes me that I cannot continue to hold the presidency of the College. I am compelled, therefore, to hand you this, my resignation of the office, to take effect on the 1st of September next, which will give the Trustees a period of five months, though I am sure they will not need so much time, in which to secure a suitable person for my successor. "It is a source of great gratification to me that I shall leave the College in good condition in every respect. "Yours very truly, "W. W. BENNETT. "ASHLAND, VA., _March_ 31, 1886." [Illustration: RICHARD HEBER BENNETT, A. M., _Of the Virginia Conference._] [Illustration: THOMAS F. SHERRILL, OF N. C., _Sutherlin Medalist, 1885._] The resignation of Dr. Bennett was accepted, and a committee was appointed to notify him of the action of the Board, and to express to him the appreciation by the Board of the value of his services. On motion, it was-- "Resolved, That at the annual meeting in June next the Board will proceed to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Dr. Bennett." The President's annual report gave the attendance as 124 for the session ending June, 1886. [Illustration: JAMES M. PAGE, A. M., PH. D., OF VIRGINIA, _Pace Medalist, 1885; Professor University of Virginia._] On the recommendation of the Faculty, the following received degrees, viz.: A. M. F. P. HAMMOND, Maryland. LANGHORNE LEITCH, Virginia. M. L. SHACKELFORD, Virginia. SYDNEY B. WRIGHT, Virginia. A. B. THOMAS J. BARHAM, Virginia. JAMES S. CHAPMAN, Virginia. FRANK L. CROCKER, Virginia. ARTHUR K. DAVIS, Virginia. F. V. RUSSELL, Virginia. SAMUEL D. TURNER, Virginia. D. D. Rev. WILBUR F. TILLETT, Vanderbilt University. Rev. H. MELVILLE JACKSON, Richmond, Va. LL. D. Prof. JAMES A. HARRISON, Washington and Lee University. _Sutherlin Medalist_.--J. S. CHAPMAN, of Virginia. _Pace Medalist_.--LANGHORNE LEITCH, of Virginia. [Illustration: JAMES S. CHAPMAN, _Sutherlin Medalist; Attorney-at-Law._] The Endowment and Investment Committee made the following gratifying announcement: "We respectfully report that there has been raised, through the instrumentality of Prof. W. W. Smith, Dr. R. N. Sledd, and others, $43,000, $25,000 of which is in the hands of the local committee at Lynchburg, and the balance in the hands of Captain Richard Irby for collection."