The first session closed July 4, 1833. At the close Rev. William M. Wightman, one of the trustees from South Carolina, delivered the first literary address before the students and the public, at the request of the Washington Literary Society. This Society had been organized February, 1833. As it has been one of the main features of the College, along with its sister society, the Franklin, it will be interesting to give the names of its officers and members from the original records: _President_, ROBERT T. MARSHALL, Virginia. _Vice-President_, THOMAS ADAMS, Virginia. _Secretary_, JOHN G. PARKS, Virginia. _Treasurer_, ADDISON LEA, North Carolina. _Collector_, ISAAC C. CROFT, South Carolina. _Censor_, J. G. BANKS, Virginia. _Members_. ADAMS, R. E. G., . . . . Va. BAIRD, CHARLES W., . . . Va. BLACKWELL, THOMAS, . . . Va. COLEMAN, J. J., . . . . Va. GOODE, ROBERT S., . . . Va. HAMLIN, JOHN F., . . . . Va. INGRAM, ROBT. M., . . . N. C. ISBELL, THOMAS M., . . . Va. JONES, JAMES R., . . . . Va. JONES, ROBERT T., . . . Va. PRICE, NATHANIEL S., . . Va. SOMERVILLE, R. B., . . . N. C. SMITH, WILLIAM B., . . . Va. TUCKER, JOHN E., . . . . Va. WATKINS, J. W.,. . . . . Va. WILLIAMSON, JAMES J.,. . Va. WILLIAMS, JAMES M.,. . . Va. WINFIELD, JOHN O., . . . Va. WINFIELD, W. S., . . . . Va. Immediately after the organization the following were introduced and made members: BLAIN, GEO. W.,. . . . . Va. BURNEY, JAMES, . . . . . N. C. CALDWELL, JOHN H., . . . N. C. CUTLER, ROBERT E., . . . Va. DORRELL, AUGUSTUS, . . . S. C. DRINKARD, W. R., . . . . Va. DU PRE, WARREN,. . . . . S. C. GAYLE, ALEX. T., . . . . Va. GUNN, ALLEN M.,. . . . . N. C. JENNINGS, JONA. B.,. . . S. C. LYNCH, MONTGOMERY, . . . Va. OWEN, WASHINGTON A., . . Va. PERKINS, J. Q. A., . . . N. C. STEWART, THEO.,. . . . . Ga. STRATTON, R. B., . . . . Va. To this Society was assigned the northeast room on the fourth floor of the centre building. One of the first acts of the Society was the formation of a library, which rapidly increased, and in ten years numbered two thousand volumes. Not only did the society rapidly accumulate a library, but the hall was fitted up with a beautiful rostrum, president's chair, etc. A full length portrait of Washington was purchased, which to this day is the chief ornament of the hall. Professor Warren Du Pre, class of 1836, one of the original members, who was a member when this portrait was bought, wrote an account of the inauguration of it to the author, which is worthy of preservation. "MARTHA WASHINGTON COLLEGE, "ABINGDON, VA., _May 30 1877_.