It being necessary to raise funds to pay the professors, Messrs. H. G. Leigh, D'Arcy Paul, Dr. Archibald A. Campbell, George Rogers, and Edward R. Chambers offered to loan the College $500 each, and Messrs. H. B. Cowles and Landon C. Garland $250 each, on the 25th of December next; and Rev. W. B. Rowzie, Agent of the College, offered, that if the amount of his collections should fall under $500, to make up the deficiency in a loan. [Illustration: JUDGE EDWARD R. CHAMBERS, _Professor of Law 1842-'43. Trustee of the College. Judge Circuit Court. Member of Virginia Convention 1851 and 1861._] The above record is given to show the great financial strait of the College and to bring to mind the liberality of the members of the Board and the Faculty. But for this liberal action the College would have ceased its work, as so many others were forced to do. Some steps were taken at this meeting to establish a Medical Department in the College. The following degrees were conferred, June, 1843: A. B. GEORGE W. BENAGH, Virginia. EDWARD S. BROWN, Virginia. HAMPDEN S. SMITH, N. C. THOMAS E. MASSIE, Virginia. WILLIAM H. LAWTON, S. C. FELIX H. G. TAYLOR, Miss. RICHARD H. POWELL, Alabama. THOMAS W. BLAKE, N. C. HENRY B. ELDRIDGE, Virginia. WALLER MASSIE, Virginia. JOHN F. RIVES, Mississippi. NATHANIEL R. WADDILL, Va. JOHN C. WALKER, Virginia. A. M. JAMES F. SMITH, South Carolina. D. D. Rev. ROBT. NEWTON, England. WILLIAM WINANS, Mississippi. LOVICK PIERCE, Georgia. WILLIAM A. SMITH, Virginia. 1843-1844. The dark cloud resting on the prospects of the College in June, 1843, still hung over it the succeeding year, notwithstanding the efforts made to relieve the embarrassment. Patronage continued to decrease. The session opened with sixty matriculates in the College and thirty in the Preparatory School, the smallest number in the history of the College up to this year. The President, in the annual report, alludes to the depression of Faculty and patrons, neither of whom "could feel proper interest in an institution _which might close its doors at any time_." This feeling of despondency seemed to have pervaded also the members of the Board, for a bare quorum were in attendance at the opening session. The president, in his report, said: "We shall regard it as a calamity if you leave this place without making some definite arrangement by which our future may be relieved from all embarrassment." [Illustration: HOLLAND N. MCTYEIRE, A. M., D. D., _Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; Regent Vanderbilt University._] That grand layman, D'Arcy Paul, in this dark hour, came to the relief of the College by guaranteeing the salaries of the professors to the amount of $5,000 on certain conditions. Thus, in the good providence of God, the life of the College was prolonged. [Illustration: COL. WM. TOWNES, TRUSTEE. _Elected 1844._] The following received degrees June, 1844: A. B.