But poverty and penury were not all. The people were humiliated and despondent. Their State, "the mother of States and statesmen," had now the tyrant's heel upon her neck, and was styled "District" (No. 1), a "conquered province"--her governor, first a refugee, then a prisoner. Military satraps filled the seats of judges and magistrates. The ignorant slave was often shown more deference than his former cultured master. Most of the flower of the manhood of the State had died by the sword or disease. The boys and girls of the next generation were growing up without the means of education, and helping to eak out a living for their widowed mothers. Such, in brief, was the condition of Virginia in the period succeeding the close of the war. What could the Trustees of the College do under such circumstances as now surrounded them? The endowment gathered at such an expenditure of time and labor was in large part lost. The investments made were in bonds and stocks of more than uncertain value, some not worth the paper on which they were printed. The College buildings, libraries and laboratories had all been impaired and damaged by non-use or abuse. There was no money in hand to repair and refit them. Our own people were too poor to furnish it. Those who had devastated the property, and added injury to insult, could not be expected to restore what they had destroyed. Nevertheless, it had been but a few months after the surrender before a meeting of the Board was called to be held in Petersburg, August 23, 1865. At this meeting a quorum was lacking, and the Board adjourned to meet on September 13 following, at the residence of Richard Irby, in Nottoway. This adjourned meeting was held, and a quorum was present. One of the first matters attended to was the appointment of a committee consisting of President W. A. Smith and four others "to estimate the damage to the College incurred by the occupation of it by the United States troops _after the surrender_, and in behalf of the Trustees to make application to the proper authorities of the government for payment." On motion of D'Arcy Paul it was-- _Resolved_, That all the Professor's chairs be declared vacant. A provisional arrangement was made to open the College for school purposes, but this arrangement was not carried out. A further plan was provided for taking care of the College property, and the Board adjourned. The next meeting of the Board was held at the College July 11, 1866, with eighteen members in attendance. The chairman of the committee appointed at the last meeting to assess and press claim for damages to College, reported that the committee had not been encouraged in their efforts by the military authorities in Virginia. Judge E. R. Chambers was appointed to prosecute the claim. It may save time here to say, as has been said before, that this claim was never recognized by the government. The Finance Committee made a report of the Endowment fund and liabilities of the College: