PREFACE.

It seems appropriate to begin this volume by stating the cir- /cumstances under which it is presented to the public.

On the 8th of October, 1828, the late-Elias Horry, Esq., madea donation of ten thousand dollars to the trustees of the Collegeof Charleston, South Carolina. The instrument, by which thedonation was conveyed to the Trustees, declares the design ofthe donor in making it to have been, “ to assist the Trustees toestablish a professorship in the College, of which the Principalfor the time being shall be the Professor.” In a letter dated thesame day, the founder wrote to me thus ; — “ God, in distributinghis mercies and his favors, has been eminently bountiful to myfamily, and lastly to me ; and it is but just, that those, to whomhis favors have been bestowed, should acknowledge his good-ness by rendering services to others, and more particularly tothe community in which they dwell. I confess, that my feelings,on this day, have been uncommon and peculiar. My mind hasalways been anxious for the prosperity of my country, and par-ticularly for Charleston, my native city ; and, if my donation tothe College shall hereafter prove a benefit to our youth, I shallconsider my reward as rich indeed.”

In accepting this donation, the Trustees say, “ The memoryof such an act will not pass away with our transitory existence.