MISSISSIPPI, UNIVERSITY OF, at Oxford, Lafayette co., was organized in 1848. By the liberality of the congress of 1819, two years after Mississippi had been admitted into the union, an entire township of the public domain within the state-23,040 acres—was granted to the state for the purpose of establishing a seminary of learning. The title to this land was, by act of congress, vested in the state legislature, in trust, for the support of the institution. The trust was accepted by the legislature, and, in pursuance of the spirit'and intent of the act, "lands of great value" were selected by the state, and, in due time, 'Ai of the 36 sections were sold. Upon this foundation time university was estab lished, and, when it was located at Oxford, the citizens of Lafayette co. gave it a section of land as a site for its buildings. The endowment amounts to the stun of E'540,000, and the annual income to more than $32,000. It has 10 buildings, which, with their con tents, are valued at $300,000. The libraries eontain,over 6,000 volumes, which have been carefully selected with the view of supplying all the needs of classical, scientific, and law students. With physical, chemical, and electrical apparatus, and with cabinets of minerals, rocks, and shells, and other fossils, the university is well supplied. The
geological department has a fine collection of accurate maps and charts, and geologi cal reports of the various state surveys. The herbarium contains specimens of all the forms of vegetable life indigenous to Mississippi and some of the adjoining states. Zoolog,y is rendered more interesting and intelligible by maps showing the geographical distribution of animals, and by a collection of vertebrates which is increased every year. This department also possesses maps showing the geographical distribution of plants. The university comprehends three general departments: 1. That of preparatory educa tion; 2. That of science, literature, and the arts; 3. That of professional education, embrac ing for the present only a school of law, with 1 professor and 5 lecturers. The number of professors (1880) is 8; tutors, 3; 1 principal of high-school and 2 assistants; students in all the departments, including the preparatory, 392; alumni, 482. Alexander P. Stew art, chancellor.