Loss to University of Virginia.

Fire destroyed the rotunda and public hall at the University of Virginia at Charlottestown Sunday. The old rotunda stood as a monument to Thomas Jefferson, the founder of the university, and was built after plans of his own. The mayor telegraphed to neighboring cities for assistance. Richmond, Lynchburg and Staunton responded promptly. Under the supervision of Professor Echols the corps of students made strenuous endeavors by the use of dynamite to prevent the spread of the fire to the rotunda. So massive was the structure leading to the rotunda that the dynamite made little impression. On each side of the portico were massive pillars of Italian marble, which were carved in Italy at a great cost for Mr. Jefferson. These could not be overthrown. By this time the fire had got beyond all bounds, and leaped from the annex to the rotunda. The firemen at once directed their attention to this building, as in it was the fine library of 63,000 volumes, many of them extremely rare and valuable; a life-size statue of Jefferson, and a large number of magnificent portraits and rare works of art. The students succeeded in saving thousands of the books and some of the paintings. Among the portraits burned was that of Jefferson. The statue of Jefferson, which is very heavy, was dragged from the burning building. Two-thirds of the books and the magnificent painting, "School of Athens," which cost $40,000, were destroyed. The old chapel and the reading room, directly connecting the main room with the professors' and students' rooms, were blown down with dynamite to arrest the progress of the flames. The rotunda was that part of the building completed in Mr. Jefferson's day, and in which, in 1825, a reception was held at which Lafayette and other distinguished men assisted. The loss is estimated now at fully $200,000. The students have begun a movement to secure funds to restore the building.