Princeton Letter.

The election of a new president to fill Dr. McCosh's place took place on Thursday, and, as was expected, Dr. Francis L. Patton, of the Seminary, was unanimously elected. It was hoped that Professor Sloane would be elected vice-president, but the board of trustees did not see fit to create a new office, and so there will be no change in the powers of the president. Thursday night the students serenaded both Dr. Cosh, whose place it will be hard to fill in the hearts of undergraduates, and Dr. Patton, both of whom made short speeches. The latter said he would attempt to carry out the policy which Dr. McCosh had inaugurated and would make no changes in the government of the college. The news of his election created great enthusiasm, as those undergraduates who have been under his instruction are devoted to him. He preached yesterday in the college chapel, which was filled to overflowing by strangers who wished to hear his first sermon since his election, and by many it was thought to be the most powerful sermon ever delivered in Princeton.

The senior German takes place tonight, and the town has already begun to fill up with people who have come for it and the junior assembly to-morrow night. After the new president, these are the absorbing topics in college, and to-day and to-morrow will be given up to these festivities almost entirely. The Glee and Banjo Clubs give their semi-annual concert to-morrow evening, and as they are each in splendid trim an excellent concert is expected. A unique feature will be introduced, which will create great mirth if nothing more, in the shape of a quartette of the poorest singers in college, it being a physical impossibility for any one of them to carry a tune. The Ivy Club gives a tea to the patronesses of the assembly from three to five, to which about two hundred invitations have been issued, and with the various hall receptions, etc., Princeton will for once present a gay and festive air.

The cage is at last finished and the men have been using it for about a week, during which time, short as it has been, there has been a marked improvement in their practice. While it is of course too soon to make any definite predictions, Princeton's nine for the present season will at least not prove inferior to many that have preceded it. As far as can be predicted now the personnel of the nine will be about as follows: Mercur and King, pitchers, while it is doubtful who will catch; Ames, Brownlee, Conner and Young all being prominently mentioned. Dana, '91, will probably cover first, though Rodgers, '90, is showing up in very good shape. As to second it is impossible to say, but W. Price, '88, seems to be the best man so far, while L. Price and Wagenhurst will play their old positions at short and third respectively. There are a number trying for the field and it is impossible, to say who will play in left field, but King and Durrell are booked for right and centre respectively.

The cage will undoubtedly be of great benefit to the nine and would have been of much greater if it had been ready for use at the beginning of the term. As it was, the candidates were compelled to waste nearly a month, although Capt. Wagenhurst had his men at work in the gym as much as possible. The cage is not large enough to have first and third laid out, and so the men practise batting, base running and throwing from home to first and second principally without having a whole infield. Our great difficulty this year will be the lack of a catcher, and so every effort is being put forth to develop one from the material at hand, which is to say the least but poor. Ames, '90, the half-back on the 'Varsity, is developing and may do something before the season opens.

PRINCETONIAN.