Report

It being a provision of the law that the Visitors or a majority of them should once at least in every year, visit the University, enquire into the proceedings and practices thereat, examine the progress of the students, and give to those who excel in any branch of Science there taught, such honorary marks and testimonies of approbation as may encourage & excite to industry & emulation, the Board made their present meeting coincide with the period fixed for a general & public examination of the Students. The attending members have accordingly had an opportunity of observing, as well the plans of examination adopted by the professors, which were rigid and comprehensive, as the proficiency of the Students in the several schools to which they belong; and they gladly express their satisfaction with the general result of the proceeding. This being the first occasion, however, on which the progress of the Students could be publickly tested, & the University itself having been so short a time in operation, it was deemed most proper, not to extend the honorary marks of attainment and distinction, beyond those presented in the Statement of the Faculty which accompanies this report.1

The Board would omit an act of Justice if they did not add, that they have derived from the present occasion, an augmented confidence in the distinguished talents and science, of which the Professors respectively enjoy the reputation.

[Enclosure]

In executing the duty enjoined on us, we must take into view the whole system; the laws under which the board acts; what has already been done, in execution of the powers, vested in the board; and any defects, which have been pointed out, by experience. In taking this view, we add with pleasure, according to our best judgment, that the powers, thus vested, have been exercised, with great ability, by the board, and that the arrangements, which are now necessary, to enable the institution, to accomplish, all the great objects intended by it, are of the latter kind, and better adapted to the present, than to any preceding period. While the formation, or rather, the creation of the body was the object, it was proper that those who performed that office, should cling to it, & mark the effect, of the organization, & other arrangements, which had been made, with a paternal & affectionate care, which was done & particularly exemplified by the conduct of the enlightened and illustrious individual whom we have lost.2 This office having been performed, & the System being now in full operation, it remains only to lend a helping hand, to those parts, which are found by experience, to require it.

In organizing an executive Govt. for the University, the first points to be decided are, what are the powers necessary for such govt.? What their extent, & what their limitation? In deciding these points, the special object of the institution is to be taken into view, since to it, the means best adapted to its accomplishment, must be adopted. Some preliminary remarks on the subject generally, will enable me more distinctly, to convey my ideas of the Govt., which ought to be instituted.

The great object of the University is the education of the youth of the Country, which must be done by professors, among whom the different branches of science must be distributed, each taking a certain portion, and performing the duties appropriate thereto. The Govt. of youth is distinct from that of a corporation, or any other collection, or association whatever, because the subject on which it acts, is different. The Govt. of a State, or City by act of corporation, if the people be free,3 is administered under their Supervision, and by their agency, in the appointment of the officers to whom the power is committed. A military band, consisting of persons of mature age, is raised for defence, and under a govt. which directs their movements, without consulting the members who compose it. In such a Corps, the parties enter voluntarily, as free agents, and bind themselves to a strict observance of the regulations, which apply to it, and to submit to the penalties imposed, for the violation of them. But the Govt. of an University, has a different object in view, acts on those in a different state, and must in consequence be subject to different regulations. The youthful state requires care, counsel and frequently admonition, to rear it up to maturity, in proper principles, & for useful purposes. The offences also which fall within the scope of the institution, must be differently punished. The Govt. is in certain views, paternal, varying from that of the parent, not by the object to be attained, nor the authority to be exercised, for the attainment of it, but by the relation which exists, between the instructors and students, and the peculiar composition of the latter corps, being a collection of the youth of different families, throughout the community generally: unconnected4 with each other. A father governs his offspring, during their minority, for their benefit, and his own happiness, by a natural right and duty. But under such an institution, that relation does not exist, or at least cannot be regarded, in the regulations necessary for it. A Govt. however is indispensable, and it must be one, which is adapted, to the ages of those for whom it is intended, and the object contemplated by the institution. The same duties are to be performed, in both instances, extending in that of the institution, as the infant advances to maturity, to objects in regard to science, to which the parent, should he have the time, is often incompetent.

The Youth being thus collected in mass, & for the purpose of instruction and they being distributed into different classes, under different professors, and occupying different houses, the powers of the Govt. must embrace all these objects, & have sufficient force to accomplish the important one, for which they were assembled. The youth must apply closely to their studies, attend lectures regularly, & punctually, at the hours appointed, & be respectful to the professors. They must be restrained from dissipation of every kind, drinking, gaming & frequenting taverns, or absenting themselves, at will, from the University. These form great objects of such a Govt., & which require provisions specially adapted to them. There are others, for which provisions should likewise be made. Being gathered together, whether the mass be great or small, they must be lodged, fed and clothed, and otherwise accommodated, and trained. For these latter purposes, houses must be prepared in sufficient number, for the accommodation of the professors & students, and others, for Hotels. Arrangements must likewise be made, for the supply of clothing, for the preservation & repair of the buildings, for the receipt and disbursement of all the monies necessary, for the professors, students, and other purposes of the institution. If dieted in hotels, it must be, either by letting them to persons, who will perform that service at their own charge, at fixed prices, or by the appointment of suitable persons, to perform it, at the charge of the institution.5 The enactments of the board, in the organization of the University, & other arrangements, have wisely provided for these objects, and it now remains to institute a Govt. which shall, in the progress of the System, carry them completely into effect. How shall this be done? By a strict analysis of the duties to be performed, it is obvious, that they divide themselves into two classes, of different grades, for each of which, according to the nature of the duty, the arrangement must be specially adapted. The one looks to the competency of the system, to all its great purposes, including the diligence, morality and good conduct, of the professors, students, & all the officers, connected with the University. The other, relates exclusively, to that of the youth, in all the circumstances specified, & for whom, to accomplish the great object contemplated, regulations of a peculiar character, rigidly executed, are indispensable. Merely to watch their movements, to catch them in the breach of enactments, & to punish them for such breach, is to act on them, by an appeal to the worst motives, by penalties for offences. It is the mode of treating those, of mature age whose habits are formed, whose morals have become corrupted; who have committed crimes, and are punished as criminals. The object in such cases is rather to give an example to others, than to reform the culprit. But in regard to youth, their habits, morals talents & character, are to be formed; the formation of which is committed to instructors & supervisors, who supply the place of parents, & have it in their power, to give them the best shape. The infant state must be regarded, and the youth be treated, with mildness & moderation. Youthful propensities are known, & the regulations should be such, as to give them employment, at idle hours, for improvement, in useful & honorable acquirements, so as to draw their attention from, & prevent their indulgence, of such propensities.

Can the visitors perform these duties & constitute the Govt. which is required? They cannot. The Govt. must be present, and extend its supervision & care to every branch of the system, daily. The visitors are dispersed over the country, which alone, presents an insurmountable obstacle. There are other objections to such a Govt. which have great weight. The power had better be vested in one, than in many. Executive duties, cannot be well executed by more than one, and the greater the number, the less competent, will the body be. Deliberation is the province of the board, & it belongs to it, rather to act on the reports of others, than to mingle in the movement, themselves. Dispersed, as the members are, over the state, they can have occasional meetings only, and at distant intervals: at these however, they may perform all the duties, which properly belong to them, and which are necessary for the success of the institution.

Can the professors form such a Govt.? They cannot. The supervision must extend to every branch in detail. The conduct of the youth must be attended to, at all hours, & that of the other departments closely inspected. The professors cannot spare the time, necessary for the purpose, from their other duties. If the power be committed to the faculty collectively, every incident of any importance, would require, a meeting of the board, which would often be attended with debate. Each professor might indulge kind feelings, for some in the classes under him, & thus differences might arise between them. The same objections would apply in certain respects, to the investment of one with the power. If he executed the duties of the office strictly, & diligently, those of his professorship would be neglected, & if he did not devote the time necessary to the performance of its duties, there would be no Govt. at all. Each professor will strive to prepare for his lectures, & to improve himself in the sciences under his care, & to these important objects, his whole time & labours, must be devoted. Every branch admits of improvement, & improvements are daily made in them. To keep a pace, in these improvements, & engraft them in his lectures, will require much reading & reflection, & we must not fall behind other seminaries, in any science.

Other objections occur to the commitment of this power to the faculty collectively, or to a single professor, which are decisive. One great object of such a Govt. is the supervision of the conduct of the professors, for on it, the success of the institution depends; and this the faculty could not perform, for no assembly or board can overlook its own conduct, and make such reports on it, for another authority to act on, as should be relied on. This objection applies with great force to the investment of a single member, with the power. If his reports extended to the conduct of the professors, they would of course, not touch his own, and from a fear of exciting the hostility of the others, towards him, he would probably not touch theirs, Or if he did, it would be in a light or favorable manner. The presumption therefore is, that in either case, the conduct of the professors, would pass unnoticed, & that the power of the Govt., as to this important object, would lie dormant. It is further to be remarked, that if the appointment was made by the visitors, the preference which would thereby be given to one professor, over the others, would have a bad effect. It would excite a rivalry among them, & prevent the harmony, necessary for many important purposes of the institution: & if elected by themselves, it would create a dependence of each on the others, which could not fail to render the Govt. altogether inefficient. This result would follow, whether the person, thus elected, served a short or long term, with this difference, if a short one, that the power would be nugatory.

If this view be correct, it follows, that to make the Govt. efficient, for all the purposes intended by it, there must be two distinct authorities instituted, one to be invested with power, to supervise the whole system, the other, to perform the duties relating specially to the youth. It is equally obvious, that the chief power, the first to be attended to, cannot be exercised by the visitors, or the faculty, or a single member of the faculty: that it must be committed to an individual, who shall occupy the middle ground, between the Visitors & the faculty, deriving his appointment & powers from, & acting under the controul of the visitors. It should be the duty of this officer, who might be called president, Superintendent, or Warden, to reside at the University, or very near it, and to attend it daily, & to make report of all occurrences, & in all cases, to the Visitors. His powers should be drawn with care, so as to make them adequate to the objects contemplated, without the possibility of abuse. Over the professors directly, he should have no positive authority. In regard to them, it should be confined to the Supervision of their conduct, with a report on it, to the visitors. Their authority over the students, in the extent given them by the enactments, should be supported. In other instances, his power might be more extensive, but provisional, dependent on the sanction of the visitors. The duties of the other officer, would comprize the discipline of the University, & belong to the military instructor; an officer already contemplated by the enactments, of an early day.6 His duties in training the youth, in infantry tactics, and calling the roll at specified hours, which is connected with it, would keep the youth out of the way of temptation, & give them useful instruction. This officer, acting under, & subject to the orders of the chief, would give great support to his authority, and likewise to that of the professors, & to the success of the Institution.

The example of other institutions, abroad and at home, so far as we are acquainted with them, is thought to justify the view above presented. The principal Universities of G. Britain, were founded at distant epochs back, & derived their origin & system of instruction, in a great measure from political events, from confiscations, & private donations. In this remark, I have in view, more particularly the Universities of Oxford & Cambridge, neither of which was founded on a well digested plan, with a view to all the sciences, & a proper distribution of them, on principle, between different professorships. Such too is the nature of those institutions, that there is no well established Govt. over them, nor any regular system of discipline, in either. The youth are, in a great measure, free from restraint, & live at great expense. Great acquirements have been made, by those who were excited by laudable motives, as has been shewn, by the talents, which have been displayed in both houses of parliament, & in other walks of life. The Statue of Blackstone, adorns the University of Oxford, and of Newton, that of Cambridge. The University of London, which is now in train, & will soon be put in Operation, furnishes an example of a different kind. It is founded on principle, provides better for general instruction, of all classes; & likewise for good order in the administration. Men of great talents and worth, have the direction of it. There is a marked feature, in this institution, according to the report, which has been presented, by the council to whom its creation was committed, which corresponds with this sketch. The arrangement is founded on the principle, that the youth will reside generally, without the walls of the University, in the city, in the houses of their parents, & in boarding houses contiguous to it. The Council consisting of twenty-four members, reside in London, & may in consequence, meet, whenever circumstances may require it. They have nevertheless, instituted the office of Warden, & given to him the power of superintinding the whole system, reserving to themselves, that only, of acting on his reports.7 The object of this institution, is to place, the attainment of science, & general knowledge, within the reach of the labouring classes of the Kingdom, which will be done by establishing it in London, the most populous city of G. Britain, & of Europe, allowing the youth to reside in the houses of their parents. All those, of the City, whose fathers can pay the professors fees, may become students of that University, & profit of instruction, in every branch of science, taught in it. If a Govt. which is founded on distinct orders, that of hereditary monarchy, being one, is willing to make such an advance to the improvement of the class, having different rights, & an opposite interest, whose improvement may shake the system, how much stronger is the motive, & imperative the duty, to pursue that policy, in one, whose existence depends on it. And if it be necessary to institute an office of the grade, & to invest the officer holding it, with the powers, contemplated, to secure a good Govt., over an University, whose students reside without its limits, & under another Govt., how much more necessary will it be, to do it in one, in which, they reside within its walls, and under its exclusive Govt.

Resp[e]cting8 our own Seminaries, throughout the Union, I shall remark only, that they have contributed eminently to the instruction of the youth, & diffusion of knowledge, among the whole body of the people, of which the most striking examples, have been exhibited, in the several states, & in the national councils. The Govts., established over them, were peculiarly lenient, & mild, adapted to the infant state of Society, which existed, when those best known were severally instituted. A more active & efficient Govt. over them, even those which have approached, nearest to this plan, seems to be necessary, and which, it may be presumed, as the numbers increase, they will adopt. So far as any light can be derived from their experience, it tends to confirm, what has been here advanced.

There is an9 institution, within our Union, which although, of a different character, & directed to a special object, affords an example, from which, much useful light may be derived. It is the military academy at West point. The military science, is the particular object, of that institution, but it comprises, within the scale of instruction, many other branches of science, with a correct distribution of them, among appropriate professorships. The education of youth, is the object, common to it, & other institutions. The subject therefore on which it acts, is the same, & in consequence the regulations, which are applicable to the Govt. of one, appear to be equally so, to that, of the others, making proper allowance, for the difference between them, arising from the special object of that institution, & the source from which they respectively derive their origin. The officer at the head of the Academy, has the supervision & controul of the whole establishment, professors, students & every other officer connected with it. In aid of this officer, there are two others appointed to act under him, one as instructor of infantry tactics, the other of Artilery, who train the youth at proper hours, without interfering with the duties of the professors, who teach the other sciences. The Superintendent makes his reports, through the chief Engineer at Washington, to the Secretary of war, for the President, a particular class of which, is made weekly. A board of visitors, consisting of five members, distinguished for their acquirements in military & other sciences, is appointed by the Secretary of war, whose duty it is, to attend annually, at the Academy, in June, at the principal examination of the Cadets, in the several branches of instruction; to inspect, the state of police & discipline, & the general management of the institution, & to report their sentiments, on the whole subject, to the Secretary of War. Another board consisting of the Superintendent & professors, is instituted; whose duty it is, to recommend the purchase of books, machinery, & apparatus, for the use of the institution: to attend the examination of the cadets, on their admission into it, & in subsequent stages; to decide on their relative merit, & to recommend those best qualified, to the Secy of War, for promotion in the army; to report likewise to him, any improvements, in the system of science & instruction, which their own experience, may have suggested, as necessary to complete the same. Of this board, the Superintendent, is the president. It is manifest that the powers granted to these boards, do not in the slightest degree, impair those of the superintendent, in the Govt. of the Academy. Each affords useful aid, for the purpose, for which, it was instituted, but neither has any positive power, vested in itself. The academy being a national institution, and there being only one, an annual visitation of it, by persons of talents & respectability, from different states, was proper, as well for the satisfaction of the Govt. as of the Union. A report, from those, engaged, in the management of the institution, and present with it, from day to day, & from year to year, on the subjects specified, was equally proper. Both boards, are confined, to the simple objects, of making reports, to the department authorised to act on them. The active & efficient power, is vested, in the superintendent, under the controul of the president, to whom, through the Secretary of war, all reports are made, by the boards authorised to make such, and by the superintendent, in the instances, in which he is the sole party. The right to make improvements in the system, belongs to the authority, from whence the institution, took its origin. The Govt. of it, is vested, in the Superintendent, with the aid of the professors in certain cases; but in the preservation of good order, by the students, & a strict compliance with all their duties, by that of the military instructor only. The success attending the administration of this Govt. in the good order of the Cadets, & its general management, is a very satisfactory demonstration, of the excellence of its organization. The difficulty of carrying10 this plan into execution, without the aid of the Legislature, arising from the state of the funds, is well known, but is it not incumbent on us, to endeavour to remove that obstacle, by an appeal, to the wisdom & patriotism, of that body? Why was the University established, & the expense, necessary to that object, incurred? Was it not for the purpose, of diffusing knowledge, among the mass, of the people, within our own state, & in other states, who might be desirous, of availing themselves of it, from a conviction, derived from experience, that upon success in that great object, the success of our system of Govt. depended? Why did the antient republics fail, and why were those, which were most free, in which the people possessed exclusively the Sovereignty, of shortest duration? It was because the people were unlettered, ignorant, & incapable of sustaining such Govt. Why have all attempts to establish free democratical Govts., in any of the countries of modern Europe, proved abortive? The cause is the same. I speak, in this instance from personal observation, having witnessed, a great effort, of a great nation, for several years, & been present at its most difficult & trying struggles.11 I witnessed that effort in favor of liberty by the people of France, when the power was in their hands, & exercised, at different stages, in different forms, by the Convention, by the directory & two councils, by the Consuls, & finally, when it was yielded, without a conflict to the Emperor. Such Gov:ts. rest, on the intelligence, & virtue of the people. Those qualities, form the basis of the system, which must be solid, & imperishable, or failure is inevitable. We have commenced under more favourable circumstances, than any other nation ever did, & should we fail, the hope of mankind, is gone. When we commenced, as was said, in another paper, on another occasion, “there was no family dethroned among us; no banished pretender in a foreign country, looking back, to his connections and adherents here, in the hope of a recal; no order of nobility, whose hereditary rights in the Govt., had been violated; no hierarchy which had been degraded & oppressed; there was but one order, that of the people, by whom every thing was gained, by the change.”12 Happy, as our situation, then was, & still is, there are dangers attending it, which can only be averted, by disseminating knowledge, among the mass of the people. They must be intelligent, calm, & reflecting in the performance of their duties, & especially in that of election to office; they must support their rights, by their intelligence, their power of discrimination, & their weight of character; otherwise they will fall, into the hands of leaders, & be made the dupes, & instruments, of their own destruction. How inconsiderable & unimportant then, is the sum necessary for this purpose13 compared with that, which it is intended to accomplish: Our own experience gives an instructive lesson on this subject, to which it may be proper to refer. When the institution was first put in motion, the object was so interesting, & the auspices under which it commenced, so distinguished & favourable, that the collection to it, considering the stage, was considerable. The number, however, soon diminished, & from causes attributable to the want of an efficient Govt. over it. Certain enactments have since repaired, in part, the defects, but still they are felt, even over the small number now here. Encrease the number, to the extent, & necessary, for the accomplishment of the great object contemplated, and what will be the result? It was expected that the number would amount to several hundreds, which it certainly must do, to accomplish that object. Should it fail, in that respect, it will hold the grade, and render the service only, of an inferior and ordinary seminary. We have likewise14 seen the effect, of the investment of a single professor, as the chairman of the faculty with some of the powers incident to such a Govt., with a moderate allowance, for the performance of his duties. They have protested against it, in the form adopted, & advised that the term of service, be confined, to three months, & that no allowance be made for it. This shews the difficulty, if not the impossibility, were it otherwise practicable, of forming an efficient Govt. over the institution, by the agency of the professors.15 Should this plan be adopted, it will be easy to accommodate the existing arrangements to it. The duties of the officer placed at the head of the institution, & of the military instructor, must be defined with care, so as to secure an efficient Govt. over it, without interfering in the slightest degree, with the duties of the professors. The powers vested in the chairman of the faculty, must be transferred to the chief officer, with some addition to it; & those now vested, in the military instructor, enlarged. It should be made the duty of the latter, to muster & train the students, more frequently; to visit their rooms, at an early hour, of the night, between seven & nine, for example, and to pass through the piazzas & other parts within the precincts, occasionally, in the day, to see that no intrusion was made by disorderly people. A board should still exist, & be composed of the chief Officer & present faculty, & of which he should be the President. The professors must be treated with respect, & their authority be supported. The Officer in contemplation should have no authority over them, or other agency respecting them, than that of making a report, of their conduct, to the board of Visitors, in cases to be specially designated. It should be the duty of the board to regulate the class books; to recommend the purchase of such as might be wanted, & of apparatus, for the use of the institution; to decide on the merit of the students; to grant diplomas, & to recommend any improvement in the system, which experience may suggest. Having the whole institution under their care, the chief officer & professors, in their respective stations, they will be able to acquire much knowledge in these respects, the report of which, to the visitors, may essentially promote the success of the institution, & by encreasing the number of students, & enlarging its sphere of action, the interest of the country.16 A question occurred, whether it would be proper to make this officer, a member, & president of the faculty, on which due consideration has been bestowed, & the result is, as has been stated. He must have a place of distinction, to make him competent to the objects contemplated. Place him in a lower grade, reduce him to that of a Subaltern & his ability to render service, will be defeated. The faculty must have a chairman, or other presiding officer. Organize the faculty, in that form, separate him from it, & a rivalry may grow up, which may prove very injurious to the institution. Connect them together, by a proper arrangement, of their respective duties, & a joint cooperation, may & probably will ensue, that will have the happiest effect. The duties of the executive Govt. have heretofore been performed, from the Origin of the University, by a committee of this board, who have discharged them, with a patriotic zeal & ability, which entitle them to the grateful acknowledgment of their colleagues, & of their country. This service suited, & was called for, in the early stages of the institution; but it imposed a burden on them, which ought to be removed. By vesting the power in an officer, connected with, & forming a part of the institution, a member of, & presiding over, the faculty, the Govt. will be efficient; the number of students be encreased; the professors be better secured in the respect due to their station, & supported in their authority; the grade of the faculty will be elevated, rather than depressed; & the University be made more competent, to all the great objects, for which it was instituted.

So far I have examined the subject, of executive Govt. with a view to its efficiency, by an Organization, which should support the other branches, in the free & full discharge of their respective duties, and thereby render the University, so far as depended on instruction in the sciences, supervision in the administration, & improvement in the system, competent to the great objects for which it was instituted. It seems proper now to enquire, whether the Govt. which is proposed, should it be adopted, may not be made instrumental to other objects of importance to the institution. Should this be the case, it will afford, a strong additional argument, in favour of its adoption. On this branch I will make some remarks, which are thought to fall within the scope of the duty enjoined on the Committee.

The Sciences may be well distributed; able professors may be employed; a valuable library and philosophical apparatus may be procured; the Govt. & supervision of the whole system may be perfect, & yet it may fail. Unless the youth of the country can be brought there & educated, & in great numbers, that result must follow. A capacity in the institution to teach the sciences in full extent, is one thing; The ability to avail the youth of such instruction, is another. It is obvious that if the expense, attending education, in the University, be so great, that the parents of the youth, cannot encounter it, its failure is inevitable. The institution may stand, as a machine perfect in all its parts, capable of rendering the most important service, but having no employment be useless. The great object then is to make such an arrangement, in regard to expense, by reducing it to the lowest sum practicable, so as to open the door for instruction, as wide as possible to every class of Society. The expense attending an education, at such an institution, is formed, by tuition fees, lodging, board & clothes, independent of that which arises from extravagance & dissipation, which latter may be controuled by the Govt. and will be as is confidently believed, if the plan proposed be adopted. The present enactments, respecting cloaths, will it is presumed prevent all unnecessary expense in that respect if carried strictly into effect.17 It remains therefore only, to make such other regulations, as will diminish the charge of board, & justify a reduction of tuition fees, without injury to the professors, or to the talent & credit of the institution. It is presumed that this may be done, by a regulation, which will under the direction of the proposed Govt. accomplish both objects, & at the same time encrease the profits of the professors. The regulation contemplated, is to take the board of the students, & other accommodations, now furnished them, by the hotel keepers, into the hands of the Govt. & to execute it by the Proctor, with a steward & subaltern agents, under the direction of the chief officer.

While the Students board with hotel-keepers, and are supplied by them with the other articles at a fixed price, it is natural, that they should be willing, to indulge their taste, and endeavour to procure the best accommodations, that can be furnished, & in the greatest abundance. Let the cost be what it may, it will not be felt by their parents, nor injure the prospect of their families. If the most costly, were not furnished, they would be apt to complain, which would stimulate the hotel keepers, in a spirit of rivalry, between them, into a degree of expense which they could not afford, & give to the youth, habits of expense & luxury which would injure them through life. But if all unnecessary expense, become an augmented charge, to their parents, a filial feeling, would be excited, which would induce a generous youth, to curtail their expenses & be satisfied with moderate & simple fair. When they reflected that the price of a costly dish, took so much money from the stock of their parents to their injury, & likewise to that of their other nearest relatives, who were making a great exertion, if not a sacrifice in their favor, they would shrink from it, and thus acquire habits better suited to their future pursuits in life, however successful they might be.

Whether the price of board might thus be reduced, is an affair of calculation. A bill of fare should be prescribed & strictly observed. It should admit of variety, be wholesome, such as the parents would approve & the youth should be satisfied with. Economical arrangements might be made, for lessening the expense in other respects, which would have their effect, under an active & vigilant administration, after they should be matured. Gardens might be laid out & cultivated, by which a diminution might be made in an important item. Wood or coal might also be procured at the most favorable seasons, & on the cheapest terms. Fruit & other trees might be planted, whereby the expense might be lessened, & the appearance of the place be improved. These regulations cannot, it is believed, be so easily or cheaply executed, under the present arrangement, as by that which is proposed. It may further be remarked, that the hotel-keepers will generally have families, which must be supported, by the profits which arise from their service. Fewer domestics would likewise be necessary, in the one than in the other instance.

By the proposed regulation the institution would be put more completely under the controul of the Govt. & be less liable to losses by casualties, than it is in the present state. The hotel keepers hold their places by contract, and are in certain views, independent of the board. Injunctions on them, to discountenance & report the irregularities of the youth are less obligatory, than they would be on those who held their appointments during good behaviour, & who might be dismissed & their places supplied, without affecting the System. Should any of the hotel-keepers fail, by affording to the Students accommodations unauthorised, & improper, or by other cause, it might, should their parents not be able, to encounter the extra-expense thereby rendered necessary, force from the school those belonging to such hotel. These evils might be avoided under the arrangement which is proposed. Should this change ever be adopted, the claims of the hotel-keepers, as well those which are founded on correct conduct, as on contract, should be respected. Notice of it should be given to them, in due time, to enable them, to make provision for their families elsewhere.

Should the expense of education be diminished, by any regulation, which may be adopted, & the number of students increase, that will form the basis of the other regulation, for the reduction of tuition fees, which should be done with care, so as in no event to lessen the profits of the professors. Such compensation must be secured to them, as will retain the very able men now there, & invite others of like character throughout the Union, to fill any vacancy which may hereafter occur. The minimum of their compensation should therefore be fixed, & at a grade to accomplish the object stated, independent of casualties, with the prospect of augmentation, as the number of students might increase, & according to the number.

In this mode, the University, in every branch & circumstance, in its instruction, its expenses, its tuition fees, its Govt, in the formation of the habits & morals of the youth, would be under the controul of the Visitors, & in consequence, of the state. The University was instituted for the good of the whole, & to that end it should be made subservient, so far as it may be practicable, availing ourselves of the light of experience, as it is proposed to do in the present instance, whenever it can be brought to our aid, The representatives of the people in the general assembly, having the whole institution, and likewise the whole population of the state, under its care, will mark the course of events, in the progress of each, & adapt the arrangements respecting the one to the state of the other. The great object is the diffusion of knowledge among the people, as extensively as possible, but under any regulation, which can be made the effect must be limited. It can extend the benefit by its immediate agency, to none, whose parents cannot bear a certain degree of expense, and which cannot be done in any Society, which can be formed, by all the members, who compose it. There will be in every community, a labouring class, many of whom will be poor. In the freest Govt. than [sic] can exist, where full scope is given to industry & talent, differences will arise in the fortunes of individuals, which will often be the result of extraordinary merit & exertions, & sometimes of casualties. In these respects nothing will be permanent. There is with us, no hereditary restraint, on the affections or will of the parent; He may dispose of his property among his offspring, as he thinks fit. Nor is there any restraint on the claims of creditors, for debts fairly contracted. The wealth of one generation may be consumed or wasted by another. A change equally great may take place with those in the opposite extreme. The descendants of the most indigent, may by extraordinary talent & exertion, rise to great wealth. There will always be a class who may profit of education, in this institution, & others who cannot bear the expense under any regulation that can be made. But while the Govt. is founded on equal rights, & the power in the hands of the majority, the education & intelligence of those who can profit of instruction in it, will extend their benefit to the whole community. Let the Society sink down into a state of ignorance, and despotism will follow, which will degrade & oppress every class, the poor as well as the rich, & descend from generation to generation. While the door is open equally to all, the most indigent should take delight, in finding among us & placing at the head of affairs, those who can give them a wise & safe direction, for on it the Success of our republican System depends. The Society must contain within it a numerous class of that character, educated at home, devoted to their country & its Govt. from whom the selection may be made, otherwise we shall have exhibited a splendid but unprofitable example of virtue & talents to the world & have fought & bled in vain.

Should the proposed regulations be adopted & produce the desired effect as it18 believed they would, the benefit in a political point of view, could not fail to be eminently great. By lessening the expense of education, instruction would be carried home, in the degree, to the body of the people, whereby the institution, would become more popular & useful, the bond of union between every class in the community, be more closely cemented, & a new & very powerful support be given to our republican system of Govt.

These arrangements belong, as has already been observed, to the present rather than to any former epoch. It was the duty of those who instituted the System, to hold it immediately in their arms, & to nurse it with a paternal care, in all its elementary stages, which has been wisely & happily done. It now becomes necessary to put it in operation, under the impulse of its own powers, by such additional regulations, suggested by experience, as will give complete effect to the great scheme, free the visitors from a heavy & unnecessary burden, & support every branch in the performance of its appropriate & indispensable duties.