To George Washington from James Scott, 1 February 1797
From James Scott
Trinity College Dublin [Ireland]
February 1st 1797
Sir,
From your most excellent Speech addressed to Congress upon the opening of the Session; which shewed so fully the able Legislator, the true Patriot, and the Patron of Letters, it appears that the Institution of a College in the united States, on a liberal Plan, wherein Arts & Sciences may be taught with more Precision and to a greater Extent than has hitherto been adopted in that Country, is in Contemplation1—I have therefore presumed to resort to you, in order to be informed what Encouragement a Clergyman of the Established Church of Ireland, properly qualified to teach the Course of the College of Dublin (which, certainly at least as to Mathematical Learning and Science, is not inferior in Reputation to any in Europe) might expect; should your Wishes be carried into Effect—That my literary Acquirements are adequate to this Purpose, I trust I should make fully and satisfactorily appear, by a Certificate of the Board of this University, and by their Decisions on two Occasions, when I sat as Candidate for a Fellowship, in one of which I lost it by but two Votes, & the other merely by the Casting Voice of the Provost in Favour of My Competitor—You are no Doubt not unacquainted with our Mode of electing Fellows, in this University, where after an Examination for four Days, in all Parts of Scientific & Classical Learning, by eight Examiners, Each gives his Suffrage in favour of that Candidate, whom he conceives to be best on the whole answering, not being confined to his own particular branch2—As far as relates to My Moral Character, I could procure from the Fellows here & other Characters of Distinction in this Kingdom; Such Credentials as I doubt not would meet with your Approbation.
If I am either premature or informal, in this Application, I hope your Goodness will excuse me.
Influenced by the Respect I feel for your universally admired Talents, I could not think of making any more formal Proposal unless sanctioned by yr Approbation.
By your Answer, (if it is your Pleasure to favour me with one) I shall be directed as to future Proceedings.3 I am with due Deference & Respect your most obedt & Hble Servt
James Scott
ALS, DLC:GW. This letter was addressed to GW “near Philadelphia,” but the latter word was struck out and replaced with “Alexandria.” This suggests that either Scott revised the address before mailing the letter, or GW received the letter after leaving the presidency.
A man by the name of James Scott (born c.1765) was born in Derry, Ireland, and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Dublin’s Trinity College in 1787. He was a scholar at the college in 1785.
1. In his final annual message to Congress, GW devoted several paragraphs to his proposal to establish a national university, and emphasized the contribution of the arts and sciences to national prosperity (see GW to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 7 Dec. 1796). GW gave that speech two days after the second session of the Fourth Congress opened. GW’s conception of a national university was never realized (see Commissioners for the District of Columbia to GW, 21 Nov. 1796, and n.1; and 21 Feb. 1797, and n.4).
2. The 1637 charter of Trinity College, Dublin, stipulated that the “Power of Electing [junior fellows] … shall be in the Provost, and major Part of the Senior Fellows.” It further reads: “… four Days preceding that of Election [of fellows] … all the Electors shall carefully examine what Progress the several Candidates … have made in Learning.” On the first day of exams, fellowship candidates were assessed for their knowledge of logic and mathematics, followed by natural and moral philosophy on the second day. The two remaining exam days tested the candidates’ knowledge of languages, history, writing, and other humanities. The charter barred electors from selecting candidates “branded with Infamy” or heresy (, 37–38). Scott’s certificate has not been identified.
3. No reply to Scott from GW has been found. No further correspondence between the two men has been found.