The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-08-02
FOR THE ENQUIRER.

| = 'S"St '>PPS'hNCu Nv all tCt Ot the las. ut
neral Assembly, have undertaken the du
ties assigned them, and addressed the fol
lowing Circular Letter to the Gentle me
whom they have selected, as A ornies O
! Agents, to superin,end the collection @
monies appropriated to the Literary Fund
IN the several Counties ana Corporation
within this Comnonwea lth.--I he reader
OF the Enquirer, are congratulated, on ,bi
important information; so interesting to thu
causeof FREE GOVERNMENT, which. TO,
PERMANENT existence, depends altoge.heI
on ageneraI diffusion of useful HNowLEDGE
and VIRTUE among the people.--It is mus
aruentiy to be hoped, that PREPARATIoN
Tor the great work OF Instruc ion, thus ma d
| PLY commenced. will go ON successfully
thats FARTHER ASSISTANCE will be given
oy me Legislature; and that Public School.
VIII soon be established throughout the state
of Virginia -
SIR,
The advantages of Education have
been too generally admitted, to require, n
TINS day, any arguments to illustrate its uti
lity I'm developing the tacuisles of man. and
IN multiplying MS resources its effects on
Religion & on Government are infinitely inn
portant 1t rs Education which forms the
moral Characters of men and political cha
racters OF nations Hence, in those ages
and nations in which little care has been
bestowed on intellectual Improvement, Su-
perstition, Bigotry, Tyranny and Slavery
have prevailed: Add i,e enlightened pht.
ianthropist f1nds 1t difficult to determine
which most deserves his pity-,hc melan
cnoly Recluse, whose SC upn.ous nicely ON
the one hand, and mistaken reverence on
the other. berei him of every enjoyment for
the present, and of all rational hope tor the
future--the blind, infurIate Zealot, whose
intoierant spirit sought less 10 correct the
errors than 10 satiate his fury in the blood
OF those, probably more wise more virtu
Gus and more truly religious. who refused
T. subscribe to his dogmas the monster
IN human shape elevated TO govern, who no
So iner invested with power, than regardless
OF he beniiicent purposes for whch he ought
to have employed abandoned himself to his
vices-sought only the qualification OF his
ow" desires and inundated the happiness
OF his subjects on the altar of his passions
or the wretch degraded almost TO forget.
iuiness that he yet bore the image # man.
who. wasted under oppression and bjcct i'm
MS misery, Cast tmorous look 60 ii ayen.
and tainted into the arms of his Creator -
IL IS time that scenes like these should have
an end. But however such calamities nav
Continue 10 affiot our fellow-m in other
portions OF he Globe, .ar removed from
this asylum of our fathers; our Intrre {, not
less nav our gratitude, should excite US %
employ lie means IN our power to che ism
amongst ourselves, and 10 perpetuate to our
posterity the blessings WE have inherited
I'D the milo and tolerant SPIRIT of hat Holy
Religion BY which we are taught
/" TO fear God and iove our ueighbors :"
and in the principles IF immut&ble Justice
and equal righ', which form the basis of our
civil polity, and are sanct,fed by the ore
ceps,
Z" Oo unto Others as Mou 7vouldst that othsrs
should do INTO tAee. -
Inc history of mankiAd efficiently evin
ces, that ignorance has been primary
cause OF nil their Caamitics 1t is, then, by
widely dffusing the rays of intellectual light :;
by giving every facility TO the culture II The
mind by Carrying instruction INFO the CO, .
tages OF the poor, that we are to continue
the most favored people under Heaven-nr
preserve the blessings we now enjoy. Firm
ly persuaded. as we are, of these truths v e
most sincerely congratulate you, sir, and our
feilow-citizens of
on the happy auspices which have recent
~ appeared TO animate oui hopes, and to
stimulate the exertions OF every virtunus and
patriotic citize to raiseup in an eni ghten d
posterIty, the surest bulwark of our religion
and our freedom. These auspices will ,e
perceived in three Acts OF the Legislature OF
our state, by the me ot which, passed the
I'd OF February, 1910 entitled, An act TO
appropriate certain escheats, penalties, con
flscations and forteiturcs to The en- :ourts
ment of Learning" all CHI ats and Coz
fiscatIons which have happened or may asp
pen; all rights N person a property iccra
ing to the COZ monw ealth as dereiict, nd
having no rightful proprietor; and all fines
penalties and forfeitures which have me- q
or may be imposed, or which may accrue
to the Commonwealth, except militia
fines, were appropriated to constitute Ii
terary fund, to be divided and applied as to
the then next Legislature should seem best
adapted to the promotion of literature, in y
| school or schools TO he except in each and e.
very County within The Commonwealth by
the second, passed the 18th of February
I 1911. to explain aud amend the former, AL
arrears of muster fines are also appropria
ted 10 the same object ; and by the third,
passed on the 18th February, 1911, entitled
An act to provide for the education of he
poor" ali sums of money which have &c
crued, of may Hereafter accrue 10 The lite
Er2ry fund, are vested in the Governor, Lieu
tenant C overnor, Treasurer. Attorney .(5e-
neral and President Of the Court OF Au-
peals, tor the time being; and they and
their successors, are thereby constituted a
body polite and corporate, under the demo.
mination Of the President and Uirecf0rs OF
ffc Literary Fund. for the purpose Of pro
vidpg, as soon as the fund shall be sufficient,
q school or schools for the education Of IN c
I Door in earh and pvprv lnnnfy of the Goa,