The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-12-24

SSiiptlohS, a DOtSNlCat garden, Il menaPery
a cabinet of minerals, a large chemical la
boratory and philosophical apparatus, and a
military and nautical school. These public
establishments would be principally useful
to the school in their neighbourhooa. Ard
whilst they every where assisted & excited
enquiry, refined the taste and enlarged the UNI
derstanding-they would give to govern
ment no additional power or patronage Gun
less the appointment of a librarian, &c.
would deserve the name)-would direct the
studies Of youth to no particular prescribed
ob)ccts-and have no interest or pow er to
maintain exploded systems, and erroneous
opinions
There is in all this no meddling with the
business ofinstruct,on. But government may,
@ 4 think our state government ought, to go
one step farther. The rich, who have funds,
will whenever tkcy are strongly impressed
with the necessity of it, either by ASSOCIATE
ons or otherwise, provide proper seminaIies
for the education OF their offspring. They
require u moral stimulus, but no pccuniary
aid from government. But some provision
ought to be made in every state for the in
struction Of a numerous class, whose pa
rents are too poor to support the eXpence.
in Virginia, this necessity is increased by
the high price of labor in all the trades
and professions, which Of course by render
ing education dearer, excludes from it's in
calculabie benefits a far greater number
than in most other countries. If, as i'll Scot
land, iOrfour or five shillings, Reading, Wri-
;iGg, Arithmetic, and the Elements of Geo
merry, could be acquired, every one might
.-iiord TO pay it; but 10 or Is dollars, fer
iali The benefit, is a more serious evil, and
hears oppiessively upon great numbers In
his state, then, and indeed every where
.csse, the education of the common people
ought to be an object If never-ceas;ng soil
citude, lest they should sink into gross ig-
sorance and stupidity, and forget their mo-
raj, political and religious duties. How this
object can be best provided for, may be a
subject of some difference Of opinion. M
project in the general would be, to establish
a little school in each parish of Virginia, un-
der prudent and economical arrangements
Let the master be selected by trustees nomi-
mated by a certain select committee appoint-
ed by law, and able at pleasure will
the right of immediate appeal to the govern
OF and council. Let his salary depend in
some measure on the fees of the scholars,
but be such as to render those fees %inconsi-
derable. Let books, honorary premiums
and badges of distinction, be provided at pub
lie eXpence, and last of all, though not least,
let Mr.. Lancaster's admirable plan of in
struction, where the population is SO great
as to require 1t, be Observation-Disclosures, |
think, government cannot usefully act.
II am correct, the project for erecting
and endowing a grand institution for the edu-
Cation OF youth, independent of constitution
al objections which | do not mean to touch
Is more specious than sound more show |
than useful. 1t may iiatter national pride,
and impose upon the multitude by its mag
niticenCe and splcndor. The ~votaries of SUI
ence, especially, will be more exposed to its
charm. But it will probably give
itself no considerable aid to the progress Of
truth and Improvement, or be very ready to
adopt the useful discoveries of others. The
plan OF the author of the "Prospectus," is
III one branch of it, liable to all the general
objections herein urged, & to other peculiar
ones. SAY in one branch oft, because he
proposes to unite two very distinct objects,
{" the advancement of knowledge by associ-
ton OF its rudiments by the instruction of
youth" To this last, in the way he proposes,
l am entirely indisposcd.
According to him, the professorate are to
be appointed by a Chancellor and board of
L ~rustees, who are to assign them suitable
compensations and remove them at plea
sure, without control or question. Thus
they will have no stimulus to cXertion, and
will endeavor, by cunning and subserviency,
to supply the place of learning and indus
try. The Chancellor and Trustees are hrst
oPPcihbSN Wy tiC IISSlutUl Vi lle CnllGQ
States, and the institution fills all its own
vacancies. That is, the President has it in
his power to impress on the university the
character he pleases-to prescribe some OPT
mons ard inculcate others, by appointing
men adverse to the one, and favorable to
the other and the possibility of change is
provided against by enabling the institution
to fill its own vacancies. 1t has been truly
remarked, that these learned bodies have in
all political contests inclined to the side of
power and p~rerogativc against the people.
hey are indeed i'll some measure themselves
privileged, and their tendency to support
privilege is natural. This bias must, howe
yer, be much stronger, when the executive
branch ct the government organizes the i'll
stitution, and the means of regeneration are
eXcludcd.-But the Chancellor is by far the
most important and formidable parsonage in
this group. Ills powers seem to ME little
less than regal, and the more to be dreaded
because they operate in silence and upon the
mind.-He has the whole literature of the
country under his control, and can direct
the opinions of men into any channel BY
ordering the "conrSe If lectures and the
objects IF StHdy," he can at his pleasure ar
rest the tide of improvement and fetter the
mind TO existing institutions. Nor is it i'm
probable he would exercise this power; for,
although truth is progressive, individual
minds are often stationary, and after n GER
tain age admit new ideas with reluctance,
and a sort of lcathing. The Chancellor