Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1815-10-14
AN APPEAL
" be Citizens Of Richmond.

When the stranger asks you,-you, FOR whom
Nature has done go nruch--yor, on whom she has
bestowed the most beautiful settle in the word-what
ysV have done for Yourselves; what shrines you have
rAi-et to Taste, what institutions you have erected
for the improvement and embellishments of your
npn,fs, what can YOU say You must hang down
ycnr heads and blush
Have YOU any -h'isemn for the collection of the
curi7sities of Natlrc asd Of Art '-.Nonc.
Have you School for the Fine .3tts, where, sa-
ted with the grossness of senslalty, may so
10 refresh himself amidst the Pleasures cfthe imag-
haiio,l Have ynu Gallery of Casts, Of Sta
tues, OF Paintings, where the young Artist may
catch The Inspiration, or Dc post the works, of Ge
MUS None
Have you a large Lancaster School, ut whose
door every one may knock. and il VIII be opened
| unto him ?-None--yet, the hour, wonld fin
hpe, is.ot tardstnt, when this iepro@eh vii! be
wiped s.f
| Have you any Public School, ac.temv, College,
University, where orr sons may lisp the accents
OF wisdom 'No-no, ore.
What then have you done to deserve the bles-
sings YOU enjoy Are you content with the bear-
I tics which Nature la; poured around YOU; YOUR RI
yer yourislcs,your picturesque landscape, youraiiy
| heights are yon content with the rich produce
that your river pours at voUr feet with the public
Institutions which Virginia Las reared around you
without striving TO deserve them mo Museums;
no Galleries Of the Fine Arts; no public Halls,
| where you may meet 10 Commune together no
halls where Justice may SIT IN comfort to minister
her behests public walks no enclosure around
| the Public Sqsare no Champ ce -aiarS provided
< no Lancaster Schools = academies ;---whst have
you done TO redeem y-u from the reproaeh os apa-
thy which the stranger is really to fling upon
! Won
You have, indeed, a Library; but, though it is
! select one, il is too small
But, What else have Won done, in your collective
character, to improve the Taste, Literature Of
| your Cityl
Come with me, and you viii behold specimen Of
| the Public Spirit of the Metropolis
You see that rising Buiidihg--on the beautiful
I hill, close by the Poor-iouSe.
| The legislature Of your State encouraged you to
( raise it--n vain. They named four and twenty
Irustees gave you power to raise $50, zoo by
/ Lotteiy-to do what "To erect an .9ca9enn
| and necessary houses, and towards purchase @ a
| go0d library, Mathematical Instruments, aud Phi
losopcal Apparatus for the use of the said Acade-
| N.Y."
| This Law was passed on the 2gih December 1905
| linear II years ago
| In vain--were two classes ofthe Lottery drawn
| and the net gain more than $1,000.
In vain----were Subscriptions 1eborled to the A.
mosnt of $3.50
Ia vain--.lid Messrs. Du Vail, Leslie amt Mitch
| ell bresentit with G IL Acres OF ground.
| The advantages of this ground were so inviting
that the Committee could not " but hope, ghNt from
its healthy agd pleasant stuatinn its central position
IN the State, and its convenient distance from the
| Metropolis, it may be gradually improved into q
great National University" Gradual, indeed, win
| be that improvement
In vain were these arrangements made--In vain,
| did the drains beat and the flag Ky over the pom.
peus proeession which TO lay its cor7er-stone
lin vaio, did John Tyler lay tha. stone, with 9
small silver plate in it, whose face was written
, this Inscription