Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-01-13
IMPROVEMENT OF MIND.

o''""f'4ted'o tHc HOHSs ~ DSit,SdseS0H Ehe I'm
instant
The committee 20 whom was REF rred tie ReD0rt
OF the PresdeRt and Directors of the Literary
Fund, have had that subj ct under consideration and
submit the following rop.rt:
Among the various objects pr sertel for lsgisla.
tive interference and all, there can rtsinly be
hone Of more general and vital impo-lauc to thr
State, than that of education. t. iise information
among our citizens, and afford u the hua.be st in
dsvWiuai an opportunity Of acquiring an etluc.;io,
sufficient for the ordinary transactions of lie il n
work verify the lsbors OF the most enlightened
Statesmen.
In government Ike ours, where its existence is
depenGerton and dervsble from, the purity virtue
md intelligence al It's citizens, where any member
OF our society may aspire at aud be called or, to dis
charge the duties of the highest and most responsible
Offices; how necessary is il to place the means of
instruction within the reach of all IF we lrcft by
example and eXperer CO, ii the good effects Of what
some OF our sister States have doae ON this subject
are tokave any weight with MS, We shout. act with
ilheraity and promptness, in aiding fund alrea-
hy created By the wisdom Of our prCsecessnrs-
The numerous and incalcuIable hercfts derivahle
from lrce-schools established throughout q commu-
nifty, are 10 he found in practical operation in the
states 0t New-York, Massachusetts, Rnods-lsland,
Connecticut and New-Hampshre. IN almost every
township, village hamlet IN these states GU will
find schoo! free Of access 10 tile puOr children of
ITS neigh sorliood large OF TnOaey are Annually
raised Tor their support. 1t is pec1ar subject or
attention and legislation ans: its effects have been
the most happy the poorest man is enabled toe
deeate his son for the sphere in Vhch he is 10 act
D. is rare occurrence tina; you meet man who
do7sn0t understand the art of writing; colleges aud
academies flourish every where, Supplied 40 tgey
are With students from, these sGhoriinate scboos .
t7sc Tor sclcncn is diiuscd ard ia 81 states become
the vesort Of the Youth of ,i,e Soaih Who either
receive their preliminary education there or a,. nd
sone ct their colleges Co give IL iinish--New Ter
sey too, nuItures and supports her Princeton and
boasts Ut educating onc-tonrth of the youth of Vrg
nia--Our sister States the Caro!nas and Georeia
nav" each their university supported nv state en-
ioent, and one OF the Former has done much TO-
wards establishing free-scioos thrnughput her dis
ticts on the plan ut the states of the East--In a
word, there IS no STATE a. the Uhion who has not
made more progress on tbs subject than Virginia
ihls declaration however n D,ialipg il not the less
true and operates an additional incentive for US
toarouse from our 'ethargy and act with energy
ohaii we remain tributary to other states fer the
education ct Que youth is question which pre-
s"ntsitseif with great force to The minds Of all re-
neeting men. The committee are aware, that ma
ny objections exist as 10 almost any pract c. ble
scheme which can be vfsred bnt they believe they
ar mostly visi Mary.
lis urged BY some, that all the legislature can do
vii not accelerate the march OF science or the
diffusion Of kaowledge-tliat like every ing else
so SION rs tIcr is demand for It, we shall see It's
rnnd I'd without Legislative inferno tcn
Tins cannot be true, for the very fact al eay sptd
oi tnt great number ofour youth sent abroaJ for
their .dncation, proves schools at present estsb
'}hea lrsuficie IN accommodate them hut one
& at desieratum md the most important one i, he
proper ednestio0 otihc poor, who cannot q broad
But state which, when less popuious las pro
duced oar Washingtons, Ielfcrsons Madisons and
Monrots, has surely rae demand AID taste for sei
ence; and only requires the means Of xlibtine IT,
we shali nave striking example ia William AID
Navy college, the Alma mater Of some of our best
and greatest men, rising as a Phccnix from her ash,
es, unssssted, unsupported by Legislative counte
nance, and dependent Only the superior ialents
zeal pad dcvo;edncss finer president and progcs-
ors, she promises to rival any similar institution IN
our country and with pl asirc the committee tate
they are Informed this SC DOL has already l., is re.
centpiosperiiy surpassed the most sangnine expec
taton Of its iriends-Thrc is bat one olhcr school
which grants diplomas and conf rs degrees in the
State; mere are several resp stable academies
bnt few Of them Of permanent nalIre-those who
conduct them are generally epgsgcd Tor = year and
change their sdenee al the expiration Of Tint ne.
rod Tbs brings new tescher md With Il a new
system, producing to the pupils Wuci, delay in prn
scouting hei' stddics, and eougusi.n in the sub
cts taught.
indePe,deni of considerations lav7c for their oh
leet correction Of the above evils IT we view this
SUBJECT as matter Of loss and gain, It matter of
Importance hbout three Hundred young rrco AZ
nually 90 ont Of the State ither tn conpl e. their
eiemeltay,or ~ receive their prof sfional ef,icn
q
hundred dollars, making tptai animal exocn.ltur,
abroad OF me hundred and fry Thousand do,Iars III
we then consult economy, IT the honor AID hi,h
st2ndirg Of our state, IL The nrsservaton and pcr
aneneg ofon- political Institutions, ticg an co'cur
~ pronouncir, HAT something Is expect Il and re-
CURED az onr band1.--lt rcsnai to point out die
mems
They sre tFo-f4d, direct and Indirect. Tie
direct means schools established throughout our
St re n every county 1hsse must BE commensurate
with aud BE- limited by tic Indirect means. Which
IS urf 60 support them. The cpprat;o, Of schools
and their establishment must 30 r-adual T. earno,
be expected ~ once 60 establish f,e or six schools
Us vill BE- ultimately tccesss v IN soaie eou t,.N
~ every county, tul we should commence. by &C.
tabFshfg rs soon as possible enc school IN csel
county 90 q Increase tho number IS sour fund viii
permit-.t creste this fund is the sulset 10 be en-
Cured into more particularly.
u was In remedy the evils already deisii led. tho,
the Legislature IN te year 1870. created o.. Liter
AIRY Fund--whiCh under the fostering carr. ei oa,.
e1cce sgc Governors anil Directors. has increased
until IL nov amounts To- Sf5.2J7.9O Never ,g,.
thsfe more prap' l"us pcr.'l % add IN r. W..
ae 10 select the sources from which 10 r,ako tie adj
diton. The committee recommend the folowioo
rs proper subjects to be set apart and pledged 10
This fund
L. fs,f.f y,