Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-07-20
COLLEGE OF WILLlAMn MARY.

In the following Address from the rem of Drl
SAITH, we recognize The trxiis Of an ardeat yea.
for the Improvement of the human mind great
confidence in the prosperity and powers of VIII
lam and Mary, and a most eommendable csndou,..
lie gives us picture of the College which we
may trust because, he draws it in such plain and
candid colours, that we may be satisfied that no.
thing IS overcbarge6. lie extenuales nothine--he
states the Irregularities which have actually occur
red but 1t is not IN the tone OF despair-he salts
hes us at the same moment, that they are such a.
may be redresseti-and he manifests the ereatest
enthusiasm IN the attempt to prevent them.-He
points out also many improvements HIGH are to be
introduced into the College course
We may err-Our local partis ities NAV misead
us-but we are satisfied that William and Mary is
infinitely to be preferred TO the Colleges of the
North.-Here the mind is left free-it becomes
bold and independent in the search after truth
unshack!ed by the doSmas, which dictate 81 Prince
ton, aHd at Yale.
THE termination of the Aeademick year in the
University OF William and Mary, renders it the du-
" oil the Society tn inform the Public of the
slate oil the Institution entrusted to their care
Ibis communication il was at one time Thought
"ouih oe such, AS to give unmingled satisfaction TO
every siginan, alive ts the best interests of his
State. Until the greater part of the course had o.
ispsed, the regularity and decorurn which prevail
ed, were unprecedented and the CONSEQUENT At
tent'on oithe students generally to their duties was
most exemplary. Nor did any material deterio-
ration take place in large proportion os the cIos,
es during the latter part of the session some. how
ever, became idle, and Of course fsorIeriy in the
months OF April and May. The Disturbance
which immediately ensucd, every means were To-
Ken to suppress, and instance occurred Of the es
cape Oh cuprit, against whom proof could be pro-
cured. But t)obtsn evidence is the great and IN
deed the only difficulty in governing the College =
Could the persons offending be identified. their inn
mediate removal would insure the tra,ou;I;tv M
the Institution but ii has hitherto been fund i'm,
pracucaole. IA Collegiate, as well as in all other
governments, TO devise any system by which tho
guilty Can with certainty be detected Mos, ner-
sons are averse to beeoming infrmers. and clan
nesune communications from students with reo.r,I
70 each Other, are not permitted or if accidentally
made, as has more than once happened, are not
acted upon 1t being deemed better TO suffer (rsns
gressions 70 go altogether unpunished than 10 tak
advantage of youthful UNIV arDcss, or TO encourage
one student to act rs spy upon another--a con-
trary course Of conduct independently of ia trn;
tuoe, would necessarily create endless ieaiouses s,
q"srrels ~ the college How then deiinquents
To be detected The only possible method bv Which
THIS Gao be DONE is the enforcement of that s,s,nte
winch compeIs students to give any Information In
their possession touching any outrage which NAV
nave been committed. That regulation. with the
exception OF the last clause, the addition of which
recent events rendered necessary, was passed IA
years ago, and has been frem time TO fine o.,ed
upon the rule it must be confessed is liable n
some objections, but there IL no alternative. or.
der must be maintained, or the Institution mos,
sink nus
One great cause Of the mischicvous acts which
have been committed, is the very early age of the
majority those who have come TO this Semina.
~ TOT instruction. The Society are necessarily
rest eted to moral agents alone, and cf these il I
wen known very young persons do not feel the fu
force. Nor IS this insensbity to moral stimnlant,
the least Inconvenience which result, from the
want oiyears, and due preparation in many of those
who are sent to this College. Such is the course OF
Instruction pursued here, that Il "a nearly useless tc
al who have not previously scqnired considerable
Rock OF knowledge. Doe fact upon this subject will
be suiheient pr every person 10 the slightest degree