Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-02-17

"e pen Oh MI. jefferson. IL presents in com
manding light the great objects in the view oe
those citizens who Lave sought the estshshm.n,
Ola SEMINARY of learning in the county of Alhe-
marie, under the denomination of the Certr,,
College. Would not the General Assembly CO..
suit the best Interests of the people in piyo,, Of
fc'ent support In plans of public instruction So IL
b"rai and expanded, by nm immediate arpropri.s
ton to that object Of portion of the debt due n,
this state from the Z. Sites
MnNTIcELLo, Sept. 7th, IL.
Peter Carr, President Of The Board Of
Trustees.
DEAR SIR,
On the subject of the Academy or.
College proposed to be established in on,.
neishborhnod. promised the trustees that
would prepare for them plan, adapted.
IN the first instance, to our slender funds
but susceptible of being enlarged either by
their own growth, or by AGGRESSION from a.
Their quarters. have long entertained the
hope that this our native state, would taps
up the subject of education, and make an
establishment, either with or without in
corporation, into that of William and Ma
ny, where every branch OF science deem.
ed useful at this day, should be taught in
its highsS degree. With this view, have
lost no occasion of aking myself scuuain-
naries IN other countries, and with the on;-
Mons OF the most enlightened indivitu.ls
on the subject of the sciences, worthy of a
place IN such an institution. In order IA
prepare what had promised our trustees.
l have lately revised these several plans
with attention, and am struck with the
diversity OF arrarg cment observable in
them, no two being alike. Yet have no
doubt that these several arrangr msnts have
5een the subject of mature reflection. bv
wise and learned n,cn, who, contemplat;ns-
local circumsta noes, have adapted them to
the condition of the section Of society for
which they have been framed. am
strengthened in this conclusion by an ex-
amuiston OF each separately, and a convic-
ton that 10 one of them, if adopted without
change, would he suited to the circum-
stances and pursuits of our country. The
example they have set, then, is authority
tor us to select frem Their different
institutions the materials which are good
JoT MS, and with them to erect structure
whose arrangement shall correspond with
our own social condition. and sha IL admit of
enlargement IN proportion to the encou-
fragments 1T may merit and receive. AS
may not be able to attend the meetings
OF the trustees, l VIII make you the de.
pcsltory OF my ideas on the subject. which
may be corrected &c You proceed, bv the
better views of others, and rdapted, from
timc to time, to the prospects which open
upon us, and which cannot now be specif-
cslly seen andprovid-d for
In the first place, we must ascerta IN with
precision the object of our institution, bv :
taking survey of the general field of sci
ence, and marking out the portion we mean
TO occupy at first, and the ultimate extern
SION OF our views beyond that, should we
De enabled to render it in the end, as com
prehensIve as we would wish
]. ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
Its highly interesting to our country. &
1t IS the duty of its functionaries, to provide
that every citizen in it should receive an
education proportiened to the condition Z
pursuits of his life. The mass of our citi-
Gems may be>tIivided into two classes. the
labotlng and the learned. The laboring
VIII need the first grade of education to
qualify them for their pursuits and duties:
me learned will need it as a foundation for
further requirements. A plan was for
merry proposed to The Legislature of this,
Sta Tor laying of every county into Hun
dreds or Wards of or miles square,
within each of which should be school.
Tor the education IF the children Of the
ward, wherein they should receive three
years instruction gratis, in reading, writing,
arithmetic, as far AS fractions, the roots
and ratios, and geography. The Legisla-
ture at one time tried an Intellectual eype-
dent for introducing this plan, which hav-
ing failed, tits hoped they will some day
resume tin more promising firm,
II. GENERAL SCHOOLS.
At the discharge of the pupils from the
elementary schools, the two classes sepa-
rate those destined for labor will engage
IN the business Of Agriculture, or enter in
to apprenticeships to such handicraft art as
may be their choice their companions
destined to the pursuits Of science. viii
proceed to the COLLEGE, which will CON
sist list. of GENERAL Schools. and 2d. Of
PROFESSIONAL Schools. The GENERAL
Schools wall constitute the I'd GRADE Of
education.
The learned class may still be subdivi-
ded into two sections 1. Those whoare
destined for learned professions, as a
means OF livelihood !; and Q. The veal
thy, who, possessing independent fortunes,
nay aspire to share in conducting the az
airs OF the nation, or to live with useful
ness and respect in the private ranks Of
lie. Both of these sections will require
Instruction in all the higher branches Of
science, the wealthy to qualify them for
either public or private life the profes-s
nonai section will need those branches/
which arc the basis of their fu-
ure profession, and general knowledge
u the others, as auxiliary to that, and ne
;essary to their standing, and associatiDg
With the scientific class. All the branches
hen of uceful cciruce o,,ohf e., r.. tauoht