Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-24
the progress and prospects of That ins,i.


nearly central 10 lis population, so long
felt by our citizens, and SO earnestly and
extensively desired, produced AN expecta-
lion that an establishment, so located, aud
with views entirely general, might meet
the wishes of the different paris of the
state, and be carried into effect, in AN
useful degree, by individual and volumta-
ry contributions. The neighborliosd Of
Charlottesville was thought 10 unite pro-
lninent advantages for such an establish
ment. That situation was therefore pro-
posed, and In order TO divest il of all To-
cal character and control, and to place its
direction under tile will of those who re-
present us all, the legislature was petit
Oned 10 vest its patronage in the governor
OF the commonwealth, annually elected
by themselves, and TO commit To visitors
TO be named by him from time to time, its
entire and exclusive direction. These fuuc-
tons having been accordingly accepted,
the subscribers were named as visitors to
carry into execution the views so con
tempiated. Papers forvoluntary snbscrip-
tons were circulated in different parts of
the state, and with more or less success,
IN proportion, il would seem, as the OBJ
Ject and government were correctly seen
TO be of a general character, or errone-
| ously viewed as merely local. For il is
| not 10 be supposed, that on the abstract
proposition ota general and central csia-
blIshment for finishing the instruction of
youth, begun III local Institutions, the
| contributions OF any one part ofthe state,
| would have been less liberal than those OF
Others
AS soon as If was perceived that The
contributions, although partial, would be
sufficient for an establishment which
should embrace the most useful sciences,
To desirable extent, the visitors assem-
bled aud commenced their duties. They
| adopted scale, accommodated, in the
frst instance, TO the present prospect Of
funds, but capable of being enlarged in
definitely to any extent, TO which more
general efforts may hereafter advance
them. They purchased, at the distance
of mile from Charlottesville, and for the
! sum OF one thousand five hundred and
eighteen dollars and seventy five cents,
two hundred acres ofland, on which was
an eligible site for the College, high, dry,
open, furnished with good water, and no
thing IN ITS vicinity which could threaten
the health of the students. Instead of
constructing single and large editice,
which might have exhausted their funds,
and left nothing or too little, for other es-
sential eXpences, they thought it better to
erect small and separate buitiimg, or DID,
whom. tor each professor, they should be
| able TO employ, with an apartment for his
lectures, and others for his own accom-
notation, connecting these paviliohs by
range OF dormltories, capable each of
lodging two students ONLY, a provision O.
qually friendly TO study as 10 morals and
order. This plan offered the further adj
vantages of greater security against fire
and Injection, OF extending the buildings
III equal pace with the funds, and of add
ing to them indefinitely hereafter with the
Indefinite progress of contributions, pri-
vate or public; and ii gave to the whole,
I'm form and effect, the character of an
Academical Village. Workmen were i'm
medlately engaged to commence the FIRST
pavilion: but the season being advanced
INT will not be finished till the ensuing
spring, when one or two others will be be-
gun, together with the contiguous ranges
OF dormitorleS, two or three sets of TWEEN
ty for each pavilion, and sufficient conse-
queniiy Tor the accommodation of from
eighty to one hundred and twenty stu
dents. These we count on finishing in
the course Of the ensuing summer and
autumn, and to provide within the same
period, professors of distinction in their
respective lines of science, such az NAV
give emlnence to the character OF the in
i-slitulsn, and offer to our youth The i'll
siructlOn for which few have been able 10
send them abroad, and many could have
afforded TO give them at home.
We cannot, however, expect from pri-
vate contributions, to look beyond sim
gle professor for each of the four great de-
partments of language, Mathematical.
Physiological and theological sciences.
The subscription papers already return
ed, amount to S35, l02, TO which are To be
added So, 1916 6S cents, the proceeds of
the sales of globes in the county of Abe
marie this application of those ancient
acquisitions being thought most anala-
gous to their original objects, and equal
~ for tue benefit ofaii interested in them.
10 these sums, making together 80, 297
dollars SO cents, particular papers ofwhich
we have information, although not return
ed, Will add about $4,000, enabling It's to
count with safety On46 orS47 900. Other
papers are still out, of which we have no
information, but which we trust will make
further and sensible addition TO our stock.
These monies, however, being PAYABLE
III four annual instruments only, and the
nature OF the institution recommending
It's being brought into effect at once, as
far as the funds will go, they will be les
sened by the discounts requisite for that
purpose.
In proceeding to apply our funds. we
suppose that each pavilion for "A profess
sor, with ITS appendage of 20 dOrntories.
VIII cost about 81 900 that, for salary
OF 5000, TO a professor OF languages. be-
sides his tuition fees, deposit must be
made Inthe funds Of the state, or in some
other safe funds, of $685. dollars. and
fora salary OF 900 dollar, 6esidcsluit,on
Tees, toeach of the other professors. a de
post OF l6.G66J dolls. From the interest