Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-12-15

roweS, by Annual instaIments, if such should
continue TO be the will Of the legislature.
The buildings of accommodation will be
finished, as before stated, in the ensuing sum
mer, and will constitute the whole establish
ment, except that of the Library. With the
close of these works the accounts of their costs
VIII also be closed. These will be first exa-
mined by committee of the visitors, that no.
thing may enter into them not sanctioned by
the board. They will then be finally submit.
ted to the accountant of the Literary board for
the assurance of the public that the monies
have been correctly and faithfully applied.
la the course of these works, MS is unavoid-
able perhaps generally in those of considerable
magnitude, there have occurred instances of
monies paid, not in direct furtherance of the
legitimate object. The first was the case of
a contract by the visitors of the Central Col.
lege for Professor, while acting for that as a
private establishment, and under an expecta.
tion OF ITS immediate commencement. But
that institution being afterwards merged in this
vi the University, and the enlargement of the
pan occasioning that of the time of its com
mencement also, it became important that tina,
contract should be rescinded. This was done
on Just and reasonable compromise, andin
demnIlcation of 1900 dollars. Another in
stance was the Importation of foreign artist
Tor carving the capitals of the more difficult
orders of tie buildings The few persons in
this country capable of that work were able 10
obtain elsewhere such high prices for their
skill and labor, that we believed it would be
economy to procure an artist from some coun
try where skill is more abundant, and labor
cheaper We did so, but on trial, the stone
we had counted on in the neighborhood of the
University was found totally unsusceptible of
delicate work: and some from very distant.
nut the nearest other quarry known, besides
heaVy expense attending its transpOrtation,wus
extremely tedious to work, and believed not
PROOF against the influencies of the weather.
IN the mean time we had enquired and learnt
that the same capitals could he furnished i'm
Italy, and delivered in orr own ports for half
or third of the price, i'm marble which thew
would have cost us here in doubtful stone. We
arrested the work here, therefore, and compro-
| missed with our artist at the expense of IRIS
past wages, his board and passage hither. A.
mounting to $3.50 So cents. These are the on
" instances of false expense which have oc-
Cured within our knowledge
| Inc two l.avions and their adjacent dor
n'ltories, begun and considerably advanced bv
the authorities of the Central College. wer,.
contracted for by them, when all things were
at Their most inflated paper prices, and there
iore nave been of extraordinary cost But all
the buildings since done on the most enlarged
| y,
from % to so per cent reduction: and il is con-
fidenty believed that, with that exception. no
considerable system of building within the Z.
.. mas been done on cheaper terms, nor more
correctly, faithfully, or solidly executed, ac-
cordlng To the nature of the materials used
Ihat the style or scale of the buildings should
have met the appreciation of every indyidu
nj Judgment, was impossible from the various
structure of various minds. Whether it has
satisfied the general judgment is not known
TO us. No previous expression of that was ma
infested but IN the injpnctions of the law, t..
provide for the accommodation of ten pro-
fessors, and competent number of students
and by The subsequent enactments, implying.
an appreciation of the plan reported by the
or6nai commissioners, on the requisition Of
the law constituting them which plan was
exactly That now carried into execution We
had therefore no supplementary guide but our
| own judgments, which we have exercised con-
ientiously, in adopting a scale and style of
D1iidine believed to be proportioned to the re-
| spectabllity, the means, and the wants of our
country, and such as will be approved n any
future condition it may attain. We owed to
IT to do, not what was to perish with ourselves.
but what would remain, be respected and
preserved through other ages. And we fondly
nope, that the instruction which NAV flow
| rom THIS institution, kindly cherished, by ad-
vanclng the minds ofour youth with the grow
ing science of the times, and elevatins the
| views oil our citizens generally to the practice
OF the social duties, and the functions of self
government, may insure to our country, the
| reputation, the safety and prosperity, and all
the other blessings, which experience proves
to result from the cultivation and improve
ment of the general mind. And without GO
ing INTO the montory history of the ancient
world, m all its quarters, and at all its periods,
| that of the soil on which we live, and of its
occupants, indigenous and immigrant, teaches
me awful lesson, that no nation is permitted to
live in ignorance with IMMUNITY
tn. JEFFERSON, Rector.
Nov. so, 1921.