The Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1822-1822, 1822-06-04
TO THE PUBLIC.

The trustees of the Alexandra Acaae-
my are induced to appeal to the puoiic ON
4 subject of vital importance to the 'ns.i.
tution. and of deep and affecting interest 10
| the community. BY a series OF clrcum-
stances aud events now beyond con'ro.;
aod which II would be now unavalltng ane
therefore unnecessary, to discuss, we az
fairs of the Academy have fallen INTO .
disastrous condition Having never pos
sesed any endowment, or any Que: pr
perty than the house and lot now ~
| cupancy, the trustees have nau u, IT,. .m.s
for the repairs oil the building, ano ~ sol,e
instances, for the deficiency OF saIaiy -
The teachers, by their W. private coau.>
buttons. More generally, however, &c
sort has been had TO loans, for
| the recurring deficits OF each year. ~
| Ibis way. the arrearage OF debt mas now
accumulated nearly to the sum OF a thou
sand dollars, due, principally tothe Bank
a. Alexandria. This debt was incurred
before the present board of trustees came
into Office: but upon them it devolyes to
provide if possible, the means OF ext!n-
gushing it /; and it has now been OF so
long standing, that the payment OF It Can
be postponed no longer. III a sattsiacto-
ry arrangement of the debt be not mace
by the 18th June next, A sale OF the pro.
perry will be required"
1t remains tor the public TO decide whe-
Their the academy is to preserve its exls-
, tence or TO sink under The pressure OF ITS
present difficulties. For the purpose OF
a.certain,ng this question, a subscription
! paper will be presented to the citizens
| generally, for their signatures holding out
to their option the two alternatives, either
! OF attempting he resuscitation oil the aca-
deny on its present foundation, BY paying
| off the present debt, and furnishing a sur
| plus for repairs and other e%xigencies. or OF
| disposing Of the present establishment,
| and erecting a new building on a different
| site. (.
Whether this subject be viewed by US
as parents, or as members of society, 1t has
an affecting claim upon our solicitude and
exertions. 1t is not necessary, in order to
| plead its cause, to urge the obvious and
important benefits of education. Know
ledge is the source of virtue, ard virtue Is
the great base of the pyramid which sup,
ports our civil and social institutions. and
on which depend, essentially, The welfare
and happiness of man in this world, as
we'll as his ultimate welfare ia that eternal
existence, to which, as an immortal and
accountable being he is destined.
And next in importance to eoucalion
itself, is the advantage of having our chli-
dren trained up under our " immediate
inspection. In the ductiie season OF youth
they require that constant, untirlng VIgi-
lance and %admonition, which nothing but
parental soIlcitude can supply, 10 guard
them from the insidious entertainments by
which vice, under the destinations OF a
false but loved example, or under some o.
Their of its varying and seductive forms,
steals upon the thoughtless and ine1perl-
enced heart.
Aa education at home is important also,
as it serves to form anc cherish those ha-
bits and manners. which are best suited to
the theatre upon which the youthful Candi-
date is hereafter 10 perform his part-cir-
cumstances, upon which his success some.
times as much depends, as upon the high
err qualities of intellectual or moral excel
Ience.
There is a farther advantage in point OF
economy, which recommends a home edu-
cation. To send our sons abroad, requires
the annual expenditure Of several hundred
dollars. Let only one halt the amount
thus expended, be given Tor the endow-
ment Of a seminary at home; and all the
valuable and useful branches Of education
would be secured to our children, without
the Inconvenience, injury and risque which
attend upon the present necessity OF send
ins them to some distant school. The me.
-. IL. l.,1t1 ,.,,Il ,tcn on tn htYiH
up the prosperity of our town, instead OF
constituting, as it now does, one OF those
many drains by which We impoverish our
| selves to enrich others.
Combining, then, as the proposition
does, so many and great benefits; appeal.
| ing as it does, TO all our feelings and lnte-
rests, as men. as citizens, and as christians;
! the hope IS INDUCED, that the public will
+! not be found backward in a%liording their
! ement and assistance. A regard
to the best interests Of our children, the
love Of country and of neighborhood the
Importance and prosperity OF the town in
which we live. prompt us to open OUT
hands wide and give literally towards
this great and interesting object. Surely
there is enough Of public spirit among US,
enough of wealth, Of literary taste, of mo-
raj feeling, that is sound and active, to
place the Alexandria academy upon a foot
ing which may serve to rally around it an
encreased patronage, and which may Sc
| .cure to it a prosperity and responsibility,
in some degree correspondent 10 the great
design OF its institution, and to the dignity
and duty of those who are now called up
on 10 transmit, unimpaired, to future gene
rations the trust committed to US By its We
nerable founders.