Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-14

ers too will labor under serious disad-
manages; as, besides increased oppor-
tunities Of relaxed order, they must
lose the use Of the library, the books OF
which cannot be permitted to be car
ried out of the precincts of the Uni
versity. :,
A printed copy Of the statutes and
regulations enacted by the Board OF
Visitors for the government OF the u
University is now communicated. We
have thought it peculiarly requisite to
leave to the civil magistrate the res
traint and punishment of all offences
which come within the ordinary cog
nizance of the laws At the age OF 10,
the earliest period Of admission in'o
the University, habits Of obedience to
the laws become proper part OF edu-
cation and practice. The minor pro-
visions and irregularities alone (unno-
ticed by the laws of the land, y are the
peculiar subjects Of academic authori-
~ No system Of these provisions has
ever vet prevented all disorder. Those
first provided by this Board were found
ed on the principles Of avoiding. too
much government, of not multiplying
occasions Of coercion by erecting IN
different actions into things Of offence,
and of leaving room 10 the student Tor
habitually exercising his own discre-
ton But, experience has already
proved, that stricter provisions are ne
ce,sary for the preservation of order;
thai coercion must be resorted to where
confidence has been disappointed. We
have accordingly, al the present ses-
sion, considerably amended and en-
Iarged the scope of our former system
of regulations, End we shall proceed in
the duties of tightening or relaxing the
rcins of government as experience
shall instruct us in the progress OF the
institution. And we are not certain
that the further aid ofthe Legislature
itself will not be necessary to enable
the authorities of the institution TO in
terpose, in some cases, with more
promptilude, energy and effect, than is
permitted by the laws, as they stand al
present.
The lands heretofore purchased Tor
the use Of the University, consisted OF
two parcels, about half mile distant
the one from the other; The one Of l5S
acres, compromising small noun
tain, peculiarly adapted, and important
to be secured, for the purposes OF an
observatory, whenever the fnture adj
vance Of circumstances may render
such an establishment desirable: the
other of lO7 S-lOth acres, made up Of
several small PURCHASES, which consti
tute the site Oft University ITSELF
Between these, is a parcel OF 80 acres,
which, besides the consolidation OF
these possessions, and other and great
conveniences offered by it, lies in the
way of the water necessary for the sup
ply of the establishment, which is bro't
in pipes, through it from the high lands
to the sit. of'he University. From the
benefit of this communication we were
liable TO be cut off at any moment, by
the owner of this parcel of lands. 1t
was lately offered to US, and at a price
thought reasonable, to wit, at $50 the
acre. We had, several years ago, paid
$40 for the parcel adjacent on one side;
and 500 the acre had been given by an
individual for larger parcel adjacent
on another side. The consideration
that the pure haser would SO far lessen
the funds for finishing the Rotunda,
called certainly for serious hesitation.
But the supply of water, indispensable
for the establishment, the irrevocable
loss of it, if sold TO individuals in lots,
as proposed by the proprietor, made it,
in our view, an over-ruling duty TO Sc
cure the University against so irrepa-
rable an injury, and we concluded the
purchase. This now gives to the in
stitu,ion tract of nearly 400 acres; be-
yond the limits Of which it has nothing
to desire.
The last Report stated that, in addi-
ton to the sum of Sle,574 Al, which
had been paid or provided towards the
building called the Rotunda, there were
still remaining Of he general funds, a
sum of about $4,000 applicable to
that building; and this sum, although
no, sufficient TO finish il, would put it
into state Of safety, and of some uses,
until other and more pressing objects
should have been accomplished. 1t has
been indispensable to finish the circu-
lar room, destined for the reception Of
the books, because, once deposited in
their places, the removing them for any
finishing which might be left to be done
hereafter, would be inadmissible That
has therefore been carried on actively,
and we ,rus, will be ready in time for
the reception of the books The other
apartments Of indispensable use were,
TWO for Chemical Laboratory, one for
a Museum of Natural History, and one
for examinations, for acct ssory schools,
and other associated purposes. An adj
ditional building, too, for Anatomical