Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-29
PROMOTION OFLEARNING.

The following sensible and ]ndcouS remarks
on the means OF promoting the cause OF learn
ing, are extracted from 'Dwight's Travels
We recommend it to the perusal OF the veal
thy of the land, particularly such as have nc
children TO provide for. BY devoting some o.
their surplus wealth 10 the cause OF literature
and the advancement of learning, they will Sc
cure to themselves an Immortality more glo
rious than the proud victor who has dragged
thousands at his chariot whcels-Nat. Banner
have often wondered that, among the nn-
merous wealthy men in the United States, there
should always have been found such paucity
of benefactors TO literary institutions. The
benefactors Of the principal Colleges in New
England have been already mentioned. Among
these the University in Cambridge can boast OF
mount of donations, than all the rest But even
thpse have been few, compared with what
might have been Justly expected from the
wealth Of its neighborhood. All that can be
either necessary or useful, for the enlightened
education of youth; a complete array Of profes
sorships, literally endowed: an ample provision
of all kinds of scienli6cal apparatus; cabinet,
replenished with generous assortment Of min
eralogcaI specimens; botanical garden, stor-
ed with the vegetable productions of America
volumes; might have been easily furnished 10
that institution by private munlhcence; and no
mans personal enjoynents, nor those Of his
family, been percepubly lessened.
When we look at the history of Great Brit
ain, very different scene presents itself to the
eve. Thirty OF the colleges belonging to the
Universities Of Oxford and Cambridge, were,
if mistake not, founded by private persons &
most Of them by individuals When to these
are added fellowships, professorshps, libraries,
and other splendid and extensive means OF pro-
noting lie arning and science, We are presented,
not with resemblance, but a contrast 10 every
thing Of the same nature in our own country.
shall be answered, that England is country
far richer, than our own, aud that in England,
therefore, liberal contributions to these objects
may be reasonably looked for; while in our own
iLfantine circumstances they ought not to beck
pected That England is now as rich as any
other country on the globe, am ready to ad-
nit: but have many doubts whether, bctwee n
the commencement Of the thirteenth and the
termination Of the fifteenth century, the wealth
even OF that country was materially greater, IN
proportion to the number Of It's inhabitants,
than that of the southern division of New Eng
land is now. Between these periods, however,
more than half of the English colleges were
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the wealth Of New England is amply sufficient
to furnish the best means OF education; and
foundations numerous and ample enough, to
enable considera Bile number Of persons, dis
,inguished for their talents, 10 pursue, through
life, literature and science in their remoter
fields, and up their submer heights, amid ease
and leisure Such foundations have been, pc
cuiarly, the sources Of the extensive learning
and science, which are so honorable 10 the Eng
lish nation, and Of the mental distinction, &C
quired by those, who have been eminently its
pride, ornament and blessing.
Unless am misinformed, there is not sin
gle Fellowship, established in the U. States
There certainly is none in New England; where
far greater efforts have been made 10 promote
education, than in all the rest Of the American
union. Nor is there single foundation, on
which an individual may pursue literary objects
to any considerable extent, except the Profess
sorshps of colleges: few Of them very literally
supported; and most of them demanding much
active business from the incumbent. OF these
l know Of but one, wholly supported by an In
diyidual American.
There have, indeed, been several very honor
able contributions to the advancement OF educa-
ton, made in this country. The late benefac-
tors to the Theological Seminary in Andover
are noble. A Mr. Bacon OF Colchester, in Con.
necticut, gave his whole estate by will, amount
ing to between thirty and forty thousand dol
lars, for the establishment OF an Academy, and
a Mr.. Staples of Weston his, amounting to per-
haps 70 900, for similar purpose. In Boston,
Salem, and other places in the vicinity, a liber-
al contribution has been raised for the estab-
lishment Of botanical Professorship, and gar
den To the donors, in every instance, give
cheerfully the full tribute of respect: & to such
of them as areiving, wish the best of blessings.
But to these efforts what extensive and pro-
6,able additions might be easily made. mo-
derate share of expansion in the understanding,
and the heart, might replenish our colleges
with fellowships and professorships; place in
their respective libraries all the books, necessa-
ry for the useful consultation of learned men;
and store their philosophical rooms with all
the implements, fitted for the display, or the
advancement, Of scientifcal discoveries. In
these observations intend to include means of
leisure & ease for the pursuit of learning wher-
ever it can be developed. Men, whose abili.