Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-10-01

I advanced by the aid Of sxpsrimsnts Hence,
perhape, tho experimental mania which has
lately been carried into the other departments
Of Science and Education. Whom we operate
on inanimsts matter, this spirit may be freely
( INDUCED, with little risk Of dstrimspt; but,
when our materials are the human intellect,
we should proceed with extreme caution. To
some. the youthful mind may appear as ct
subject for empyricism as the materials OF
laboratory but TO me there appears to bs
wide distinction. The mind in youth cannot
of itself form its own character. Il 10 mould
ed and directed wholly by the circumstances
and individuals by which Il Is surrounded
When it is neglected, or abused. or in any way
| injured. the marks of such treatment are borne
with il to the grave. Loss OF fortune 10 ~
| best q doubtful evii-loss Of health b general
ly bu, temporary-b but an injury done to the
mind is irremediable. Hence, let not the
mind be made tho subject Of experiment, but
by hose who have grown old in the study and
knowledge Of its principles.
Whether the usual Lectures have of late been
dispensed with under the conviction Of their
being useless, or merely 10 add another to the
list Of experiments already under trial. am not
able 10 decide. 1t was perfectly natural. that
their utility should be doubted, since they have
been long established, and have been consid-
cred one OF the most elg modes Of instrucA
ton BY the most celebrated Universities Of Eu
rope. While considering the mode Of ustruc-
ton it is with pleasure shall mention the re-
citations, which, together with commons, are
the only excellence (ir the term may bs allow
ed) our University can boast. These .recita-
tons are truly ample. They seldom continue
less than one hour, aud their length appears to
be the only measure Of their excellence. AL
though they are infinitely more tedious than
the ordinary debates Of Congress, and il is al
most impossible to fix the attention to the re-
peated rehearsal Of the same short lesson, yet
no one probably ever dreamed that he was not
in the mean time making rapid progress in
wisdom and knowledge. Until the present in
stance, il has always been the object Of those
who teach TO use every means to facilitate the
acquisition Of knowledge and give 10 lhersture
its most attractive form. As a means adapted
to this end Lectures unquestionably claim tho
first place. In no way 10 the attention so easily
fixed, and tho judgment so readily interested as
by the Lecturer, who, mindful Of his duty and
master of his subject, enforces his lessons with
an energy and enthusiasm peculiar 10 those only
who inculcate their own ideas. What but
thor Lectures draws 10 the German Universi-
ties their thousands Of studentsl They have
no recitations; and yet German .lterature
oven Of the United States.
| The list of officers on the last annual cata-
logue is certainly respectable. II would natural
ly be inferred from this that the instruction was
of the highest order. The time was when the
catalogue contained the names Of those only
who discharged the duties Of their several sta
| tions .NotD the names Of DR.. Drown, Mr..
Burgess, DR.. Wheaton, Mr.. D'Wolf and DR..
| Parsons are all retained, although not one of
these gentlemen take any part in the insruc-
ton. This deception, which s evidently prac-
tised to affect public sentiment abroad, should
not in Justice remain concealed. When the
names OF these gentlemen are erased from tho
catalogue, there remain (including the Presi-
deht) but SIR officers to instruct in al! the va
rious departments Of literature which Univer-
, sity necessarily embraces. The policy that
would retain these names, to impose on the
| good faith Of the public must be Of a most
| L. nd Of Ill fhinUS tho laa q r.
pecied in the guardians Of literary insttu-
ton. .. |.. .
Perhaps have no right TO question the policy
which rejected as unnecessary the services OF
Professor Burgess, although offered gratuitous-
lv, and ne gle cted to secure those Of Professor
D'wolf, which nigh; have been retained on
reasonable terms. But il must be allowed that
this whole procedure betrays an appearance OF
obstinate and wilfu motives, an ungrounded
consciousness Of ability to mpart all necessary
instruction, and belief that public sentiment
would be so governed, by the interested as 10
s,fe all candid inquiry.
| Chap. 0, sect. Ist t-"Thsre shall be three
vacations in every year. The first shall begin
on Commencement day and continue four
weeks. The second on the last Friday in De-
| cember and continue six weeks. The third on
,he second Friday in May and continuc three
weeks" To this must be added four days
previous to each OF the vacations, and three
DAYS before the beginning Of the studies in each
term, except at Commencement, when there
are seven day. previous and SIX aftei, making
the vacations in all secenteen wteks in one
year. I, will be recolleoied also, that two or
three weeks in ecery term are devoted almost
entirely to preparation for the e1sminasisns,