Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-03-31

THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.


To the Editors Of the Richmond Enquirer.
Centlemen have this morning lad in your
paper OF the Path inst. the elaborate and highly
classical crtique, with which the patriotic Sydney
has vouchsafed TO honour the unprete tending re-
marks Of Civis, on the causes Of the late fever at
the University. Civs may have failed in his at
tempt to trace that fever to adequate cause; his
" speculatiOns" may appear to many &c hasty and
immature;" but he is constrained to say that the
authoritative and apparently semi official manifes-
10 oil" Sydney, has not tended far TO enlarge HE
views, or shake his confidence in the col rectness
of his early opinions IL Sydney had reflected for
himself, instead Of condescending 10 borrow his
views, from the suggestions of others, Ciyis can
not but believe that writer polished and erudi,e
as Sydney appears to be, would have abstained
rom his criticism, or given TO the public some-
thing less vague ard unsatisfactory -Civis felt no
little modification, on learning that the friends Of
the University apprehended some injury to the
institution from the publication OF his essay. II
was certainly not his wish that such result
should follow any remarks, which he may have
been impeiled by his full conviction Of their pro-
priety to offer to the public SUBJECT of great
public concern. He is attached to the University
by many endearins ties, tho not by any direct re :
iation. That feeling of gratitude, which springs
up in every well regulated mind, Tor lights re-
ceved, Tor facilities offered to the extension of its
enquiries, Civis will ever cherish. For all con-
nected with the institution, and certainly for all
whose immediate and direct interest could be iniu-
rlously affected by al unfavorabie impression a.
gainst II on the public mind CSs enter,ains senti.
ments OF unmingled respect. lie has not, there
fore, heard without pain that some Of those gentle
men have expressed apprehensions of the proba-
bic consequences Of his publication. He cannot,
however, but regard them MISUNDERSTANDING
the conclusions OF Ciyis, and what be the re-
SUIT The authorities of the institution Will see
the propriety OF substituting for the now fiat and
decaying roofs OF the dormitories, others more in
c!ined, and oil moro permanent materials. They
viii be induced to alter the arrangement Of the
dormitories so as TO allow to every two students,
a study attached to their dormitory. They NAV
at small expence fix permanent sventila'ors in
each door and corresponding window, and finally,
they may erect, on proper site, att suitable dis
lance from the main buildings, an in6rmary to
which those who may be affected with any disease,
threatening to assume a dangerous type, nsay be
Immediately removed under proper attendance
1t may be objected that these suggestions are
carving out ample modes of expenditure.
The proposed change in the roofs would, con-
tend, be sound economy under any circumstances
Inc continually recurring necessity for repairs,
as shewn even by the statement of Sydney must
render the expence of labour and materials =
constant draw back from the income of the inst-
tuition. The permanent ventilators may be fixed
IN the dormitores al an expence not exceeding
one dollar for each room, and the necessity for an
inhrmary is sufficiently attesed by the experience
OF similar establishments eiseiDhere and here not
little confirmed by the melancholy events of the
two last sessions. These suggestions Ciyis does
not venture to offer as his own immature specu-
idfiois;" they are the precautionary measures,
when nave long been adopted in flourishng in
stitution In another, and still more salubrious
cline, to which his mind cannot recur without
waking the memory ofjoys that past" CT
Wis has noticed this part Of the subject first be-
cause in doing so, he believes that he has remoy-
ed the most serious objection that has been urg
ed against his speculatons," aud because he is
strongly OF opinion, that if the idea of probable in
Jury resulting from the admission of the cause as
signed had not occupied Gentlemen's minds thew
would be in a better frame to examine his spec-
ulatons impartiay." He:wil now pay his respects
TO "Sydney" with all due Difference for his assumed
character OF prudential monitor First then we are
wholly at issue upon the subject of the ventiIa-
lion OF the dormitories. On the two extreme ran
ges they are SO obviously confined, that the door
must be open 10 admit current of fresh air. and
that must come directly in front to the pur-
poses oil efectual ventilation. Currents of air
may pass freely enough up and down the porti-
cos, without affecting in any degree the quality
OF the air in the bed On all the ranges the ad
joining buildings block up each dormitory TO the
worth & South, & currents of air coming oboue.
iysre effectualIy excluded blythe overhanging roofs
ann numerous columns Of the portcos. Unless
the wind Is SO peculiarly directed as TO blow from
due east or due west, the chances OF foil venila-
ton are few But, the attentive student can sell
dom keep his door open in any weather without
exposing himseIfto the intrusion of ioupgers; some
oil whom in the best regulated colleges, are al
ways ready TO obtrude their unwelcome garrulity
upon the studous.
upon the FIRST approach OF winter, the doors and
windows are generally closed, large fire is usu-
ally kept up, and the temperature of the room is
raised; from these rooms thus confined
ana heated, the students sally forth TO their lee
fure rooms, their hotels, and to their occasional
creations, badly prepared, it must be believed,
10 encounter every vicisstude of the weather
but, upon this head all judge for themsei YES
sydney asserts that he never heard il suggested
before, that the dormtories were badly ventilated
fhe complaint is certainly not new to Civis; he
mas repe ated!y heard il suggested, and is inform
s s ny an intelligent gentleman residing near the
University, that the obje ction was early made and
strongly urged bya highly enlightened visitor, while
me buildings were in progress. Sydney EXPRESS.
IS " SURPRISE" that Civis had not reflected, that
me ventilation must be obstructed in an infinite
" greater degree" in crowded cities and assures
is that he has never known, in the most crowded
,ihes, an epidemic fever at this season ascribcd TO
'odht oil air.. Civis reciprocates his expression
d surprise and WONDER that the intelligent Syd-
icy mad not considered how different are the cir
'ums'ances OF those breathing from infancy the
confined air of crowded dwellings, and of Young
men coming from all parts OF the country under.
gong az once constitutional change from tbei
mango oil residence, and by their habits additional
y exposed TO the operation Of every existing |
cause Of disease. Besides, il is well known thai
'il other things being equal cities are healthy in
proportion TO the degree in which they are well |
ventilated III Sydney will extend his researches.
ne VIII have no difficulty in ascertaining that epi
ieIncs have been ascribed in all seasons TO i'm
'We ar; frequently local, well defined cause
,onspiring with the supposed Constitution Of
ne atmosphere sometimes, il is true the local
.aiIses remaining, as Sydney says, /" hidden in
he recesses OF niture," probably in many instan-
yes, because no pains were taken TO draw them
orth A little attention on the part of Svdney
o the subject which he undertook TO review.
would have saved him the trouble of his remarks
~ me severity OF the weather; they are piquant |