Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-01-26

The Board of Trustees further report, that a minute detail of all the transactions of the Board can be better understood by reference to their journal, to an examination of which they respectfully invite your honorable bcdy. At the same time, they deem it incumbent on them to give a brief abstract of the subjects which have occupied their attention, or afford ed matter for delberaton, since their last An nual Report. Early in the past year, the Build ing Committee, with the assistance of the su- perintendent, entered into contracts with diff ferent individuals, for the completion of the several collegiate buildings, (except the Ro- tunda,) all which contracts have been seve- rally compiled with. During the present ses- sion of the Board, contracts have been let for | the completion of the Rotunda, and for enclos- ing the grounds around the buildings, the whole to be completed before the first day of May next. For more explicit account of the transactions of the Building Committee,
 we would respectfully refer you to their Re- | port, hereto annexed,
 The University edsces are now ready for the reception of students and the Board con- fdently expect, at no distant day, to see them crowded to overhowing, and the whole in sue cessful operation.
 At the last annual meeting of the Board, an election was had for President, and Profes- sors of the institution with the result of which you have already been apprized. The gentle men selected to fill the d fferent chairs, were 1t an early period notifed of their respective appointments and requested to signify their willingness or unwillingness to accept of the chairs to which they had been elected. Dr Saltonstall, Professor of Mathematics, and l Dr Wallis, Professor of Moral Philosophy, accepted; and Dr Lintlsley, the President, and MT Hooper, Professor of Languages, de- clncd. During the last summer, Dr King, who had been made Adjunct Profe ssor of Che mistry, departed this life. By his death a vacancy has been created, which the Beard do not deem 1t eXpedient at this time to fill
 In order to fill it to the greatest possible ad- vantage to the interests of the University, tie vacancies occasicned by the refusal of Dr Lindsley and Mir Hooper to accept the chairs which they had been elt cted 10 ; and to ensure the appointment of suitable and well quail fled perscn, to preside over the institution, and control and direct it's infant energies a mem- Der of this Board (Mr J. C. Biiney, of Hunts ville) was appointed to visit the literary insti- tutions of the northern and eastern States, and ascertain from themselves what distin- | guished Professors would be willing to attach themselves to the rising fortunes of our Uni lversity. MrBirney, in obedience to his insti uc- tions, proceeded to the North, and discharg- ed, to the entire satisfaction cf the Board, the duties attendant upon his mission. Early in the present session of the Board, they went into an election to fill the vacancies be fcre- mentioned when Dr Ava Weeds, Presi- dent of the Pennsylvania University, was chcsen Trofessor of Moral Philosophy, and President of the institution and MT T. Will der, ct Virginia, Professor of Ancient Lam guages The Board possess ample surety, in the distinguished literary and scientific repu- taticn of these gentlemen, that all will be done, which zealous devotion and well culti- vated talents of the highe st order can effect, to place the University of Alabama on that lefty eminence which they fondly hope it is destined to occupy among the literary institu- tions Of cur country. Impressed with belief ot it's great utility and importance, the Board have taken measures to form Museum for the University and for that purpose have employed Mir M'Millan, a Naturalist, to collect and prepare specimens of natural his tory. The same individual has, also, under taken to collect such antiquities of this State as may come within his knowledge. In this way, not only the natural history of our own country may be collected in few years, but, by system of exchanges with foreign institutions, many valuable specimens will be obtained from thence. This undertaking has already been commenced, and a considerable number of specimens prepared, which are now at the institution. We confidently hone. that the public will assist our views in this matter, by sending to the University any spe- cimens of natural history or antiquities which may fall within their reach.
 The Board do not deem it necessary or pro- per, at this time, to advert to the calls for re- lief that have been made upon them at various times by the purchasers of University lands or of their project for the admission to the University, of certain number of charity students annually. from each county, to be l