The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-31
CORRESPONDENCE.
UNIVERSITY oFTHE CITY OF NEW YORK.
New YoRk, Jan. 25th, 1889

| NEW YORK. Jan. 10Th, 1889
DEAR Sir You will see in our city papers fe,o
of the alleged by the late Medical Faculty of
the University of the City Of New York, for dis
solving their connection with that Institution. A
full and complete history of their grievances would,
believe, fill volume but the public will be able
to understand and appreciate some of these by the
communications to which refer. II viii be seen
that the Council in Obtaining charter TO confer
medical degrees, and in organizing medical school,
were influenced solely by motives of a peeuniary
nature the interests of medical science and the pro-
motions Of the public good never seems to have
tered into their minds They were stockholders in
the institution merchants and brokers, accustomed
to count cent per cent and beyond this they neither
knew nor cared for any thing. Accordingly, as soon
a nucleus for Medical Faculty was formed, they
began, like regular Wall street dealers and money
changers to negotiate. The language they held
was, gentlemen, our charter has cost us some trou-
BILE and expenseif worth having, it is worth paying
for it will doubtless be the of enrching you
both in fame and money besides, the institution is
embarrassed, it is right that you should put your
shoulders 10 the wheel and help along, otherwise
cannot complete tie organization Of the school, nor
comply in arranging any Of its details TO suit your
| wishes" In this state the whole matter rested for
months, ill., finally few weeks since, either through
the influence of The Chancellor, or the force of pub
lie opinion, the Council proceeded to the appoint
ment of several additional professors making twelve
in all-the contemplated number being about twenty
-on the plan of the German and Partisan schools.
The gentlemen appointed were OF the highest re-
spectabity for talent, zeal and energy; men who
stood high in the opinion not only of the public, but
Of the medical profession throughout the United
Il. l.etsv -nseh al
reputation abroad and throughout the scientific world
Strong hopes were now entertained that the school
would soon go into operation, and that there would
be no more jarring in the complicated machinery
The professors elect went to great expense in the
purchase of books and apparalus-extensive orders
were sent abroad for books and materials for
museum and anatomical cabinet, &C.; they had al
ready accumulated sufficient material to form one of
the best collections in the country, and nothing was
wanted but liberal policy to build up great school
of medicine, on plan hitherto only attempted by
the potentates of Europe.
But what encouragement think you, was extended
them by the Council7 Why, the very first thing the
Council did, was to prepare TO the Medical Faculty
TO give or loan, as they termed it, t,eeny fue thou
sand dollars to the institution the interest of which
should be applied to the payment of rent &C.; and
w CoHsthtIotOt " aus aOHuttOHJ tHS pioiCosos shai
have the privilege of nominating to the vacant pro-
fessorships and the Council would proceed to adopt
the plan OF organization as al first proposed. This
overture of bribery and corruption appears, was
spurned by the Faculty, as it deserved. BY way OF
retaliation the Council then agreed 10 tar The fees of
the Faculty, making them pay certain per cent of
their fees, IL per cent, believe for every student
after the number had reached to one hundred. Upon
this last attempt at robbery finding that they had no
thing to expect from the Council but continued
ries Of attempts at extorton, and being fully con-
WINGED, moreover, that scientific institution could
ever prosper under the management Of such Board
Of Councillors the professors unanimously threw up
their chairs. A concise statement of some Of their
grievances is before the public and il is for the
public to Judge how far the Medical Faculty merited
the treatment which they have received; and, also,
whether the Interests Of literature science and rel-
gion are safe in the hands Of such Council twill
go far think to show that the guardianship and en-
enlargement Of science must be entrusted in part at
least, to men Of science men Of cultivated minds and
of historical views, who know how to weigh talent
and estimate the value OF knowledge, instead OF
weighing gold, and counting cent per cent.-men
who can sympathise with the hard working, ill-re-
warded scholar, who lives but for the public good
and whose whole efforts aim at the happiness and
welfare of his fellow men.