Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-08-08

rioJ OF eleven years anteccdent to his lamcnted
DEATH in 1899. She has furnished some 0, 'le
most important statesmen from among her aIe''.-
nj, among whom were no less than three frcsi-
dents OF the United States.
rs 10 foundation, she stands on proud cini-
ncnce, above the reach ofali party or Polilca IN
| 1uence, having an extensive, perpetual anu IN
assailable charter, and an income Of her own, de-
rived from landed property; and Sic, therefore
exists without any tax or drausht OH the funds OF
the people, and her maintenance can therefore
never I've complained Of as burthen either &c the
State or the country. Her charter authorizes her
10 teach and confer degrees in every branch Of
human learning, and, otcoursc, includes divinity
and medicine. With such means and powers, it
NAV therefore be fairly asked, why should her
curriculum Of studies he as limited as il is ,
This question has been already partly answered.
One cause is the short period OF time III which
the sons OF Virginia demand 10 be educated; and
while this short period is maintained, The GAIA
oere of studies 10 be followed mus, be cut down
| and compressed, in oder 10 include them IN 50
short a space But even admitting that me
nerioJ of education should be extended, (as II
ought 10 be in our own case,) another difficulty
arises in The want OF additional teachers 10 occu
py that lime, and Of the necessary iuhds 10 sup
| port them. An erroneous notion mas SOMEHOW
crepl abroad, that William and Mary Is rich
4
ANYTHING hut sill doing nothing, through apathy
or indifference to the cause OF improvement
hut those who are intimately connected win her
fiscal concerns know how tar this is from iruth
that, few years ago, she was involved IN consi-
lerabIe debt, and scarcely able 10 keep her old
walls from falling into ruins; and that IL IS bul
lately, that, BY great trugaliiy, and Jndicious
mana cement of her funds and estates, she has
cleared herself entirely from debt ana mas sinal
annually increasing surplus OF iunds 10 spare lor
repairs anu Incidental cfnamesss-.". c--ra,''V
moi enough To erect new and additional professor
ships. How, lhen can her benefits and adyalla-
ges be exendedl Should we seek pecuniary aid
from The Stale, or the ground that She has never
yet done anything 10 help or assist usl God forbid
il, The attempts that have been made OF aie, 10
discontinue the annuity oil our sister lns': ION
the University OF Virginia, and The almost
similar attempts that have been made 10 put down
the central high school OF PENNSYLVANIA, are but
examples OF the action OF principle previously
known and tried, that no institution OF learning,
maintained by a tax upon The public, can exist
and flourish without exciting jealousy and oPpo-
sition II is a very different principle, which
must be looked 10 and cherished TO insure their
progression in harmony and prosperi!y-l mean
animate feeling in the mind OF every individual,
Of the honor and Importance that institutions Of
learning Shed upon The country, in which they
are properly cherished and maintained. Once
establish this feeling and then every man, instead
OF racking his brain to know how he can d.
minish their incomes and cuIail their spheres
Of utility, will be equally anxious 10 contribute
his mite towards their prosperity. Look al The
great Universities OF Oxford and Cambridge IN
England, established centuries ago, upon The
smallest foundations but without any tax upon
the public; for King Alfred gave the lirsI house
T.,
The three primitive Professors who then gave
instructions, (tcing mcnks,) were satisfied with
The sipends they received from ,lcir scholars.
The Institution, small as il was in the begin
ming, proved OF - much importance 10 the
nation that each succeeding monarch made some,
and frequently very large, additions 10 The cstab-
lishmcnts-uniil al length they became the pId,
and glory Of the country; each man, educated
ata college, being proud OF the distinction, and
so grateful for The advantages received that he
never felt satisfied until he had made some pre-
sent either in books pictures, articles of Gu
Iiosy, manuscript works or mcney, not 10
his immediate teachers, but 10 the College
from whence lie has derived his sGyanta-
ges II is in this way that the hundred OF
gold and silver medals or small sums OF mo-
ney, annually distributed in Oxford and Cam
bridge for prize essays, poems and acts 81 scholar
ship, are derived from small requests appropriated
10 these purposes. Other persons more opulen
have left large beqnests for establishing and ray
ing the incomes of Professors, without expense |
10 The institution. Thus, il Vner had moi be- |
queahed the copyright OF his celebrated short |
Arrangement OF The Laws Of England 10 The Uni |
vcrsily of Oxford, tor The purpose OF founding |
and paying VneIian Professor OF Law in that |
institution, we should probably Lever have had !
Backsone's Commentaries, for pese were he
fist Lectures OF Judge Blackstone the first in
cumbcnt who was appointed 10 fill the newly |
formed chair IL is 10 This same feeling that We |
may attribute the existence of Harvard and Will |
liam Il Mary Colleges; tn: two Oldest institutions
o learning in The country The original settlers |
from England, came on, fully impressed with the
national importance OF their Universities al home:
and therefore determined upon establishing them
in their newly acquired settlements ~ early q,
possible. The government OF Massachusetts,
within ten years after The ESTABLISHING nj of the
Colony founded 4 school al place caci
Newlown. But in the then infant slate Of
the country, money was scarce, and land was
nearly all they could give. And in all pro-
liability the new establishment would have
ansu>hed, had moi the Rev. John Harvard died,
after having bequcathed about eight hundred
hounds to the Institution. This small sum, gave
origin and name 10 Havsri UNIVERSITY Several
settlers, who had been educated al Cambridge in
England also contributed funds, on condition
that The location then called Neutown should be
changed 10 Cambridge. One friend 10 The in
FAM establishments gave printing types, ard ano-
iher printing press 10 enable the College 10 re-
print books which j, could not afford. 20 purchase;
and such was the zeal for The prosperity Of the
new college, tina; every one contributed some tri-
f., even single pecSs Of wheat, Tor lis aid, until
al last 10 the honor and glory of The f<.oPie ol
Massachusetts il has attained an annual income
nj ahonr GO 400 dollars without aid from The
State, or any lax or burhen upon her citizens
except what was actually voluntary on tier own
parts; and now more than hall her Professors art
Maintained by individual requests, The names OF
which are attached 10 the several Proiessorshi1s
William & May began her career under more
auspicious circumstances than even llaIvam-
for, being established By royal charter, when the
country was under royal Government, with an
ample fund at once under her control 10 erect her
building she went Immediately into active opera.
ton. She moreover. mel with liberal accessions On
her starting into life. The donation Of Hon. Mi.
Royle for erecting The Braiicton house, ard esa-
blshing school for the education Of Indians; the
presents 10 her library from the King OF France;
he scarce theological works from the library OF
Mr.. Commissary Blair; The hooks Of Governor
Dinwiddie. arr these from the General Assem-
bly, constitute very considerable accessions. But
since that time, she has been sadly neglected, and
appears 10 be almost forgotten for il does not APP
pear, that any donation OF importance, either pub
lie or private, Except The published reports and
documents Of Congress, before referred to- has
been made 10 her for long series OF years.
This, gentlemen, is not as il should be. She
calls aloud for assistance from her alumni, and
those who have shared The benefit of her insruc-
TONS The extended nature OF her charter ena-
bles her 10 elect Professors, and 10 lcach every
thing that is taught in the most extended colleges
OF the nation provided her funds and mea ms ena-
bled her TO do So and she had your permission 10
extend the term of her studies It's in your pow
er, by your kindness industry, attention and per-
severance, 10 make her the first institution in Vir-
sinia, and equal TO any in the world. And call
upon you, gentlemen, 10 use your hest endeavors
10 accomplish this great end. In urlherarce Of
this, need hardly bring 10 your recollection The /
associations that belong TO our venerable Alma
Mater; such perhaps as can be found no where