The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-08-25
American and European Colleges.

held during the past month, and the usual in
crease to the number of young men who have
''finished their education" has been made
We have been struck with the very great inn
provements evidently made in the management
and results of collegiate instruction but uuite
as visible are the distinctions between the Itera-
ry character and standing of one college and
another; and in this latter fact, appears to con-
sst the only inferiority of American to European
educational honors
There are in the United States few institu.
uons established on permanent basis, unembar-
rassed, and consequently able to pursue an indie
pendent course in mental culture and discipline.
which places them on par with any European
literary corporation of the same class the man.
ner OF conveying classical knowledge is equal.
and the mathematical course superior, even to
that of Oxford, or Gottingen and did the repu.
tation of American honorary degrees rest with
them for character, they might safely vie
with any in the world but unfortunate
ly the majority Of the United States COL
leges are of different class like mushrooms,
they have sprung up in every State of the Union,
and for pecuniary interests scatter abroad their
literary distinctions with lavish hand upon any
parchment. One institution in Vermont is noto-
rious Tor this abuse of its chartered rights, so
much So that in Canada, person receiving his
M d. from that source, must pursue another
course of studies, and undergo a second exami.
nation by a Canadian faculty, before he is allow
ed to practice within the British limits This fac t
may be humiliating to American professional feel.
ing, but it Is true
Other faculties might be pointed out, who are
notorious for the looseness with which candidates
are admitted to the care Of the Alma Mater, and
for the open arms with which they receive any
aspirant to the title Of an A 3. One college, not
very far from our own State, is known through
out the length and breadth Of the Union as " Bo-
tony Bay" from the fact that it is the receptacle
of all who are dismissed from other colleges,
either on account Of improper conduct or want of
ability. These circumstances arise principally
from the poverty ofthe corporation, who are COM
PEELED, in order to sustain the existence of their
university, to admit a number of students snfii-
Gent to pay the necessary expenses incident to its
support. The evils Of this system are selfevi-
dent Not only is the general reputation of Anne
rican education undermined, but those colleges
which in fact pursue higher and more honora-
bic course, are directly injured. student after
from six to seven years Of severe study at an in
stituton like Yale or Harvard, obtains degree
OF A. M or M. d., which coming from the source
1t does, should of itself act as a passport to lite
rary society, and be sufficient claim upon the
world for support in his profession, but when
the same degrees are conferred by other faculties
upon those who are utterly undeserv wing, and in
competent, no distinction can be drawn, and the
mere addition of any tuary letters to name,
renders it none the more honorable nor respected.
Till these abuses can be remedied, the colleges of
our country, which in reality pos sess deserving
merit, will be as now, compelled to rise against a
dead weight of Encouragement and stupidity,
ever retarding their onward course.
The radical difference between the European
and American College regime con sists in the diff.
ference OF the branches Of education, superiority
in which is considered the most msritorious. In
the more celebrated OF English, German and
French universities, the dead languages are re-
garded as the principal objects of study; and la
rigid course of instruction is pursued in them,
somewhat to the neglect of mathematical prof.
cheney; while in our leading New England insti
tutions student must be thoroughly versed In
the abstract sciences in order to arrive at an hon.
orable distinction in his class. The consequence
Is, that in our own land, the mental discipline is
generally much more conducive to future useful
ness and original invention than in Europe. A
mind well furnished in classical lore undoubtedly
possesses fund always ready to be drawn on in
elegant conversation or composition, but is not
improved in those qualities which have a direct
tendency beneficial to the public On the other
hand, to the power OF abstraction and habit of re-
search acquired by mathematical culture, may be
ascribed that inventive and improving genius so
peculiarly American. In the few instances, too
where graduates of our higher college. have pro.
ceeded to Europe, for the purpose of acquiring
what might be considered more satisfactory de-
grees, they have almost always found that the
ground which they expected to newly enter upon
abroad, had already been gone over at home;
and, IN one instance especially, We remembar,
the grandson OF the richest merchant of this city,
after graduating at New Haven, was DESTROYS of
a subsequent perfecting abroad, and entered
Trinity College, Dublin, where, owing to the man.
ner in which he had already been instructed by
his American Alma Mater, he carried off triumph
antly the highest honors of the institution.
All that is needed on this continent to place our
academic standing on equality in reputation
as well as In fact with that of Europe, is to sepa-
rate the deserving from the undeserving, and
let these Institutions which by age and means are
enabled to, and do act consistently and indepen-
IDENTITY, be placed and patronised as colleges; and
let the others, which, in reality, rank no higher,
and afford no facilities greater than those to be
met with in common boarding schools and acade-
mics, be avoided by all as pernicious to republic.
can improvement and character; and let it be I'M
derstood that degree, if obtained of one of the
latter class, has connected with it ideas of ex-
pulsion and disgrace from legitimate college 60
vernment With the hope of honorable dis,inc-
ton on the one hand, and surety of suspicion on
the other, the young students of the country will
soon attach themselves to, and support, the stree
Of knowledge which knows no rot"
LATER FROM SOUTH AMERIcA.-By the bark