Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-06-23
For fts Enquirer.
TO TIE VISITORS OF THE UNlvER
SJTy or VIRGINIA

oil Or flilGlNIh.
A vacancy having occurred in the Chair Of
Natura Philosophy al the University OF Virgil
mia, il will devolvc upon your honorable Board,
at approaching annual meeting, 10 take mea
sures d supply il. In The exercise Of the respon.
sibIe p,wer If appointment, il cannot be doubted
that va will aim 10 advance The prosperity Of
The ns iulion, and foster The interests oil learn
ing in lur beloved State. II is well known that
al The opening OF The University, in the year
1925, 1os OF The Chairs were filled hg Profes
sors lDm abroad. The policy OF gong abroad
for Professors was justified on the ground thai
such vas the low state OF Earning in Virginia,
that nen OF suitable attachments Gould not be
found amongst us. |, was proposed, b. the in
PRODUCTION vi Professors Of The highest order OF
qualifications, 10 put the institution in opera ion
under circumstances most favorable for disscmi
mating sound scholarship, and relnedyng this hui
initiating state OF things. All the original Pro.
iesso.s have disappeared from the University
Vacancies have occurred more than once in
most of the Chairs. In supplying hem, The 20
icy which governed The orgina! appointments
seems 10 have maintained controlling influence
Though The institution has been in OPERATION
more than twenty three years, no Alumnus has
ever been called 10 I'll Chair in any OF The sci.
cnlifc departments.
A singular want Of success has attended the
operations Of the institution, if, during the lapse
Of nearly quarter Of century, it has not pro.
duced many scholars OF high merit. Its AGA
demic hunors are professcdly conferred, upon
the eri.ence of merit alone. lis highest honor
: that of MASTER OF AR1s-has been confer
red upon about sixty individuals, a, appears
from report made 10 the Legislature Of rir.
ginia last Winter. The number Of graduates
in the different schools is very considerable.
Upwards of one hundred and eighty have gra.
duaed in the school Of Natural Philosophy
Arc there not TO be found among hem men
qualified tc f the Chair now vacant: For the
credit OF the University, and VI the State, We
trust that there are. Science must remain al 4
stand in Virginia, unless Inducements are held
out 10 our educated young men TO apply them
selves to the cultivation of it. Your honorable
Board We are persuaded, have It in your power
TO aCd essentially 10 these inducements. Byap
pointing Virgnans and Alumni TO the Chairs Of
the University, the laudabie ambition of many
Of our talented young men would be directed TO
this field OF usefulness and distinction And
though many would necessarily fail to attain
the object Of their ambition, their efforts would
not be lost 10 themselves or the coun ~. They
would furnish III. preparation for usefulness in
S'"S. Hsiuso VI aCtloU, anu mo otate noIiu reap
lhe ii'lils OF their scientific culture.
convinced thai The interests OF the University
iIseli Wouli be greatly promoted by opening the
dooI 10 preiermen, 10 lis Alumni, The attention OF
the Visitors is directed 10 the subject, with every
ieeiirg OF respect and difference. Harvard Uni
Vefsiy has been in existence upwards OF two hun
drcd years, and reference 10 lis general Gaia
osue will show that every President from The
foundation Of The Institution 10 the present time
was an .atnmnns, with he exception OF The first
Two; AMI The same is True OF The vast majority in
Tue long is' o! professors tutors and other officers
"esnow The degree OF prosperity 10 which Har.
knowledgins The claims OF her Alumni. We be.
ileve that our own University is destined 10 run
similar career Of prosperity under like policy.
II IS Inc policy which gives 10 the terms Alunnus
and dina Mater Specifications expressive OF real
and mol nominal relations. X.