The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-28
NO. 1851.


which future ages Will look upon with profound
reverence, and will serve, for all time to come, as
q lasting monument of the hberallty, enlighten-
nIent, and spirit of this age of progress and free
opinion. AS boon from the people, whose vote
Of l9,404, favor of the establishment of such an
institution stands recorded, it affords an unequlvo-
cal proof Of the wishes OF the masses In favor Of
untrammeled education; and between such an
academy, aud our common school System, those
parents who would neglect their chldrens instruc-
ton, where 80 many inducements and advantages
ae held out to them, would be guilty of grievous
error indeed. The building situated at the corner
of Lezpgton avenue and Twenty-third street, and
In point OF size, architectural beauty, inlsh and
general accommodations, SURPRISES any thing of
Its kind-indeed, any public building in this city
In the chaste, classic and polished address of the
President OF the Board of Education, Will be found
be out OF place here to add a few words In addi-
ton, and particularly az to the grand hall, which
surmounts the entire building, and Is a splendid
SPECIMEN Of the universally admired style Of Gothic
hall make it admirably adapted for the purposes
tor which It Is designed, VIZ: general examine
tons, exhibitions. &c. &C., Two large Gothic
ed atelther nd of the building. The roof Is mar
rowed In some twenty feet from the base, where a
second tier OF roofing is formed, and made to close
twenty large windows Of Gothic design, which are
arranged at either side These windows surmOunt
as many arches and pillars, which are finished SO
to accord with the general style and character of
the edice in the interior OF the hall, and large
platform is erected at one end of this hall for the
uee of the professors and vsiters, on the occasion
of all public exhibitions The interior Of Trinity
church, Invested OF Its gorgeous drapery, will give
an idea OF this principal apartment, which is sItua-
ted IN the fourth or upper story, and where the
student can "climb to 1t" after undergoing
his preparatory courses at the primary and
ward schools, and classes of the Academy, may
safely undertake to say that he has reached the
goal OF his fondest asplrations-the verltable top
Of Parnassus' itself. Four spiral pillars or pm
nacles surmount the outer angles or corners Of the
building, which add much to the beauty of the ex-
terror. This apartment IS well furnished with
seats, &c. The various other apartments, which
situated in the lower stories Of the edltce, are
same manner as our ward schools, and the stair
cases, the solldlty and character o. the workman
ship, show the great care that has been bestowed
upon the erection. The exterior of the building
altogether, class high among the many objects Of
pubic attraction In our city, which are always
sought after by the tourist and the admirers Of taste
and genius, with much interest.
with highly fashionable assemblage, consisting
principally of ladies', who seemed to take lively
interest In the proceedings and at which honr &C.
commenced. Among the gentlemen the platform
Judges Belts Recorder Scott Bishop Hughes
Price and Knox. ex-Msyors Harper and Brady, the
members Of the Boards Of Common Council and Edu.
With thu a.a .H.ss
tion, and the opening hymn was sung with much
RosEnr KELLEY, President Of tn. Board Of Eduo.-
tion, presided. His Honor the Mayor sat on his
right, and Horace Webster, Esq L. L. D.. sat his
The CHAIRMAN delivered the address with an i'm.
preseve solemnity well suited for the occasion, and
Two thousand or more persons who were present and
expressed themselves deeply grathed with the sent
ments contained therein. He said =
FELLOW CIrIzENs - We have invited your presence
on this OCCASION to lend Us your oountenance the
opening Of the Free Academy and to INTRODUCES the
and honorable employment W. desire Also, 10 afford
to the public the opportunity Of seeing the arrange
the scholars and for osrryin on tho business Of in
strnotion. IL 10 An occasion in which have al .
eosnon and an equal interest. This instisution
mission Of their children its courses Of are
to be arranged to suit their wants. 1t will derive its
BY them. We WISH tho people, to
show what We have done and express the hopes
city and b regarded by You Is one II it, greatest
naments The building Is open for your Inspection.
YCu .n b -. able Of ITS osn,s1sncs and adapt
viii decide II they have been provided with discretion,
Of New York. The dimensions Of the building are
1875 feet by So 1t oussts exclusive of the basement
and great hail. Of three spsseas STORIES which are in
trsected BY two wide passages running st right angles
through the middle Of the building It Ia believed that
VIII :nofo socommodsti9ns for thousand scholars,
1t has been erected under the Of Jas
Rsnwick r architect 1t In the style Of the Gothic
town halls Of the Netherlands The style selected
for Its appropriateness and convenience BY 1t, We
have been enabled to combine utility with appearance,
ing and converting ues into buttressss and ohimneys
into towers This elegant hail. 50 well adapted to the
procured without cost There Is no waste room The
building brought into to the very roof peak,
and the structure for the support Of he roof
Hanged that Its weight rests mainly upon the interior
wallis and there lateral thrust upon the outer walls
This has allowed the construction Of weltied hollow,
all the ornament which the adoption Of the Gothic
style Of architecture hss required An ornamental
than plain ednce Of proper proportions
arrange MT and sody could have been erected for
The entire cost Of erection, in which embraced oil
sxpe Of printing and Advertising plans and super
inter dence and including al large items Of
peDdi,ure for and sewers not contemplated
ths exterior and painting and sanding Of the battle
ments and pinnscIes, to be performed next summer,
authorised b. 1t is hoped that nothing viii be
required beyond the amount already appropriated,
The -s IL II: the cost Of
Thish .,,ds u:H. I,soCsd in this gsrsul.r
Lexington Avenue, by 200 feet 23d street. pur-
chased 1t . cost Of $25 600. The amount appropri-
sted thus far, for fitting up and furniture Is $1,000
The hftory OF this project be told In few words.
The Board Of Education took the first action In refer
encs TO It. by the adoption Of resolution introduced
by Comr Townsend Harris, July 9th, 1876, raising
committee to report upon the subject January 10th
1S47 report was presented by Mesers Harris and J.
., Bosworth, Of said committee February 10th, I947,
the port considered, and committee appointed
to memorslze the Legislature consisting of the
gentle with Com'r j. L. Mason May 7th 1847, the
act passed under which the Institution 10 estab
shed with the provision that the question should be
submitted to the people ct the ensuing school and ju
dicial election. The election occurred on tho first
Monday of June 1S47 and the result Of the vote
19404 In favor Of establishing the Free Academy, to
SAGE against it's giving the enormous majority Of 15,
995 The excavation for the foundation Of this edi
nee was commenced in the end Of November 1647 jan
nary lbth l649 the institution opened for the
amin nation Of pupils January 9th, isi9, met
TO exchange congratulations The establishment
Of this Institution Is an Interesting oircuml
stance, q connected with the subject Of -