New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-26
Conferred
Anniversary Of the Free AcademJ-Award o.
the Gold Medals,

the Gold Medals.
The Anniversary Of De Free Academy was
celebrated at the Insttt Eon in Twenty. thirdst.
on Wednesday. The large hall was filed at an
early hour by a select audience, and a few minutes
before II AN the pupils Of the Institution march
ed in, to the number Of some two hundred, and the
exercises began.
The results of the Examination, just closed,
were read by Dr. HORACE WEBSTER, Principal OF
the Academy-who proceeded to address the pupils
IN the following words:
youse GENTLEMEN: Another term has closed
in the Free Academy, and the records OF the pro-
eress you have made in your studies during that
Time and your cassihcatOns are now to be read 10
you.
state ment of the facts SHOULD be made known, on
which this classification is founded.
Moral conduct so necessary 10 success every.
where, is not egiected here An accurate account
is kept Of every delinquency be 1t small or great,
to which is applied scale Of numbers limited by
maxima and minima values.
At the close OF the term, these Numbers desig-
nate as negative quantities, the standing of each
student according to the nature OF his oifenseS
they Of course have the effec. 10 lower him IN bis
class. l view this matter Of moral conduct as OF
very serious import especially in connection with
our institutions Of learning. Here, as in the do
/ posed and enforced.
/ Asitrespec,s the studies on which our pupils
may be employed we apply the scale Of numbers
above mentioned in estimating the excellency or
otherwise OF their daily recitations with this dit
/ ference, however that they are considered Poai-
tive quantities instead Of negative as in the former
instance. The same thing is done at our semi
annual examinations, except that at tho5e exami-
nations we assume a higher ratio for very ooyi-
THE Oyder of Merit 70 u here read1
The results of the classification just read TO you
! is such as you ought to have anticipated your po-
silon in this particular has been fixed by your
selves we have only entered 1t upon record
Having given your industry your conduct ana
YOUR opportunities, the deductions OF the measure
of your success are almost az much to be depend
ed upon as the solution Of any mathematical prob
lem.
There are, scarcely know why, impressions
fnmed by students during their academic course,
that their success depends on some iancled ciroum
stance entirely beyond their control and not on
their individual efforts: there is nothing more IN
truc or peruicious than this belief. Macy impefl
meLts frequently serious ones are TO De overcome
before you can attain anything valuable or that u
worth possessing The very efforts you make
qualify YOU for higher attainnents, aud the dih III
ties you encounter may be the making OF yo1
A wise man has said that a difficulty IS very
| severe instructor set over US by the supreme ord
nance of parental guardian; he that wresues
with us siren thens our nerves ana sharpeni our
! skill cur antagonist is our helper.
This amicsble conflict with difficulty obiges US
to an intimate acquaintance with our object and
compes Us 10 consider il In all its relations. IL VIII
rot suffer Us to be superficial.
The Order Of Meri. above referred to, formed the
interlude to the Principals Address. We give
the names Of the ten young gentlemen in each OF
the three Glasses in the Institution, who were &C.
corded the highest honors-having passed their
examination with credit, viz
MASTERS John Hardy, Andrew meGynn, Bent Rsynor,
j. Your q Chss HOll, John Oyerhissr, Joseph Jeweu,
Jane, BfhnL Theodore Banls and John GAvan-lO.
CLASS b.
MASTERS l. g. Babcoek, A. q. Compton, Z. T. CoTvin,
A. Champion, g. Allen, Hsgsr j. Marin, r L. selmes, J.
L.. Jewell and - heIIhon[io
CLASS G.
MASTERS S Rising T. B. Tilion, J. J. Rogers I. Is
Ter Jas Henry w. b Buel, Louis Brucknsn, d. Y. Nc
Coy, J. Nj DjnGhue and J X. Andersen.
ERAsrUs C. BENEDICT, Esq, President Of the
| Board Of Education, then addressed the audience
ard the pupils for nearly an hour. His remarks
were well adapted to the occasion, AID conveyed
many sound truths to the minds Of his hearers
| We have only space for brief abstract of the lead
Ing points.
Mr.. B. commenced by congratula,ing the pupils
on their progress, which he held to be equally for.
| tunate for themselves for the Academy, and for
| their instructors. He urged upon them the neces
sity of close and dDigent application demonstrated
u az the discipline OF the Institution seeks rather -
| prevent than TO punish-snd set forth the true phi
| losophy Of study. He was aware that there are
constitutional differences Of capability yet much
! depends upon Individual effort. The marble and
g1 ante have each capacity for Polish peculiar 70
! themseves--bRt il is Only through intense thought
and the long and diligent use Of the vulgar malet
| ard chisel, that forms Of beauty are elaborated
| from the urshapey block. The hand Of the dill
| gent makeih rich. Tire mind mast not De panper-
ed in luxury, nor wasted in Incidence. The aim Of
the student must be to hunt the dogma do
with the keenne the sportsman and 10 cause the
mind 70 grow by Hhatit feeds upon. Cicero, Demos
themes Newton, Bacon, Franklin, were iastsnced as
bright examples; and the grea. moral truth WAS
urged upon the pupils, that il was only by high
aims, vigorous moral effort aoorious industry, aud
trust in God, that they could sttain to eminencs.
Mr.. h. then gave an account OF the Two God led.
ais Instituted by DUscAs c. PELL and EDwGS
BURR, Esqs, OF this City, as permanent. rewards
fer merit, TO be awarded annually 10 such Papils
OF the Academy as shall excel IL general study aud
Mathematics. Mr.. Burrs letter founding the
Mathematical Medal was read by Mr. Benedict
The amount appropriated for the purpose is $500
After these explanations Of the nature Of the re-
wards, the Gold Medals were awarded to the fol
lowing yourg gentlemen:
To JOIN HARDY For Industry aud KnOwledge-
ION the face Of this Medal engraved the arms OF
Eew-Yofk state and clry-wh the words; Free AeAie
nv, New. lorkn Underreeh he inscription we're he
! fgufeA "lS50r-On The reyers1 were he embleFns OF
Arr Li,srsure and Science followed by words sFfom
Duncan Pels-lS50''l
TrA. f.es Of This Medal rinar The hnsl TIE 70
verse was inscribed with mathematical oesgn ircm .
| drawing tde by The yoarg recipient
The medals are sbout the size oil the new r"en-
IL - n L