The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-03

TIE NEW STATE UMvRRsITY-PRoPoeUD Am.
LIoRATIoNs IN ITS PLAN.-Our Legislature ct Al
bany have had under their elaboration, for some
time back, the project of establishing and endowing
q State University in that city. The final passage
Of the bill appears almost certain. The scheme, ~
to be carried out, embraces some peculiar
and important features. corps Of fifteen professors,
eminent in their several branches Of leaning
the languages, medicine law, theology, and oil tho
natural sciences-is to be enrolled; and with these,
and l2S pupils to be selected from each Of the
Assembly districts of the State and to be supported
at the public expense, nucleus is to be formed,
round which the institution may increase and
flourish. The scholars to be ut liberty to select
whatever of study they may prefer, and pro-
secute it to its utmost limits, having all the aids
necessary to acquiring the most thorough and prac
tical knowledge of the subject that can be given
by eminent preceptors, fellow students, and the
requisite apparatus and appliances, to be supplied
by the institution.
The general plan and purpose Of this project have,
SO far, met with popular appreciation. The great
superiority of our common school system over that
Of every other country in the world, is source Of
much and justifable pride; but though perfect in
their sphere, they still leave desideratum in the
higher grades of learning, which is intended to be
supplied by thenew University Hitherto, our young
men striving perfect themselves in certain abstruse
sciences, were forced to seek teachers in Europe.
Now they will no longer have to do so, as they will
be able procure the highest instruction in their
own country. This circumstance alone is sufficient
to insure public appreciation to the present project,
as the national pride was somewhat offended by the
reflection that American youths could not DO fully
educated ut home.
The details of the scheme, far as they could be-
compressed into few clauses, have met with some
disfayor principally from the wing socialist journals
Our philosophical cotemporary, the Tribune objects,
in the first place, to its endowment by the State,
and to its location in Albany, in the vicinity OF
any other city where the students would be exposed
| to temptations and evil influences, particularly
when the Maine Liquor law is not law Of this State
He then desires that its internal policy should be
framed in accordance with the most approved theo-
res Of socialism, that it ght be made the cradle
Of that system in this country. For this end, ne
proposes that the institution be based on some Of
the theoretical vagaries of Robert Owen, Fourier,
and other philosophers of that school. He thinks
that the professors and pupils should be compelled
to work at manual labor two or three hours each
day, the profits of their toll going to de6ay the ex-
penses Of their support and that the students should
DO at liberty, besides, to labor three or four extra
hours for their own individual benefit.
This is strange and novel feature to engraft on
a seminary of learning, and its effect would doubt
less be to Illustrate the very objects contemplated
in its establishment, superinduce contempt for
learning, and bring back the blessings of primitive
barbarian. This result would probably suit the
ideas of would-be social reformers, but is not
compatible with the spirit Of our age, which is not
retrogressive and cannot be checked in its career
even by these drag chains upon it.
This is only one of the propositions of our Four
rerite contemporary to mould the University to the
shape of his fantastic ideas. The other is still
characteristic of his socialist views. He de-
sres to convert this seminary Of learning into
del communistic establishment, by annulling and
breaking down the distinctions between the sexes;
and he therefore insists that women have an
equal right with men to their share of the advan-
tages to be derived from it, and that equal
opportunities be afforded to the two sexes
We wonder what species Of oppo rtunities he
alludes to. We afraid there would be,
in such an establishment, more sacrifices at the
shrine Of Venus than at that of Minerva. But per-
haps it is that which constitutes the great value Of
the system in the eyes of philosopher; he wishes
the beauties, pleasures, and advantages of phalanx
of learning, Ia Fourier, and to show how happily
society could exist without such ridiculous inst-
tuition as matrmony Truly pleasant alma mater
would our new State University be; and we doubt
not but there would be many applications for ad-
mission from all the rouss in the community
Perhaps our whte-coated friend himself would com.
pete for the profcssorship of ethics or political
economy, that he might participate in the pleasures
Of his beautiful system, rvalling, if not excelng
a similar institution in England, known as tn,
"Agapemone," or abode of love.
1t is not very likely that any of our cotemporarys
suggestions will be acted on in the carrying out
this project of a State University; but we hope i
will be established on such principles as will mos
eflestually carry out the popular wish, and rende
it an instrument Of the highest good.
"AIMs AND OBsTAcLBs," BY Mr.. G. p. r.
JAMES; AND "MY AUNT PoNTYPooL. There
are mysteries in the science of novel writing and
booklmaking, still to be developed and of as
abstrusc character as the spiritual rappings'
and the Rochester knockings, joyce Heth,'
"the Woolly Horse, "the Negro Dwarfs," and the
cold water agitation.
One fine day, not long since we stumbled upon
decently written novel in two volumes, bound to-.
gether, entitled my Aunt Pontypool,' published
anonymously, by Carey s. Hart, of Philadelphia,
in 1856. This romance, the scene of which lies in
England and its metropolis, contained in its first
volume POT pages, and in the second FOG. The
principle characters were Lady Pontypool, Captain
Lacy, Colonel Adair and Miss Helen Adair, Mr.
Williamson, and Mr.. Snipes. 1t was work Of but
ordinary talent, and perhaps, therefore, that was the
reason the author suppressed his name; and we be-