Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-06-20

are commended to our judgement as well by their
manifest wisdom az by the temperate manner i'll
which they ure submitted:
TO The Editors efthe Enquurr.
ALBEMAILE, JUNE 1G, 1854.
The Visitors of the University will be called upon,
at their annual meeting, TO select q gentleman to I'LL
the vacancy CAUSED in the department OF Mathcmut-
les by the death of Professor Courtenay. We are
much Interested i'll NIL that CONCERNS our Alma Mater,
%n, M ,9s;; ,p ,n,S"s.nrS .; I. 80, W. r !. lSfS s% II: '''"">'
The lnsitiuIl which the University now occupies
as the frs, institution of learning in the South, and,
in many respects, the first III the Union, Renders il
highly important tlnt iulirinus selections of PROBES
sors should, in all cases, bc made. Those VIII" have
charge of her Interests, in this particular. cannot feel
too scnsiblv The important responsibilities resting
upun them us the guardians "i an institution, founded
bv the great apostle uf human liberty, %cndcarcd To lis
by the iiIculculnblc advantages which have already
accrued Ia lis from its existence, and having for lis
pcculinr object the enlightenment and advancement
of that South, which, in the language of one of her
gifted soiis, lis destined To become the school Of the
world They should, i'll the first place, consider well
the qualification of candidates for any office in their
r;tt, uluutinr rs their mOttu-" DTmr hgRiO1." We
will quote Ar. Jetler.on's opinions on this subject,
which they would do well 10 follow in all their ap-
puintincnts. He SAYS: have considered the high
qualifications of our Professors, ms the only means by
which we can give splcndor aud prc-cmincncc TO our
institution over all ita sister scMlnarics. The only
u,e,tiou. therefore, we can ever usk ourselves will he,
i. he the most highly qunliicd The College of Phil
adclplia has lost It's character OF lrimacy by lndulg-
ING motives uf iuvoritiSm and nrlotisni, md by con-
ti.rrinp the appointments III il the prnfcSsnrships were
entrusted to them Us provisions for their friends. We
are next tn observe, TINT Il mani Is not qualified for II
professor, who knows inlliin@ but merely his own
profession. He should he otherwise well cducnicd ny
10 the sciences generally; able to converge under
standinglv with the scientific incu with whom he is
nssociatcd, and to assist i'll the councils of the Faculty
ON any subject of science OH which they may have
occasion to deliberate"
Such apolicy, strictly followed out,wOuld secure men
who would give character to the nstitution-wOuld
ensure its adaptation to the different tustes aud wants
of those who patronisc il, md would stimulate our
Young men to greater cXcrtiOns, III view oi the con-
trust Of thew humble requirements with the high AMI
varied uttaimnenis OF their professors. That the ' J.
sitors have cndeavorcd Ia engage the services OF such
men we have 10 reason To doubt; but we must be en-
cused for saying tlat, i'll one particular, they have
committed IN error which, il perscvcrcd in, mllst III
cvitably result i'll injury to The University. We con-
ccivc, land we arc supported III our opinion, not only
by the practice and experience ut all colleges, but
also by the public scutimcnt,) that are should enter
into their estimate of Il mans iitIess for IL professor
ship; and it is To this point ;hat we would direct their
attention. Apart from the fact that young luen (SlIch
as now have charge OF some uf the schools in the
University cannot command that respect lnr their
persons and that confidence i'll their abilities, which
students should feel towards their instructors, uul
which older men would inspire, it is altogether i'm
possible that Young men. who have lust completed
their course NJ studies at College, should hc pusscsscd
of that experimental knowledge, general information
and discriminating Judgment, which would enable
them to converse Understandings with tho
scientific men with whom they will be asso
| ciatcd by virtue uf their position rs Professors IN
| the University. The time spent by our young ~:
at college il not sufficient IL allow them To do more llral
H.. " m'uIrintiunI III tirnr!, upon winch to htlllu tllcn
s,prrs:ructnrc of practical knowledge which alone
can rcudcrsthcm competent IN llnpnrt Instructions, {,
others. Under the present system of appointments
professors and tutors are placed, IL soon ~ they yrui
duatc, over those who, the ycur preceding, were tllci
would be well to ndopt. the system pursued by the
| Northern colleges. With them, no one il eligible I,
IL the post of tutor until two years after he has gra
iuutcd, and this interval of time must have been de-
voted To teaching or IA some literary pursuit. by
this means they not only secure more competent in
structurs, but those wlo arr more likely I" cigagetii
respectful attentions and good will of the siudcmls.-
IA 10 Professors, il, Is desirable that they be- graduates
ut the University, of rnursr but we would suggest
that II still longer period of probation be allotted I,
them than IL the tutnrs-inasinuch as their attain
ments a:c expected Ia he nf Il higher order.
We have been induced To offer these reflection:
solely because our observation assures us tlint III,
operation nj the present system OF appointing young
mcn-yonths-to the offices ut Professor and tutnr, Il
unsatisfactory. IL is likely Ia lead III INSTRUMENTATION
and must fnil of reaching thai high degree of excel
lcnce, That '~splendnr aud prc-cminoncc," to which IA
rrvcrcd founder designed the University should at
tain. We hope Il different course will he pursued il
future. The regulations, rs an institution Of lrarnin.
OF the first order, which the University now enjoys
cannot but awaken feelings al honest pride in iii,
breast of every one who has 1T heart the true intc
rests of Virginia and of the South. \ still lar=ci
rpl,crc of usefulness, und Il Yet more briNiAnt future
awaits it, il those entrusted with its fortunes will oul,
be true TO themselves und 10 their calling. Let thcI
see TO it, that 10 action of theirs shall mar lis dawnius
glories. ALCMNCS.