Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-02-22
DAILY VIRGINIAN.
WEDNESDAY MORNING. FEB'Y ~, lisa.
me University of Virginia.


ical attention. Among the Institutions which
enjoy the unusual position Of having nothing but
advantage to anticipate from public scrutiny Is 're
University Of Virginia. pensioner upon pub
lie charity, in a high and honorable sense, and at
the same time, dish,rse Of it, tirre Is double
fitness in the peoples knowing how, and to what
purpose, the fund annuslly appropriated to the l.
University is applied.
The ..Seufhorn Literary Messenger for Feb
rnary contains on article of considerable length,
devoted to the consideration of our Free School
system, as supported by appropriations from the
I.iterary Fund; and the uniyersity-its organi-
zation. objects, and adaptation TO its ends. The
writer has given quite just outline ofhs subject
without however descending into details and
omitting several facts necessary to true appre-
citation of the mission the latter institution was
designed to fulfil aud is fulfilling. In l779. the
Commissioners, consisting Of Thomas Jefferson
Edmund Pendleton and George Wythe, upon
whom was dayolved the task Of adapting the laws
of the young Commonwealth to her new political
condition, entered upon their labors Among
the great changes in state policy which owe their
origin to the first named statesman, changes
which win one day cause Thomas jefferson To
rank a. high a. great jufist. rs with his admir-
she has ever done as political philosopher or
man If science. were four bills which he de-
nominated he four pillars of the Republican cd
flee These were the abolition Of Entails the
repeal of the laws of Primogeniture the act Of
Religions Freedom and an act providing for gen
eral Education. His scheme contemplated the
establishment Of primary schools and academies
at public expense: of colleges where higher
grade of edaea ion might be attained aud a uni
yersity for instruction in all the sciences. This
bill was not passed until 1896 and then with a.
mcndments which rendered it mpractoable.
In Isl7. Mr. jefferson. who had lost none Of
his zeal in favor of education, procured tho noor-
poration Of the University of Virginia The Lit
erary Fund had ben set on foot seven years be-
fore, and he now hoped that the way war open
ing up for the accomplishment Of his earnest
wishes. by the proceeds of the Literary Fund,
the children Of the poor would. at least to some
extent. be enabled to procure the rudmcnts of
knowledge; while the University would afford To
youths of higher educational prospects, facilities
for accomplished trainings and thus the standard
of attainment throughout society be raised, and
the way prepared for the full adoption of his com
plete system.
The University was thus intended by its foun
der to be the last of series of institutions, begin
ming with the primary school and open to rich
and poor alike where those whose minds render
them worthy might pursue the most liberal
Of study Its organization permits the
student to devote himself to such branches as ho
y,by mental constitution, or from his intended
course Of life, deem most eongenal, most use
ful to him. It's mission was to raise the grade of
scholarship among the young men of the country.
and thus induce higher appreciation of educa-
ton. II ia como of these onda IL has como short
of the design, the fault is chargeabe neither to
the founderno to the institution. In some, es-
peciay the last, it has been eminent, success
iul. 1t Is admitted fact one well known to all
who are at all eonvorsant with the attachments
made By young men who have entered there from
Is25, down to the present time, that the average
scholarship of matrcalates is greatly advanced,
aud that from our higher academies, and schools,
taught for the most part by graduates, young
men have entered college better scholars than
were turned ont from the University itself twenty
FIVE years ago.
1t falls mol within our limits 10 give n detailed
statement of the system of instruction pursued in
the University. The article we have alluded to
al the annual catalogue. which unlike the puffs
emanating annually under that title from North
ern colleges, including Harvard and Yale) states
the exact truth with respect to the extent and
thoronghness of the course of instruction, will
furnish iuster idea of it, than any synopsis we
could here present. Suffice it to say that it has
become the acknowledged rival of ale aud Harry
ard, which reckon their years by almost as many
centuries, our University has decades-that it
has besides them other equal in America and
is prominently first of Southern colleges.
Students are attracted ththcr in numbers
which have almost doubled within the last six
years; the steady increase being from thirty to
fifty per Gnnam. The most encouraging feature
connected with this increase is the fact that it is
principally from Virginia. The total number for
the present session is expected to reach 500.--
The standard Of graduation keeps pace with the
increase of numbers, and the higher grade of pre-
paration with which matriculates enter. We
have been informed by young men who have
spent several years within its walls, in the com
pletion of their academic and professional studies
that the examinations in each of the several
schools were becoming each year more and more
searching.
In estimating the advantages accruing to soci-
ETY. from such an institution, we should remem-
Der that the intellectual wealth of a populace is
part Of its actual wealth. The man whose ma
tive powers have been developed by a thorough
system of mental gymnastics is continually set
ting free ideas TO work upon and develope
Al ,;xI a. e 4.