Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-08-11
To the Editors Of the Enquirer:
UsIvERsITY OF VIRGINIA,
Auuust Y 1877

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
August 8, 1857.
This !. IN. fountain 7priac of the literature Of the
limited states and f,nu, th;s trnciyins ;hc
whole country like the Delta ct the Nile, ~ receiving
pcrpcual.y drpo-i; deposit of the richest char
| meter Ii is no longer coendinS tor patronage anu
poSi,i" il bestowng countless dement's its iHaiT
| rula-s out number those at any Institution ~ the
\ whole country. Ii has grown up against all "i'pos
| ,u,i, iii apts of bad management ani IN spite OF
tho mea.ra appropriations from the State" nud has
fastened itself in The affections OF our "hole poo
] ple Our State has the buildings, her territory IL
honorei BY its location, but the citizens ct every
State in The American Union may justly claim tor
their country interest in the offspring ui the great
apostle of human liberty Inc do'larat'n "t lhGepeh,
dence the act of religious freedom. the founding OF
| the University OF Virginia, this is TIE triangular
crown of glory aud excellence that c0usS%rat.s to
| all hearts the fame Of Thomas Jefferson The per
lection aud b.i1acy uf eHcb ot these acts puzzles
Ia 10 determine upo, the most to he adrnirei rs
,h. ncscuIah, value tf each one, is established by
the si!en: concurrence OF every mind, as being the
yreatest performance accomplished by any man
i'm our country who has sought from the creations oi
his own mind, in the walks o, peace aud consangu'n'
~ With his race TO hastow upon his contemporaries
and their posteriiy benefits and blessings above COM
putston.
NV visits here have been seldom, but every one in
rre,:s.s my estimate OF is value Heretofore nave
been delighted with its fAutess architectural proper
tons. Nav hav" seen tho best work OF hrt Ill the
United States the copy OF the School OF Athens, ny
Balizs--u every particular fauitiess, and triumph
IA, where in the world 10 be eSce!led. The orSlna'
Las ,een rs.nro,iuced with fauess leithfuussA and
beyond dispute the best copy 10 existence gny where
| lave seen aud heard many criticisms upon iaa
work. | nv. all Of the critics to all examination {"
this great work. in i,s home, whero 1t belongs
wish the would be- Judges 10 come up and Gcquant
themselves with tho subject before they trust them
selves upon thu ireRcherous path oi finding detects
IN the original conception (which u deemsd fault
less,) and then tn point out sing particular III
,,l,,rI IN thn u ni
spirit, In tho line. o IN" great original Dr. johnson
once told young ;iatl. VII" SAID he dd not like
SLsk speur. ''lf that Ge true" said johnson, "you
ought not to say So. Tia hall which contains this
uic,u:s nas been added "a ~, original buildings
rais hss been HI uufor, tna.e departure from the
u III OF a. tuilfiucs mad- by Mr. III de:fon and
ADDS notl:u.. - lie Impressions derived from the
view uf tbe University from anv point ibli hal mas
D. vacant spaces lis walls winch ought 10 be hll.d
by the portraits Of the Professors Ut the University as
they pass !sn,n the stage OF action. II has been M IA
necessary Of had taste 10 cucumber tho lawn the
grounds md the building" with trees, vines and
.hrubbsv They contribute nothing 10 the comforts
of the place aud mus; or later affect injurious
" not only the buildings, but the health ut the resi-
dents. Shade trees may be very appropriate about
rsntlrman's residence or at q watering place. out
where buildings have been erected with an especial
eva to protect all WHO may luhao them FROM the sum-
aud with The ,lesi. at being clean aud perfect, as
Who'll. when viewed by the inmates ar the visitors, 1t
is bad taste to cover tbs whole up by indifferent aud
hom trees, and badly cultivated ana 8Wk-
wardly dressed shrubbery and flowers. There IL
future for the University ut Firgiuis without limit
save only to such an extent ne the want ut forecast
and pruisuce in meeting promptly the growing he
cesses ot highly prosperous country u'aY eief us
full vrhsd sueu,!nr. Their, ID nor u Necessity ioT
uuie three times as many additional buildings
here. The capacities OF IN. dornltTies are Tor
about TWO hundred and ten students. we can VITA
certainty calculate upon eight hundred Tue ensuing
session. l. il bearaOl- thSt t1reeonr;l:s OF he
yoaug nen who come from beyond the limits OF fh!s
state should b- colpeed 10 iud lodgings oai OF The
University buildings this may be submitted {" 20:
4 few wears. 6u j; uush; not 10 be borus aay !oac-r
than the edd,iorsl bulldogs he placed on The
grounds now belonging To the University.
wholly nuoccupied there Is ample lard
procured by Mr.. Jefferson !ur as many buildings es
w;l! he needed for yeas 10 come. iu the scnoo.s IL Is
necessary tho. very large additions should oa made
10 the number OF tssrbers. Ia the department CT
Modern Languages. Freacamsn should teacn
French I.a,:sn. the Italian Language, spanarG
the Spanish language. and German, the German
language. Ther. would be 40 absurdl:y in e:nploy
Ing au Italian TO teach anY body 10 speak English
aud there can be no,hiac t.ae as that 10 A nrrl
can can speak aG-ny and properly the French Ian.
usge Uuless be is ta!lsrised 10 tbs sounds aod d.
cents By Frenchman. and that the modern SPOKEN
living Languages are becoming more and more i'm
portau; every day, ss the Intercourse between the
nations of The earth becomes aud more fire
orent is obvious. In the schools tor the dead iau
:uayes i, is certsia ;aat many more langua:es
Inust be taught than now are when the growing d.
mand 70. scholars Of the hst order is developing ii
sif by investigations into the antiquities OF The
20 which We belong. l; is true tina, tbs most vaus.
Sic discoveries respecting these subjects, mus; be pur
sued in the countries where man, SO lar as We row
know was h:s placed after his cTsa9n yet Ine nd-1
the characte. aud reflections, and ,henS'o!y " al
the races before the Grecan and Romsn hm
Hi-es. is rendered more interesting oy the ~
.crip'"n, upon the monuments which they nave
lett eehiud them, aud to understand t0ese III
scf'p'ous. the knowledge OF taeis languages
aus Dc obtained, and grea: University ought I"
furnish to the American students toe opportunities
Tor acquiring that knowedSe. In the schools for
nsdicine IN Virginia, We are GGtgty deficient. we
have Two or three which are merely preparatory
schools TOR the Phiiade!pha schoos. Ibis ought not