New-York tribune., 1868-03-20

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Your recent article on the Cornell Uni
versy despite the Of Its statements.
and value OF its suggestions contained one paragraph
which has been much misinterpreted.
That paragraph has led many the inference that the
authorities Of the University will discourage classical
studies"
letters from all parts of the country now coming
in upon me showing this impression let correct 1t by
simple statement.
The act Congress- and the charter from the State OF
NewYork which created the original endowment, while
laying upon agriculture and the mechanic arts are
careful to name other scientific and classical branches
and military tactics" subjects Of study.
Mr. Cornell. in giving his endowment, used these words
q" would found institution where any person car find
instruction In any study"
With such muniments these It will be seen at once,
that while the Trustees do all I'm their power
promote thorough special education in agriculture the
mechanic arts, &c, they are also bound to promcts
thorough general educatiOn and certainly they are bound
not TO Z dscOurage" any study whatever.
In this view Of their duty they will have in full opera
Fust-specal Departmental as follows Agriculture, the
Mechanic Arts Civil Engineering Mining and Metaliur,
enee Seeoadis@Genera Courses as follows First Gen
eral Course winch Modern Languages aud Literature
raj Course, in which Latin and German combined;
Third General Course in which Ancient Lsngnages are
be made as complete as possible. m, -
discouraged from either essential point where
the Cornell University differs from every other NO dis
nGon T De sooS Ty IN one viii 6
accounted equal to four OF good study IN another
hand nor 10 Geology on the other The degree u
be gire 10 all students taking either OF the Jour years sec-
For il ia impossible TO find a why man shoud
be made Bachelor OF Arts for good studies In Cicero and
Tacitus aud Thueyddes and SophOces which does nou
equally prove that he ought 10 have the same distinctions
for good studies in MOntesquieu and Cornee and Gethe
and Schiller, and Herder and Dante, and Shakespeare
And is equally impossible 10 show why man hgnofanu
of the great modern classics Is any more classical
scholar than man ignorant OF the great dnee classics
distinguishing thing then is that the Cornell Uni
or ehoeethe same liberty Of choice which young men
constantly called upon TO exercise IN regard 70 mat
sci and advice 1t is believed that young men who have
ambition enough 10 enter college have interest enough IN
friends and teachers, make choice which will lead tn
results certainly unsatisfactory than the scholar
know that it may said other colleges have pro-
vded different for students OF different aims
often than The difficulty has been that these
other have been held inferior to the regular
course Those taking this regular course" generally
held superior caste. They take peculiar degree they
generally hold commencement for themselves alonei
they e students the most neably ignorant Of them
constantly call the most earnest IN the other courses
gree held be inferior and in the great colleges OF News
England they are generally excluded from any part I'M
part OF the university town remote from the superor
mortas who are grinding through the regular course
Against al this the Cornell University authorities are
pledged They are determined not only 20 grant the
same degree to a students OF four years standing who
have passed the requisite examinations in either OF tho
general courses, but they will give them all equal pry
eges TO buildings and public exercises aud no eharer
does not admit students om ali general courses on equal
Now let us see how this will discourage classical edu
cation"
When was student in one Of the largest New England
colleges there over hundred IN my class or these
twenty thirty loved classical studies and could have
made them noble OF culture but these were held
poned /" or smOuged" through-sadlyto the detrnert
Of their minds and morals Consequently the classical
obliged give their main labor to stirring the duars
TO whipping in the aggards-in short not to the thirty
who loathed them Could there be anyworse educational
economy than that Must not be iata 70 any rea e
up to us so constant and so pathetic regarding the
Wretcned standard OF ciassica, eauea.yn ~ chnr
under system which ties one man VINO loves TWO
Now the Cornell University viii indulge in tirades
against the classics IL will have the pest classical pro-
horoughy~it viii not thwar them by forcing their
lecture rooms mass OF students VINO, while reeiung
Greek are thinking OF German-t will enable each pro-
fessor 10 law out bis labor who will work with
WILT will thus enable him 10 read entire authors
ddtion TO what we shall do for scientific aud practical
agriculture and the mechanic arts this plan
than can be produced under the existing system-cer
tainy it couldno produce less or poorer.
AS final proof that the University would not :" dis
courage classical studies may say that In addition to
o iod Ss aS % Q, @ Gn
history art and literature In general already sent
goody bid 10 Berlin for the B0pp Library In pholog
probably one OF the best ever collected In Europe
and has purchased the Anthon Library In classical era
ture probably the hest collected In America.
ought also TO be mentioned. that the schedule OF
prizes for merorious study which, 20 the OF
will be distributed the first ye edition
OF the First General Announcement" shows that the
classical course participates equally with the other
eral courses
In addition to the general already mentioned
course Of three years an opsenai eoarss and
tent 10 give university liberty Of choice.
To carry out this intent Faculty pledged From
gassz, who will commence his twenty lectures the
day OF the fret term, to the youngest assistant In
single purpose Is 10 tie
eDcircng founders head the great of
the University: 81 woed found assutioa rhere amp
person can md iasruch0a ia amy study"
Very truly yours, ANDREW ID. WHITE.
President elect Of the Cornell University
Syraeuse March l6, 1863
A dry dock has been opened on the Island