New-York tribune., 1869-04-03

now received temporary appointments us Aosl'''i'
Professor of Chemistry the Scientific School, was
commissioned to work out the new scheme IL Is
easy TO understand how retrograde step this shoulu
,eem TO the advocates of the European system. IL
nevertheless obtained the support of very consid-
erable majority of the Scientific Faculty ana
was on the point Of being put IN oper-
alton. prospectus of the new scneme nav
ing actually been put out by authority, ana
students invited to present themselves Tor exam
ination in accordance with its provisions, when the
death of President FELTON, and the accession OF Mr.
Hill to The Presidency gave turn to the balance OF
power, and caused the whole plan to be set aside
Mr. Horsford at this moment resigning the Rnmford
Professorshlp the question of carrying out the new
programme became identified with that of filling the
vacant chair Had the President favored the change
Mr. Eliot would have received the appointment, as o
matter of course. As it was the Runford Professor
ship was conferred upon Dr. Wacott Gibbs, at that
time Professor of Chemistry in the New-York Free
Academy The Temporary appointment Mr.. Eliot
had held terminating at this moment, he was lelb
without an. occupation, and shortly afteTward Went
abroad, partly to perfect himself in chemical re-
search and partly TO study the various methods oil
scientific andliterary educatiOnn uSein England ana
on the Contnent-a subject i'll which his experience
at Cambridge qualified him to be singulaTiy exact
andinteIigent Observer and from which he returned
in the Autumn of 1865 after two years absence,
far better furnished in this department OF study than
any one that can be pointed out in this community,
and with mind and character enlarged. enIlched'
aud natured both by the generous ana dlgnlhed nt-
ture Of his studies and bv personal Intercourse with
the literary and scientific men OF the Old world. Un-
Ill lac went abroad he had lived at Cambridge almost
without interruption, as UNDERGRADUATE, tutor, ana
profes or for fifteen years. There is no lmpfoprety
in saying THAT his best friends and waTmest admirers
wcro surprised at the development OF power he
While stli in Europe. Mr.. Eliot had received and
accepted an appointment as Professor of Chemistry
and Metaurgy in the Massachusetts Institute OF
Technology, then just commencing operations as
school OF science ana upon a pan tgSenP,ns to TaI
renee Scientific School, which he had taken SO
largo a part in promoting and whose fortunes
ho had SHARED. He has here found, III con-
trbuting to build up what has now become the
most prosperous scientific school IN the country,
field of usefulness extremely congeniH to his tastes,
and in which the results OF his observation and eX,
peTence understood to have been OF most signal
service.
vote of the Corporation. TO which the OyerseeTs VIII
doubtless give willing SANCTION, 10 that OF Presl-
more utterly unexpected TO him and to his friends
than ts result of the long discussions TO which the
400 indeed II was commonly said that these honors
were awaiting him in the future; and that II would
be happy day for the Golege WllSn sh9 CVui4 ~ SUN i
mon him to preside in her councils; put the cu-
cnmstances under which he had left Cambridge were
such that it was felt by himself, as well as by hls
fTitpds that the path of usefulness and dlS-
tinctiOn was definitely closed. This conviction
has not been without its advantage, as II has
enabIed him TO enter into the discussions to which
the vacant Presidency has given rise with freedom
that would have been impossible If his own candl-
dacy had not been considered out OF the question
and to express himself upon the matters under de-
bate with distinctness which leaves nothing 10 DO
desired
cupied the intaTegnVm may seem best to explain the
attitude of the President elect.
These discussions have turned upon the
question, what duties should be assigned TO
the Presidential officer and have involved
in their range the whole matter tier OF UnyeTt
immense increase the number of students had re-
suited in overwhelming the President with great
deal of labor that might be as well performed by
another The OverseeTs accordingly refused to per
NIT the corporation to proceed at once to an election
and appointed Committee to consider what
Changes if any had best be made in tho Presidents
duties. notion prevailed pretty extensively both
among the Overseers and among the body OF the
Alumni that there really needed two Presidents
of the College to attend TO the undergraduates,
and one of the University, sort of Chancellor who
byhis great name and fame, and. also. by his wis
dom and authority control and direct the various
Schools of Law, Medicine, and Science, compelling
them to work harnoniousy to common result, in the
establishment of real University system The promo
ters OF this scheme seem gradually to have satisfied
themselves OF IT'S lmpactGaDlllty, ana lhey con
tented themselves at last with reporting resolution
merely recommending the corporation to extend
somewhat the duties of the Regent, an officer who
has existed since Mr.. Sparks's day, enlargng his
emoluments, and perhaps giving him new name
No change in the statutes relating to the President
were found to be needed as he already had anthor-
ity to attend to any general duties he could find time
for But that those duties should not and could not
include any paramount influence in the admipistra-
toh either of the professional schools or of the
ademical department and the control of their policy
was insisted upon by Nh. Eliot with great earnest
ness The President he urged must be chiefly an ex-
ecutive officer the conduct of affairs both In It's gem
era policy and in its details lies mainly with the sew
ereal faculties and the rests with them
The only safeguard is IN their united wisdom. The
Presidents duty to see that every question has fair
and full discussion and that the conclusions reached
are faithfully carried ont IN practice. Even II he
could be supposed capable OF the presumption OF en-
forcing his Judgment against theirs il would be im
practicable. No officers could submit TO such q
tyranny. In fact the real influence of a President
nent of college officers. Here his advice to the
poraton is practically final, and thus. however cir
cumsGibed his present power, the future OF the
University is pretty much in his hands. 1t is here
that President tells.
The new President, Mr. Eliot brings unusual
qualifications TO the wOrk-youth and strength
executive ability and capacity for work, thor
pugh acquaintance with the ground and an unusual
knowledge las has been sad) OF other institutions OF
learning, clear head and definite convictions and
absolute integrity and singe-mndedneSS IN the per-
Torrance of duty; but vet conscientious openngss
of mind, aud that readiness to hear and entertain
the opinions and arguments of Others without whch
profitable discussion Is impossible. In ls inter
course with men he Is admirably frank, SIMPLE
and straightforward, with the manners and
breeding of gentleman and q gentlemans in
sfincts-a little stiff perhaps in formal intercourse,
though this grows less it is said he grows older
but genial and cOmpanionabe upon acquaintance,
and full of entertaing and instructive talk, sound
counselor and sympathetic adviser; sagacious in
his Judgment of men, not too exactng bnt holding
them only for what they are worth; good chemist,
and well informed II not learned IN ot1er branches
forests and wide range of intellectual synpatAles;
He is man, in short, of unusual ability, vlRof and
good sense in the prime of life and enjoying the best
development of his powers.
-------~-s------- =
ret rt1z.GREENF HALLECK.