The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-08-27

The frat donation in behalf of southern
odncot;on made in 1866. was 81 1000, 900 in
casI and 81 100, 900 in Mississippi State
bonds, The second donation, made within
the last eight weeks, was 81 100000 in cash
and 1886, 900 in Florida State bonds. The
nominal amount, therefore, is more than
SO, SOC, 900, though only 100000 are at
nresent available. This is iudiciously in
vested. and yields annually about $780,
600. In special recognition of the former
of these donations, the Congress of the
United States, ON the 10th March, 1867,
voted to Mr.. Peabody magnificent gold
medal. since made and presented to him.
This testimonial, though called medal is
more properly piece of symbolic statuary
about one foot in height-an EXQUISITE WORK
of art. It was manufactured IN New YORK.
and cost $1,000. =,
Some notice of the policy pursued IN Its
distribution by the almoners OF MI. fea-
bodv's bounty to the South seems in this
connection appropriate, and will be briefly
given. 80, III 49,
means at their command, for the Board OF
Trustees to assist all schools, or even all
those of one class worthy of their aid, they
have. after mature deliberation, and with
the appreciation Of the great donor, deter
mined for the present to conhne the benhts
of the fund TO public free schools for ele-
neutary instruction, believing that in this
way the neediest portions of the whole
population can be most readily reached.
The entire cost of maintaining schools is IN
no case met by the Board, but communities
are encouraged to establish them by con-
tribution from the Board of part-gene-
rally small part-of the money necessary
for that purpose. A school being estapllshed,
the portion contributed by the Board is APP
piled by the same municipal agents that con-
troll the outlay of the rest, the economical ad-
ministration of which, as it is produced by
taxation, the people are sufficiently jealous
in guarding. All expense to the trustees
in making this contribution available Is
thus avoided, and system of schools IN
troduced which, being entirely controlled
by the organs of the people and those i'm
mediately interested in their success, are
generally acceptable, and likely TO he per-
petuated even when the aid in question Is
withdrawn. The fund being, as before in
timated, wholly insufficient to assist all
needy communities, it should be added that
the plan of the Board thus far has been to
concentrate it upon cities and towns where
the largest number of children are accessi-
BILE, thus employing it most efiiciently-ex'
hibiting models to the surrounding country
of a successful system, and encouraging
the foundation of similar schools elsewhere.
Mr.. Peabody's gift being designed for the
benefit of both races, the inquiry is sug-
l. loo e. Ia
"mixed schools are contemplated by him
or his representatives. To this question
pointed reply can be given. The Board, as
indicated above, assume no control what
ever over the arrangement OF the schools to
which assistance is accorded, leaving all
such matters entirely with the local autho-
rites. who establish and chiefly maintain
them consequently no portion of the fund
can be expended on mixed schools except
by the sanction of those authorities-a
sanction which, so far as is known, has
been uniformly withheld. In point of fact,
much the larger part of the help hitherto
civen has been to white schools, those for
colored children having bceE to large ex-
tent provided for from other sources, and
the Board always atfording their aid where
it is most needed.
Mr.. Peabody is attended at the Springs
by his nephew, Mr.. George Peabody Rus
sell. and Mrs. Russell, of Salem, Mass, as
well as by the Rev. y. Sears, D. D., LID,
Of Staunton, Va. This gentleman was for
merly Superintendent of Public instruction
in Massachusetts, and subsequently sue
ceedcd the celebrated Dr.. Wayland as Pre-
sident of Brown University, at Providence,
r. l., an office which he resigned to assume
the duties of General Agent of the Southern
Education Fund For this position his
talents, experience, and character, emf
nentlv qualify him. He is known to pos
sess the entire confidence Of the dstin
guished gentlemen composing the Board of
Irustees-a confidence which Mr.. Peabody
has confirmed in the warmest terms to the
present writer.
Mr.. Peabody shares with Ex-Governor
Wise the uppermost cottage in Baltimore
Row, and sits at the same table with Gene
raj Lee, Mr.. Corcoran, Mr.. Taggart, and
others. He is now in his seventy-ffth year,
and is, fortunately for the world, bache-
lor. Being quite infrm, he has been sell
dom able to come to parlor or dining-room,
though he has received many ladies and
gentlemen at his cottage, and seems fond of
society. His manners are singularly afta-
Bile and pleasing, and his countenance one
of the most benevolent we have ever seen.
1t is also indisputably handsome. 1t is
pleasant to know that he is particularly
gratifed with she reception he has met here,
and with the considerable attention that has
been on every hand shown him. Such evil
dences of regard are highly appreciated by
q man who has steadfastly declined titles
and decorations at the hands of the great
o,t E,ropa