, 1872-11-22

It will be q matter of soma surprise to the
general public that, as one result of the Boston
| fire, Harvard College is about to make an ap-
peal to the American people for help. There
has always been an impression that Harvard
| College was wealthy, and was abundantly able to
meet her expenses from her income. It is now
stated that considerable portion OF the wealth
of the University is in it's buildings, which, OF
course, are unproductive; in bequests, which
have always been made with reference to specific
purposes, and cannot, therefore, be Of any avail
for the general uses Of the University; and in
the tuition fees of students, which only go to
meet current expenses, and leave little
margin for profitable Investments. The
real wealth Of the University, how
ever, was derived from rents and interest
on loans secured by mortgages on buildings
which we're destroyed in the fire. The other
sources Of income we're far from availability in
meeting the expenses Of the institution. The
loss by the destruction Of the real sources ia va
riously estimated at from $500, 600 to $500, 900.
The income from this for the current year which
has been thus suddenly cut OFF would have
amounted to at least $4,000. This income, as
well as considerable portion Of the principal,
Harvard College will shortly ask it's friends to
replace. The necessity is obvious. Without
it, it will be necessary to reduce the salaries Of
Professors, which are already disproportionate
to the services they render, as ia
the case in nearly all institutions
of learning. It will furthermore be necessary
to stop at once all outlay for apparatus OF every
description, for an increase OF the library and all
improvements which have been outlined, thus
seriously interfering with the various courses Of
study and crippling the efforts Of the University
to increase it's sphere Of usefulness.
We have no doubt the appeal Of the Univer-
Gty to the country at large and to its thousands
OF alumni in particular will meet with hearty
and generous response. Harvard College is one
OF the few great seats Of learning in the United
States which has more than q local influence
Its blessings have radiated far and wide. It's
iberality in education and its influence upon
culture have given it q name even in foreign
countries, and in the literary world
it holds the same relation to the United
States that Oxford and Cambridge
do to England. Any reverse which happens to
it, therefore, is, to some extent, a national re-
verse, and it will undoubtedly be matter Of
national pride to provide against any damage to
it's material interests, OF any lapse Of it's educa-
tional usefulness. The entire sum to be raised
is, ne understand, 9250,000, and ne have no
doubt that this sum can be raised among its
immediate friends and graduates, who are scat
tered all over the United States. In the event
that they cannot, the fact that Boston itself
seems to need no special relief growing out OF
the fire, but is abundantly able to take care Of
those who are in need, will leave the general
public at liberty to respond very freely to the
call OF Harvard College, and thus prevent this
great national seat Of learning from pausing in
it's benefcent work.