The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-03
GEORGE BANCROFT AVID HARVARD.
The New Fellowship for Harvard College,
Letter Of Hon. George Bancroft FOunG-
ing the John Thornton Kirlklnnd Fellow ship.


The New Fellowship for Harvard College,
Letter Of Hon. George BancsOr Found
ing the John Thornton Kirkland Fellowship.
AMERICAN LEGATION, BERLIN, July A. 1871.
SIR, has long been my wish 10 raise a memo
rial 10 one OF your predecessors Jonn Thornton Kirk
land and to requlte benefits received through him.
During . long lie, in which have had the oppor-
tunity OF seeing many men, In divers lands, famed
for mind and accomplishments l have seen lew
who were his equals, and no one who knew better
than nc how 70 deal with his fellow men, His
they invited confidence ana repealed familiarity.
scholar and man OF the world, he was
by ali classes IN the college. With severe reproos
OF misconduct he mingled SO much humanenesS
and 80 easy and natural appeals TO the better ee.
mentS OF character IN those whom he was Obliged
TO censure, that his reprool acted ike a benedic-
ton. and they VINO received 1t left his presence
abashed, pentent, grateful ana attached. 10
those who showed aptness lcr literary pursuits he
was an unaiiing friend. treating them with paier-
nal regard while under his care, and watching
their career IN life with neverceaslng interest.
There was not in his nature a trace OF anything
that was mean or narrow. lie was always and
everywhere devoid OF envy or discomfort or repin-
Ing, and was throughout large and liberal ana gen.
HIM well regretted that ne did not write more
Tor the public for seemed to them that no one IN
ana that no one had, ike him. the inIuitive knowl.
edge OF human passions aud character. He was
suited to any high pn6lc office was ever the hon
Ored companion OF statesmen, and dit TO be the peer
" the best OF them hut he was satisfied with BRING
Ing the university over which he presided into
condition more worthy OF the arts and sciences
which 1t undertook to teach, and OF the affection
and benevolence OF the community with winch 1t
had grown up and prospered. He opened the WAYS
through which 1t has passed onward 90 Its present
eminent condition, aud MS noble influence still
yves TO assist you SIR, In bringing tme-h0nOred
Harvard stu nearer To the excellence which the
present age hopes for and expects.
ilttle more than nty-inree years aoo Ed ward
Everett then Eliot Professor of Greek literature.
one OF his letters to President Kirkland developed
the Idea that IT would be well TO send some young
| graduate OF Harvard TO study Tor while Ut Ger
man university, win view TO his being called to
| place on the college board. Tne President ap-
proved the suggestion, and choice for this trav-
| eilng scholarship fell upon me. Accordingly, In
the early summer OF 1918, being then IN my eign-
,eenth year, proceeded to Gottlngen. Alter re-
naming more than three years In Europe Returned
| TO Cambridge where held the once OF tutor Tor
one year. There being no opening for perma-
nent connection with The university devoted
lew Yeas TO an ATTEMPT to Introduce among
| cation, so as to divide more exactly prellm-
nary studies from the higher scientific courses
leges into universities, after the plan every
adopted Ia Germany. But 1t Is not easy to change
an organization That has Its roots IN the habits OF
the country. And the experiment could not succeed,
| for 1t was Impossible to introduce the German
| usage which permits students to pass freely from
private place OF instruction to public One with
out the exactlon Of payments for instruction else
| l then applied through the late Judge Charles
| Jackson. member OF the corporation and friend
OF mine, for leave to read lectures on history IN
| the right alter a few preliminary formalties to
sa ar an o as or 1 IS n my
| time 1t was not SO much an ONCE as permission
| that | desired MY request was declined by my
| own alma mater, so that had not the opportunity
OF manifesting my affection Tor her by personal SER
vices, and my lie has had in consequence unex-
peced variety and independence. But wherever
my lot has been thrown have always preserved In
freshness ana strength the love which l bore TO
thai attachment
idea OF President Kirkland, thar the incumbent
should have leave TO repair TO foreign country Tor
election the scholarship; no one Is u be elected
who mas not shown uncommon ability and uncom-
should lall on some one who needs the subsidy.
You, sir, as the successor OF DR.. Kirkland, may
know the funds out OF which came the modest but
sufficient stipend which received; ana, II So l
! leave 1t TO you and the corporation to Impose any
| limitations that you think right. Otherwise resi-
dence at the University, but not for more than three
| years, may be required But the residence should
have reference 10 any OF the schools divinity, law
or medicine, or Of mines, or OF science, or OF any
other scnool that is or may be founded, not less
than TO the classes OF the undergraduates. think,
exceptional case. there should be authority TO
name the scholar from any place. without any pre-.
| vious residence at Cambridge; and If you and the
corporation approve wish 1t to be so established
Inc scholarship should be held by no one for more
than three years, and during tnat time should be
renewed from year TO year, but only on evidence
d0wment. leave to you and TO the corporation to
circumscribe, II, from the considerations already
when the incumbent should devote himself. But,
for my own part, 1 am willing the scholarship
;ngulsh himself In either OF the learned profess
sions or In any branch Of science In archltec-
ture, sculpture, painting, music Or letters.
10 constitute the necessary fund l propose
TO devote the sum or $4,000, to be safely
invested the income to be given to the
scnolar. Having never accepted any inheritance,
and having never engaged In any lucrative pur-
suit cannot at once pay INTO the treasury OF the
University the whole sum, OF which l yet hope TO
make aud complete the payment during my life.
But AZ life Is always uncertain, and the life OF an
Old man surely near Its close wish you without
delay TO have drawn paper for me to sign
year until the wnole sum OF $4,000 shall be dis.
charged, and, IN case OF my death before the pay
meats are Completed to bind my executors to pay
the balance that may remain due, within one year
after NV decease. The interest that Will accrue on
instruments that may be paid from time to time rs
not TO he reckoned IN discharge OF any part or the
principal, but Is 10 be added to the principal and
will IN so far enlarge the fund. wish the scholar
ship TO bear tho name VI JOnn Thornton Kirkland.
Pray consult the corporation, and If you will then
send Tor my signature the paper that Will bind me
be promptly executed and returned TO you
One word more. The lncumbents OF the scholar
ship may, perhaps, be afterwards drawn into the
corps OF professors at the University. Should they
render no such service. and should they be pros
pered IN life, wish each OF them so prospered to
be reminded ana, excepting always those perma-
nently connected with the University instructors
and those whose moderate wants press upon their
means, thus In advance charge them to Initiate
my example In rendering hid through Harvard
College, to the or arts and letters, OF science
and learning. reraaln' SIR yoqps ss'ncseEsely
r., pro mt of lor a,n;,