AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE THE SOCIETY OF ALUMNI O F MIAMI UNIVERSITY, *, y AT THEIR ANNIVERSARY, AUGUST 13th, 1840 : CH ARLES ANDERSON OXFORD, OHIO: FEINTED BY JOHN B. FEAT. MDCCCXL. AN ADDRESS. Fellow Citizens and Brethren, Alumni of Miami University: Whilst, at this great annual intellectual festival of our friends and former fellow-students, they who had public ap- pointments have been occupying your attention with topics of inoral, philosophical or scientific import, and of a general nature, I have thought it would he meet to the occasion, for us 1o contract the extent of our contemplations, and employ our minds with a subject of a more special, perhaps practically of a more useful, and to us of the Society, of an equally enter- taining nature. Accordingly, I have here prepared a few facts and reflections upon the history, condition and prospects of the Miami University itself, mingled with brief and vapid considerations of some of the means necessary to its im- provement. It may be, that, in the selection of this subject, cither the character of the occasion itself, or the degree of general interest which our parent Institution may inspire in the minds of this audience, has been mistaken. If so, the public should consider that this subject is, or should be, one of deep interest to the Society which I have here the honor to represent, and may look upon these remarks, as on our own private account. But if 1 have mistaken your tastes, cither in their substance or in the method of their arrangement, I can offer no further apology to either, for having “taken the responsibility” of thus departing from the usual style of subjects on these occasions. And I must bespeak either your attention, or your patience. One of the first reflections, which presses itself upon the ob- servation of one reviewing its history, is, that the original design of those who gave life to this University, was part of a great 6 national scheme, the grandeur of whose conception has, in the the history of man, only been equalled by its rapid and complete accomplishment. It was a member of the great plan of the settlement and civilizaton of the North-Western Territory. And the assertion is repeated, that except the colonization of the continent of America, a more bold and manly design has been rarely, if ever conceived* and that in the history of the world, none has yet been more wonderfully or perfectly exe- cuted. Of that grand end, this was one of the wisest, and most con- sistent means. To the period at which it was first conceived and urged forward with such ardor, it might not, at a casual glance, be thought to have been peculiarly adapted. But it was,* and the first settlers clearly perceived it. Now, some of us, their descendants, like those polished and very refined young ladies and gentlemen we sometimes meet with, have, in our combined modesty and sincerity, grown ashamed of the unlet- tered and unpretending plainness of our grandfathers, and think they did well only for old folks, and of that day; and would think it strange that they should have had a care for our educa- tion. But there never was a greater mistake. For why should it be strange that the first emigrants to these wilds, should desire to make provision for the minds of their posterity, or that their coadjutors of the older States, in those labors which won and secured the nation’s independence, should have thought their desire an object worthy of the nation’s liberality? Was this world to them only a world of matter? Or this life only a continued struggle for worldly acquisitions? No, indeed; they iiad read, and observed, and reasoned, until principles, and human rights, and interests, were to them apparently tangible, appreciable things. Some of them, it is true, were unlettered, but they were none the less useful in carrying forward great designs. In them a strong nature, “by that crisis which tried men’s souls,’’ had been made to lean upon its own strength. A wrarm enterprise, strong common sense—that admirable bal- ance of the best faculties which generally makes, and indeed is, greatness; and felt and fixed principles of moral and social 7 conduct, taught them through the great revolution and con- flict of doctrines at that day, to see clearly when others groped in dubious twilight, and to know and realize what others only believed. And many who came to that forest-land were scholars, whose learning, though often great and refined, had not enfeebled and “sicklicd o’er with the pale cast of thought” minds strong, and marked with the lineaments of hardy, enter- prising and useful character. Applying to them the language of the learned and venerable Ex-President Adams, picturing the American Colonists; “Bold and daring enterprise, stubborn endurance of privation, unflinching intrepidity in facing danger, and unflexible adherence to conscientious principle, had steeled to energetic and unyielding hardihood their characters.” Such w’ere the men who opened these deeply shaded hills and valleys to the light of the sun, and they who gave to us the present dwellers upon them, the radiations of literature, science and religion. And vet it would seem not a little singular that such men, at that time, when they were scarcely yet reposing from the most laborious action, and when, without closely observing them, their deeds would seem to us, at this distance of time, to have so little depcndance upon those mental stores which liberal or scientific education alone can give, that they should have made such an Institution as this, their first and highest object of desire. Unquestionably, with all the lights from their wisdom and ex- perience, and notwithstanding that tendency to imitate prece- dents and examples, which is so strong in communities, the first thing to be asked for now, by a Territory, when the complica- tions ot trade, and the extension of liberal professions too, ought to have rendered the uses of learning more apparent, would be fora canal, railroad, bank, or some other apparently more sub- stantial public benefit. An appropriation for education, wrnuld be the last, either prayed for or applied. As early as 1787 the Congress of the confederation passed an order to secure to the uses of learning, certain portions of the public domain. In the same year John Cleves Symmcs petitioned Congresj 8 to sell to him and his associates, all the lands lying within cer- tain bounds, from that part of the Ohio river between the mouths of the two Miamis, thence north with the Miami rivers to a specified line. Several contracts and alterations of contracts, were made with him until Sept. 30, 1794, when President Washington, by authority of a previous act of the Congress (now of the United States) conveyed to him by patent so much land, as, by the fixed bounds before mentioned, and by such a north line as with them would contain 311,682 acres of land; which was as much as the payments at that time made by Symmes and Co. on a previous contract for 1,000,000 acres, would pay for at 66 cents per acre. In this patent the President stipulated that one complete township of land, to be located with the approbation of the Governor of the North-West- ern Territory, as near as might be to the centre of the tract conveyed to Symmes and Co., should be held in trust for the sole and exclusive purpose of erecting and establishing therein, an Academy, and other public schools and seminaries of learning. We are informed by a pamphlet published by Symmes, show- ing the terms of the sales of his lands, that the “place selected for the College Township was to be as nearly opposite the mouth of the Licking river, as an entire township may he had eligible.” But although Township No. 3, entire Range No. 1, was in 1789, after the survey into sections of the tract, marked on the map for the College Township; when all the other fine lands ot the Symmes purchase had been entered by the year 1799, the largest portion of the reserved township had been sold. Symmes then tendered to Gov. St. Clair Township No. 2, in Fractional Range No. 2, in the forks of the Ohio and Big Miami rivers. The Governor refused to accept it, beeause he supposed it to be of inferior value, and under the embarrassment ot an adverse claim. These measures for securing to the settlers of the Miami Pur- chase, their right to these Education lands having utterly failed, the Territorial Legis’ature passed a resolution, Sept. 16, 1799, 9 instructing our venerable public servant Gen’l Harrison, then the Delegate to Congress for the North-Western Territory, to endeavor to procure from Congress other lands in lieu of those sections in Township 3, which had been sold by Symmes, or in case of a failure, empowering him to use the remedies of law to compel Symmes and Co. to fulfil their contract. No pro- vision was however made by Congress on his application. A similar application was again made by the Convention which formed the State Constitution, through their authorized agent, the late Gen’l T. Worthington, to which Congress favorably re- sponded. Another township in lieu of the oneoriginally reserved in the patent, was granted out of any of the unsold public lands in the State of Ohio, and within the district of Cincinnati; subject to a reversion to the United States, provided, that within live years from the passage of the act, a townshp should have been secured, situated as originally contemplated, within the bounds of the purchase; a provision which ot course was never realized. This was on March 3, 1803. The Ohio Legislature thereupon, on April 15, 1803, appointed Jeremiah Morrow, since distin- guished in the councils of our State and nation, Jacob White and William Ludlow, commissioners to locate the township. On the 1st September, 1803, the two latter selected and entered these lands, containing 23,321 acres, now heldby the Insti- tution. The five years elapsed; the township had not been recovered from the Land Company, and the condition being fulfilled, on the 17th of February, 1809, the Legislature of Ohio formally established the Miami University, by a charter, which created the offices of the Trustees and the Faculty, appointed the former, defines their duties, and generally regulates the government of the lands, funds, and the University itself. Thus earnestly and patriotically did these far-sighted men pursue, through all these difficulties, their object to a successful issue. These preliminaries being settled, the location of the Col- lege itself, became now a question which severed those who had hitherto been united—the inhabitants of the district. Warm 10 advocates arose for Cincinnati, Hamilton, the Yellow Springs, Dayton and Lebanon. And they of course found various and unanswerable arguments in favor of each position. Two of the commissioners appointed in the charter, Messrs. Alexander Campbell and James Kilbourne, after an examination of the various points, reported to the Assembly that they had made choice of a point near Lebanon, as the site. But three com- missioners had been appointed in the charter, and the Governor authorized to fill any vacancy which might occur in the board. And Mr. Robert G. Wilson, their colleague, was not present at their examination or deliberations. Here then was ground for yet further difficulty. The Legislature, therefore, resumed their authority, annulled the proceedings of the commissioners, and on Gth February, 1S10, passed an act directing the Trustees to lay out a town, and locate the site within the University lands. And this act is itself susceptible of doubt. If the word “therein” in the patent granted to Symmes had reference to the tract sold to him and not to the township—besides the questioned right to repeal charters, where was their authority thus to locate it? The Trustees, in pursuance of its provisions, met at Hamilton in March, 1S10, passed an ordinance regulating the leasing of the lands, and made the location as you here see it,—here, cer- tainly, one of the most convenient, beautiful and salubrious points within the district, or even the country itself. Such are the principal facts relating to the earliest stages of the Institution. And 1 may here express my acknowledgments for the clue to the larger portion of them, to the author of an address to the inhabitants of the Miami College lands, published July 5,1814—Mr. James McBride of Hamilton. I do so with the more pleasure, that as he was one of the first, so he has been among the most ardent and persevering of our friends. But I shall not follow farther the legislative history of the College: the acts of April 15, 1803; Feb. 17, 1809 (the char- ter); Feb. 6, 1810, before mentioned and explained; and of 1S12 and ’14, giving certain preferences to settlers before 1S16, and requiring the Trustees to report to the Legislature; 11 together with the ordinances of the Board of Trustees from that of March 27, 1810, to that of Nov. 20, 1820— twenty-four in number, and all constituting the basis of that superstructure, which subsequent laborers, past and to come, cither to their glory or their shame, are to finish and perfect, or leave incomplete or in ruins. The lands and lots were leased by Jan. 20, 1820, at 6 per cent, on minimum prices, varying from $2.50 to $8.00 pet- acre,—all subsequently reduced to about $3.00 per acre. The quit-rents amount to $5,002.00.4, or 6 per cent, on a principal of $84,000.00. By one of the ordinances mentioned—that of 13 Feb., 1811, it was ordained that a school-house should be erected on the University square, providing the expenses of building and com- pleting the same shall not exceed the sum of $150. At a meeting on Sept. 4, 1811, $80 were appropriated. On the 17th of April, 1812, still another $80 were appropriated to- wards erecting it. About this time, too, $25 were paid for clearing the timber from two acres, for the site, that others might be immediately- planted for shade, in course of time. A large mound near the present main building, was next removed. After these im- provements, the building committee, or whoever directed them, should have reared here a Gothic pile—and then— settled in it themselves! Another story was afterwards added to the school-house, and it was fitted up as a mansion for the President, at a cost of $1,200. On tiie 21st of October, 1817, a committee was appointed to prepare materials for building a wing, forty by fifty-six feet to the College. This is now old “Franklin Hall.” By the original design, this w as intended for the east half of the west wing of the main, or centre building. It was com- pleted in 1818, at a costof $6,167. Centre Building, eighty-eix by sixty feet, was begun in 1820 and completed in 1823 at a cost of - $23,000 12 Clinton and Washington Halls—begun in 1828, and finished in 1829, (100 by 40) for - - $8,500 The South Hall—begun in 1834, and completed in 1835, (100 by 40) for 9,500 In 1836 the Trustees bought a house and two lots for the President’s residence, for - - 1,500 In 1838 a Laboratory (40 by 24) was built for - 1,500 Making the Total not far from the sum of $51,517. It is believed that the most of these buildings were erected without maps or plans of architects, either as to the particular building, or to the proportion and relative position of the whole group. Nor indeed is it known whether even yet an architect has been consulted in regard to the future additions. This should be done immediately, so that if “order cannot be brought from the present chaos,” posterity at least may have some.neu- cleusof order from which to begin, and not be driven, gradually to restore in their more elegant structures, the forms of these. At the same meeting, Oct. 21, 1817, $1,500 were appropri • ated for one or more Professors of Languages and Mathematics, to commence their duties on May 1, 1818. The Trustees were to correspond and inquire relatively to the Professors. I can find no repeal of this ordinance—nor indeed the ordinance itself, among the printed laws. It is presumed it miscarried from delay, or some cause of like nature. The tuition fee was estab- lished at $5. the session, including room rent, fuel, &c. On April 8, 1818, the fee was advanced to $10, and the salary of a “tutor” to a Grammar School so altered that he is to have an half of the tuition fees, $500 out of the general fund, and the use of the Professors’s house. Public notice was given of these terms. On June 23, 1818, the Rev. James Hughs, of Champaign county, was appointed tutor by the Board, in session at Ham- ilton. He accepted, and opening the School on the 3d of No- vember, 1818, entered upon his duties. Vacations of three weeks each were established, for April and October of every year. At the meeting, April IS and 14, 1818, an ordinance was 13 passed, authorising the tutor to appoint an assistant, one half of whose salary was to be paid by himself, the other by the Trustees. April 12th and 13th, 1820, so much of this act as re- lates to the appointment of the assistant was suspended, until seventy-five students should be enrolled. On the 1st January 1821, the offices were removed to Oxford. At the session of April 12thand 13th, 1821, it was resolved, (for what cause it is not stated) that the school ought to be discon- tinued at the end of next session. Mr. Hughs resigned at that time. The school, which thus far seemed to have had a lingering existence, closed. On the 7th of July, 1824 (sixteen years ago) the Board of Trustees proceeded to organize the Faculty, and appoint the Professors. The Rev. R. H. Bishop, D. D., (Vice President, and Professor of Natural Philosophy of Transylvania University) was elected President, with a salary of $1000. William Sparrow, Tutor of Languages, with a salary of $500. A further resolution was passed to open the Miami Univer- sity for the reception of students, on the first Monday of No- vember ensuing, and another appropriating the “old mansion.” rent free, to the President’s use, until otherwise ordered. On Sep. 15th, 1824, John E. Annan, of Baltimore, was elected Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, with a salary of $700. College was opened on the 15th day of November, 1824, and the Facult}’’, consisting of those elected, then held their first meeting. There attended twenty students, viz: four juniors, three sophomores, five freshmen, and eight in the Grammar School. On the 30th of March, 1825, the President was inaugurated. The Rev. William Gray delivered an address to the Faculty the students, anJ to the citizens generally. And the Charter, keys, &c. were delivered, with an address, to the President, by the Rev. John Thompson. The ceremony was then concluded by an excellent inaugural address by the President. William Sparrow was then elected Professor of Languages. 14 On the 29th of March 1S26, he having resigned, Wm, 1L McGuffejr of Washington. College, Pennsylvania, was chosen to supply his place, and the salary fixed at $600. All the salaries were raised March 28th, 1827: the President’s to $1,200, and those of the Professors of Mathematics and Languages, respectively to $800 and $700. On Sept. 28th, 1825, the Grammar School was established J. P. Williston was appointed Principal at $100, and the tuition fees, not to exceed $600. He was succeeded by John P. Van- dyke and John Weaver. On the 25th of March, 1829, W. F. Ferguson was appointed at a salary of $400, and subsequently $500. William W. Robertson succeeded him by appointment in November, 1835. In September of 1828, Professor Annan was discharged on account of some disagreement, not involving any question of integrity or incapacity. The Board supplied his place by the election of John W. Scott of Washington College, Pa. on the 25th of March, 1829. The history of the University is marked by no further inci- dent, so far as its government was concerned, until Sept. 26th, 1832; when the Trustees passed a resolution changing the de- nomination, and to some extent the duties of the Professorships, and therefore, of course, the Collegiate Course; and for the ap- pointment of two additional Professors. The Professorship of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy was, in the duties of the incumbent, J. W. Scott, changed to that of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry. That of Languages, Mr. McGufiey’s, to the Professorship of Philology and Mental Science-, and the sal- ary of each raised to $850. Separate Professorships of Languages and Mathematics were established, at salaries of $500 per annum to each Professor. And Samuel McCracken and Thomas Armstrong (deceased) both graduates of the Institution, were elected respectively to those offices. In August, 1835, the much lamented Professor Armstrong died; and at the meeting of the Board the next month, Pro- 15 fbssor McCracken was transferred from the department of Mathematics, to (ill the vacancy occasioned by his death, in that of Languages; and A. T. Bledsoe of Kenyon College, was appointed Professor of Mathematics. In September, 1836, Professors McGuffey and Bledsoe resigned, and Professor S. P. Pressly of the University of Georgia, was elected to fill the chair Vacated by Mr. McGuffe}7; and Professor Jolm H. Harney of S. Hanover College to fill that vacated by Mr. Bled- s:>e. Mr. Pressly died before the notice of his appointment reached him, and Mr. Harney declined acceptance. During the succeeding year, therefore the College was conducted with- out any serious declension, as the rolls and history of the time will show, by the remaining membersof the Faculty, with the aid of Messrs. Samuel S. Galloway and Chauneey. N. Olds, as assistant instructors in the vacant departments. In September, 1837, the Faculty was again permanently filled out by the ap- pointment of Rev. John McArthur of Cadiz, 0, as Professor of Greek and Rhetoric, and Mr. Olds as Professor of Latin and Hebrew; Mr. McCracken being again transferred back to the chair of Mathematics. Thus the Faculty stands to the present date.* To complete this sketch of the history of the University, I have thought fit to compile statistical synopses, or of the number of the students, alumni, libraries, &c., since its be- ginning. *Sinco tlic delivery of these remarks, sit the Sessions of the Board, held during the •ar.ie commencement, Dr. Bishop, the venerable and much beloved 1’rcsident, having signified his willingness to retire from the Presidency, as soon as a successor Bhall have been secured, his declinature was accepted, and Rev. John C Young, D. D., of Centre; College, Danville, Kentucky, was elected in his place, on a salary of $'1,500 per annum and he was appointed to a newly constituted chair of History and Political Science, on a salary of $050 per annum, with house rent free;—the arrangement to take effect when Dr. Young shall have accepted, and taken his place in the Institution. Professors McCracken and Olds also resigned,and John Armstrongof Franklin College, NewAthens, Ohio, was elected Professor of Mathematics in the place of Mr. McCracken; and Charles 1>.. Telford of Cincinnati College, Professor of Lalin in the place of Mr. Olds; so that the Faculty ns now constituted, with the members elect, stands thus, viz: Rev. John C. Young D. D„ President, and Professor of Intellectual and Moral Science. Rev. 11. II. Bishop, Professor of History and Political Science. Rev. John W. Scott, Professor of Physical Science. Rev. John McArthur, Professor of Greek aud Rhetoric. John Armstrong, Professor of Mathematics. Charles L. Telford, Professor of Latin, &c. Kev. Wm. W. Robertson, Professor of the Grammar School. 16 SUMMARY OF STUDEiNTS. Year. College Proper. Enolisii Departm’t Grammar School. J Total jj Nov 1824, 12 8 20 i “ 25, 39 24 32 95 j « II - . 26, 56 21 42 119. July 27, 60 30 54 144 *4 28, 71 28 53 152 “ 29, 57 12 60 129 “ 30, 61 29 68 158 “ 31, 76 15 T2 192 | “ 32, 110 13 40 163 “ 33, 132 7 68 228 34, 139 19 53 238 35, 115 24 35 207 36, 103 20 31 186 Nov. 37, 88 10 59 167 July 38, 100 24 76 227 “ 39, 135 9 60 250 «; 40, # 128 15 53 196 | Total number in sixteen years, .... Different persons in attendance since the beg 2720 inning, about 1200 ■ Thus shewing for a period of the sixteen years of the Col- lege, an average number of 17Q students, and an average in- crease of 6 per annum. Within the sixteen years, eleven, or one per cent, of the whole nnmber of individuals have been expelled. Six- teen, or one half per cent, have been publicly dis- missed. Five, or one half per cent, have died at the Insti- tution, and five at home during vacations, &c. If any conclu- sion in the way of a general rule, can be deduced from so small a number of deaths, how unparalleled must be the salubrity of this range of hills, so gradually, yet so greatly elevated, when but the same number have died here during ten months of each of the sixteen years, as have died at home during the other two. Until recently, too, the Sessions have included, according to the bills of mortality in this country, by far the most sickly months, August and September. The proportion of students from the different States has been nearly twice as great from Ohio as all other States. 17 SUMMARY OF THE ALUMNI. 3 Class. | Year. 1 Numb. Class. Year. Numb. First, 1 1825 12 Ninth, 1834 22 Second, 27 9 Tenth, 35 27 Third, 28 11 Eleventh, 30 22 Fourth, 29 10 Twelfth, 37 28 Fifth, 30 10 Thirteenth, 38 21 Sixth, 31 17 Fourteenth, 39 32 Seventh, 32 12 Fifteenth, j 40 25 Eighth, | 33 1 22 279 Of whom are dead, about . . . 10 Lawyers, 40 Divines, . 05 Teachers 25 l’mctitioners and Students of other Professions, and in business, . 133 ! Total, . . 279 Since, the organization of the College, the Trustees have con- ferred the title of L. L. D. on one, and the title of D. D. on six gentlemen of the United States and of Europe, the honorary title of A. M. on fourteen gentlemen educated in other Insti- tutions, and the same title, in course, on sixty-two alumni of the University; for particulars of which reference may be had to the triennial catalogues. The number is too small, and has too many of our personal friends in it, for us to indulge in any remarks as to their merits as a body. Reflection, however, and occasional conversations with some of the most zealous friends of the University, and among others, some of the members of the Board of Trustees themselves, have led me to the conclu- sion that such honors, to be prized by the receiver, or to be beneficial to society, ought to be very grudgingly bestowed. The present condition of the University is a branch of the subject, which, though of great interest, need occupy but a short time for notice. The Libraries connected with the Institution, contain: In that of the College - - - 2,000 volumes. u “ Erodelphian Society - - 1,500 volumes:’ *f “ Union Literary -- - 1,700 “ “ “ Miami Hall - 1,000 “ Total 6,200 volumes, oi well selected and valuable books in alldepartmcnts of useful and entertaining knowledge. The Literary Societies themselves, otherwise than through their most valuable libraries, are of immense value to the Insti- tution. If these advantages could be separated and compared, it is doubtful whether the students derive more benefit during the course, from them or from the Prolessorships. There are four of these associations for literary improve- ment and social enjoyment in the Institution. The Erodel- phian Society was organized Nov, 9, 1825; the Union Literary Dec. 14, 1825; the Miami Hall May 22, 1838; and the Alpha Delta Phi in 1836. The Erodelphian has had 470 ordinary, and 155 honorary members; the Union Literary, 461 ordinary, and 189 honorary; and the Miami Hall, 58 ordinary, and 95 honorary. The Alpha Delta Phi is a chapter of a general association of the same name throughout the Union, and is not so numerous in its organization, and is less known in its history and condition to the public. This association of our own—the Society of Alumni of Miami University,—is less of a literary than of a moral, social anil historical character;—an association of early play-fellows, class-mates, brethren, and “dearer than all, bosom friends,’’ seeking in manhood, and amid its business and solemn cares, and the calmer, but more concentrated and selfish emotions of older life, to refresh and revive the sweet recollections of those hours of sport, of wayward unconcern for our own interests, but of universal kind-heartedness and love, which we spent among these scenes together; and has for its prime object the perpetuation of what is valuable, and improvement of all that is desirable, in Miami Universitv. The present condition of the Institution may be said, on the whole, and without reference to temporary difficulties. 19 to be one of prosperity. Compared with other Institutes of learning in our country, its past success must be admit- ted to have been rather remarkable for the accomplisiv ment of the object of its creation. Others have sprung up, -attracted great expectations, flourished for a short time, and subsided again into obscurity or non-existence; while this of ours, without great parade, has begun with mod- eration, grown with a regular increase, and stands, in fact and in public esteem, notwithstanding all its defects, with the first, if not at the head, of the Western Colleges, and certainly supe- rior to many cf those of the older States. The course of studies is equal at least to that of a majority of the best Colleges of our country. If it is deficient in any of the branches regularly taught (for there are many entire sciences and branches of study of great value, totally omitted in this and in them all, some of which will be presently noticed;) that deficiency consists in a sad want of apparatus for experi- ment and demonstration in the various scientific departments. The following is a bill of cost of the apparatus belonging to the Institution: Cost of Philosophical and Astronomical Appa- ratus, with freight, commission, &c. - - {5700 00 Chemical Apparatus, &c. GOO 00 Mathematical do. - - - - - 115 00 Si,415 00 Now I am informed by the Professors in those departments that considerable enlargements should be made in .each of them to make them what they should be, and to enable the Professors to discharge their duties to the students. This statement no one can gainsay, when informed that the only piece of appara- tus in the Astronomical department of any consequence, is a good three and a half feet achromatic telescope, costing with a micrometer and few other fixtures in London, $75, and a Iladley quadrant, costing $12. Whereas, for any useful pur- poses of instruction to the students, or for interesting observ- ations for the benefit of science, there should be at least a 20 chronometer, transit instrument, an altitude and azimuth instru- ment, which may be also used as an equatorial, and various other instruments. To return a moment to the organization of the College. On the 26th of Sept., 1826, the Trustees authorized the President to employ such person as he may think qualified, to teach the French and Spanish Languages, provided it is not at a salary of more than one hundred and fifty dollars. This ordinance was on Sept. 29th, 1830, rescinded. One year afterwards the Faculty were empowered to employ, during the ensuing year, a Teacher of the Modern Languages. And this concludes the history of this department. With that spirit of freedom with which these remarks were begun, without regard to the respectability of the authority from which any act has emanated, although the highest respect is entertained and here acknowledged for all the constituted authorities of our Alma Mater, and although no arrogation of equal wisdom is intended to be implied, I shall proceed to com- ment briefly on this ordinance and the course of studies in general. It is behind the philosophy, or what is practically the same thing, the freedom of this age, for genius, wisdom, age, or authority to hold up the shield of exemption from criticism by those, even in all respects, the opposites of these qualities. “From the mouths of babes ye shall learn wisdom,” is as true in the affairs of the world as in religion. It is not therefore thought immodest to suggest what are supposed to be errors or omissions in the conduct of our superiors. The interest, gentle- men, rvhich we feel in the progress of this Institution, and our past and present connexion with it, are our security against the charge of unauthorized intermeddling in its affairs. It is doubted whether there is one principle in this resolution to be commended. The delegation of the power of appoint- ment either to the President or to the Faculty, the discretion of employing or not the tutor, the mockery of a pittance limited as a salary, and as a consequence, the character of the teacher to be employed, are all, without qualification, objectionable. The 21 desire of having the modern languages taught, would be praise- worthy, if the desire, compared to their importance did not appear so studied. The object could however, have scarcely been to have the modern languages taught. Could any native of France, Germany or Italy (which I perceive are the lan- guages taught) unless he were some journeyman shoemaker supporting himself by labor in the village, or such another as that French provincial teacher mentioned by some of those veracious English travellers, (whose name is legion) who had taken care of the village chickens before he was entrusted with the village hoys, teach a class one year lor such a compensation? Could a native American, who had devoted six years, the period usually given to the study of Latin and GrGek—nay, live, four, three years or a twelve month in the acquisition of either two of them, be employed at a salary of not more than $150. And is either of them less difficult of acquisition than Latin, Greek or Hebrew? Are they not more so? Inasmuch as they are more copious, more subject to change, and as the pronunciation of them is the most difficult, and one of the most important elements of their study, while the pronunciation of the ancient or dead languages, is of no value whatever, except for purposes of pedantry, which however, is the chief use (not value) of their acquisition now-a-days. It has been long remarked by one of the best of our linguists, that if Homer or Cicero could arise from their sleep of ages, and hear a pedagogue or pupil of this generation, reading the Iliad or oration against Cataline, he would suppose he had made his resurrection among the Goths or barbarians of their terra incognita. Let me he here under- stood that I am by no means an enemy to the study of the ancient languages, nor to their being made a requirement to the degrees of every College of a regular gpd liberal course of studies. God forbid that those venerable pyramids of anti- quity, piercing the clouds and hoar, with the lapse of ages, the tirst finished, and yet unsurpassed labors of civilized man, should he left now to crumble into decay and ruins amidst obloquy or neglect! God forbid that those early lights of the world, so miraculously preserved to us, should now be quenched 22 from our mountain tops, or suffered to grow dim and fade out into the darkness of another era of barbarism! No: there is too much of the philosophy of matter, mind and morals; too many instructive lessons in the sad, sweet histories of the uni- versal human heart; too many gems of bright poesy; too many clear, pure rills of “sweet charity” flowing all through the thoughts and deeds of those of the earth’s freshness and child- hood, for this age to lose! I am an admirer of antiquity, but I would not be wilfully blind to the merits of the men and nations in modern times. Nor do I at all doubt their entire superiority in morality and virtue at least, if not in intellectual powers. The self-communing language of the private journal of one whose connection with me (a departed brother) authorises this appopriation of his opinions and sentiments, well expresses, I think, that truth. He says:* “I have not, for several years, looked much into ancient history. Lately, 1 have peeped a little into it, and have become confirmed in what I have long suspected, that Roman and Grecian virtue and simplicity exist only in imagi- nation and in those histories which were written long after the fact they speak of. I am satisfied that there is more virtue in the present state of society than ever was in Greece or Rome. I can not find any historian, however ancient, who lived in the times of virtuous simplicity. They all speak of it as an age past. When any period of history is taken, I find enormities too shocking for the present age. I do not mean extraordinary acts of violence, because they may occur at all times, but I refer to those only which were sustained by the public sentiment of the day. Vice and moral corruption show themselves now under different forms, on account of different manners existing between this and former ages; but the quantum is not greater; and although it may be just to suppose that the aggregate of vice was about equal in all ages, I believe that the progress of civilization, literature, improvement in the arts, &c. &c., and above all, the propagation of the Gospel, in modern times, has been to lesson the quantum of vice and to increase that ol ■•Manuscript Journal of the late Richard C. Anderson, South America. 1826. 23 virtue. If you think differently, when was the time? In the age of Cato? Read it again, if you think so. In that of the Scipios?—Read it: do not judge of the age by one man. Was it in the time of Aristides? Or to give you the advantage of the remotest antiquity known to profane authors, take the age of Ilomer. Were not the most shameless violence, licentiousness, barbarity to slaves and prisoners, perfidy, corruption of morals and superstition displayed in all those ages, greater than the public sentiment of the present day will bear, for it should be remembered, again, that an age must not be estimated by single acts of vice, but by those only which the general sentiment approves or sustains.” I would not then, at the very least, because I was in favor of the study of the ancient languages, exclude the modern: on thf contrary, no course of studies can be called liberal (it may be in this country, and section of country, named respectable), without all. But if the one must be made to give way to the other, unquestionably, to my mind, the modern languages should be preferred. And here are, very briefly, my chief reasons for so thinking. The useful and the curious, or pleasing knowledge of the Creek, Roman, or Hebrew Literature is all contained in the modern languages. If any one denies this proposition, he deniefe the utility of the study of the ancient tongues; for of what use are the vast funds of knowledge in them if they cannot he appropriated and embodied in other langugues? None whatever. If they can be acquired and understood in Greek or Latin, they can he (as they have been) substantially expressed in our own language or the German. Of course I do not speak of the peculiar beauties and idioms of the languages them- selves. They are of the same utility as the finish or form of beauty in a carriage or plough, not the essential purpose of the , instrument; while none but fanatical utilitarians so called, will deny their just value. I speak of the substance, not of its in- essential form nor of its shadow. But these modern languages have beauties of thought, expres- sion, and idiom;—beauties of thought which belong to the universal mind of man, and without relation to the Vesture of language in which they may be clad, and beauties of expression as peculiar and as rich as theirs. And it would be difficult to show that the discipline of minds, too immature to be employed in the exact sciences, which is claimed by the exclusive advocates of ancient languages (and here admitted) to be an important the chief argument for the study of them, is at all less, or in any wise different in kind or degree in the acquisition of the modern; that the committing to memory a rule of syntax or prosody, or the chasing a branch- word through the Lexicon in Latin or Greek, is a different mental operation from the same duty in French or Italian. Now, there is a great quantity of what is called humbuggery, daily stuffed down our throats, without our tasting, masticating, or digesting it. It is not the claim of that “tribe of idols” that the structure of languages is essentially different. Human language is but the oral and articulate expression of human thoughts and feelings. In our present state of being, external nature or the mental or moral world, or matter and mind, with their Various qualities, relations, and phenomena, can be the only subjects of thought. In this world, all men being of the same species and genus, and all the objects which we perceive through our live organs of sense, being every where of correspondent and and similar classes, men must substantially think and feel alike. Hence the names of the various objects of material nature, and of the faculties and phenomena of the mind, and words expressive of the various relations they bear to each other, constitute every language. And old as the world is, and numerous and unlike as are the tongues which have been used, no language has contained more than eight kinds of words, or parts of speech;; and none that deserves the name, can, either literally or sub- stantially dispense with less. The structure of the languages of all civilized nations, past and present, is therefore similar. The collocation or arrangement, by the use of terminations and inflections, may be greatly varied; but in all there must be the subject and the object of action, and the connecting, quali- fying and modifying words. Like the human form and featuresy 25 modified, varied, and contrasted, as they may be by climate and other causes, in the numerous races of men, yet anatomy finds in all, every bone, muscle, vessel and function, which the orignal and unchangeable constitution of the physical world has rendered alike essential to all. As a useful discipline of mind, then, neither class of languages can have any preference over the other. Hut as the instrument of acquiring knowledge, and of social, moral, religious or international communication, how infinitely superior are the modern, to the ancient languages! What science is treated of in either of the latter, which has not in the former, commentaries more full and clear than the text. Hut how many discoveries in those sciences, how many sciences themselves, are there revealed in the languages of the moderns, ‘‘never dreamed of in the philosophy” of earlier times? The Principia and other works of Newton, (written ic part, it is true, originally in Latin); the Calculus of Leibnitz; the Anatomy of Hell and others; the Natural History of Hutfim and Cuvier; the Fossil Anatomy of Cuvier; the wonder of this century, the sublime science of Geology; and last, and least, the Phrenology of Gall; besides the countless discoveries into the nature of Plants, Animals, Minerals, Islands and Continents; the astound- ing demonstrations in Astronomy, and the other exact sciences; and the poetry, romance, moral essays of the modern day, con- nected, as they are and have been, with the teachings and work- ings of a new religion, constitute treasures in our languages, not in theirs, which arc actually too numerous even for classifi- cation. The value, not only to every gentleman and scholar, but. to every man of business, of a free and fluent use of the modern languages, in this country especially, which contains a popula- tion composed of natives of almost all lands of Europe, and where perhaps a million of our fellow citizens daily speak the German, French, Spanish, and neither speak nor well understand our own language, connot be priced, nor indeed conceived. Can a man be said to be of libeial education, or of accomplished schol- arship, who is deal and dumb to one tenth of the people he daily 26 meets? Is a lawyer, a physician, a divine, a merchant, or even a mechanic, capable under such circumstances, of discharging his daily duties to the best advantage? Even money consid- erations, should then drive our Western Institutions to adopt full and regularly established Professorships of the modern languages. I shall not enlarge upon the topic of the diplomatic inter- course and correspondence which our Ministers, Charges, Con- suls, and other public agents, must carry on both with Euro- pean nations, and with those French and Spanish Americans by whom we are actually surrounded. It is sufficient to say that a single word well nigh cost the nation a war with France. General Jackson, very properly, as I think, being determined maintain the national honor, and not understanding the French lingo very well, made them explain as they went along how- ever, and thus saved us from the horrors of a war. But think of it; a word in a modern language worth a hundred millions of dollars in 1835! A Greek particle o was in the dark ages the subject of a million of words—in a folio, but the book was not worth a two-pence when it was finished. Nor shall I mors than mention the advantages of them in travel, which has become, if not a modern custom, source of such delightful aad rational pleasure to the philosopher, statesman and philanthropist. I now leave this subject with those whose matter of fact, business habits of thinking and acting, are unprejudiced by the monkish influences of our time-honored and almost feudal system of learning, to dispose of it as they may think the interests of the University and the country demands: and with this one apology for this and all other of these suggestions—that if in the proverb it is said, “the young are slaves to novelty,” it should be remembered also that “the old are slaves to custom.” Let a union of counsels between them then, bring us to the golden mean. The only other branch of science, which, after the length of time I have already occupied, I feel authorized particularly to recommend to your notice, is a distinet and separate Profes- sorship of Civil Engineering. The spirit of public improve- 27 ment, the certainty in the Western States especially, of the demand for Engineers, the high salaries given to competent men, have established this as a highly useful and regular pro- fession. Of the other professions 1 shall not now speak. The whole course of study, moreover, should be periodically reviewed by the Board, compared with the improvements in thoseof the best collegesinthis country and in Europe,freely en- larged so as to keep even pace with them in their progress, and the advancement of society; but still reluctantly and cautiously changed, either as to the studies, or the books used, and then only upon the most satisfactory recommendations of the Pro- fessors, and other learned men among the Trustees themselves or others. The projected plans of many Institutions are much more extensive than this, or any other indeed in the world. The plan of Dr. Charles Caldwell of the Louisville Medical Institute, for a National University, and the yet more gigantic scheme of Dr. Lindsley, President of Nashville University, are the most prominent examples. That of the latter is so bold and unique, I must take the liberty of quoting a short extract in relation to it. “If Con- gress, out of the surplus revenue, when there was such a thing, had appropriated fifty millions of dollars, (as I think they should have done,) to the construction and endowment of a National University, a very substantial and well-proportioned founda- tion at least, might have been made, far superior indeed to the actual condition of most European Universities. Still this would have been only a foundation, a mere beginning after all, bold and collossal in its features, it is true, and worthy of the age which dared, or rather dared not, to hazard the glorious undertaking. Such a foundation, with an allowance of a few millions, might in the course of a thousand years, become a world’s wonder, a something to be proud of and to talk about.” lie says too, “We have spoken of collections and fixtures. Our University must have the requisite teaching force also; Professors of every language, dead and living, of every science in all its branches and sub-divisions, in all its bearings and 28 departments/’ Then follows a long list of specifications of these departments and professorships. I shall not quote them. The plan is too august for this country, this age, or perhaps even this world. But there is much else in President Lindsley’s speech worthy the perusal and close attention of all officers of colleges. To present in a more striking view the wants of such an Institution as this, I have thrown together a list of the prin- cipal Colleges and Universities of Europe and the United States, with their students, volumes in library, &c. Universities. STUDENT3. Libraries. Edinburgh, 20-20 50.000 Viennr., 19.54 108. “ Berlin, 19.37 Munich, 1847 Test, 1710 Cambridge, 1700 j 200. « Ups:' 1, 1470 40. “ Prague, 1449 Oxford, . 1417 O o Pavia, 1400 Leipsir, 1300 Dublin, 1254 50. “ Breslau, 1254 Halle, 1214 Gottingen, 1200 300. « Lemberg, 1012 Padua, 1000 30. “ Bonn, 948 Tubingen, 887 Pisa, 800 Louvain, 651 Lund, 643 Glasgow, 609 Christiana, • 600 VVurtsbnrg, 600 Geneva, 600 50. “ Copenhagen, 580 60. “ Bologna, 550 Liege, 511 Leyden, 500 50. “ Parma, £00 Konigsberg, 471 London, 437 Erlangen, 413 Utrecht, 400 Client. 395 Munster, 361 lnspruclt, 352 Gratz, * 321 Sienna, 300 Salamanca, 300 Cagliari, 265 fiopari, 225 Aberdeen, 218 Modena, 200 St. Andrews, 180 11 AMERICAN Universities. Students. VoLS. Instructors. liowdoin, 143 14.000 10 Dartmouth, 302 14.500 12 Yale, 561 25.500 31 Columbia, 146 14.0U0 11 Trinceton, 237 11. “ 13 Georgetown, 130 12. “ 17 Universiiy of Virginia, 247 15.350 9 College of South Carolina, 160 19.000 Harvard University, 382 49 500 30 Miami University, 250 6.200 6 An excellent ordinance is that of September 28,1825, appro- priating $50 per annum for periodical literary publications, and $200 per annum for the purchase of works of history and science, at the discretion of the President. The appropriation is supposed to be absolute—the selection of works at the President’s discretion. This ought to he the case at least; otherwise we shall never approach any of the following libraries in the number or excellence of our books or the number of our students. But where are all these funds to come from to support all those professorships, to make improvements in buildings, grounds, to purchase this apparatus, and these numberless and precious volumes of books. That, brethren, is the concern of the Trustees, not ours. Itisenoigh for us to suggest diffi- culties, not to remove them. And I shall not, therefore, my friends, detain you further with the business of others, by em- bodying also a financial report in these remarks. But to save us from despair at the Herculean task here proposed, a short comparison of our means with those of contemporaneous Insti- tutions, will be useful, and perhaps entertaining. There are sixty incorporated Colleges in the United States, having endowments in every degree, from $20,000 per annum, to nothing. Harvard University, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, was founded in 1638. It is the eldest, and what is somewhat sin- 30 gular, is the best endowed, and perhaps, all things considered, the best in its course of studies in the country. Wtthin six years of the settlement of Massachusetts, the General Court appropriated £400 (a great sum at that day, and considering the means of the colony) to the erection of a School, or College, at Newtown, now Cambridge. in the following year, 1637, the Rev. John Harvard came to this Pilgrim land, and died in that succeeding, 1638. Hav- ing been educated himself at Emanuel College, in the Univer- sity of Cambridge, in England, he knew, and wisely appre- ciated, the value of a liberal education. In his will, he be- queathed the half of his estate, £779 12s. 6d., and all his books, as an endowment to a College, which the General Court,there- fore, named for him. Thus, early in their history, did those far-sighted and philanthropic people, plant seed, whose fruits, at least, shall endure for ever. The College was immediately organized, on the most liberal scale, and opened. And