 | Board of Visitors minutes July 1, 1845 |  |
On this the day, appointed by the Board of Visitors of
the University of Virginia for their stated annual meeting,
Thomas J. Randolph and Andrew Stevenson only appeared; and
the Board was not organized till Wednesday July 2d, when John
H. Cocke, James M. Mason, Wm. C. Rives, & R. M. T. Hunter who
was appointed to supply the vacancy in the Visitation occasioned
by the resignation of Chapman Johnson, by the appointment of
John H. Cocke to the vacant Rectorship, who, having declined
was elected Rector in his place.
The following Committees were appointed.
On the Departments of Natural Philosophy & Chemistry:
Messrs. Mason, Randolph & Cocke.
On the Library:]Messrs. Stevenson & Hunter.
Of Inspection: Messrs. Cocke & Randolph.
Of Finance: Messrs. Mason & Hunter.
The Committee on the department of Natural Philosophy
& Chemistry made their reports.
The Board adjourned till tomorrow.
Thursday July 3d 1845: The Board met. Present as on
yesterday with the addition of Joseph C. Cobell, who appeared
at the Board and took his seat as Rector-
The following proceedings were had.
1. Resolved, that the application of Mr. Charles Morris,
a Student of the University made to the Faculty under date of
July 3d 1845, asking to be permitted to take the Degree of
Master of Arts, which application has been referred to the
Board of Visitors, is deemed reasonable, and that the Faculty
be authorised to confer the said Degree on Mr. Morris, he
having complied with all the requirements of the Enactments,
but having unfortunately lost the thesis which he had prepared
in obedience to those enactments.
2. A letter from the Chairman of the Faculty containing
a statement of Facts in relation to the application of Mr.
was laid before the Board by the Rector.
It appears that Mr. Harrison had obtained Diplomas on
Antient Languages, Mathematics, Chemistry, Natural Philosophy,
Moral Philosophy, French Law & Political Economy, but fail'd
in obtaining a degree in Modern Languages. After a full examination
of the circumstances connected with Mr. Harrison's
case, the Board came to the opinion that the omission to graduate
in the school of Modern Languages, ought not to be a
bar in this case to his receiving the degree of M.A. but that
under the peculiar circumstances of his case the application
of Mr. Harrison be deemed reasonable, & that the Faculty be
advised of it.
3. Resolved that the Executive Committee be substituted
in lieu of that appointed by the resolution of the 5th July
1843 to confer with Mrs. Madison upon the subject of the Books
devised by her husband to the University & that the said committee
have power to adopt suitable measures to carry into
effect the wishes of the illustrious individual towards the
Institution as expressed in his last will & testament.
The Board adjourned till tomorrow morning.
Friday July 4th 1845. The Board met pursuant to adjournment.
Present all the Visitors.
The following proceedings were had.
1. Resolved that the sum of two thousand dollars, or so
much as may be necessary, be applied during the current year
outstanding.
2. Resolved, that the Bursar purchase so much of the 6
per cent stock of the Commonwealth as will yield six per cent
interest on the sum of $1,500 being the amount of the Legacy
bequeathed by Mr. Madison to the Library of the University;
the said stock to be transferred to the University by it's
corporate name, and the dividends accruing thereon to be collected
by the Bursar and applied as already directed by order
of the Board of Visitors.
3. Resolved that Messrs. Rives & Cabell be appointed a
Committee under the 14th resolution of the Board passed the
5th day of July 1843, and that the sum of $300 being the interest
for four years on the amount of said legacy or so much thereof
as may remain after paying any premium on the purchase of
the stock ordered to be made by the preceeding resolution be,
and the same is hereby appropriated for the use of the Library
to be expended as by the said resolution of the 5th July
1843 is ordered.
4. Resolved that the price of board of Students at the
Hotels be reduced to one hundred dollars for the session.
5. Resolved that the commissions of the Patron on the
deposits of the Students be limited to sums deposited by
them for payment of Board & professors' fees, and that said
commissions be no longer charged to the Students, but deducted
from the sums so deposited.
At 11 A.M. The Board took a recess to attend the exercises
of the public day. After they were concluded the Board resumed
its labors, & passed the following resolutions.
6. Resolved that hereafter the Hotel keepers be exempted
from the duty of providing for the washing of the clothes of
the Students.
7. Resolved that the proctor be directed to annex to the
annual advertisements of the University, as much of the report
of the Finance committee as refers to the retrenchment of the
expenses of the Students, with the statements of said expenses
accompanying said report.
8. Resolved that the Proctor, under the direction of the
Executive committee be directed to have a wooden flooring
placed over the metal covering at the base of the dome of the
Rotunda, and cause the ornamental blocking around the dome to
be protected by a covering of sheet iron.
9. Resolved that the Executive Committee be instructed to
have an admeasurement of the elevation of the Springs on the
University mountain; the quantity of water furnished by them
within a given time, and an estimate of the expense of conveying
the water in iron pipes to the University, & if in
their discretion it is practicable at an expense within the
means of the University to accomplish it, they proceed to
have the work executed within such period as the funds of the
University will permit: and that they report from time to
time the progress and expense of the work.
10. Resolved that the professor of civil engineering be
requested to make the necessary measurements & calculation.
11. Resolved that if it be found impracticable to have
the water brought by pipes from the adjoining lands, the Executive
committee may have cisterns constructed for the reception
& preservation of the rain water from the buildings
if they deem it advisable.
12. A comparative statement of the necessary expenses
for a year at the University of Virginia and other distinguished
Institutions of Learning in the United States, prepared
by the Chairman of the Faculty & resting in part upon estimate
and not ascertained data having been laid before the Board
of Visitors- Resolved that the Chairman of the Faculty be requested,
at as early a period as practicable, to verify &
correct that statement by reference to the most certain & authentic
sources of information of an official character wherever
attainable, so as to exhibit a full and accurate comparison
of the necessary expenses at the colleges of Cambridge,
Princeton & Wm. & Mary, with those at the University of Virginia,
and to cause the same to be published, with such explanatory
remarks as he may deem pertinent to the occasion.
13. Resolved that professors Henry St. G. Tucker and
George Tucker be allowed to occupy their respective pavilions
and Dormitories, or other buildings now in their occupancy,
until the same may be required by their successors- and that
those gentlemen have the usual access to the library, while
they remain at the University.
14. Resolved that the Executive Committee be instructed
to examine into the expediency of instituting an additional
professorship of History & Belles Lettres and that they report
to this Board at its next annual meeting as to the expediency
of the measure and the system of instruction to be
required of him and also as to the propriety of investing this
professor with the powers of President of the Institution to
be held by virtue of his office until some other President is
chosen by the Board of Visitors.
15. Resolved- That in the annual report of the Rector &
Visitors, it be strongly represented to the general assembly
that the interests of the University imperiously require such
legislation, as will enable the University to give effect to
those enactments interdicting Students who are dismissed, expelled
or suspended from remaining within five miles of the
precincts.
16. Resolved- That the Students of the Medical School
who attend the Lectures of the professor of Chemistry & Materia
Medica, shall be charged, for such attendance a fee
of fifteen dollars instead of twenty five as hitherto.
17. Resolved- That there be appointed in the anatomical
department of the Medical School, a Demonstrator of Anatomy,
whose duties shall be particularly defined by the professor
of Anatomy and Surgery, subject to the control of the Executive
Committee in the recess of the Board, and the Board
of Visitors during their session.
The Demonstrator shall be allowed a Dormitory for his
accommodation, & shall be allowed a fee of ten dollars for
each Student attending him; provided his compensation does
not exceed five hundred dollars per session: if it does the
surplus shall be paid to the professor of Chemistry.
18. Resolved that John M. Patton be appointed professor
of Law in the University of Virginia.
19. Resolved- That, where not otherwise provided, the
salaries of professors shall commence from the time when they
shall have accepted their appointments.
20. Resolved- That the professor of Law be requested to
prepare a compilation & digest of the enactments of the University,
subsequent to the last compilation by Professor
Davis; having regard to such alterations or modifications as
have been made since that compilation. And that the proctor
defray any expense incident to the preparation of the same,
21. Resolved- That professor Courtnay be appointed Chairman
of the Faculty until the end of the ensuing session.
22. Resolved- That a change in the hours of meals of the
Students at the Hotels be left to the sound discretion of the
Faculty, subject to the approval of the Board when in session.
23. Resolved that the enactment prescribing a Uniform
to be worn by the Students, be repealed.
24. Resolved that the Faculty be referred to the 31st
Section of the printed enactments ch:3 page 39 & be urged to
carry its provisions strictly into effect.
25. Resolved- That the sentence of expulsion passed by
the Faculty on the 23d day of April last against John G. Hernandez,
late a Student of the University be, and the same is
hereby approved.
26. Resolved, that the nomination by the Proctor, of
Colo. James R. Watson as Hotel Keeper to supply the vacancy
occasioned by the resignation of Mrs. Gray, be approved by
the Board.
Resolved, that Thos. R. Dew be appointed professor of
Moral Philosophy in the University.
27. Resolved, That the arrangement made by the Proctor
with Mrs. Ward communicated by him to the Board under date of
July 1st 1845, by which arrangement Mrs. Ward will keep the
Hotel now in her possession; provided however that Mr. Josiah
Bigelow shall hold the appointment of Hotelkeeper & discharge
its duties on terms to be agreed upon between himself and Mrs.
Ward, be approved by the Board.
28. Resolved,-That hereafter the annual meetings of the
Board of Visitors shall be held on the 25th day of June in
each year unless it shall fall on Sunday, in which case the
day of meeting shall be on the 26th of that month, and the
public day on the 29th.
The Board then adjourned without day.
| Board of Visitors minutes July 1, 1845 | |