35. ACADEMIES, Architectural Reform.—
I consider the common plan followed
in this country, but not in others, of making one
large and expensive building, as unfortunately
erroneous. It is infinitely better to erect a
small and separate lodge for each separate professorship,
with only a hall below for his class,
and two chambers above for himself; joining
these lodges by barracks for a certain portion
of the students, opening into a covered way to
give a dry communication between all the
schools. The whole of these arranged around
an open square of grass and trees, would make
it, what it should be in fact, an academical village,
instead of a large and common den of
noise, of filth and of fetid air. It would afford
that quiet retirement so friendly to study, and
lessen the dangers of fire, infection and tumult.
Every professor would be the police officer of
the students adjacent to his own lodge, which
should include those of his own class of
preference, and might be at the head of their
table, if, as I suppose, it can be reconciled with
the necessary economy to dine them in smaller
and separate parties, rather than in a large and
common mess. These separate buildings, too,
might be erected successively and occasionally,
as the number of professors and students should
be increased, as the funds become competent.—
To Hugh L. White.
Washington ed. v, 521.
(M.
1810)
