7560. RHODE ISLAND, College of.—
I
was honored in the month of January last
with a letter * * * from the corporation of
Rhode Island College to his most Christian
Majesty [Louis XVI.] * * *. I turned my attention
to that object which was the establishment
of a professorship of the French language
in the college, and the obtaining a collection
of the best French authors with the aid of the
king. That neither the college nor myself
might be compromitted uselessly, I thought it
necessary to sound previously those who were
able to inform me what would be the success
of the application. I was assured so as to leave
no doubt, that it would not be complied with;
that there had never been an instance of the
king's granting such a demand in a foreign
country, and that they would be cautious of
setting the precedent; that in this moment, too,
they were embarrassed with the difficult operation
of putting down all establishments of their
own, which could possibly be dispensed with, in
order to bring their expenditures down to the
level of their receipts. Upon such information
I was satisfied that it was most prudent not to
deliver the letter. * * * The king did give two
colleges in America copies of the works printed
in the public press, * * * of no consequence.
* * * No endeavors of mine should have been
spared, could they have effected their wish.—
To Rhode Island Delegates. Washington ed. ii, 184.
(P.
1787)
