University of Virginia Library

1834-5.

After an interval of several years, we find a resolution, to-wit,
No. 10, entitled, "Preamble and resolution calling for information
from the president and directors of the literary fund, relative to the
condition of the university and the various colleges and academies
throughout the commonwealth, and for other purposes", agreed to
by both houses Feb 26, 1835. See p. 253 of Acts of 1834-5. It
follows:

"Whereas, the general assembly on the 24th. day of February,
1821, enacted, that whenever the annual income of the literary
fund should exceed sixty thousand dollars, the surplus above that
sum, until such surplus should amount to twenty thousand dollars,
should be appropriated to the endowment of such colleges, academies
and intermediate schools within this commonwealth as the general
assembly might thereafter designate, as fit institutions for such endowment;
and whereas, it appears from the report of the second
auditor, that there will accrue during the fiscal year a surplus of
more than twenty thousand dollars above the charges on the literary
fund, and that the said surplus will probably continue to increase
every year, so as to render it expedient to devise some general system
for its appropriation and distribution in fulfillment of the original
designs of this assembly, which amount (sic) cannot now be done
for the want of certain requisite information in relation to all these
institutions. Be it therefore resolved by the general assembly, That
the president and directors of the literary fund be requested to report
to the next general assembly the condition and wants of the
university, colleges and academies in this state, which have been endowed
by the present or former government, or by private munificence,

and the state of their funds, and amount of their annual
revenues, with an account of the sources of their derivation, and
the modes of their investment; also, a detailed statement of the
condition of each of those seminaries in respect to its accommodations
for teachers and pupils, the number of its professors or teachers,
with the amount of their respective salaries, the number of students
and branches of science and learning taught in it, the fees of tuition,
and the rules of its government; and further, which of those seminaries
have been incorporated by law. And in order to enable the
aforesaid president and directors to make the statement and report
herein required, they are hereby authorized and empowered to call
upon the directory of the several colleges, the trustees of the several
academies, so far as they can be ascertained, and the boards of school
commissioners of the several counties and corporate towns of the
state, to furnish such detailed statements as they may deem necessary
to enable them to accomplish the objects of this resolution."