 | Board of Visitors minutes October 2, 1826 |  |
At a meeting of the Visitors of the University of Virginia, held
at the University on Monday, Oct. 2d. 1826, at which were present James
Madison, James Breckenridge, Joseph C. Cabell, John H. Cocke, Chapman
Johnson, and James Monroe.
The board being apprised of the death of Thomas Jefferson Rector,
proceeded to fill the vacancy in that office: and James Madison was
elected.
Tuesday, Oct. 3. the board met according to adjournment. present
the same members as yesterday.
Resolved, that a committee of three members of the board, be appointed
to examine & report the state of the funds of the University—
that they be required to make their report tomorrow, if practicable, &
that all documents touching that subject now before the board, be referred
to them.
Whereupon Chapman Johnson, Joseph C. Cabell, and John H. Cocke
were appointed.
Resolved that the communication of the faculty respecting the supply
of water to the University & its protection against fire, be referred
to the executive committee, to be acted upon according to their
discretion.
Resolved that the proctor be instructed to furnish fuel for the
library, and for the other public rooms, when they may be used for the
annual public examinations: that he be also instructed to plant trees
about the buildings, under the direction of the executive committee.
Resolved that the 38th. enactment be repealed.
Resolved,
Resolved that the offences enumerated in the 4 d. enactment shall
be subject to any minor or major punishment, at the discretion of the
faculty.
Resolved that the 45th. enactment shall be amended by striking out
the word `minor' from the last line thereof.
Resolved
Resolved that the 49th. enactment shall be amended by adding after
the word `minor' in the third line, the words `or major.'
The board then adjourned to meet tomorrow.
Wednesday, Oct. 4th. The board met pursuant to adjournment: Present
the same members as yesterday.
Resolved that the next session of the University shall commence
on the first of February, and terminate on the Fourth of July; and all
future sessions shall commence on the 20th. of August in each year, and
terminate on the 4th. of July ensuing—but there shall be one recess of
all the schools, and no more, during each session: to commence on the
15th. and terminate on the 31st. of December.
For the session commencing on the first of February next, the
rents for the dormitories and public buildings, and the fees to be
paid by students, shall be one half of the rents and fees required for
an ordinary session: for all future sessions, the rents and fees shall
be as heretofore.
The board adjourned to tomorrow.
Thursday, Oct. 5th. The board met pursuant to adjournment: present
the same members as yesterday.
Resolved that a Secretary to the board of Visitors shall be appointed,
whose salary shall be two hundred dollars per annum, payable
quarterly.
Resolved that Nicholas P. Trist is appointed to the office of
Secretary.
The board adjourned to tomorrow.
Friday, Oct. 6th. The board met pursuant to adjournment: present the
same members as yesterday.
Resolved that the library of the University shall be under the
following regulations:
The books shall be kept in the upper room of the rotunda.
The library shall be under the care of a librarian appointed by
the Visitors, who shall hold his office during their pleasure, and
shall receive as a compensation for his services, a salary of two
hundred and fifty dollars per annum, to be paid quarterly.
To aid in the performance of his duties, he may employ any assistants
approved by the faculty. He shall be responsible for their
conduct; and they may be removed at any time, either by himself or
by the faculty.
He shall have the use of a dormitory, free of rent, may attend
any of the lectures in the University without fee, and shall have
free use of the books of the library; but he shall carry none beyond
the precincts of the University, he shall take none from the library,
all taken out, within such time as the faculty shall prescribe,——
he shall be answerable for all damage, to the books, apartment, furniture
or other property of the library, arising from any neglect or
breach of his duty, and especially for all books taken from the library,
contrary to rule.—
For neglect of duty or misconduct in office, his functions may
be suspended by the faculty, in the recess of the board of Visitors,
& the suspension may be continued till the board shall reinstate him.
During such suspension, his salary shall cease, unless otherwise
ordered by the board of Visitors.
All vacancies in the office of librarian, occurring during the
recess of the Visitors, whether by death, resignation, suspension or
otherwise, shall be filled pro tempore, by an appointment by the faculty,
to continue not longer than the next meeting of the visitors.
He shall keep a book in the library, in which he shall regularly
enter every volume taken out, whether by a student, professor, or
himself; with the time when the same was taken, and when returned:
so that it may be always known in whose hands every book is, & the
time that it has been in the hands of the borrower.
The librarian shall conform to all such rules as shall from time to time,
be prescribed for his conduct by the board of visitors, or by the
faculty, in pursuance of authority vested in them by the Visitors;—
and it is especially enjoined on him to be vigilant in preserving the
books, room, & its furniture from all manner of injury: and, to this
end, it shall be his duty to report to the proper authority, all
breaches of the rules for the government of the library, committed
damages incurred by him, on account of the library, and report the
same to the bursar, that the amount may be retained out of the deposit
which will be herein required.
He shall see that every book belonging to the library be in its
place on the shelves, upon the first day of every meeting of the Visitors;
and not removed during their sitting, unless by their permission:—
in order that the whole library may be subject to their inspection.
Accurate catalogues of the books shall be kept by the librarian,
and copies thereof, from time to time, furnished to the Visitors, professors,
students and others, as shall be directed by the faculty.
At every meeting of the board of visitors, the whole library shall
be carefully inspected, by the proctor alone, or by the proctor and
such committee as the board shall appoint, in order to ascertain whether
each volume be in its place, & in proper preservation, and a written report
of the condition of the library shall be made to the board by such
inspectors.
The professors of the University shall, at all times, have free
use of the books of the library, and free access thereto, in the confidence
that they will not keep the books longer than while in actual
and active use, and that they will leave with the librarian a note of
the books borrowed.
Such books as, on account of their rarity, value, peculiar liableness
to injury, or for other good reason, ought not to be carried
from the library, shall be designated by the faculty; and being so
designated, they shall not be loaned to any one, or be carried from
Students may borrow from the library all books not so prohibited,
under the following regulations:
First—before any book shall be loaned to a student, the
faculty shall prescribe by a general regulation, the authority on
which books shall be delivered to the student by the librarian, and
the time within which they shall be returned—regulating that time
with reference to the size of the volume loaned, & to a diligent use
of it by the student.—and no book shall be loaned by any other than
the librarian, or on any other authority than that so prescribed by
the faculty.
Secondly—books shall be lent to the student for the purpose
of reading only, and not for the ordinary purpose of getting
lessons in them as school books.
Thirdly—No student shall have more than three volumes in
his possession at any time.
Fourthly—If a student shall not return a borrowed book
within the time limited by the faculty, he shall receive no other
until it be returned or paid for; and he shall moreover, pay, for
every day's detention beyond the limitation, ten cents.
Fifthly—if any student deface, injure or lost any book
of the library, he shall pay the value of the book, if defaced;
double the value, if otherwise injured; & threefold, if lose; and
shall be suspended from the privilege of borrowing, during such time
as the faculty shall adjudge: but if the book defaced, injured or
lost be a volume of a set, the case shall be referred to the faculty,
fine, or to pay for the whole set, or replace it,—he taking the old,
and being relieved from the fine.
Sixthly—before any student shall be permitted to borrow
any book from the library, or to use any, he shall deposit with the
bursar, the sum of ten dollars, and deliver the bursar's receipt
therefore to the librarian for safe keeping. The receipt shall purport
that the deposit is on account of the use of the library, & to
be accounted for according to the laws of the University. The deposit
shall be accounted for by the bursar, as follows:—— all fines incurred
by the student and all damages assesses against him, on account
of the library, shall be paid out of it, and the balance returned to
the student at the end of the session. A monthly settlement shall be
made by the librarian with the bursar, on account of this deposit; &
whenever the whole deposit is exhausted, it shall be renewed by a like
sum, or such smaller sum as the faculty may direct. Until so renewed,
the privilege of the student to use the library shall cease. If the
student object to any charge made against him by the librarian, the
faculty shall decide.
The library shall be open to students every day except Sunday,
during such hours as the faculty shall prescribe: but they shall be
admitted within it, only for the purpose of consulting such books as
they do not desire to carry from the library; and not for the purpose
of borrowing books, or returning those already borrowed. Borrowed
books shall be delivered out, and received back, at some convenient
place without the library, to be designated by the faculty,—within
the hours when the library is open.
Students desiring to enter the library for the purpose of consulting
books therein, shall obtain tickets of admission, in such manner
as the faculty shall prescribe. The numbers to be admitted at any
one time, shall be so limited as to secure order; such admissions shall
be only within the regular hours for keeping open the library, and
shall always be in presence of the librarian or one of his assistants.—
while so admitted, the student shall observe perfect order and decorum,—
shall preserve silence, shall abstain from injury, either to the books,
the building, or the furniture,—and he shall take no book from its
shelf. Of any book that he shall wish to consult, he shall furnish a
memorandum to the librarian or his assistant; and the librarian or his
assistant shall place the book on the table provided for that purpose
for the use of the student & shall return it to its place, when the
student as done with it.
If any student, while in the library, shall do any damage, to
any book, or to the building or furniture, or other property belonging
to the University, he shall pay such damages as shall be assessed
therefore by the faculty; and for this or any other misconduct while
in the library, he shall be liable to such other punishment as the
board in their discretion may adjudge.
Strangers whom the librarian may be willing to attend, may visit
the library at such hours & in such numbers as the faculty may prescribe:
but, to prevent derangement of the books, they are to take
no book from the shelf, but in his presence. They may also be permitted
to consult any book, to read in it, make notes or quotations
from it, at the table, under such accommodations and arrangements as
the librarian shall prescribe, on his own responsibility.
Resolved, that as soon as the sanction of the legislature can be
obtained, there shall be established in the University, a Court of
Record, to be called "The Court of the University," and to be organised
as followeth:
The professor of Law shall be, en officio, sole Judge of the Court,
and shall receive, as compensation for his judicial services, a salary
not exceeding five hundred dollars, to be regulated by the Visitors &
paid in like manner with his salary as professor of Law.
This Court shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the County
court of Albemarle, over all offences against the laws of the land, except
felonies, committed, by any, within the precincts of the University;
and over all such offences, committed, by students, within the
county of Albemarle. It shall moreover have jurisdiction over all such
offences committed by students against the laws of the University, as
shall from time to time, be made cognisable therein, by the Visitors.
Proceedings in this court for the punishment of offences against
the laws of the land, shall be, in all respects, according to the
course of the Common law courts in this Commonwealth: _____and proceedings
for the punishment of offences against the laws of the University,
shall be according to the course prescribed by those laws.
The Judge of the Court shall be a Conservator of the Peace, within
the County of Albemarle; and, within that limit, shall have the
same power as a justice of the peace for the county, to arrest any one
charged with an offence, to issue warrants for that purpose, to take
recognisances of the peace, recognisances of good behaviour, and recognisances
for appearance, either in his own court, or any other court
where the offence may be cognisable.
The terms of the Court shall be monthly and quarterly, to be
September; & continued from day to day, and from time to time, as
long as the business shall require.
The quarterly terms shall be in November, March, May and July;—
and shall have jurisdiction of all causes cognisable in the Court.
The monthly terms shall be in October, December, January, February,
and June; and shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the quarterly
terms, of such causes only as are not tried by a jury.
At every quarterly term, a grand jury from the body of Albemarle
County shall be summoned & impannelled, and solemnly charged on oath,
to present all offences cognisable in the court. Every person qualified
as a grand-juror for the County court of Albemarle, and moreover,
all students of the University above the age of nineteen years, and
all hotel keepers of the University shall be competent grand jurors in
the Court of the University; and a due proportion of such students,
under the direction of the Judge, shall be impannelled on every grand
jury.
Petit-jurors for the court of the University shall be qualified
in like manner as petit-jurors for the County court of Albemarle, except
that no student shall be of the petit jury.
The Proctor of the University shall be the sergeant of the Court;
and he, with such deputies as the judge may approve, shall summon all
its juries, execute all its process, original, mesne, and final———
and perform all the duties in relation to the court, and to the judge
thereof in vacation, that are performed by the Sheriff of a county, in
relation to the County court, and the justices thereof in vacation.
The Sergeant and his deputies shall be conservators of the peace,
in like manner as the Sheriff, to enable them to execute their lawful
authority. He shall have the same fees of offices as are allowed a
sheriff for similar services.
The Court shall have the same power to issue process beyond its
jurisdiction, & the same power to compell obedience to its lawful process
& lawful orders, with that possessed by a County court in similar
cases.
Until some other place of confinement be provided by law, the
jail of Albemarle County, shall be used as the jail of the Court of
the University, & the keeper thereof shall receive & detain in safe
custody all persons lawfully committed thereto, by the said Court or
its officers, or by the judge thereof in Vacation, in the same manner
as if they had been committed by the authority of the County Court of
Albemarle.
The Court shall appoint its own clerk, who shall hold his office
during the pleasure of the court, shall give bond & security for the
performance of its duties in such penalty as the Visitors shall prescribe,
shall receive fees of office such as are allowed the clerk of
the County court for similar services, and receive such farther compensation
for the performance of his duties as shall be allowed him
by the visitors from the funds of the University.
All Counsel & attornies licensed to practice in the courts of
this Commonwealth, may practise in the Court of the University, on
taking the proper oaths of office; and the Court shall appoint from
among them, one who shall prosecute all please of the Commonwealth in
that court, and shall receive the same fees and compensation for his
superior Court of law,——to be paid in the same manner.
A memorial shall be presented to the legislature, at their next
meeting, by the rector, on behalf of the rector and visitors, praying
the establishment of a court for the University, on the principles of
the foregoing enactment, or on such other principles as their wisdom
may prescribe.
Resolved that for enactment 76, shall be substituted the following:——If
any student be irregular or making undue proficiency in all
his classes for more than a month after his parent or guardian has been
informed; or if the faculty are satisfied that he is not fulfilling the
purposes for which he was sent to the institution, and is not likely to
fulfill them, and his parent or guardian shall not withdraw him after
having received timely notice thereof;————the faculty may dismiss
him:——but they shall not exercise this power till they shall have
given the student written information of the objections to his conduct,
and have afforded him an opportunity of explanation and defence. Their
order of dismissal shall assign the cause thereof, shall be communicated
to the parent or guardian, and laid before the Visitors at their next
meeting.
Resolved, that enactment 84. shall be amended as follows:
after `their own family' add `and farther, that it be a condition expressed
in the same lease that no hotel keeper shall entertain in his
hotel, or within the precincts, any expelled student, for the term of
five years after such expulsion; nor any dismissed or suspended student,
during the continuance of such dismission or suspension.'
Resolved that enactment 85. be amended as follows: strike out,
from the word `elsewhere' to the end.
Resolved that enactment 87, prescribing changes in the lecturing
hours previously allotted to the several schools, be repealed.
Resolved that enactment 90. be amended by the following addition:
and it is farther enacted that no student shall, for the
time above specified, admit any student into his dormitory who has
been, or shall be expelled from the institution; nor shall he admit
any student who has been or shall be dismissed or suspended from it,
during the continuance of such dismission or suspension: under pain
of such punishment as the faculty may choose to direct.
Resolved that every student shall be required to have his name
painted on the door of his dormitory; and no student shall be allowed
to change his dormitory without permission from the faculty.
Resolved that each student who may reside without the precincts,
shall be required to register his place of residence with the proctor.
Resolved that each student shall be furnished gratuitously by
the proctor, with a copy of the enactments at the time of his matriculation.
Resolved that any combination of students to do an unlawful act,
shall subject the offenders to any of the punishments, at the discretion
of the faculty.
Resolved that no suspended student shall be permitted to reside
within five miles of the University, during the continuance of such
suspension, unless with the consent of the faculty.
Resolved that each professor shall be at liberty to occupy the
dormitories adjoining his pavilion, or either of them: he paying
The board adjourned to tomorrow.
Saturday, Oct. 7th. The board met pursuant to adjournment- present the
same members as yesterday.
Resolved that the proctor be directed to refund to the several
professors, the advances by them made for venitian blinds; when, in
the opinion of the executive committee, such appropriation shall be
justified by the state of the funds.
Resolved that the communication of the faculty respecting books,
be referred to the executive committee: to be acted upon as the faculty
shall advise & the committee approve.
Resolved that laborers for the University shall be procured and
employed by the proctor, under the control of the executive committee.
Resolved, that the plan for a public examination & for conferring
degrees, recommended by the faculty, is approved and adopted for the
present; with this variation only: the examination shall commence on
the 1st Monday in Decr., & the result of the faculty's deliberations
thereon, made known on the fifteenth of that month.
Resolved as follows: After the present session, no student shall
be permitted to board or lodge out of the precincts of the University,
unless in the family of his parent or guardian, or in the family of
some particular friend approved by the faculty.
The student shall not choose his quarters at pleasure;——but
his hotel & dormitory shall be assigned him by the proctor, under the
control of the faculty;——and they shall be so distributed among the
as convenient. In this assignment, the wishes of the student will
be respected, as far as may comport with equality of numbers at the
hotels, and fitness of residence in the dormitories: but students,
being once located, must not be compelled to change their residence
for the mere purpose of equality, and shall not be allowed to change
either their hotels or dormitories, without the consent of the faculty.
The keepers of hotels shall not furnish luxurious fare to their
boarders: but the fare shall be plentiful, plain, of good and wholesome
viands, neatly served and well dressed; and, in all its details,
conformable to such rules as the faculty may prescribe pursuant to
this enactment.
The faculty are authorised, and required if they find it convenient,
to prescribe the details of the fare at the hotels—in the spirit
of this enactment, assuring, as far as may be, uniformity throughout
the institution.
The hotel keepers shall furnish the students not only with diet,
but with bedding and furniture for their dormitories, fuel, candles,
and washing: also proper attendance of servants for domestic and
menial duties:—the details of all which shall be regulated by the
faculty. For all these, instead of the board now allowed, they shall
receive one hundred and fifty dollars, for the ordinary session; and
one half that sum for the next session.
If any hotel keeper shall fail to comply with the rules prescribed
by this enactment or by the faculty, there shall be such deduction
made from the amount of board allowed him, as the faculty
shall judge proper.
The proctor shall superintend the hotels, shall inspect their
tables and the furnishments of the dormitories, at least once a month,
and whenever else he shall be required, by any hotel keeper, or boarder,
or by the faculty; and he shall regularly report to the faculty all deficiencies
and improprieties which he may observe or of which he may be
informed.
Resolved that the communications of the professors respecting
their tenements are referred to the executive committee. They are requested
to inform the professors that the funds of the institution are
in a condition which does not allow any application to that object at
present: that the committee, as soon as the funds will permit, will
cause the necessary out houses to be erected, & will consider the propriety
of making the proposed alterations in their attids & cellars.
Resolved, that a copy of the proceedings of the Board be furnished
by the Secretary to each member, as soon as practicable after the close
of the present & each successive session.
Resolved that the secretary be instructed to cause to be prepared
& delivered, as soon as practicable, to each member, a copy of the proceedings
of the Visitors of the Central College, & of the former proceedings
of the Visitors of the University.
Resolved that professor Emmet be authorised to suspend, till the
further decision of the Visitors, the discharge of his duties as professor
of Natural History, in regard to the Botanic Garden, & the subjects
of Botany & Rural Economy.
A letter having been received from professor Key, the following
preamble and resolutions were adopted in relation thereto.
The board regret, very deeply, that professor Key still desires
to resign his office in the University. They cannot contemplate the
loss of his valuable services, without apprehending very serious injury
to the interests of the institution over which they preside, &
to the interests of the country which has endowed it, and which looks
with great solicitude, to its success: and they cannot cease to hope
that professor Key, upon further reflection & further experience, will
be reconciled to his situation, and find his feelings conspire with
his interests in recommending its continuation. The Visitors are the
more encouraged in this hope, from the circumstance that they are now
endeavoring to introduce some radical changes into the government of
the University, which may secure more order than has heretofore prevailed,
& may relieve the professors from some of their most irksome
duties. The ensuing winter will probably ascertain how far their efforts
at reform will be crowned with success.
But the appeal which professor Key has not made to them, comes
recommended by so much temperance and good feeling, and his proposition
to resign is guarded by such reasonable cautions,—that the Visitors
cannot feel themselves justified in longer detaining him against
his will. If therefore, when he shall have known what influence the
events of the next winter will have upon his situation, he should still
be unwilling to remain with us, his resignation must be accepted; however
relectantly.
Therefore, Resolved, that if professor Key shall, at any time,
between the first & the fifteenth of March next, by letter addressed
to the rector, tender a resignation of his office, to take place at
the end of the session which will terminate on the 4th of July 1827—
such resignation shall be accepted.
Resolved that the Secretary be requested to communicate the foregoing
preamble and resolution, in answer to Mr Key's letter of the 3d
of Oct.
Resolved that the executive committee are requested, as soon as
they find it practicable, to cause the accommodations to be furnished,
which are suggested in the communication of professor Bonnycastle.
Resolved that, after the close of the present session, the science
of Political economy, shall be taught in the school of Moral philosophy,
instead of the school of law.
Resolved that the faculty be requested forthwith to cause the
small room on the first floor of the rotunda to be finished & fitted
for the reception of the natural and artificial curiosities given to
the University by the late venerable Rector; and to have them there
suitably arranged for preservation & exhibition.
Resolved that the case & custody of the apartments containing
the aforesaid donation of Mr Jefferson shall, for the present, be confided
to the Librarian under such regulations as the faculty may prescribe.
Resolved that the Bursar, on behalf of the Rector & Visitors of
the University, be authorised to borrow from either of the banks in
Richmond, a sum not exceeding three thousand dollars; and to pledge
for the repayment thereof, so much of the annuity of 1827, to be paid
by the literary fund, as will be adequate thereto:—and that the money
so borrowed, be applied under the direction of the executive committee
to the payment of the most pressing demands.
Resolved that the librarian is requested to receive from Thomas
J. Randolph, executor of Thomas Jefferson deceased, the books bequeathed
of the exr, addressed to the Rector & Visitors; and to preserve them
in the library, subject to the order of the executor.
Resolved, that the subject of stables for the hotels is referred
to the executive committee, to be acted on as they deem sufficient.
Resolved that the funds of the University not justifying the appropriation
of money to that purpose, the offer of the executors of
Francis W. Gilmer decd., for the sale of his library, cannot at this
time be accepted.
Resolved, that the sentence of the faculty expelling Thomas Barclay
from the University, and the letter of Tho's Barclay to the board
on that subject, have been considered, & the sentence is approved.
Resolved that the sentence of the faculty expelling C. Peyton
from the University, is approved.
Resolved, that the case of — Yeates, referred by the faculty
to this board, not having been reached till a late hour of the last
day of our session, and neither documents nor evidence being before
the board, to enable them to act upon it,——the consideration thereof
is postponed till December.
The Youth of the Country cannot learn too early to respect the
laws. To evade the process of the Courts necessary to the administration
of justice, is a high contempt of those laws, and indicates
a disposition to insubordination which required the decided reprehension
of the board.
Resolved, therefore, that the faculty make known to the students
that the Visitors strongly disapprove every attempt to evade the process
Resolved, farther, that any student, in any manner, evading the
process of the courts, shall be liable to any of the penalties prescribed
by the enactments of the University.
Resolved, that the room for the public examination shall be indicated
by the executive committee, & prepared for the purpose by the
proctor under their direction.
Resolved that in adjusting the accounts of the professors, their
salaries shall be regarded as commencing at the date of the acceptances
of their appointments, unless it shall have been otherwise specially
provided, in the contracts with them.
The board then adjourned to the first Monday in December next.
NICHo. PH: TRIST
Sec,y
Report of the Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia,
determined on at their meeting in October 1826
To the President and Directors of the Literary fund.
In obedience to the law requiring that the Rector & Visitors of
the University of Virginia, should make a Report annually, to the
President & Directors of the Literary fund, (to be laid before the
Legislature at their next succeeding meeting) embracing a full account
of the disbursements, the funds on hand, & a general statement of the
condition of the said University, the said Rector & Visitors make the
REPORT:
The first act required of the Board at their present meeting,
was that of providing for the vacancy in the Rectorship, occasioned
by a loss which clothed the whole land in mourning, & has fallen with
peculiar force on the institution committed to their care. To that
lamented event the Board cannot refer, without feeling that some tribute
is due on their part, to the memory of a patriot & sage so distinguished
by his various & invaluable services to his country; and
so eminently entitled to manifestations of grateful affection from
every portion of its citizens. After discharging with a zeal which
never abated, and with abilities which commanded universal admiration,
all the labours imposed by a series of most important public trusts,
he did not cease in his retirement from them, to cherish that love of
country and of liberty, which had been the ruling principle of his
life. Reflecting more particularly on the great truth, that as no
people can be happy but with a free Government, so no government can
long be free, without knowledge for its conservative element, he
determined to close his illustrious career by devoting the resources
of his genius and his vast acquirements, to the erection of this monument
of Science & Liberty: indulging to the last hour of his protracted
existence, the gratifying confidence that under the auspices of the
state to which it was dedicated, it would more than repay whatever
might be done for it, by the lights it would diffuse, and the characters
it would rear for the service & ornament of the Republic.
With an origin so propitious, and the continued patronage of the
state, the Board are encouraged to expect that no part of the promised
blessings will be disappointed, in the progress of the University to
its destined usefulness.
Since the Report last made, the acquisition of a Professor of Law
has completed the number required for the existing arrangement, and
the matriculated students have encreased to 177: the state of the
schools being,
| In the school of Ancient Languages | 107 |
| In the school of Modern Languages | 90 |
| Mathematics | 98 |
| Natural Philosophy | 43 |
| Natural History | 45 |
| Anatomy and Medicine | 16 |
| Moral Philosophy | 28 |
| Law (opened in July) | 26 |
This encrease justifies the expectation that additions to the
number will continue to be made, as the benefits of the institution
SHALL be unfolded, and regulations for extending and ensuring them
shall be suggested by experience. The enactments now made with this
view, will be laid before the Legislature as soon as they shall be
duly prepared for the purpose.
From a comparative view of the tasks of the Professors of Law
& Moral Philosophy, it was found convenient & mutually agreeable to
the parties that the science of Political Economy should be taught
in the school of the latter, instead of the former.
On a further consideration of the most eligible period for the
shall commence on the first of February, and terminate on the Fourth
of July, and that all future sessions shall commence on the twentieth
of August in each year, and terminate on the fourth of July ensuing;
but that there shall be one recess of all the schools, & no more, during
each session: to commence on the fifteenth and terminate on the
thirty first of December.
In pursuance of what was communicated in the last report the
Library room in the Rotunda has been nearly completed, and the books
put into it. Two rooms for the Professors of Natural Philosophy and
Chemistry, and one large lecture room, have also been fitted for use.
The work of the Anatomical Hall is so far advanced that it may be used
early in the next session. The Portico of the Rotunda has been finished,
with the exception of the flight of steps and the laying of the
marble flags, which have been received and paid for. The work remaining
to be done, is the finishing one large oval room, one small one,
and the entrance Hall of the Rotunda with the unfinished parts of the
Portico and about one fourth of the Anatomical Hall. Some small additions
are also necessary for the better accommodation of the Professors
in their Pavilions, and of the students in their Dormitories, and
for a few other minor objects.
The receipts by the collector, of arrearages of subscriptions
since the date of the last report, amount to $644.84 cents, leaving
a balance still due of 8161.68 of which 3661.68 are considered sperate.
The accounts for the receipts, disbursements & funds on hand for
the year ending with the month of September, as rendered by the Bursar
& Proctor are given with this report as is required by Law.
In looking to the future, the Board, notwithstanding their anxiety
to bring the establishment into a complete state, without exceeding its
current resources, find, on comparing with these, the engagements and
estimated demands for the present & the next year, that at the end of
the next, an adverse balance will exist of not less than twenty thousand
dollars; the extinguishment of which will require the estimated
annual surplus of income, thereafter, for a period of about seven years.
In submitting this unavoidable result, the Board venture to hope
that a favorable view will be taken by the General Assembly, of the advantage
to the Institution from a public liberation of its funds from
the debts otherwise weighing upon them; and of the prospect thence
opened of earlier enlargements of its scope of action and usefulness.
| Board of Visitors minutes October 2, 1826 | |