 | Board of Visitors minutes July 10, 1828 |  |
At a meeting of the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia,
held at the University on the tenth day of July 1828, at which
were present, James Madison, rector, James Monroe, James Breckenridge,
Chapman Johnson, John H. Cocke and William C. Rives.
Various letters from, and recommendations of, candidates for the
Professorships of Antient Languages and of Natural Philosophy, were
taken into consideration.
Under the resolution to that effect, passed at the meeting in
July 1827, three reports were handed in, from the chairman of the Faculty
during the period of the session ending in December 1827.
In the afternoon, the Board attended the examination.
Friday, July 11. The Board met, present the same as yesterday, with
the addition of Joseph C. Cabell.
The forenoon was employed in attending the examination, and in
reading various communications & testimonials concerning applicants
for the Professorships of Antient Languages & Natural Philosophy.
Agreeably to the resolution to that effect, passed at the meeting
in July 1827, Joseph C. Cabell, John H. Cocke and William C. Rives
were appointed a committee to examine & report to the Board, the state
and condition of the library, &c &c.
The following resolution was adopted: Resolved That the account
of the Editors of the Virginia Advocate, be referred to the Proctor,
to be adjusted and settled, in the usual mode; and that the amount
found due, be paid out of any monies in the hands of the Bursar, not
otherwise appropriated.
In the afternoon, the Board again attended the examination.
Saturday, July 12. The Board met, present the same as yesterday.
Resolved That James Monroe & John H. Cocke compose a committee
for the purpose of examining and reporting on, the minutes of the
Faculty proceedings.
Resolved That Chapman Johnson & W. C. Rives compose a committee
for the purpose of enquiring into & reporting on the state of the
Funds.
Resolved as follows: Professor Long having received an appointment
Chair of Antient Languages in the University of Virginia, that resignation
is accepted.
In consenting to relinquish the valuable services of Mr Long the
Visitors are sensible of the great loss which the Institution under
their care, will thereby sustain. But they would not properly estimate
their obligation to this distinguished Professor, for the faithful
and able discharge of his duties, if they insisted on taining
him against his will, or opposed any obstacle to his pursuit of a
more eligible situation in his native Country. Nor would they act
with becoming liberality towards a sister Institution, if they did
not feel some consolation in the reflection that what is lost to the
cause of science here, will be gained to a Seminary which promises no
ordinary usefulness in the great work of instructing the rising generation
and extending the limits of human knowledge.
The Secretary is requested to communicate this order to Professor
Long, as an evidence that his resignation is accepted, that the loss
of his services is deeply regretted, and that the best wishes of the
Board attend him.
The account of the Bursar was handed in.
Monday, July 14. The Board met, present the same as on Saturday.
After reading some communications addressed to them, the Board
took into consideration, the question of attending the Convention to
be held this day in Charlottesville, on the subject of the Internal
Improvement of the State; and having decided on being present at the
organisation of the Body, they proceeded to Charlottesville for the
purpose.
In the afternoon, the Board attended the examination of the Students.
The accounts of the Proctor were handed in.
The following resolutions were adopted:
The application of the Librarian, for leave to occupy a vacant
hotel, is referred to the Proctor, who will act upon it according to
his discretion; so as, however, to reserve full power to resume the
building whenever it may be required for the purposes of the Institution.
The Salary of the Professor of Natural Philosophy shall be hereafter,
one thousand dollars per annum, payable quarterly out of the
annuity drawn from the Literary Fund.
The Professor of Natural Philosophy shall perform the duties
which pertain to the Observatory, and shall receive as compensation
therefor, the additional sum of five hundred dollars per annum, payable
in like manner.
Resolved That Doctor Robert M. Patterson of Philadelphia, be appointed
Professor of Natural Philosophy.
Tuesday, July 15. In the intervals of their attendance as members of
the Convention in Charlottesville, the Board met, and attended occasionally
on the examination.
Wednesday, July 16. This day was spent in a similar manner to the
preceding.
Thursday, July 17. The same remark applies to this.
Friday, July 18. In the intervals of the meetings of the Convention,
the Board met and passed the following resolutions.
Resolved That Mr Monroe & Mr Johnson be a committee charged with
the duty of preparing during the recess of the Board of Visitors, and
of reporting to them at their next meeting, a plan of Executive government
for the University.
After the expiration of the term of service of the present Chairman
of the Faculty, no other election of Chairman shall be made in the
manner now required by the enactments; and until the farther order of
the Board, that officer shall be annually appointed from among the Professors,
by the Visitors of the University.
Saturday, July 19. The Board attended the Convention, and no business
was done by them in relation to the University.
Monday, July 21. The Board met, present James Madison, rector, James
Monroe, James Breckenridge, Chapman Johnson, Joseph C. Cabell, John H.
Cocke and William C. Rives.
Resolved as follows: The recess of all the schools commencing on
the 15th and terminating on the 31st of December, in each year, as provided
for by the enactment of October 1826, having been found injurious
in practice;—Therefore resolved that so much of the said enactment as
provides for such recess shall be & the same is repealed—and that
hereafter the public examination which was required to precede the winter
recess, shall be had at such convenient time, near the middle of
Resolved as follows: Mr Ferron's letter is referred to the Faculty,
who are authorized, if they think it expedient, to assign him
such place & hours, for his lessons in fencing, as may be proper.
Resolved——The Visitors have had under consideration the subject
referred to them by the Faculty, involving the conduct of the Student
Tucker, in the lecture room of Dr Blaettermann; and deem it inexpedient
to depart from the principle of the enactments which give to
the Faculty the power of punishing offences, and reserve to the Visitors
the power only of approving or disapproving sentences of expulsion: And,
though they justly appreciate the motives of delicacy which induced the
Faculty to refer this subject to them, they must decline pronouncing
any judgment on the conduct of the Student. But they would on every
occasion, solemnly enjoin on the Students, as essential to their own
welfare, and the character of the institution, the utmost deference and
respect for the professors; in the confidence that the professors will
entitle themselves to that deference & respect, by the dignity of their
deportment, & especially by avoiding all personal collision with the
Students and all personal violence towards them.
Tuesday, July 22. The Board met, present the same as yesterday.
Resolved That if Dr Patterson should decline the appointment of
Professor of Natural Philosophy, the Rector shall be authorised to offer
it to William Ritchie, rector of the Academy of Tain in Scotland;
—that in making this offer, he be required not to annex the duties of
be necessary to induce an acceptance of the appointment.
Resolved That the Proctor, under the control of the executive
committee, erect such building, for the accommodation of Servants, in
the tenement occupied by Doct. Dunglison, as may be deemed suitable;
the cost whereof shall not exceed $150 ——— and that a sum not exceeding
$150 be applied, under the direction of the Executive committee, to
provide accommodation for Servants in the tenement occupied by Doct.
Emmet.
Resolved That a manuscript volume containing reports of cases
of the Old General Court, this day delivered to the Board by Nicholas
P. Trist, pursuant to the request of the author, as explained in Mr
Trist's letter of this date, be deposited in the Library of the University,
to be there preserved, subject, however, to any claim which
may be preferred thereto by the executor of Mr Jefferson.
Resolved That if the Executor of Mr Jefferson have no claim
thereto, Mr Trist shall be at liberty to take a copy of this volume
and publish it, for the purposes in his letter mentioned.
Wednesday, July 25. The Board met, present the same as yesterday.
Resolved That the Sum of Two hundred and twenty five dollars
be appropriated for the purpose of repairing the exterior coverings
of the dormitories of the University.
Resolved That the Executive committee be authorized to take off
a part of the exterior covering from the lower range of dormitories,
to ascertain experimentally the effect of that covering on the rooflets.
Resolved That in future, the sessions of the University shall
commence on the 10th of September, & terminate on the twentieth of
July ensuing.
Resolved That the Secretary of the Board be authorized to procure
a press for the seal of the University; and that the Proctor pay
the bill for the same, when presented.
The Committee appointed on the 11th instant to examine & report
to the Board, the State and condition of the Library, the Philosophical
& Chemical Apparatus, &c &c; which Committee adopted the title of
"Committee of Inspection," made their report.
Whereupon it was resolved as follows: The Report of the Committee
of Inspection being approved by the Board, and they preferring to locate
the cistern therein mentioned, near the Proctor's house, as recommended
by him, — Therefore Resolved, That the Executive committee be
charged with the execution of the several recommendations contained in
the said report, so far as it may be practicable & consistent with other
resolutions adopted by the Board.
The Committee appointed on the 12. inst. to enquire into & report
on, the state of the Funds, made a report & submitted sundry resolutions,
which were adopted, as follows:
Resolved That two of the laboring hands now employed by the Proctor,
be dispensed with, the ensuing year, unless the executive committee
shall deem their services indispensable.
Resolved That the Proctor be required, in lieu of the present Janitor
and Attendant on the Lithographic press, to employ a suitable person,
at a salary not exceeding $200, to be called the Janitor, but to be
charged with the duties now belonging to both these officers, and with
the additional duty of winding up, and attending to, the clock, Keeping
in order & repairing the chemical and philosophical apparatus. The person
so employed, finding himself all supplies, except a house & firewood,
to be furnished by the Proctor.
Resolved That the application of the Professors for books for
their several departments, be referred to the Executive committee, to
be acted on as they deem expedient; and that they be authorized, if
they think it proper, to draw on the sterling fund, in London, to supply
any deficiency of funds here.
Resolved That a Sum not exceeding seven hundred and fifty dollars,
be appropriated under the direction of the Executive committee, to cover
the expenses of printing, stationary, articles for the dispensary, chemical
laboratory, Lithographic press, Anatomical and surgical department.
Resolved That the enactments prescribing a uniform, limiting
pocket money, and other expenses, restraining the contracting of debts
by Students, and requiring them to deposit their funds with the Proctor,
report, and by such others as the executive committee, the chairman,
and the Faculty may, in their several departments, find practicable.
Resolved That after the expiration of the present year, the
Hotel-keepers shall furnish the students boarding with them, all the
supplies now required, except fuel & candles; and instead of the board
now allowed, they shall be entitled, from each student, to compensation
after the rate of one hundred dollars for the session, payable monthly
as at present.
To indemnify the hotel-keepers against all injuries to their furniture,
proceeding from the Students, the Proctor, whenever required
by any hotel-keeper, shall assess a fair compensation for any such injury,
subject, however, to the final Judgment of the Faculty, on appeal
to them by either party;——— and retaining the sum so assessed, out
of the pocket money of the student in his hands, or if there be no
pocket moeny, then, out of such other money of the Student as is not
otherwise specially appropriated,——shall pay it over to the hotel-keeper.
Resolved That it shall be the Proctor's duty to furnish the students
with fuel and candles, at prime cost and charges, adding only
5 per cent thereon, as a compensation for his risk and trouble. He
shall purchase supplies, on the best terms, in large quantities, at
the most convenient seasons, and shall deliver them to the Students
at their respective dormitories, the wood sawed in proper lengths
for their fire places. He shall keep a regular account of the supplies
in his hands. To enable him the more conveniently to execute
this duty, a fit woodyard may be provided at the expense of the University,
under the direction of the executive committee.
Thursday, July 24. The Board met, present the same as yesterday.
Resolved as follows: When the Professor of Law shall establish
a class for the Study of Government and General Politics, every student
paying to him his full fee, shall be entitled to the benefit of
all his classes;——and those desirous of attending the class of government
and general politics alone, shall be allowed to attend that, on the
payment of a fee of fifteen dollars.
Resolved That the Rector be authorized to appoint to the chair
of Antient Languages, for the term of one year from the date of such
appointment, with a salary not exceeding $1000, and with the usual fees
paid to that chair,——either of the following persons, they being preferred
by the Board in the order herein named; that is to say: Dr Gessner
Harrison, M. L. Tracie, R. Reynolds; and if neither of them will accept
such appointment, then that he be authorized in like manner to appoint
such other person as shall be approved by the executive committee
or a majority of the Visitors: and that the Rector be requested to
open a correspondence in Europe and elsewhere, with a view to obtain a
fit person to fill the chair permanently.
A communication having been received from the Proctor, under date
of the 12th inst. on the subject of an account of the Editors of the
Resolved, That the Board of Visitors see no sufficient reason for
giving a preference to the debts for Venitian blinds mentioned in that
communication, over the one due to the Editors of the Advocate; and
that the original order of the Board, in relation to the payment of
that debt, remain unrevoked.
Resolved That Professor Dunglison be appointed chairman of the
Faculty, from and after the expiration of the term of service of the
present chairman, till the end of the next session.
Resolved That the printing and communication of the questions
propounded to the schools at the public examination, as recommended
by the Faculty, is committed to their discretion.
Resolved That the Executive committee be charged with endeavoring,
by a contract with the bookseller of the University, to secure
to the Students a regular supply of books at moderate prices; and that,
in the event of a refusal on his part, to enter into such an arrangement,
they be authorized to take such other measures as to them may
seem best calculated to effect the object.
Resolved That the Proctor, under the direction of the chairman
of the Faculty, cause a suitable advertisement to be inserted in such
newspapers in different portions of the United States, as may be designated
by the chairman of the Faculty, announcing the commencement and
duration of the next session of the University, its expenses, the extent
may be calculated to invite the public attention to it. —— And
that a similar publication shall hereafter be annually made, immediately
after the close of the session.
Resolved as follows: The bell shall be rung every morning
throughout the session, at dawn: The Students shall rise at this signal
& dress themselves without delay. —— Their rooms shall be cleaned
and set in order, and they prepared for business, at sun-rise; at which
time, the Proctor shall, at least once a week, inspect their apartments
and see that they are in proper order.
The bell shall be again rung at 10 O'clock at night, by which
time, at least, the Students shall retire to rest; and after which time,
perfect quiet shall be maintained within the precincts, and no light
shall be kept burning, in any dormitory, unless in case of sickness, or
by special leave of the chairman. It shall be the duty of the Proctor
to see that the lights are extinguished accordingly. He shall scrupulously
report all breaches of this enactment to the chairman; and any
Student who shall violate it, shall be subject to any of the minor or
major punishments. Any hotel-Keeper who shall fail to have the room
of a Student put in order, according to the provisions of this enactment,
shall be subject to a fine not exceeding five dollars for each
offence, to be assessed by the Faculty, and retained out of the Students'
board.
Resolved as follows: The chairman of the Faculty shall keep a
regular journal of his proceedings, to be, at all times, open to the
Visitors at their meetings.
He shall note thereon all informations of irregularity or
breaches of duty by Students or others connected with the University,
which shall be laid before him; and the measures taken by him in consequence.
The Board then adjourned to the first day of October next.
Secy.
| Board of Visitors minutes July 10, 1828 | |