 | Board of Visitors minutes July 3, 1839 |  |
The day fixed by the enactments for the stated annual
meeting of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia
was Monday July 1st. 1839. A quorum did not assemble until
Wednesday July 3 when a quorum was formed. Present, Messrs.
Jos. C. Cabell, Thomas J. Randolph, Wm. C. Rives and James M.
Mason. Mr. Cabell was elected Rector Pro: tem:
July 3d. 1839 The following resolutions were adopted:
A letter to the Board of Visitors, under date of July 1st
1839, was received from George Tucker, Professor of Moral Philosophy,
announcing his intention to make a voyage to Europe in
the next vacation, and desiring permission to be absent about
a month beyond the present limits of the vacation, with a view
to enable him to correct the proof sheets, & to superintend
the printing of several works which he has in a course of
publication in England:
1. Resolved that permission be granted to Professor
Tucker to extend the term of his absence in his contemplated
voyage to Europe as late as the first day of October next
without the forfeiture of any o the emoluments there unto
attached; upon condition however that he shall deliver to
his classes a full course of lectures between the period of
his return and the end of the next session.
Committee of Inspection Messrs. Randolph & Rives.
of Finance Mr. Mason
of Bursar's & Proctor's accts Rives & Randolph
2. Resolved that the Committee of Inspection have power
3. It appearing from the representations made to the
Board of Visitors that W. L. Harris, a Student in the school
of Mathematics labours under a peculiar sensitiveness of temperament
which it is supposed has prevented him from exhibiting
in his examinations the degree of proficiency he has really
attained in his studies, & that by that means alone has been
prevented from attaining the diploma of graduate in that
school, for which he has been a candidate.
4. Resolved that the Faculty be authorised to take the
special circumstances of Mr. Harris' case into their consideration
& if they be satisfied, notwithstanding Mr. Harris'
failure in his examinations, that he really possesses the
knowledge of Mathematics which, manifested in the usual mode,
would entitle him to a diploma in that school, they be empowered
to grant him such diploma.
5. Resolved that the Proctor be instructed to pay the
accounts of Gales & Seaton amounting to $18 for advertising in
the years 1828 & 1829, and that of G. W. Wood for oil &c furnished
the University in the years 1830 & 1831, presented by
him to the Board, if upon enquiry it should appear by affidavit
or otherwise that they have not been paid heretofore.
6. Resolved that the Faculty be requested by a Committee
of their own body to examine with the Librarian the books bequeathed
to the University by the late Christian Bohn, and to
select such as, in their opinion, may be appropriate to the
That the Books so selected be placed by the Librarian in
the presses heretofore ordered to be provided for their recention;
and the residue be carefully packed in boxes by the Librarian
& safely kept by the Proctor subject to the future
order of the Board.
The Board then adjourned till tomorrow morning 8 O.Clock.
Thursday July 4. 1839
The Board met Present as on yesterday.
1. Resolved that Professors Rogers, Bonnycastle and Davis
be requested to make enquiry and to report to the Board of
Visitors at their next meeting a plan for furnishing, by iron
pipes, a suitable supply of water to the University, together
with an estimate of the cost of the same.
2. Resolved, that in future, no certificate of proficiency
shall be granted for the subject of Materia Medica, and that,
for the subjects of Medical Jurisprudence & Physiology such
certificates shall be restricted to students of schools other
than the school of Medicine & the school of Anatomy & Surgery,
and if, hereafter any Student who may have obtained a certificate
of proficiency for either of the aforesaid subjects
shall apply for a diploma of Doctor of Medicine, he shall be
required to undergo an examination de novo, on such subject
before such diploma shall be conferred.
It appearing from the communication of Professor Bonnycastle
this day laid before the Board of Visitors, that the
beyond the period of a week was occasioned by the unexpected
freezing of the Potomac River & the consequent interruption
of the usual conveyance for travellers.
3. Resolved that the deduction made by the Proctor from
the salary & fees of Professor Bonnycastle in consequence of
such absence be remitted, & that the Proctor be authorised to
pay to Mr. Bonnycastle the amount of the said deduction.
4. Resolved that Professor Bonnycastle be authorised to
occupy for the purposes & on the terms indicated in his letter
of the 3d Inst: to the Board the Dormitory adjoining that now
used by him as a study & to open a door of communication between
his study & the said dormitory.
5. A letter from Doctr. James L. Cabell, professor of
Anatomy & Surgery requesting permission to make some changes
in the Interior of his pavilion with a view to render the same
more convenient & useful and proposing to have such changes
made at his own private expense until such time as the state
of the University funds may make it convenient for the Board
of Visitors to reimburse the amount, & the Board being satisfied,
after an inspection of the building by a committee of
their own body, of the propriety of the proposed Changes;
6. Resolved that professor James L. Cabell be, & he is
hereby authorised to cause to be made the alterations in the
interior of his pavilion requested and explained by him at the
present meeting of the Visitors, provided that the expense of
charge until such time as the Visitors may deem it proper to
reimburse the same from the funds of the University.
7. A Letter from John K. Wilson to the Visitors requesting
permission to occupy a room in the eastern part of Hotel D.
Western Range during the next session, having been laid before
the Board,
Resolved that the Letter of Mr. Wilson be referred to the
faculty with authority to act in the case according to their
discretion.
8. Resolved that the letter of Hunter H. Marshall asking
leave to board during the next session without the precincts
be referred to the Faculty, with authority to grant permission
in their discretion.
9. Resolved that the Secretary of the Board be authorised
to return to Doct. Emmet the accounts & vouchers referred to
in his letter of the 4th Inst: pursuant to his request.
The cultivation of the art of composition by the Students
of the University as a branch of regular instruction being a
great desideratum in the establishment;
10. Resolved that the subject be referred to the Faculty
with instructions to adopt such regulations touching the same
as they may deem most expedient & proper.
11. Resolved that John A. G. Davis be appointed Chairman
of the Faculty for the ensuing year.
12. Resolved that Professor Rogers be allowed the month
of the State.
13. Resolved that the Proctor, under the direction of
the Professors in the Medical School cause the medical books
heretofore directed to be removed to the Anatomical Theatre
to be returned to the Library, & that the Librarian cause
them to be replaced on it's shelves.
14. Resolved that the collection of Minerals the property
of Doct: Robert M. Patterson deposited in the Rotunda
be purchased for the University at the price ($500) proposed
by Doct: Patterson in his letter to the Executive Committee &
that the proctor be authorised to pay to Dr. Patterson the
balance which will still be due to him on account of the said
purchase after first appropriating thereto the monies now in
the hands of Dr. Patterson arising from the sale of the instruments
disposed of by him for the Benefit of the University.
The Board then adjourned Sine die.
Frank Carr Secretary.
At a called meeting of the Board of Visitors of the University
of Virginia held at the University on Wednesday October
the 2d 1839; Present John H. Cocke, Thomas J. Randolph,
Wm. C. Rives & Samuel Taylor. In the absence of the Rector,
Genl. Cocke was called to the Chair as Rector pro temp:
The following resolutions were adopted.
1. Resolved that the Class of Mineralogy & Geology be
considered as a department of the School of Natural Philosophy,
have the privilege of attending that class without additional
fee. Those Students not members of the School of Natural
Philosophy who enter the class of Mineralogy & Geology being
required to pay a fee of fifteen dollars- And that those making
the requisite attainments in this class shall be rewarded
by a certificate of proficiency as in Political Economy &
Medical Jurisprudence & Physiology.
2. Resolved that the claim of Doct: Griffith for sixty
dollars presented to the consideration of the Board in his
letter of the 2d Oct. 1839 having been considered & allowed;Resolved
that the Proctor of the University pay the same.
3. Resolved that the Students of the University be allowed
one dollar per month in addition to their present allowance
of pocket money.
4. Resolved that the Rector be authorised to tender the
appointment of Professor of Medicine in this University to
Doct: Gross of Cincinnati, & in the event of his declining
to offer it in that case to Doct: Harrison of the same
City; & whichever of the said Gentlemen may accept the appointment,
under the Authority hereby given, shall be and is hereby
declared to be duly appointed Professor of Medicine in the
University of Virginia.
It appearing from the report of the Bursar that, instead
of negotiating the loan of fifteen hundred dollars for the
uses of the University which he was authorised to obtain by
appropriated to the objects of that resolution a special deposit
of the same amount lying idle for the present in the
Bank of Virginia.
5. Resolved that the application made by the Bursar of
the said special deposite under the circumstances of the case
is approved by the Visitors & is hereby confirmed & continued,
till such time as, in the opinion of the Board it shall become
necessary to reinstate the said special deposite & actually
apply it to the objects of its destination.
6. Resolved that the Bursar & Proctor & Patron of the
University, be authorised to make their deposites in future
in the Branch of the Farmer's Bank of Virginia proposed to,
be established in the lown of Charlottesville so soon as the
same shall be put into operation, in lieu of depositing as
heretofore in the Banks at Richmond.
7. Nicholas Mills of the City of Richmond having produced
to the Board of Visitors of the University eight certificates
of stock each for the sum of five hundred dollars
under the hand & seal of James Madison, rector, & under the
hand of Alexander Garrett, Bursar with the seal of the University
of Virginia annexed, all of which certificates were
granted to Thomas J. Randolph Trustee for Mrs. Martha Randolph
on the 1st day of January in the year 1828 pursuant to an act
of the General Assembly passed on the seventh day of March
1827 entitled "an act altering the stated meetings of the
numbered 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, & 19; and also an assignment
of the said eight certificates executed by Thomas J.
Randolph as Trustee as aforesaid, and as attorney in fact for
Septimici A. C. Randolph to the said Nicholas Mills, dated
the 19th day of May 1838: It is ordered that notice to the
Board of Visitors be entered on the record of the proceedings
of the said Board & that a copy of this order be furnished to
the said Nicholas Mills by the Secretary under the corporate
seal of the University.
The Board then adjourned Sine die.
| Board of Visitors minutes July 3, 1839 | |