University of Virginia Library


455


71

On Saturday July 1st 1843, there was no attendance of
Visitors at the University, except of Mr. Randolph.

On Monday the 3d Mess. Joseph C. Cabell, Jno. H. Cocke,
Ths. J. Randolph, & Wm. C. Rives attended; and, without forming
a board, by examining the Book of the Faculty &c prepared
business for the Board when it should be organized.

On Teusday the 4th Chapman Johnson, Rector, attended and
the Board was regularly organised.

Messrs. Cabell & Randolph were appointed a Committee of
Inspection.

Messrs. Rives & Cocke were appointed a Committee of Finance.

July 4th 1843. The following resolutions was adopted.

The communication of J. J. Sylvester Esq. addressed to the
Visitors of the University of Virginia under date of the 27th
June 1843, being before the Board:

1. Resolved, that, under all the circumstances of the case,
considering the brief connexion of Mr. Sylvester with the Institution,
and the action of the Board which took place on the
occasion of his resignation, the Visitors deem it most consistent
with propriety to abstain from any other expression of
sentiment touching the matters of Enquiry embraced by said
communication, than that which was given in the resolution adopted


456


72

on the 22d March 1842, a copy of which was, at the time directed
to be furnished to Mr. Sylvester.

The Board took a recess about 11 A. M. to attend the
public day, and, in order that the committees might attend to
the objects of their respective appointments, on reassembling
adjourned till tomorrow morning 8 O.C.

Wednesday July 5th the Board met: Present Chapman Johnson,
Rector, Joseph C. Cabell, John H. Cocke, Wm. C. Rives,
& Ths. J. Randolph.

The following resolutions were adopted.

1. A letter from Mrs. Mary Emmet addressed to the Visitors
proposing to them to purchase, for the use of the University
certain articles of chemical apparatus which constituted a
private collection of her late husband, and referring to the
professor of Natural Philosophy for a list of said articles,
having been laid before the Board:

Resolved, as the sense of the Board of Visitors that such
purchase should be declined by the Visitors, inas much as it
is not necessary to the Chemical apparatus of the University,
and in the present state of the Funds, no purchase of apparatus
would be admissable which is not called for by the necessities
of the Institution.

2. Resolved, that a copy of this resolution be furnished
by the Secretary to the professor of Natural Philosophy, accompanied
by the request that he present the same to Mrs. Emmet.

The Committee of Inspection made a report accompanied


457


73

by the following resolutions which were adopted.

3. Resolved that the Proctor be required to have blinds
attached to the windows of the Anatomical Museum, & to have
made under the directions of the professor of Anatomy and
Surgery an alteration in the Anatomical Lecture room, by removal
of the present partition in the room, so as to admit
light from the western window of the story, and by the formation
of a new but smaller apartment for the reception of subjects
for dissection in the South western angle of the building.

4. Resolved that the Proctor be required to cause the obstructions
in the drain around Mr. Conway's Hotel to be removed.

5. Resolved, that in future should any obstruction for
want of proper care on the part of any hotel keeper be formed
in the drain of any of the Hotels it shall be the duty of the
Proctor to cause such obstruction to be removed at the expense
of the respective Hotel Keeper.

6. Resolved, that, with a view to enable the professor of
Chemistry more effectually to enforce the regulations of the
Lecture room, the Proctor be authorised and required to have
removed the present releif boards in front of the Benches in
the Lecture room so as to make them open & similar to those
in the philosophical Lecture room.

7. Resolved that the professor of Natural Philosophy be
requested to ascertain by levelling, whether it be practical
to bring by a range of iron pipes under ground the water of
Maury's Spring upon the Lawn or within the precincts of the
University.


458


74

8. Resolved that in the event that it should be found
practicable, to conduct the water of Maury's Spring upon the
Lawn or within the precincts of the University, it shall be
the duty of the Proctor to prepare and make to the Board of
Visitors at its next meeting , a report of the probable cost
of executing the plan.

9. Resolved that the proctor be required to report to
the Board of Visitors at their next annual meeting, an estimate
of the cost of substituting the wood pillars in the
Chemical Lecture room and Laboratory by hollow pillars of cast
iron of such dimensions as the professor of Chemistry may deem
most advisable.

10. Resolved that the proctor be authorised to draw upon
the Bursar in favor of Professor Wm. B. Rogers for the amount
of his account of expenses incurred at the North in the preparation
of permanent diagrams for the use of his school.

The Committee of Finance submitted a report accompanied
by the following resolution which was adopted:

11. Resolved that the Proctor be authorised to pay to
Ths. J. Randolph Esq. out of any monies not otherwise appropriated
the sum of $270 part of the loan of $19,770 borrowed of
Mrs. Martha Randolph by the University of Virginia, with the
interest due upon the said sum of $270.

12. Resolved that the Bursar be directed to restore, out
of the current revenues of the University which may not be
otherwise appropriated the sum of $1,500, being the amount of


459


75

Mr. Madison's Legacy for the benefit of the Library of the University
which, by a former resolution of the Board of Visitors,
was temporarily applied to the general uses of the University.

13. Resolved as the sense of the Board of Visitors that
the sum of $1500 bequeathed by Mr. Madison to the University
for the benefit of the Library shall be invested by the Bursar
in 6 per cent stock of the State of Virginia, and that the interest
of said stock shall be annually applied to the purchase
of books to be added to the Madison donation to the Library
of the University.

14. Resolved that the application of the income accruing
from the stock to be purchased as aforesaid, be placed under
the care of a committee of the Visitors to be chosen at each
annual meeting of the Board of Visitors to be applied by the
said Committee to the purchase of books of standard character
& permanent value, so as to make provision for a progressive
& regular increase of that portion of the Library, deriving
its origin from the bounty of Mr. Madison.

15. Resolved that                      be appointed
a committee of this body to confer & consult with Mrs. Madison
in setting apart by their joint action, as contemplated by
the last will & testament of her illustrious husband, that
portion of his Library which may remain to be delivered in
execution of the bequest made by him to the University of
Virginia.

Mr. Rives & Mr. Randolph were appointed a committee under
the above resolution.


460


76

16. Resolved that the application of Mr. Conway for reimbursement
for additional buildings & for repairs on the
grounds of his Hotel be disallowed.

17. Resolved that Doct: Robert E. Rogers be appointed
professor of Chemistry in the University of Virginia.

18. Resolved that the Expulsion of Saml. D. Otey be
confirmed.

19. Resolved that Henry St. G. Tucker be appointed Chairman
of the Faculty till the end of the ensuing session.

20. Resolved that the suspension of the Enactment prescribing
a uniform to be worn by the Students be continued
during one year from this date.

The proceedings of the Faculty recommending the partial
restoration of the former law prescribing the details to be
set forth in the Chairman's report at the end of the session
relating to the schools of the University, having been under
consideration, & a difference of opinion arising as to the expediency
of a reenactment of the former law as proposed, and
the Board deeming it a matter of much importance to bestow
a more mature deliberation upon the subject:

21. Resolved that the further consideration of the recommendation
aforesaid be postponed to the next annual meeting
of the Visitors.

The Board then adjourned sine die.