University of Virginia Library

SPECIAL MEETING

In pursuance of a call for a special meeting of the
Board of Visitors for 17th March 1859 the following members
appeared viz Col Thos J. Randolph Rector, J. B. Baldwin
J. R. Edmunds and William J. Robertson visitors; There being
no quorum present the board adjourned until tomorrow at
12 1/2 oclock.

University of Va March 18th
1859

The same members of the Board appeared as on yesterday with
the addition of Messrs Tucker & Joynes, whereupon the Rector
called the board to order, when the following proceedings
were had.

The Rector laid before the board a letter from Dr. Harrison
whereupon it was

Resolved Unanimously That the letter of Dr. Harrison
be laid upon the table.

A communication was received from Prof Holmes on the
subject of the number of Lectures in his school. Whereupon it
was

Resolved that the enactments require at least three
lectures a week in each School - but that it be referred to
the discretion of Prof Holmes whether he will deliver more
than three lectures a week and also how his lectures shall
be divided between the classes in History & Literature.

A communication from Prof Holcombe asking leave of absence
on account of ill health having been read it was

Resolved that the leave asked for by Mr Holcombe
be granted.

The Rector laid before the Board a resolution of the
Faculty in relation to the western approaches to the University.
Whereupon it was resolved That it be referred to
the Executive Committee to make such modifications of the
precinct roads as they may deem proper to remove the difficulties
complained of.

On the application of Mr J. E. D'Alfonce

Resolved that the proctor be authorized and required
with the consent of any pupil in the Class of Mr D'Alfonce
to pay at once the entire fee for the present session.

A letter from D. H. London having been read it was

Resolved that the letter of Mr London be referred to
Messrs Tucker & Garnett with a request that they consider
the subject and report to the next meeting of the board.

Mr Tucker presented a letter addressed to him by Peachy
R. Grattan Esqr on the subject of the establishment near the
University of a Theological Seminary under the control of
the United Synod of the Presbyterian Church. Upon consider-
ation whereof it was resolved

1. That as early as the year 1822 the Visitors of the
University in their report to the President and Directors of
the Literary fund prepared by Thos. Jefferson "declared a
disposition to lend a willing ear to such propositions" and
that they "would think it their duty to give every encouragement
by answering to those who might chuse such a location
for their schools, that the regulations of the University
should be so modified and accommodated as to give every facility
of access and attendance to their students &c". And
that the present Board of Visitors entertain the same general
sentiments and are disposed to carry them into effect as far
as may be consistent with their paramount duty to retain to
the Visitors at all times the untrammeled control of the
University.

2. That a committtee of three visitors be appointed
to confer with the Committee of which Mr Grattan is a member
and to ascertain whether any definite plan can be suggested
such as ought to receive the approval of this board - And
that said committee report to the visitors at the next annual
meeting.

3. Resolved that the Secretary furnish to Mr Grattan
a copy of these resolutions and also a copy of the report
of 1822 referred to so far as it relates to this subject.

The Chairman appointed Messrs Baldwin Tucker and Edmunds
a Committee under the foregoing resolution.

"Enactments relating to the Infirmary
adopted by the Executive Committee."

"1. Every Student at his matriculation shall be required
to pay an Infirmary tax of $5.00 which shall entitle him to
prescriptions at the Infirmary (unless his disease be of a
vicious character) and provided his disease should require
his confinement to bed, to lodging, board & nursing, as well
as to medical attendance by the health officers of the University.

"2. The foregoing enactment does not entitle a student
to gratuitous medical attendance elsewhere than at the Infirmary,
nor to be supplied with medicines of any description.

"3. When a student has been removed from his boarding
house and has been supplied with board & lodging at the Infirmary
the Proctor shall require the Hotel Keeper to refund
fifty percent of the amount which the student may have paid
for his board for the period of his stay at the Infirmary
which shall be paid to the Infirmary fund.

"4. If any student received as an inmate of the Infirmary
should not be actually paying board elsewhere he shall be
required to pay the full amount of board charged at the University
Hotels in addition to the previous payment of the
Infirmary tax.

"5. The fund thus accruing from these several sources
shall be kept on deposit by the Proctor and shall be disbursed
by him on orders given by the health officers of the University
in order to meet the current expenses of the Infirmary."

"6. The Health Officers of the University shall be
charged with the general administration of the Infirmary
and with the duty of rendering medical services to sick
students at the Infirmary in all cases where no other physician
is employed. For such services the Health officers
shall receive each a salary of $500.00/100 payable out of the
Infirmary fund in three equal instalments on the 1st of January
April and July respectively, and they shall be prohibited
from rendering bills against students for medical
services performed at the Infirmary.

"Any sick student received at the Infirmary may have
the privilege of being attended by the physician of his
choice, but if the physician thus selected be other than
one of the Health Officers the employment of such physician
must be at the expense of the student, the University supplying
board and nursing as in other cases.

"7. It shall be at the discretion of the Health Officers
to extend the benefits of the Infirmary to such students not
within its walls as in their judgment can thereby be as well
taken care of as at the Infirmary.

"8. A matron shall be employed at $480 a year who shall
be required to find her own provisions but shall be provided
with such menial force as may be found necessary.

"9. The superintendent of the grounds and buildings
shall be required to render aid to the Health Officers in
providing fuel and stores for the Infirmary and to perform
any other similar service relating to the administration of

the Infirmary whenever said officers may require his cooperation.

"10. The Health Officers are hereby authorized to make a
requisition upon any of the University Hotels for the supply
of food to patients in the Infirmary provided this conforms
to the ordinary fill of fare, the Hotel Keeper being duly
remunerated out of the Infirmary fund.

"11. Nothing in these enactments shall be construed to
bind the University to provide to any student board, lodging
or nursing beyond the capacity of the Infirmary building."

The Proctor having reported the sale by him of the Dawson
farm to S. W. Ficklin for the sum of $19,435.50/100 the
Board thereupon

Resolved that said sale be approved and confirmed.

Resolved that the Proceeds of the said farm be and are
hereby dedicated to the sole purpose of erecting proper
buildings for the accommodation of students, the Board being
of opinion that such a dedication is an appropriate investment
of said fund.

Resolved that the Executive Committee be authorized and
instructed to take immediate measures for erecting dormitories
to accommodate fifty students, upon the western part of the
University grounds- and also such a building to be attached
to the Hotel now occupied by Mrs Ross as has been added to
the Hotel now occupied by Dr Hamner.

A letter from Hon John Tyler requesting to be furnished
from the collection of the manuscripts in possession of the

University with autographs of Richard Henry Lee and Frances
Lighfoot Lee, and a letter from Richard H. Lee Esqr requesting
that similar autographs may be furnished from the same collection
to John R. Thompson Esqr having been laid before the
Board on consideration whereof

Resolved that while the Board would feel disposed to accede
to these requests, they are constrained, with a view to the
preservation of the collection, to decline a compliance with
all such applications.