LETTER VI.

PRINCETON COLLEGE-PROFESSORSHIPS-STUDENTS-LOCAL AD

OTHER

VANTAGES-UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA-PROPOSED SYSTEMAMERICAN COLLEGES-THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-PROFESSORSHIPS-COURSE

STUDY

OF

CONGREGATIONAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT

ANDOVER-FOREIGN MISSION SCHOOL AT CORNWALL.

Princeton, New Jersey, August, 1818.

A COLLEGE was founded here in the year 1738, which gradually attained to a highly respectable rank as a literary institution. This was more particularly the case during the presidency of the venerable Dr. Witherspoon, who was invited from Scotland to occupy this honourable situation.

a

Academical institutions, like those of other kinds, are subject to many vicissitudes of fortune; and Princeton College, from the limited number of its Faculty, is more so than some others. In the sister establishments of Yale and Harvard, where the Professors are so much more numerous, casual mediocrity of talent in one or two, is generally compensated by eminence in the rest; but here where a President, two Professors, and two Tutors, form the whole corporation, much more depends upon their individual abilities.

Upon the President, besides the general superintendence, devolves the instruction of the Students, in Theology, Moral Philosophy, Belles Lettres, and Logic; one of the Professors teaches the Greek and Latin languages, the other Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, and Chemistry. The cooperation of the Tutors is variously applied, as circumstances may render it necessary. It is obvious, that this system requires no ordinary amount of talent, and extent of acquirement, in the President and Professors. The branches of study which have been enumerated, would afford abundant scope for the skill and industry of at least half a dozen of persons,-it is too much to expect, that men will be readily found capable of presiding, with success, in three or four departments of knowledge, remotely, if at all, connected with each other. On some rare occasion indeed, a happily constituted mind, some man of a thousand, may be found, whose powers and industry are equal to the task which is thus imposed; and when splendid talents are brought into operation on so wide a field, the fame of the college may suddenly rise, and soar in proud pre-eminence over every similar institution; but in arranging the system of a literary establishment, he would be a visionary indeed, who would calculate on a succession of such men, to fill its various departments :-Britain has produced but one Sir William Jones.

There are at present in this college 150 students;

PRINCETON COLLEGE.

171

but were the institution established upon a more liberal scale-and this ought to be the anxious care of the citizens and legislature of New Jerseyit is probable from its local advantages, that its students would soon outnumber those of any other American college. Situate midway between New York and Philadelphia, its proximity to both gives it a decided advantage over both Harvard and Yale. To the immense territory south and west of Philadelphia, it is as yet the nearest academical institution of any considerable reputation; and will certainly, if other things are equal, obtain a preference to those that are two or three hundred miles farther off. The wealthiest families in the Union, and those who scatter money most lavishly, belong to the southern part of it, and if a University can be supported any where, on a liberal scale, they are able to do it. A young man from Georgia, a student at Princeton, informs me that he spent during the first year upwards of £350 sterling, and probably he was not singular in so profuse an expenditure.

A detailed account of the discipline of Princeton would be superfluous, after the information which I have already so fully communicated respecting Yale. You have there a pretty correct sketch of academical education in America, in its most perfect form; and the differences which exist in minor colleges, generally arise from the want of means to carry the system into full operation. Princeton

approaches as nearly to perfection as can be expected, and it has had the honour of sending out some of the most distinguished orators and statesmen, that America has produced.

The State of Virginia is about to establish a University of the most aspiring kind, and Jefferson, Madison, and some other of the great names of this western hemisphere, have combined their talents in framing its constitution.1 What the result in this

instance may be, time alone can determine; but from all circumstances it must be apparent, that a great and growing attention is bestowed, throughout the country on Literature and Science.

There are in the extensive territory of the United States, upwards of thirty colleges. A number of these, it is true, particularly in the western and southern States, can only be regarded as academies; there are, however, ten or twelve of decided

1 From first appearances, there seems reason to anticipate that this proposed University will be a total failure; and from the well known sentiments of its founders, on speculative and revealed truth, I cannot much regret that it should be so. When it is established on Christian principles, we shall then rejoice in its success. As a matter of curiosity I subjoin the outline of the academical course, which the Commissioners for the University have projected. They haye disposed the subjects of study into 'groupes,' each of which they say, "is within the powers of a single Professor," if so, some individuals of the decade will be no ordinary men.

I Languages Ancient; Latin, Greek, Hebrew.

2 Languages Modern; French, Spanish, Italian, German, Anglo-Saxon.

3 Mathematics Pure; Algebra, Fluxions, Geometry Elementary,