Q HoUinger Corp. pH8.5 r W(\t dtolUge of i 6 ''] \ n hv .?:> THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON. JUNE 1st, 1847. At a meeting of the Trustees of this Institution on Thursday, the 27th ultimo, the following resolution was adopted, viz : " Resolved, That with a view to afford information to the public of the state of the College, and the course of instruc- tion which it affords, so much of the report of Wm. Peron- NEAU FiNLEY Esq., President, subrhitted to the Trustees at their last meeting as will give this information, be published." In compliance with this resolution, the following extracts are made from the Report of President Finley, on the con- dition and operation of the Institution during the collegiate year, which ended on 30th March last — by him submitted in conformity with a regulation of the Board, requiring annual reports from the President and Professors. The Report of the Committee of the Board that recommended the resolution, under which these extracts are pubHshed — presents such views of the benefits and prospects of the College and of the effort now making to extend these benefits that it is deemed proper to publish that Report also. Several Resolutions, accompanied the Report, and were unanimously passed. One of these approved and adopted the effort to raise funds by subscription, to establish an additional Professor- ship. Another directed the appointment of a Committee to take measures for carrying out that object. To the latter Resolution, (at page 11) attention is particularly requested. M. KING, Vice Pres. of the Board and CKm of Stand. Com. Extracts from the Report of Mr. Fiuley. " There are at present in this Institution four Departments of Instruction which may be thus classified, viz : 1st. The Literary, which is under the charge of the President : 2d. The Scientific, under the charge of Professor Gibbes : 3d. The Classical, under the charge of Professor Hawkes- worth : 4th. The Mathematical, under the charge of Professor Miles : It must not however be understood, that the discrimination indicated by the above classification is perfectly accurate, as, with the exception of the 3d (Prof: Hawkesworth's,) these several Departments in some instances run into each other. The first of the above Departments embraced during the past collegiate year, the instruction of the Senior, Junior, and Sophomore Classes in the following course of studies, viz :— Of the Senior Class in the higher principles . of Rhetoric, (Whately), Political Economy, (Waylani), and the Evidences of the Christian Religion, (Paley) ; Of the Junior Class in the Elements of Criticism, (Kames), Moral and Pohtical Philosophy, (Paley), and Intellectual Philosophy, (Upham) ; Of the Sophomore Class in Modern History, (Tytler) concluded, Logic, (Parker on the Basis of Whately), and the Elements of Criticism and Rhetoric, (Blair). The regular exercises of all these Classes in English Composition, and of the Senior and Junior in Elocu- tion, are also included in the course which belongs to this Department. The Scientific Department embraced the instruction of the Senior, and Junior Classes in the following course, viz : — Of the Senior Class in Natural Philosophy, (OhiiT sted's) under the heads, Hydrostatics, Pneumatics, Acous- tics, Optics, and Magnetism ; and Chemistry, (Fownes') 5 ■ander the heads, Heat, Electricity, Galvanism, and Inor- ganic Chemistry, accompanied by lectures and illustrated by experiments : of the Junior Class in Astronomy, (Olm- sted), under the heads, Descriptive Astronomy, Nautical Astronomy, and Dialing ; and Mechanics, (Olmsted), under the heads, Elementary Mechanics and Mechanism of the Heavens, accompanied by lectures on select subjects in Mathematics, and also in certain branches of Mechanical Philosophy. The Classical Department embraced the instruction of the Senior, Junior, Sophomore and Freshman Classes in the following course, viz : Of the Senior Class, which attended this Department weekly, in the Agricola and Germany of Tacitus : Of the Junior Class, in Latin, several of the Satires of Juvenal, and two books of the History of Taci- tus; and in Greek, Selections from the Graeca Majora, including Sophocles and Euripides : Of the Sophomore Class in Latin, the Satires of Horace and a portion of Cicero de Officiis ; and in Greek Selections from the Graeca Majora, and three books of Homer's Iliad : Of the Fresh- man Class, in Latin, Livy and three books of the odes of Horace, and in Greek, three books of the Anabasis of Xeno- phon. This Class was also exercised in Latin Prosody, with special reference to the metres of Horace, and also in Latin Prose Composition and in Grecian and Roman Anti- quities. The Mathematical Department embraced the instruction of the Sophomore and Freshman Classes in the following- course, viz : Of the Sophomore Class in Legendre's Geome- try, Plane and Sperical Trigonometry, Davies' Elements of Surveying and Navigation, and in Young's Algebra through the Binomial Theorem, Logarithms and Series ; of the Fresh- man Class in the first six books of Legendre's Geometry, and in Young's Algebra through the Chapter on Surds. In Tytler's History this Class has gone through the whole of Ancient History, and as far in Modern History as the Refor- mation — the Sophomore and Freshman Classes have also been instructed in Elocution by Prof. Miles. " The President further states, that since the last Report, the Faculty, — in accordance with the usage of the English Universities, adopted by several of the American Colleges — have introduced the practice of written as well as oral exam- inations of the several classes. This is designed to obviate the embarrassment to which some are liable when examined orally, and consists, in propounding to the Class at the Examination, certain questions in writing, to which written answers must be given within a prescribed time ; the whole being so conducted in the presence of the Faculty, as to ensure, that the Student will have to depend on his own resources, and that the extent of his attainments will be satisfactorily tested. The result has so far been highly gratifying." Report of the Committee of the Board of Trustees. To THE Trustees of the College of Charleston : The Committee to whom the Reports of the President and Professors of the College were referred at our last meeting, beg leave to Report : That these several papers afford very gratifying informa- tion respecting the course of study pursued in the institution, and the discipUne and general good order which prevail in it. And this favorable view of the College, in both particu- lars, received ample confirmation in the late semi-annual examinations. These examinations were both written and oral, were full, minute and strict ; and evinced at once the desire of the Faculty to show the value of the institution by its fruits, and the readiness of the students generally to meet the scrutiny. It is therefore a subject of deep regret, that the opportuni- ties thus afforded are enjoyed by so small a number of stu- dents as the President reports. The whole number connected with the College during the year which ended in March last, was 46. The largest number at any one time 40, and the lowest 38. Yet the course of study is substantially the same as that pursued in the Colleges generally of our country. The Professors are gentlemen of high character and acknowledged ability ; and to the people of Charleston, and probably to many others, the institution offers the desirable combination of liberal education with the influences and economy of home. Its location in a large city has given it a peculiar organization, which carries with it these advan- tages. The students do not reside in the College, and only repair to it for study and recitation. To residents, therefore, it offers an economy which brings the benefit within the means of a very large proportion of our community ; whilst to all who, from moral considerations, are unwilling that their sons should go abroad at the early and critical period embraced by the Collegiate term, it offers an exemption from the risks they apprehend and the anxieties they would otherwise incur. Comparing, then, these strong inducements to favour our College, with the limited patronage it enjoys, your Commit- tee cannot doubt that one cause is the want of information in our community of the true state of the institution, and the advantages it really affords. Your Committee therefore recommend that an effort be made to bring the claims of the institution more prominently before the public, either by an address from the Board, or by the publication, in whole or in part, of the late rejDortof the President. The reports of the other Professors are full and satisfac- tory statements of the course of study in their several departments. That of the President affords a general view of the studies of the College clearly and plainly stated, with suggestions respecting the measures he deems important to its prosperity. The Committee concur with the President in the opinion he expresses, that a prominent cause of the limited number of students, is a very prevalent impression that from the small number of Professors, the course of study must be more limited than that of other Colleges in this country, and the instruction less thorough than elsewhere. Although this impression, we feel assured is erroneous, as he states it to be ; we cannot doubt that our professors are heavily taxed in the variety of matters which their course of instruction embraces, and that the present arrangements would not be compatible with any considerable increase in the number of students. It therefore seems indispensable to the growth of the College that provision should be made for increasing the number of professors. If the College is to prosper, this must be done sooner or later. The common and reasonable expectation on this subject, ought, if possible, to be met. The public will, for the most part, judge of the opportunities of instruction in a College by the number, as well as by the reputation of its professors. The President, therefore, very justly recommends to the Board as a matter of primary importance, the plan of establishing additional professorships whenever the requisite means can be obtained. This sub- ject is one upon which our Board have long been anxious ; one which a sense of its importance is constantly presenting. It formed a principal object of our resolutions of November last. But the apphcation to the Legislature which those resolutions authorized, for means to estabhsh two professor- ships, although liberally and nobly sustained by gentle- men from all parts of the State, proved eventually unsuc- cessful. We trust, indeed, that the day is not distant, when the claims of this institution, to the fostering aid of the State, will be recognized and met. But, in the mean time, the College and the community suffer under the want ot" the desired provision. The expediency, therefore, of an effort, to raise bv private subscription a fund for the support of one or more professorships, was under consideration in your Committee, when they had the happiness to find that an old and valued friend of the College,'under a sense of the great importance of the measure, had determined to commence, in concert with several others, who thought with him on the subject, a movement towards this end. They fell that if commenced, it would find favor. Accordingly within a few days past, a paper has been enclosed to W. P. Finley, Esq., the President of the Faculty, containing a proposition for raising a sum not less than $20,000 lor the establishment of a professorship ; and subscribed by Nathaniel Heyward, Esq., for $2,000; and by M. King, W. Aiken and James Adger, Esquires, each for SI, 000. To these, the names of several friends of the College, one of them, a gentleman of Edisto Island, have since been added for $500, each. Mr. Finley placed the paper in the hands of your Com- mittee to be presented to the Board ; and they have now the pleasure of submitting it, respectfully recommending that early measures be taken for obtaining the subscriptions of others, and thus effecting the object so wisely and hber- ally contemplated by the gentleman above named. Your Committee feel great confidence that the proposition will be favorably received by the public, and Hberally sus- tained. In connexion with the expediency and the means of increasing the number of professorships, your Committee beg leave to call the attertion of the Board to the fund estabhshed by the ordinance of the City Council of 6th May, 1839. This ordinance appropriates for 99 years the annual sum of $1,000, to form a peimanentand accumulating fund for the further endowment of the College, to be called " The City College Fund.'' The interest of this fund is not appli- cable to the uses of the College until it amount to $500 per year. But as the time has arrived, or is at hand, when this interest may be used, it is desirable that the principal be now funded according to the provisions of the ordinance. This wiH, no doubt, be readily done, on application made by the Commissioners of the fund. And your Committee would here respectfully suggest that the interest of this fund, 2 10 with a moderate temporary aid from the city, might enable the Board to establish another additional professorship. The report of the President recommends two other mat- ters, in the expediency of which your Committee acquiesce. The one, is the appointment of a Committee of the Board to attend semi-annual examinations, so as to make the attendance of a part of 'the Board on these occasions, a special duty. The other is the appropriation of a small sum (say $50) a year to provide premiums for exercises in composition and elocution, in the junior and sophomore classes. This has proved advantageous in the senior class; and would doubtless prove so in these. We therefore recommend the adoption of both these suggestions. With the measures proposed for extending and improving the internal arrangements of the College, the committee naturally associate the improvement of its exterior — the College edifice and grounds. Your committee therefore look with interest to the action of Council on our memorial, now under reference in that body, praying an appropriation for the latter object. Both are important to commend the insti- tution to increased favor with the public, and with the stu- dents themselves. The Council have done much for the College, in discharge of the trust assumed by them under the act of Assembly of 1837. But your committee are persuaded, that it would be true economy to do more. Let the community once feel that interest in the College, which justly belongs to it, as a valuable public institution ; and it will become more and more instrumental in its own support. The College, we believe, must grow in importance and use- fulness, to Charleston and to the State. The connections of the city with the interior are increasing and extending. Its business, according to all reasoning from experience, will become larger and more various. We shall need intelligent and well educated men to meet the exigencies of an increased trade, and its concomitants. Ought not Charles- ton to possess every facility, by which to furnish her full proportion of them ? But there are hundreds of families in our city and in its vicinity who can, with convenience, give their young men, a College education at home, who could not without an inconvenience tempting them to deny it, afford to them the same benefit elsewhere. Your committee hope therefore, that corresponding views OB the part of the community will encourage them to give 11 that aid to our College which it so richly deserves ; and which it would without doubt abundantly repay. Nor need any apprehend that the increased prosperity of this College, would affect disadvantageously any other. Literary insti- tutions, can never be merely local interests. On the con- trary, by elevating the standard of education, and multi- plying the nujnber of well educated men, they increase the demand for education. And when the object is duly valued, all will prosper. Your committee respectfully submit the following resolutions, &c. Daniel Ravenel, ^ R. Post, > Committee. Samuel Gilman. ) Resolution respecting: an additional Professorship. Resolved, That a Committee of the Board be appointed to take measures for obtaining additional subscriptions to the proposed object ; to which end, the members of this Board will individually afford their co-operation. The Committee appointed under the foregoing resolution, are, Daniel Ravenel, Rev. R. Post, Rev. S. Oilman, Alonzo J. White, William Peronneau Finley. ^^ A Subscription paper is in the hands of each mem- ber of the Committee ; and of each member of the Board of Trustees. A note to either authorising a subscription will be sufficient. The following is the heading of the subscription papers, viz: — Charleston, So. Ca., May 1847. We, the undersigned. Friends of the College of Charles- ton, with the view of extending its usefulness, agree to pay the Trustees of that College, the sums set opposite to our names, respectively, to raise a permanent fund, to enable them, the said Trustees, from the income of that fund, to add another Professorship, such as they may deem expedient, to the Faculty of that Institution; provided, that no subscrip- 12 tion shall be payable, unless the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars be hereunto subscribed, on or before the 1st day of January next, (1848) ; and that if Twenty Thousand Dol- lars or more be hereunto subscribed, on or before the said 1st day of January next, then the subscriptions hereto* shall be payable by equal instalments, on the 1st day of January, 1848, 1849 and 1850, or, at the option of the respective subscribers, at any earlier period that may be convenient. Board of Trustees. President. Hon. MITCHELL KING, Vice President. CHARLES ERASER, Esq., Secretary and Treasurer. Hon. T. LEGER HUTCHINSON, Mayor. Dr. E. W. NORTH. ) THOMAS F CAPERS, Esq. } Aldermen. ALONZO J. WHITE, Esq. ) Rev. Dr. BACHMAN. Rev. Dr. C. HANCKEL. Rev. Dr. GILMAN. Rev. Dr. POST. RICHARD YEADON, Esq. JAMES L PETIGRU, Esq. Hon. JAMES S. RHETT. Dr. THOMAS Y. SIMONS. CHARLES M. FURMaN, Esq. HENRY A. DESAUSSURE, Esq. DANIEL RAVENEL, Esq. HENRY BAILEY, Esq. ALEXANDER MAZYCK, Esq. EDWARD B. WHITE, Esq. 9^68^116 630 ;s3a9N0D do xauaaii A LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 029 917 898 5