kV- , > » • • . "^-^ -t > - t • o ^ (^ V ..0' / %.*"^' o^ .••. -> vP9' f ,-^ 4 O ♦ c-c:^^5:w.,.'' . o ^ ^■^ ^. u» v^ ^T*- .^ ^G O ^>^9- A .0 4 O ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE THE AL.UMWI OF ST. JOHN'S €OI.IiX:GE! At the Annual Commencement on the 32d February, 1S36, BY THE IIO]¥. ROBERT H^' GOI.BSBOROVOH, JN THE PRESENCE OP THE VISITORS AND GOVERNORS OP THE COLLEGK- THE GOVERNOR, AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE STATE—- THE TV^^O HOUSES OP THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND A LARGE CONCOURSE OF CITIZENS, JN THE COLLEGE HALL, ANNAPOLIS. ANNAPOLIS: Pi'iatsd at the request of the Visitors and Governors of the College, JONAS GREEN, Printer, ^^ '\ /a •in a^r5*^'7 0.0. February 23]>i^£:s§. My BrotherSf the Mwinni, and my most respected Audience} As long as gratitude shall be regarded as a virtue — as long as the offices of filial affection shall be esteemed among men — so long it will be beautiful to behold the Alumni of this venerated Institution, assembling within her portals, to pay the just tribute of their devotion at her Altars. It is a pious pilgrimage, my Brothers, which illustrates your feelings in the great cause of Science, and will stand in all time to come as evidence to prove, that, in your opi- nion. Education is one of the grand Pedestals on which the columns must rest that are to sustain the essential principles, and regulate the practice, of our well con- structed, popular Representative Government, The other Pedestal (too important to be omitted) is that pure and substantial morality which flows from Revealed Religion. On these two rocks we found our hope and faith — and as the columns of knowledge and of virtue rise, we fancy that we already see the magnificent arch of promise springing from either capital, as the cheering prognostics of our country's future weal. It is now almost forty years since the class to which I was attached, WIS sent iorth from i his Institution into the world, clothed in all its honours — and surely, since that time, she has passed through a great variety of fortune. About the year '89, in the past century, her Professors first began to assemble around her — and in '94, next after, her first honours were conferred upon her first Alumni. But no sooner had she begun to send forth her foster sons, than a loul and fatal plot was laid for her destruction. It was the working of bad ambition upon the untaught ere- dulity of an unsuspecting people. The object was an ephemeral popularity, never worth a groat — the means were to perish the hopes of the newly founded Temple of 6 Science, whose beams would have cast around too much light for the machinations of her ruthless destroyers.— Thus we witnessed, for years, a contest between the vota- ries of Science, who desired to diffuse Learning and Knowledge among mankind— and the political election- eerers of the day, whose ends were self, and whose in- struments were whatever would bend, and could be made conducive to their purpose. It was in this state of things that, now and then, one or two of her eldest offspring came m to her assistance — but her family was then too young, its members were too few to give her much aid — and they, who did go, had to resist all the allurements and influences that were exerted, to induce them to commit the atrocious act of matricide. Yes, the humble man before you, when first entrusted with the high responsibility of a popular Delegate in 1804—5, was called to decide upon the question of the life or death of his venerated Alma Matei — and he too was invited to receive the gleaming faulchion from their hands, and to plunge it into that bosom on which he had been nurtured with so much tenderness and care, and from whence he had imbibed the elements of every thing that had caused him to be looked upon in life. But he could not do it — could not, did I say? He dare not do it — he dare not prove false to his "soul's and mind's integrity"— he could not stand in the face of Heaven and of man, and perpetrate an act, that would have marked him as an ingrate, and pointed him out as one who desired to dry up and deny to others that fountain of pleasant waters, at which hetiad himself been refreshed. No, I desire to thank God that he could not — but that he stood out with others, undismayed, and successful in her defence. That was her last rescue— at the renewed onset in the following year, the Temple fell, — he did not witness that fall. The dreariness of a Gothic night ensued — but the Vi. sitors and Governors of St. John's, always faithful and uniiring in their duty, never lost sight of her resuscitation; and in the progress of years, as better opinions and more enlightened councils prevailed, St. John's arose again, re- vived and restored by a sense of justice, stimulated by re-- moi'se and a sense of duty — and here we are this day to rejoice in the result, and to witness this grand exhibiuon that has been brought about by the faithful perseverance of her Visitors, the enlightened liberality of our Law- givers, and the assiduity and skill of her accomplished Professors. My Brothers, the scenes of this day throw back our re- collections to times and incidents, too intiniately blended With our happiness, to be obliterated from our memory. They were the scenes and incidents of youth, when impres- sions are deep and durable — a truth never to be forgotten by Parents, Guardians, and Preceptors. Every occur- rence of to day is associated with recollections ot our own time — nor can the eye light upon any thing around that does not revive some pleasing impression. In every cham- ber — in every apartment— near every pillar in this ancient Hall we see, or think we see, the companions of our early life, or the forms of those venerable men under whose care we grew up. These reminiscences are delightful, and you must indulge me for a moment. Remember our favourite, our admired President McDowell — a man illus- trious for his virtues! Whilst our hearts throb, can he ever cease to hold a chief seat there? Call to mind his chas- tened purity of life — his profound and varied learning — his refined modesty — liis simple, unostentatious, but digni- fied manners — his paternal care — his love of justice throughout his whole oflicial life that was distinguished bv diliirence, wisdom and firmness — he lived here for vears admired, confided in, and beloved by alj; nor was there found one so obdurate as not to do him ponour. There was our worthy Professor Hfig^^inbotham too, as generous as he was classical — who, lik^ Minerva spring- ing from her fath' r's brain all armed, c:ame from the ma- ternal bosom of Old Trinity, equipt in all the armour oJ classic lore. If he had faults, he had eibduring and uv t- shadowing virtues also — but in the depaihments of Ethics and the Classics he had no defects. Iido not discern in all this assemblage the countenance 'S ^ single member of the old Professor's favourite class, t tentli legion, and in which he used to pr hat he called hi* :de himself. The 8 - brilliant Legatus* who led the corps has long since been no more. He was a native of this city, aild in all the vir- tues of the heart, and in all the embeUishments of mind, he had no superior. There was also our Professor Magrath, the Busby of his day, whose very frown was law, but whose diligence and discipline could make a scholar of any thing. Nor let me forget our Priestly, for I must not run this reminiscence too fur, who was recalled from the then Western wdiderness to this Institution, at the immediate instance of our endeared and venerable Visitor, the ac- comphshed scholarf of West River. To Priestly we owed much for his taste in Greek Literature, and for his skill in the graces of tine reading and public speaking. I remem- ber with delight his clubs and his societies, and we never can forget his ardour and enthusiasm. But where are all these Benefactors now? They have sunk in the years behind us, wliilst we are moving down the stream ot time, like them to sink also 'ere many years are told. , In contemplating those of our own time, if it is a me- lancholy, it may be a salutary warning, to see how few 4ire left. We, of that day, are not at a time of life to turn from these awful admonitions to obliterate them in a "sea of pleasures." I hope we are clothed with more humility and resignation, and that we are rather preparing to fall in the caliimess of philosophy, and in the iortitude inspired by the pure Christian hope. Such is the tendency of reflection, my Brothers, upon meeting you after our long separation. But I must forbear — I gee around me others who merit and command my at- tention—for these I must leave you to enter, before them, upon a more extended field of remark, more immediately iippiic;.ble to the great interests of public Education throughout the State. Standing as J do in the most respectful relationship to the Representatives of the Sovereignty of Maryland, I * Dr. John Shaw, of Annapolis.^" t Mr, Joan Thomas. i'ejoice to meet them here on such an occasion, and 1 con- gratulate you Gentlemen on the exhibition of this morningj which cheers us with the conviction, that we have, in the very heart of our State, a Seminary of Learning that has to-day imparted, and will hereafter annually contribute augmenting power, and strength, and durability, to the Republic. No more auspicious scene could engage the Executive and Legislative attention — nor can there be one more, worthy to attract the admiration of a refined audi* ence. The strongest evidence of the improved condition of society is seen in an extended patronage to Learning — not more by the niunificence of endowments, than by giving encouragements to its exhibitions and efforts by punctual and courteous attendance. Such stimulants ope- rate on all — they animate the exertions of Professors — they kindle a noble ambition in the youthful mind, and give a taste and characteT to the times, that dispose all to an elevated and liberalized course. In a Government founded upon, and moved by popular opinion, that opinion to be safe must be enlightened — nor is there any other foundation on which a Representative Democracy can securely rest, than upon sound Learning and sound Morals. An opinion is prevalent, that native talents, with but little culture, often render men capable of efficient servi- ces, and an inference is thence deduced against the neces- sity of education. That instances of this sort have oc- curred, cannot be denied, but they are few and very rare, and cannot serve as any rule for our dependence. They are rather exceptions to rule, and ought to bo classed among those singular and remarkable events, which arise without rule, and can lead to no decision. Great men, Avithout education, are not more frequent than great Me- chanics without an apprenticeship — both would have been much greater had they been better taught. It is education that forms the mind and gives it the sound direction — it trains, it feeds, i^ strengthens the fa- culties — and whilst it forbids the growth of those weeds, preiu^ ices, false opinions, and bad habits, that never fail to utifle and distort a better growth, it implants the spirit of IC enquiry and the habit of study. These, together with the- . elements of science, constitute the ground work of the graduate, and are, altogether, the foundation on which he is to build up his future usefulness and greatness. From every observation that I have been able to make, and from all the sources of intelligence to which I have had access, I am perfectly satisfied, that the most prevailing and deep rooted popular sentiment in Maryland is directed to the promotion of general education. As the General Assembly of the State have, for some years past, wisely directed their attention to this important subject, 1 can in no better manner discharge my portion of the tribute of the general admiration for their design, than by a few practi^ cal remarks in relation to it. This sentiment in behalf of general education, I am aware, is for the niiost part particularly directed to Primary Institutions for the instruction of youth universally — but that sentiment is but the germ of a stronger gro^^th that is to produce still richer and more wholesome fruit. No occasion could be more fit than the present, to combat an error that has grown up, in regard to the relationships that the different grades of institutions for education bear to each other — it belongs to the day and to the times, and may not be unworthy of the attention of that most respec- table body of men that I have the honour to address. This error consists in the opinion, that AcadeaiLs and Colleges are exclusively beneficial to the wealth j — that they, who in ordinary life look no further than to a com-, mon English education to enable their children, when grown up, to transact their usual business concerns, have no interest in such institutions — and therefore, that it 6ught to be left to the wealthy alone to support them. In all this, I think, I see much and fatal error. In all public institutions of whatever kind or nature they may be, by far the greater portion of their expense must be borne by the v/ealthy in all communities. This is ne- cessarily the case, and may be in some degree a set off* against any supposed inequality of advantage. But the point I desire to establish is this^ that there is nothing sq li Tikely to give rise to, or so well calculated to promote the exist. 6nce of Primary Schools, as Colleges and Academies. ' The students that go out from these latter institutions into the world, settle in various parts of a State, and whilst they are themselves striking examples of the ad- vantages of a high grade of education, they become, in effect, missionaries to propagate a sentiment in behalf of the various systems that are adapted to the different con- ditions of men. Besides, the Primary Schools are of no avail unless they are filled by teachers who are competent as to learning, and fit as to character — an incompetent teacher being little else than an encourager of idleness, and if he be not a man of good morals, he becomes the corrupter ol the morals of youth. What, let me ask, is our own experience in regard to the schools cilready established amongst us, few as they are m number? Do we not often find much difficulty in procuring teachers? And are not many of our schools bad- ly supplied? And of those teachers who are competent, are they not almost all natives of other Stares, who have been educated m their Colleges and Academies? Or fo- reigners, who have come to us fi'om distant climes where they were educated? This shows, at once, that it is to Colleges and Academies, at ' hom.e and abroad, that you musi look for competent teachers for our Primary Schools; and the question presents itself, whether it is better to rear those teachers up for ourselves, in our own institution?, where their cnaracter and competency can be better known — or to trust to procuring them, where we m.ay, and incur the risk that we must be liable to from strangers and impostors? Colleges and Academies are the only riurse- rics for such teachers as we want, and must have, for our Primary Schools, to render them fit for the purposes tor which they were designed — and the mutual relationships between the different grades ot Seminuries of learning is found, by the experience of well taught Primary Schoolo fitting boys for Academici, epd Academies fitting them for College — and this relationship being reversed, by Colleo-es preparing young me^ for teachers in Academits, and botli Academics and Colleges uniting in preparing a grcate^ t2 aumber of teachers to fill the greater demand of the Pri« mary Schools. Such is the natural and inevitable pro- gress of the system, and the older it becomes the more the mutual and sustaining action of the system will be developed. What an increased number of our youths in every branch of life, with a good system of Primary Schools directed by competent teachers, would glow with ardent desire, and become fitted to move on another step! And as knowledge begets the desire for more knowledge, many of that number would still pant on to take a higher step. Thus by such an organization of Primary Schools, talent becomes unfolded, and an opportunity is given to rescue from obscurity the sons of many a man in the land, who would otherwise be doomed to live unseen and die un^ known, and enable them to enter into competition on the great theatre of life, for all the prizes of fame, of fortune, and of station. This is not mere theory, it is history — and every man who will take the time ana trouble to look into the subject, in other parts of our country, or abroad, where Universities, and Colleges, arid Academies are am- ply provided, will see, that the first step taken by a large portion ot the numerous Graduates upon leaving threir re- spective, institutions, is, to become teachers in the subal- tern or Primary Schools, where they have an opportunity of reA^ising and improving their course of learning, and of gaining a little outfit in life from their salaries. The pro- gress of these keeps up the regular demand for successors^ whilst the higher institutions, by their graduates, furnish the supply. If this is not the experience in our own State, it is because the system has not been adopted long enough to produce the effect — for there is no other source from which teachers can be procured that are fit to take care of the Primary Schools. The course of instruction proper to be adopted in these schools will also show the necessity for such teachers, An ordinary English education, as generally understood, consists in reading, writing, and cyphering. This to be sure is a scant system, but it is good as far as it goes; and it may be all, with our prpsent deficiency of mstructorSi 18 thai can be effected at this time — hut it is very insufficieat' in itself for the important purposes of primary education, and if destined to be limited to this alone, it would scarcely' he worthy of the patron, ge of the General Assembly of the State. For I can conceive of no adequate course of instruction in Primary Schools, that omits Geography, th© elements of Astronomy, and the lower branches of the .Mathematics — and these are easily taught, nor will it add much, if at all, to the necessary expense of adequate teach- ers, nor will it consume a particle more of the time of th© scholar than ought to be given up by every Parent, We lYiay say of Astronomy, without the slightest profanity of thought, that, like the Gospel, it is a Heaven descernied guide in our pathways upon Earth. Whilst th^ lower branches of the Mathematics, so intimately wivolved as they are in all human pursuits, become ind'^P.^'Hsably use- ful in all the trades and vocations in lif*"* '"^^^ ^^ t^*^ same time train the mind to think and to ''«^«ison. It will not— it cannot be ratir-'ally urged in opposition ^o this, that the children of ^^^ P^^i* cannot avail them- selves of these advantage- /I'^at man must be poor in lieart indeed, who, wb<-^. ^ school is provided for him wjih- in his reach bv the 'uunificence of ihe State and the con« tributions of th' "^ore wealthy around him, does not make ug i of it fo'- the support and advantage of his child, — ' Should ^"^ch an instance be found, it would be no argu- ment against the system, but a melancholy example of P&durate folly and unfeeling indifference. There are others of the same active and laborious clas- ses of men, who are diligent and industrious to hoard up •wealth to distribute among their children — Yes, "man lieaps up riches but cannot tell who will enjoy them." A general system of sound education would soon direct thai wealth into a wiser and more parental course, bv en- I'ichmg their minds with knowledge and their hearts witk moral sentiment — Better to enter into life without riches thran without education— A greater calamity cannot betal a Youth, than to start him into life, aboui:ding in worldly possessions but poor in counsel — his riches are sure to be. cpme a poiaon tg his health, and the spoiler oi tnsgoo^ M aame and happiness — and, in his own irregularities, Us lives but as the source of contagion to others. That fa.- ther acts wisest and most affectionat' lyy who studies to fill his son's heart w^ith good principles, and to store his mind "with ihe elements of sound learning, even if he has not a dollar to give him — -his hopes for riches will still be best — his chances for worldly tame and Heavenly treasure will ^e surest. Let me then be understood to say — That whilst Prima- ry Schools are indi pensably necessary to the welfare of the great body of the people, the higher Seminaries areas essential to support them, by supplying them with the pro- pev kind of teachers. For, I repeat it, without such teach- «rs your Priniary Schools become useless — nay, worthless — r-tor all schools are useful only in proportion to the sound- ness of theii system and the fitnesa of their teachers — - and how can yoa have fit teachers unless they are fitly taught — and how c^n they be taught, without the higher Seminaries suited for L'^eir instruction? Can we picture to ourseirpg a more lamentable, certainly not a more preposterous seen*., than the future hopes of a little community collected togej^er at a little Country school, and placed under the superiniv^dance of a miserable pedagogue, wholly incapable of teaching, because ignorant of what ought to be taught — wasting his ovv^ g^d his little disciples precious time in sluggish indolence ^^d actual idleness, perhaps often indulging in degrading immoic,|ities ^—frustrating the public design, and the parent's fond ai.-ti, oipations, and blasting the prospects of a rising genera- tion? This scene is taken from life, and what aggravates it the more, is that it is too frequently to be found in eve- ry part of our ow,n country. And can it be otherwise, if schools are multiplied in proportion to the popular demand for them, without having Seminaries to supply them with proper teachers? It admits of no doubt, in my mind, that the gradation of Schools is a mutually dependent, auxiliary, and concatena- ted (system, which is essentially necessai'} to the who! bo- dy of the People of th State, and to the preservetion of the ir Itepublican Institvjtions— and ifeat a good system ot Prif IS lifary Scliools, according to the munificent designs aiiH judicious intention of tiie General iVssembly, can no more be sus ained without the aid of Colleges and Academies to turnish them with teachers, than that Mills can be made to operate in the. different parts of the country, to supply the wants of the people, without workshops and compe- tent m -chanics to construct the machinery and to appor- tion and apply the adequate propelling power. The whole system must be kept up as containing within itself its own conservative principles, and we rnust persevere with pa- tience and fortitude until the plan gets fully into operation, when it will preserve itself hy its own powers. It will then become a self moving Machine, which, by the beauti- fully balanced combination of its elasticities and gravities will be rendered happily unaffected by all external pres- sure. When that event shall be brought about — (and it is as much within ordinary human reach as any other prospec- tive event) — we shall see the Temples of Liberty and of Learning founded upon rocks where they will neither tot- ter nor fall — and we shall enjoy the consoling reflection, that we shall have adopted the true means to render our successors more enlightened and more capable of discharg- ing all those duties of a free People, when they shall de- volve on them, that are now discharged by ourselves. An era will there be evolved when the true Sovereign Power will maintain its rightful ascendency by the possession of its rightful strength and vigor — and it will be enabled by its own intelligence to withstand the seductions of corrup- tion, by discriminating between the artifices of professions and the genuineness of real patriotism. The designs of political affiliation will be frowned down by the improv- ed sagacity of the Sovereign Power, and merit, and worth, and probity, will command and receive that confidence that will award to them the meed of high places throughout the iard. But if in the inscrutable events of the future, the Sis- ter Fate shall ciip the thread of life 'ere this h ppter des- tiny to our country shall arrive — you will, at least, have had the delightiui anticipatioi* in view, and you will hare enjoyed the heartfelt satisfaction, that, as your Fathei;s achieved the independence of your Country, and built \ou' up a Government that tlie admiration and experience of the world have pronounced, "the best hope of mankind," you, on your part, have gratefully and faithtully laid the jfoundation of that system, which if zealously cherished and sedulously promoted, is capable, under Providence, of giving it durability in all time to come. Before I enter upon my allotted duty to the Graduates •of the day, I must-ask to be indulged with a short expos- tulatory address to the Younger Students of the Institu* tion. You are now, my young Friends, however unconscious you may be of it, at the most interesting and critical period of your lives. Buoyant in spirits and reckless of the future, your desires are bounded by an humble discharge of your- collegiate duties, and the enjoyment of your athletic exer- xiises and sports. This is a very proper disposition of your time, provided you take care that a full portion of it be given to your studies. But it is not enough that you merely acqidt yourselves well at your recitations, you must study each subject deeply, and impress the whol^ mat* t^X on your mind for etter use — and as your memories now may be made as retentive of* what you learn, as the pil- lars of marble are of the letters cut into them, you must devote yourselves to the charms of the classics, and to a thorough elements ry knowledge of the various sciences taught at this Institution, as the ornaments and ground- work of your future proficiency As the. impressions made here will last you through life, and be smong the most vivid in old age, it becomes ycu to imbibe none but what are good, and to separate youi*- selves from every thing that is unbecoming and immoral. Where youth is adorned with decorum, old age will .be crowned with honour — and the delight of looking back upon "a well spent lite"* is next to looking forward with hope to future bliss. Remember, and often refl ct upon the counsel of those friends to whom you v^q most dear— • * "Vita bene aeta.?^ ir whose every wish for you is most anxious, and who desire nothing but your welfare. If you do not profit by youi' time spent here, it will be an ungrateful return for their affectionate kindness — and "to be ungrateful"* is to be ca* pable of every crime. To your Professors you should be mindful to shew an unhesitating and willing respect, as nothing marks the character of a student more strongly than the sentiment «f respect he cherishes for those who have the care of his instruction. To entertain fear towards a tutor is ignoble, and creates a suspicion of defect of character in the stu- dent. Nor is there any need of it. An ingenuous youth is above all the se?rvility of fear, Faithlul in all his du* ties — correct in all his deportment— punctual — obedient to all the laws, he stands superior to reproach and even beyond suspicion. He endears himself to his Professors-— and if he happens to err, it is either forgotten or lost sight of m the midst of his numerous merits — or if chided, it will be done with that Parental tenderness, that makes him more and more confide in the Professor as his friend. Do not regard the hours spent in College as restraints upon your time and pleasures, but as an arrangement and system which wise and good men have found mo^t con- ducive to [nake wise and good men of youths. The ob- ject is to make you devoted to learning, and to fire your young minds wiih the noble ambition to excel. The Col- lege course is, in some degree, life in •niniature; where you constitute a little community, anr^ all the finer pas- sions and sentiments and competitions are brought into action. Rank, Honour, and Fa^ie are all before you, and are the noble prizes to be con-bended for. These are wor- thy of your diligence and exertion, and none can be ob- tained without study an« labour. You have every incentive that Youth ought to have, to rouse you to the rr<>st energetic exertion; and I unite with your friends in encouraging you to action, and in wishing that you maj avail yourselves of tiie many and great ad- vantages iiround you. * «(nce upon your allotted course, whilst the habit of study a-^d the force of discipline are unimpaired. There cannot he a 19 gi-eater error th?m to invite a young Graduate to relax and to reiresti himselt' with an indulgence in the pleasures of high :ite, dtler what are called his long and laborious duues at College. It is in truth ziothing else, than to in- vite him to divest himselt of good habits for th.> chance of acquiring bad ones. To such alluriag requests turn a deA e.ir: your good habits have been the means of gain- ing for you the honours of to day, and if pres rved and pors vered in, they will gam you many more. Lose not an hour, Young G^jntlemen — let the goal you have arrived at to day, be ihe starting point ot to-niorrow on the course of lite, uud w istf not the- precious moments of prepara- tion in inglorious ease. To a mind familiarized with clas- sic literature ana sciendfic research, how insipid must be the hours of indolence or the indulgence in frivolous plea- sures! The diffsffnce between inteliectual joys and pas- sionate indujgencies is marked^ in the extreme; and he who places his happiness upon the first, becomes elevated above the strifes, the mortifications, and most of the vicissitudes in triis world — he achieves the triumph of Phil jsophy over the grosser p issions, and entrenches himself in a fortress that resists the caprices of fortune and of men. Wh it^ ver may be your future expectations in life, it is all import mt, and I earnestly recommend it to you to en- gage in some Profession. It will employ your earlier years most usefuFy, and will give you rank and conse- quence in the world. If you are already w^ealtby, how can you employ time better than in gaining distinction in this way? If not, it is all important to you as the means of g ining fame and riches. Adopt a profession as occu- pation for your arlier years wh; ther you need it or not in a pecuniary point ot view, and by throwing yourstlves upon your own resources and self-reliance, you will gain indepen/.eece All professions are honourable, if honour- ably purr^ued, but any trade or profession is preferable to drojiping irigloriousiy into the political course, bt fore you are prepared for it, and th.re playing s. cophants to pow- er, or courteou.s mendicants for the dolings of patronage. In a popular Government, the inducements held ou to talented and well educated Young Men, prematurely to 20 outer into political life, are almost iiTesisti'ole— Yet siich a course is by no means to be desired for them — Many have fallen victims to this false step — more have suffered by it. To sustain political life with eclat, as much preparauon and labour is necessary, as in any of the learned proles^ sions — and the course of study for it is as profound, as ex- tended, and more varied, than for any other pursuit. It is to a riper period in life that political employment should be deferred—In the meantime, prepare yourselves to sus- tain the high character of an American Statesman, by de- voting yourselves to History, Ancient and Modern — to the elements of Law in all its various branches — to the pro « found productions of profound men. Cultivate and pur- sue all Sciences whose ground work you have laid here — and study well the History and Nature of the Constitution and Government oi your own Country — weigh well the views of the able men of all parties, and regarding men as frail and changeable, addict j/ourselves to principles that are unchangeable and imperishable If, in Your future and miore advanced life, you shall be called into the political field, and must there divide among the different opinions of the day — take care to divide on the ground of principle alone, and to it give in your adhe- sion. Upon such ground you can exult with your Coun* try in success, and stand undismayed in defeat. It is to be lamented that already, in our country, the pursuit of political office and emolument has become pro- fessional — but, as a profession, it must always be of an ab- ject character. The sacrifices ot honour and of princi- ple, too often made to it, are degrading — and the tenure of office and of station, so acquired, is as frail as it is prosti- tuted. Public station is certainly an objt ct vvoith\ of the honourable ambition of any man — but it must be gaintd by merit, not sued for v"tith servility — office should be fiilfid With a view exclusively to the public interest and weltare, not to gjun proselytes or to reward favourites. Ah public discussion-s are m< re fr^qupnt and more ne- cess ry under popukir institutions, it will become you to a; ply yvtrnment. But iherx IS a further subjeci, Young Gentlemen, ofei graver cast, th;it i have not yec presi nttd to your view, the on).'^'3ion ot which, on such ^^m ((ccsion, might be con* sidertd unpaidonabie by tho e tnouiid us. So far we have look* d at Ihos.^ sctiies in hie a!one,. wjiere the prevailing UiOtto m "covetous of Xioihin^y bufe 22 fame."*- — It is important however that you should elevate- your thoughts from the contemplation ot the world that we are in, to the consi'ieration of that to which we are destined to gu — We all feel that there is within us a *»spark of ele- mental fire," that is unquenchable, whose mysteries are un- folded by the Book of Knowledge and of Life. To that Book I commend you — let it be your constant companion —"turn it with an evening and with a morning hand'f — <. In it you will find that which will temper all exc€;sses in prosperity, and soothe you with its consol tions ''when the sighs are many and the heart is faint," — It contains too the ^'fe >und direction," of faith that dispels all the glooms of the Sepulchre, and opens upon us the radiance of an Eter-. nal Day. Dwell on this Sacred Volume with all the in- terest of devotion, and make yourselves intimate with the doctrines of "Eternal Truth." — They lead to all happiness in life, and whilst they diffuse a lustre over the character that nothing can tarnish — -they implant a delightful hope, a sustaining fortitude, a blissful peace, that the world can- not .reach. Piety in man is that which gives him all his resemblancce to the Great Prototype, the glorious "Herald of Glad Tidings," upon earth — It is (he gift from Divinity that diffuses his charities and benevolence far and wide, and bmds him to the "Throne eternal in the Heavens"— In Youth it is an ornament — in Age a comfort~in both a treasure — and in that awful and eternal Day? when ail Na- ture shall become a wreck, and human grandeur is no ujore, it will be the only tftle to the "Promised Aic," through which alone we can be led into the realms of "never fad- ing joy." I bid you an affectionate farewell, Young Gentlenien-'- Imet you with gladness in the morning — i part with you at noon with all the feelings of an eldtr for his jounger Brothers. Remember the pledges you have given to-day, and in whatever situation you may be hereafter placed, never — never forget your Duty to your God, or to your Couniry. * "Pra3ter laudem nullius avaris " ,t "Noctjirna versate manu, versate diurna." 28 BOARD OF VISITORS AND GOVERNORS OF ST. JOHIV'S COliluTBGTi. Mis Excellency THOMAS W. VEAZY, ex-officio Presicf^nlj Hon. JOHN BUCHANAN. " JOHN STEPHEN. «' STEVENSON ARCHER. " THOMAS B DORSET. " EZEKIEL F.CHAMBERS. ■" ASASPENCE. " THEODORICK BLAND. " JOHN G. CHAPMAN. " BENJAMIN L. GANTT. «« JOSEPH KENT. "" ROBERT W. BOWIE. ALEXANDER C. MAGRUDER, E^. SAMUEL RIDOUT, Esq. JAMES BOYLE. Esq. NICHOLAS BREWER, Esq. HENRY MAYNADIER Esq. WILLIAM H MARRIOTT Esq; THOMAS H. CARROLL, Esq. THOMAS S. ALEXANDER, Es^l JOHN N. WATKINS Esq. THOMAS FRANKLIN, Esq. RAMdAY WATERS, Esq. Dr. DENNIS CLAUDE. NICHOLAS BREWER, Jr Esq. JEREMIAH HUGHES, E q. ALEXANDER RANDALL Esq. JOSEPH H. NICHOLSON, Esq. JOHN JOHNSON Esq. DAVID HOFFMAN, Esq. Treasurkr, OEORGE MACKUBIN, Esf. SeCIcETAKY, QEOKGE WELLS, Esq, 34 3FACri.T¥. Eev. HECTOR HUMPHREYS, D. D. _PRKSIDENT AND PrOFESSOR OF MORAL SCIENCE- JULIUS T. DUCATEL, M. D. ,PROFESBOR OF CHEMISTRY, MINERALOGY, AND GEOLO(S^. EDWARD SPARKS, M. D, 5ROFESSOR OF ANCIENT LANGUAGES^ THOMAS E. SUDLER, A. M. PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS AND CIVIL ENGINEERI3Sf|^r WILLIAM B. LEARY, A. M. PROFESSOR OF GRAMMAR. (CHARLES T. FLUSSER, Esq. S'JIOFESSOR OF MODERN ItANGUAGEg. HENRY ELWELL, A. M. 183.6., SC 2.5 V 0^ \ A \ -^ o ^ ^ .4 ,0 K^ H^^ V * o ^ <^