RESULTS OF THE EXAMINATIONS. 281 



tion the citizens of this Commonwealth were receiving, and 

 what were the guarantees for the future from that institution, 

 which was now so cheerfully receiving your fostering care. 



The examinations of the several classes in the recitation 

 rooms were attended by the Committee at the close of each 

 term, and while they do not deem it necessary to refer to each 

 class particularly, there was one feature so manifestly prominent 

 in nearly all, that we regard it as a fact worthy of particular 

 notice, to wit : " each student was taught to think for himself" ; 

 the student in some branches being compelled to pursue the 

 investigation of the subject without the aid of any text-books ; 

 and, in the judgment of your Committee, if the success of any 

 one department was greater than another, it was largely in- 

 debted to this cause, as infusing more life and zeal in the pro- 

 fessor, and a wider scope of thought, greater independence and 

 proficiency in the pupil ; and while we would not recommend 

 the absolute abandonment of all text-books, we would suggest 

 that, if less reliance were placed upon " text books," and the 

 students compelled to search the great " book of nature " for 

 ideas and scientific truths, we should have stronger and better 

 men, — men of more enlarged views of life, and practically better 

 fitted for the great work entrusted to them; having derived 

 their thought and founded their judgment not upon the opin- 

 ions of other men, but upon the great scientific truths which 

 they had garnered from science itself. 



The course of study pursued in the several branches is so mi- 

 nutely defined in the report of the trustees, that we do not regard 

 it necessary to enlarge upon it. We have noticed with great 

 pleasure, the efforts of the several classes in rhetoric at the close 

 of each term, and feel justified in saying that in our judgment 

 they would compare favorably with those of any institution 

 bearing the name of college within the Commonwealth. We 

 have been the more gratified in this, because we believe that 

 while the main object of this institution is and should be to pro- 

 vide a thorough course of instruction in the science of agricult- 

 ure and those sciences more immediately connected with it, 

 yet the value and importance of self-possession and self-reliance, 

 obtained only by a constant use and careful culture of the ora- 

 torical powers, cannot be overrated ; for, after all, it is to be the 

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