284 Memorial of George Brown Goode. 



and supporters of the college. Doctor Josiah Meigs, the friend and class- 

 mate of Barlow, the president of the institute from 18 19 to 1821, was an 

 incorporator and a member of the first faculty of the college.' 



Doctor Edward Cutbush, the founder of the Columbian Institute, was 

 also a professor, as well as Doctor Thomas Sewall, Doctor Alexander 

 McWilliams, and Judge William Cranch, and in publications made at the 

 time these men distinctly proposed to realize the aspirations of Wash- 

 ington for the creation of a great national university at the seat of the 

 Federal Government. It was in this cause President Monroe gave to the 

 Columbian College his public support as President of the United States. 

 At a later day, when an hour of need overtook the college, John Quincj^ 

 Adams became one of its saving benefactors.^ 



The donation of 125,000 made to the Columbian College in 1832 was preceded bj-a 

 report from the Committee in House of Representatives on the District of Columbia. 



That report may be found in Reports of committees, first session Twenty-second 

 Congress (1831-32), III, Report No. 334. 



After reciting the early history of the college the report proceeds as follows : 



Few institutions present as strong claims to the patronage of Government, as that, 

 in behalf of which the forementioned memorial has been presented. [The report is 

 made in answer to a memorial of the president and trustees of the college, asking 

 Congress to make a donation to the college ' from the sale of public lots or from such 

 other source as Congress may think proper to direct.'] Its location near the seat of 

 Government, its salubrious middle climate, and other advantages, and the commend- 

 able efforts of its present trustees and professors to sustain it, justly entitle it to 

 public benificence. 



' I am indebted to Doctor James C. Welling, president of the Columbia University, 

 for much important information concerning this and other matters discussed in the 

 present paper. 



^ James C. Welling, The Columbian University, Washington, 1889, p. I. The fol- 

 lowing letter, written by President Monroe in 1821, indicates that the public men 

 of the day were not unwilling that the institution should be regarded as one of 



national scope : 



Washington, March 2S, 1S21. 



Sir: I avail myself of this mode of assuring you of my earnest desire that the 

 college which was incorporated by an act of Congress at the last session, b}' the title 

 of The Columbian College in the District of Columbia, maj' accomplish all the use- 

 ful purposes for which it was established; and I add, with great satisfaction, that 

 there is good reason to believe that the hopes of those who have so patriotically con- 

 tributed to advance it to its present stage will not be disappointed. 



Its commencement will be under circumstances very favorable to its success. * * * 

 The act of incorporation is well digested, looks to the proper objects, and grants the 

 powers well adapted to their attainment. The establishment of the institution 

 within the Federal District, in the presence of Congress, and of all the departments 

 of the Government, will secure to the young men who may be educated in it many 

 important advantages; among which, the opportunit}' which it will afford them of 

 hearing the debates in Congress, and in the Supreme Court, on important .subjects, 

 must be obvious to all. 



With these peculiar advantages, this institution, if it receives hereafter the proper 

 encouragement, cannot fail to be eminently useful to the nation. Under this im- 

 pression, I trust that such encouragement will not be withheld from it. 

 I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant, 



James Monroe;. 



