94 Memorial of George Brown Goode. 



matter how humble its source, seems to have had its weight in the delib- 

 erations, and almost every one was embodied in one or more of the provi- 

 sions of the numerous bills brought up for the consideration of Congress. 



In 1836, when this matter first came to the notice of the Senate, it 

 seems to have been the generally accepted opinion of those who took part 

 in the discussion that the intention of the testator was the establishing 

 of a university. 



In this direction, too, was the tendency of the advice of those " persons 

 versed in science and in matters relating to public education," to whom 

 in July, 1838, the Secretary of State addressed letters, asking advice as 

 to the most advantageous mode of applying the proceeds of the bequest.' 



Of these, three favored a school of high grade. President Wayland, 

 an institution which should occupy ' ' the space between the close of a 

 collegiate education and a professional school ;" Doctor Cooper, ' ' an insti- 

 tution of the character of an university; ' ' President Chapin, ' ' an institu- 

 tion for liberal and professional purposes and for the promotion of original 

 -nvestigations — to carry scholars through a range of studies much above 

 those of the ordinary collegiate course." 



Horatio Hubbell, of Philadelphia, also, in a letter to President Van 

 Buren, urged a university on the German plan, with numerous professor- 

 ships, chiefly scientific, and Professor Dunglison, of the University of 

 Virginia, in two very favorable letters in the Southern Literary Messen- 

 ger (under the signature "z/ "), proposed the foundation of " a central 

 school of natural science," to be supplemented in time by a botanical 

 garden, an observatory, a zoological institute, or analogous means (includ- 

 ing, doubtless, in his mind, museum collections), for prosecuting in a 

 proper way the great sciences of astronomy and general physiology — "a 

 school where natural philosophy, chemistry, geology, mineralogy, phi- 

 losophy, and all other sciences could be effectually taught— a .school 

 which, so far from clashing with others, would aid them — which, although 

 it might be helped by a gift Of funds from the nation, could neverthe- 

 less go into operation without them — which, under a wise management, 

 could be speedily brought to yield results of the utmost practical import- 

 ance, and fulfill to the very letter the wishes of the testator."- 



Mr. Rush objected to a school of any kind, and proposed a plan which 

 more nearly than any other of the early ones corresponded with that 

 which was finally adopted. In a shadowy way he outlined a system of 

 scientific correspondence, of lectureships, of general cooperation with the 

 scientific efforts of the Government, of a liberal system of publication, 



' These are the names of the persons thus addressed : 



The Hon. John Quincy Adams, Senatotand ex-President; Thomas Cooper, M. D., 

 Cohunbia, South Carolina ; Hon. Richard Rush, Sydenham, near Philadelphia, Penn- 

 sylvania ; Professor Francis Wayland, President of Brown Universit}-, Providence, 

 Rhode Island ; Plon. Albert Gallatin, Rev. Stephen Olin, Philip Ijndsley, and others. 



^Southern Literary Messenger, V, 1S38, p. S28 ; VI, 1840, p. 25, and also Rhees, 

 Documents, pp. 864-890. 



