PROPOSED APPLICATIONS OF SMITHSON'S BEQUEST. 841 



income by their own exertions. Hence there arises natu- 

 rally a division of the powers and duties of the parties. To 

 the corporation, or governors, or trustees, or by what name 

 they may be called, would belong the management of the 

 fiscal concerns of the institution, and the control of that 

 portion of its affairs which depended specially upon its re- 

 lation with the public donation. The government of the 

 institution, the conferring of degrees, the appointment of 

 professors, would be performed jointly by the officers of 

 instruction and the corporation. 



In the English universities, the government of the insti- 

 tution is vested in a general meeting of the former gradu- 

 ates. This forms a literary public, which exercises ultimate 

 jurisdiction in most matters which require deliberation. 

 How far such an institution might be constructed upon this 

 principle, may be fairly a question. 



6. If the above-mentioned views should be adopted, it 

 will be perceived that no funds will be required for dormi- 

 tories. The young menwill provide for themselves board 

 and lodging wherever they please, and the professors will 

 be responsible for nothing more than their education. It is 

 supposed that they are old enough to govern themselves. 



Hence the funds may be devoted to the following pur- 

 poses : 



1st. A part would be appropriated to the creation of a 

 library, cabinets, and for the furnishing of all the apparatus 

 necessary to the instructors. 



2d. A part to the erection of buildings for the above pur- 

 poses, together with buildings for professors' houses. 



3d. A fund would be established for the endowment of 

 professorships, giving to each so much as may form a por- 

 tion, say one-third or one-half, of his living, and the rest to 

 be provided for by the sale of the tickets to his courses. 



7. If the institution is governed by a board, this board 

 should be appointed by the President and Senate, or by the 

 President alone, and they should hold their office for no 

 longer a period than six years, one-third of them retiring, 

 unless reappointed, every two years. 



8. Graduates of the university should be allowed to teach 

 classes and receive payment for tickets, upon any of the 

 subjects on which instruction is given in the regular course. 

 This will prove a strong stimulant to the regular professors, 

 and will train men up for teachers. 



Degrees should never be conferred as a matter of course, 

 but onlv after a strict and public examination. They should 



