PROPOSED APPLICATIONS OF SMITHSON'S BEQUEST. 861 



upon all occasions to convert everything into a subject of 

 peculation. The Girard College, in this city, is an instance 

 of this avaricious rapacity. It has already cost, in construct- 

 ing the builings, I am most credibly informed, 2,000,000 

 dollars, and will make the fortune of all concerned. I hope it 

 will be a warning. It is melancholy to behold such a violation 

 of the wishes and views of the devisor. It seems to be the 

 mania in this speculating country, that when a college or 

 university is to be founded, the first step to be taken is to 

 lay out the funds in expensive edifices, and that when this is 

 effected, the institution is established. If we, however, 

 consider a university as a seat of learning, and not as a public 

 hotel, we see that something else is requisite besides the 

 erection of palaces and temples. It is under this point of 

 view that I submit with great diffidence the following sug- 

 gestions to your better judgment. The idea that I connect 

 with the notion of an university is, as before suggested, a 

 seat of learning. In order to make it one, such a library 

 should at once be collected as will exceed any now in the 

 United States, will compete with those of Europe, (France 

 and Germany,) and will, in consequence, induce the devotees 

 of science and learning to flock to it from every part of the 

 country — your university will then flourish. The students 

 of that university will progress with rapidity, because their 

 means of acquisition are expanded. You will not only have 

 boys studying there, but men, for it can be made a condi- 

 tion of access to these books that they pay a fee, and become 

 enrolled as members of the institution. The professors of 

 your university will become eminent men and leading teach- 

 ers, because they will have treasures at hand, from which 

 assiduity and diligence can collect indefinitely. Some will 

 tell you you must bring learned professors together to form 

 your institution. Let me say, sir, this is the very way to 

 make them so, by giving them the means and by spurring 

 their emulation as the Germans do, as I shall state directly. 

 No one, except he who has had occasion to pursue a partic- 

 ular branch of study, can feel the utter dearth of books that 

 exists in this country — ^having myself had occasion lately to 

 pursue some mathematical researches, I had to import two 

 hundred dollars worth of books. In forming and model- 

 ing our institutions I consider, sir, Germany and France as 

 the leading nations of the civilized world on the subject of 

 education. The vastness and richness of their libraries, the 

 number and unwearied industry of their scientific and 

 learned men, the glorious emulation that exists amongst 

 them, and the singular felicity of their methods of instruc- 



