merchant, the entei-prising manufacturer, should be competent, when occasion 

 demands, to be an officer in the army, or a statesman at home, or a minister 

 abroad. 



Our agricultural colleges have heretofore failed because they aimed to educate 

 for the pursuit of agriculture only. The sons of our farmers are not less ambi- 

 tious of distinction than others, and an education that regards them as farmers 

 only, cannot meet their approbation. The purpose of an education is to teach 

 men to observe and to think — these are alike essential to all pursuits, and in these 

 operations of the mind all the faculties are called in requisition. A skilful and 

 correct use of their power is the boon of instruction. Their general development 

 is first to be accomplished, and subsequently this developed power is to be ap- 

 plied to particular pursuits. A course of instruction regarded merely as inform- 

 ation is not less necessaiy to one pursuit than another, for a mere farmer, or 

 mechanic, is not less to be discountenanced than a mere lawyer. General science 

 and knowledge is as essential, and is as becoming, to the one as the other. All 

 pursuits, then, may have a common course of instruction. 



From these general remarks, rendered necessary by prevailing erroneous opin- 

 ions respecting the instnxction suitable to the industrial classes, we return to the 

 question asked, that it may now be answered specifically — xohat course of in- 

 struction should be adopted in our industrial colleges ? 



1. Languages. — Besides the considerations just advanced, a knowledge of the 

 li^nglish language, to express his thoughts, either in writing or speaking, clearly, 

 forcibly, and elegantly, is as important to one engaged in an industrial pursuit 

 as in a professional. In early years, as twelve to sixteen, a youth cannot make 

 more progress in learning it, than by the study of the Latin language. It is a 

 language that has added much to our own. Its study familiarizes the pupil 

 with English words and their meanings, and their use to express ideas both cor- 

 rectly and elegantly. The study of the Latin grammar instructs him in the 

 English grammar. And the knowledge of Latin is absolutely essential, if he 

 would better understand and more readily remember the numerous words derived 

 from this language used in works on the natural sciences. 



The German language is used so extensively in the business transactions of 

 many parts of the United States, that opportunity to acquire it shoitld be given 

 in these colleges. It need not, however, be made an essential part of the regular 

 course of study. 



2. The Mathematics. — The study of mechanical laws is directly connected 

 with the mechanical and manufacturing arts. So far as mathematics is essential 

 to their understanding, to disciplining the mind, and a thorough knowledge of 

 natural sciences, they should be made a part of the course of study. 



3. Of the other branches of study, we cannoi do better than to adopt the 

 following, transmitted to the Department by Richard Owen, a brother of Robert 

 Dale Owen, and of the late David Dale Owen, a name familiar to every intelli- 

 gent citizen on account of his eminent attainments in science, and his practical 

 application of them in geological and mineralogical surveys. Mr. Richard 



