JX 



vantages for the prosecution of your studies." " Happy for you, 

 they who superintended your education were less anxious that you 

 should be early fitted than that you should be well fitted for the 

 University. You were, therefore, indulged with a year extraordinary 

 in preparatory studies." " Thus informed, you begin the college 

 life with every advantage. You have anticipated the academical 

 studies, and, if you persevere, your future improvements must be an- 

 swerable to your present acquisitions. Four important years are 

 now before you." 



Important years indeed, — for good or for evil ! To John Picker- 

 ing they were full-fraught with good. To some others they have 

 proved calamitous. How is this to be accounted for ? Here, Gentle- 

 men, is a problem worthy of your Christian philanthropy, and your 

 most profound philosophical wisdom. What problem in the material 

 world has stronger claims on your attention, as men of science and 

 learning, pledged to advance the best interests of humanity ? Since 

 the institution of your Academy, many of its expressed objects of 

 scientific inquiry have been successively assumed by other associa- 

 tions specially devoted to them. Why, then, may you not give 

 attention to some of your implied duties, and pursue inquiries in 

 the intellectual and moral world, — inquiries alike practical and 

 philosophical, and more immediately connected with the loftiest 

 object of your institution, — the advancement of the honor, digni- 

 ty, and happiness of a free people ? Might not the laws of man's 

 moral nature be more clearly understood ? Might not the knowl- 

 edge of them be made more effectual for the attainment of his best 

 education ? Such inquiries would seem particularly appropriate to 

 the American Academy, which was originally designed to be sub- 

 servient to the great objects of our venerable University. 



I pray you, Gentlemen, to pardon this suggestion, and accept it 

 b 



