480 UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. 



a matter of course, conceded to them. Can this have 

 anything to do with the modern tendency of our young 

 clergy to rely for position and influence, not upon talents 

 and professional labours, but on the dignity of office and 

 the supposed sacredness conferred by the imposition of 

 hands? 



Dr Wayland s reasoning and suggestions have pre 

 vailed with the Corporation, and the new system has 

 this winter been introduced into the Brown University. 



There is one university in the United States that of 

 Virginia, founded by Jefferson in 1819 in which a sys 

 tem similar to that I have been describing has been 

 followed since its foundation. It is the most liberally 

 constituted university in the United States. The stu 

 dents are there allowed to select their own course of 

 study, and, after three years and due examinations, to 

 take out their degree of B.A. in that study. The pro 

 fessors are all equal in rank, and the president is annually 

 elected out of their own number by the votes of their 

 own body. The university receives 15,000 dollars a-year 

 from the State, out of which each professor receives 1000 

 and a free house the president for the time being has 

 500 more. The rest of their income is derived from the 

 fees of the students ; and as these are at liberty to select 

 their own classes, the reputation of a teacher is an import 

 ant element in regulating his income. There is no 

 fixed chaplain appointed by the State. The professors 

 elect their own chaplain, generally for two years only, 

 and pay him by private subscription. The number of 

 students in this university is about 320 ; so that it may 

 be considered as very prosperous. 



In a university which desires to stand well in public 

 estimation, it is necessary not only that the students, but 

 that the professors also, should be industrious and improv 

 ing men. With the view of securing this, Dr Way land 

 contemplates also the introduction of the system of com- 



