ADDRESS ON UNIVERSITY EDUCATION ' 



[1876] 



The actual work of the University founded in this cit}- 

 by the well-considered munificence of Johns Hopkins 

 commences to-morrow, and among the many marks of 

 confidence and good-will which have been bestowed upon 

 me in the United States, there is none which I value more 

 highly than that conferred by the authorities of the Univer- 

 sity when they invited me to deliver an address on such an 

 occasion. 



For the event which has brought us together is, in many 

 respects, unique. A vast property is handed over to an 

 administrative body, hampered by no conditions save these: 

 — That the principal shall not be employed in building: 

 that the funds shall be appropriated, in equal proportions, 

 to the promotion of natural knowledge and to the allevia- 

 tion of the bodily sufferings of mankind; and, finally, that 

 neither political nor ecclesiastical sectarianism shall be 

 permitted to disturb the impartial distribution of the tes- 

 tator's benefactions. 



In my experience of life a truth which sounds very much 

 like a paradox has often asserted itself: namely, that a man's 

 worst difficulties begin when he is able to do as he likes. 

 So long as a man is struggling with obstacles he has an 



1 Delivered at the formal opening of the Johns Hopkins University 

 at Baltimore, U. S., September 12. The total amount bequeathed by- 

 Johns Hopkins is more than 7,000,000 dollars. The sum of $3,500,000 

 is appropriated to a university, a like sum to a hospital, and the rest to 

 local institutions of education and charitv. 



