55 



i 



was under consideration, that the elder college would urge or counte- 

 nance no movement for annexation or absorption, but would do what it 

 could to accommodate the Agricultural College, but it has offered 

 accommodations at times, and granted the agricultural students access 

 to its library, etc. 



Nor do I think the college has suffered much from the last consid- 

 eration. Although a large number of retired gentlemen, such as 

 formed the Massachusetts Society, have shown great interest in the 

 advancement of our agriculture, the active mercantile and manufac- 

 turing interests of Boston have never taken interest in the origin or 

 success of the college, whilst the metropolitan press has almost uni- 

 versally and constantly depreciated and disparaged the institution. 

 President John Adams; who was in 1805, president of the Massachu- 

 setts Society, nevertheless in 1812, wrote as follows : 4; We say and 

 say truly that agriculture and commerce are sisters, and their inter- 

 ests mutual and consistent ; but the misfortune is that individuals and 

 masses of both orders of men do not always understand the existence 

 of both interests, and instead of endeavoring to reconcile them, 

 employ all their policy -and influence to counteract each other. The 

 merchants in all the seaports discouraged the growth of wheat in the 

 state. Why? Because they supply us with flour from New York 

 t&c. and the article constitutes an important link in the chain of com- 

 merce. Agricultural patriotism is one thing, and mercantile patriot- 

 ism another in our dearly beloved Massachusetts ; both equally sin- 

 cere, both equally bona Jide. You will get no aid from Boston. 

 Commerce, literature, science, theology, are against you ; nay, med- 

 icine, history, university, and universal politics might be added." I 

 do not adopt this extravagant statement of Mr. Adams as strictly 

 applicable at present, but quote it as a curious coincidence with the 

 fact I was stating. 



Neither am I discouraged by any indications of a want of interest 

 in the college, or in the number of its students, but only in the want 

 of funds to sustain a college as it should be. The Commonwealth 

 cannot do for this college what it pledged itself to do, without money.* 

 But students will come as fast as we can accommodate them, and do 



*Jt ought to be known that among the numerous inquiries by letter during the last year 

 over ninety poor young men sought admission to the college; provided they could earn then- 

 way by work upon the farm and by other means. Manual labor of students is not, of 

 course, profitable in itself. No one could do more good in the educational direction than 

 by donating In whole or in part to a fund of $100,000, to be known as the " Manual Labor 

 Fund." 



