WANTS OF THE COLLEGE. 27 



and agricultural and horticultural operations are in order, they 

 can worl?: in the field. But in midwinter, and in stormy 

 weather, how much better to have the drill ! They need the 

 exercise in stormy weather, and we want them to have it ; but 

 this cannot be unless we have a building for the purpose. 



But you ask, " How have you got along so far ? " We have 

 had this building. This was erected for a laboratory before it 

 was needed, and we have used it as an armory and drill-room ; 

 but, as I said before, to-day it is to be cleared, and from this 

 time forward it is to be devoted to its legitimate purpose — chem- 

 istry. Now, then, what are we to do ? You can see the need 

 for yourselves, and if any of you think of any better plan, I 

 wish you would talk with me privately about it. 



Secondly, what do we need to enable us to go forward in the 

 course of study which has been approved by the gentlemen of 

 this Board and other friends of agriculture ? In the first place, 

 we want a room where the students can meet together. It 

 would be a queer college that had to assemble out of doors. I 

 want to see all the students every day : they want to see me, 

 perhaps, sometimes ; at any rate, they are willing to. I must 

 have a place where I can meet them. This room is to be de- 

 voted to chemistry. It cannot be used as a public room, and if 

 it could, it is not large enough. We are to have more than 

 this room full of students. We must have a room where the 

 students can come together for devotional exercises every morn- 

 ing, and for the general purposes of the college. We must have 

 a hall for exhibitions and for the meetings of the Board of Agri- 

 culture. The annual meetings of the Board that are held for 

 lectures and discussions should be hold on the college grounds 

 if we had a hall. Then we want a room for these young men 

 who have organized the so-called " Ben Franklin Society." 

 These young men are proposing to educate themselves to be 

 intelligent citizens ; and, among other things, they expect to be 

 able to express themselves tolerably well upon paper, or before 

 an audience like this, and they must practise. Practice alone 

 gives power. They are very zealous in this work. They have 

 been very active during the past year, without any special over- 

 sight on my part, though I have endeavored to have them feel 

 that I was interested in their success, and they have made great 

 progress. Now, they should have one or more halls, where they 



