152 Miscellanies. 



experiment of disengaging the water of combination in the gypsum, 

 to observe the effect of re-absorption. By this method, a strong de- 

 sire to study an elementary principle is excited, by bringing his la- 

 bors to a point where he perceives the necessity of it, and its direct 

 application to a useful purpose. 



3. Corporeal exercise is not only necessary for the health of stu- 

 dents, but for qualifying them for the business of life. When such 

 exercises are chosen by students, they are not always judiciously se- 

 lected. Such exercises as running, jumping, climbing, scuffling, and 

 the like, are calculated to detract from that dignity of deportment 

 and carriage, which becomes a man of science. Therefore a sys- 

 tem of exercises is adopted at this school, which, while it improves 

 the health, also improves the mind, and excludes those vulgarisms, 

 which are too often rendered habitual among students. Such ex- 

 ercises as land-surveying, general engineering, collecting and pre- 

 serving specimens in botany, mineralogy, and zoology, examining 

 workshops and factories, watching the progress of agricultural ope- 

 rations, making experiments upon nutritious matters proper for vege- 

 tables, &;c. are made the duties of students for a stated number of 

 hours on each day. 



These principles have now been practically applied for six years, 

 to the full satisfaction of the patron and trustees ; and numerous 

 schools are now set up, from Canada to Georgia, as germs from this 

 original stock. 



Experience has taught that Natural History, (embracing Geology, 

 Mineralogy, Botany and Zoology,) and Engineering, should be more 

 practically illustrated, than can be done at one location. To ob- 

 viate this difficulty, a travelling term has been instituted. Three 

 tours of this kind have been taken — one of six weeks, one of five 

 weeks, and one of eight weeks. It is now fixed at six weeks, to 

 commence on the first Thursday after the last Wednesday in June, 

 every year. The extra expenses having varied considerably, on ac- 

 count of the different views and feelings of students, all expenses (in- 

 cluding what has been called necessary extra expenses,) are now 

 fixed at ^60. This includes all ordinary travelling expenses, board, 

 washing, lodging, tests, instruments, &;c. Also, all the excursions to 

 Trenton Falls, Oswego, Ithaca, Niagara Falls, Eighteen mile Creek, 

 &c. This particular account is given to aid other Institutions in ma- 

 king their calculations for similar tours, on Connecticut River, the 

 Mississipppi, Ohio, &ic. And it should be required, that no parent 

 allow his son more than one dollar for his pocket. 



