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has had time to rouse itself to the measure of these new ad- 

 vantages, the wages of infraction may be fully met by the 

 spontaneous demand. On this subject, it has suggested itself 

 to me, that the connection of a learned society, (as a Lyceum 

 or an Institute,) with every public college and academy, would 

 lead to valuable and important results. These should draw 

 into their support the learning, cultivation and taste of the 

 town and the vicinage. The endowment of the seminary 

 would at the same time be the endowment of the society; and 

 the establishment of regular and permanent courses of lec- 

 tures on literary and scientific subjects, on a strictly popular 

 plan, to be conducted chiefly by professors and instructors, per- 

 haps with occasional foreign aid, and open to all citizens for a 

 moderate fee, would at once bring these institutions into a 

 most happy communion with the body of the people, contri- 

 bute to their immediate support, and prepare the way for the 

 ultimate success and triumph of the system. It is in this con- 

 nection, perhaps, better than in any other way, that scientific 

 and literary associations may have the benefit of pubhc aid 

 and endowment. 



It had been my purpose in the outset of my remarks, to offer 

 to the consideration of the Institute a plan for such courses of 

 lectures as I have here alluded to, to be conducted in this place 

 under its control and supervision. Whatever of detail belongs 

 to it, I must take another and a private opportunity to pre- 

 sent.* At present, I can only say, the experiment has been 

 tried with perfect success elsewhere; let it be tried here. This 

 is the very place, and here are the very means, to test the 

 value of the suggestion I have made. Let the application be 

 made at an early day to turn the Albany academy into a pro- 

 per college. Let the Institute ofifer to connect itself perma- 

 nently with the college, bringing in the handsome capital 

 which it possesses in its library, cabinet and museum, on equi- 

 table terms; and then let the Legislature be besieged by all 

 the learning, and talent, and moral force, which can be en- 

 listed in this behalf, to begin a great work, by setting here the 



