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implements, and materials, and opportunity, and leisure, she 

 cannot mine, and elaborate, and build ; cannot lay deep foun- 

 dations, and raise heavy frame works, and carry up her struc- 

 tures to unwonted altitudes, to meet the visible glory which 

 ought to rest on their summits in the sight of the people and 

 of the nations. 



To say that this service in the cause of learning may be 

 expected from our colleges, is utterly to mistake their business 

 and object, as well as their means. They are to conduct, what 

 has been aptly termed, the gymnastics of education. They 

 are, after all, in relation to learning in its exaltation and sub- 

 limity, nothing more than high preparatory schools. They 

 are to fit and prepare the student to occupy an intelligent po- 

 sition in the class of the university professor. Mature in years, 

 with a vigorous understanding, and in full possession of the 

 elements of knowledge, he is thus made ready to wait on the 

 ordinances of the university with singular profit, not to him- 

 self only, but reciprocally to the learned professor, and to the 

 cause of science. They mutually cheer on each other, the one 

 panting to follow wherever the other shall dare to lead. Eve- 

 ry high demonstration is then understood; every lofty efibrtia 

 appreciated; and in this way it is, that, by the influence of a 

 common zeal and a common sympathy, they are enabled final- 

 ly to ascend and stand together, professor and pupil, on the 

 very heights of science. 



It is believed that in no other way, than through the sus- 

 tained efforts and the example of such a university, can the 

 cause and the interests of true learning be properly subserved. 

 It is through this medium alone that the standard of high 

 scholarship is to be fixed. It is her example which is to pre- 

 scribe, and regulate, and elevate, the methods and business of 

 the schools set up for professional studies. She it is who is to 

 give energy and efficiency to the labors of the voluntary asso- 

 ciations formed for the promotion of learning, by furnishing to 

 their boards a supply of active, zealous and competent mem- 

 bers. It is in her ample and weU furnished halls where are 

 hereafter to be gathered those ardent spirits among us, who 

 are now driven away to the deep wells of learning in other 



