Mr. Butler's Discourse. 191 



pensed, great pains were taken to elevate the standard of ed- 

 ucation in the seminaries connected with the university ; and 

 the regents were soon able to congratulate the legislature on 

 the general improvement and prosperity of those institutions. 

 Nor did their efforts terminate when they obtained the means 

 to promote instruction in the higher branches of knowledge. 

 In their annual report for the year 1793, they suggested to the 

 legislature " the numerous advantages which would accrue 

 to the citizens in general, from the institution of schools in 

 various parts of the state, for the purpose of instructing child- 

 ren in the lower branches of education but nothing being 

 done in pursuance of this suggestion, they again presented the 

 subject in their next annual report, with the declaration that 

 " the numerous infant settlements annually forming in the 

 state, chiefly composed of families in very indigent circum- 

 stances, and placed in the most unfavorable situations for in- 

 struction, appeared to call loudly for legislative aid in behalf 

 of their rising offspring." During the session of 1794, some 

 attention was devoted to this matter by the legislature, but no 

 law being passed, the regents in 1795 renewed their former 

 suggestions. Governor George Clinton, also, added the 

 weight of an executive recommendation, and the great object 

 was at length accomplished. 



On the 9th of April, 1795, an act was passed, " for the en- 

 couragement of schools," by which £20,000 were directed to 

 be annually apportioned among the several counties, for the 

 purpose of maintaining schools in the several cities and towns, 

 in which the children of the inhabitants were to be instructed 

 in such branches of knowledge as were useful and necessary 

 " to complete a good English education." The several cities 

 and towns, were also to raise by tax, sums equal to one half 

 the monies to be received by them, which additional sums 

 were to be added to the amounts so received, and to be ap- 

 plied in the same manner. The distribution and application 

 of the moneys, in the several towns, was entrusted to com- 

 missioners and trustees, much after the manner now in use. 

 This act, though temporary in its character, may justly be 

 considered as the commencement of that great system of pub- 

 lic instruction, which now constitutes the crowning glory of 

 New-York. 



