Mr. Butlers Discourse. t$5 



ginning of our career as an independent state, laid the founda- 

 tion of the policy which has since been pursued. The direc- 

 tion then given to the public councils, has never been aban- 

 doned. The promotion of literature and of general instruction, 

 has always been a rallying point which has united the feelings 

 and concentrated the exertions of men, whose opinions on other 

 matters were not only discordant, but irreconcilable. The state 

 has often been shaken to its centre by political collisions ; and 

 it has sometimes happened that objects of real importance have, 

 under the influence of feelings engendered by those collisions, 

 been neglected or opposed ; but at all times, and under all cir- 

 cumstances, this great interest has received from all men of 

 all parties, a constant and enlightened protection. This single 

 fact, whilst it confers upon our people the highest honor, is 

 sufficient to vindicate the utility of republican institutions. 



In reference to the present state of education in the higher 

 literary institutions, I am not possessed of sufficient informa- 

 tion to speak very particularly. Judging from the returns 

 made to the regents of the university, and from such means of 

 knowledge as are within the reach of the community at large, 

 I believe it may be said, that the standard of classical educa- 

 tion is steadily advancing ; and that many branches of science 

 and particularly those connected with the useful arts and 

 adapted to practical purposes, are taught in much greater va- 

 riety and extent, than heretofore. These branches are culti- 

 vated with much success in the academies ; Geneva college 

 was established with special reference to instruction in them, 

 and has an English department not connected with the study 

 of the ancient languages ; and the trustees of Columbia col- 

 lege, by a recent statute, have established new courses of in- 

 struction by popular lectures and by tuition in the college, em- 

 bracing the modern languages, and most of the sciences con- 

 nected with commercial pursuits, and with mechanics and 

 manufactures. 



But while we notice with pleasure, this enlargement of 

 former systems of education, it is proper to observe, that the 

 term of study remains generally the same. And I fear it 

 must be said of some of our higher seminaries, that too many 

 studies are crowded into a short spare of time, and that th<> 



