94 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
ous responsibilities, the obligation rests upon you to acquit 
yourselves of them with fidelity. For the purpose of be- 
coming competent to the fulfilment of your duties, you have 
attended the preparatory courses of instruction; you have fa- 
miliarized yourselves with the leading facts and principles of 
the tributary departments of science, but here is not the con- 
clusion of your labors; what you have so far accomplished 
can only be considered as rudimental; the ground work only 
has been laid of the edifice to be built hereafter; the mate- 
rials you at present possess are not sufficient for its comple- 
tion; a larger amount must be collected, and they can only be 
procured by sedulously cultivating the same pursuits: the just 
proportions into which they will be moulded, the degree of 
finish that will be communicated, will be indicative of your 
ability and industry. Hitherto, as pupils of this school, you 
have submitted to its authority, you have acknowledged 
its jurisdiction ; but emancipated from its control, hence- 
forward you are answerable to the public, and must seek its 
approbation; its favor will be awarded or withheld as you 
may appear deserving or unworthy. 
When commencing a profession, the resolution should be 
formed, not to fall short of excellence; and this is in accord- 
ance with the natural impulses of an ingenuous mind. True 
superiority, however, is dependant on other circumstances, 
besides a spotaneous origin; it must be created by the endea- 
vors of the individual who aspires at its possession. It is 
impossible to attain to it without exertion; if reached at all, 
it must be by diligence, energy, and vigilance; qualities which, 
if properly cherished and rightly directed, will lead to the 
best results. The irregular exercise of talents, called into 
activity upon extraordinary occasions which may be favorable 
for their display, may be productive of ephemeral applause, 
but the success that may attend the evidence of their power 
cannot outlive the moment, if they be permitted to relapse into 
sluggishness and inactivity. It is absolutely requisite that they 
should be employed in a way that will always contribute to 
some good purpose, constantly be conducive to some benefi- 
