in embryo, and his studies were directed by the rod in early years, and by fines, admonitions, rustications, and expulsions, in his approach to manhood.

A method was loudly demanded which should be adapted to the native curiosity and ardor of youth,-a method which should put in requisition all the strong faculties, and which should enliven, not depress, the ardor of genius.

Rosseau's scheme of education, by first awakening and then gra ifying curiosity, appeared to be just. That the student should see every branch of human learning practically applied, and should be presented with the object of each branch at his first entrance upon it, became the general opinion. For example, that in learning land surveying, the student should be first taken into the field and then shewn how to use the compass and chain, then to plot his survey and to measure the superficial areas. That mathematical rules should be explained to him from time to time as his own progressive operations demanded; but that he should not be made to plod through a discouraging set of abstract rules, ignorant of their uses and of the principles upon which they are founded. Having thus become familar with the objects of his study, he will pursue with a zeal bordering on enthusiasm, all that part of mathematical studies which is connected with land surveying. In the same manner all the energies of his mind may be successfully excited in the study of mensuration, of astronomy, of natural philosophy, of chemistry, of natural history, and in truth of every department of human learning.

Though all agreed in the object to be effected, there was, and still is, much diversity of opinion respecting the most advisable course to be adopted in detail. A scheme appears eligible on paper, if drawn up by a lively fancy which fails when an application is attempted;-and unfortunately, even the improvement of the youthful mind became a subject of miserly speculation; and many new schools were set up and presented to the public with all the fulsome boasting of patent medicine. These mushroom institutions had a tendency to dampen public zeal, which if rightly directed would most effectually ameliorate the condition of man. But when parents have spent their hundreds at these much famed schools, and have been subject to the distressing reality that their children's stock of useful knowledge was improved but little, and that their morals were often degenerated, they were very naturally disposed to fall back upon the old system of edu

cation.

One of the greatest impediments in the way of success is that a great proportion of our best citizens are not aware that the human mind, like the body, has a limit to its strength, consequently it is an easy task to inculcate a general belief that the school is best which proposes the largest number of studies. As far as this opinion prevails no progress can be made in improving the course of education. This is one of the worst evils of the old schools; the mind is distracted among a multitude of objects and succeeds in nothing.

It is not pretended that the Rensselaerean plan will correct all the evils complained of, nor that the object proposed is wholly compassed by it, but this school was not set up fɔr the sake of

the school itself. Most schools are successful when they obtain patronage, even at the expense of other schools. This school is successful when it causes other schools to improve their mode of instruction so that they may become more useful to the community. The objects of the patron of this school are effectedby the successful application of its principles at any place on either continent. Its pupils are now applying its principles from Georgia to Canada; and as far as they succeed, so far this school has prospered in the object of its establishment. That its general object is approved is evident from the fact that the school does not furnish competent instructors sufficient for one-half of the applications received from respectable Villages, Acadamies, &c.

On the 5th of November, 1824, the Honorable Steven Van Rensselaer wrote a letter to the Rev. Dr. Blatchford, requesting him to open this school on the first Monday of January, 1825, and take charge of it as President. In the same letter he appointed Amos Eaton, senior Professor, and Lewis C. Beck, junior Professor. He appointed a Board of Trustees also, with ten articles or orders for the temporary government of the school. In this letter he stated that the school was instituted for the purpose of giving instruction "in the application of science to the common purposes of life," and that his principal object was to “qual"ify teachers for instructing the sons and daughters of farmers "and mechanics in the application of experimental chemistry, philosophy, and natural history, to agriculture, domestic econ omy, the arts and manufactures." He added" from the trials "which have been made by persons in my employment during "the last summer, I am inclined to believe that competent in"structors may be produced in the school at Troy, who will be highly useful in diffusing knowledge with its application to the "business of living. It seems to comport better with the habits "of our citizens and the genius of our Government to place the "advantages of useful improvements equally within the reach of "all. Whether my expectations will be realized or not, I am "willing to hazard the necessary expense of making the trial."— In obedience to this request, Dr. Blatchford and Professor Beck devoted much of their attention, and Professor Eaton the whole of his time and attention to experiments upon the minds of young men who were above the age of seventeen years. Professor Eaton has continued his exertions nine years; but Dr. Blatchford and Professor Beck have been succeeded by others.

On the 29th December. 1824, the Board of Trustees was called together by the President. At this meeting the name Rensselaer school" was given to the institution; and at this and two fol lowing meetings (March the 11th and June 5th, 1825,) a code of bye-laws was adopted, and Mr. Van Rensselaer's letter was adopted as the constitution.

The school went into operation on the first Wednesday in Janmary, 1825. After a series of successful trials for about fourteen months it was incorporated.

DUTIES AND EXERCISES

OF THE

RENSSELAER INSTITUTE,

CONDENSED FROM THE STATUTES, BY-LAWS, ORDERS OF THE FACULTY, AND ESTABLISHED USAGES.

DUTIES OF ACTING OFFICERS.

1st. The President, or (if absent from the City of Troy) a resident Vice President, should supervise the whole course of instruction. He should see that the professors and other teachers perform their respective duties faithfully-that the morals of students are well guarded and preserved that no amusements or practices of an immoral tendency be admitted-that a due degree of energy be maintained in all the departments of learning. Fi nally he is bound by his acceptance, (though it is not a pay office) to keep a watchful eye upon whatever may affect the education and discipline of the institution

2ad. THE PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE should supervise whatever concerns the conveniencies, the property, and expenses of the school. They should endeavor to accommodate the school in the use of the library, apparatus, cabinets of specimens, &c.; but so to order their use as to guard against all waste and negligence, and by all reasonable restrictions to preserve the property of the school. They should endeavor to guard against burdening students, parents, and guardians, with unnecessary expenses; they are required by law duly to consider the expediency and inexpediency of establish ing a bill of fare, boarding house, where plain board of enumerated articles of food can be had at a very low price. Also to consider the expediency and inexpediency of providing manual labor at the various trades in Troy, where students may pay for board for a definite number of hours labor in each afternoon. Finally they are invested with the full powers of the whole board of trustees from one sitting of the board to another. And though they receive no compensation for their services, duty requires of them frequent visits at the school, and frequent and careful examinations into whatever appertains to their department.

3rd. THE SENIOR PROFESSOR AND AGENT.-During the nine years in which the Institution has been in operat on, these two offices have been united; though their un ou is not required by law. The two offices conjoined constitute a kind of executive officer for carrying into operation the commands of the Patron, President, Trustees, and Prudential Committee. He is always to reside at the institute, and he receives all students into the two departments, and judges of their qualifications for admission; he directs all the immediate teachers, he arranges the students into sections, directs the whole course of studies, and decides in all cases of duty which are not definitely settled by law. But any of his acts may be annulled or varied by the President or resident Vice President. Any teacher or student may appeal to these, his superior officers, from his decisions.

He directs in the use of the Library, Apparatus, Specimens, &c.-Lut any student may appeal from his orders to the prudential

committee, who are the proper guardians in the use of the property of the institution. He receipts all moneys paid to the school under the signature of the agent for the institute; for which he is obliged to account to the Treasurer when required. The property of the Institution being under his charge he has the right and it is his duty to defend it as in cases of private property.

As senior professor he is required to give instruction to the teachers and students in every department of learning taught at the Institution; but he is never to be confined to any one division or to one room, he is to visit every department daily, and make himself acquainted with the character, talents, and application of each student. He is to give about four lectures each week before all the students of the Institute; and his whole annual course of about one hundred and sixty lectures shall present in regular succession, Mathematics, Rhetoric, Logic, the general principles of national and municipal Law, Geology, Mineralogy, Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, and Mechanical Philosophy. All his lectures shall be fully illustrated with mathematical instruments, cited cases, specimens, apparatus, and experiments.

4th. THE JUNIOR PROFESSOR is to perform all the duties of the senior Professor in case of absence or sickness, and the prudential committee may make arrangements with him to give instruction perpetually at the Institution on definite subjects.

5th. AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR is to perform all the duties of the Professorship to which he is attached; and assist in teaching according to the directions of an acting Professor or President.

6th. AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR is to assist in teaching as directed by the Professors or President. In case of the absence of all his superior officers he shall have the power and perform the duties of Professor.

7th. A SPECIAL ASSISTANT is to perform the duties especially assigned to him until the termination of his appointmeut, and for the time being is to be obeyed and respected by the students.

8th. A MONITOR (usually called the officer of the day) is to ring the bell at sun rise and again at 20 minutes. He is to examine the students at five minutes after the second bell, or get a a teacher to do it ;-he is to give the first lecture in his own division-to notify the Frofessor of his time to lecture and to criticise. He may excuse from lecturing on good reasons-he may give short leave of absence-he must report all defaulters-he shall ring the bell to convene the students to receive orders for the afternoon -at 2 o'clock he shall give the Professor a list of the names of all who go out in the afternoon, with their respective employmentshe shall sweep out all the lecture rooms on the evening of his day, and shall enforce cleanliness in the public rooms-he shall be obeyed and respected for the time being, according to the by-law respecting assistants.

ROUTINE OF EXERCISES.

1. Sabbath morning.—One hour's examination on sacred history. 2. Religious Worship.-Every student must attend religious worship on the sabbath; but he is not restricted to any denomination.

3. Monday morning.-One hour's examination in moral philosophy and the philosophy of the human mind.

4. Common morning Examination.—On all days excepting Sundays and Mondays, an examination on the subjects of the students' lectures of the preceding day.

5. Forenoon exercises.-After morning examination each student shall give an extemporaneous lecture. These lectures, followed by criticisms, continue until one o'clock, P. M., excepting Saturdays.

6. Afternoon exercises.-Students are to be called together at 2 P. M. du ly, and distributed into groups for their respective exercises; an account of their due execution of the duties assigned them has to be rendered at the next morning examination. The afternoon exercises consist in surveying, engineering, mensuration, taking latitude and longitude, height and distances, collecting and analyzing specimens in mineralogy, geology, and zoology-calcu. lating water pressure, the power of machinery, &c. But the most important duty is that of preparing next day's lecture.

7. Parliamentary exercises shall be attended one evening in each week. Every student shall conduct himself thereat according to our national parliamentary rules.

8. The Library is to be always placed in a reading room to which students may have access from sunrise to sunset, according to the rules of rotation to be prescribed by the faculty. No ink, or pen which has been dipped in ink, shall be in the limits of the reading room. No book shall be taken out of the library except in case of necessity, to be determined by the oldest member of the faculty present at the institution-and in such case it shall not remain out exceeding six days.

But the oldest Professor may order books out to aid in preparing text books or manuscript note boo s, &c. for the use of the Institution.

9. When a student is giving a lecture, he shall have two auditors at least, to be appointed in rotation, who shall be critically attentive to him. Others who are in the room shall not speak aloud, nor make any disturbance or noise; but they will not be under obligation to listen to the lecture, except to a monitor or teacher.

10. No student shall scuffle nor put his hand on another in sport, nor throw any stone or other missile, nor do any act of violence, nor any ungentlemanly act, within the yard or lot occupied by or attached to the Institution.

11. No student shall litter or strew over any part of the road, yard, or building, with plants, minerals, or any other thing whatever, which shall give any uncleanly appearance. No minerals shall be carried into any room above the cellar or basement, excepting a single suit for instruction to be neatly put up in cases, and then first to be inspected by the senior Professor; and no student shall ever drive a nail, peg, &c. into any wall, nor attach anything to it, nor sever anything from it, without permission from the senior Professor.

12. Examination for the Rensselaer degrees takes place in October annually, at the end of 24 weeks after the last Wednesday in April. The examiners are appointed by the Patron. They are always selected from among geutlemen of talents and learning who have no connexion with the Institution. No Professor or other Teacher is permitted to give any opinion on the subject of the qualification of any candidate ;-and no student ever knows the part on which he is to be examined until he is called