w w \m/)3l T OP THB JOINT COM M ITTE E, APPOINTED OJY THE SUBJECT OF ST. JOHN'S OOUECHEL / The joint ©ommittee, appointed under Resolution No. 41, of the session of 1832, on the subject of the pro- ceedings of the visitors of St. John's College, beg leave to REPORT: That, in the performance of the duty assigned them, they have, with as much care and time as could well be given by them to the subject, investigated and examin- ed, the proceedings and conduct of the college, since the last report made to the General Assembly and it is due to the visitors and governors, and fa- culty of the institution, to state that they have not on- ly satisfied all the requirements of the resolution here- in referred to, but that they have most cheerfully done much more than has been required by any law of the State. The number of professors has been increased, and the circle of sciences, comprehended in the course of the college, embraces those of the best collegiate courses in the union. It is also just to say, that the phi- losophical apparatus is greatly improved. This state of things, in the college, has been followed by an increase of students, the number now being eighty-seven, of whom ten are taught according to law, without charge; and it is provided by a resolution of the Board of Visit- ors and Governors, that twenty others may receive at the College education gratuitously. Since their appointment your Committee*have had an opportunity of witnessing •Si 01 t Commencement in the College, and they would betru- ant to their own feelings, and the duty they owe the le- gislature, if they did not here express the high gratifi- cation they enjoyed in the distinguished display of learning and eloquence, made by six young gentlemen, which preceded the proper degrees which were confer- red upon them. By reference to the Report of a Committee of the Legislature, appointed to visit St. John's College, De- cember setsion, 1833, it will be seen, that the visitors and governors have resolved to solicit contributions to the funds of the College, to erect "an additional build- ing," to "extend the libiary," and \» "improve the chemical and philosophical apparatus." It will also be seen that the Committee, ''approving of the authority and policy of such a measure, urged it upon the consi- deration of the visitors and governors, and earnestly coirmended it to the public." In furtherance of these objects, at a meeting of (he visitors and governors, held on February loth, I8S4, it was "Resolved, that the Governor of the State, and Ben- jamin S. Forrest, and the Honourable Thomas Wright, 3d, Members of the Board, be a committee to co-ope- rate with the Principal, in making all suitable prepara- tions for carrying into effect the resolution of the board, to collect subscriptions for. the benefit of this Institu- tion." The following was accordingly prepared, as a suitable heading fjr such a subscription: "We, the subscribers, hereby agree to pay to the vi- sitors and governors of St. John's College, at Annapolis, Maryland, or order, the sums of money opposite our na'i.es respectively, in two equal instalments, to be ap- plied in carrying into effect the foregoing resolutions; Provided however, that, this subscription shall be void, unless at least ten thousand dollars shall be subscribed as aforesaid; and on the completion of said subscription often thousand dollars, the first instalment above men- tioned shall become due, and the other instalment twelve months thereafter." In obedience to these resolutions, and under the fore- going arrangement, the Principal of the College under- took, in the month of September last, to solicit subscrip- tions, and is still engaged in the prosecution of this ob- ject, as opportunities can be spared from the more pres- 3 sing duties of instruction in the classes under his charge* Considerable success has attended the commencement of this undertaking. The proposed sum often thousand dollars, at which amount the subscriptions become bind- ing and payable, has been secured; and confident hopes are entertained, that the sum of thirty thousand dollars will be subscribed for the College, in the course of the present and following year. At a meeting of the board held January 1st, 1835, it was resolved by the visitors and governors to proceed to the erection of at least one additional building to be occu- pied by an officer of .;oilege, with his family, and to ac- commodate as boarders, as many as forty students. Judi- cious plans for the buildings have been completed, and the work is expected to be commenced as early in the spring as it shall be advisable to lay the foundations for the walls. It is also designed, in case similar success shall contin- ue to attend the efforts of the Principal to obtain funds, to erect another separate building for the exclusive accom- modation of the grammar school, which is now kept in one of the public rooms of the College to the mutual disad- vantage of both branches of the Institution. A Professor of long experience has recently been appointed to the charge of the school; and there will be no delay other than such as may be occasioned by a v*ant of the necessary means to furnish him with a new building, of the most ap- proved construction, in which the teachers who may b« employed in that department shall be able much more ef- fectually to advance the prosperty of the whole Institutioa. By a resolution of the legislature, passed December ses- sion 1833, chapter 95, the geologist of Maryland, was di- rected for the use and benefit of the State, to deposit in St. John's College, such minerals as he might collect in the course of his researches, under that appointment* Under this resolution a very interesting collection has been com- menced on a scale vvhieh promises great and permanent be- nefit to the State; and should it continue to increase in pro- portion to the number and value of the specimens deposit- ed during the piesent year, will soon become a source of gratification and advantage to our own citizens, and an ob- ject of interest to the curious in other States, who are en- gaged in the same useful branch of science. Your committee have great pleasure and satisfaction in resting for a moment on the geological cabinet which now forms a p art of the college, which is entirely worthy of Professor Ducatel, who has contributed so largely to its usefulness and ornament, and which of itself so well do- velopes the abundant resources of the State. — The bene- fits lo accrue from facilities thus afforded to the students, for acquiring the requisite knowledge, to pursue investiga- tions of this kind, in the respective Districts to which they may belong, can hardly fail to be highly appreciated. It is evident that a succession of ripe scholars, graduating from the College, and possessing a full acquaintance with such mineralogical localities in Maryland as are already ascertained, will be able to make similar examinations arid researches more readily, extensively and successfully than will ever be practicable, if the same concentration of ef- fort shall not be continued. The cabinet oroper, of the College, has also been much enlarged by individual donations during the past year, and affords ample illustrations for the Professor of Mineralogy, and Geology, to be employed in the course ofh s lectures. These two cabinets are deposited in one room, at the col- lege, where they are subject to the inspection of any citizen of the State; and it is not doubted, that valuable additions will be made to this collection by the members of the le- gislature, whose attention may be directed to the develope- ment of the mineral resources of our soil. St. John's College came under the consideration of a most respectable Committee of the Legislature, consisting io one from a County, and one from the City of Baltimore, In 1830 appointed to visit the Primary School of Annapo- is. It was recommended by that Committee, to make public provision at St. John's College, for the education of teachers for the schools in Maryland. The most important change in the Institution, contemplated by the Committee, in reference to this object, has already been accomplished*, viz: A new organization of the board of visitors and gov- ernors, by which ten of the highest functionaries of the State Government, are introduced into that board. For the complete education of teachers at this Institution, no furtherchange in its course of studies or general govern- ment, is necessary. The only desideratum, would be sup- plied by the endowment of a professorship, to be filled by some gentleman of high attainments and experience, whose attention has been devoted to this subject, and whose time should be occupied exclusively in lecturing and instructing the classes in the College formed for this purpose, It need aot be insisted on, that such a branch of rational investiga- tkm, Is specifically distinct from every other'study. It tt proverbial, that the highest acquirements in knowledge, do not necessarily include a capacity to instruct — Indeed, the most successl ul teachers, are not unfequently men of ordi- nary abilities, and of not the most extensive erudition. The materials for such a department of Institution, deve- loped by the universal inquiiiesof the last few years, are ample and invaluable; and as collected and embodied, in the journals of education, in Europe, and in our own country, are open to the inspection of such as enjoy the time and op- portunity to read and digest the information which they contain. It is not to be doubted, that a professorship of this sort, in any College in our country, would not be sur- passed, for practical utility by any other professorship that is usually found in such Institutions. And the advantage! of such a professorship, would no where be so properly appreciated, as in a State like Maryland, where the supply /of teachers is so unequal to the demand, that hundreds are reduced to the inconvenience and uncertainty of procuring them from abroad — St. John's has furnished several res. pectable teachers from among her graduates, during the last few years; and it is not the least among the considera- tions which encourage the visitors and governors, in their present undertaking; that the increased patronage, which the Institution may secure, by the better accommodation* to be afforded in the new buildings, will perhaps, ultimate- ly enable them to make this further and more ample provi- sion, to meet the requisitions which its original patriotic founders intended should be made upon this Ancient Semi- nary of the Slate. Too much credit cannot be awarded to the Principal of the College for his untiring and successful efforts to extend its usefulness — he deserves not only the thanks, but the co- operation of the State. In conclusion, your Committee have pleasure in com- mending St. John's College to the most favorable conside- ration of the General Assembly. B. S. FORREST, Chairman, Of the Committee of the Senate. J. S. COTTMAN, Chairman, Of the Committee of the H. of Delegatei. ■■■'* "in i \jr OUNURESS1 020 773 750 1 ^V^'-: i: T ^vr:':.-^:\,v.,;--'v;>: ; 'T*^,::4 : : m.^0' J» , 020 773 750 1 S/7?/?a \ LIBRARYlOF^CONGRESS 020 773 750 1 ^ Hollinger Corp. P H 8.5