Notes

Abstract

PROBABLY few are aware of the magnitude or special aim of the Cornell University. While our own rulers can scarcely grapple with the Education question because of the unsettled state of Ireland, the Government of the United States laid the foundation, during the height of the most terrible struggle for existence of modern times, of one of the most important educational movements the world has ever seen. On the 2nd of July, 1862, Congress passed an Act granting public lands to the several States and Territories which might provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanical arts; the share of the State of New York amounting to 990,000 acres. In 1865, this grant was conferred on a University about to be established, on the condition that the Hon. Ezra Cornell should give to the institution 500,000 dollars, with a few other conditions. This muni-ficient grant was afterwards supplemented by another of 200,000 dollars; and the University was established at the village of Ithaca. It is needless to say that the Act of Inauguration provides that the education shall be given to allcomers irrespective of creed, colour, or race; the motto of the founder being, “I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study.” Besides the original grants, the University has since been enriched by private liberality, with gifts of public buildings, laboratories, libraries, museums, a herbarium, printing-press, &c. A simple, but, as far as it goes, a strict entrance examination in geography, English grammar, and arithmetic and algebra, admits intending pupils as undergraduates, and they can then take their choice of pursuing their studies in either of several departments in which degrees are conferred, in Science, Philosophy, Arts, or in some other special subjects, the full course extending over four years. The special feature of the University, however, is what is called the voluntary labour scheme, by which students are enabled to work out a portion or the whole of the expenses of their education, either by unskilled labour on the farm, or by skilled labour at the printing-press or workshops. The University Register just published states that the scheme has thus far been worked with a degree of success hardly to be expected at so early a stage. We shall look with great interest on the progress of the University.