unburdened minds, to bodily exercise and relaxation. In offering these hints, we are at once redeeming a promise to the dead, and discharging a duty to the living. We would confidently appeal for their justice to the medical members of the Senatus Academicus; and will acknowledge ourselves in the wrong, if they will deliberately acquit the present arrangement of all injurious consequences.

Judge White, in his Address, discusses in detail the question of the expediency of domiciliating students within the walls of the College. He advocates the affirmative, in opposition to an able argument for the negative in Dr. Wayland's "Thoughts on the Collegiate System." We cannot but believe the plan of domiciliation, universally adopted in our American colleges, to be indispensably necessary, when considered with reference to the youth of so large a proportion of the students, and their constant need of the judicious supervision of those superior in years. We quote the following remarks of Judge White upon the influence exerted, mentally and morally, one upon another, by fellow-students within the college walls.

"The objection grounded on the moral dangers to the young, arising from their being so intimately associated in a community by itself, guided by its own unwritten code,' and in large numbers, of whom not a few may have been already addicted to habits of vice, is of a graver character, and demands a more extended notice.

"These dangers are not peculiar to bodies of students, still less to students resident within college walls; common boarding. houses certainly would not exclude them. The true remedy is to be sought in counteracting influences; and such influences, we know, exist in great strength at this University, and might, doubtless, be rendered yet more predominant.

"Entering college with good moral characters, and full of youthful aspirations, a vast majority of every class are ardent for virtue as well as for learning, and helpers of each other's joy and progress. If, as suggested, 'older residents influence for evil those who have more recently entered,' other older residents there are, of greater power and attraction, to influence for good. What ingenuous youth of Harvard ever failed to find in other classes, as well as in his own, lights and guides to cheer him on his way, models of virtue and scholarship to elevate his motives and his ambition?

"But the wicked, it is said, 'are much more zealous in making proselytes than the virtuous.' This we doubt. The moral energies of the people, so easily awakened in the cause of philanthropy, show the activity of virtue and benevolence; and none are more susceptible of sympathy in any such cause, than young men in the higher stages of their education; a sympathy, which, when properly directed and cherished, shields them from a thousand temptations.

"We are told, too, of the waste of time which must result from frivolous conversation, where the opportunities of conversation are so abundant.' But this, as we conceive, is not attributable to collegians more than to other young persons, nor to the young alone; older men, congregated in less numbers, have always been liable to the like charge, from the curious quidnuncs whom St. Paul encountered at Athens, to the last meeting on 'change.

"Nothing, indeed, is more natural, than for youth of studious. minds and buoyant spirits desipere in loco,- in their hours of relaxation, to love the

'Sport that wrinkled care derides,

And laughter holding both his sides.'

But, if abundant opportunities for conversation lead to excess of frivolous talk, they lead also to much intellectual converse equally rational and instructive. The memorable remark of Mr. Fox, that he had been more instructed by his friend Burke, than by all other men and books put together, strikingly illustrates the value of that mutual improvement which results from the companionship and familiar intercourse of intelligent minds. Young friends and fellow-students, frank and confiding, are open as the day to each other. Their mental acquirements become common property. Every individual, among many classmates, has many minds, instead of one only, at work for his improvement. A learned jurist, of the London University, observes, that young men, as far as their mutual information extends, are the best professors for each other.'

"Thus, in addition to all that the students obtain from college professors and teachers, they make continual advancement among themselves, both in knowledge and virtue, by mutual excitement, mutual instruction, and mutual influence; a fact which should make us less anxious to fill up with stated exercises the whole time of the more talented students in college. It has been remarked by a most competent judge, that a very great excellence of the English universities lies in the degree to which they call out voluntary energies and con amore study, not oppressing the mind by enforcing too many studies at once,

-

the

lecturers being few, and the tutors rather directing and assisting the study of books, than presenting themselves instead of books." - Address, pp. 26–28.

With regard to the moral conduct and character of her students, we believe that Harvard College need not shun comparison with any similar institution in the country. There are, probably, fewer young men of rigid, ascetic morality there than at some other colleges; but we doubt whether there is anywhere else a nearer approach of the great majority of the students to a respectable moral standard. The moral tone of the College on many important subjects is firm and high. Meanness is never tolerated there; and the grosser forms of dissipation meet with general abhorrence. Wine, or a villanous compound to which the venders give that name, is the student's greatest enemy; convivial intemperance his chief danger. A vigorous stand against the use of wine was made a few years ago by some of the more thoughtful among the undergraduates; but the temperance society which they formed, unless recently endowed with new life, has been suffered to languish and to become inefficient. When we remember at what shining marks within those halls the demon of intemperance has taken fatal aim, when we recall to mind the consciousness of perfect safety and self-control professed by those who there commenced their swift march to a drunkard's grave, we feel constrained to appeal with earnestness to all who occupy places of trust, counsel, instruction, or influence in connection with the College, to aid in establishing within its walls the principle and habit of total abstinence from intoxicating liquors. It is the youth's only safeguard. In the excitement of merry society, unrestrained by the presence of those of maturer years, he is easily made blind to the limits between moderate and excessive indulgence; and, those limits once passed, the shame of drunkenness once incurred, the precedent is established for all future similar occasions. But with these students, precept will be vain without example. The preacher of abstinence must himself abstain. No matter if he can command by special importation the pure blood of the grape, and from the very hills whence flowed inspiration for Anacreon's song, while the grocer's back-shop is the student's Samos and Madeira;

the two will be drunk or thrown aside together. We trust that Harvard will not enjoy another year the unenviable distinction of being the only college in New England, that furnishes her alumni with intoxicating liquors at their Commencement and anniversary dinners. It is the earnest desire of very many of the best friends of the College, that there should on this point be a departure from ancient custom. They dare not hope, that wine-drinking will grow into discredit with the students, while the assembled learning, talents, and piety of New England make public exhibition of it on three consecutive days every year. We doubt whether any parties would feel aggrieved by the disuse of wine on these occasions. We have in former days tasted the wine of the Commencement dinner, and can record our unhesitating testimony, that it comes from the vintage which supplies the students; it bears the same brand ad nauseam ; whatever fortunes it may have sustained on land, it is expers maris." No lover of wine ever thanked the Corporation for it; but many dear lovers of their Alma Mater, many anxious parents, many youth rescued from the contagion of bad example, will rise up, and call them blessed," if they will put away this nuisance. On this subject we gladly fortify our own opinions and suggestions by the weighty and judicious remarks of Judge White.

"Who of us can look back upon his classmates, without a most melancholy recollection of brilliant talents, generous affections, and fond hopes, all blasted by the scorching rays of alco holic excitement ? There now rises before me the image of a once loved classmate, the only son of his mother, the darling child of his father, a venerated clergyman, whose heart swelled with grateful joy at his son's early promise of excellence, but whose gray hairs were brought down in sorrow to the grave. And no near relative remains on earth, to check the freedom of these allusions, or to forbid the tribute which my heart would pay to the memory of one, whose life was as full of instruction to others as of unhappiness to himself.

"When this son of bright promise appeared among us, his pleasantry and social qualities attracted notice and regard, while his courteous manners and superior gifts of elocution gave him consequence with his associates. But his judgment was immature, and failed him most sadly. He it was who broached the idea of a high-go, as being requisite to give us a rank among the classes in college; and he prevailed upon his classmates, VOL. LX. NO. 126.

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generally, to assemble at his room, on a winter's evening, to manufacture the noble article, bringing with them the necessary tools, in the shape of black bottles well filled. The morning's dawn disclosed the glorious result, in broken windows, broken bottles, and broken character!

"The charm of a spotless academic reputation was gone from the class. The hero of the scene but not alone -persisted in his maddening course to its fatal close, in mid-age, followed by tears, not curses, - this being his one great fault, for which he paid so dear. Naturally of a noble and generous disposition, and inheriting a liberal patrimony, he made what atonement he could to his Alma Mater, and by his last will enrolled himself among her distinguished benefactors. Peace to his memory! Honored be his virtues, which were all his own. His errors and miseries, and the agonies of hearts most dear to him, might have been avoided, had but that benign power, now by the good providence of God made known to us and placed in our hands, been present to protect him in his youthful career. His is but one of a thousand heart-rending tales.

"Who, upon these classic grounds, with such facts before him, would not be tempted to exclaim, in the magnanimous apostolic spirit, If wine make my brother to offend, I will drink no wine while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to of fend!"— Address, pp. 34, 35.

We close our remarks with one additional suggestion. We wish that there were some mode, in which the students of the University could be brought into more intimate social relations with their instructers. We are aware, that some of the ancient barriers between teacher and pupil are removed, nor are we ignorant of the kind and persevering efforts of the present head of the College to introduce the students into social intercourse with the members of the faculty and their families. Yet there still remains too much of mutual distance and reserve. The forth-putting and self-confident among the students may, indeed, cultivate the acquaintance of their teachers, and feel always sure of a kind reception; but ought not the retiring and timid to be sought out, and made to feel that there are those ready and glad to stand to them in loco parentis? In former times, the intercourse between the particular tutor (so called) and the class under his charge partook somewhat of the parental and filial relation. The student felt at liberty to resort to the tutor of his class for special counsel and direction, whenever needed; and the