Scheme I.
Of Education in Virginia
The Royal Founders of William and Mary College, with Prospect of doing the greatest Good for the Colonies of Virginia and Maryland, conferred this princely Donation upon them; and were seconded with the ample Benefaction of the honourable Mr. Boyle, and the Contributions of the Country. But this underwent the common Fate of most other charitable Gifts of this Kind, having met with several Difficulties to struggle with in its Infancy; but the most dangerous was, that it was as it were no sooner finished, but it was unfortunately and unaccountably consumed to Ashes. Yet observe the wonderful Turns of Fortune, and Power of Providence. This College, Phœnix-like, as the City of London, revived and improved out of its own Ruins. But though it has found such unexpected Success, and has proved of very great Service already; yet is it far short of such Perfection, as it might easily attain to by the united Power of the Persons concerned about this important Foundation.
For it is now a College without a Chapel, without a Scholarship, and without a Statute.
There is a Library without Books, comparatively speaking, and a President without a fix’d Salary till of late: A Burgess without certainty of Electors; and in fine, there have been Disputes and Differences about these and the like Affairs of the College hitherto without End.
These Things greatly impede the Progress of Sciences and learned Arts, and discourage those that may be inclined to contribute their Assistance or Bounty towards the Good of the College.
Nevertheless the Difficulties of this Kind might be removed by some such Regulations as follow, viz.
Let none be permitted to teach School in any Parish, but such as shall be nominated by the Minister and Vestry, and licensed by the President of the College.
Let such Lads as have been taught to read and instructed in the Grounds of the English Language in those Schools, be admitted into the Grammar School at the College, if they pass Examination before the President and Masters; together with such Youth as shall be sent from Maryland, who have a Right to be educated at this College.
Provided always that the Number of Grammar Scholars shall never exceed one Hundred.
Let them be boarded and lodged in the Dormitory, as they are at present; or upon such Terms as may from Time to Time seem most proper to the President and Masters, or to the Governors, till a Transfer be obtained.
These Lads should be two Years under the Care of the Usher, and two more under the Grammar Master; and by them instructed in Latin and Greek, in such Methods as the President and Masters shall direct.
And during these four Years, at certain appointed Times they should be taught to write as they now are in the Writing-School, or in such Methods as the President and Masters may judge better: There also should the Writing Master teach them the Grounds and Practice of Arithmetick, in order to qualify such for Business, as intend to make no farther Progress in Learning.
Out of the Grammar School should be yearly elected by the President and Masters [or Professors] five Scholars upon the Foundation, who should be allowed their Board, Education, and Lodging in proper Apartments gratis; and should also be provided with Cloaths and Gowns, &c. after the Charter-House Method.
These Scholars should continue three Years upon the Foundation; during which Time, at appointed Terms they should be instructed in Languages, in Religion, in Mathematicks, in Philosophy, and in History, by the five Masters or Professors appointed for that Purpose; who with the Grammar Master make up the Number appointed by the Charter.
Besides the Scholars, the Professors should for a certain Sum instruct such others as may be enter’d Commoners in the College out of the Grammar School, or from elsewhere, by the Approbation of the President and Masters, who should be obliged to wear Gowns, and be subject to the same Statutes and Rules as the Scholars; and as Commoners are in Oxford. These should maintain themselves, and have a particular Table, and Chambers for their Accommodation.
For to wait at the four high Tables hereafter mentioned, there should be elected by the President and Masters four Servitors, who should have their Education, and such Allowances, as the Servitors in Oxford.
Such Scholars, Commoners, and Servitors, as have behaved themselves well, and minded their Studies for three Years, and can pass proper Examination, and have performed certain Exercises, should have the Degree of a Batchellor of Arts conferred upon them; should eat at a Table together, and be distinguished by a peculiar Habit; maintain themselves, be subject to certain Rules, and pursue proper Studies; being allowed the Use of the Library as well as the Masters, paying proper Fees upon their Admission for the Good of the Library.
Out of these Batchellors should be yearly elected by the Presidents and Masters, one Fellow to be allowed 20 l. for his Passage to England, and 20 l. per Ann. for three Years after his speedy Entrance and Continuance in some certain College in Oxford or Cambridge; after which he should commence Master of Arts; which Degree, with all others in our Universities, should be conferred in the same Manner in this College by the President and Masters.
Out of the Graduates above Batchellors should the Masters or Professors be chosen by the Election of the said Masters or Professors, with the President; who also every seven Years should chose a new Chancellor, to whose Determination all Disputes and Differences should be referred.
And when the President’s Place is vacant, it should be filled by such of the Masters as has belonged first to the College.
A Testimonium from this College should be of the same Use and Force as from others in our Universities.
If the present Fund be insufficient to defray the Expence, proper Improvement should be made of the Revenue, and Application made for additional Benefactions.
A Body of Statutes should be directly formed and establish’d by the Visitors, President, and Masters; and a Transfer of the Trust should be then made.
Such an Establishment would encourage the bright Youth of Virginia to apply to their Studies, and in some Measure would compel them to improve themselves; whereas now being left to their own Liberty, they proceed but superficially, and generally commence Man before they have gone through the Schools in the College. Here too would be great Inducements for their Friends to advise and persuade them to go through with their Learning; when they are certain, that they will thus be regularly improved, and have Prospect of a cheap Education, and Hopes of the best Preferment in their Country in Church and State; and have equal (if not superior) Chance with others for Promotion abroad in the World; being bred compleat Gentlemen and good Christians, and qualified for the Study of the Gospel, Law, or Physick; and prepared for undertaking Trade, or any useful Projects and Inventions.
As for the Accomplishments of Musick, Dancing, and Fencing, they may be taught by such as the President and Masters shall appoint at such certain Times, as they shall fix for those Purposes.
’Till these Regulations (or the like) be made, Matters may be carried on as they are at present; only to me there seems an absolute Necessity now for a Professor of Divinity, in order to instruct the Indians and English Youth there in the Grounds of Religion, and read Lectures of Morality to the senior Lads, and to read Prayers and preach in the College as Chaplain: This I am certain is very much wanting, and what the present Income of the College with good Management will easily allow of; therefore I hope particular Notice will be taken hereof.
There is as yet no great Occasion for the Hall, so that it might be made a Chapel and Divinity-School, for which Purpose it would serve nobly with little or no Alterations.
As there is lately built an Apartment for the Indian Boys and their Master, so likewise is there very great Occasion for a Quarter for the Negroes and inferior Servants belonging to the College; for these not only take up a great deal of Room and are noisy and nasty, but also have often made President and others apprehensive of the great Danger of being burnt with the College, thro’ their Carelessness and Drowsiness.
Another thing prejudicial to the College, is the Liberty allowed the Scholars, and the negligent Observance of College Hours, and the Opportunity they have of rambling Abroad.
To remedy this, there is wanting some Contrivance to secure the Youth within the College at certain Hours; which has hitherto been in vain attempted, because of the many Servants lodged in the College, and the several Doors and Ways to get out of it.
Likewise the Privileges and Apartments of the President and Masters, and House-Keeper, &c. ought to be fix’d and ascertain’d; for these being precarious and doubtful, upon this Account has arose much Difference and Ill-Will, to the great Scandal of the College, and Detriment of Learning.
Little additional Charge would put the Government of the College upon a much better Footing; whereas at present it scarcely merits the name of a College.
As for Election of a Burgess in Pursuance to a Clause in the Charter, he ought to be chosen by the President and as many Masters as there shall actually be at any Time.
The Charter mentions six Masters or Professors, but does not specify the Professions; it directs to the making of Statutes and founding Scholarships, but the particulars are left to the Discretion of the Managers; and some such Establishment as this here mentioned may not be improper, especially if for greater Encouragement the Surveyors of each County were to be appointed by the President and Masters, out of such as have taken a Batchellor of Arts Degree there; and if also the Governor and Council were to elect a certain Number of Batchellors for Clerks into the Secretaries Office; out of which Clerks attending and writing there at certain Times, the County Clerks should be appointed by the Secretary.
The Office of the President would be to govern the College, be Treasurer, and Censor, and have a casting Vote in all Debates.
The six Professors or Masters would be
one for Divinity, who should be Chaplain and Catechist.
Mathematicks.
Philosophy.
Languages.
History.
Humanity, who should be Grammar Master.
The under Masters would be the Usher, the Indian Master, and the Writing-Master.
The Town Masters must be such as occasion requires, for Fencing, Dancing, and Musick.
There would be three English Fellows.
There would be fifteen Scholars, and a sufficient Number of School-Boys for a constant Supply.
Besides a Number of Batchellors and Masters of Arts, who would wait till they came in Fellows or Professors, or got to be made Surveyors or County Clerks.
For all this there might easily be contrived Room in the College, especially if a Hall was built in the Place intended for the Chapel.
As also would there be Room enough for the House-Keeper, Officers, and Servants; especially if a Quarter was built for the Negroes, &c.
The Tables might then be distinguish’d into four higher or four lower, viz.
The upper Table for the President and Masters.
The second for the Masters of Arts, &c.
The third for the Batchellors of Arts.
The fourth for the Scholars and Commoners.
The four lower Tables should be
The first for the House-Keeper, and the upper School-Boys.
The second for the Usher, Writing-Master, and the lower School-Boys.
The third for the Servitors and College Officers.
And the last for the Indian Master and his Scholars.
This Regularity might easily be effected, and would prove not only decent and creditable, but also useful and advantageous to the Country and the College.
The Library is better furnished of late than formerly, by the kind Gifts of several Gentlemen; but yet the Number of Books is but very small, and the Sets upon each Branch of Learning are very imperfect, and not the best of the Sort.
To remedy this Defect proper Application should be made to the Societies and to the superior Clergy in England, who would give at least what Duplicates they have upon such an useful Occasion; and what necessary Collection of Books cannot be obtain’d by begging, they may buy as soon as they shall be able to stock their Library; as a great Help to which I believe considerable Contributions would be made by the Clergy, Burgesses, and Gentry of the Country, if upon easy Terms they were allowed the Use of the Library at certain Hours, at such Times as they shall be at Williamsburgh, either for Pleasure or upon Business.
The Office of Librarian is given to Mr. John Harris the Usher, in order to make his Place more agreeable to his Merit; and if the Gardener was made to execute the Office of Porter for his present Salary, it would be no great Hardship upon him, and would be an Ease to the College; and for the Benefit and Encouragement of the House-Keeper several small necessary Pensions and Privileges might be contrived more than what are at present allowed; so that it might be made well worth the while of a Person of Integrity, Knowledge, and Prudence, to undertake and carry on so troublesom an Office.
The greater the Number of Collegians, the greater would be the Gain of the House-Keeper; so that when the College should be full and compleat as here directed and wished, the Collegians may be boarded upon easier Terms; boarded I say; because if any but the President dieted themselves, it would create Confusion; and if any belonging to the College but such Masters as have Families were permitted to eat elsewhere, it would not be worth any body’s while to lay in Provision, when they could not tell what Number they must provide for.
As for the English College Customs of Commons, &c. it is thought as yet more adviseable to board in the College than to keep to those Methods, till the Country affords better Conveniencies and Opportunities for so doing.
The Indians who are upon Mr. Boyle’s Foundation have now a handsom Apartment for themselves and their Master, built near the College, which useful Contrivance ought to be carried on to the utmost Advantage in the real Education and Conversion of the Infidels; for hitherto but little Good has been done therein, though abundance of Money has been laid out, and a great many Endeavours have been used, and much Pains taken for that Purpose.
The young Indians, procured from the tributary or foreign Nations with much Difficulty, were formerly boarded and lodged in the Town; where abundance of them used to die, either thro’ Sickness, change of Provision, and way of Life; or as some will have it, often for want of proper Necessaries and due Care taken with them. Those of them that have escaped well, and been taught to read and write, have for the most Part returned to their Home, some with and some without Baptism, where they follow their own savage Customs and heathenish Rites.
A few of them have lived as Servants among the English, or loitered and idled away their Time in Laziness and Mischief.
But ’tis great Pity that more Care is not taken about them, after they are dismissed from School.
They have admirable Capacities when their Humours and Tempers are perfectly understood; and if well taught, they might advance themselves and do great Good in the Service of Religion; whereas now they are rather taught to become worse than better by falling into the worst Practices of vile nominal Christians, which they add to their own Indian Manners and Notions.
To prevent this therefore, let there be chosen continually four Indian Servitors out of the Indian School, as the other four out of the Grammar School.
Let these be maintained in the Indian House, and wait upon the four lower Tables: Let them be instructed as the other Servitors, or as their Genius most aptly may require, but particularly in Religion; and when they are found qualified let them be sent to England, or placed out to Captains of Ships or Trades, as the Mathematical Boys in Christ-Hospital, for a few Years; then let them return and be allowed a small Exhibition, and encouraged in their separate Callings and Occupations; and let them settle some among the English, and others return to their own Nations.
Undoubtedly many of them would become excellent Artists and Proficients in Trade; and thus when Reason and Experience has convinced them of the Preference of our Religion and Manners, certainly they may not only save their own Souls; but also be extreamly instrumental in the Conversion of their barbarous Friends and Relations.
In proceeding thus, any that seem capable or inclinable to study Divinity, should by all Means be encouraged and forwarded in it, and sent over for a small Time to one of our Universities with an Allowance of a Fellow; after which, if such were admitted into Orders, and then sent out Missionaries among their own Country-Folks, what great Good might we not expect from such, when throughly converted and instructed in Christianity, and made truly sensible of the Advantages of Religion, the deadly State of Infidelity, and the miserable Lives and Customs of the Indians?
In a Work of this Kind undoubtedly several good Christians would contribute their charitable Assistance; ’till which the present Fund should be applied in this Method, though the Managers should be obliged to reduce the Number of Indian Scholars upon this Account; since this was the main Intent of the Benefaction, and no other Method can well answer this Design; which may be evidenced by Experience both from the Colleges of Virginia and New England too, as I have been credibly informed from good Authors, as well as my own Experience.
By such Methods in Process of Time might the Indian Obstinacy be mollified, their seeming Dulness might be cleared from Rust; and the Gates of Heaven be opened for their Admission upon their perfect Conversion to the Faith of Christ. In such glorious Designs as these neither should Humour, Interest, nor Prejudice divert any from their charitable Assistance therein, especially such as are concerned in Affairs of this Kind, and engaged by Duty to lend their best Aid in leading the Infidels into the Pale of Christ’s Church, and making them by mild and most gentle Measures to accompany his Flock; since all the Force in the World would rather drive them from, than guide them, to the Congregation of the Faithful and Communion of Saints.
By some such prudent and mild Methods alone may they be made to live and die as true Christians, and not like the most savage Brutes, as they generally do.
Thus far as to the Education of the young Men in Virginia, and the Instruction most proper for the Indians; and as for the Negroes each Owner ought to take Care that the Children born his Property, and all his intelligent adult Negroes be taught their Catechism and some short Prayers, be made to frequent the Church and be baptized, and hindered as much as may be from Swearing, Lying, Intemperance, Prophaneness, and Stealing and Cheating.
Finally, as to the Education of Girls, it is great Pity but that good Boarding Schools were erected for them at Williamsburgh and other Towns.