eachstirredthemembersofthelegislaturefromitslocalitytoopposeallaidtotheStateuniversity;each，initsreligiousassemblages，itssynods，conferences，andthelike，soughttostirprejudiceagainsttheStateinstitutionas``godless。’’Theresultwasthatthedoctor，inspiteofhiseloquentspeeches，becamethebuttofvariouswretcheddemagoguesinthelegislature，andheveryrarelysecuredanythinginthewayofeffectiveappropriations。TheuniversityhadbeenfoundedbyagrantofpubliclandsfromtheUnitedStatestoMichigan;andoneofhisargumentswasbasedonthefactthatanimmenselyvaluabletract，onwhichaconsiderablepartofthecityofToledonowstands，hadbeentakenawayfromtheuniversitywithoutanysuitableremuneration。Buteventhisavailedlittle，anditbecamequiteapastimeamongdemagoguesattheStateCapitoltobaitthedoctor。Ononeoftheseoccasionshewasinspiredtomakeaprophecy。Disgustedatthepoor，cheapblackguardism，heshookthedustofthelegislatureoffhisfeet，andsaid:``Thedaywillcomewhenmystudentswilltakeyourplaces，andthensomethingwillbedone。’’Thatprophecywasfulfilled。InadecadetheleadingmeninthelegislaturebegantobethegraduatesoftheStateuniversity;andnowthesegraduatesarelargelyincontrol，andtheyhavedealtnoblywiththeiralmamater。TheStatehasjustlybecomeproudofit，andhaswiselydevelopedit。
Dr。Tappan’sworkwasgreat，indeed。HestoodnotonlyatthebeginningoftheinstitutionatAnnArbor，butreallyatthebeginningoftheotheruniversitiesoftheWesternStates，fromwhichthecountryisgainingsomuchatpresent，andissuretogainvastlymoreinthefuture。Thedaywillcomewhenhisstatuewillcommemoratehisservices。
ButtherewasanotherfeatureinhisadministrationtowhichIreferwithextremereluctance。Hehadcertain``defectsofhisqualities。’’Big，hearty，frank，andgenerous，heeasilybecamethepreyofthosewhowroughtuponhisfeelings;and，inanevilhour，hewasdrawnintoaquarrelnothisown，betweentwoscientificprofessors。
Thisquarrelbecameexceedinglyvirulent;attimesitalmostparalyzedtheuniversity，andfinallyitconvulsedtheState。Itbecamethemainobjectofthedoctor’sthoughts。
Themenwhohaddrawnhimintoitquietlyretiredundercover，andlefthimtofighttheirbattleintheopen。Hedidthispowerfully，buthisvictorieswerenolesscalamitousthanhisdefeats;foroneoftheprofessors，whenovercome，fellbackuponthechurchtowhichhebelonged，anditsconferencewasledtopassresolutionswarningChristianpeopleagainsttheuniversity。Theforcesofthosehostiletotheinstitutionweremarshaledtothesoundofthesectariandrum。Thequarrelatlastbecamepolitical;
andwhenthedoctorunwiselyenteredthepoliticalfieldinhopesofdefeatingthecandidatesputforwardbyhisopponents，hewasbeatenatthepolls，andhisresignationfollowed。Asmallnumberofus，includingJudgeCooleyandProfessorsFrieze，Fasquelle，Boise，andmyself，simplymaintainedan``armedneutrality，’’standingbytheuniversity，andrefusingtobedrawnintothiswhirlpoolofintrigueandobjurgation。Personally，welovedthedoctor。Everyoneofusbesoughthimtogiveupthequarrel，butinvain。Hewouldnot;hecouldnot。Itwentontillthecrashcame。HewasvirtuallydrivenfromtheState，retiredtoEurope，andneverreturned。
Yearsafterward，thecitizensofMichiganinallpartsoftheStatesoughttomakeamendstohim。Thegreatbodyofthegraduates，wholovedandrespectedhim，withleadingmenthroughoutthecommonwealth，joinedinaletterinvitinghimtoreturnasapublicguest;buthedeclined，andneveragainsawhisnativeland。HisfirstmainplaceofresidencewasBasel，where，attheuniversity，hesuperintendedtheeducationofhisgrandson，who，atalaterperiod，becameaprofessoratHeidelberg。Finally，heretiredtoabeautifulvillaontheshoresofLakeLemanandthere，withhisfamilyabouthim，peacefullyfollowedhischosenstudies。AthisdeathhewasburiedamidthevineyardsandorchardsofVevey。
ThoughIabsolutelyrefusedtobedrawnintoanyofhisquarrels，myrelationswiththedoctorremainedkindlyandnotasinglefeelingwasleftwhichmarredmyvisittohiminafteryearsatBasel，ormylaterpilgrimagetohisgraveontheshoresofLakeLeman。TonomanisanysuccessImayhaveafterwardhadintheadministrationofCornellUniversitysogreatlydueastohim。
InthissummaryIhavehardlytoucheduponthemostimportantpartofmyduty，——namely，thepurposeofmylecture—courses，withtheirrelationstothatperiodinthehistoryofourcountry，andtothequestionswhichthinkingmen，andespeciallythinkingyoungmen，werethenendeavoringtosolve，——sinceallthishasbeengiveninmypoliticalreminiscences。
SomuchformymainworkattheUniversityofMichigan。
ButIhadonerecreationwhichwasnotwithoutitsuses。ThelittlecityofAnnArborisabeautifulplaceontheHuronRiver，andfromtheoutsetinterestedme。
Evenitsoriginhadapeculiarcharm。Aboutaquarterofacenturybeforemyarrival，threefamiliescamefromtheEasttotakeupthelandwhichtheyhadboughtoftheUnitedStates;and，astheirthreeholdingstouchedeachotheratonecorner，theybroughtboughsoftreestothatspotanderectedasortofhut，orarbor，inwhichtoliveuntiltheirloghouseswerefinished。OncomingtogetherinthisarbortheydiscoveredthattheChristiannameofeachofthethreewiveswasAnn:
hencethenameoftheplace;andthisfactgaveapoeticcoloringtoitwhichwasapermanentpleasuretome。Itwasanunendingsatisfactiontoreflectthatnomisguidedpatriothadbeenallowedtoinflictuponthatcharminguniversitytownthenameof``Athens，’’or``Oxford，’’or``Socratopolis，’’or``Anacreonsburg，’’or``Platoville，’’or``Emporium，’’or``Eudaimonia。’’What，butforthosethreegoodwomen，thenamemighthavebeen，maybejudgedfromthefactthatoneofthefoundersoftheuniversitydidhisbesttohaveitcalleda``Katholopistemiad’’！
Buttherewasonedrawback。The``campus，’’onwhichstoodthefourbuildingsthendevotedtoinstruction，greatlydisappointedme。Itwasaflat，squareinclosureoffortyacres，unkemptandwretched。Throughoutitswholespacetherewerenotmorethanascoreoftreesoutsidethebuildingsitesallottedtoprofessors;
unsightlyplankwalksconnectedthebuildings，andineverydirectionweremeanderingpaths，whichindryweatherweredustyandinwetweathermuddy。Coming，asIdid，fromthegloriouselmsofYale，allthisdistressedme，andoneofmyfirstquestionswaswhynotreeshadbeenplanted。Theanswerwasthatthesoilwassohardanddrythatnonewouldgrow。Butonexaminingtheterritoryintheneighborhood，especiallythelittleinclosuresabouttheprettycottagesofthetown，Ifoundfinelargetrees，andamongthemelms。Atthis，withoutpermissionfromanyone，Ibeganplantingtreeswithintheuniversityinclosure;established，onmyownaccount，severalavenues;andsetoutelmstoovershadowthem。
Choosingmytreeswithcare，carefullyprotectingandwateringthemduringthefirsttwoyears，andgraduallyaddingtothemaconsiderablenumberofevergreens，I
preachedpracticallythedoctrineofadorningthecampus。
Graduallysomeofmystudentsjoinedme;oneclassafteranotheraidedinsecuringtreesandinplantingthem，othersbecameinterested，until，finally，theuniversityauthoritiesmademe``superintendentofthegrounds，’’
andappropriatedtomyworkthemunificentsumofseventy—fivedollarsayear。Sobeganthesplendidgrowthwhichnowsurroundsthosebuildings。Thesetreesbecametomeasmyownchildren。WheneverIrevisitAnnArbormyfirstcareistogoamongthem，toseehowtheyprosper，andespeciallyhowcertainpeculiarexamplesareflourishing;
andatmyrecentvisit，forty—sixyearsaftertheirplanting，Ifoundoneofthemostbeautifulacademicgrovestobeseeninanypartoftheworld。
ThemostsaddeningthingduringmyconnectionwiththeuniversityIhavetoucheduponinmypoliticalreminiscences。ThreeyearsaftermyarrivaltheCivilWarbrokeout，andtherecameagreatexodusofstudentsintothearmies，thevastmajoritytakinguparmsfortheUnion，andafewfortheConfederateStates。Theverynoblestofthemthuswentforth——manyofthem，alas！
nevertoreturn，andamongthemnotafewwhomIlovedasbrothersandevenasmyownchildren。Ofalltheexperiencesofmylife，thiswasamongthemostsaddening。
MyimmediateconnectionwiththeUniversityofMichiganasresidentprofessorofhistorylastedaboutsixyears;
andthen，onaccountpartlyofbusinessinterestswhichresultedfromthedeathofmyfather，partlyofmyelectiontotheNewYorkStateSenate，andpartlyofmyelectiontothepresidencyofCornellUniversity，IresidedincentralNewYork，butretainedalectureshipattheWesterninstitution。Ilefttheworkandthefriendswhohadbecomesodeartomewiththegreatestreluctance，andaslongaspossibleIcontinuedtorevisittheoldscenes，andtogivecoursesoflectures。ButatlastmydutiesatCornellabsolutelyforbadethis，andsoendedaconnectionwhichwastomeoneofthemostfruitfulinusefulexperiencesandpregnantthoughtsthatIhaveeverknown。
PARTIV
ASUNIVERSITYPRESIDENT
CHAPTERXVII
EVOLUTIONOF``THECORNELLIDEA’’——1850—1865
ToTrinityHallatHobartCollegemaybeassignedwhateverhonorthatshadowypersonage，thefuturehistorian，shallthinkduetheplacewherewasconceivedandquickenedthegermideaofCornellUniversity。InthatlittlestonebarrackontheshoreofSenecaLake，rudeinitsarchitecturebutlovelyinitssurroundings，aroomwasassignedmeduringmyfirstyearatcollege;andinaneighboringapartment，withcharmingviewsoverthelakeanddistanthills，wasthelibraryoftheHermeanSociety。ItwasthelargestcollectionofbooksIhadeverseen，——fourthousandvolumes，——embracingamassofliteraturefrom``ThePirate’sOwnBook’’totheworksofLordBacon。InthisparadiseIreveled，browsingthroughitatmywill。Thisprivilegewasofquestionablevalue，sinceitdrewmesomewhatfromcloserstudy;butitwasnotwithoutitsuses。OnedayIdiscoveredinitHuberandNewman’sbookontheEnglishuniversities。Whatanewworlditopened！Mymindwassensitivetoanyimpressionitmightmake，ontwoaccounts:first，because，ontheintellectualside，Iwaswoefullydisappointedattheinadequacyofthelittlecollegeasregardeditsteachingforceandequipment;andnext，because，ontheestheticside，I
lamentedtheabsenceofeverythinglikebeautyorfitnessinitsarchitecture。
AsIreadinthisnew—foundbookofthecollegesatOxfordandCambridge，andporedovertheengravedviewsofquadrangles，halls，libraries，chapels，——ofallthenobleanddignifiedbelongingsofagreatseatoflearning，——myheartsankwithinme。EveryfeatureofthelittleAmericancollegeseemedallthemoresordid。ButgraduallyIbeganconsolingmyselfbybuildingair—castles。
Thesetooktheformofstructuressuitedtoagreatuniversity:——withdistinguishedprofessorsineveryfield，withlibrariesasrichastheBodleian，hallsaslordlyasthatofChristChurchorofTrinity，chapelsasinspiringasthatofKing’s，towersasdignifiedasthoseofMagdalenandMerton，quadranglesasbeautifulasthoseofJesusandSt。John’s。InthemidstofallotheroccupationsIwasconstantlyrearingthesestructuresonthatqueenlysiteabovethefinestoftheNewYorklakes，anddreamingofauniversityworthyofthecommonwealthandofthenation。
Thisdreambecameasortofobsession。Itcameuponmeduringmyworkinghours，intheclass—rooms，inramblesalongthelakeshore，intheevenings，whenIpacedupanddownthewalksinfrontofthecollegebuildings，andsawrisingintheirplaceandextendingtotheprettyknollbehindthem，theworthyhomeofagreatuniversity。Butthisuniversity，thoughbeautifulanddignified，likethoseatOxfordandCambridge，wasintwoimportantrespectsveryunlikethem。First，Imadeprovisionforotherstudiesbesideclassicsandmathematics。
Thereshouldbeprofessorsinthegreatmodernliteratures——aboveall，inourown;thereshouldalsobeaprofessorofmodernhistoryandalectureronarchitecture。
Andnext，myuniversityshouldbeundercontrolofnosinglereligiousorganization;itshouldbefreefromallsectarianorpartytrammels;inelectingitstrusteesandprofessorsnoquestionsshouldbeaskedastotheirbeliefortheirattachmenttothisorthatsectorparty。Sofar，atleast，IwentinthosedaysalongtheroadtowardthefoundingofCornell。
Theacademicyearof1849—1850havingbeenpassedatthislittlecollegeinwesternNewYork，IenteredYale。
Thiswasnearermyideal;foritsprofessorsweremoredistinguished，itsequipmentmoreadequate，itsstudentsmorenumerous，itsgeneralscopemoreextended。Butitwasstillfarbelowmydreams。Itssinglecourseinclassicsandmathematics，throughwhichallstudentswereforcedalike，regardlessoftheirtastes，powers，oraims;
itssubstitutionofgerund—grindingforancientliterature;
itswantofallinstructioninmodernliterature;itssubstitutionofrecitalsfromtext—booksforinstructioninhistory——allthiswasfarshortofmyideal。Moreover，Yalewasthenfarmoreunderdenominationalcontrolthanatpresent——itspresident，ofnecessity，aswasthensupposed，aCongregationalminister;itsprofessors，asarule，membersofthesamesect;anditstutors，towhomourinstructionduringthefirsttwoyearswasalmostentirelyconfined，studentsintheCongregationalDivinity。
Then，too，itsoutwardrepresentationwassordidandpoor。Thelonglineofbrickbarracks，thecheapestwhichcouldbebuiltformoney，repelledme。WhatacontrasttoOxfordandCambridge，and，aboveall，tomyair—
castles！Therewere，indeed，twoarchitecturalconsolations:
one，thelibrarybuilding，whichhadbeenbuiltjustbeforemyarrival;andtheother，theAlumniHall，begunshortlyafterward。Thesewereofstone，andIsnatchedanespecialjoyfromthegrotesqueGothicheadsinthecornicesofthelibrarytowersandfromthelittlelatticedwindowsattherearoftheAlumniHall。Bothseemedtomefeaturesworthyof``collegesandhallsofancientdays。’’
Theredeemingfeatureofthewholewasitssetting，the``green，’’withsuperbavenuesoverarchedbyelms;
andafurthercharmwasaddedbyEastandWestRock，andbytheviewsoverNewHavenHarborintoLongIslandSound。AmongthesescenesIerectednewair—
castles。Firstofall，agreatquadrangle，notunlikethatwhichisnowdevelopingatYale，and，asaleadingfeature，agate—towerlikethatsinceerectedinmemoryofWilliamWalterPhelps，but，unlikethat，adornedwithstatuesinnichesandoncorbels，likethoseontheentrancetowerofTrinityatCambridge——statuesofoldYalensianworthies，suchasElihuYaleinhiscostumeoftheGeorgianperiod，BishopBerkeleyinhisrobes，PresidentDwightinhisGenevagown，andNathanHaleinfetters。Therewasalsoinmydreamanotherspecialfeature，whichnoonehasasyetattemptedtorealize——aloftycampanile，whichIplacedsometimesattheintersectionofCollegeandChurch，andsometimesattheintersectionofCollegeandElmstreets——aclock—towerlookingproudlydowntheslope，overthetrafficofthetown，andbearingadeep—tonedpealofbells。
MygeneralideasonthesubjectwerefurtherdevelopedbyCharlesAstorBristed’sbook，``FiveYearsinanEnglishUniversity，’’andbysundrypublicationsregardingstudentlifeinGermany。Still，myopinionsregardingeducationwerewretchedlyimperfect，asmaybejudgedfromonecircumstance。ThenewlyestablishedSheffieldScientificSchoolhadjustbegunitscareerintheoldpresident’shouseinfrontoftheformerDivinityHallonthecollegegreen;and，onedayinmysenioryear，lookingtowarditfrommywindowinNorthCollege，Isawastudentexaminingacoloredliquidinatest—tube。Afeelingofwondercameoverme！Whatcoulditallbeabout？
Probablynotamanofusinthewholeseniorclasshadanyideaofachemicallaboratorysaveasasortofsmallkitchenbackofalecture—desk，likethatinwhichanassistantandacoloredservantpreparedoxygen，hydrogen，andcarbonicacidforthelecturesofProfessorSilliman。I
wastoldthatthisnewlaboratorywasintendedforexperiment，andmywonderwassucceededbydisgustthatanyhumanbeingshouldgivehistimetopursuitssofutile。
Thenextperiodintheformationofmyideasregardingauniversitybegan，aftermygraduationatYale，duringmyfirstvisittoOxford。Thenandatlatervisits，bothtoOxfordandCambridge，Inotonlyreveledinthearchitecturalgloriesofthosegreatseatsoflearning，butlearnedtheadvantagesofcollegelifeincommon——ofthe``halls，’’
andthegeneralsociallifewhichtheypromote;ofthe``commons’’and``combinationrooms，’’whichgiveastillcloserrelationbetweenthosemostdirectlyconcernedinuniversitywork;ofthequadrangles，whichgiveasenseofscholarlyseclusion，eveninthemidstofcrowdedcities;
andofallthesurroundingswhichgiveadignitybefittingthesevastestablishments。StillmoremarkedprogressinmyideaswasmadeduringmyattendanceattheSorbonneandtheCollgedeFrance。Inthoseinstitutions，duringtheyears1853—1854，IbecameacquaintedwiththeFrenchuniversity—lecturesystem，withitsclearness，breadth，wealthofillustration，anditsholduponlargeaudiencesofstudents;andIwasseizedwiththedesiretotransfersomethinglikeittoourowncountry。Mycastlesintheairwerenowrearedmoreloftilyandbroadly;fortheybegantoincludelaboratories，museums，andevengalleriesofart。
EvenSt。Petersburg，duringmyattachshipin1854—
1855，contributedtotheseairystructures。Inmydiaryforthatperiod，IfinditjotteddownthatIobservedandstudiedatvarioustimestheMichaelPalaceinthatcityasaverysuitablestructureforauniversity。Twentyyearsafterward，whenIvisited，asministeroftheUnitedStates，theGrandDuchessCatherine，theauntoftheEmperorAlexanderIII，inthatsamepalace，andmentionedtohermyoldadmirationforit，shegavemeamostinterestingaccountofthebuildingofit，andofthelayingoutofthebeautifulparkaboutitbyherfather，theoldGrandDukeMichael，andagreedwithmethatitwouldbeanoblehomeforaninstitutionoflearning。
MystudentlifeatBerlin，duringtheyearfollowing，furtherintensifiedmydesiretodosomethingforuniversityeducationintheUnitedStates。ThereIsawmyidealofauniversitynotonlyrealized，butextendedandglorified——
withrenownedprofessors，withamplelecture—halls，witheverythingpossibleinthewayofillustrativematerials，withlaboratories，museums，andaconcourseofyouthfromallpartsoftheworld。
Ihavealreadyspoken，inthechapteronmyprofessorshipattheUniversityofMichigan，regardingtheinfluenceonmyideasofitspresident，HenryPhilipTappan，andofthewholeworkinthatinstitution。ThoughmanygoodthingsmaybejustlysaidfortheUniversityofVirginia，therealbeginningofauniversityintheUnitedStates，inthemodernsense，wasmadebyDr。TappanandhiscolleaguesatAnnArbor。Itsonlydefectsseemedtomethatitincludednotechnicalside，anddidnotyetadmitwomen。Astothefirstofthesedefects，theStatehadseparatedtheagriculturalcollegefromtheuniversity，placingitinwhat，atthatperiod，wasaremoteswampneartheStateCapitol，andhadasyetdonenothingtowardprovidingforothertechnicalbranches。Astothesecond，thoughafewofusfavoredtheadmissionofwomen，PresidentTappanopposedit;and，probably，inviewoftheconditionoftheuniversityandofpublicopinionatthattime，hisoppositionwaswise。
RecalledtoSyracuseafterfiveyearsinMichigan，myolddesiretoseeauniversityrisingintheStateofNewYorkwasstrongerthanever。Michiganhadshownmesomeofmyidealsmadereal;whymightnotourownmuchgreatercommonwealthbesimilarlyblessed？
Thefirstthingwastodeviseaplanforasuitablefaculty。AsIfeltthatthismustnotdemandtoolargeanoutlay，Idrewupaschemeprovidingforafewresidentteacherssupportedbyendowments，andforabodyofnonresidentprofessorsorlecturerssupportedbyfees。Theselecturersweretobechosenfromthemosteminentprofessorsintheexistingcollegesandfromthebestmentheninthepublic—lecturefield;andmyconfidantinthematterwasGeorgeWilliamCurtis，whoenteredintoitheartily，andwhoafterward，inhisspeechatmyinaugurationaspresidentofCornell，referredtoitinawaywhichtouchedmedeeply。[5]
[5]SeeMr。Curtis’sspeech，September8，1868，publishedbytheuniversity。
Thenextthingwastodecideuponasite。ItmustnaturallybeinthecentralpartoftheState;and，rathercuriously，thatwhichIthenmostcoveted，frequentlyvisited，walkedabout，andinspectedwastherisinggroundsoutheastofSyracusesinceselectedbytheMethodistsfortheirinstitutionwhichtakesitsnamefromthatcity。
Mynexteffortwastomakeabeginningofanendowment，andforthispurposeIsoughttoconvertGerritSmith。
Hewas，forthosedays，enormouslywealthy。Hisproperty，whichwasestimatedatfromtwotothreemillionsofdollars，heusedmunificently;andhisdearfriendandmine，SamuelJosephMay，hadtoldmethatitwasnottoomuchtohopethatMr。Smithmightdosomethingfortheimprovementofhigherinstruction。Tohim，therefore，I
wrote，proposingthatifhewouldcontributeanequalsumtoauniversityatSyracuse，Iwouldgivetoitonehalfofmyownproperty。Inhisanswerhegavereasonswhyhecouldnotjoinintheplan，andmyschemeseemednonearerrealitythanmyformerair—castles。Itseemed，indeed，tohavefadedawaylike``Thebaselessfabricofavision’’
andtohaveleft``Notawrackbehind’’——
whenallitsmainfeaturesweremaderealinawayandbymeansutterlyunexpected;fornowbeganthetrainofeventswhichledtomyacquaintance，friendship，andclosealliancewiththemanthroughwhommyplansbecameareality，largerandbetterthananyeverseeninmydreams——EzraCornell。
CHAPTERXVIII
EZRACORNELL——1864—1874
Onthefirstdayoftheyear1864，takingmyseatforthefirsttimeintheStateSenateatAlbany，Ifoundamongmyassociatesatall，spareman，apparentlyveryreservedandaustere，andsoonlearnedhisname——EzraCornell。
Thoughhischairwasnearmine，therewasatfirstlittleintercoursebetweenus，andthereseemedsmallchanceofmore。Hewassteadilyoccupied，andseemedtohavenodesirefornewacquaintances。Hewas，perhaps，theoldestmanintheSenate;I，theyoungest:hewasamanofbusiness;Iwasfreshfromauniversityprofessorship:
and，upontheannouncementofcommittees，ourpathsseemedseparatedentirely;forhewasmadechairmanofthecommitteeonagriculture，whiletomefellthechairmanshipofthecommitteeoneducation。
Yetitwasthislastdifferencewhichdrewustogether;
foramongthefirstthingsreferredtomycommitteewasabilltoincorporateapubliclibrarywhichheproposedtofoundinIthaca。
OnreadingthisbillIwasstruck，notmerelybyhisgiftofonehundredthousanddollarstohistownsmen，butevenmorebyacertainbreadthandlargenessinhiswayofmakingit。Themoststrikingsignofthiswashismodeofformingaboardoftrustees;for，insteadoftheusualefforttotieuptheorganizationforeverinsomesect，party，orclique，hehadnamedthebestmenofhistown——
hispoliticalopponentsaswellashisfriends;andhadaddedtothemthepastorsofalltheprincipalchurches，CatholicandProtestant。Thisbreadthofmind，evenmorethanhismunificence，drewmetohim。Wemetseveraltimes，discussedhisbill，andfinallyIreporteditsubstantiallyasintroduced，andsupportedituntilitbecamealaw。
Ournextrelationswerenot，atfirst，sopleasant。ThegreatLandGrantof1862，fromtheGeneralGovernmenttotheState，forindustrialandtechnicaleducation，hadbeenturnedover，ataprevioussessionofthelegislature，toaninstitutioncalledthePeople’sCollege，inSchuylerCounty;buttheAgriculturalCollege，twentymilesdistantfromit，wasseekingtotakeawayfromitaportionofthisendowment;andamongthetrusteesofthisAgriculturalCollegewasMr。Cornell，whonowintroducedabilltodividethefundbetweenthetwoinstitutions。
OnthisIatoncetookgroundagainsthim，declaringthatthefundoughttobekepttogetheratsomeoneinstitution;thatonnoaccountshoulditbedivided;thatthepolicyforhighereducationintheStateofNewYorkshouldbeconcentration;thatwehadalreadysufferedsufficientlyfromscatteringourresources;thattherewerealreadyovertwentycollegesintheState，andnotoneofthemdoinganythingwhichcouldjustlybecalleduniversitywork。
Mr。Cornell’sfirsteffortwastohavehisbillreferred，nottomycommittee，buttohis;hereIresistedhim，and，asasolutionofthedifficulty，itwasfinallyreferredtoajointcommitteemadeupofboth。Onthisdouble—headedcommitteeIdeliberatelythwartedhispurposethroughouttheentiresession，delayingactionandpreventinganyreportuponhisbill。
Mostmenwouldhavebeenvexedbythis;buthetookmycoursecalmly，andevenkindly。Heneverexpostulated，andalwayslistenedattentivelytomyargumentsagainsthisview;meanwhileIomittednoopportunitytomaketheseargumentsasstrongaspossible，andespeciallytoimpressuponhimtheimportanceofkeepingthefundtogether。
Afterthecloseofthesession，duringthefollowingsummer，asithadbecomeevidentthatthetrusteesofthePeople’sCollegehadnointentionofraisingtheadditionalendowmentandprovidingtheequipmentrequiredbytheactwhichgavethemthelandgrant，therewasgreatdangerthatthewholefundmightbelosttotheStatebythelapsingofthetimeallowedinthecongressionalactforitsacceptance。JustatthisperiodMr。CornellinvitedmetoattendameetingoftheStateAgriculturalSociety，ofwhichhewasthepresident，atRochester;and，whenthemeetinghadassembled，hequietlyproposedtoremovethedifficultyIhadraised，bydrawinganewbillgivingtheStateAgriculturalCollegehalfofthefund，andbyinsertingaclauserequiringthecollegetoprovideanadditionalsumofthreehundredthousanddollars。Thissumhepledgedhimselftogive，and，asthecomptrolleroftheStatehadestimatedthevalueofthelandgrantatsixhundredthousanddollars，Mr。Cornellsupposedthatthiswouldobviatemyobjection，sincethefundoftheAgriculturalCollegewouldthusbemadeequaltothewholeoriginalland—grantfundasestimated，whichwouldbeequivalenttokeepingthewholefundtogether。
Theentireaudienceapplauded，aswelltheymight:itwasanobleproposal。But，muchtothedisgustofthemeeting，Ipersistedinmyrefusaltosanctionanybilldividingthefund，declaredmyselfnowmoreopposedtosuchadivisionthanever;butpromisedthatifMr。CornellandhisfriendswouldaskfortheWHOLEgrant——keepingittogether，andaddinghisthreehundredthousanddollars，asproposed——Iwouldsupportsuchabillwithallmymight。
Iwasledtomakethisproposalbyacourseofcircumstanceswhichmight，perhaps，becalled``providential。’’
ForsomeyearsIhadbeendreamingofauniversity;hadlookedintothequestionsinvolved，athomeandabroad;
hadapproachedsundrywealthyandinfluentialmenonthesubject;buthadobtainednoencouragement，untilthisstrangeandunexpectedcombinationofcircumstances——agreatlandgrant，theuseofwhichwastobedeterminedlargelybythecommitteeofwhichIwaschairman，andthisnoblepledgebyMr。Cornell。
Yetforsomemonthsnothingseemedtocomeofourconference。Attheassemblingofthelegislatureinthefollowingyear，itwasmoreevidentthaneverthatthetrusteesofthePeople’sCollegeintendedtodonothing。
Duringtheprevioussessiontheyhadpromisedthroughtheiragentstosupplytheendowmentrequiredbytheircharter;but，thoughthischarterobligedthem，asaconditionoftakingthegrant，tohaveanestateoftwohundredacres，buildingsfortheaccommodationoftwohundredstudents，andafacultyofnotlessthansixprofessors，withasufficientlibraryandotherapparatus，yetourcommittee，onagaintakingupthesubject，foundhardlythefaintestpretenseofcomplyingwiththeseconditions。Moreover，theircharterrequiredthattheirpropertyshouldbefreefromallencumbrance;andyettheso—calleddonorofit，Mr。CharlesCook，couldnotbeinducedtocancelasmallmortgagewhichhehelduponit。Stillworse，beforethelegislaturehadbeeninsessionmanydays，itwasfoundthathisagenthadintroducedabilltorelievethePeople’sCollegeofallconditions，andtogiveit，withoutanypledgewhatever，thewholelandgrant，amountingtoverynearlyamillionofacres。
Butevenworsethanthiswasanotherdifficulty。InadditiontothestronglobbysentbyMr。CooktoAlbanyinbehalfofthePeople’sCollege，therecamerepresentativesofnearlyallthesmallerdenominationalcollegesintheState，meneminentandinfluential，clamoringforadivisionofthefundamongtheirvariousinstitutions，thoughthefragmentwhichwouldhavefallentoeachwouldnothavesufficedtoendowevenasingleprofessorship。
Whileallthiswasuncertain，andthefundseemedlikelytobeutterlyfritteredaway，IwasonedaygoingdownfromtheStateCapitol，whenMr。Cornelljoinedmeandbeganconversation。Hewas，asusual，austereandreservedinappearance;butIhadalreadyfoundthatbelowthisappearancetherewasawarmheartandnoblepurpose。NoobservantassociatecouldfailtonoticethattheonlymeasuresinthelegislaturewhichhecaredforwerethoseproposingsomesubstantialgoodtotheStateornation，andthathedespisedallpoliticalwranglingandpartizanjugglery。
Onthisoccasion，aftersomelittlegeneraltalk，hequietlysaid，``Ihaveabouthalfamilliondollarsmorethanmyfamilywillneed:whatisthebestthingIcandowithitfortheState？’’Ianswered:``Mr。Cornell，thetwothingsmostworthyofaidinanycountryarecharityandeducation;
but，inourcountry，thecharitiesappealtoeverybody。
Anyonecanunderstandtheimportanceofthem，andtheworthypoororunfortunatearesuretobetakencareof。Astoeducation，thelowergradeswillalwaysbecaredforinthepublicschoolsbytheState;buttheinstitutionsofthehighestgrade，withoutwhichthelowercanneverbethoroughlygood，canbeappreciatedbyonlyafew。ThepolicyofourStateistoleavethispartofthesystemtoindividuals;itseemstome，then，thatifyouhavehalfamilliontogive，thebestthingyoucandowithitistoestablishorstrengthensomeinstitutionforhigherinstruction。’’IthenwentontoshowhimtheneedofalargerinstitutionforsuchinstructionthantheStatethenhad;thatsuchacollegeoruniversityworthyoftheStatewouldrequirefarmoreinthewayoffacultyandequipmentthanmostmensupposed;thatthetimehadcomewhenscientificandtechnicaleducationmustbeprovidedforinsuchaninstitution;andthateducationinhistoryandliteratureshouldbethebloomofthewholegrowth。
Helistenedattentively，butsaidlittle。Thematterseemedtoendthere;butnotlongafterwardhecametomeandsaid:``Iagreewithyouthattheland—grantfundoughttobekepttogether，andthatthereshouldbeanewinstitutionfittedtothepresentneedsoftheStateandthecountry。Iamreadytopledgetosuchaninstitutionasiteandfivehundredthousanddollarsasanadditiontotheland—grantendowment，insteadofthreehundredthousand，asIproposedatRochester。’’
Asmaywellbeimagined，Ihailedthisproposaljoyfully，andsoonsketchedoutabillembodyinghispurposesofaraseducationwasconcerned。ButhereIwishtosaythat，whileMr。CornellurgedIthacaasthesiteoftheproposedinstitution，henevershowedanywishtogivehisownnametoit。Thesuggestiontothateffectwasmine。
Heatfirstdoubtedthepolicyofit;but，onmyinsistingthatitwasinaccordancewithtime—honoredAmericanusage，asshownbythenamesofHarvard，Yale，Dartmouth，Amherst，Bowdoin，Brown，Williams，andthelike，heyielded。
Wenowheldfrequentconferencesastotheleadingfeaturesoftheinstitutiontobecreated。IntheseIwasmoreandmoreimpressedbyhissagacityandlargenessofview;and，whenthesketchofthebillwasfullydeveloped，——itsfinancialfeaturesbyhim，anditseducationalfeaturesbyme，——itwasputintoshapebyCharlesJ。FolgerofGeneva，thenchairmanofthejudiciarycommitteeoftheSenate，afterwardchiefjudgeoftheCourtofAppeals，andfinallySecretaryoftheTreasuryoftheUnitedStates。
Theprovisionforbiddinganysectarianorpartizanpredominanceintheboardoftrusteesorfacultywasproposedbyme，heartilyacquiescedinbyMr。Cornell，andputintoshapebyJudgeFolger。TheState—scholarshipfeatureandthesystemofalumnirepresentationontheboardoftrusteeswerealsoacceptedbyMr。Cornellatmysuggestion。
Irefertothesethingsespeciallybecausetheyshowonestrikingcharacteristicoftheman——namely，hisreadinesstobeadvisedlargelybyothersinmatterswhichhefelttobeoutsidehisownprovince，andhiswillingnesstogivethelargestmeasureofconfidencewhenhegaveanyconfidenceatall。
Ontheotherhand，thewholeprovisionfortheendowment，thepartrelatingtothelandgrant，and，aboveall，thesupplementarylegislationallowinghimtomakeacontractwiththeStatefor``locating’’thelands，werethoughtoutentirelybyhimself;andinallthesemattersheshowed，notonlyapublicspiritfarbeyondthatdisplayedbyanyotherbenefactorofeducationinhistime，butaforesightwhichseemedtomethen，andseemstomenow，almostmiraculous。Healone，ofallmenintheUnitedStates，wasabletoforeseewhatmightbedonebyanindividualtodeveloptheland—grantfund，andhealonewaswillingtomakethegreatpersonalsacrificetherebyrequired。