all their relations, most
truly interested to lead the students to give as much labor as is safe
for them to the studies suitable to College years, & to distribute it in
such manner as shall be most just & effective. The committee would not
feel themselves authorized to change one part of a system, all the parts
of which are intricately dependent upon each other, without they felt a
confidence they do not possess that they could recommend one which
should work better as a whole. They therefore must decline, so far as
depends upon them, adopting a measure the ulterior effects of which they
may not foresee with accuracy, & they express the belief that it will be
well to allow the present arrangement to continue for a time, even at
the risk, apprehended by Prof'r. Longfellow, of its producing an
injurious effect upon his department. They cannot but hope, however,
that the evils he fears may be avoided, or if not, that they may be
compensated by equivalent advantages.

SAM'L. A. ELIOT \
} _Committee_{72}
J. A. LOWELL /

A year later than the above correspondence, the subject was evidently
revived on the part of the governing powers of the College, and we find
the following letter from Professor Longfellow:--

CAMBRIDGE, Sept. 25, 1846.

DEAR SIR,--In answer to your favor of the 18th inst. requesting my
opinion on certain points connected with the Studies of the
University, I beg leave to state;

I. In regard to the "advantages and disadvantages of the Elective
System." In my own department I have always been strongly in favor
of this system. I have always thought that the modern languages
should be among the voluntary or elective studies and form no part
of the required Academic course. As to the Latin and Greek I have
many doubts; but incline rather to the old system, particularly if
the fifth class can be added to the present course; for we could
then secure the advantages of both systems.

II. The class examinations in my department are very slight and
unsatisfactory. They serve however as a kind of Annual Report of
what has been done in the department; and as there is nothing
depending upon them, it does not seem to me a matter of very urgent
necessity to have them rendered more thorough.

III. "The Fifth class or