The Society. CONTENTS III. 1824, ROBERT H. BISHOP, D. D. TO THE SECRETARY OF THE FOREWORD While Miami University was slowly struggling into being at Oxford, certain enterprising persons living in the southern part of the Symmes Purchase determined upon the establishment of a school of collegiate rank at Cincinnati. The first known effort in this direction was made in 1807. In that year an association known as the Cincinnati University was incorporated and money was raised for the erection of a building. When almost ready for occupancy, this building was blown down by the tornado that passed over Cincinnati May 28th, 1809. Nothing further was attempted until 1814, when about $12,000 was subscribed for the establishment of a school on the Lancastrian Plan. A building was erected at the corner of Fourth and Walnut Streets and the school opened. This, however, did not meet the ideals of the community and in 1819 it was rechartered as Cincinnati College and about $50,000 was subscribed toward its support. In the meantime there were those who called in question the justice and wisdom of locating Miami University within the college township and were endeavoring to remove it within the purchase. In the Legislature of 1813-14 a bill was introduced to repeal the act establishing the Miami University and to fix the site for the same within the Miami Purchase and also to "compound and settle in a just and equitable manner with the tenants on the University lands for any improvements they had made on said lands." This bill called forth "An Address to the Inhabitants of the Miami College Lands" by James McBride and a "Remonstrance" from them which was forwarded to the Legislature of 1814-15. It was then decided "that it was not in the power of the Legislature to do away the Acts of a former Assembly, when under these acts rights had become vested." Thus the matter rested save for some newspaper agitation, until 1822. In that year a Memorial from Cincinnati College was presented to the Legislature, and later a bill was introduced to locate Miami University within the Symmes Purchase. It is with respect to this question that the matter in this number of the Quarterly principally relates. In preparing these manuscripts for publication few liberties have been taken with the spelling and punctuation of the author. Annotations unless otherwise indicated are by McBride. We wish again to recognize the efficient assistance rendered by the Society's Librarian, Miss Hamlin. Oxford, Ohio. John E. Bradford. |