AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF



at an early day took a deep interest, and in connection with other
distinguished gentlemen, he exerted himself powerfully and effec-
tively to bring about the enlightened practice that prevails toward
those confined in large prisons. Education is another subject on
which he has bestowed much thought at all periods of his life,
and he has ever been ready and active, both with pen and with
voice, in the furtherance of educational movements. A favorite
idea of his,4nany years ago, was that of a great National Univer-
sity, in whose departments and colleges should be taught all the
higher knowledge that pertains to the higher civilization, and
from which the youth of the Republic might go forth not only
thoroughly qualified for their various callings, but thoroughly
informed with the true spirit of our institutions. It was a mag-
nificent idea, and has been partially realized in the disposition
which Congress made of the Smithson legacy. Some of Dr. Cald-
well's views were developed by him in a discourse, full of fine
thoughts and noble sentiments, delivered before one of the socie-
ties of Miami University, in 1832. A year afterwards, he addressed
a convention of teachers at Lexington, for two days, on another
branch of the subject, physical education, which is so much ne-
glected among us. These observations were subsequently pub-
lished in the form of an essay, that was not only read with plea-
sure in all circles at home, but received high encomium abroad,
where it has passed through two or three editions.
  Some of Dr. Caldwell's writings have a political bearing. We
are not aware that he has ever mingled in politics as a mere poli-
tician, but he has been none the less a curious and close observer
of them. Indeed, in following up the comprehensive view which
he has always taken of the profession, it became his duty to study
political systems as the exponents of human progress, and as
controlling and modifying elements in the development of man.
His eulogies on various public characters, beginning with Wash-
ington, his orations on the occasion of our national anniversary,
many of his discourses before literary and learned societies, which
are scattered through the first half of the present century, all show
his perfect comprehension of our political system, his intimate
knowledge of the powers and duties of the general and local
governments under the national compact, and his exalted idea of
the obligations and requirements of American citizenship. We



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