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Received of John. G Beuxbaum in Eigh aly Eight 23/100 Dollars as Payment of John G Wallens Estate March 2 1855 [William Z Campbell?] [illegible]
Chapel Hill, March 5 1855. To the Members of the Committee of the Board of Trustees of the University of No Carolina:
As an appendix to my petition of the 21st ulto, I beg leave to submit the present memorial to your consideration.
In all the important Colleges of this country where the Modern Languages are taught, the French Department is invariably entrusted to a native Frenchman
The reason is obvious. It is but natural that a Parisian should understand his mother tongue better than a New Yorker or Virginian; his pronunciation at least is Gallic, and if at all skilled in teaching, he can more easily impart it to others. The addition of such an Instructor generally induces the young men to study French, and
sometimes attracts students from abroad.
It is objected, however, that the prejudice against foreigners is such here, and the excitability of native Frenchmen so great, that they rarely can command the attention and respect of the students. This objection applies only to those itinerant and incompetent teachers, whose failure in other pursuits led them to make of their knowledge of French a last shift and temporary expedient. And so long as fencing masters and bakers will be permitted to occupy chairs in literary institutions - as it was the case in our university, - troubles and vexations, rows and rebellions must be expected. But whenever a gentleman is intrusted with the management of a class no such results need be apprehended. Who ever heard of Ticoh, of Bolmar, of Schele de Vere, being so ill-treated by students as to find it difficult to perform their college duties peaceably and with success?
It is but natural that the introduction
of a foreigner, whose very looks and incorrect pronunciation of the English Language never fail to appear so odd to young men who never gazed at a Frenchman before. Should offence give vent to their surprise and merriment, but give him a fair chance, sustain him, have his success sincerely at heart, and if he be at all cool and judicious the excitement will subside as soon as the cause becomes an occurence of every day life.
I confess that during the first session I had to undergo an unpleasant ordeal, but now, if I may be permitted to judge from the spontaneous declarations of the President and the other members of the Faculty, together with the order which reigns invariably in my recitation [even] I rode through the storm, and am likely to enjoy a long succession of unbroken calms.
I do not doubt but there are in this country many Frenchmen who would meet with a like success in
the University of North Carolina, but their services could not be secured for 600 $ a year; a single class of 15 pupils, in any town or city, being worth to them nearly twice that amount. and here, at times, I have as many as 200 scholars. Now, Gentlemen, if you consider that I am secluded from all the enjoyments of home and society, deprived of comfort and without any chance of increasing my income, you will concede that my compensation is not adequate to the services I render and privations I endure.
I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient and respectful servant.
Henri Herrisse, A. U. [x e] Instructor of French in the University of North Carolina