He is upwards of eighty, yet has all the activity and clearness of mind and gayety of spirits of a young man.

How delightful it is to see such intellectual and joyous old age: to see life running out clear and sparkling to the last drop! With such a blessed temperament one would be content to linger and spin out the last thread of existence." At the close of the year 1829 Mr.Gallatin attempted to carry out his old and favorite plan of the "establishment of a general system of rational and practical education fitted for all, and gratuitously open to all." The want of an institution for education, combining the advantages of a European university with the recent improvements in instruction, was seriously felt.

New York, already a great city, and rapidly growing, offered the most promising field for the national university on a broad and liberal foundation correspondent to the spirit of the age.

The difficulty of obtaining competent teachers of even the lower branches of knowledge in the public schools, the system of which was in its infancy, was great.

Persons could be found with learning enough, but they were generally deficient in the art of teaching.
Governor Throop noticed this deficiency in his message of January, 1830, without, however, the recommendation of any remedy by legislation.