Ezra Cornell

The Executive Committe of the Trustees of Cornell University having received intelligence of the death of the Honorable Ezra Cornell, order that the following memorandum and resolutions be entered upon their minutes, and that oopiea be furnished to the faniily of the deoeased, to the various bodies of which he was a member, and to the press for publication. Mr. Cornell was made President of this body at the organization of the Board of Trustees, in 1855. During the nine yeara which nave since elapsed, he has steadily given his best thoughtg and efforts to the great work in which we have been associated. Although other enterprises caloulated to increase the prosperity of the community and the otate in which he dwelt received freely of his self-sacrifioing labor and of his fortune, the central point in all hig planning and working wa9 the University which he had founded, and which, oontrary to his original intention, received his name. His labora have been almost without cessation, and entirely without selfishness. In addition to many other benefactions, his foresight led hiin to do for the State of New York what the State could not do for herself, in locating lands for the benefit of the University. Clearly discerning that this was advantageous to the Institution whose prosperity he had so deeply at heart, he freely devoted the bulk of his fortune, hi best thought, his oonstant labora, to carrying out this plan, of which the only inspiration was the desire to confer a benefit upon young men seeking advanced instruction. Having decided upon this plan, he consented not only to bear labor, but to brave coloquy. The most bitter opposition, the most ohilling indifferenc, the most cruel calumny, were alike unable to turn hiin from his purpose. In thoughtful remembrance of his Bacrifices for whatever he thought worthy, of his deep devotion to whatever he thought just, of his fearlessness in behalf of whatever he thought right, we desire, for the benefit of a coming generation which is dobtless to show more gratitude than was shown him during his lifetime, to record our delibérate and aolemn testimony that in a retrospect of all these years of intímate association, we can recall not one act of his animated by a desire to increase his own fortune, to improve his own position, or to advance his own fame. All his work with us, oonatant as it has been, has revealed but ono aim ; and that aim the improvement- moral, intellectual and social - of his fellow-men. Nor can ve close this brief memorial without a tribute of respeot to that breadth of view which oaused him always to look above and beyond the boundaries of party, and sect, and creed, and to labor simply for man as man. And as a further token of respect for our lamented associate, we add to this memorandum the following resolutions : Resolved, That a committee be appomted to examine and report conoerning the plaoing of some simple memorial to our deceased friend at the University whioh he founded, and that a suitable recognition of his Bervices be publicly made at such time as shall be found fitting. Resolved, That th8 Board do, as a body, attend his funeral.