To the Honorable the Senate, and House of Representatives of the State of Illinois, in [...?] General assembly [met?].

The peti^ti^on and representation of the “Trustees of Union College Illinois,” respectfully sheweth, that. Your petition[ers] having obtained a charter for a College, a few years Since, from your Honorable bodies; and desirous of having it established on liberal[...?] principles. We were unwilling that, any one religious sect should obtain such an asscendency in the institution, that its priviledges could be perverted to favour sectarianism. Through many difficulties, and some opposition, we have not yet been able to secure the services of a faculty in our college. We have however built a comfortable brick house, and engaged the services of the Rev^d. Isaac Beggs, A. M. to superintend the institution, and instruct the students until a complete faculty can be procured. The languages are now taught by him, and we expect a class in the sciences will be formed in a few days, and youths desirous of obtaining a liberal education can be here attended and instructed in any part of a Collegiate education. It is our desire that our College be established on the most free, and liberal principles; as will appear by an accompanying petition for the amendment of our charter in this respect. As it is located in Columbus, Randolph a flourishing town in Randolph County, a remarkably healthy situation, surrounded by a fertile country, inhabited by an industrous, moral, & rapidly encreasing population. [...?] Far removed from every other Collegiate institution in the state, designed to be emphatically free, in its laws, and government. Yet requiring strict morality in all its officers[,] teachers and students; discountenancing vice, encouraging virtue, and all the ennobling principles of our nature, that like a pure and never failing fountain, it may send abroad the healing and

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fructifying stream of pure science through our beloved country; intermingled with a love of strict morality, liberty, and patriotism: We confidently expect that, parents and others, wishing wishing to give their children a liberal education, will find it to be their interes[t] and will rejoice in having an opportunity to place [them?] in an institution, established upon such principles. While we do not wish to draw invidious comparisons with the laws of other colleges in this state, we hope an enlightened free and patriotick legislature will consider our claims to publick patronage. We, therefore, pray your honourable bodies to appropriate some part of the funds, set apart by our State for the support of colleges, for the use of our institution. That we may be assisted with means to employ suitable professors ^provide^ philosophical and other aparatus for the instruction of youths sent to our college, and the encouragement of many to come and drink at the fountain of pure science. as you in your wisdom may see fit, and your petioners will ever pray &c.[et cetera]

Signed by order of the board