PITTSBURGH, Jan. 16th, 1854.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS: MY DEAR FRIEND:
—With the within circular, I send you a cat
alogue of the Allegheny Institute. I hope
you will not pass it by unnoticed. We have
sent you several of the former catalogues,
but for reasons, best known to yourself, they
have not been noticed in your paper. I am
fully satisfied in my own mind, that of all
the noble efforts put forth by our abolition
friends, either in this country or in Europe,
there is none to equal that of Rev. C.
Avery, in the erection and donation of this
college, for the education of our youth and
the ample provisions actually made as to the
means of its permanency, by thoroughly en
dowing it, so that it shall not be dependent
on tuition fees for future support. Now,
you know that any plan calculated to devel
op the intellect and bring out the latant energies, is taking hold of the matter in the
right direction. In this case, I conceive Mr.
Avery is working while it is day. He has
laid his plan, and put it into successful oper
ation, under his own supervision, and has
paid his tens of thousands of dollars, inspect
ed each bill and receipt, very unlike many,
who, when about to die, and could no longer
hold on to their money, have donated it for
various purposes, some of which are never
carried out according to the design of the
donor. This good man has done his own
work, and is still doing, and has not left for
executors or administrators, to do what the
prompting of his own generous heart told
him was a great and necessary work. But I
have forgotten that my design, when I took
my seat, was barely to request your notice
of the catalogue or circular.

One word, however, before I close. It has
been said by some that this institution is
proscriptive, because it says for colored
youth. It is not true that it is proscriptive.
The word is used in contradistinction to the
education of of whites, and where, if colored
are admitted at all, it is by mere suffrage or
courtesy. To that end there is always to be
a majority of the trustees, or rather two
thirds of them colored men—but I am for
getting again.

By the way, I have not heard a word about
our Industrial College, nor had an inter
change of sentiment from one of the Com
mittee, since the meeting of the National
Council. This ought not to be. We must
be up and doing; let us have something
from you in that direction. You know how
apt we are to sleep when excitement ceases.

Yours for Truth, Right, and Perseverance,

JOHN PECK.

(See Circular in another column.)