University of Virginia Library

HISTORY AND GENERAL LITERATURE.

(Including Composition and Rhetoric.)

PROFESSOR HOLMES.

This school is divided into two distinct Classes, one of History
and one of Literature. To the former, three Lectures in the week
will be devoted; to the latter two; but exercises in literary composition
are required from the members of the Literary Class. Each
study may be pursued separately. A diploma is granted for proficiency

in both branches; a certificate of distinction for proficiency
in either.

In the Historical Class the successions, revolutions and various
aspects of the principal nations of the world are considered in such
a manner as to afford a general and connected view of the progress
of political and social organizations. Institutions and laws are
noted as the manifestations of different phases of society; an
attempt is made to discover and elucidate the conditions of historical
advancement, and to reduce the changes of nations and governments
to the operation of regular principles.

In the absence of appropriate text books, the following are
employed for study and reference:

Schmitz's Manual of Ancient History; Smith's History of
Greece; Gibbon Abridged by Smith; Taylor's Manual of Modern
History.

For reference: Long's Ancient Atlas; Appleton's (College)
Atlas or Chambers' Atlas; Blair's Chronology, Bohn's edition.

In the Class of Literature, the English Language, English Composition,
Rhetoric, and the English Classics, with the History of
English Literature, are studied.

The origin, growth, and philological peculiarities of the Language
will be considered; the various influences, domestic and external,
by which it has been brought to its present condition will be
explained; the general principles of Rhetoric and Criticism will be
taught; the lives of the most eminent authors in the language will be
studied in their historical order and connection; and the critical
examination and appreciation of their chief productions will occupy
much of the time of the student. The Class will also be required
to practice Literary Composition.

Text Books in this department are very deficient. The following
will be used for the present:

Spalding's History of English Literature; Bain's English Composition
and Rhetoric; Shaw's Outlines of General Literature;
Shakspeare; and Aikin's British Poets.