University of Virginia Library

V. SCHOOL OF HISTORY, GENERAL LITERATURE
AND RHETORIC.

PROF. HOLMES.

This School is divided into two distinct classes—one of
History, and one of Literature and Rhetoric. To each, two
Lectures in the week are regularly devoted; but exercises
in literary composition are required from the members of
the Literary Class. Each study may be pursued separately.

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 refer 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 and Rhetoric, 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 are considered; the various influences, domestic
and external, by which it has been brought to its present
condition are explained; the general principles of Rhetoric
and Criticism are taught; the lives of the most eminent
authors in the language are treated in their historical order
and connection; and the critical examination and appreciation
of their chief productions 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:

Angus's Hand Book of the English Tongue; Jamieson's
Grammar of Rhetoric; Shaw's Complete Manual of English
Literature, Ed. Smith and Tuckerman; Student's Specimens
of English Literature, Ed. Shaw and Smith, London:

Shakspeare's Complete Works; Milton's Poetical Works.

For instruction in Oratory or spoken composition, those
portions of Dr. Broadus's Treatise on the Preparation and
Delivery of Sermons, which are appropriate to secular purposes,
are specially commended.

POLITICAL ECONOMY.

In the Class of Political Economy, temporarily connected
with this School, the Text-Books, heretofore and still used,
are Say's Political Economy and Mill's (J. S.) Political
Economy. Two lectures a week are given.