 | Catalogue of the officers and students of the University of Virginia |  |
COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.
In each School, there are three regular lectures a week; besides which,
there are in most of them extra lectures suited to the several classes into
which the school is divided. The mode of instruction is by text-books
and lectures, accompanied by rigid examinations. The course pursued in
each school, is as follows.
I.—ANTIENT LANGUAGES.
Professor Harrison.—In this school are taught the Latin and Greek
Languages, the Greek and Roman History, Geography, and Liturature,
and the Hebrew Language. The instruction, given by prelections and
examinations, comprises the following subjects.
1. The doctrine of primary and secondary significations of words, and
the method to be pursued in ascertaining them:—the Etymology, comprising
the laws which regulate the formation and composition of words:—
the doctrine of the inflection or grammatical forms of words, illustrated by
reference to the principles of the etymology:—the Syntax or doctrine of
the relations which the words in a sentence sustain to each other, and the
by connecting particles:—the principles of grammatical criticism,
and the idiomatic peculiarities of the language—the doctrine of the quantity
of syllables, and the metres.
2. The Greek and Roman History, Geography, and Literature, are
taught by prelections, and by commenting on portions of the text-books
appointed to be read. These form part of the studies of the senior classes.
3. The Hebrew Language.
The text-books are:
In the Junior Latin Class:—Horace, Cicero's Epistles ad Diversos,
Terence and Cæsar's Commentaries; the last chiefly with a view to the
written exercises. Zumpt's Latin Grammar is referred to. The student
should have Lempriere's Classical Dictionary, new edition by Anthon, in
two vols; Adams' Roman Antiquities: and the ancient, with the corresponding
modern maps, of the series published by the "Society for the Diffusion
of Useful Knowledge," or the "Æton Comparative Atlas.
In the Senior Latin Class:—Juvenal, Livy
and Tacitus. Of both Livy
and Tacitus the student should have the whole remaining works.
In the Junior Greek Class:—Xenophon's Anabasis, a play of Euripides,
or Æschylus, and Herodotus. Buttmann's Greek Grammar, is referred
to;—the "Larger" Grammar of Buttmann, by Robinson, is to be
preferred. Donnegan's Greek and English Lexicon, and Thiersch's
Greek Tables by Patton, are recommended.
In the Senior Greek Class:—Euripides, Sophocles, Thucydides, and
Homer. In the prelections to this class, it is attempted to introduce the
student into the higher departments of grammatical criticism; references
are made to the large Grammar of Matthiæ, and to the annotations of Porson,
Shæfer, Hermann, Erfurdt, Elmsley, &c.
The History of Rome in the Library of Useful Knowledge, or Niebuhr's
Roman History, translated by Hare and Thirlwell, and Ferguson's Roman
Republic. Besides the ancient authorities, the students are advised to
use Heeren's Manuel, and Montesquieu's "Grandeur et Decadence des
Romains." For the Roman Geography the Professor's printed notes from
the text-book.
In Grecian History, &c.:—The History of Greece published by the
Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge is the text-book. Reference
is made to Mitford, Gillies, &c. The Professor's printed notes form
the text for the prelections on the Grecian Geography. In both Grecian
and Roman History, pains are taken to point out the ancient authorities.
In Hebrew;—Biblia Hebraica, edit: Van Der Hooght, by D'Allemand,
London; or the revised edition by Aug: Hahn, Leipsic, which is cheaper.
Stuart's Hebrew Grammar, 3d edition, and Gesenius's Hebrew Lexicon,
by Gibbs: (not the abridgement.)
It is expected of the students of Latin and Greek, that they shall read
in their rooms such authors and parts of authors, prescribed by the Professor,
as cannot be read in the lecture room: e. g.: Cicero's Epistles to
Atticus, his Orations (selected,) and Treatise "de Republica;" Sallust, Virgil,
Terence, Plautus: Æschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes,
Demosthenes, Æschines, Thucydides, &c.
As an essential part of the plan of instruction, the students of each class
are required to furnish written exercises; which consist in the conversion
of Latin or Greek into English, and of English into Latin or Greek.
are then returned to the students, and the corrections stated and explained
in the presence of the class. For these exercises the classic authors are
used as the text.
II.—MODERN LANGUAGES.
Professor Blættermann.—The languages taught in this school, are
the French, Spanish, Italian, German and Anglo Saxon; and if desired,
will also be taught, the Danish, Swedish, Hollandish and Portuguese languages.
In each of them, there are two classes, the senior and the junior,
together with a third class for those who wish to qualify themselves for de-degrees
in this school, as it is required that two degrees be obtained in modern
languages before that of A M. will be conferred. Besides the oral translations
in the lecture room, the students are required to write, as regular
exercises out of the lecture rooms, translations from the foreign language
into English, and vice versa. Lectures on the Literature of each of the
nations whose languages are taught, are delivered twice a week, by the Professor;
and also lectures on Modern History, and the political relations of
the different civilized nations of the present day. The text-books used are
the principal classics in each language.
III.—MATHEMATICS.
Professor Bonnycastle.—In this school there are commonly five
classes. Of these, the first junior begins with Arithmetic; but as the student
is required to have some knowledge of this subject when he enters
the University, the lectures of the Professor are limited to the theory,
shewing the method of naming numbers, the different scales of notation,
and the derivation of the several rules of Arithmetic from the primary notion
of addition; the addition namely, of sensible objects one by one. The
ideas thus acquired are appealed to at every subsequent step, and much
pains are taken to exhibit the gradual development from the elementary
truths, of the extensive science of mathematical analysis. Lacroix's Arithmetic
is the text-book.
In Algebra, the first problems are analized with, and without the use of
letters, to make the student sensible of the advantages of these signs. In
teaching the rules for adding, subtracting, &c., they are compared with the
correspondent rules in Arithmetic, and the agreement or diversity is noticed
and explained. The text-book is Lacroix's Algebra.
In Geometry, the first elements are taught, and illustrated by the use of
models.
The second junior class continue to read Lacroix's Algebra, and Bonnycastle's
Inductive Geometry. In the latter, they successively acquire—
the theorems of Synthetic Geometry—the theory and practice of Plane and
Spherical Trigonometry, with the application of the latter to Nautical Astronomy—the
theory of Projection—and the theory of curved lines and
Surfaces. Their subsequent studies usually embrace a portion of the Differential
Calculus.
The senior classes continue the Differential Calculus in lessons taken
from Young and from Bonnycastle's Geometry, concluding the course of
Pure Mathematics with the Integral Calculus, the theory of which is taken
from Young, and the examples, from Peacock.
There is, moreover, a class of Mixed Mathematics, for such of the more
advanced students as choose to pursue it: which consists of parts of Venturoli's
Mechanics, the first book of Laplace's Mecanique Celeste, and of
the applications of the principles there give to various problems.
IV.—NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.
Professor Rogers.—There are two classes is this school, viz:—The
general or Junior, and the Senior class. In the former, the illustrations are
experimental and graphical, with occasional references to the elementary
truths of Geometry and Algebra. In the latter mathematical demonstration
is almost exclusively employed, sometimes involving the use of the calculus.
The various subjects embraced in this school are treated of in the following
order, viz:
Mechanics, including Statics, Dynamics, Laws of Impulse and Pressure,
and Corpuscular Forces, Strength of Materials, Friction and Machinery;
Hydronamics, including Hydrostatics, Hydraulics, Capillary Attraction.
&c.—Pneumatics; Acoustics; Heat, including Meteorology and the Steam
Engine; Electricity and Galvanism; Magnetism; Electro-Magnetism; Optics.
Astronomy.
The text-books referred to in the Junior Class, are Lardner's Mechanics.
Hydrostatics and Pneumatics; Brewster's Optics, by Bache—Herschell's
Astronomy—Lardner on the Steam Engine, and the Treatises in the Library
of Useful Knowledge on Mechanics, Hydrostatics and Hydraulics,
Pneumatics, Heat, Electricity, Galvanism, Magnetism and Electro-Magnetism.
The text-books in the senior class are the Cambridge Mechanics,
Young's Analytical Mechanics, Gummere's Astronomy, Bache's Appendix
to Brewster's Optics.
In the senior class the students are examined upon the subjects of lecture
in the general class, as well as the Mathematical Demonstrations referred
to in their text-books.
The Apparatus provided for the school of Natural Philosophy is very
extensive and complete, and thus enables the Professor to illustrate every
part of his course by experiments in the prvsence of his class. An Observatory,
with its appropriate astronomical instruments, is also attached to
this school.
V.—CIVIL ENGINEERING.
This school comprises the following branches of instruction, viz:
I.—Graphical Mathematics, embracing Descriptive Geometry, Perspective
Mensuration, &c.
II.—Theory of Levelling and Surveying, both ordinary and topographcal.
III.—Theory of Roads, Railroads, Canals, Bridges, &c.
IV.—Theoretical Mechanics, Hydrostatics and Hydrodynamics, as connected
with Engineering.
V.—Laws of Heat and Steam—Theory and construction of the Steam
Engine.
VI.—Geology and Mideralogy.
VII.—Levelling, Surveying, &c., taught practically in the field.
VIII.—Plan drawing, Plotting, Topographical drawing and sketching.
The subjects named under the six first heads are divided between the
Professors of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy. Those included under
7th and 8th heads, are taught by the Teacher of Drawing, under the
superintendance of the Professors above mentioned.
VI.—CHEMISTRY AND MATERIA MEDICA.
Professor Emmet.—There are two classes in this school; one of
Chemistry, to which there are lectures given twice a weeek; and the other
of Materia Medica and Pharmacy, to which is given a lecture oncea week
throughout the session.
In the Chemical lectures, all the important applications of the science to
the mechanic arts, agriculture and domestic economy are noticed, and when
practicable, illustrated by experiment. In the lectures on earths and metals,
the appropriate minerals are exhibited and noticed with reference to
the sciences of Mineralogy and Geology. At the close of the history of
inorganic matter, the atomatic theory, and the laws of definite proportions
are fully explained and exemplified. The latter part of the course is occupied
with the chemistry of organic substances; and it comprises the
history, analysis and properties of each substance; to which are added
general views of the connexion between Chemistry and the physiology of
animals and vegetables.
In the lectures on Materia Medica and Pharmacy, the subjects are treated
in the following order:—The operations of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical
preparations, the effect which the combining of different substances has on
their medicinal properties, the different classifications of the Materia Medica,
and lastly its several articles treated alphabetically.
There is attached to this school, a very extensive apparatus and laboratory.
VII.—MEDICINE.
Professor Magill.—The subjects taught in this school are the theory
and practice of Medicine, Obstetrics and Medical Jurisprudence. The last
forms a distinct class, and comprehends other students in addition to those
of medicine. A full course of lectures is delivered on each of the above
branches. In the theory and practice of Medicine, Eberle's work on that
subject is recommended as a text-book; in Obstetrics, Burns, Dewees, or
Gooch; and in Medical Jurisprudence, Beck or Ryan.
VIII.—ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY AND SURGERY.
Professor Warner.—In Anatomy, the lectures are delivered from
Subjects, with which the school is regularly supplied. The text-book is
Horner's Special Anatomy. In Surgery, the text-book is Cooper's First
Lines. In Physiology the text-book is Dunglison's Human Physiology.
This and the two preceding schools constitute the Medical Department of
the University; and the candidates for the degree of "Doctor of Medicine,"
must pass examination in them all. An extensive Museum is attached to
this department. It possesses one advantage, at least, over the other Medical
Schools in the United States, in having a session of more than ten
months, instead of one of about four.
A full course of lectures in the Medical Department of this University,
is considered as equivalent to a full course in both the Philadelphia and
Baltimore Schools: so that a student with a certificate from this University
of having attended a full course of lectures here, is entitled to stand for
graduation at either of the above named schools, after having attended all
the lectures there delivered for one session only.
IX.—MORAL PHILOSOPHY.
Professor Tucker.—There are two classes in this school. The Junior
class studies Rhetoric, Belles-Lettres and Logic, the first half of the
session, and Belles-Lettres and Ethics, the last half.
The Senior, studies Mental Philosophy, the first part of the session, and
Political Economy the last. The examinations are on the Professor's lectures,
Brown's Philosophy, Say's Political Economy, and Adam Smith.
In the Junior Class, the examinations are on the Professor's lectures,
Blair's Lectures, Campbell's Rhetoric, Paley's Philosophy.
There are also in this school, lectures on Logic and general Grammar.
X.—LAW.
Professor Davis.—This school is arranged into two classes. The
subjects studied by the Junior class are the Law of Nature and Nations,
the Science of Government, Constitutional Law, and the elementary principles
of Jurisprudence. The text-books used by this class, are Wheaton's
International Law, the Federalist, the Virginia Report of '99, and Blackstone's
Commentaries; in addition to which, lectures are delivered on Government,
and on various topics of National and Constitutional Law not
discussed in the text-books.
The subjects studied by the Senior class are the Common and Statute
Law, Equity and Maritime and Commercial Law. And the text-books
used by this class, are Coke upon Littleton, (Thomas's edition,) Stephen
on Pleading, Starkie on Evidence, (the first vol.) Toller on Executors,
Chitty on Contracts, Bayley on Bills, Story's Equity, and Mitford's Pleadings;
in addition to which lectures are delivered on Maritime and Commercial
Law, and on several important topics included in the other branches
of the course.
The design of this arrangement is to embrace in the junior course, those
studies which not only form an essential part of a liberal professional education,
but which, from their universal interest and importance, constitute a
highly useful branch of general education; whilst the senior course is exclusively
occupied with the study of the theory and practice of the Law, as
a profession.
Students can attend either or both the classes; and those not wishing to
study Municipal Law at all, can enter for that portion of the junior course
which includes National Law, Government and Constitutional Law, which
portion, those wishing to study Municipal Law only, can, if they choose,
omit.
On the text-books of both classes, prelections are delivered by the Professor,
in which it is his object to supply what is deficient, and explain what
is obscure in the text, and to offer such comments as he deems necessary
to the thorough understanding of the subject under consideration. In the
prelections on Municipal Law, he refers to the leading cases and authorities,
American and English, illustrative of the topic treated by the author,
and particularly explains, in its appropriate connection, the Statute Law of
Virginia and the United States, and its effects on the pre-existing law.
Each prelection is preceded by an examination on the last, together with
its text. On the lectures delivered, the class are also examined.
To assist them in their regular studies, and to accustom them to legal investigations,
and forensic discussions, the students of this school have instituted
a Law Society, at the meetings of which the Professor presides.
In it, questions connected with the studies of the school are discussed, fictitious
cases litigated in the form of regular pleadings, and the issue produced
decided in the appropriate mode, and the members exercised in conveyancing,
&c.
The students of Law, in common with the students of the other schools,
have the use of the extensive Library of the institution; the Law department
of which is large and valuable.
Religious exercises are performed at the University every Sunday, by a
Minister of the Gospel, residing there, whose services are rendered on the
private invitation of the Professors, Officers and Students.
Fencing, Gymnastics, &c., are taught by Major A. Penci.
| Catalogue of the officers and students of the University of Virginia | |