 | 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. ANCIENT LANGUAGES.
Professor Harrison.—In this School are taught the Latin and Greek
languages; the Greek and Roman History, Geography, and Literature;
and the Hebrew language. The instruction is given partly by lectures and
examinations, and partly by comments on portions of the text books appointed
to be read by the student. It embraces the following subjects, distributed
according to the classes:
I. Junior Latin.—1. General principles and doctrines of Etymology.
2. The application of these general principles in the explanation of the
formation and composition of the words of the language, considered individually,
The doctrine of the primary and secondary signification of words is considered
in connection with this branch of the subject, and is illustrated in
the lectures from day to day as occasion may offer.
3. The accidence, or inflectional forms of words, expressing the relations
in which they stand to other words in a sentence. These modifications
of the forms of words are in like manner explained by the application
of the general principles of the Etymology.
4. The Syntax, or laws which govern the relations existing between the
several parts of a sentence or a discourse, whether indicated by the inflections
of words, or by particles. This subject is treated of partly in lectures
specially devoted to it, partly by way of prelections and comment on the
portions of authors read in the lecture room, and partly in connection with
the written exercises.
For the above subjects the text books are the professor's printed notes,
with Zumpt's, or Andrew's and Stoddard's Latin Grammar, and Beck's
Latin Syntax.
5. The doctrine of the quantity of syllables, and the metres. The students
are advised to use Carey's Latin Prosody, or, Anthon's Prosody,
which contains what is most useful in Carey's.
6. The Latin authors used as text books are Horace, Virgil, Cicero's
Orations, and his Epistles ad Diversos, Terence, and Cæsar's Commentaries.
The last chiefly with a view to the written exercises.
II. Senior Lalin.—1. Prelections and commentaries on portions of the
classic authors, embracing, besides the other matters necessary for the better
understanding of these, a further development of the doctrines of philology
taught in the Junior Class.
The text books are Horace, Juvenal, Livy, and Tacitus.
2. Geography of Ancient Italy.—The professor's printed notes form the
text book. The maps of ancient and modern Italy, published by the "Society
for the diffusion of useful knowledge," are recommended.
3. Roman History. This subject is taught by prelections, and by examinations
on the text books. These are the History of Rome published by
the "Society for the diffusion of useful knowledge," Niebuhr's History of
Rome, Ferguson's Roman Republic, and Heeren's Manual.
III. Junior Greek.—1. The Etymology, considered in its general principles
and in its applications, the Syntax, and the Prosody and metres, are
taught to this class in the same way as to the Junior Latin.
For these subjects Buttmann's larger Greek Grammar is the text book.
The Greek authors read and explained in the lecture room, are Xenophon's
Anabasis, Herodotus, and a play of Æschylus or Euripides. The
Greek and English Lexicon of Donnegan is that preferred.
IV. Senior Greek.—1. Prelections and commentaries on portions of the
Greek classic authors, in the same way as in the Senior Latin class, and
embracing the like subjects.
The Greek authors used as text books in this class are Euripides, Sophocles,
Thucydides, and Homer. The student should have Matthiae's
Greek Grammar, 5th edition of the translation.
2. Ancient Geography of Greece. The printed notes of the professor
form the text.
3. Ancient History of Greece. This is taught by prelections, and by
examinations on the text books. These are Thirlwall's History of Greece,
Gillies' History of Greece, the History of Greece published by the Society
for the diffusion of useful knowledge, and Heeren's Manual.
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. The
exercises are examined by the Professor, and the errors marked: they 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.
V. Hebrew.—The text books are Biblia Hebraica, Bush's Hebrew
Grammar, and Gesenii Lexicon Manuale Hebr. et Chald., or Sauerwein's
edition of Rehkopf's Lex. Hebr. Chald.
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 junior, together
with a third class for those who wish to qualify themselves for 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; as 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 four
classes.
Mathematics, in its present state, is divided into many distinct branches
—of which we may enumerate.
1st. Those few simple rules which have for their object not to assist any
process of reasoning foreign to number, but merely, to determine such
dinary business.
2dly. That very extensive—general and exact logic—which has sufficed
to reduce at least three fourths of the propositions of which human reason
is conversant, to propositions either of pure number, or that can be
solved by means of pure number.
3dly. The rules of mere calculation required in some of the branches of
practical mathematics—as in surveying—navigation—practical astronomy,
&c.
The very enlarged views—the increased power of reasoning—and the
exercise of mind which the second of these divisions affords—renders it
incomparably the most important as a branch of general education—Yet
to give effect to its great powers in this respect, it must be taught in a manner
very different from that formerly adopted, and which whilst largely
followed in Europe, is to be found in none of our text books, and in few of
our schools. It is this branch of the subject which is especially studied
in the University—and the great objects which it proposes to attain, and
the simple—general—and closely connected methods whereby it attains
them are kept constantly before the student's view.
The first junior class 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 these 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 students sensible of the advantages of these signs. In
teaching the rules for adding, substracting, &c., they are compared with
the corresponding 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 Poisson's
Mechanics, the first book of Laplace's Mechanique Celeste, and of the
applications of the principles there given to various problems.
IV. NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.
Professor Rogers.—There are two classes in 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;
Hydrodynamics, 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; Library of Useful Knowledge, 2 vols. Nat. Philos. The
text books in the Senior class are in addition to those above enumerated,
Youngs Analytical Mechanics; Gummere's Astronomy; Bache's Appendix
to Brewster's Optics. The student is also referred to a selection of Theorems
in Mechanics, Hydrodynamics, Pneumatics, &c; made by the Professor.
In the senior class the students are examined upon the subjects of lecture
in the general class, as well as the Mathematical demonstration referred
to in their text books.
The Apparatus provided for the school of Natural Philosophy is extensive
and enables the Professor to illustrate every part of his course by experiments
in the presence of his class. An Observatory, with its appropriate
astronomical instruments, is attached to this school.
Geology and Mineralogy form a part of the subjects embraced in
this school. Members of the class of Natural Philosophy are entitled to
enter that of Geology and Mineralogy without additional fee.
In Geology the practical and descriptive portions of the Science are
chiefly dwelt upon, particular reference being made to the Geological features
of our own country.
In Mineralogy only those objects are treated of in detail which are interesting
in an economical point of view, or important in connection with
Geology.
Text books. In Geology—Lyell's Elements, and Bakewell or Dela
Beche. In Mineralogy—Allen's, Phillip's or any of the elementary works.
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 topographical.
III.—Theory of Roads, Rail-roads, 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 Mineralogy.
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
the 7th and 8th heads, are taught by the Teacher of Drawing under the
superintendence of the Professor above mentioned.
VI. CHEMISTRY.
Professor Emmet.—In the Chemical class of this School, 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.
There is attached to this school, a very extensive apparatus and laboratory.
VII. MORAL PHILOSOPHY.
Professor Tucker.—There are two classes in this school. The Junior
Class studies Rhetoric, Belles-Lettres, General Grammar 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, Stewart's Active and Moral Powers,
and Whately's Logic.
The students in this school are also exercised in composition.
VIII. 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 Municipal Law. The text books used by this class, are Vattel's
Law of Nations, the Federalist, the Virginia Report of '99, Blackstone's
Commentaries, and a Treatise on Criminal Law by the Professor; in addition
to which, lectures are delivered on Government, and 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.,) Matthews on Executors,
— on Contracts, Smith's Mercantile Law, Story's Equity, and Mitford's
Pleadings.
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 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.
| Catalogue of the officers and students of the University of Virginia | |