University of Virginia Library

V. HISTORY, GENERAL LITERATURE AND
RHETORIC.

PROFESSOR HOLMES.

This school is divided into two distinct classes, one of History
and one of Literature and Rhetoric. 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.

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 Chamber's Atlas; Blair's Chronology, Bohn's edition.

In the Class of Literature and Rhetoric, the English Language,
English Composition, Rhetoric, and the English Classies,
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 practise 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 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.