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
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 treated 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:

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.