Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/261

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History of the University of Pennsylvania.
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of the studies, but not yet up to the point set by the Philadelphia Provost: President Clap, in his history, written in 1766, gives an account of the studies, which shows that, during his term of office considerable progress had been made in the mathematical branches. In the first year, he says, they learn Hebrew, and principally pursue the study of the languages, and make a beginning in logic and some parts of mathematics. In the second year they study the languages, but principally recite logic, rhetoric, oratory, geography, and natural philosophy, and some of them make good progress in trigonometry and algebra. In the third year they still pursue the study of natural philosophy and most branches of mathematics. Many of them well understand surveying, navigation, and the calculation of eclipses; and some of them are considerable proficients in conic sections and fluxions. In the fourth year they principally study and recite metaphysics and divinity. The two upper classes exercise their powers in disputing every Monday in the syllogistic form and every Tuesday in the forensic . And proceeding a few years later we note yet further advances: There is, in President Stiles' Diary for November 9, 1779, a list of "books recited in the several classes at [his] accession to the presidency," which we will here insert: 9 Freshman Class. Virgilius, Ciceronis Orationes, Graec. Test, Ward's Arithmetic. Sophimore (sic) Class. Graecum Testament., Horatius, Lowth's English Grammar, Watts' Logic, Guthrie's Geography, Hammond's Algebra, Holmer's Rhetorick, Ward's Geometry, Vincent's Catechism [Saturday], Ward's Mathematics. Junior Class. Ward's Trigonometry, Atkinson and Wilson ditto, Graec. Test., Cicero de Oratore, Martin's Philosophic Grammar and Philosophy, 3 vols., Vincent, [Saturday]. Senior Class. Locke, Human Understanding, Wollaston, Relig. of Nature Delineated, and for [Saturday], Wollebius, Amesii Medulla, Graec. Test, (or Edwards on the Will, sometime discontinued), President Clap's Ethics. President Woolsey further tells us: lo For the classical tongues the examinations embraced at first, and for many years, a part of Virgil, a part of Cicero's select orations, and in Greek the four Evangelists. The course in College went very little further 9 Yale College, ii. 498. 10 Ibid., ii. 500.