ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE. Ixv 



the basis for daily class work, which was preceded by a few preparatory lec- 

 tures and accompanied by brief informal lectures and ilhistrative read- 

 ings. These were furnished by the series of English Classics of Clark 

 and Mayuard, with a few of the Clarenden Pres-i series. Each student 

 presented one critical essay, summarizing the results of the work of the 

 class on some masterpiece read, and giving such additional criticism as 

 he desired. Twenty seniors and specials elected the half term course in English 

 Masterpieces, first offered this term. The selections studied were : The Areo- 

 pagitica of Milton, the Speech on Conciliation of Burke, the Absalom and 

 Achitophel of Dr}den, the Essay on Man of Pope, the Childe Harold of Byron, 

 and The Princess of Tennyson. All the seniors met with me once a week 

 during the term for readings in Milton's Paradise Lost, the first four books 

 being carefully studied, and passages read from some of the remaining books. 

 The juniors continued their Shakspere work, reading this term Coriolanus, 

 Lucrece and the Sonnets. The direction of the public exercises of the two 

 higher classes, and the preparation of the commencement programme devolved 

 upon me, as heretof(jre. The sophomores, numbering 4t», presented before 

 their class each one original oration, the direction of which is the same as for 

 public occasions. Of the almost infinite work involved in the large number of 

 these speeches, more than 150 of vThicli have been delivered during the year, it 

 is unnecessary to speak here, as I spoke of it at some length in my last report. 

 The English work of the freshmen for the term, elementary rhetoric, was for 

 the most part done by Mr. H. R. Pattengill ; but as he was unable to remain 

 the full term, the revision of essays assigned by myself after the close of his 

 work, waadone by Messrs. Lawrence MeLouth and J. B. Cotton, under my 

 supervision. The class numbered 85 and met in three divisions. They trav- 

 ersed th subject as presented in D. J. Hill's " Elements of Rhetoric," and 

 each student presented three essays — (1) a description on a topic assigned by 

 Dr. Beal in Botany ; (2) a description on a topic selected by himself,; (3) a re- 

 production in prose of Longfellow's narrative from King Robert of Sicily. 



It was my privilege to give one of the Wednesday afternoon lectures at the 

 college, the sul)ject being The Influence of Burns's Poetry, and to attend two 

 of the winter institutes, at which I gave a lecture on Burns, the Peasant and 

 Poet. 



To you I a*>i under great obligation for cordial support in my effort to make 

 the work of this department throughout comprehensive and thorough; and 

 specially for your prompt espouse to every request for assistance when the 

 Avork has been more than I could do alone. Some maps, charts, and diction- 

 aries have been placed in the class-rooms ; an oftice has been furnished for me 

 in College Hall ; a permanent assistant, Mr. H. R. Pattengill, has been ap- 

 pointed, to do a share of the class-room work. But, owing to the large increase 

 of students, and to the great proportion of English work coming in the two 

 lower classes, additional permanent assistance is needed to carry forward the 

 work as at present planned. The rhetorical exercises actually performed last 

 year, including essays, declamations, speeches, and rehearsals, aggregated more 

 than 2,000; and about one half of thet^e were properly the work for a teacher 

 of elocution. I recommend, therefore, that such an instructor be employed. 



Another pressing need is suitable class-rooms. With much more use for class- 

 rooms than any other department, we are more {)Oorly e(iuipped. At present, 

 the small and inconvenient rooms in the third story of College Hall, which are 

 in almost every way unsuitable, are the only quarters attainable. These are 



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