DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 53 



courses assigned, having their examinations at the close of the term in Novem- 

 ber. The Junior chiss, in English Literature, seemed much interested through- 

 out the course of about fifty lectures. The course covered, beside a brief out- 

 line of the history of the English language, the history of English literature 

 by periods and prominent authors to the close of the eighteenth century. I was 

 able to give also a cursory glance at tlie leading American authors down to the 

 present day. Of the thirty-one members enrolled, twenty-seven passed the 

 final examination, and three of the four excused from College before the close 

 of the term, have since passed a special examination. 



The two divisions of the Freshman class in composition, together numbering 

 fifty-eight, finished the usual task in Hart's Composition and lihetoric, and 

 prepared more than six hundred exercises for my correction. These exercises 

 varied in nature from a simple business letter to an elaborate description of a 

 complicated machine. Each member was required to present eleven exercises, 

 and a part of the final examination was a carefully prepared letter giving the 

 advantages and disadvantages of their term's study. Forty-four of the class 

 passed examination successfully, six failed, and eight left before the close of 

 the term. Seven have since passed a special examination. 



In the Spring term of 1878, the Senior class was under my charge in Moral 

 Philosophy twelve weeks, and in Political Economy six weeks. Tlic class, 

 numbering thirty-two members, went over the whole of Fairchild's Moral Phi- 

 losophy with a review each day and a final review of the whole. All passed a 

 satisfactory examination. The usual course of twenty-five lectures in Political 

 Economy was by special request extended to thirty, the usual review before 

 examination being omitted. I also prepared for the use of the students a brief 

 printed synopsis of the subject as presented, which, though too concise to serve 

 for more than a topical index, served to add interest and appreciation of the 

 subject. The class numbered thirty, and all passed the final examination, 

 except one who was absent on account of illness. 



During the Summer term, I have had in charge the Junior class in Whately's 

 Khetoric and two of the three divisions of the Freshman class beginning French, 

 The Juniors and others, twenty-nine in number, seemed much interested in the 

 study of conviction, persuasion and much of style, as presented by Whately; 

 but four of them failed in the examination at the close of the thirteen weeks' 

 course. The French classes, together, numbered sixty-seven, of whom seven 

 left during the term and eight failed in final examination. The rest finished, 

 in the course of eleven weeks, twenty-three lessons in Otto's French Grammar 

 with daily written exercises upon the black-board. 



The rhetorical exercises of the senior and junior classes have involved the 

 usual expenditure of time and strength. The usual number of exercises have 

 been prepared for presentation before the wiiole body of students on each alter- 

 nate Wednesday afternoon, and the classes have met almost weekly for drill in 

 elocution, analysis of themes, or description and narration. I have not at hand 

 a complete memorandum of the number of exercises thus presented. 



The junior class have had, as usual, a voluntary class in Shakespeare, meet- 

 ing on Tuesday evening of each week. Tlie number in attendance has aver- 

 aged about thirty, a few members of other classes having been admitted by 

 request. Three plays have been read with such comments as seemed needed to 

 give understanding and interest, as well as some idea of the peculiarities of 

 language and style. 



Incidental labors in the College have included committee work, somewhat 



