Report on a Course of Liberal Education^ 303 



taking days or weeks for the examination of each separate 

 point. Text-books are, therefore, not as necessary in this 

 advanced stage of education, as in the course at college, 

 where the time allotted to each branch is rarely more than 

 sufficient for the learner to become familiar with its elemen- 

 tary principles. These, with a few exceptions, are not new 

 and controverted points, but such as have been long settled ; 

 and they are exhibited to the best advantage, in the consist- 

 ent and peculiar manner of some eminent vi'riter. 



Opportunity is given, however, to our classes, for a full in- 

 vestigation and discussion of particular subjects, in the writ- 

 ten and extemporaneous disputes, which constitute an im- 

 portant part of our course of exercises. So far as the student 

 has time to extend his inquiries, beyond the limits of his 

 text-book, first faithfully studied, his instructor may aid him 

 greatly, by referring to the various authors who have treated 

 of the more important points in the lessons ; and by introdu- 

 cing corrections, illustrations, and comments of his own. In 

 this way, no small portion of our daily exercises become in- 

 formal and extemporaneous lectures. But the business of 

 explaining and commenting is carried to an extreme, when- 

 ever it supersedes the necessity of effort on the part of the 

 learner. If we mistake not, some portion of the popularity 

 of very copious oral instruction is to be set, to the account of 

 the student's satisfaction, in escaping from the demand for 

 mental exertion. It is to secure the unceasing and strenuous 

 exercise of the intellectual powers, that the responsibility of 

 the student is made so constant and particular. For this 

 purpose, our semi-annual examinations have been establish- 

 ed. These, with the examination of the Seniors in July, oc- 

 cupy from twelve to fourteen days in a year. Each class is 

 divided into two portions, which are examined in separate 

 rooms at the same time, seven or eight hours a day. A com- 

 mittee is present on the occasion, consisting of gentlemen of 

 education and distinction from different parts of the state. 

 The degree of correctness with which each student answers 

 the questions put to him in the several branches, is noted on 

 the spot, and entered in a record, permanently kept by the 

 Faculty. But to the instructors, the daily examinations in 

 the recitation rooms are a more unerring test of scholarship 

 than these public trials. The latter answer the purpose of 

 satisfying the inquiries of strangers. 



Vol. XV.— No. 2. 14 



