The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-03-05
COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY.

I PURPOSE to deliver acourse oflectures on
Geography and Historyto the students of
this college, as already intimated to the public
tn these lectures Eill be given on two evenings of
the week, and may be about twenty four in num-
Der, they will comprehend,
list. All tile parts of Astronomy, and of As
Economical Geography, use of the Globes, Maps
&c. which can be understood without the aid of
Mathematics
I'd. The general outline topography of all
the countr les III the known world including the
governments their natural or acquired adyan.
tsges, and their systems of civil and RELIGIOUS
policy; so far as our sources of Intelligence. will
permit.
Sd The causes Of the rise and fall of GER.
tain states, and the effects which their revolu.
tons have had upon the manners of men, in what
cases they have proved favorable to liberty and
the rights of man =; or subversive of them :; and
in what they have promoted true religion ard
virtue; or error, superstition, intolerance, and
persecution.
To the members of great republick, know
ledge ofthese subjects is indispensably necessa
ry IT may be obtained with little iabour and is
perhaps, in the present state of society, more
important than some specuatons which require
deep research: However commendable it NAV
be to excel in mathematics, this must ALWAYS be
the province Of few, but the subjects which
these lectures will embrace, ought to cOnsti-
tute part of the common place requirements of
every we'll informed citizen.
1t is my wish and my duty, as a publick
teacher, to give to these lectures all the interest
in my power shall therefore ende avour to
render them subservient to the cause of virtue
and OF publick utility My exertions to ameI-
crate the condition of the department committed
to my care, and to lead my scholars by the rea-
diest paths INTO the right road to Mathematical
excellence, have not been without success
nave already overcome some apparently insupe
rable difficulties, and may perhaps surmount
fharr1 kali L.. III
ing TO them this less difficult but not less useful
kind Conformation.
he tedIum oi an anchorite life, devoted to
abstract studies: the dull monot tony resulting
from the constant reiteration of the same lessons:
in place too where the pursuits to which
have gven.my existence, do not excite any great
interest, and where the principal stimulus to
exertion is a sense of duty, have induced me to
seek recreation in this lighter kind of reading
what have found pleasant to myself shall try
to render useful to those young men who are
IN part, confided to my care. These lectures
are intended to furnish rational instruction, in
the intervals of severer studies, without the ne
cessity of great application. Should some OIL
ouT young men find them sufficiently attractive
to induce their serious attention to them a few
months OF every course, / shall be satisfied that
have rendered some service to those for whom
l am most intcrested--the youth of Virginia
Parents and Guardians who wish those whom
they have placed here to attend the lectures will
please to intimate their intention by letter, or a.
therwise. before the end of this month as il
will be necessary to discontinue them in the
month of June.
take this opportunity to repeat my wish
that students who enter my school would come
qualified to commence the studies proDer to the
department {; 1t 10 really idle to presume that
any valuable improvement be made in Ma
themstcks and Natural Philosophy without
some KIND OF preparation. Arithmetjck and
Algebra AZ least are necessary such as are un.
acquainted with these may safely reckon upon
making very little progress they will attend nm
willingly and with small advantage and their
advertisements will, almost uniformly. induce
their abandonment ofthe object which, with due
preparation, they might easily obtain of this
the instances numerous.
Parents should also reflect that COLI re is
not the most proper place for lessons, merely p
iementaryi the sciences can be Taught here no
other way than by lecture, under existing repu-
lstions ; and such would understand them
onght to he in some degree initiated
AS 1t IS impossible to procure mathematical
books here, | recommend that those who in
tend coming to college the ensuing year will use
endeavors To- be furnished with them. | want, IN
the junior class, Hutton's Mathematics 9 vols
8vo. Friends or Bunnycsstie's Algebra Vince's
Comic Sections Keith's or Bonnycastle's Fri
gonoWetry; Simpsons Fluxions in short all
the elementary works Of Hutton, Bonnycastle
Vince and Simpson shall shortly give a full er
statement OF the nature OF tbs department, and
the objects 1t ought to embrace the advance
which 1t has made IN Improvement since I un-
dertook the management Of it ; and those of
which 1t IS still susceptible under different ma.
nagements at present shall only say that its
existing state aud that IN winch found II are
widely different. Let it not be undertood that [
make the most remote ailusiOn TO the worthy
VI n have hell Of.
appointment l speak from experience
have encountered almost insuperable difficulties
at every step, and 1 have generally surmounted
them This declaration might SAVIOR of self adu
aton IT IT were not known that / make very
moderate estimate Of my own genius and talents.
however clam the merit Of good intentions, T.
OF undated zeal tor the improvement OF my
scholars.
GEORGE BLACKBURN, MP.
FossaaE 2st 2,S