Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-12-10

Preiectiies. "a leading branch Of the military art.
Military architecture includes Fertilization,
another branch OF that art.
States respect matter generally, in a state of
rest, and include
Hydrostatics, or the laws offluids particular.
~. at rest or in eqniibrio.
Dynamics, used a, "A general term, iaclude
.Dynamics proper,or tne laws of solids III mo.
ton aud
carbohydrates, or hydraulics, those of euias
in mo ton.
Pmeunalcs teach the theory of air, its
weight, motion, condensation, raretaction &c.
Acoustics, or phOnics, the theory OF sound.
Optics, the laws OF light aud vision.
Physics, or physiology, IN general sense,
meaii the doctrine OF the physical objects ot
our senses.
Cheniistry is meant, with its other usual
branches, 10 comprehend the theory Of aSficui-
tire.
Nlineralogy, in addition to its peculiar sub.
jec;s, is here understood TO embrace what is
real in geology.
theology is the doctrine OF thought.
Geesfal grammar explains the construction
of language.
Some articles in this distribution of
sciences will need observation.
A professor is proposed for anc mt
languages, the Latin, Greek and Hebrew
particularly. But these languages being
the foundation common 10 all The scien-
ces, 1t IS difficult to foresee what may be
the extent of this school. AT the same
time, 10 greater obstruction to industri-
Gus study could be proposed than The
presence, the mtrusions and the noisy
turbulence of a multitude OF small BOYS !;
and II they are 10 be placed here Tor the
rudlmenls OF lac languages, they may he
so numerous that lis character and value,
as an university, will be merged in those
oil grammar school. Ii is, therefore,
la In no, ,p,sbal
schools, either on private orpuhlic estab-
iishments, could be distributed indistricts
'.ro' the state, as preparatory 10 the en-
trance of students into the university
The tsndrrage al which this part Of eLu-
CATION commences, generally about The
tenth year, wOGM weigh heavily with pa
rehis III sending their sons 10 school SO
distant as the central establishment
would be from most of them. Districts
OF such extent as that every parent should
be within a da, 5 Journey of his son al
school, would he desirable in cases of
sickness, and convenient for supplying
their ordinary wants, and might be made
TO lessen seasibly the expence oGtis part
OF their education. And where a sparse
population would not, within such
compass, furnish subjects sufficient to
maintain school, a competent enlarge
ment OF district must, of necessity, there
BE submitted 10. Al these district schools
or colleges, boys should be resdered able
toreadi lie easieraulhors, Latin and Greek.
This would be useful and sufficient for
many not intended for an university edu-
cation. At these too might be taught
English grammar, the higher branches of
numerical arithmetic, The geometry of
straight lines and of the circle, the ele-
ments OF navigation and geography to
sufflcIent degree, and thus affordto great
er numbers the means Of being qualified
for The various yocaions of life, needing
more instruction than merely mental or
Praedial labor, and the same advantages
10 Youths whose education may have been
neglected until too late to lay iomnda-
ton IN The learned languages. These in
SiltuiioBs, intermediate between tie pri-
mary schools and university, might then
be the passage of entrance for Youths into
the University, where their classical learn
ing might be critically completed, by a
stndyo The authors of Highest degree
aud IL lSai this stage only that they should
De received at The university. Giving
theu portion OF their time 10 Il finished
knowledge of the Latin and Greek, the
rest might be appropriated to the modern
languages, or 10 the commencement of
the course OF science for which, they
should be destined. This would gene
rally be about The 10Th year of their age.
when they might so with more safety and
confentmeut 10 that distance from their
parents. Unit! this preparatory pro, ision
shall be made, either The university will
be overwhelmed with The grammar school,
or separate establishment, under one or
more ushers, for its lower classes, will be
advisable, at mile or two distance from
the general one, where too may be exer-
ciSed lie sirlcier government necessary
Tor young boys, but unsuitable for youths
arrived atyears OF discretion.
The considerations which have govern
ed Tie specification of languages TO be
taught by the professor of modern langua-
ges were, that the French is The language
81 general intercourse among nations, and
as =; depository OF human science, is UNI
surpassed by any other language, living
Or dead; that the Spanish is highly infe-
res'ingfo ns, as the language spoken BY
so great Il portion of the inhabitants of
our continents, with whom we shall prob
ably have great intercourse ere long, and
Is that also IN which is written the great
ca part OF the earlier history Of merica
The liailan abOunds with works of very
superior order, valuable for their matter,
and still more distinguished as models OF
The finest taste i'll style and composition:
end The German now stands in line with
That The most learned naiiOnsin richness
OF erudllion and advance IN the sciences.
III is too OF common descent with The lau-
guage of our own country, a branch of
tile same original Gothic stock, and fur
nIshes valuable illustrations for us. But
IN this point ofview, the Anglo-SAxon is
of peculiar value. Ne have placed il a
moog the modern languages, because II
is III fact that which we speak, in the ear
lest form in which we have knowledge of