Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-02-24
For the WINK.
EAyovER, Feb.

HANOVER, Feb 81, 1851.
Mcssrs Errors Perhaps you will confer more than
personal favor by placing this communication in the
umns OF your paper--bcing subject in which the
muuity at large is generally interested
IL so happened that present at the recent inter
mediate examination of Washington College for two days
out of the five Of its continuance and so avoraby
Impressed with the economy and philosophy of pres
ent mode of inpartng instruction to the youth of our
country that came the conclusion that il might be
useful to many who had to educate to give sum
mary of what took place 1t may too be gratifying to
many who claim that ancient institution their Alma
Mater TO know something Of its present history There
Is an interest that feel for early associations which
appear nsepirablc from bosoms-no sort OF COMPARE
son, nvidions complimentary intended with any oil
Of learning
The inhabitants Of the small town. Lexington adjscen,
To which this college IN situated, very moral If
religious people Those principles characterize the hab-
its aud actions OF those people much co. perhaps
they do any other community whatever The coeg. was
originally endowed 10y the father Of his country literally
Tor any Individual but by means adequate TO the
OF such institution IL suffers at this time was In.
formed for the want Of funds. Is library very far from
being what 1t should beLdced II Ia hardly worthy OF
the name Its philosophical apparatus is also inco.
plcte expect and understand there is want OF funds
for many purposes How easily could the Virginia egis.
aure supply all the pecunary demands of these literary
Institutions OF the State!Thc claims are paramount to
every other I'LL the land with know edge aud there will
never he any fears for the Republic but IL IL not my oh
jcct to do more than make ausion To ths subject
There are five proessorships at this college being
Mental and Moral Science Mathematics and Military Sci
ence Physical Science, Greek Language nn Literature
Latin and Modern Languages DIR. Junkin the president
Of wide spread fame which could not h., added IN from
any touch could give it, lectures on Mental and Moral
Science. Major Hill bc most worthy gentle
man. and perfectly familiar with measuring of angles
erecting perpendicular lines aud the occult science of Al
gebrsc calculations, fills the Mathematical chair. Me-
Campbell fills the department Of Physical Science; he was
unfortunately suffering from indspOsion aud was
to examine his c'asscs-Orned his acquaintance hut for
moment, aud very iavoraby impressed he appeare,
to he modest and very intellectual Professors White aud
FishburD, the former ecung on tbs Greek Language and
Literature the hter on Latin aud Modern language
seem 10 understand ihc subjects Of their departments
most thoroughly They all to he eng ired most zeal
Ously In their vacations, avoiding effort tina, IL cacun
ted TO impart knowledge TO the student never witness
ed sociude the part Of professors for the nd
yaDcemen OF their pupils Their every thought aud nc
on 10 be enlisted IN behalf of tho student Tn,
professors do not act like who had their own finc
tons only to perform, irrespective Of the advancement
those committed TO their charge-but like who wer
burdened with all the responsibility Of failure Of thei
pupils II one expedicnt does not succeed another anC
another is ossayed came 70 the conclusion that
there auy mind application. the part Of the stu
dent he must become acquainted with the various bran
ches OF literat re.
The latin classes wero exercised in Lyy the odes ant
epislles OF orsce and other authors; tho Greek
In Homer and XenophoD, and both in ancient geography
the mathematical on the theory Of equations algebra
-. piano anu PpneIlCb nat OF rhetoric an
ethics the practical exercises 10 the composition AM
delivery OF oratons, moral philosophy aud the evidence
Of Christianity. These took place the two days wa
present; besides which, have before remarked Their
were three other days occupied Tho exercises com
menced at o'clock A. NJ and, excepting short interval
for meals lasted till 10 p. NJ In tho examinations an
one was invited 70 select any part from the textbook
the poecal classics the parts for examination scand
translated and then the grammatical structure Of any
every part OF the sentence was investigated. Eogs
sentences we're given TO be uansposed into Greek
Iafin Huha
inquired Of every word selected II IL wero the ap
poste that could have been used and Why others wou
not well. Tho idiom and philosophy OF thes
languages seemed 10 he thoroughly taught the
could be. The same System Of thorough instruction
tn prevail In the mathematical course-there M
prompting or mechanical actions In any OF tho depart
men's-no student could get along without under
st,nd,g the sub, OF for hin,elL I, gives me pleas
ure 70 add, that as far as capable OF juJgog, Oh,