Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-07-13
For he Enquirer.
COLLEGE,.

rTtn., An account of the results of tn
"., examinations at Washington College may o.
interesting 10 your readers ms veierhole IlS'i
,m,;nu or leurninc and education is the only one .
a a,r land which ever received IN endowment iron
,La Father of our Country. This fact induced INA
renowned assoc;Htion of patriots and all plilaillnr"
pists-the Cincinnati Soclety-upon their dissolution
In transfer their large funds for the benefit al this col
lego which has been thus rendered an object OF pccu
liar interest TO every NlrglniaIi.
Washington College il second to no institution q
learning IN this State, It we except our noble unlvtr
sity. Ii has been, during the last : years, furnished
with a new corps oil proiess"rs' all oi whom are mel
of high character and distinguished for eminent abllii!
| and learning, and the late examinations, which til,
writer attended during several days, prove that the,
are all must excellent teachers.
These examinations are conducted in such Il man
ner US to render them untaillng tests Of scholarship
Each student was required to furnish written an
swers 10 numerous questions, extending over tl'
whole course, which answers were afterwards sub
jected ~ a rigid criticism. Besides this, each wa.
examined orally by the professor Ur any spcctatol
present no that the aitainments and proficiency o
each were exactly nsccriamed. These examinations
winch were confined To three of the GLASSES, 1.-THE Sc
ninr class having previously passrdl occupied cIshI
hours q day, for BLK days. Their results were cml
urntly lattcring, both IT, tho Faculty aud the SIN
Misunderstanding, rs they did, that the former had IA
bored faithfully To train and thoroughly dcvelopc th'
youthful minds committed To their g%uidnuce' and I'm
the latter, with very rare exceptions, liad grnl,iui'3
submitted to the discipline and heartily co-"prr"ieu
with their supcrinrs it, the responsible task 'l h'lihh
them for the Ceilings and duties al manhuoh. -.
The examination Of the clnsseS in mental anu Glh,
| cal science, conducted by DIR. Junkin' me ! sue, ,m'
was exceedingly interesting. Dr' D.: 10 an I" rn "I
very first men Of our State. lie hhies WI" 81"
talents, an extraordinary amount VI leu, ~" aiH, ;rarIw
force .i character, which render hii most an'irho'9
,d,n,,L ru his pn-t. Ills pupils showed thrlr III"
rnuah training by The readiness with which th"y Ill,
swcrc,l questions upon the most "bsIr'i'c S"|Jtt!s' anu
the facility with which they Sraspci ana u'S'ri'n'"-
,,I th. incest distinctions. This branch ul study isIn
N Judgment Indispensable 10 Il liberal cdnciii'i!. III
more surely than any other, induces those habits Vi
IntrIspertion, ui careful analysis and correct general
izat;ui, without which III man Ii fitted for the com
INQUEST calling III lIic.
Professor Nelson, who graduated several years
since with the highest distinction, nj the University
ui Virginia, preside; over the Mathematical depart
mrnl with great ability. He Is II young man al high
talents, indnlnltabic perseverance hHl sterling char
artcr. He lus extended il" course III Mathematical
study nj Washington College, and made il Ia embrace
every thing necessary Ia II finished clncntl"II. His
classrs underwent an examination more thorough AMI
searching, ii Inssiblr, than any uf the others, AMI
they stood the trying test most successfully.
The examination nf The CLASSES III the Ancient Linn
cIlagcs was, also, very thorough and Interesting
Professors White AMI Fishburn are graduates ri the
University, aud have Introduced great improvements
into their department. They are talented ynun. men,
and destined 10 n hi.h distinction. Never have we
seen the Greek and Latin Languages better taught,
than by these excellent Professors. They seek tu
make their pupils something better than mere word
monsers, by iinbuius their minds with those prinri-
plies Of enlightened criticism and those habits Of ex-
nctncss and p~ropricty in the USE Of w"rds, which arc
essential to high scholarship Of every kind. Never
have we secn the admirable uses Of The Ancient Lam
unugcs, ~ Il MEALS Of mental training, mere Clearly
and happily cxcinpliricd than by these examinations.
We heard Professor Campbell'S examinations on
Organic AMI Agricultural Chemistry, only. lie is
evidently n complete muster Of his department, and
his pupils manifested "A very crcii,abIc proficiency in
their studies. The training which they receive in
Agricultural Chemistry, must inevitably tend. It" qua
lily them lor scientific and enlightened Turning.