Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin, for ...

the grammar of these languages of more importance than an apparent glibeness in translation, and by training his classes in pursuance of this idea, lays the foundation for a complete mastery of the difficulties of a language.

The committee were especially pleased with the almost uniformly correct pronunciation of the members of the French and German classes. Were they to make any suggestion in the premises, it would be that greater care be taken to translate the French and German authors into pure, idiomatic English. They observed, though rarely, a literal translation of an idiomatic French or German phrase, which, especially among the more advanced classes, should be carefully avoided. The translation of foreign authors is one of the most advantageous methods of forming a correct English style, if care be thus taken to free the ideas of such authors from all traces of their foreign dress.

The committee were, however, highly pleased with the progress of the classes in this department; a correct pronunciation being by far the most important and difficult portion of their labors.

Your committee are advised that the study of the French and German languages, by those students desiring a degree from the University, is elective. The exceeding richness of the French and German literature as well as the great practical value in our own State of a knowledge of those languages would seem to your committee to warrant the adoption of a rule making the study of those languages imperative: and they would beg leave to suggest to your honorable body the propriety of requiring at least one year's study of those languages as a prerequisite to the obtainment of a degree.

2.-MATHEMATICS.

The University rules require for admission to the Freshman Class a knowledge of Algebra and Geometry; which two studies usually occupy nearly the whole of the Freshman year, in other similar institutions.

Your committee deem this change a most desirable one, leaving as it does a large amount of time to be appropriated to other studies, and the principles of Algebra and Geometry being usually taught with thoroughness and acquired with facility in the preparatory schools. The classes in Trigonometry, Surveying and Navigation, the only classes in mathematics reviewed after the arrival of your committee, passed a highly creditable examination. The method of Professor Sterling, combining as it does the outof-door, practical application of the principles of surveying and mensuration with the clsss-room recitations upon the same, is well calculated to relieve the study of mathematics from so much of its dryness as is not innate and inseparable from the subject itself. The young gentlemen of the class seemed thoroughly familiar with the principles of land surveying and their application, and with the use of the compass and theodolite.

There has been for several years past much enquiry for well

trained civil engineers, and this demand must of necessity be greatly increased by the present military movements throughout the nation. Your committee were therefore especially pleased to observe that the thorough training in the University in the groundwork of the science of Engineering was in accordance with the demand of the times.

3.-NATURAL SCIENCES.

In this department your committee attended the examinations of the classes under the tuition of Prof. Carr, in Geology, Botany and Chemistry.

The method pursued by Professor Carr, in this department, was to your committee, somewhat novel, but impressed them as in the highest degree advantageous. The Professor is accustomed to lecture upon some branch of the special study before the class— the class taking in writing notes of his lecture, On the following day, having in the meantime been required to examine various authorities cited by the instructor bearing upon the subject discussed, certain members of the class, in turn, repeat the lecture of the previous day, or so much thereof as they can retain in memory, others criticise and supply any points omitted, &c.

The examinations of Prof. Carr were conducted in the same manner, each student being required to give a brief oral lecture upon a topic assigned him a few hours previons. By this method the student acquires at once a knowledge of the subject and facility and correctness in the imparting of such knowledge. The classes taught by Professor Carr, evinced a thorough theoretical and a good degree of practical knowledge of the subjects discussed.

The conveniences for the study of Chemistry are somewhat limited. There is but one small room for the apparatus, chemicals, etc., and this is much of the time necessarily occupied by Dr. Carr in his preparations for the various experiments performed before the class.

Your committee would suggest that inasmuch as a practical knowledge of Chemistry is indispensable in connection with a theoretical knowledge, some convenient room be set apart as a laboratory for the use of the students engaged in the study of chemistry, fitted up with a few tables, &c., and open at all times to such students for the purpose of practical experimenting. The expense would be but trifling and the advantages manifold. Some few additional books of reference upon the various natural sciences are also desirable.

4.-LNCIENT AANGUAGES.

In this department, with but few exceptions, the students showed a good degree of proficiency. Much care was evidently bestowed upon the elementary principles fo the Greek and Latin languages; the grammar was by the most advanced classes never outgrown. Your committee have rarely heard classes of young

men subjected to' such searching examinations as were the pupils of Professor Butler, where occurred so few errors of pronunciation, analysis and translation. Professor Butler is evidently an enthusiastic admirer of the ancient classics, and has succeeded in imparting to his classes the same spirit.

In the preparatory department, under the charge of Tutor Parkinson, so far as the examinations were heard by your committee, the students seemed to be progressing in a satisfactory and thorough manner.

As before stated, the regular classes in the special department of Professor Reed, were examined before the arrival of your committee.

During the whole exercises, your committee were favorably impressed with the evident fairness of the examinations, no attempts being made for undue display.

In conclusion, your committee would respectfully state that prior to their present visit they were wholly unacquainted with the University, its Professors, and the course of study therein pursued. They showed the prejudice common with Eastern men against Western colleges. But they are free to admit that their views have been entirely changed. In point of thorough elementary training and correct, mature scholarship, even now, the graduates of the University of Wisconsin, contending as the institution does, and as every new institution must, with numberless disadvantages, will compare favorably with the graduates of the older institutions of the Eastern States.. And your committee do not doubt but that under the fostering care of your honorable body animated as it is by a firm determination that no steps shall be taken backward, and vigilant in all things to promote the highest interest of the institution and thereby of all the people of the State, the University of Wisconsin shall ultimately become to the State of Wisconsin what the University of Michigan is to that Statethe chiefest glory of the Commonwealth.

Dated, MADISON, 25th July, 1861.

F. H. HEAD,

J. J. GUPPY,
M. P. KINNEY,

Committee.

To the Board of Regents of the Wisconsin University::

MADISON, October 1, 1861.

The Secretary of the Board of Regents respectfully reports that during the year ending on the 30th day of Septtember, ultimo, warrants have been drawn upon the Treasurer of the Board as follows, to-wit: