S. I have another pupil whom I shall offer for admission into your
college at the end of the vacancy [vacation], if I can fit him by that
time."

* * * * *

A portion of a letter from a somewhat distinguished clergyman and
teacher, Rev. Simeon Williams, of Windham, N. H., introducing several
prominent members of the class of 1774, is worthy of notice here,
although written in 1772. In connection with the reply, it throws
additional light upon the first prescribed course of study at
Dartmouth. After expressions indicating confidence that President
Wheelock will attend, faithfully, to the welfare of the young men, the
language is as follows:

"When they first came to my school they had read enough of Virgil and
the lower Latin classics, together with a sufficient knowledge of the
Greek Testament, to enable them to pass into any of the colleges as
Freshmen. But when their fathers informed me that they intended their
residence only for two years, and that they expected, if they were
under my care, I would qualify them in all the parts of the Freshman
and Sophomore years, so as they might with honor and ability enter the
Junior class, with mature deliberation, I undertook the arduous task.
The first year I confined their studies to Virgil, Cicero's
'Orations,' together with their improvement in Geography, Rhetoric,
and occasional declamations, etc. This second year they have been
reading Homer and Horace, Cicero de Oratore, and a part of Xenophon. I
have also carefully instructed them in all the four parts of Logic
from Doctor Finlay's 'Latin Compend,' expounding the same by familiar
lectures, for the most part extracted from Mr. Locke and Doctor Watts.
There is one kind of study which this last year they have been much
employed in,--I mean double translation,--their improvement therein
will appear to you by casting your eye on their various manuscripts. I
would observe to you that I have not introduced them to the knowledge
of mathematical learning, knowing it is most usual in colleges to put
them to those studies in the Junior year."

In reply President Wheelock says: "We have examined the youth you
sent, and find them deficient in several parts of learning which the
[Junior] class have made some proficiency in, viz., Mathematics,
Geography, and parsing Greek. They have studied Tullie de Oratore, and
Xenophon, and some in Homer, more than that class have done. On the
whole I have conclu