THE EARLY TEACHING OF ECONOMICS IN THE UNITED STATES 307 
and 1820. But this. of course, does not permit us positively 
fo conclude that political economy was taught before 1820; 
although it is highly probable. 
The question still remains as to who taught economics and how 
it was taught. Although political economy is mentioned in the 
catalogue of 1820, it must have been included in a more compre- 
hensive course; for the only subjects in which the seniors were 
examined in 1820 were, according to the faculty records, 
astronomy and chemistry, moral philosophy, mathematics, and 
metaphysics and theology. Political economy was, therefore, 
probably comprised in the course of moral philosophy. 
The first mention of any textbook is in the catalogue of 1825, 
when J. B. Say’s Political Economy was prescribed. As the first 
American translation of Say appeared in 1821, it is possible that 
the text was used a little before 1825. 
It appears therefore, that Political Economy was taught at 
Harvard in 1820, and possibly earlier. It was not until 1841, 
however, that a separate course in the subject was offered, 
although even then bearing the name political science. It was 
now also that we find for the first time a “tutor in political 
economy.” From 1853 political economy was taught by Bowen, 
Alford professor, to 1871, becoming again a part of the course 
in moral philosophy, although his own book on Political Economy 
was later used as a text. Finally, in 1871, Charles F. Dunbar 
was elected to the first separate professorship of political 
economy. 
The statement of Dr. Cooper as to the early teaching of 
Political Economy is therefore incorrect, so far as Harvard is 
concerned. But it can also be disproved in a number of other 
cases. 
In view of Dr. Cooper’s prominence in the South, it is remark- 
able that he should have been ignorant of the situation in William 
and Mary College. At that institution, as we know, Dr. Madison 
continued the instruction in political economy, with Adam Smith 
as a text, during the first decade of the century, and until his 
death in 1812. The course was in all probability continued by 
John A. Smith, who became president in 1814, and who declared 
in 1817 that he was then the only teacher of Political Science in 
any American college. A copy of the synopsis of his lectures