206 ECONOMIC ESSAYS IN HONOR OF JOHN BATES CLARK 
Nations in his possession, and bearing the imprint, Philadelphia, 
1796. This leads Mr. Brock to state that “1796 probably marks 
the introduction of Smith's Wealth of Nations as a textbook, as 
you seemed to think.” * 
Up to this time we have only opinions and conjectures. Now 
begins the period of assertions of fact. In 1906 Mr. Tyler wrote 
an article on the earlier courses in the College, and tells us that 
under the tutelage of President Madison “Adam Smith’s great 
work and Vatel’s Law of Nations were taught at William and 
Mary earlier than at any other college in the United States.” 
He quotes from a report to the legislature by W. B. Rogers, 
chairman of the Board of the University of Virginia to the effect 
that: “in her halls were delivered by Bishop Madison the first 
regular course of lectures on physical science and political 
economy ever given in the United States.” Finally Mr. Tyler 
specifically adds that “President James Madison had charge of 
the departments of natural and political philosophy, international 
law and political economy.” * It will be remembered that in 
1898 Mr. Tyler referred to Bishop Madison being made “professor 
of moral philosophy, international law, etc.” Now the “etc.” is 
replaced by “political economy,” leading to the inference that 
these words were included in the title of the chair. 
Four years later, in 1910, Mr. Tyler repeats the assertion that 
“James Madison was the first in the United States to teach 
political economy.” Finally, in 1917, Mr. Tyler substitutes still 
more positive statements. In an historical sketch of the college 
he now writes: “In 1784 President James Madison, to whom in 
1779 Natural Philosophy and Mathematics had been assigned, 
was relieved of Mathematics and was given the subjects of 
Political Economy and International Law. This was the first 
time Political Economy was taught in any American College.” 
As authority for this statement reference is made to the volumes 
of the Quarterly mentioned above, but with no indication that in 
these volumes there are found nothing but assumptions and 
beliefs.” 
The inference from all these statements is that Bishop Madi- 
L Op. cit., ix (1901), p. 61. “Historical Jottings.” 
2 Op. cit., xlv (1906), pp. 71-81. 
Bulletin of the College of William and Mary, Williamsburgh, Va., vol. 
x, No. 4, May, 1917. The College of William and Mary: Its History and 
its Work. By Lynn Gardner Tyler, LL.D., President.