The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-10 00:00:00

'eASIONAL SKETCHES—HERE

AND THERE.
POINT
No. 111.
-'l-NT AND ITS MILITARY ACADEMY.
'ate
few months since, I passed a few days at that
„g Part of the River Hudson, named West Point,
here frequently visited the Military Aca-
see ng my stay, one of the regular examina-
tourjed, and now that President Polk seems
in-
t crY havoc, and let slip his dogs of war," I
considered that a sketch of the proceedings may
Altogether uninteresting, especially to military

ht Point
4 itself is one of the most picturesque places
1/4soaited States. It is situated on the west bank of
I mu n River, about fifty miles north of New York;
ta, "leave its beauties to be chronicled by other
i Me beg the reader at once to accompany me to
b, t:iff:Y(it.'cliderey which consists of two stone har-
tt, three and the other of four stories in
)-'lPied by 250 cadets (the number authorised
1,275
fanset
A.catlemic hall. a large three-story build-
kry et iu length by 75 feet in width, used for
Iktikiqercises in winter, and as a depository of the
imksitalPParatus. models of fortification, artillery, and
L'illg f: and drawing-rooms. A two-story stone
'4i,,,ipots. a library and for the depository of philoso-
'QV ratus, built in the Elizabethan style, 150 feet
Meow t, and
,nsi„,,, cs surmounted by three towers, the centre
;'t to tii- °Y a dome which revolves on its axis, adapt-
-01%0 as u,e of a large equatorial telescope. There
'l4, - ehaPel, a hospii al, a mess hall, two cavalry
b• teAri4ele,tal workshops and store-rooms, and s?ver!-
`l4. dwellings; occupied by officers of the lost'-
I,4ll.lladdition to the above, there is located in the
6 , 4 stnld a magazine, a laboratory, soldiers' bar-
-044 b'''7, and about twenty-five dwelling-houses,
bridle 4 !rallies connected with the military school,
t,"° Population of West Point being about
I*.tr_rf 0,4„,,4 was here that Arnold turned traitor, and
Altltlt fo-r trest Point that poor Andre was captured.
tieootopaa.ue place generally.
11 to RV. 03' a pntleman who had letters of intro-
lie one ,IJ°l.-Genera' Scott and Mr. Marcy, I pro-
4teltisowatlilteinnctr Junde to the Academy, when every
every attention shown by the
titthire„ 07 io'l4l44,..efficersaonf the Institution.. The whole
ut was 1 Let etion and discipline was unfolded, and
4:4'114 • eit undone on the part of those gentlemen
ktisg. the
amp ean l d part of those gentlemen
1"e ample and particular information re-
rof.pre inter'
An .. ar and tor regime the place. The Secre-
c 4th of June
Board of Examiners reached the post
Nt44 14e sts.- Jane, and were received and escorted
k-.7ltild :atu-boat landing to the hotel by a body of
01.1 ,01!afat, try,
girl Welled by composed of cadets. The process
bPloy sof the presence of some of the pretty
ets in hthew York, who had most of them brothers
Ithtsie see 0 Academy, and who rode in a carriage
al'eis the,tarY, between the horse and foot, the band
(pa
t-unginu the rear. The Board consisted
Is.k,, 41;z:t;.the army, specially detained for the duty,
air'Vesis lag made no appropriation for a board. of
oi._, loih4tieal examiners, as desired by some parties.
CI, * a officers from New York, and par few
sape ere
leolier present, but they. seemed to be merely
dogs,ll whs, and took but little interest. in the pro-
ft len ~.ea I entered the examination-room, the.
°l't of °. the second class was before the Board.
lb,,nateftet,‘" examiners were placed several black
C,ll et „ " of which stood a cadet, employed upon a
it,4‘. Ti.: question in the theory of natural philo-
'' by -1- examination in this department was cons
141 Li a'rofessor Bartlett, aided by Assistant-Pro-
-Ittxt.Ltr_eatints Roberts, Rosecrans, and Deshon.
L' Btiois from which the questions were selected
Itrieitalae,
" Treatise on Mechanics," Davis's
'llkssei and Magnetism," Bartlett's " Optics," and
)‘ IN i-a," Astronomy." From these the most diffi-
‘4,it, l'eresting points were taken, and were dis-
t lZeined to me, satisfactorily. While the cadets
i • 1„ ,
Ot of t:•earas were employed upon their solutions,
fed 0:e„ section were called up, one by one, and
liCtt of t'i!°Y, and this was continued until each
11,11,00 t "e section had both been at the Board and
L are a demonstration, and had been questioned,
ILsery!lietl orally,
list if a cadet failed in his answer, he in-
(ed three or four questions in addition to
'en him, so that, if his failure were acci-
an opportunity to recover himself, and if
7asequence of ignorance, he had the means
This seemed to be even justice.
irve that no books were used at the exas
ter by the Professors or the cadets. This,
1 the practice both on these examinations
ii_f the ordinary recitations. These latter
tue way, were all going on at the different
Is by all the sections, excepting that im-
-re the Examining Board, the customary
being suspended on account of the exami-
' each scholar in a section had been
superintendent announced to the pre-
fiat the Professors had done with it. The
then desired that any gentleman present
such questions as he pleased to the see-
r" sometimes complied with, frequently
'lv the absence of all collusion between
Pupils. I recollect several instances of
'lung on the part of gentlemen not mem-
ftissining Board, which were met with the
itude and correctness. In the instance of
'a of the class in ethics, the syllabus of
placed in my friend's hands by Lieutenant
Assistant-Professor in that department,
that he would indicate the course that
issued, and the questions that should be
ltd sO, 30, and, with one exception, they were
1,„ t h,,'"at exception was as follows :—ln the
t;ikb 4e: examination on moral philosophy, Dr._
4vpi Or the
excellent " Treatise" was the text-book,
'WI; ::. e questions Mr. wished to ask was the
' 4' --.“
'tow does Dr. Wayland discuss the sub:,
kt„,l:Asti ' ,and to what conclusion does he come ?
"tiOs ill'il Piofessor excused himself pleasantly
tltit off hfalit the question, by explaining that
.that
il"Sb!kft always
work which relates to the subject
Irri a -vaYs passed over, and that nothing was
;C o, that connexion excepting what is found in
CA iiil,),' atnentaries." Dr. Wayland, I nsay say, isd
It) I 1 'Pl3°Sed to war, and perhaps it was considered
14 lit : ilta-fighting principles was rather too mild a
44' - 'Ministered to these sucking sod'gers.
kd ° ts, e
eto g nerally, displayed considerable know-
's, 'a° of them exhibited great proficiency. The
0:4, tl ,„'laentioned was pursued throughout all those
)4ftft i- examination which I witnessed during my
&In ,
1, Yat the Point. In the afternoon of each
kNil asp a display of military tactics in the field,
isit,;\'' exercises with a harnessed battery of six
L '‘tlyi, ;With howitzers, bart et guns, and mortars ,
No of a battalion as infantry and light in-
kit . yesa
Military eye, dual tless, the display must
L'. Jli i racme interesting that t t, mine ; but, so far as
Ny, ' ge, the movements ire all executed with
Ititile!h, A accuracy, and real. 4r s, and displayed the
sOi
it (toff - .nstructors, as well it •• their own proficienc.
t"N„e g rand company officers were selected fr..0n.1 the
itirttiji
t;
treating) class, and the non.c.ommissioned
ti,t‘a•i
it
second class. This drill_ is one of the
ll'h,,°' • it ‘,,',11g portions of the performances of the
o'\,v ry i 'mays draws out the company at the Point,
Ot ' e 141 the " upper ten thousand," as the "nobs,"
61,s style themselves, figure conspicuously. Of
''t.,Siik4,,lies,,ll.eh, fascinating company, the cadets take care
Ip*.i,',4 It B-14dY particular, and look amazingly fierce
tnl Cl' 3,1,,,and no doubt if the British Commander-
k:,li b'll, ~-`"° have a glance at these doughty young
Ottli'?;".t trainin' time, be would abandon all idea of
Ntn a ,eBident Polk's claim to Oregon ; but, as he
,tckl'St, rtred just now to go to West Point, we must
Wtv, ere°et matters take their course. . .
i),o4S, in occasional exercises in the riding-school,
1,, Ills fi of American riding is so different to that of
L
,it IN i'a that, I must say, I was rather amused.
k14111.:"i n x,'rrying in America is just the reverse to
lktrl' ttt - .cmgland, that is, with us, in riding, a man
4. ~:tt 0. !tip
, 1 forward, and accommodates his movements
(ilNt.. ~‘"e horse, and in driving he sets rather at a
11-41)Iti t angle than upright. In America, an equestrian
,st:ltittit't 'cribs aoker, with his toes projected forward
it * t horse's nose, and his head so far back-
teitf°,ll.k PP', comet-lead dropped from the back of his.
IVCali r, lad on the horse's tail. Measured by this
IS1:14%. ,;,,t:11 ig',_the horsemanship at West Point was ex-
N ~,",,' h- the leaping at fancied British forts, in the
kttS"" Chsars, and the dashing and cutting at the
AV il -taginary unfortunate and devoted Engl!sh
lie‘' Its Pf a tremendous and fearfully exciting
V .
th'!itieexercises at West Point, intellectual and phy-
1$ p %tried out to the most thorough extent, and
' s i 'd to the •ofgood military scholars
i ob production
~
kh thiaol;tst bodily vigour—of the mens sana in
Ilik„N ilar: I saw no weakly students, and. no very
Vo, tit '" Indeed, from the system of instruction
ii"la"'„ k the Point, there cannot well be either. They
1, 111 tip to a certain standard, or be rejected. The
S• '6IV. -Ic.Pays for the tuition of the cadet, and pays
,I,t .°"th",,n. a certain light he is a privileged office-
ip ),,tt ,the eountry does everything for him, and has a
V,lttO Chet everything of him.
~f,,(41
_° quite out of place here for me to enter at
qta ° details of the course of study and exercise;
1* er, it •
a. Qv '‘ould be by no means generally interest•
d%l St h 3 are briefly comprehended under the following
lit' s 4 I state that in each department all that can
Z, l'i tloty(s.b-elaciest thoroughly done, th.ose who know what
' I done, will, I think, readily understand what
No,'"`
aktils.r.pi,a._..
St,tlbgt• ''tleS and Military Police.
'1 tlo,%);Osiees, ;comprising Algebra, Geometry, Trigono-
' I' 11,t^lon, aBtsuration, Descriptive and Analytical Geometry,
l' „
wench c•
• li,:sitit,.. Language.
1421 t a,,, , ,
t I,- att
its. -ts_xperimental Philosophy, comprising Statics,
), ' eCtroqi llydrostatics, Hydrodynamics, Magnetism,
• A,,,e,tohitrvagnetism, Light, and Astronomy.
~, Wlllery, and Mineralogy.
' ,Ilitto.,,,racties, the Science of Gunnery, and duties of a
i 4;1.1-4,-1.`4aborate y
.. k e_eneo-eTg, and field and Permanent Fortification, and
;tory, :., 'War.
tio- j,,, ""e°grapliv, Ethics, &c.
Ilt`i°tki Arcloer ''
, 4t, , meek ` :,who was present at one of. these exami-
'4 „.ta•con reo that he thought the pupils must have
kot ",' tlio 'fled" for the occasion. I mentioned this to
ktoolibt- gentlemen present. " Ah," said he, "I do
esh.are e,,,'•he correctness of the remark. They were
it*7lino.,''rnmed for that and for all occasions, and the
k4,,t0i3 Just of that sort which I should be glad to
tis 4 oli b educational institutions—a cramming car-
'ti as of th the crammers and the crammees, at all
IP" 4 °is the day and of the year devoted to work.
'44t, 40 pla
,tk Th. 3' nor shuffling about the studying at the
4 lluiti .Y must and do work ; and they msy be
l'skaNino' any and all times of the year, and exhibit
th,l ttrirg' on each occasion. They are always
' tl_Qalar carenot put in harness and driven up to a
blsgo.y be Jeet on a particular day, as is often done,
ho e taken at random, and on any day.',
'l4MatiOn in History, English Grammar, and

Geography, was less satisfactory than that in some
other branches of knowledge. From the inquiries
made, I came to the conclusion that the defect
was owing to the scanty portion of the time which
is, from necessity, afforded to those studies. When
the " Plebs," as the new comers are called, arrive
at the Point, there is a great diversity in their
amount of knowledge. Those from the New England
States are the most forward, and the most easily
managed. Those from the Middle States rank next ;
whilst those from the Southern States are lower down in
the scale. Of course those who enter well prepared
possess manifest advantages, and therefore, amongst the
best, there are always a large number of New Eng-
landers.
Youths from all classes of society are eligible for
admittance into the West Point Academy. I one day
noticed a file of the new corners. The first young man
was dressed in the plain and well-worn garments of a
hard-working country lad, his entire garb, something
too scanty, were " seedy," and he must have come from
a very indigent family to have worn su .h garments in
America, where almost everybody is well dressed.
Judging from the fifty-six" Plebs" whom I saw, I should
say there were not one-fourth of them who were from
families of independent property, or of ordinary com-
petency. The " mass" were from the " mass" of those
who laboured hard for bread. When once admitted,
they are all clothed and fed alike, and no other distinc-
tion is made than that which arises out of the correct
(deportment and attainments of the individual. Pro-
fessor Bartlett, of the Academy, was a poor drummer-
boy at Fort Erie. He became a cadet at West Point,
and is now one of its instructors. The subjoined table,
taken from Colonel Totter's report for 1844, will show
that the lower classes have even a more than equal par-
ticipation in the benefits of the Institution, and it is a
fair sample of the usual classification in every year:—
Of the 221 cadets at the Point in that year-
-59 were sons of Farmers.
14 " " Mechanics.
27 " " Lawyers.
18 " " Merchants.
5 " " Hotel Keepers.
12 " " Physicians.
14 " " Army or Navy Officers.
4 " " Clergymen.
5 " " Officers of State and GeneralGovernm en ts.
15 " " Professors, Editors, Bank Officers, or
Masters of vessels, &c.
26 " without Father.
22 " " " or Mother.
Of the 212 in the Academy in 1843-
156 were the sons of parents in moderate circumstances.
26 " reduced
ti
14 indigent
6 " 66 ft wealthy 66
18 " 61 unknown 66
The above statements will, if they serve no other pur-
pose, perhaps amuse, by the contrast it presents to our
own system of military education. At the present junc-
ture, they may convey useful information. If I have
been at all tedious, I will endeavour to make amends in
my next paper, which will treat more of persons than of
places. WHIZ.

RAILWAY REGISTER.
The present number opens with the third of the se-
ries of articles on " Irish Railways," and goes at large into
the consideration of " a very material point, which has
not yet met with that deliberate attention which its im-
portance seems to call for. We allude to the supply of
fuel by which the necessary steam power is to be kept
up, and the mode in which that power should be ap-
plied." While all the fuel used in locomotives must be
obtained from England at a heavy cost, Ireland possesses
extensive fields of anthracite and beds of turf, which
may be most effectively and economically used as fuel for
stationary engines. From experiments made by the
Dublin Steam Packet Company on board the steamer
Lansdowne, which plies on the Shannon, it appears that
the same duty was done by turf as had been previously done
by coal, at a cost of 661. 12s. 3d. per month less than the
cost of coal. She had two engines, 38-A- inch cylinders,
at three feet six inches stroke; she ran daily, Sundays
excepted, a distance of 46 miles. Under these circum-
stances, and ,considering also the scarcity of skilled
labour in Ireland, and the cheapness of unskilled labour,
we agree with the writer of this article considering that
" of it is a question worthy grave consideration," whether
the locomotive or the atmospheric principle of traction
should bo applied to this country. In addition to full
descriptions, accompanied by maps, of the various rail-
way projects of the month, British and Indian, the Re-
gister contains the second of a series of papers on "Metro-
politan Improvements," which is well worthy the attentive
perusal of every practical philanthropist, suggesting, as
it does, many measures for securing the health and in-
creasing the comforts of the poor, who will be ejected
from their dwelling places by the alterations in progress.
The following valuable suggestions will, we hope, meet
with proper attention from those in authority :
" Costly experience attests that towns are easier made
than unmade, more easily built up than pulled down and
changed in general arrangement. Therefore, before a hoard
is erected, or a paving-stone dug out, desirable
certain needful preliminaries should be obtained and defini-
tively settled.
" First, we ought to have a correct and authorised map of
the capital as it stands above and below ground ; not only of
its squares, streets, lanes, and public edifices, but of its sur-
face levels, sewers, water-courses, gas pipes, and other leading
subterraneous machinery. We should thus have a know-
ledge of the enemy's country, as it were, before the campaign
opened, and might master some of its chief difficulties, as Na-
poleon won his battles, in the bureau. Next, a bird's-eye
view is at least desirable, of the more likely and feasible pro-
jects of vehiaular, thoroughfare, and architectural improve-
ment. Thirdly, we ought carefully to consider, in mass and
detail, the probable results in case of their adoption of these
various suggestions, first on the conveniences and enjoyments
of those who permanently dwell or trade in London ; and
nest of outsiders—the stranger, occasional visitor, and every-
day sojourner."

HOOD'S MAGAZINE.
The " Tales of the Colonies," and " The Chronicles
of the Fleet," are continued in the present number.
" Symbolic Money, No. XIL," treats of the currency in
connexion with the railways. The writer proposes that
every railway director should be authorised to issue
what he calls " Railway Exchequer-bills, based on
the security of the railway property, such bills sup be
taken by the railway company in payment of calls, de-
posits, fares, and every other payment made to them :
" And with respect to the mode of carrying out this plan,
although it is not necessary to go into all the details of a
system the working of which will be obvious to those ac-
customed to consider such matters, it may briefly be sug-
gested that a railway company has it in its power to divide
the amount of its shares into as many receipts as it may con-
sider serviceable for its views :—that is to say, a share of one
hundred pounds may be divided into a hundred receipts, or
into a larger number, which would possibly be desirable.
These receipts, by a system of mutual agreement between all
the projected railway companies, to which those finished
might, advantageously to themselves, be added, would be
receivable, those of each company by all the rest, to an
amount to be fixed by common consent, and exchangeable at
a central bank in London or elsewhere, which would exer-
cise functions analagous to those in operation at the bankers'
clearing- house in Lombard-street."
Such is the ingenious plan by which it is proposed to
make the new railways pay for their own construction,
without disturbing the currency of the country. The re-
maining articles of the Magazine are of average quality.

GEORGE CRUIKSHANK'S TABLE-BOOK.
No. XIL
This number brings the Table-Book to a conclusion,
and, when bound up, it will form the most mirthful of the
comic annuals. We were rejoiced to read the an-
nouncement, at the conclusion of the work, that such had
been the success of the Table-Book, that on the Ist of
January Mr. G. Cruikshank would commence a new
work, to be called Our Own Times.

SPURTING REVIEW.
The illustrations to the Sporting Review are an en-
graving by Hacker, from Bateman 's beautiful picture,
" Gone to Ground," which was exhibited in May last at
the Royal Academy's exhibition, and " Freshwater
Fare," a picture of some splendid perch, painted by
Niemann, and engraved by J. Wesley. One of the most
remarkable among the papers in this number, is that
entitled " A few Observations on the Arguments of the
Game-law Repealers;" which the author, while pro-
fessing to answer the arguments of the repealers, takes
no notice whatever of the grand argument on which the
others all rest, but taking it for granted that game is
property, argues that it ought to be protected by law in
the same manner as all other property. Now, this is a
mere begging the question. The contention on the pnart
of the repealers is, that game is not, properly speakig,
property ; and we should certainly be glad to learn why
hares, pheasants, and partridges, should be considered
as property, when thrushes, blackbirds, and sparrows
are not.

(Signed) ABEL .S.RDEEN.
()

THE SLAVE TRADE.
(From the Gazette of last Night.)
JOINT DECLARATION made on the part of Great Britain
and France, in pursuance of the Seventh Article of the
Convention of May 29, for the Suppression of the Slave
Trade.
Whereas his Majesty the King of the French has caused
notification to be made to her Majesty the Queen of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, that the
French squadron to be sent to the coast of Africa, in pursuanc
of the Convention between their said Majesties, signed at
London on the 29th of May, 1845, will be ready to commence
operations on that coast by the 15th of the present month of
December. The undersigned, her Britannic Majesty's
Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and the
Chargé d'Affaires of his Majesty the King of the French
at the Court of London, being furnished with the necessary
powers, do, in conformity with the provisions of the 7th
Article of the said Convention, by this joint declara-
tion, make known that the measures to be adopted in
virtue of the said Convention are about to be carried into
execution at the time mentioned in the said notification ;
and that, in consequence thereof, on the Gth day of March,
1816, being three months from the date of this joint decla-
ration, the warrants that have been iesued in pursuance of
the Conventions of 1831 and 1833, to the cruisers of the two
rations, for the mutual exercise of the right of search, are to
be respectively delivered up.
In witness whereof the undersigned have signed the pre-
sent joint declaration, and have affixed thereto the seals of
their arms.
Done in duplicate, at London, the 6th day of December,
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and forty-five.

AN AVALANCHE.—We lately mentioned that an
accident had taken place on the: St. Bernard, by which
the lives of one of the monks, and three domestics attached
to the hospital, were sacrificed. The latter were inhabitants
of the Valais; and the former was M. Cart, canon of Sal-
lanches, in Faucigny. The accident arose from an enormous
avalanche from Mont Mort, to the east of the Hospital. It
was in contemplation to trace out the road along the Combe,
on the side of the valley, and Canon Cart, who was known to
be bold, robust, and the most intrepid among the brethren in
braving storms, went to direct the operation, as several tra-
vellers were expected on that day ; he and his three com-
panions were thus cut off, while in the performance of an act
of hospitality and charity.—Galignani.

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