Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1802-02-06
For the RH,Dg-lsLASD REPuBLIcAS.
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MILITARY SCHOOL,

MILITARY SCHOOL,
ia tie Usiisl Sians.
TT feems 10 be generAliy ainitted, that
Il Military School in this country, under pro-
per regulations. would be Of great public asili-
ty. The law Of July l6, 1893. which aatho-
rizes the appointments Of four prostaors, may
be coniidcrcd as the foundation OF one. No
other difficulty preients tfclf than the modihca.
tion and extent of frch an inRituuon. Some
entertain fears that, after the expenditure of
much public money. the iehool will NOT aniwer
any valuable porpofe--while Others ieem in
clincd, for the lake OF experiment, 70 10 limit II
in its fla operation As to preclude the hope OF
any good effects fromit. IL is, therefore, much
20 be regretted, that this collifon Of (entiment
fhould fruifrate, or at lcal impede, mrsiurs Of
fuch high import TO the United States efpe-
cially, Is in cafe Of another war, we with TO be
competent TO the management OF our own ar,ii-
lery, and to the conaruelion Of our own public
works.
The contributions of the military fchools in
England and in France, viii afford fome lead.
ing hints in the formation Of one for ourleves.
Thefc two European fyRems differ only in iomc
immaterial particulars. The governmen, and
internal police OF the latter, are accurately de-
tailed in the travels of profelor BrccR Of the
Uniyeriity OF Copenhagen---who, in 1898, re-
paired to Paris oy order OF the King OF Dcn-
mark, TO confult the national inftute relative 70
an uniformity Of weights and nieaiures. BUTT
j, not in our power, nor is il for our intere, 10
cAsblih fchool on very exteniive plan: Yet
the mil,raty inhitutions Of thoie nations, who
have made the grcs,eft progrcfs in the art of war.
will afford BATS, on which we may rale fu-
perRrueaure of our own--adapted to our 6uan-
ccs and wants--and calculated to make the fei-
ence ,of onr Artillerias and Engineers, as well
respected Dy gtjsriyn nations.
As the ArtilIerias and Engineers Of the
United States are united in one corps, il 10 pro-
per thar the oficen be acquainted with both
branches. Our military ichooI, therefore, ought
to be divided into three fspaIaic and diaintt
departments or claaes and nothing bat pro-
sreilivc improvement in tie one. ought TO icrve
the cadet as a pagport into the other, The fra
may be denominarcd the
DEPARTMENr OF PsEPARATIoN,
In this Department, all cadets ought fra
TO enter. Here they ought TO be inarueted 10
drawing-in arithme,ic--and in thofe branches
of the mathematics, which comprehend Algebra,
Geonetrica prob!ems--plain and oblique lrig-
onometry of courfe, they mutt be provided
with mathematical protector. able to inArua
hs pupils in the rules of drawing. The fudy
of Geography, and the elements Of hiaory, both
ancient and modern, muit by no means be neg
leeted A Knowledge of thefe are eIen,ial to
the Artillcria and Engineer and therefore
ought to be inculca,ed by tho profefIor. After
a regular probation, aud a fuitable propnfs in
the TequiGte licences, cadets may be transferred
to the
DEPARTnRNT or AsTILLgRIsTs.
A general knowledge of the more Gmple
mathematics, and Of drawing, will qualify the
cad.r TO enter on the Rudy of ,hcfo higher
branches, which particularly relate to the Artil-
lery. IT, obtain clear conception Of the uie
and government OF Artillery, he mua become
acquainted with phyGcs and chymifry--under-
Rand the nature and competition OF fuids-she
laws of motion, and the theory OF military pro-
eeile,. The cadet mua ALTO audy architecture
and mechanics; the proportions and ufes OF va
rious kinds, and even parts Of ordnance carria-
pes, and other munimcnis Of war--fo az TO be
able 70 conifrud them in cafe of neceEiiy. In
6oe, he muR, reduce theie theories to practice.
Occafonal experiments in gunnery, combined
with laboratory experiments, founded on fold
principles, and conducted in fcentihc manner.
will enable him more clearly to undeTaand the
appropriate Branches of fciencc, and to be doub-
ly ufeful when called into actual fervice for
theoretic information il not more difficult to
acquire than tn. practical ilIuaration of il. A
work -ihop, fnrnifhed with fuitable tools. ought
to be accefible to the cadet, where he may, at
. leaa in miniature. conhruct eun-carriaees, am
munition Wagons. and many other articles,
not to be difpenf.d with inthe fervice OF Aril-
lery. In addition to thefe. she medication Of
the leveral branches Of icience, incident TO the
preparatory fchool, muR not be omitted here.
Thi, department may be under the fupefinien-
dance OF the infpeftor Of artillery who ought
to have two profeGon united with him--onc Of
phy6cs and chymiay--And another Of srchilec-
iure and mechanics. The acquidtion Of the few
eral branches. aligned for the asdy Of this de-
psrment. ought to be the orly criterion OF sd-
milton irso the