Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-03
U. S. MILITARY AcApEMr,
WEsr PoINf, JuNE, 1929.

of the Cadets this Institutions as Board
of Nsters Tor the present year. and having in that
capacity completed our observations and inquiries,
beg leave TO submit to your consideration the result
OF our labours.
The examination commenced with the Mathenati-
cnl Department, and nothing could surpass the pro-
hclency OF the Cadets i'll whatever connected
with the science of calculation. The most compii
Gated diagrams and figures were drawn with the
greatest neatness deNtery and precision; and oil the
required demonstrations however elaborate invol
we'd, were conducted with prompiitude and correct
ness which quite astonishcd some members of tho
Board of Visers; whose previous experience ensbled
them to Judge of such exhibitions. Nor could there
be fullocy in this, indeed in any ohe; part OF the
examination, since in addition To the questions propo-
scd by the examining Professors, many queries and
of them of the abstruse character were pro-
pounded by the Visitors themselves. All were an
sweTed with equal readiness, proprcty and exact
ness.
In Engineering, military and civ the attainmcnts
OF the Cadets no less satisfactory Ii reference
20 military operations, the nrple exhibited OF
constructing and ariAng Notifications whether per-
nianent or temporary, aud whether such works were
designed Tor attack defuncc, either III the field
on the coast.
In the civil department stated the manner OF
collecting and preparing the various materials used
masonary and carpentry III architecture, ornamental
aud useful in the structure of roads, bridges and rail
roads in rcmedyiug tho obstructions i'll rivers, and in
the formation Of Canlls aud artificial harbours.
Wnile oil the subject OF Engineering however, the
Visitors bound to remark, that at present the civil
branch of the silence be Thoroughly taught
than the military the models, &C. belonging to the
former being compile dian those appcrtainng TO
the latter Butths school is primarily and essentially
military. To secure, consequently, not only the Z.
quality, bnt the JUS superiority of Military Engineer
ing, the visters would recommend that the appro-
priaon, which has been years annual be CONT
nued for the purchase of models aud the employment
Of modelcr. II this be done for a sort time what
ever may be rC,a-e l!.! 5u obtained, and then tao
expenditure may cease.
~ all -,
Important applications. succceded Natural Phl,uso-
ply, embracing Mechanics Optics Electricity, Mag
netsm, and Astronomy. On these several subjects,
the requirements of the Cadets were highly crcdita-
bic: but two deficiencies were noticed First the ell
tire omission of Acoustics they not being contained
III the text books which used. Secondly, the
OF Instructions sufficiently practical. The
laws regulating the propagation of sounds arc o6vi
cusly connected with military manGuvres and every
Cadet Should DC able ~ Illustrate Inv experiment the
truths which he has been taught in physical science.
But thS be cannot do with the apparatus at present
possessed by the Institution. IT, remedy this defect
an appropriation was made the last year, which al
though judciOusly disbnrsed, has been found made
quate and will be in great measure lost unless it be
further extended. The VisItcrs, therefore, would
recommend that small sum be granted and q very
small indeed is all that s;rcqnred to complete in
his respect the experimental department Of the AGA
DENY.
In Ethics, Natural and National law, &C. the Ca
diets proved the excellence of the instruction which
they had received, and The valuable use which they
H..
!iad made OF that Instruction Under this head con-
sequcntly the Visitors have only To advise first a
strict adherence 10 the directions OF the law, it at
present stan5 with regard To the subjects which the
Professor Of this department is teach and second
y. that this Professor have an additional Assistant
This last recommendation involves no increase of ex
Pense, and would, If complied with, be very edYaita-
geous.
in teaching French. the object is not that tic Ca
diets should speak the language with the strictest pro
Prety ofaccent but that they should be able tra,s
late with correctness and despatch any work written
IN that tongue This end the Nsters think is attain
In Chemistry regular professOrship has been es-
taDshcd by the Government, until lately an office.
Of The Medical Department oF the Army, specially de-
tailed for that purpose, discharged the duties of this
chair. Those duties, since the resignation Of DR..
Torrcy, have dcyoycd upon Lieut. Hopkins, aud how
well they have been performed, the admirable prepg
ration OF this class fully eynccd. For this year ofto
and responsibility Mr. Hopkins receives in addition
10 bis ordinary pay as Lieutenant, the sum ocigM and
foIy doLoTs Surely this statement Of tile fact will az
once induce Congress to manifest an impro
pretty, by erecting and endowing Professorshp of
Chemistry, Mneralogy and Geology. These sciences
arc exceeded by none in utility and surpass all others
III inc rapldy and extent of tIrclr Improvement.
hlc speaking of the Improvements OF the Pro- !
lessons the Nisiers would remark that ono Of these
gentlemen (ibe Professor Of Natural nd Experiment
tai Philosophy is much more highly paid than his |
colleagues. This inadycrehcc, Tor such it is under
stood to be, should be rectified Al the Professors
should have assistants IN proportion to their rcspec-
tive wants, and be placed upon perfect equality both
As regards rank and remuneration
the examination hall, and daily in the field. the
Visitors had ample evidence Of the skill and dexteritv
OF the Cadets ia Infantry tactics. Equal attainments
were manifest III drawing, and in this department.
which IS fully provided with every requisite il is wor
Thy Of observation that in making the comparison.
preceded. ''
10 any one subject taught at this institution deserves
surcrior attention, that pre-emaencc the Visiters
conceive should De bestowed upon tc Department Of
Artillery The value Of instruction in Ills doaa, -
ment, re@.i5 not only from the intrinsic importance
oi ihH 7rn Of tie public Defence but from the pecu
Iafiiy OF The knowledge which IL rcqnircs--a know.
i'dge not TO bo elsewhere very readily attained. I'm
ner t"ose impressions, iuo Visitors arc bound 10 STATE
i"at ibis branch oi instruction, though conducted
". great zca and talent by dcut. KiHsey, laboufs
un''i gtclt disadvantages. Ia the first place, tlo
appropriation tor tho erection Of buildings &c aItbo'
, exhausted from tho great economy observed In
us eNpcnduur is nevertheless inadequate. Second