Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-07-03

hibions. Nor could there DO islacv in ulis or in
iced in other part OF the examinations since ia all
ton TO the questions proposed by the examining Pro-
fsssors, many queries AMI some OF them OF tho mos,
e" truse character Were prorounded thy the visiters
themselves All were answered with equal re adness
opretv and exactncss
In Engineering. military aUl civil, the attachments Of
Oh" Cadets no less satisfactory In reference 10
military oprr,ons, the mole wss exhibited of con
sruc,ing AMI arning iprtira,ions whether herman N,
g. temporary. and whether such works were d-s sned
for attack or defence. either in the 6rli the sea
coast.
In the civil department stated the manncr OF col
Letting AMI preparing the various materials usei in ma
sonry AMI carpentry in archite c,ure, ornamental
useful in the structure of roads, bridges and rail road,
in renedyng the distractions in rivers aud In the f
nation Of canals and artificial harbors.
While on the subject of Engineering, however the
yisiters bound to remark, that present the civil
ranch Of the science he thoroughly tsnvli
than the military; the models, &c belonging to The To-
being complete than those apper,sinny 70 the
er But this school is primarily and essentially mill
tarv To secure, consequently only the equality
bat the just s,iperortv OF military engineering ihe Vi
sers would recommend that the appropriation which
his been annual be conruusd for the pur.
chase of models, and the employment Of modellsr
II this no done for short time. whatever may be re-
qusite will be obtained, and then the expenditure may
cease.
To the Mathematical sciences, AMI their various and
important applications succeeded Natural Philosophy
embracing mechanics. optics, electricity, magnetism
AMI astronomy On these several subjects the acquire
m"n,s OF ,h> Cadets highly credibe:.bu two de-
icirnccs were noticed. First, the entire omission o.
Acoustics they not hsng contained ia the text books
which used Secondly, the course Of instruction
is not sufficiently practical TIL, laws regulating the
propagation Of sound are obviously connected with nil
iarv and Cadet should ba able 20 H.
usrafr, by experiment., the truths which ne has
taught in shysical science Blu, this he canno, d. with
the present sed nv Tn institution To
remedy 'hs defect appropriation made the last
year. which, although ndicouslv dishutsci, has been
found inadequate and viii be in great los, un
less il he further extended The Visitors. Therefore
would recommend vat small sum ~ granted and
very small indeed is all that ia required TO com
plefe in This respect the experimental department Of
the Academy.
In Ethics, Natural and National law. Sc he Cadet.
proved the excellence Of the instruction which they
hal received, md the valuable they had made of
that Instruction. Under this head. onnsequen,iv the
Visitors have only advise frt strict adherence 10
the directions Of the law IL present stands with
regard to The subjects which the Professor Of hi. De-
p,rmcnt IL 10 teach anil secondly that this Pro
hav" additional Assistant. This las, recon- ends-
ton involves increase Of and would il com
red with, be very advantageous
In teaching French the object is not that the Cadet,
should speak the Language with the strices proprty of
accent, hut that they should he able translate with
correctness AMI despatch. any work written in thai
tongue. This emil the Visitors think il s,tainci
In Chemistry regular professorshp has been estah
lished by the Government, until lately officer OF the
Medical Department Of the Army. specially detailed
for that purpose discharged. the duties Of thi- chair
Those duties, since the resignation Of Dr. Torrey have
,r'Oved upon Lieutenant Hopkins and how well they
have been performed, the admirable preparation of his
class fully cvinccd For his year Of toll RESPONSE
by, Mr.. Hopkins receives in addition 10 hi. ordinary
Lieutenant, the ot eight and fortl dollars
Surely this statement Of tn fact wilt at once pduce
ing and endosing Profcssorship OF Chemistry Mir or.
alogy and Geology Those science are exceeded by |
in utility, and all others in the rapity and
extent Of their imp -ovemeni.
While speaking Of the improvements of the PROBES
sors the Vt'it-r~ would remark that Of these gen
'lcmen Che Professor of Natural AMI Experimental
Philosophy il much highly raid han his col
leagues. This inadvertence, for such il is understood
TO be, should be rectifed All the Professors should
al
aud he par'dupon perfect equality both regards rank
anil rcmuns ration
In the examination ball, and daily in the e;u, the
titltors had ample evidence OF the skill and dex;nry
Of the Cadets in infantry tactics. Equal attanments
were manifest in drawing; and in this department !
"hirh il fily provided with every requisite IL il wor
my OF obsei vaon, t'a on making the comparison the
class OF each year snrpasses that by which II was pre-
coded
II any subject taught at this institution deserve,
superior attention, that commence the Visitors
ceve should he bestowed upon the Department of Ar
erv The value OF instruction in Ibis department,
sults not only from the importance of this arm
oil the public defence, but from the popularity Of the
knowledge which il requires knowledge not 10 he else
where very readily attained Under these impre ssions
the V'ers are bound TO state that this branch of in
sruction, though conducted with great zeal aud talent
by Lieut. Kinsiey, labors under great disadvantages
In the ss place, the appropriation for the erection Of
buildings. Sc. although not exhausted from the great
economy observed in its expenditure, ia nevertheless
inadequate. Secondly, time should be bestowed |
upon the maaagem. OF great guns, the reparaon Of
pyroteChnV ".
Lastly, merit in tbs department should be highly |
estimated in determining the relative standing Of the
Cadets since those studies will always he the mos,
eagerly pursued. in which rank ia conferred by prof.
cheney.
Having thus, Sir, disposed OF the subjects which are
arght IN The Academy, OF the manner in which nstruc
ton on bosc subjects is impaired aud of the acquire.
sents OF the Cadets the Vsers will x call YOUR at
tenuon TO The general concerns Of the Institution Add
here the Visitcrs wish great pleasure remark that the
police and discipline which prevail in the establishment
are admirable in themselves AMI faithful and Impair
ualy administered But the officers. whom are con
hdsd such Important trusts police and discipline la
Dor under di:hculty which the Writer'S would earnest
ly represent cannot he too speedily anil efec,uay
moved The evil alluded 20 arises in this tDsnner 10
enforce the regulations Of the Academy 10 keep the
Cadet IN all thing. and ali tines to his duties is
tax which admits OF relaxation, is never agreea
BILE, and frequently becomes odious II not 10 be sup.
posed, therefore, that officers will either seek such EN-
Payment or remain in il longer than they Obliged
unless mere be something TO compensate them for th
ik'omeness OF their situa ion. So far is this from being
The case however, that officer whose days and nights
are devoted to the unpleasant Quite. which have bee
m9noned duties IL IL almost needless 10 ssy not
only the prosperity but the very existence Of he Aca-
eny,is actually w worse condition than If he were Al
nus post sincc ms chance for promotion stall appoint;
inents u iess And ii must, tor DO borne in mind that
those officers who are selected for the duties of which
we are speaking, precisely those whose merits would
lead to The promotion mentioned Compulsory ,pryice
consequently, the hani anil what il worse ire
quen' ch1Dzes on the other, unavoidable, snl con
sttuir the most serious evil TO which the Academy 4
any time subjected. The mischief may he ~ part If
not ity, remsdie by liberal and IL l. believed
by lster construction Of the law granting o-ors OF