Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-07-03
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L. s. MURRAY AcADEs,Y,

1
Sir:--lIavng been ovit,. by yo,i 70 attend the cX-
animation OF the Cadets OF this Institution, Board
ut \s;c.s, Tor the present year, and having
capacity completed observations sii inquiries
ueS leave to submit to yoIr cuus!de Tie rcsult
OF our labourS.
The examination commenced with the NIathcna;i
cal Department, and nothing could srpass the pro-
hciency of the Cadets lii whatever vas connected
" I'm the science oi calculations The Mvs, compii-
Gated diagrams and figures drawn wah the
greatest neatncsS dcSery and precision; aud ali the
required demonstrations, however elaborate nvo-
we'd, were conducted with prOmptitudc and correct
ness which quite astonishcd members of the
Board OF Visitors; whose previous experience ensbed
them to Judge OF such exhibitions Nor could there
be tiiacy In this, indeed i'll any other par the
examination since IN addition to tine questions prulu
Sod by the examining Professors, rlIny queries aud
some oi them Of TIL. absrusa clai actc- ere pro-
pounded by the Visitors themselves. All were an
s~ercd With equal readiness, prorricty and exact
! ness.
III Engineering, military aud civil the at;iunients
OF tile Cadets We're less satisfactory II reference
10 niNt2ry operations, the mDde exhibited OF
constructing and ar,ning Publications. whether per-
nanent or temporary, and whether such ks were,
designed Tor a;tac.. CT defence, a!:ier the field OF
Oh the coast.
In the civil department stated the MANNER OF
collecting mud preparing the varviis materials ustd in
nasnnary ana cafpehtry, i'll arcnitecure ornamental
and useful, III the structure o roads, bridges aud rail-
ronus Ill rernedy. the obstr uctiois i'll rivers and in
! the formation OF caHais and artificial iarLo,irs.
Wnic on The subject OF Engineering tu wsyag thu,
isItcrs Ore bound to remark that present the XII
branch of the science bp more th1roa shlv TAUGHT
than the military; the models &c. belonging tie
former bcing compile than those lppartaining 20
the latter But this school primarily and essentially
military. 10 secure, consequently, not only tic c.
quality, hat the just superiority of Military Engineer
ing, the Visi;ers would recommend that the appro
pfla'' III, which has been wears annual be CONT
nued for the purchase of models aud tie employment
OF modccr. II this be done for Il sort tune, what
ever may trs requisite viii be obtantd AID tliln &c
expenditure may o,1sp.
To the Ma hcmatca scicnces, and tcir rions and
Important applications. succeeded Natural fhiloso-
ply embracing Mechanics. Optics. Electricity, Mao
netisni, and Astronomy. Or these several subjects
the requirements of tie Cadets were HIGHLY cscdita
pie but two deficiencies notced. First. the en-
tire OMISSION q" Acoustics, they being continued
in the text books which are used. Secondly the
course Oh Is not sufficiently practical. The
laws regulating the propagation of sounds olv-
ruSy Connected with military nanGuvres and every
Cadet should De able Illustrate bv experiment the
truths which he has been taught in physical science.
But this he cannot do with the apparatus at prcsen,
possessed by the Institution. 10 remedy this defect
~ appropriation made the last year, which al
though Judlclosiy disbursed, has been found made
quate, and will be Ill great lost unless be
further extended. The Visitors, therefore would
recommend that IL small SUN be granted and v.rv
small one indeed is all that sreqnred, complete in
THIS respect the experimental department of the Aca-
denny.
In Ethics, Natural and National law &c. the Ca
des proved the excellence oil the instruction WHICH
they had received, and the valuable use which they
aHd MADE OF that instruction. Under this head, c0I-
sequchtiy, the NiS!ters have only advise, first
strict adherence 10 the directions Of the law Us it at
present stands with regard the subjects which, the
professor "t this department is to teach; and second
~, that this Professor have an additional Assistant
MS last rcconin ndation involves no increase of ex-
pense, and would, ii complied with bc very ury arta
geOus
in teaching French tic object is lot tina: the Ca
DIETS should speak the language with the striccst pro
pretty OF acceut but that they should be able TO trans
tate with correctness and despatch any work written
lii that tongue. This eul the Visitors lhiui j. attain
ed.
In Chemistry 30 regular profcssorslp has been es-
tapiished by tho Government, until lately an Office
OF the Medical Department OF the Army specially de-
tailed Tor that purpose discharged the duties ur this
chair. Those duties, since the Resignation OF Dr.
Iofrey, have dcvolycd upon Lieut.. Hopkins, aud how
Wen they nave been performed, the admirable prepa.
ration OF this class fully evinced For this year OF Toll
ana responsibility, Mr.. Hopkins receives in addition
to bis ordinary pay Liouenant the sun ofeight and
iaTfy dotl"S. Surely this statement OF the fact will
0ncc ld"cc Congress TO Correct manifut an rupro
pretty, by erecting and Cndowing n Profcssorsip Of
Chemistry, Mineralogy and Geology. These sciences
are exceeded by i'll utility, and spass all others
III ne rapidly and extent Of their improvement.
" bile spcahing OF the improvements OF the Pro-
lessons the siLers would remark, that ons of these
gentlemen (the Professor Of Natural and Expcrinen.
tai fhoA"phyl is much more highly paid than his
co'etsugs' Ihis inadver;cucc for such i; is under
stood TO be- should be rectiled All tie Professors
Should have assistants III proportion 10 their rcspCr
tive wants, ana be placed upon perfect equality both
as regards rank and remuneration.
In the examination hall, and daily In tie field the
Njeters had ample evidence of the skill and dcxteritv
of the Cadets i! Infantry tactics Equal attachments
were manifest III drawing, and in this department,
which Is fully provided with every requisite it is wor-
thy Of observation, that III making the comparison
the class Of each year suTpasacs that by which il was
preceded.
If any sabec laugh, at this institution deserves
surCroT attention, that pre-cmnencc the Yisiiets
CONCEIVE should D. bestowed upon tic Department of
Artillery. The value Of instruction in this Gepart.
men: results not only from the Intrinsic Importance
OF ;ns arm OF the public defence, bat from the rccu
rarity OF The knowledge which it rcquircs--a know
DER these Impressions tho Visitors arc bound to state
mat this branch oi instruction, though conducted
"iIh great zeal aud talent by Lieut.. Kifsey labours