Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-08-20

acceptable attentions than the wine glass at.
fords. After enjoying the pleasures Of the
table for about two hours. the company Sc.
parated. There was nothing of parade, and
we venture to say more of good feeling ma
infested on this, than ON almost any occasion
of the like kind
Vest Point .9cadcmy. The condition oc
this institution, sustained at immense cost,
must always be u matter of considerable in
terest to the people, from whose pockets the
cash is annually drawn. Therefore, it is not
n little gratifying TO learn, that there is good
reason to believe, from the recent report of
the Visitors to that Institution, that the
charges of aristocracy and iavoritism, 80 zeal.
ously urged onthe floor of Congress last win
ter against the Military Academy, are
groundless. The nterminable length of the
Visitors Report excludes it from our col
umns; but the following brief summary,
from the Baltimore American, is amply sutfi.
cient to give an insigh, into the condition
and regulations Of this national seminary.
Engineering, Artillery and Tactics arc
| very fully taught, but in passing very slight
| Communications on the instruction pursued
in these brancaes the visiters suggested
something more of attention TO Grand Tao
| tics and Strategy. Tho proficiency in draw
| ing is astonishing +; but lis character is en-
tirely civil, and confined TO the imitation of
pictures and models. The students should
'sDe more accustomed 10 skctching from ma
ture. Civil Engineering has also been we'll
taught, and the visitors predict that the pu-
pills Will deliver the country from that quaok
engineering which has In some instances in
fiicted deep wounds on our system of inter
nal Improvement. Tho country may like
wise be embellished by their architectural
taste, if, as is sarcasically remarked, they
abstain from initiating the buildings in
which they are taught that science" The
Police is described as excellent. The de-
Pdrtment for furnishing clothing, The kitch-
| en- and the hospital, are respectively praised
The health of the cadets would he improved
| by better opportunity of exertion during the
winter, season so severe as TO prevent their
taking much out of door exercise, the conse-
| quence of which is less general health than
might be expected, from the salubrily of the
| situation and the absence Of violent diseases.
The suffers establishment produces no evil
| to the Cadets and less, il is thought, to tho
soldiers and iaboreis than if they were tempt
ed to the secret introduction of spirituous Ii
quors. AS to- discipline, the report says en-
phaticaily that none could be established on
sounder principles, nor administered with
greater Kindness, justice or decision, than
that Of the academy. There is very tho
rough system of classifying the cadets, and
Information of their general department is
transmitted to the Department of War every
month, and OF their proficiency in study, ev-
cry week. IL is thought it would be highly
useful if this official information we're far.
Their transmitted regularly from the War De-
Partment to the parents and guardians of the
pupils. The fiscal concerns are mana red
with the greatest economy. Certain pro-
ceeds from the public lands at Vest Point
have made up what is called a Land Fund.
which has been appropriated to the erection
of several useful buildings. The School
Fund has accrued fourthe suffers establish
ment, and has been applied in erecting
schools, and paying teachers for the children
of the soldiers, and others in the public SER
vice. The new, large, cammodious and
handsome Hotel lately built at the Point, will
be paid tor by Us reut, and the proceeds of
the Land Fund. This building cost t;l1 ,2S6,
OF which O,S95 are unpaid It's rent will
never be less than $1,000 a year. Returning
to the course of instruction She visiters think
that the Mathematics though highly mpor.
tant, occupy rather too large a space. They
recommend more attention to literaturc-to
History, Geography, Ethics, Rhetoric and
Language. Latin, when previously acqui-
red, ought not 20 be permitted to be forgot
ten With the extension OF the scheme of
instruction, is recommended also the extern
sion OF the library, and the collection of the
necessary apparatus. Should the scheme Of
instruction be extended, some modification
might be made in the mathematical depart
ment, and The course, at the same time, be
prolonged to five years. A School Tor prepa-
ring boys before their admissio as Cadets,
might, 1T Is said, meet every difficulty and
sixteen should be the lowest ace for admis-
sion as Cadet. More adequate remunera.
ton ought to be given TO the professors. II
is also recommended that more attention he
paid 10 horscmanship and the exercise of the
sword. Some architectural design is want
ing for the buildings of this national institu.
ton. In regard TO the patronage, il is recon-
mended that youth be selected from each
Congressional district, never to be replaced
but by one similarly qualified.
While noticing the police of the Institu-
ton, the Visters say We learned, that al
though tho Cadets are not liable to violent
and fatal diseases, yet their general health
does not appear to be as good as would be ex-
pected from the salubrlty Of The place in
which they live, and the attention paid to
their food, cleanliness, &c A very great a.
mount of medicines, such as are administer
ed IN torpid state of the digestive organs,
and IN other diseases incident to persons Of
sedentary and studIous habits, is used of this
post The proportion is believed to he much
greater t::an that required for any other mil
itary station belonging 10 the United States
we esteem this to arise from a want Of suffi-
cient bodily exercise, ana that it exists prin-
cipally during the winter season. and in the
spring In simmer and autumn, the daily
drills and other cxcitements TO bodily exer.
else are sufficient for the purpose of health,
and the beneficial result isvery obvious but |
for nearly half the year, the military exerci. |
ses are suspended, and the severe winter cli- |
mats. IN some measure, precludcs those of a !!