Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-07-05
DOItS9SWI9a

usefulness ot the Military Academy at WEST POINT;
and TO make it, merits more generally known TO the
people OF the Ur;ted States, we everv year invited
some OF our most distinguished citizens TO attend The
annual examination OF cadets, preparatory to the fret
class being commissioned in the army. The geuue
men who compose The Board Of Vi.ers this year, as.
sembed at West Point on III h inst and organised
by eecting Maj Gen. Winfield Scott, Presid 1T and
the Hon. Mr.. Nelson, OF Maryland, Secreary.-The
examination imme diatelJ after wards nc l. and
has continued from day to day-,he board daily assem-
bling at g. aud continuing their abors until o'clock
with an in'erms OF only two hours for diunsr The
examination Is conducted by the academic staff in pre-.
ence OF the board cf vitsSs, ard such strans a.
bitk proper TO attend. The proficiency exl lifted by
the cadets in civil aud military engineering na,he.
mates, ard icdeed all the branches o seiencs is as
creda5e to themselves, is honorable to their 10.
srucors and il is 10 matter of surprise and re.
greet that more OF scientific do attend
examinations. Their presence would be hailed viii,
pleasure by all parties, and they could not bu, feel
degree Of pride in Witnessing the very great benefi
which this institution Is comforting upon the na n hy
annually sending iorih between thirty and forty your
men, better instructed in the sciences, than many OF
PROBES ors in best colleges The board will pro.
badly close is labors next week.
MI zzens has lately opened spacious hotel a, tie
Point at which vlsiiers are as well accommodated IA al
any similar estAb i'hment in the u States. c. urer
From tho Albany Daily Adversor)
WEST PeINT.-The .hrong # visitors TO this place
has for several days hack been very great The hotel
KEEP by cir. CeZzens has been crowded 10 overfio wing
aud while tie ladies have been .rammsd Nv size, in
the bed roomr the gentlemen have been happy TO re.
pose by doz fos Oh the drawing rom floor. Upon
landing, q few days SINCE found at the dock yerv
comfortable wagon cary up the passengers and an
other Tor the baggage The Board Of Vi-i,urs being In
session, we proceeded directly the examination hall
whefe me iour'h class was undergoing most rigid
scrutiny in tbs sudie. The President of the Board
and the oihe rs OF the institution ere i'm full dres.
Board 'r'" '''e
The answers Of he young men were generally prompt
snd satisfactory, and be confessed ID al their
ma'hsmaieai pursuits are Ct the most difficult kind
Our college studies aud examinations are chi!dren's
play compared with those at Yves, Point A vouno
gentleman from Albany acquitted himself wen on lhi,
occasion. - ~
la the evening dres' parade was held os usual a,
Which the vi:iors, most OF hem ere present The
discipline OF the Cadet. is in very perc state and
=, Isl beautiful sight to witness their evening drill
Inc band OF music Is excellent The loss
OF Willis cannot be made up TO 10. We were regaIsd n,
the parade ground with the choicest pieces from The
operas OF Masssianello and Cinderella. Among tb.
attractive objects which visitors are generally taken 10
zee, are The monuments, particularly that erected to
hoseusko, and the little niche in the moun,an's side
which IL dignited with the name of Koscusko's gar
ien "A marble basin receives the watsr of n fine
spring at ms place, and is Inscribed with his name
fort Putnam and Fort Clinton tho oDiy ruins a,
the Point The one is on the high ground above The
PLAIN and the other is al the Point and its outlines are
sui precepnble. Two French Elgineers, Guvion and
Portal, are said TO have laid on, the works The A,a
deny Itself commenced is operations in 1901 or under
the superin!endsnce oi Gen. Wilkins.
, The views from ihe Point are all beautiful No.
hot
up The river TO Newburgh. For nine miles tbs water
exents before you having the deep foundations of tn,
eternal hills. The other cucioses OF the Point ara the
Library which contains a spsrdd full I-ngth Eka,ass
erson, by Sully, and oher excellent portraits
- he collection OF scientific and military works /, saii
10 be the hnest in America. The leading authors are
read in French Ga the table laid the late period.
caIs, and on the stands was fine display of mans
In the drawing academy were shown a great
number oil beautiful drawings 10 pencil aud chalk made
oy lie Cadeis, under the tuition OF Professor Gin.
hHU autfan Of Il.
and some OF them were really exquisite produc IONS
The chemical lecture room and apparl tus were also
interesting subjects Of remark Tho latter seemed 10
be ample and well chosen.
The philosophical apparatus in the story above the
lecture room, was also admirable. The Trleseope
french instrument, with it's we'll contryed stand at
lrdtted our attention. II ia ibe largest in the United
States 1t was an easy thing to read through il! the
q anne OF steamboat lying al the wharf at Newburgh
All the latest notifications Of Philosophical apparatus
are exemplliied 10 this collection.
Ii was very evident to us that splendid as well as
useful education is TO be attained al West Point but i,
requires the whols mental sni physical strength of the
student to be successful large proportion Of the
Cadets are unable TO go through the course The
standard is high, and very many fail in attaining it,
We should advise DO young man to enter the school
west Point, unless he has made up his mind to en-.
dute hardship and faiigues body and mind We
Sely say, it is the most scientific institution in the
,o0rtN the military academies in England fall far be-
low il.
On The evening OF our arrival there was hall Al ,be
Hotel, and the dancing kept up with grea, spirit
The visers have separate table for themseIyes 10
which they invite such persons arriving at The Point
rs they think proper.
On Friday afternoon ihere was Grand disnlsv RI
artillery tactics. The Cadets man9uvred several
pieces of cay.non with great effect Their movements
were rapid, and their rings in the most beautiful
style lie government should provide horses for hese
drills, for at present the Cadets are actually detailed
TO do their duty.
On Saturday afternoon there was a grand exercise
of firing with cannon balls and sheIls-Two six poup
cir ineb hptui
inch mortar used. One target on the west side
OF the river placed at the distance Of 1900 yard
the one opposite the point at the distance of about 500
This was repeatedly hii and all The balls struck with.
in few feet OF the mark. The accuracy of the aim
was very Tenafkatls. vessel or basiion would
have been easily demolished by this fire. The shells
were also beautifully thrown. finer spectacle can
scarce he conceived than the Hght ard bnrstino of
shell. Nor another part othe surprise less agreea
BILE, the echoes OF the guns The rsve raons vera
as,onshogly prolonged. From noun ain to mountain
rang the peal OF the artillery like the thunder OF
heaven, till it died away in the distance with sui.
len roar.
In the evening, some beautiful fireworks were
thrown up by the cades, and tires we're kinded on Fort
Pu'Dam. The band soTenadsd the gussr, and all was
gaiey and good hgmor.
Among the interesting "reminiscences Of our visit are
those connected with the widow OF Cen AlexanSef
Hamilton. This, lady, at tbs age OF 76 years. rises
early in the morning, and takes The most active ex-
ereise She wen.np 10 Fori Putnam with as much appa
rent ease as any Of he young people who attended he
Another was the arrival and departure Of the ex-See
rotary OF Staie and 10 us another the poli,snsss a,
eivility received from Gen. Van CoriIsndt ,nd MIR
Dudley Of the board of vsi ors. Our own ci,v was
we'll represented, and left behind us several of our
most agreeable ard disiing ushed citizens
OF Mr.. COZZsns Hotel NE would remafk that ~ ia a
splendid house, and is KEEP, in the best s,yJe TIE
kindness and good humor Of the host leave vs,v ia
yorable impression on the minds Of his guests Ia short
"e' Poini - piaee oil no ordinary Interest, and
such we commend il TO The notice OF all persons Of taste
aud refinement