Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-07-04


pupil. Its believed be dcxl to acquire the art OF
ins,rucpg youth in any department of literature or sci
ence but il is especially in those which reuure skill
III demonstrating the theories and principles by expert.
men Instruction in such branches gh not TO be en-.
trusted TO officers liable to be frequently removed
The third class were examined in mathematics and
French There is lao institution that we are acquainted
WITH where department OF sei,nce m lis s her braue-
Is more thoroughly taught than in this Academy The
high atanments aud unweaIicd Industry OF the profess
sors and assistants, together wIh the great appcaion
end capacity OF the cadets OF the third ,as- exbt.
ed throughout the Of this examination in manner
highly satisfactory 10 the board
The examination in Fteucl, was very ct.dtalle in ,Is
teachers AID cadets Of this class They appeared To he
well Instructed in the grammar ohs jilcuit language
conugang the regular and ire gular very
" and they translated i, nto English or. a, facility
whehis all that deemed requisite: The principal object
oi this coutsc being oenaho the cadet to consult the he.
French authors military science.
As there at least $50 students to he ,,uyh in uj
language, It is believed by h"se be-. acquainted with the
subject that another teacher in this branch onh IN h..
added 10 those already employed
The fourth class examined in mathematics am,
French. The cadets of this class cVuceJ a ,ryrcc NJ,
proficiency in the elementary Lian,h. of u,,hea,;cs
mighty credabe TO the gentlemen who is carp ed with
hs department OF their studies. Whatever may be the
talents aud Application OF the student cannot make
proficiency in this essential department OF study which
may be considered the foundation of all military eJuca
ton unless his studies directed by person not onlv
profoundly versed IN the science bu, possessed of grea
experience III the art oi in.tructng Youth; and the
wo1'u .ase 'his opportunity oil rvmirking that remove
seh an instructor from the academy for the purpose of
substituting another Who, whatever his talents and ac.
qnements may be- does not possess the same
and practice in teaching hut he preudcia 70 the
interests oi The academy, and would be unjust TO the
cadets. J Il" "e
The government oxacS from them, especially in t,c
department oil mathematics, adegrcc OF proficiency which
they cannot obtain without the assistance of CONN,
instructors and they may he exposed turned back
dehcient or TO be dismissed incapable of going
The course OF studies in the academy because the in
structor provided Tor them incompetent or inc xper
enced. 'f''
heboardis induced these re marks. from having
hau before them late order the Commander i'm Chief
containing regulations sanctioned by you, which, if appli-
cable TO this academy, would seem calculated TO Affect ye
materially The instruction OF the cadets 1t appears To
mem that The regulations requiring all officers who have
not served with their regiments Tor three years TO ion
eT respective crops as " i'll nearly all the as
s'saat professors from the academy would be
with very great nconv enencc any me and al This ne
riod when thesuperntenden, who has go lone
over his ins'uon with such signal ability and success
is about TO retire, such change would seriously
his successor This embarrassment will he increased bv
me effect oil the regulation, which takes from the sumo
flnendent the power OF nominating the officers IN h..
detached Tor that service. He supposed from his
ton 10 be better acquainted than any one else win ,b
quiremen and moral character of graduates and Tho
responsibility with him tappcars that he souJ
have the poweroi selecting his assistants Iisdeemed i'm
poan that The course OF studies should be steady and
pace with theImprovemen which daily take place in tbs
progress OF science. This would be mpracticable if ,b
assistant professors were frequently changed and selected
from ohcers Who had graduated prior 10 the inroduc
ton oil the Improvements taught in this ins,u,ion
throughout every department of science. Indeed 1T would
appear advisable that the professors who have ev;nco
SO much capacity in impdrng instruction to youth sbon
be offered every inducement remain by being nerna
ncny attached to the institution and receiving som al
dtionai allowance for services materially affecting tho f.,
ture character and efficiency of the army and which
they were rendered in any literary institution in the
country, would command much higher pecuniarv p. :
wards The Board attended the battalion light ntsn,r,
and artillery drills, aud had every reason 10 no
ned WIN te instruction OF The cadets in their field exer.
cses They were present likewise in the laboratory
when the cadets exhibited their proficiency in pvro
techny, and they subsequently, them throw shells.
and hre at the target with light and heavy pieces of ar,
executed "A
equalIed and not surpassed in any school of practice in
Europe.
This is the more remarkable from the state Of tho ucs
used Tor practice. They very defective, and the
board recommend that the several pieces of ordnance
which are required for The instruction the cadet. bv
teir able and scientific instructor should be furnished
oil the best quality and most approved consruc tions
Much Credits due TO the officer charged with the in
strucion oil the cadets in this department. HI has COM
piled practical ueaise military pyrotcc hny and
translated an excellent elementary on the forms
OF cannon and various systems OF artillery and anocr an
the theory and practice of gunnery from the French OF
professor Persy oil Mentz all of which, with numerous
plates illustrating the subject have been published in tl
hthograpic press in the academy.
The cadets are encamped two months in every wear
and during that period are instructed in all the duties OF
the soldier in active service, in the use ofnsrumeus and
in the application OF the different branches of science ne
cessary TO knowledge of their professions; whether this
practical course OF the application OF science the pur-
poses oil military and civil engineering may moi be
fy extended, is worthy Reconsideration.
The library OF the academy contains very valuable
collection OF works adapted to the peculiar objects of this
institution 1t is rich in works on military scenc. and On
civil engineering, and contains valuable series of militia
history and the best geographical and Typographical
maps oil the states OF Europe to Illustrate this important
study IL is true that in works polite literature il s az
yet rather deficient although the selection has been yerv
judicious but however desirable it may be to augment
number OF volumes on miscellaneous subjects the real
object oil the institution must be kept steadily i'm view and
II VIII continue TO be The duty of the IN
purchase in preference TO all others hooks relating 10 the
sciences taught in this academy, to supplv the
ny works on architecture chemistry eeoogv niner,og,
and moral science, in which the library IS still very de-
fcieDt. 49,
The philosophical apparatus and sstronomca
of the best kind and of the latest but
required fully illustrate the course Of natIrs
philosophy.
The building which contains the library and pbiIo.o
phical apparatus is both unsafe and unstable and IN,
rooms are so small and inconvehient as not 10 adj mi
oil tie necessary arrangement and display of then
Tor useful purposes. Many instruments of the nbIo
sOphcal apparatus, which delicate i'm their strnc
ure and uses, and require be very nicely and ac
cnTately adjusted are exposed 10 be injured Inv The con
slant and violent shaking of the edice and the HUGS
Economical instruments canIsl las~-HBs-r-,iic Ime rea
and from want Of lcS large telescope is placed
e145assSr1Dg entirely unsuited to its uses
or these reasons and from tie intrinsic value of tbc
books and Instruments the board recommend the crocion
Of hreproO building with observatory aunexed 10 H.
Upon careful and minute examination of tIs rnII,o
buildings oil the academy it has been found thar bev arc
inadequate TO the purposes OF the institution and are moi
only badly constructed, but entirely too limited o Afford
comfortable or proper accommodations for the cadets q be
arc lodged III them. "
number OF cadets from necessity crowded into
small room, winch must produce prejudcal effect unou
their studies, their morals their health That the,
h.gN iii.