The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-04

ana their suggestions, 10 which the Board Of VIII
iers have coneurred, are herewith transmitted But
The Board as body, would submit 10 your con>ide-
radon The following engrossed statement Of The ac-
lual condition OF the Institution:
The course OF instruction prescribed BY the regn-
,aIions ofthe Academy, is comprised under the fol-
lowing heads
Firs., Infantry Tactics and Military Police; I'd,
Mathematics; 50, the French Language 4h, Draw
ing; 5h, Natural Philosophy 9Th, CheiniIr and
Mineralogy 7lh. Artillery Tactics, The Science
Of Ganne,y and me duties q Mll''ar w Ioo' ON
Rhetoric and Moral and Political Science and
10Th, the use OF the Sword. This course oil studies
Is required 10 be finished In four years
The examinations which the Board have wit
messed abundanily prove that, 10 the discharge Of
their duties, the Academic Stall oil the institution
have used that zeal and industry with deep sense
OF The responsibilities Of heir stations, an honorable
and palrioc desire 10 serve their country lauoa-
Bile ambition elevate their profession, and an &C.
estimate Of the value OF science must always
inspire. The general proficiency Of the Cadets, 10
the several branches Of study teslIhes to The entire
competency Of The professors and their assistants,
In one important department Of science alone,
Mineralogy, The studies have remained incomplete,
owing 10 The insufficient number Of assistants as
signed 10 the Profess Of Chemistry, whose duly Il
Is 10 impan instruction in this branch also. The
Impotence 10 military as well as 10 civil engi-
Deer, of a familiar acquaintance with Mperaloey,
TO which should be added The no less Useful science
OF Geology isso obvious, that IN The opinion oi The
vide The professor with the most ample means OF
completing and illustrating these portions Of his
course. To enable him 10 give full course Of in
struction these BRANCHES Of Naioral Sciences, so
comprehensive and progressive as Chemistry, Mi
neralogv, and Geol Ry. il is indi>Pens BILE that he
should BE- allowed al least one additional assistant,
and that he be provided with as complete series OF
Mineral and Geological specimens, both foreign and
domestic, t,geiher with drawings OF sections, and
o,her means illustrative OF the cognate branch of
Geognosy, as can be procured. An appropriation TO
the latter effect has already been asked for, and is
respectfully solicited that the grant OF IL be ally
recommended to Congress The erection Of new
building 10 replace that which was destroyed by ire
during the lasl year. the plans Of which, i is under
stood, have been approved by the Chiei Engineer
will provide suitable apartment for the Minerolo-
gical and Geological cabinets which In the course
Of few years, might be greatly enlarged, and be-
come extremely valuable were i enjo,ned upon The
surgeons and officers al the different military posts
ihr0ugh out the Union 10 make some exeriions 10
Increase by collecting specimens.
IL connexion with tins subject, the present board
cheerfuly respond to the suggestions OF former one
who IN their report, have recommended not only as an
Of strict justice, but conductive to the best ine-
Of the institution, that the acting Professor OF
Chemistry should be placed tho rank with bis
colleagues. The ardnousness Of his abors. together
With the zeal and ability with which he has hitherto dis
charged lhem would seem fairly 10 enttle him 70 this
promotion The Board, therefore, recommend that the
department Of Chemistry, Mneroogy. and Geology, be
established by law upon the footing with the other
departments. namely. with professor and two assis-
tsnts receiving The emounents respectively that
received by the Professor Of Mathematics and his
| associates.
The erection Of the building already alluded to. the
plan and location of which warmly recommended
by the Committee Of Public Buildings, will likewise
provide for the ample accommodation of the Library
well as the models and apparatus for the departments
OF Engineering and Natural Philosophy Yearly sppro-
pria.ions these departments have repeatedly been
asked for and granted the Indispensable necessity Of
which is evident in order enable the professors and
cadets to keep pace with the discoveries III science, aud
with the improvements IN those arts which form part OF
their military education. The unexpended funds APP
priated to the departments Of Philosophy. Engineering
Drawing. Chemistry, Mathematics aud for the increase
OF the Library. amounted, the end Of the first quar-
ter Of the present year. to upwards Of seven thousand
dollars, large portion Of which, is understood, will
be forthwith applied by the superintendent TO the En-
gincerng department, and the remainder the other
departments. the necessary buildings recon-
mended for their shall have been erected. In
gard 10 the disbursements for the library has been
commended to place them under the charge Of
mitlee Of the Academic Staff. elected from and BY
their body whose duty shall be to select the most
useful books spertaining to the several branches Of
studies that may be hereafter taught in the nst-
tuition. The Committee Public Buildings have also
called the attention OF the Board the nsuciency Of
the barracks for the comfortable accommodation OF the
cadets. and suggested important improvements in
their interior puice. They recommended too, an
aTKeuient OF tue T1ospHa, winch,
| only six rooms, accommodating IL patients and al
though. far these have been found sufficient, they
could hardly be expected to be Of epidemic.
They, moreover, recommended the erection Of OBJ
servatoy, building TO accommodate the large tee-
scope transit Instrument AMI astronomical clock and
the establishment Of swimming school in all of
| which the Board Of visiters unanimously concur
The Committee on the Internal Police OF the Ins,i-
tuition also remark upon the unitness Of the south
barracks the purposes for which they were designated
furthe The nF
lave enactment from the State Of New York, prohlt-
ing the sale Of ardent spirits the cadets within
limits Of the Military Academy reserve. The latter
suggestion Is highly approved by the Board. The III
designations OF this committee have resulted in APP
prova OF the rules under which distribution of goods
at the Store" is made though they have regretted
lind that an impression is very prevalent among the
corps Of Cadets thai they extravagany charged for
them. Your attention is respectfully invited to this
| subject.
The Fiscal Committee after showing that the none.
tar affairs Of the institution are conducted with sys-
TEN, accuracy, and good faith propose that the sppli
cants for admission, who ordered TO report them
selves for examination, he allowed mileage sufficient
TO defray the expense of their transportation the post
The object OF this is to equaze the facilities OF sdmis
for the youths Of country in all conditions, and
the most remote distances adding thereby 10 the
publican character Of the Academy They also recon-
mended increase of the salaries of the Superindcn
Professors, aud Assistant Professors, in which the
Board Of Visiters concurred
The Committee appointed to inquire into the courss
Of military instruction and tactics the Academy are
will be perceived by their report quite satisfied with
the manner in which it has been conducted aud,
ference the present discipline observed al the post
are of opinion that it is administered with proper
gard TO the necessity Of strict enforcement Of the
prescribed regulations unaccompaned by any exercise
Of unnecessary severity the part Of the officers in the
hope Of winning well with a view sacure an
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