The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-07-29
WEST POINT ACADEMY.


Com. Charles Stewart President, and c.
=. Iiadduck, Esq. Secretary-dated West
Point, June 2lst. 1t fills nearly foul
columns of the Intelligencer we must pre-
sent its substance in a much smaller com
pass Raleigh Register.
"The board devoted seven hours Of eacl
day from the 18th to the 2lst ut. to a yf
gorous examination of the course of in
struction pursued in the Academy, anl
! they report that it is remarkably compre
henslye, correct and efficient, 10 every de-
panment of Geometry, Natural and Elk.
perimental Philosophy, Chemistry, Mine.
rally, Geology, Mechanics, Optics, Astron.
ouly Magnetism, &c. as well as Engineer
ing, Military and Civil, Gunnery, Arcbi-
lecture, formation OF Armies, Strategy,
&c. The Board report that the course Of
instruction is not only well planned and tho
rough, but that the Professors to whom it
is tOnhded are admirably qualified for the
discharge Of their respective duties, and
no Improvement therein is practicable.
Ia Some other respects, however, the
Boaid suggest Improvements. The pro-
yisi,n for moral and religious instruction
is ADEQUATE. The Chaplain is, also, Pro-
tessT of Geography, English Grammar,
Rhe oric, Moral Philosophy and CoDstitu-
tiohl Law. His time is engrossed by
thes, branches, so that he has very little
leis,ge for his pastoral duties, aside from
Suu,ay services, and the Board very pro.
pery recommend that be be relieved Of
bis Literary and allowed to attend strictly
10 lil Clerical duties.
Iey also recommend that the study OF
Logr be added to those now prescribed,
and dat greater attention be paid to pro-
dcierfy in the art of Composition. 1t
would be a shame to train up a generation
ot heroes to win victories who would not
know how, after winning them, to write
decea bulletins. In Elouction, too, the
Board find lanentable want of culture
and recommend improvement. The prin-
cip, textbook used in the study of French
IS Il very Objectionable character, and
ultll ee relol lieu.
The Hospital is very good, but the
Barracks for the accommodation Of the
Calcis are insufficient and very defective.
Thy contain ninety-slX rooms barely
sufficient for the accommodation of one per.
son och, yet two hundred and fifty young
men arr crowded into them, 20 the detri-
meat oftheir health, progress ana morals.
They are badly located and clumsiy con-
strutted. The Board recommend now
ones more spacious commodious and sight
ly N the bauk Of tho river.
The feed and furniture are unexception-
able
Tie Military instruction is excellent.
Tie naked cost Of Instruction and main
tena,ce the past year was Sl27,7j4 3d.
Eacl Cadet is allowed by tho Government
S23 month, amounting last year to SSH
405 90 in all. For this sum each must
provide his own board, clothing, books,
furniture, &c. No one is allowed to re-
ceiye any aid from his family or friends,
50 that perfect equality Of means between
the rich and the poor must exist so long
as thy are at West Point. On the JUS
tce md eNpedicncy Of this absolute sup.
port OF body OF students, without requr-
ing any obligation to render service in re-
turn, we have something to say at another
time
A great many of tho Cadets leave be.
fore completing their studies, impeled
either by physical inability, dislike to the
routine, or indispoSitlon TO submit TO the
rugged and arduous life there prescribed.
They are generally the sons of the rich,
or those who have been brought up in in
diligence and luxury.
In conclusion, the Board express unan-
imous and ardent conviction of " the great
permanent interest of our whole country
III this our only National institute of Sci
ence, earnestly hoping that no narrow
public councils of local Jealousies win ever
be suffered to divert from IFS original pur.
post, OF 10 impede Its natural progress to
the utmost limit of acaiemical perfection.