Litchfield enquirer., 1849-08-09
nj ] SC q 4 L A NJ Y.
A TRIP TO WEST POINT.
BY REV. JOHN G. ABBOTT.

AT seven o'clock in the morning we
moved from the wharf in "The New
World" to ascend the Hudson. Mel
Their the Old nor the New World can ex-
hibit another steamer of such gigantic
proportions. Several hundred ladies and
gentlemen were iuxuriating upon the silk
danaask sofas and lolling chairs in spa
cious saloon, and the promenade deck
was thronged with the multitude seeking
pleasure by ascending the most beautiful
river of America, in pleasant June
morning. The floating palace upon which
we were hurried up the stream at the
rate of nearly twenty miles an hour, was
S75 feet in length. The trees were in
the richest foliage, the fields were carpet
ed in the freshest verdure, the inrumer-
able country seats which embellish the
banks of the stream increases their charms
by half yelling them behind oumulous
clouds of foliage, and the Sabbath day
stiffness Of the country contrasted with
the noise and the turmoil Of the city, in
vested the scene with the aspect Of puri-
ty and holiness which seemed almost un-
natural to dwelier in the midst of the
crowded haunts of man.
We glided rapidly by the Palisades,
entered the spacious basin of Haverstraw
Bay, looked wistfully upon the classic
valley inmortaiized by the legend of
Sleepy Hollow, swept swiftly by Stony
Point, illustrious for those deeds of earn
age which seem to awaken pride and plea
sure in human bosoms, but over which
angels might weep; and plunging into
the sublime scenery Of the Highlands,
were at the end of our voyage, about
fifty miles from New York, almost before
we thought our enterprise fairly begun.
We had hardly hurried across the plank,
and gathered in a group on the pier,
when the paddle wheels were again in
motion, and the gigantic fabric, with its
dense population was rushing with We
locity truly sublime, up the stream. Ere
we bad assembled to the hotel, the boat
had disappeared along the distant reach
es of the river.
No one vino has ever stood upon the
piazza of the hotel at West Point, and in
a clear day looked along the stream with
its barrier Of forest covered mountains,
can forget the scene. No description can
give any adequate conception oft to those
BY whom it has not been beheld. We
visited the institution at this time, as it
was the period of the annual examination
and we had an opportunity of seeing ma
nv exercises of deep interest.
The annual expenditures of the insti-
tuition at the present time, are about.
$4,000. The Academy is designed to
receive $50 cadets, but in consequence of
sickness, designations, expulsions, DC, it
is seldom If ever full. There are usual
ly about 240 upon the ground. One Ca
Diet is appointed from every Congression-
al district. being nominated by the Rep
resentative from that district. The Pre-
sident of the United Slater can appoint
ten annually, and as there are four class
es, there are usually forty at the Acade-
my Of his appointees. The cadets are
considered as IN the service Of the United
States. and each ono receives the pay Of
S24 per month. This sum 10 just about
sufficient 70 defray tho expenses they
must incur.
The discipline Of the institution L. very
rigid. but not injudiciOusly 40 for an 10.
stitutlon Of 10 character. Special regard
u paid 20 that most agreeable virtue.
cleanliness. A young man who appears
10 the morning with Bic linen aolled or In
disorder, with bis boots unpublished, with
aspo. upon bic white paatiloons, o. with
hiS teeth unslsansd. b punished ssU0Fd.