Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-08-17
OFFICIAL.
REPORT OF THE vISTTERS OF THE UNITED
STATES MILITARY ACADEMY.

REPORT OF THE vIsrTERs OF THE UNITED
STATES MILITARY ACADEMY.
NJ WEST PoISr, June ls, 1850. y
SIR: The Board of Visiters, consisting of mem-
bers from fifteen of the States of the Union, invited
by you to attend the general examination Of the
corps of Cadets, assembled at this place on the 1st
instant and were received by the Superintendent Of
the Academy, together with the Academic and Mill
ary Staff with the distinguished courtesies practsed
at military posts; and during their stay have had
every facility afforded them for the most thorough
and searching examination into the affairs and con1
duct of the institution. !,
The Board have regularly attended the examinatioa
of the Cadets for fifteen successive days, Sunday
excepted from the hours Of nine A. M. to p. M
and from three to FIVE p. M. and the various mita
ry exhibitions which were usually after fve p. M.
and from time to time have been conducted through
all the building and shown all the apparatus and ma
terals belonging to the institutions but in order to
more thorough investigation Of the subjects to which
the attention of the Board directed by your letter
Of invitation, committees consisting each of three
members of the Board, were appointed and directed
to inquire into all that appertains to instruction. dis
cipline, police, administration and fiscal affairs, whose
reports here follow.
Report of the Committee on Instruction.
The course of instruction prescribed by the Govern
ment covers so wide field, and goes minutely and
thoroughly into the subjects embraced in it. that the
Committee feel some diffidence in speaking Of the
conduct of the departments Of study and Of
the success of the Cadets in the pursuit of them and
vet the examinations to which we have been invited
have been so full and so fair as to leave upon
minds no doubt either of the ability of the teachers
Of the propriey of their methods education Indeed
has been apparent to us throughout that the gen
tlemen employed to carry out the designs Of the Gov
ernment in the support of this institution in addition
to eminent scientific and literary attanments and re-
markable simplicity of manners and purity Of charac-
ter possess Also in equal degree that aptness to
teach that professional enthusiasm without which the
highest talents and the largest acquisitions mpo
tent and valueless in an institution of learning.
In the mathematics-the basis of the whole system
of education here-and in the diversified application
of its principles to civil and military engineering the
Committee see nothing be regretted be desired
We find it difficult to imagine any thing, in the pre-
sent state Of science, perfect or more efficient in
academic discipline.
In the various kindred branches of geography, geo-
ogy mineralogy, chemistry, and astronomy, as much
appears to be accomplished as the time allowed to
these numerous subjects can well be supposed to
admit.
In logic grammar rhetoric, morals, and interna-
tona law for all Of which very little time is apart,
the attanments of the Cadets highly creditabe to
themselves and their very efficient teachers.
The French language is here taught with success,
we think entirely unequaled within the extent of our
experience. The method adopted by the accomplish
ed instructor in this department. seems in degree
original, and certainly commends ITSELF by its results,
as singulary philosophical and happy.
1t appears to us worthy of remark that in the
branches most remote from the demonstratve sciences
which occupy the earlier part Of the course for ex-
ample in morals and law there was an evident dis
tinctness and precision Of statement and unusual
severity Of logic to be ascribed chiefly to the intellect
ual habits formed by the mathematical studies of the
course. And we cannot but think that, with proper
advantages for pursuing these subjects to an extent
more becoming their importance in the education of
civil engineer, soldier, and gentleman 1t would
be found that the severe sciences, SO exactly and
thoroughly taught here most important prePar-
alton for general intelligence and manly character.
The specimens Of drawing, submitted to the exami-
nation of the Committee all executed under the dlec-
ton and instructions of the eminent artist at the head
OF that department, were extremely neat, and many
Of them of high order Of merit. 1t was particularly
gratifying to witness such proficiency in art which,
while it is necessary to the civil and military engi-
neer intimately connected also with the cultva
ton of the eye and the enjoyment OF nature IN every
sphere Of life.
1t has occurred to u.s. to suggest to the Board
two somewhat important changes ln the course OF
instruction. in the hope that, even if no immediate
improvement of the kind should be thought wise by
the Department of War; the hints we have to offer
might contribute, in connexiOn with similar recon-
mendations by other Boards gradually to elevate the
standard of attainment and perfect the mental and
moral discipline of the Academy.
We recommend, in the first place, the introduction
Of the study of the Spanish language. Now that we
have, within our own borders, large population
speaking this language OF its dialects and are
brought into national relations with various countries
adjacent to us where the tongue is used needs
no argument to show that, if any foreign language
should be taught the civil engineers ard soldiers Of
the country, the language of many thousands Of our
now citizens and Of the nearest nations deserves at
tenton first of all.
We recommend in the second place, the study OF
the evidences of natural and revealed religion. The
character of citizen the character of gentleman
not complete without the knowledge of the grounds
of religious faith-the spiritual principles which
give dignity to the present life by connecting it with
life come Of all men, the soldier is the last to
be left to meet the crisis of earthly being without
the light and supports of intelligent established
gious belief His country should not call him TO the
hazards of in her defence without taking all pains
to assure his heart in the day of danger and death
And Christian people should not be guilty of the
absurdlty Of training its youth to neglect the Chris
tan religion With the deepest Of the value oi
the services Of the Chaplain and of the ethical studies
OF the academic course clear that there is yet
great deficiency in this department 1t is not enough
that Christianity is preached the Sabbath day its
great argument and the reasons which all reigl-