The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-01
WESTERN MILITARY INSTITUTE.

BLUE LICK SPRISos, KY, June II, 1850.
TO his excellency, J. J. CnIrTENDES:
SIR: The undersigned, visiters appointed by your
exceency to attend the annual examination OF the
,adets of the Western Military Institute, under the
general superintendent of Colonel Thornton r.
Johnson, commencing ON the 18th and ending on
the 2lst instant, have performed the duty assigned
them and have the honor, respectfully, to submit
the following briefrepor of their labor and observa
ion:
Since the removal of the Institute from George
town to Blue Lick Springs, one hundred and sixty
seven cadets representing seventeen States and one
Territory, have matriculated, Of whom seventeen
IRE absent on leave, thirteen have been honorably
discharged, seven have been dismissed and one
hundred and thirty three were in attendance at the
close Of the session.
The undersigned attended the examination aud
exercises OF the sections and classes as they were
brought before their appropriate Professor, the Fac
ulty and spectators, in whose presence they were
thoroughly and eaborately examined in their
course of academic studies and it is with ordi-
nary degree of pleasure the Board bear testimony
TO the prompt and correct answers given by the
Cadets TO the questions propounded by the Faculty
and others present thus aiordng the best evidence
that they are well and thoroughly taught in their
respective departments.
The text books used and the course of instruction
adopted at the Institute are, advised al
most identical with those of the United States Mill
tary Academy at West Point in addition to which,
instruction in the ancient languages is given, which
may be considered a fair average Of the course OF
study OF the colleges OF the United States; and as
OF the were cuuCdttd al tildL
school, and the others graduates of colleges OF
high distinction and we'll qualified to teach in their
respective departments the Board can see no rea
son why complete and thorough education cannot
be obtained at the Western Military Institute.
The Cadets instructed in military science I,
net much with view Of qualifying them for the
army as OF promoting physical development, by
healthfu exercise, good habits subordination, and
discipline, and to employ leisure hours, which might
be otherwise devoted to coarse alnusements, or be
idly and uscessly thrown away. But military cx-
ercses arc never permitted to interfere with the
academic studies Of the Cadet.
The Board of Visiers have carefully inspected
the quarters of the Cadets, and find them neat and
respect to merit their entire approbation and from
personal examination, and all the information
which they have been able to obtain, they have
found the fare prepared for the Cadets to be clean,
wholesome, and abundant. They also deemed it
their duty to examine the arms, and found them III
such admirable condition that the handling would
not soil white glove.
In concluding this report, the Board Of Visiters
beg leave to add that the location of the institute
at the Blue Lick Springs is well and favorably
known, not only in the Western States, but in the
entire Mississippi valley, that it would be useless to
set forth its advantages, and commend il to public
favor on that ground. But they unwilling to
withhold an expression OF their unqualified appro-
baton of the course of study, the good order, po-
lice, and discipline observed and enforced at the
Institute, and their entire confidence in the high
qualifications of the general and joint Superintend-
ent and corps of Professors to command and teach
in their respective departments and for these rea-
they commend il to public favor and patron
age. Respectfully, p. DUDLEY,
Adjutant General and Er of. Chairman.
LUClUS DESAA,
w. G.. TALBOT,
JOHN ID. MORRIS,
GEORGE w. WILLIAMS,
JOHN s. WILLIAMS,
July 10 Members Board Of pisifers.