The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-27
WESTERN MILITARY rNsrIrurr

BLUE LICK SPRINGS, Ky, juno 81 1880
To his excellenoy, j. J. CHITTENpEN:
SIR: The undersigned, visiters appointed by your
excellency TO attend the annual examination Of the
cadets of the Western Military Institute under the
general superintendent Of Colonel Thornton F.
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 brief report of their labor and observa
ton:
Since the removal Of the Institute from George
town to Blue Lick Springs, one hundred and sixty
seven cadets, representing seventeen States and
Territory, have matriculated, OF whom seventeen
absent on leave, thirteen have been honorably
discharged, seven have been dismissed and one
hundred and thirty three were in attendance ut the
close of the session.
The undersigned attended the examination and
exercises oil the sections and classes they
brought before appropriate Professor, the Fac
ulty and spectators, in whose presence they
thoroughly and elaborately examined in their
course oil academic studies, and il s 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 afording the best evidence
that they well and thorou ghly taught in their
respective departments.
The textbooks used and the course of instruction
adopted at the Institute are, as 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
three members OF the Faculty educated at that
school, and the others graduates Of colleges Of
high distinction and well qualified to teach in their
respective departments, the Board no rea-
son why complete and thorough education cannot
be obtained at the Western Military Institute.
The Cadets are instructed in military science,
not SO much with view of qualifying them for the
army as OF promoting physical development. by
healthfu exercise, good habits, subordnaton, and
discipline, and to employ leisure hours which might
be otherwise devoted to coarse amusements, or be
idly and usclessly thrown away But military ex-
ercises are never permitted to interfere with the
academic studies of the Cadet.
The Board of Visiters have carefully inspected
the quarters Of the Cadets and find them neat and
comfortable, the police good and such as in every
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 il
their duty 10 examine the arms, and found them in
such admirable condition that the handling would
not soil a white glove.
In concluding this report the Board Of Visitors
beg leave to add, that the location of the institute
at the Blue Lick Springs is 50 well and favorably
known, not only in the Western States but in the
entire Mississippi valley, that would be useless
set forth its advantages and commend it 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 Superntend
ont and corps of Professors to command and teach
sons they commend il to public favor and patron
age. Respectfully, p. DUDLEY,
Adjutant General and Er of. Chairman.
LUClUS DESHA,
w. G.. TALBOT,
JOHN ID. MORRIS,
GEORGE w. WILLIAMS,
JOHN S. WILLIAMS,
July 10 Members Board Of Visiters.