The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-25
WESTERN MILITARY INSTITUTE.
BLUE LICK SysiSos, KY, June 81, 1880

To his excellsncy, J. J. CBrrTESpKs:
SIs. The undersigned, visiters appointed by your
cadets Of the Western Military Institute, under the
general superintendencc Of Colonel Thornton F.
Johnson commencing on the 18th and ending on
the 2st instant, have performed the duty assigned
the following brefreport Of their labor and obscrva
ton:
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 matricuated, of whom seventeen
| 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 and
exercises OF the sections and classes they were
brought before their appropriate Professor the Fac
ulty and spectators, in whose presence they were
| thoroughly and elaboratcly 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 propoundcd by the Faculty
and others present, thus afordng 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 Acadcmyat West Point, in addition to which
instruction in the ancient language 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 were educated at thar
school, and the others graduates of colleges OF
high distinction and well qualified to teach in their
respective departments, the Board can see no rca-
son why complete and thorough education cannot
| be obtained at the Western Military Institute.
The Cadets instructed in military science,
not much with view of qualifying them for the
| army as OF promoting physical development, by
healhful exercise good habits, subordination, and
discipline, and to employ leisure hours, which might
be otherwise devoted to coarse ainusements, or be
| idly and uselessly thrown away. But military
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 it
| their duty TO examine the arms, and found them in
such admirable condition that the handling would
| not soil white glove.
In concluding this report, the Board of yisiters
beg leave to add, that the location of he institute
| at the Blue Lick Springs is SO 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 1t 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 Superinend-
ent and corps of Professors to command and teach
in their respective departments and for these
sons they commend it to public favor and patron
age. Respectfully, p. DUDLEY,
Adjutant General and Er Of. Chairman.
LUCIUS DESHA,
w. G. TALBOT,
JOHN ID. MORRIS,
GEORGE w. WILLIAMS,
JOHN S. WILLIAMS,
| July l5- Members Board Of Visters.