The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-08-14
seq Our Warrington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, August II, 1861

WASHINGTON, August II, 1861.
". st Dismissal Of Midshipm1s-Napal Academy
A. occurrence at Annapolis, some weeks ago, has
caused good deal of feeling here not only among
naval officers, but among citizens, who conceive
gross injustice has been done. ball not be sur
prsed II 1t leads to the abolition 1T next session Of
Congress, Of what is called the Naval Academy at
Annapolis. This institution was sort of pet duck
Of Mr. Bancroft and was set afoat, in the first in
stance by stretch of authority not strictly war
Santed by law. All the literary and scientific ex
crescences in the army and navy have been gotten
up pretty much in the same way. They are chiefly
contrivances for shore dlers clerical officers with
some smattering Of science and more pretension
and quackery, to enable them to have comfortable
quarters, good wages and commands, and pleasant
society; and that they accommodate such descrip-
ton of persons, who never could render efficient
service at sea or in time of war, is quite evident
The army has a regiment of military clerks here
who figure in uniform ut levees and on gala days.
and re ally set up for heroes
Midshipmen who entered the service six years
ago, were not required to understand French or
Spanish, or Italian, or drawing, or the manual OK
ercise with the musket They were before promotion
required to undergo an examination as to seaman
ship, naval gunnery, mathematics, and general in
telligence, and to possess good English education
This exa mination was to be before board of post
captains of the navy, and commanders-at any rate
naval officers. This was the law.
Now, it is required that before they are promoted
they must undergo examination before the pro
fessors Of the Naval Academy, as to French aud
Spanish, and other accomplishments. They must
enter the Academy and undergo its teachings, and
for any want Of knowledge it respects them, they
do oh nnnfi M n
certain number, cause a dismissal. They must
learn the military drill, also. Some months since,
several midshipmen who had been at sea three aud
four, some of them five years, were ordered to the
Academy to prepare for examination; and after
few weeks probation because Of ina bility to pass
in French and Spanish, and military science, and
other similar Accomplishments, though they we're
talented young men, of good character and excel
lent seamen, and as good English scholars as most
Of the captains and eutenants Of the navy at their
age, were dismissed.
Those midshipmen who have entered the Acade-
my within the last two or three years, have been
ut their studies fitting them for soldiers, politicians,
dpOmatists, newspaper editors college professors
and perhaps operatic and dramatic critics, and will
most of them pass the professors examination; bat
they will then have to learn practical seamanshp,
and some other things indispensable to good
naval officer mot to be learned at the Academy
pass Hvll, and Decatur, and Somers and Lawrence,
and Stockton, and Stewart, and Perry, and McOo-
nough, but it is doubted if. in the tout ensemble they
will look better be actually their superiors in
the requisites to do their country good service.
We may have q collection of young naval pedants,
literary fops, prouettng dandies who will figure in
ball rooms; but the bold, bluff, daring. hardy sailor
viii be an extinct race in our navy. With respect
to he young men who were dismissed, some of
thelo have been esteemed among the most pro-
N 'ng officers Of their grade in the service. The
at '~eeding has been cruel towards them, and espe-
- when it is known that eight out Of ten of the
VIZ emit leutenants could not have passed the or.
nayS and which, in most cases, would have been
fairs nee Of their unftness, rather than fitness
a. po heir profession. The next thing required
be dancing, poetry and music. 49,.
JouN PaUr JoNrs