The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-19
Rrpoxt az the Boara at V,-sters on Che Mill
.agy s~sa- sssy.

exanina.i n ~ the Mlht.r, Aos1emy nave per-
fortped the duty asisuvd g. t"em, aud resps tfally
submit the toh wing go upon Tue VARIOUS topics
refe, req a. ib Your iettef of tDstsuctioas:-
The board pleasure 10 ST sting that every "a
Gilt, was afforded o, n. sup ist-n ieat aud other
officers The ius liutnu 10 enable n to discasrge
the crust couhd-1 u tren. Ev-'y oepartmsat of
tbs acacemy WAS subm'tt-o In their IN pecton, aud
species 81 i,fo uati,a n-c@ -sary % correct
unoe'stsndi offs ~ icticai aperatt1n was prompt
~ and eerfully fu'b,h.d.
Alter very careful * ,mibnti N Il toe coarse o.
Instruction prescribed b, existing regulations, tho
bosrt WAS deeply iml re--1, with the wisdom OF
those by whom Tat steuD "a d-vs-d. lt ID iitf-
cult TO conceive one more ect in 20 general ar
raDgenebt TIE -ane ~is'tom L. displayed "a the
distribution Of studies ano',g Lhe different CLASSES.
Subjects Of inves'ig.ioi, at nr-te comparatively
sim0le, become e. ,duai III fe compicmlei az tue
staoept approaches tue ertat 'atea OF that course
VIII, the hoDors VI toe td-nP are coafe red upoa
him, Each step taken III that coisse sheds light
90 the su ceeoipg one 'h"s the path, which, under
asystem lea. Pr,i-c w"so De obscure, Y m Ade
easlly SUMMON & d.
The examination OF tn cadets, IN the presence
tttbe board, IN u la, L. day, sai,e J. strengthened
ItctLvirIion e base TX .res-4d IN respect 10 the
Nurte OF studies, aft ad-d abuodaut evidence that
the mode OF destruction @a- AS perfect could veil
he drviseo.
The severe tests I, hi h tue cadet is subjected
under The plan nv ADDICTED. preciudes toe posi-
bihty Of substituti iur Tue 6eda,sioas of reason
the Heie Efforts Of memory. TIE resuls Of these
examinations acre genera ly quite satisfactory,
fnrnistipg not only .dtisiac,or, evidence Of tne
tinguished abiht, of t9.ir instruct,rs aud OF
tn, lie skill AID judgment lar ing know ledge to
the youths comm Ell 70 th~i caargc.
IL THIS conn xlnb. he h,ara ctauaI withhold the
exp esson OF their adm atlnu III Witnessing tue pa
tierce ana I'm ,ar isil, of .h- x. rtiemen TO " ON
the RESPONSIBLE trust - teaching il rnnhded. Mu-
tuai Confidence aod k,ndy y'npsth es exs, between
professor aud student, itio,s inpa,iog the autho
MY Of tue former or | da ihs tails expectations on
the part OF tb. 'att'E III exis aace OF n rea-
tons is snown pot Ia he / G mpatible with. the
higher 'Isinr of jasice, or III the ea oIcement Of
the most rigid d'sci line.
inaru ton 10 the various arm of the service Is
aueht tbeoreti ;aiy aud practically. The officers
tnffpsied Wit the duty OF 1 ruction iu tnis de-
paftmtbt thve .Xhibi'aa qualii atious Of high
order I've precision ana accuracy with which
manouyres were executed 10 the ned comma ded
She rdmiyalton OF the GARD. IL is amOt the dis
tirguishiag excell-n ies Of the Military Academy
that the best sci utd education aud guest mental
culture is comb cd ah These IN .nty exercises,
who impau vigr TO cOns tituton, ana thus se-
curt 10 the s'no' ut tna' Oily etltd, -treug;h,
and activity Essential to prof ssioa OF ara4.
According IA TX stirg relations tue ASST tant aud
scilfg a5sl.taDt pruit -suIs ar detailed from tle
amy and the board regard Il Is emioently Inn
p6i fant that @ben Ces'guated for t1e performance
OF That duty IT the cndd, mcnt NJ the academic
year. theis shoud be aired to the nsttu
tiou At least nnth It's Gus. the board are aware
that tie public exg-n iss may demaod tbs servi yes
OF tbese officers III other -.0s OF duty, but the rea
sons upon VIII ,b this recommendation is founded
are so Obvious and cOgeut AZ to ~OmmenA 1t to the
ad pts0H oil the gOVernmene.
Jmms diately c..Ln.cted wish the course OF in
sttuction is sutj-cs " which the board beg leave
to invite, in special manner, tue attention OF the
Secretary Of War.
b the existing regulations, young men are per.
mitts 10 become members Of tle institution after
having attained the age VI sixteen years. Toe
history Of the AGA ,tm. aud tue I'D mcat of those
whose exper ence gives force to their opinions,
prove very concusively that In mary instances
young gentlemen y no eater AZ that cary age e
not ed TO mas er The ,ompicatcd SUBJECTS
conf rtu'ing the 6rs' y.arr course, The cpRse-
quences necessarily disastrous To the prospects
OF MAJ merit rous youths. Their failure to attain
the steLdaId exsS,eo D. the equations of the
academy. aud TO grapple ssfuliy with the CON.
pix Subjects which engage the attention during
tseir first years Sc vics ar.ses in many instances
from an exceedingly driecuve education.
TIC intellectual powers newer having been Guilt
waited, r.main naoeveIopeu; and thus, for the want
oil thai previous me tai discIpt ne SO nccesSar to
success Il bos<s OF both pa en and chid aftcn
crus, ed. Two I. meds have bsen suggested for
this great evil: First, by requiring higher stand
ard thah that nox prcscrinsd u prerequisite to
ad,olsstor. Secondly, b, extending the course Of
studies Though -rtud ~ i've instead Of -four years
The adoption OF this .hn nst suggested Is liable to
the s-Iiaus objection, thai considerable proportion
oil tic csdets are stlo tea from hSslarge aai highly
resl ec,abe class WHOSE parents onot command tue
means becxssary a. qualify toem for admission uuder
the proposed regulatiJu thus nyidious distinction
u
would. toa great extent, be confncd to t1e more
fortahnte, whose parents are In con jitiou to ft
them for The preliminary exsmbation. Siould the
thu term Of se,vics M extended TO 70 years. it is
believed that the difficulties which beset the path
of many Interesting souDg men Is uld be rem we'd.
The subjects embrace Ia the nr-t years course
should be Of cha ter to DIS ipdluc he mind, sod
PR are for the Investigation Of those Of more
complicated nature. O,hcr advant igos would re-
suit from the p M now Uposd, and which deserve
noti,c. Instruction might, With great advantage,
be given in history, elocution. and composition,
without taking too severely the physical or mental
po wers ct the student
The boar regret to find at the study OF history
is not aud cannUt be embtB ced in tho course Of in
structios. Inns, whde 'de scientific aud military
educ~tlon Of the cadet IL very complete, he enters
the army with DO other knowledge of history than
may have been 8'quirto before MS conncxion nth
the acadtDy. An evil 81 eiariag aac paipable can
Ohly find u remedy b5 tne adoption of the recon-
mcDoaton now pruposed.
While The board sofe impress cd with the thorough
and accurate hn wedg- generally exhibited III the
exact scicn -cs, the necessity Of fequin6g instruc
tion In coculon was qni,e manifest. la many
instances, there Vac the sDsen Of that facility Of
Expression. u acy Of style and clesrness OF pro
nucoiation. which eau only b. acquired b. exsct,ng
q mo extebocd OF instruction In Eagltsh
studir<, sna sfiug composition and efocution part
oil course OF Instruction.
The duties OF the acting assistant professors are
OF highly impor'aSt atd responsible nature, The
selection Of these officers suggested by the ability
they bave displayed in rho several branches OF
learnif Taught the Academy, aud tieir skill and
tact as insr uctors Of youth. To reap the full ben
eiits Of the 81 stem witch nov prevails 1t Is essen
tiaI that the srrvcts OF this class of officers should
ne fur - possible, be cd TO the institution
thus uniting praclchexpenen,c to acknowledged
abibfy. Tue assistant professors now receive ad IL
toDai compensation IN consideration Of the duties
they perform, and the board perceive no reason
why the samc measure Of justice should not be ex-
tended 10 officers elciug subof diuate positions. Tue
boarc ,tnertf.rs, earnestly n recommend that provi-
sion be made for such increase Of pay to acting as
r,s att professors as may bc deemed equitable.
Discipline, so nec~ssa,y to the very existence Of
the scs ceny is enforced with fir nness, and q. the
board believe, with gtrict impartality. The penal
ties oonst quent viotst,on of the code oflaws
prescribed for tie government arc Of q nature to
cure obeoiepce, while their tendency Is not to dc
grade the soes except. indeed. after repeated adj