The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-07-01
TIE WEST WINr ACADEMY.
Report ~ the ro~rd of V1sassrs - go vnsss<a
sssss" mtfsssry Academy Nc ~~s< Rsect,
june, Is5A


sssss" m,las@ry Academy NJ vs~'st Eess~t,
urrm SYsys, Nuravx AoADxv,
Wks1 PolSs, N. T., June Ia, 1867. !
En- JosS B. HuD, Secretary Of w~e-
er-ybe Board 81 vssissrs invited, n accordance with
NV, ~ e Seer ary Of War, 10 attend the snnc exai
ration ID the Mi Asry Acadeuy ii wea Point, have the
honor 10 submit, .re fu.icwng report
M undersF jn~u nsmben Of the Board, sssembied II
me place On no Let & June, 1857, and orgSazed for tho
Esnsac'oh cusrnsss on the day following.
special HAutsees appointed ~ the President
upon ne' subjects lzdicated In letters OF invi
'A'on, an iwhic. is maie the dutg Of the Beard TO
invesrigp r.
Every ssoiny was Afforded these scverA Committees by
esabe Chem rs well the entire Eoard, to make fa
md fsfacory examination Of he subjects referred 70
and Fc general of tho institution the term
Aio ourselves would allow,
he sahsirai.cn Of graduating class Of cadets
- ssacca aurirg ak days-fron o'clock A. Il un,!l
Seek p NJ o; each day, in the presence ef our OWE and
rAcsdenic Bnsrd. They examined In engineering.
ahsce, minerlogy and geology, artillery infantry and
vry taet,cs Beades attendance upon ;hese exetaina
ss the proficiency OF the Glass 10 artillery, oavay and
-nfnuy drt, and in the application Of various branches
VI hnowctse connected With the profession Of s<ps
ssp4a. eli by daily exercises ef O'Clock 2. ", under
he orders Of the Superintendent in the presenss o. the
tArArd.
After the FIRST DAYS the exam'nston Of ,he second
nfd fourth and bth classes proceeded In two different
.rms o. The academic hulidng In mathematics, peioso
Jhy EcCish stuoies chemistry, Spanish French aa
grascs The members Of Board were also invited by
ne aerintendent 10 DO present at these examinations
ost ox.pg the OF other dues Obliged
SWego as full and constant Attendance upon them as II
you'd other wise have been our pleasure to hesow sui
erNcI npon however, was given TO Die 70 form
svcs-ble opinion Of their thorough and impartial cha
vcs-.
We also examined with great peasure the gallery CT
drawings Of the cadets AL there various examinations
and exercises, ana the results exhibited for nspec
1oo, whilst they wore interesting and enterta ming
spsSe in tee highest terms of Concentration Of dill
goce and iaiet Of the pupil and Of the abilities OF their
Our sessions frequent and chara aerzed by the
cnest harmony Of feeling the freest Interchange of
u~aent snd remarkable nnsninniy OF o 2inion.
We awaited ourselves OF every source of Information
within eur rearb, conference with the Superinieod, ut
conversations with the members Of the academic
'-sAn, vel members of the graduating class
Sha IN compliance with cur invitation, were preseu. at
Each select commiee attended tc the duty assigned It.
and reported he results or lis investigation Board
me facts reported by thsm and the views expressed,
we're fnly discussed In committee Of the whole and To-
sso Of transmitting those ports tue depart
meut has been deemed by proper embrace
ms general report the reeus Of the
SEVERAL committees, and the Recommendations which We
anye considered IL our duty TO make.
tuaon OF the Military Academy 70 render and
unanimous appreciation rhe necessity army for the
scao the education and preparation Of is ocer. Il is
eekeved BY abe Board that this academy by reasen or
srs a,rI,,e has ,hs r .s - IS anneoess.iy hos 70
county ana that an enlehtened public sentiment will not
cc-sarv TO tnc-easa its esbcienr ana ,say,n.. 10
Perfection can be claimed for human itutop-in
ne universal law of gi healthy e Ana M The a.. o,as
usy In all subordinate organizations especially, which
progress Of mind Ana ailss desrc present,
proper deersoee, he cancellations TO which we have
v4vep considersrops In brief which have led
tAcn, derive confidence In their the
cS tAs; they are the unanimous judgment of twelve
ouaiutance from many dieren, States OF the Union
wh possible purpose 10 subserve but advance
uecfruexs OF this institution and to promote the ecepcy
q the public service
rHE oouBsE AND sYsrzx INSTRUCTION
vsys then In reference 70 the subect Of Il s
scarcely peoessary 70 premise that in view OF the limited
uns allow ed to a invest CATION apprcach this i'm
ssued however 70 the cooclusion that inc amount OF
sdy required 70 compass the course laid down exces
scouirea IL moi IN ali cases sasped 10 he ends ~ be y,
s.I.ed
uired orns the entire term of the cadet Al the
Ne mental relaxatiep comparatively aiowedno even
much less the relief that would be snorded bv hi tor
chi or other reading kindred 70 the sabiec, OF sndy
si, sap ! alike creoItsb,e TO Their own A., indstry and
neal and pay their teschers are no,
ssd that this proficiency healthy devel'pemen. OF all
Ono Of the fret rcsup which trac,ed the general at
tension Board small nasber OF gradaa Q,
In CON parison xith the number OF cadets mud aiul
ted into the academy hi. disparity oerhaIe more
s han ether single oporaied INV
esxons Of our body the radical character indicates nv be
oosciuslous 20 which have srrved The class gradu
sztne thirty ee nt members this year entered the
four years ago numbering ninety six Ii would be a
violent gu ooiuou 10 assume thai The fy eight members
who entered with thoee nov graduating ere all wanting
mental capeeiiy TO become efficient and educated OH
oers This great dispary oocurs in aost every sraA
aking The stat instrucltn Is sufficiently
large through the much greater
number OF cadets than those who graduate. Il becomes
Important II manifcsy proper 10 inquire xhcthcr the
system Of instruction and mental dis. ,pne might not 90
80 llanQ IL ofIr Ia
- strs n uou the youtnful mind and nv leading into
move gradual and normal and less Iuteraijye dsyelo
ueu save 10 the ipsftt IN and 10 the ser ice .oms n
Ell ec spir, which might eventually confer hoaor on
bosa Msht 10. The system be modified Without injury
by teaching In the form of lec res 10 be
oreuAred ~ The rsiructors those branches which NAV
"a require the accuracy of stsdy by the exSci