The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-06-20

for swndng all his neghboTs with his bogus bank nv.,
and his fate is not yet decided The shrewd quiet old
oy who it is said has got back his money however pre-
diets that having plenty of cash fec lawyers aud en-
tighten judges, he will come off with flying colors You
NAV expect see him candidate for cur next essa.
ae perhaps for the seat In Congress lately honored
BY the Hon. Mr.. Matteson.
Yours, always, ANON
Fur he uuon
ANNUAL EXAMINATION AT THE NAVAL. AcAD-
ENVY AT ANNAPOLIS CLOSING SCENES.
On the Sd nstant, and the succeeding days the
Board of Visitors and Academic Staff assembled in the
examination hall to witness that trial of mental skill
which is so much feared by students We who have
graduated at civil institutions well remember how we
quaed and covered at the sight OF those seven Judges
before whom put trial In addition to these
gentlemen of the togn the middes had to face hafa-
dozen naval officers in full uniform. The enlarged ex-
perence of the latter has taught them where their early
education deficient and they judge OF the proficiency
Of the Youngsters by the Of the advantages at
present enjoyed by them. Hence the difficulty of the
ordeal The students expected to correspond to the
care and socitude which the government has avished
them. And he who is found deficient the day of
trial is dismissed migrate laggaId The
Of study is not above the comprehension of a me-
dunn mind, and when failure it is generally
the result OF gross negligence The examination
therefore, is wnnowing process Ivy which the chaf is
separated from the wheat the former disappearing and
the latter remaining the personnel Of the navy. 1t
sometimes happens that graduate proves deficient in
the discharge OF duty aflcat but this is case
which finds sure remedy in the action OF the command
ing officer.
The students Of the first class are OF high character EN-
bracng navigation astronomy, seainansIip natural phi
sophy gunney naval tactics and other important sub
ects am happy to say that the whole class fifteen in
number graduated in those various studies with honor
to themselves The class entered the Academy in 1858,
fortywo strong and has been reduced to the above
Der by designations and dismssals The names of the
successful fifteen follows
Francis b. Blake PENNSYLVANIA
Joseph W. Alexander, North Carolina
Henry ID. Todd, Massachusetts,.
Charles J. Graves Georgia
James M. Pfitcbett, Indiana
Edward Terry, Connecticut
Byron Wilson Ohio
Thomas B. Mills, Louisiana.
Francis M. Bunce Connecticut
John w. Kelly, Pennsylvania.
Henry b. Scelv, New York
Frederick Y. McNair Pennsylvania
Arthur b. Yates, New York
Henry w. Miller, New York
Clarke Merchant Georgia.
certain number Of questions and problems, enlbra-
eng the studies OF the whole year. written slips Of
paper and each student draws paper without having
any knowledge Of its contents so that the one who
solves the problems that have fallen to his lot supposed
TO understand the whole years Their respective
proficiency however is well known before the examine
ton takes place Each professor keeps average the
eetations throughout the year and enabled to assign
to each member the place to which his ability entities
him. Generally the result OF the examination is
hrnaton of the averages Exemplary moral conduct has
in fIa iudc 1f .to
this is incentive the laggarcs in the race of intellect
But mere moral excellence Is not made superior to mental
ability Where the latter is possessed in equal ratio
excellence in the former weighs down the balance in f.
vor Of its possessor
These few remarks suffice to show how the examination
IS conducted but Dame Torture, who had aysIcd her
smiles upon the lucky Fifteen frowned upon many a
youthful ssprant in the lower classes Some were con
Fced of negligence and sentenced to reracc their steps
others owing 10 utter competcncy were permitted to
return home. These latter the chaff OF tho Academy
out sometimes happens that they become grains of
wheat IN some other field of action There are certain
qualities requisite for in the naval profession
which are ''d geaeri, and deemed indispensable in
civil life And it is well tat the strict scrutiny observed
at the Naval Academy has the effect OF teaching certain
young men that they have mistaken their vocation In
the mean time both body and mind have been Disciplined
and tho groundwork has been laid for that manines of
eharacer which The natural result of such thinning
mus even the rejected students benefited y the insti
luton, and seek forthwith that profession which they
are most suited Our colleges and universities send out
graduates in their manhood who rarely know where lies
her peculiar forte After cropping about in tho dark for
some time they discover their proper sphere and there do
se for fame and position while the naval aspirant re-
c'ed at the of sixteen, may be found the high
road to eminence about the age at which his brother
NJ 81