The Washington union., 1857-06-13

parted to their crews win enable them at some future
day to sweep the seas
The exercise next in order was boat-sailing mnia
ture fleet of boats manned by the youngsters, went
through variety of manauyres that proved their pro
cency in naval tactics The introduction of steam has
modified, but wholly abolish, the old system
of man@uyrng Hence this boat exercise practsed
illustration of what be done with large vessels
The manouvrcs however of which boat is capable,
limited, owing to its peculiar rig Moreover, the
vices of boats in demand in the service it is
necessary that those who to be in charge OF them
should know how to handle them This knowledge is
acquired by the boat exercise.
| From the boats the students were summoned to the
fencing hail. and there took place interesting exhib
ton of the noble art of sclfdcfence Each class, armed
with mask and foil drawn up in succession, by the
fencing master and at the word 'setto" they pitched
into each other amore" Many, perhaps took adj
vantage of the opportunity to square accounts with rival
enemy, and all seemed anxious to show what they
could do in OF necessity With rapid thrust
and skilful parry they worked themselves into high
state of excitement but thanks to the mask and button
they received neither scratch bruse The previous
exercises all one-sided affairs but here there
personal antagonism and when Greek meets Greek
then the tug of war. The order irst position
threw cold water their fire and bravery and taught
them the truth of the adage There's many a slip be-
1
lighted with the fencing and seemed especially tcSed
| by the pluck of of the Lilliputan duess who
went into the fight cool scucumbers but
ed welded their foils if kingdom fair lady
| in the balance.
The ''howtzer' exercise was the last ON the pro-
grame and it possessed interest that consdera
bly, enhanced by late events in China Its results may be
briefly noted, reported by the officer in charge LAND
ed one of Dahgrens boat howitzers-weight 43O lbs.
- UJ,, E.aJ
the order trail (which given two boats lengths from
the shore and kedge dropped the stern at the
same time The gun shifted from its boat to its
field carriage landed, loaded and fired in the above
time. The executed in SO seconds,
and it has been done in the short space Of 32
The target was at the distance of $50 yards the firing
done with shell and sapnell charge 10
The Shells with fuses attached exploded at the
get the shrapnell with "a fuses, exploded from so to
100 yards in front of it, With such weapon handled
in the above mastery manner, single boat would
be a match against host of Cinnamon. Those grad
uatcs Of the Naval Academy who in the Chinese
waters taught the Ceestias lesson in howitzer
firing they will not forget They may learn still
more before they admit the barbarins within the walls Of
| Pekin
The academic board commences its labors tomorrow
Every student will be subjected to examination
on the matter that has been explained during the past
term None but those who give satisfaction in every de-
parment of study win be permitted to advance to high
or class and some will resign in consequence of
more failures Those who graduate at the end of four
years are competent to perform any duty in the line of
their profession The failures in tho lower classes
often to be attributed the limited scale OF information
possessed by pupils entering the Academy. Higher
qurements ought to be demanded Of applicants for admis
sion into the naval service since all expected to be
equally proficient when they graduate 1t rarely hap
pens that those who aggards from the start
their distance in the long run.
have been thus particular in noticing the
and other exercises that take place during the annual
animation at the Naval Academy in order that those who
like myself are not in the navy may have idea of
the manner in which the defenders of
country are trained and brought up The wide crcua-
ton of your valuable journal will effect this object
would take occasion to add here also that there
many opinions abroad in regard to the social
position &c. of the youths who sent yearly to the
Naval and Military Academies The records of both in
stitutions bear witness to the fact that the defenders of
their country selected chiefly from among the
In the matter of birth and social advantages the navy
army is not whit better than any of the civil proes-
sions 1t often happens that newly hedged gra iuate
win affect to look down upon his plainly dressed fellow
citizens but such folly cannot affect those who
scous of their merits Here, again. the fair is
somewhat responsible; for if lady
nWil so tempt and tease man.
What is there he II not do ~
We are all vain conceitcd moral and there is often
as much vanity to be found under slouched as under
cooked hat At all events the sensitive citizen can al
ways say to his favored brother the language of
Punch, !" Ipays for yer.
But there is another consideration that places in bold
relief the advantages of the Naval Academy Give an
ignorant skipper command Of manof-war and he will
drive crew into mutiny elevate pctfogging lawyer
to the bench, and justice will take her flight from
thence intiust unskul mechanic with the execl-
ton of great work. and you will have pile Of mis-
shapen materials So ALSO give Tom, Dick and Harry
carte blanche to enter the navy in their uncttered condi-
tion and remain so, and you will have a grand
tumble of tar epaules rum, and anarchy And yet there
are men who decaim against the government academies
the nurseries of astoccy, auocacy and various other
ocracics 1t is not and if it were, the people would
soon nip the evil in its bud Education never be the
mother of such asurdtes under form of government
a people, have the whole control The intelligent peo-
pie are the of power in this country and both
army and navy have been instituted its safeguards and
defenders This important trust can be discharged worth
lily only by of trained intelligence and capacity No
lover of his country therefore, ought raise his
voice against either of the government academies
great people afford to overlook the peculiates OF
small body of who, when the honor the interests
the dignity of that peope are at stake arc ready t oht