The New York herald., 1869-06-05
WEST POINT.

>>~.>~o-~-~~~~~r>-~~~~~
CsntinuatIon' Of the Rxaninatiens-Law and
Eshics Completed and Mineralegy and
Geology Begup-The Boat Race To-Alor.
rowan Artillery Drhl-One Of the Board
Of Visitors Catches Tartar.
WEST POINT, June 4, 1859.
The examination in law and ethics was completed
Tins morning, and two sections OF the graduating
class were examined In mmeralogy and geology.
The authorities which are consulted, or rather fol-
iowed by the cadets during the course this spe-
cial branch are Dana's Mlneralogy and Hitchcocks
Geology During the closing part of the examna-
nation In law and ethics several OF the Board OF
Visitors actively amused themselves In putting all
sorts OF puzzlng questions to the cadets concerning
the subject Of civil law, with which they not sup
posed 10 be as familiar as they are in that which
refers more especially to the duties OF an oi1cer
when exercising extraordinary authority over
others. The members OF the board who are lawyers
by profession were the most persevering in their
Efforts 10 make the cadets feel rather uneasy, ana
certain Of the questions nonpussed more than one
Of the gray coats who seemed at q loss to under
stand why on earth the strange od-fogy looking
visitors manifested much interest on their behalf
AN OFFICIAL VISITOR GETS ANSWERED.
The examination in mineraogy and geology was
probably TO the audience who were assembled in the
hDrary at least the most interesting part OF the an
pual examination which has already taken place.
When the class was examined in engineering day
or two ago there were great many olfclal persons
present from various parts OF the country, including
more than one OF the Board OF Visitors, who were
apparently very much interested in everything that
was said or done either BY the cadets or the proies
Rors, although they were unable to understand q
single problem OF engineering skill that solved
or the many problems that were capable of
teligence. This was nor, however, the case
in the mineralogy examination to-day. During
this, In the examination in law and ethics one OF
the Board OF Visitors took it into his wise head to
put sumner OF question to one OF the cadets lie
put it In the usual legal phraseology, with as many
whereases as can be found any day in political
platform, and couched in language as obscure as
that OF modern philosophers treatise on impossi-
bic things The cadet listened very patiently to The
gentleman, and then, smiling blandy, informed the
wise man that he could not answer the question
after the fashion IL was asked; whereupon the ques
tioner eucidated it himself to his own satisfaction
But imagine his utter horror when one OF the cadets
smiling still more blandy than before, informed him
that that was not the way mnerology was taught at
the Military Academy. such cadet ought TO have
been made captain on the spot.
The following are the last sections examined in
law and ethics this forenoon and the subjects upon
which each member was questioned:-
REMAINDER OF SECOND SECTION.
Augur.-puiy Of Judge Advocate at general courts
Yeaion.-Laws of sieges and blockade..
Reese Execution Of The sentence Of court martial
Brady-Rights OF postlining and recspture.
9srhard.-Arrests and confnements.
brade35;mohAIsse,s 5,,,,in rs ,n- and specifications.
Thomas-Chalengeso Of members OF courts martial
RockweArtcle of relating mutiny sedition,
smaliwood Martial and military law.
Aspinwall-Composion and constitution of courts
Kobinson.-Msans and instruments for carrying war.
FIFTH SECTION.
Norton Retiring boards for disabled officers.
Of q eFcss and soldiers
sprole OF the sentence Of court martial.
Smith-Field officers court
Bacen.-Tresties OF peace.
LeegetL-Judgs Advocate.
haIon-Chaiengss to members OF court martial.
THE BOAT RACE
between the first. second and third classes ahout
which there has been so much talk in these parts of
late viii take place tomorrow about five O'clock
For the past week two the crews which are to
contend for the champion nag-the same by the way
which was won by the class Of lses last June-have
been eXertlng themselves. by every kind
e trim S Iannf se a to sss 4ss ong y
from five O'Clock Id the morning to about quarter
TO six and neither OF the OF the three classes
day to pass BY during the past week without rowinS
several miles up and down che river to keep their
hands wen in for the work they will have to undergo
during the race The crews are the picked men OF |
think that they win win the face, they concede
pull for 1t. Betting In any form is strictly
prohibited In this excessively moral place but were
General Pitcher to allow pool selling on the race 1t
would be a rather tickllsh question TO decide which
crew ought TO bring the first choice A great deal
Of interest Is manifested IN the contest by the friends
OF the cadets IN the hotels heresbout, and quite
number Of persons are expected by the morning |
boats from New YORK and elsewhere TO witness the
contest nearly every room IN the two hotels have
been engaged for tomorrow. General Grant was |
expected present but IL seems that he Will not
be able TO come owing TO his Presidential infecf.
ties at Washington. AS an onset 10 the general |
good feeling which prevails concerning the race |
may add that certain Of the professors-who years
aqo when the engineers had full control Of West |
Point, stood aghast al the idea Of q man smoking
cigar the post or carriage entering the limits
on sundays-are rolling up the whites OF their eyes
And calling down imprecatons on the heads Of those
who dared to tolerate such a crime a boat race
between cadet classes II IL great pity Admiral
could q
AN ARrfrLKRy DRILL
The second class, which Will graduate next year,
to-day exercised with the siege battery OF Parrot
runs which Is located just westward OF the hotel.
As the drill was 10 test the accuracy and general
occasion OF great interest for the whole cadet corps
there was an immense gathering OF spectators. The
target which was fired at was placed on the nats
on the west bank Of the river, distance
of about LOO yards. Thirty-six shots were fred
and twelve shots pierced the target. Last June the
present graduating class-which was then OF course
the second class their drill--struck the target
twenty times out OF the thrtysix shots red In fact
shvered II TO pieces. The class which graduated In
1867 struck the objective point twenty-five times out
OF thlrty-slx which is the best nrIng done by any
class that has ever graduated. The second class
Since they were drilled with the guns the sights nave
been changed and the guns themselves placed on
platforms somewhat higher than the class were ac-
customed to- II II supposed that but for this draw
back the firing would have been better than IL was.
The drill was a fine one and the shots made are con-
Lieutenant Hosmer was in command Of the battery
during the drill.
THE wuRDEROuS sFTRAY IN FIRST AVENUE.