rected and lost. At West Point, on the contrary, the field of emulation is open to all; the designation does not take place until after a full developement of the various capacities and tastes of the students; and the best genius, and the most successful application, are thus likely to receive those appointments which are deemed the most honorable, and for which these prerequisites render them the most fit. The French language is taught at the academy, and made, as it ought to be, an essential branch of instruction. Much weight should be given to the reasons advanced by the board, in favor of adding an assistant teacher to this department, who should be acquainted with the Latin and Spanish languages. If there are those in any of the classes, whose greater proficiency in all the prescribed studies leaves them leisure for attention to these additional studies, thereby preserving a previous knowledge of the Latin, and acquiring a new language which prevails over more than half our hemisphere, we should hope that the trifling increase of expense it might cause would be no obstacle. Of the Military instruction at the academy, the board speaks in terms of high commendation. This embraces 'the system of infantry tactics established for the army of the United States, commencing with the elementary drill of the soldier, and including the school of the company; school of battalion, and evolutions of the line; the exercise and manœuvres of light infantry and riflemen; the duties in camp and garrison, of privates, noncommissioned officers, and officers, including those of guard and police.' * All those who have seen the military exercises of the battalion of cadets, will bear testimony that this regulation is well fulfilled. It is scarcely possible for any troops to attain the power of manœuvring with greater precision. The course of Artillery instruction embraces the 'nomenclature of the different parts of cannon, gun carriages, caissons, and their implements; exercise and manœuvres of field artillery; exercise of siege artillery, including the mortar and howitzer exercises; mechanical manœuvres; target practice with the gun, howitzer, and mortar; duties of the laboratory.' We have not room for further enlargement upon this interesting subject. The institution has acquired a wide and honorable reputation, and is deservedly in favor both with the people and * Regulations of the United States Military Academy at West Point. the government. We shall finish with an extract from the report of the board, that gives some of the causes, that have produced this high character. The duty of the board of visiters, as prescribed by the fourteenth paragraph of the regulations of the academy, has seemed to demand of them some inquiry into the general system of means, by which the honorable and gratifying results, disclosed in the examination, have been attained. 'Much, no doubt, is to be ascribed to circumstances, in a high degree peculiar to this institution; its immediate connexion with the Government of the United States; the moral influence which this connexion imparts to the officers of instruction; the natural situation of the academy on a spot extremely favorable to its purposes; and the national spirit and character which pervade the institution. While, however, their due influence is ascribed to these causes, the board feel obliged to attribute the extensive acquisitions of the cadets to the skill and fidelity of the teachers, and to the judicious mode in which the classes are divided for instruction. As it would be impossible, on account of numbers, to teach a whole class collectively, each of the four classes is divided into convenient sections, according to the talents, previous acquirements, and ambition of the cadets. Whenever justice requires it, cadets are transferred from one section to another, and continual application is thus necessary, to maintain a distinguished character and place. 'To perfect the system of generous competition, the cadets, after each semiannual examination, are arranged on the roll, and take their seats, according to merit. In doing this, general conduct is considered, as well as progress in knowledge, so that every one, who aspires to distinction, is led to be vigilant over his daily deportment. It is also the custom each week to make a report of the best and the most deficient, in each section, and this report is transmitted to the Department of War. If, after a semiannual examination, any are found grossly deficient, they are turned back, to go over their courses again; and if, at the next examination, they are still found wanting, they are dismissed from the institution. Great justice and impartiality are exercised, as far as the board could judge, in making out the Roll of Merit. The rank assigned to each cadet is the result of a trial publicly conducted, and the greatest publicity is given to this result, by printing and distributing the roll of cadets arranged according to merit. The influence of such a system, in exciting to honorable exertion, needs not to be enforced. The board are therefore of opinion, that the system of dividing into sections, according to the relative capacity of the members of the classes, is practically excellent, and worthy of being carefully and vigorously maintained; and that public gratitude is due to the Superintendent of the academy, and to the Academic Staff, for having introduced so powerful, yet so simple an instrument of emulation and discipline, which requires only to be better known, in order to be universally adopted in our establishments for education.' * We have thus passed in rapid review the history of our army; our present system of fortifications; and the Military Academy at West Point. They are essentially connected and form parts of the same whole. Our national defences are no longer regarded with the prejudiced feelings of past days; they are not now looked upon as the creations of particular administrations or parties, arising out of a temporary policy, which is expected to change with the change of power; but as a settled system, founded on a true estimation of the permanent security and welfare of the country. It was said on the floor of Congress by an eminent member, that the system of national defence was as much an institution of the country, as the constitution itself. is no doubt true, that a proper and necessary degree of defence, as justly and imperiously demands the support of every patriot, as any other institution of the country. And there are at present few intelligent persons, who, whatever may be their wishes or hopes, can persuade themselves, that a nation, being in any degree tangible by its position or external relations, can maintain its interests, its honor, or its rights, without a proper system of general defence, or frequent wars. It Our present army is divided into artillery and infantry, and assigned for the protection of the maritime and interior frontier. * The whole number of cadets who have been graduated at the Military Academy since its first establishment in 1802, up to July, 1825, is 428, of whom 338 have been graduated since 1812. Of the whole number, 261 are now in the army, forming more than half the number of its officers; 3 are in the civil service; 9 have been killed in battle; and 33 have died in service; -45 of the whole number have been attached to the corps of engineers; 249 to the artillery and ordnance; and 134 to other corps. The public library at West Point contains about four thousand volumes, embracing the most approved works, both in French and in English, on fortifications, ns, artillery, pyrotechny, the military art, military history, memoirs, campaigns, civil engineering, mathematics, natural history, astronomy, navigation, chemistry, mineralogy, the arts, geography, topography, history, biography, travels, miscellanies. The artillery is necessarily broken into small detachments, corresponding with the number of fortifications. But it is the nature of that branch to act in detachments; and there can be no obstacle to its acquiring the utmost skill requisite in garrison service; and it will rarely be called upon to perform any other. Should the approach of war render it probable, that portions of it might be wanted in the field as light artillery, a few months' drill with horses would superadd the qualifications of that species of service, and give adequate efficiency for active operations.* The infantry, from the different nature of its service, can be, and is, more concentrated. The Indians are held in check better by a few large bodies, than by many detachments. The policy of Mr Calhoun, in advancing far within the Indian country our cordon of posts, has been approved by experience; and had his scheme been carried more fully into effect, the only Indian conflict we have since had, would probably have been avoided. The time has past in the United States, when any just fears are entertained of such a standing army, as may be required by the present system of general defence. It is a gratuitous assumption, that the officers of the army are less identified with the country, have less interest in its institutions, and are less desirous of maintaining them, than any other class of citizens. The military establishments of most countries form an appendage of the crown; and even in England, where they might be supposed to have a somewhat more popular character, foreign and colonial stations give the officers a peculiarity of feeling, which separates them in a degree from their fellow countrymen. But in our country, on the contrary, the army is dependant upon the people, and is mingled with them; it participates in the same habits, imbibes the same sentiments, and regards itself in every respect as a part of the great community. * An artillery school of practice was established about two years ago at Fortress Monroe, Old Point Comfort, Virginia, for the purpose of practically instructing the four regiments of artillery, successively, through a course of two years, in all the duties belonging to that branch. Like most of Mr Calhoun's plans, this had great utility in view. But there was not sufficient attention paid to preliminary details. The local situation of the school was ill chosen, or, at least, occupied too soon. It has resulted in a double interference; the school interfering with the progress of the fortifications, and the progress of the fortifications interfering with the school. J. Sparks. ART. II. Memoirs of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 8vo. pp. 228. Philadelphia. McCarty & Davis. It was said by Lord Bacon, that 'nothing is so seldom found among the writings of men, as true and perfect civil history.' This remark is as pertinent at the present day, as it was in the time of Bacon. There would seem to have been no essential improvements on the models of the ancients, in the art of writing history, and Herodotus may still be cited as standing at the head of the first rank of historians, as Homer of the poets, and Demosthenes of the orators. The voice of ages has been unanimous in favor of the one as the others, notwithstanding the discourteous criticisms of Plutarch on the writings of Herodotus. as To inquire into the reasons, why historical compositions have not been improved by the moderns, would lead us away from our present purpose. It is enough to admit the fact, and assent to the truth of Bacon's proposition. In this respect history stands on the same footing, as poetry and eloquence, architecture and sculpture. Lucian tells of a certain historian of Corinth, who began his work by a formal argument to prove, that none but a wise man should attempt to write history. Were all historians to set out with this position, and gravely apply themselves to establish its truth, we should probably meet with fewer unsuccessful invocations of the historic muse, unless, like the same Corinthian author, each should think his own case sufficiently clear without proof. In his rules for an accomplished historian, Lucian mentions what he calls two grand qualifications, namely, a genius for political investigation, and a command of language, or a power of describing his thoughts with force and accuracy. The first, says Lucian, is a gift of nature, and a thing not to be taught. The second can be acquired by industry and emulation, by study and practice. The great historians have possessed both these qualifications. Their patience and labor have been equal to their genius. Herodotus spent years in travelling, observing, conversing with men of different nations, and polishing his compositions, before he ventured to submit his work to the critical ears of a Grecian audience. Froissart was a travelling chronicler, and he holds the first place in the department of history, which he cultivated. In short, a man without talents or industry may compose a wretched history, as he may be a dull |