ation, are in daily recitation as at other times. These examinations, in conjunction with the class reports, establish the merit-rolls, upon which, are founded the sub-division of the classes. The classes commence on the fourth of July, immediately after the examination in June, at which time, the graduating class is promoted, and the new class admitted. The whole corps of cadets then go into encampment, and continue encamped until the first of September, when the class studies re commence. The examination in June is attended by a number of intelligent, literary, and scientific gentlemen, selected from different parts of the country, constituting, together with some officers of the army, a " Board of Visiters," whose duty it is to judge of the state and progress of the institution. No The police and barrack arrangements of the cadets, are under the immediate care of officers of the army, who reside among them. Such and such articles of furniture only, are permitted to them, and every article, both of furniture and equipment, has its prescribed place in the room. The rooms are inspected several times each day, by the officer in charge, as a matter of course, and are liable to inspection at all times. servants are allowed; but all menial duties are performed by contract, at a very small expense to each individual cadet. Clothing, equipments, and supplies of every kind, are furnished by contract, of domestic fabric, as far as is practicable, and at the cheapest rates; and the most severe inspections are imposed, to prevent even the possibility of imposition. No debts are incurred, which is too often the case at other seminaries. The cadets are not bona fide members of the institution, until they have been engaged six months, and satisfactorily passed the January examination, following their admission. Those who do so, and whose conduct has not been exceptionable up to this time, then receive their warrants. It will be seen, by glancing at the course of studies given above, that the education conferred by this institution, is not merely military. It embraces a great va riety of elements, and none which is not highly valuable as a branch of national education. It is calculated to render the pupils not less useful as public servants in civil capacities, than as military men. As civil engineers, should the unfounded constitutional scruples upon this subject ever be surmounted, and internal improvements become a part of our national policy, the pupils of the Military Academy will be invaluable. How much treasure might not already have been saved, by the employment of such officers, in the different national surveys, which have, from time to time, been undertaken! All the permanent expenses of this institution have been defrayed. The necessary buildings and fixtures, are erected and paid for; and hereafter, the current expenses only, are required to be met. These, when compared with the objects of permanent expenses already provided, are by no means great in a national point of view; and not great either, it is presumed, when compared with the advantages which the nation will very soon derive, and has already begun to derive, from the institution. The buildings belonging to the institution, are five in number, built of stone, substantial and spacious. In addition to these, there are six fine brick houses erected by the government, for the accommodation of the officers and professors. The old wooden building, formerly occupied as the academy, is now used for barracks for a company of United States' troops, which are constantly stationed there. The library is already extensive, though it is there considered merely as the foundation of one. The majority of the scentific works are in French; and there is a large and superb collection of maps and other military and scientific plates and drawings-the whole principally selected by Major Thayer, who, we believe, travelled in Europe to complete his military education, and who is at the head of the institution. The library room is embellished with portraits of General Williams, (who first organized the academy,) and Mr. Jefferson, painted last year by Sully. Most persons, who merely travel upon the river, without landing, would think West Point presented but few attractions. But we found it far different. The plain upon which the public and private buildings are situated, surrounded as it is, by the most grand and magnificent scenery, is truly a delightful place of residence. It does not resound with the hum of business, it is true; nor, when taking a peaceful walk, is the passenger momently in expectation of the pleasure of being jostled over by the crowd. The residents are also deprived of the musical strains of the chimney sweepers, at daylight; but instead thereof, those who choose can awake and listen to the brisk notes of the reveillé. Including the officers, professors, and their families, together with the cadets, regular troops, artizans, and others attached in one way and another to the establishment, there are probably from five to six hundred people on the station. The genteel society is necessarily circumscribed to narrow limits; but it is select, intelligent, and very agreeable, and sufficiently numer. ous for pleasant literary circles, or convivial parties. Nor can we forget to mention the ladies, with whom we had the pleasure of becoming acquainted, and whose society diffuses a charm over these wild, romantic, and sequestered regions- "For, even from boyhood, was my mind There are some objects of curiosity and interest, at this place, to which we should like to direct the attention of the reader, if we had room. The park of artillery with which the cadets are occasionally exercised, is chiefly composed of beautful brass field pieces, taken from the French at Quebec, at the battle in which Wolfe lost his life, and again taken by the Americans from Burgoyne, in 1777. The old military store houses situated on a smaller plain, near the water's edge, at the north of the principal site, are well worthy of an examination. Here, in two or three large store houses C are collected together, as it would seem, a great portion of the relics of the arms, accoutrements and camp equipage of the revolutionary army. While sauntering among these large collections of decaying muskets, gunstocks, espontoons, blunderbusses, old military coats and dusty three-cornered cock'd hats-all looking as though in days gone by, they had seen some service,' we could not but revert back to that momentous period, when "the cry of invasion echoed from hill to hill, and from village to village ;" and when- "From the grey sire, whose trembling hand To the raw boy, whose shaft and bow Were yet scarce terror to the crow, Each valley, each sequestered glen, Mustered its little horde of men, That met as torrents from the height In highland dale their streams unite; Still gathering as they pour along, A voice more loud, a tide more strong," But peace to their manes! The hands which wielded these rusty spears, and caused these bayonets once proudly to bristle in the air at every blast of the hostile bugle, are for the most part, mingled with their kindred dust. A few of these worthies yet linger upon earth, as if they were afraid to relinquish, entirely, the rich purchase of their youthful blood, to degenerate children. II. UNCOMMON SELF-POSSESSION. [Detroit Gazette.] On the banks of the Naugatuck, a rapid stream, which rises in and flows through a very mountainous part of the state of Connecticut, a few years since lived a respectable family, by the name of B The father, though not a wealthy, was a respectable man. He had fought the battles of his country in the revolution, and, from his familiarity with scenes of danger and peril, he had learned that it is always more prudent to preserve and affect the air of confidence in danger, than to betray signs of fear; and especially so, since his conduct might have a great influence upon the minds of those about him. He had occasion to send a little son across the river to the house of a relation, on an errand, and, as there was then no bridge, the river must be forded. The lad was familiar with every part of the fording place, and when the water was low, which was at this time the case, could cross without danger. But he had scarcely arrived at his place of destination, and done his errand, when suddenly, as is frequently the case in mountainous countries, the heavens became black with clouds, the winds blew with great violence, and the rain fell in torrents; it was near night, and became exceedingly dark. By the kindness of his friends, he was persuaded to relinquish his design of returning in the evening, and to wait until morning. The father suspected the cause of his delay, and was not over anxious on account of any accident that might happen to him during the night. But he knew that he had taught his son to render the most obsequious obedience to his father's commands; that, as he possessed a daring and fearless spirit, and would never be restrained by force, he would, as soon as it should be sufficiently light in the morning, attempt to ford the river on his return. He knew also, that the immense quantity of water that appeared to be falling, would, by morning, cause the river to rise to a considerable height, and make it dangerous, even for a man in full possession of strength and fortitude, to attempt to cross it. He therefore passed a sleepless night; anticipating, with all a father's feelings, what might befal his child in the morning. The day dawned; the storm had ceased; the wind was still, and nothing was to be heard but the roar of the river. The rise of the river exceeded even the father's expectations, and no sooner was it sufficiently light to enable him to distinguish objects across it, than he placed himself on the bank to watch for the approach of his son. The son arrived on the opposite shore at the same moment, and was beginning to enter the stream. All the father's feelings were roused into action, for he knew that his son was in the most imminent danger. He had proceeded too far to return; in fact, to go forward or return was to incur the same |