INTRODUCTION. 145 



Samuel Stevens, John D. Ward, Benjamin Birdsall and Zebedee Ring. The 

 cost of the work is about twelve millions of dollars.* 



In 1823, a place was assigned to the science of civil engineering in the pro- 

 gramme of studies at the United States military academy at West-Point. This 

 excellent national institution traces its origin to the recommendation of Washing- 

 ton. It was founded in 1802, and having received especial care and attention 

 under the administration of Jefferson, was enlarged in 1812, on the earnest recom- 

 mendation of Madison. The school consists of two hundred and fifty cadets, 

 divided into four companies, and taught in the field all the duties of the military 

 profession. They are divided, for theoretical instruction, into four classes, and 

 four years are required to complete the entire course of studies. That course 

 includes mathematics, the French language, English composition, rhetoric, geo- 

 graphy, topographical drawing, natural and experimental philosophy, chemistry, 

 landscape drawing, engineering, the science of war, ethics, constitutional law, 

 infantry tactics, artillery, pyrotechny, mineralogy and geology .f 



Although our civil architecture is open to criticism, yet several of our state and 

 municipal edifices furnish evidence of improving taste. The custom house, the 

 exchange, the university and the halls of justice in New- York ; the exchange, 

 public edifices and academic structures in Albany, and the lunatic asylum at 

 Utica, and the state prison at Auburn, although they exhibit departures from 

 severe canons, are nevertheless believed to be creditable to the enterprise of our 

 citizens. Not much can be said in praise of the monumental branch. Notwith- 

 standing some puerility of detail, when we compare St. Paul's and the old Tri- 

 nity with more recent structures, we might infer that sacred architecture was 

 declining. Our domestic architecture has improved with the increase of wealth 

 in private life. While we cannot now, or ever hereafter, compare with the 

 palaces of individuals who enjoy hereditary wealth and rank in other countries, 



* An account of the Croton aqueduct, prepared by J. B. Jertis, chief engineer, was received from Samuel Stevens, 

 the president of the hoard of commissioners. See plates of the aqueduct at the end of the volume. 

 t Notes concerning the Military Academy were received from Colonel De Rnssv, U. S. A. 



Intr. 19 



