Coppee.l 148 [March. 



being admitted, by special favor, a year earlier tban the law allowed. 

 His standing while a cadet was always high, and his pursuit of know- 

 ledge, in all its forms, eager and persevering. Among his classmates 

 were the most distinguished generals at present in our own or the 

 rebel service ; among the latter were Lee and Joseph Johnston. His 

 letters to his mother and brother during this period, all represent 

 him as an eager student and ambitious in his aims. 



In 1829, he graduated with honor, and was appointed a second 

 lieutenant in the Second Artillery. So favorable was the impression 

 produced by his novitiate, that he was very soon detailed for duty at 

 the Academy, as Assistant Professor of Mathematics. He was after- 

 wards, for a short time, stationed at St. Augustine, in Florida. But 

 the prospects of the army at that period could not satisfy the energy 

 and honorable ambition of such a man as Mitchel. He resigned on 

 the 30th of September, 1832, with no fortune, and no prospect but 

 in persevering labor, to achieve fame, usefulness, and honor. 



Just after his graduation, the French Revolution broke out, — 

 those " three days of July " which drove the " legitimate " Bourbons 

 once more from the throne they were unworthy to occupy, and ele- 

 vated the citizen-king, Louis Philippe, to the seat of power. Many 

 remember the effect produced by this volcanic eruption all over 

 the civilized world. It is worthy of record, as illustrative of his 

 chai-acter, that our young soldier was not exempt from the pervading 

 influence. His letters to his brother expx-ess an unsettled condition 

 of mind, and a growing desire to go to Europe and plunge, sword in 

 hand, into the great wars which he believed would grow out of this 

 change of dynasty. This is mentioned as betokening his quickly 

 kindled enthusiasm, his desire to exercise his newly-acquired powers, 

 and his ardent but honorable ambition for distinction. The spirit of 

 revolution which France evoked, and which stalked for a brief space 

 through Europe, was soon laid, and Mitchel settled, as has been told, 

 into the quiet but hard-working life of a citizen. 



While in the army, he had married Mrs. Trask, the widow of 

 Lieutenant Trask, and formerly Miss Louisa Clark, of Cornwall, on 

 the Hudson. In his growing family he found new incentives to 

 labor, and so we see him, in 1832, opening an office as counsellor-at- 

 law in Cincinnati. In this position he remained until the establish- 

 ment of the Cincinnati College, in 1834, when he was elected Pro- 

 fessor of Mathematics, Philosophy, and Astronomy. This post he 

 held until the sad and untimely destruction of the College buildings 

 by fire, and the consequent dissolution of the College. But what 



