TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 97 



having previously proved, that he is either French by birth, or French by naturah- 

 zation, and that he is between sixteen and twenty years of age ; soldiers only are per- 

 mitted to enjoy a special exemption from this last rule, and they may be admitted 

 to the competition, provided they have not attained their twenty-fifth year. 



The subjects of the entrance examination include arithmetic, algebra, plane and 

 descriptive geometry, plane and spherical trigonometry, logarithms, conic sections, 

 and statics ; exercises are also given in drawing from a model of the human figure, 

 and in architectural coloured drawing ; and the candidates are further expected to trans- 

 late a passage from a Latin author, to write a French essay on a given subject, to 

 work a trigonometrical question, and to compose a mathematical paper on some given 

 problem, or on some other mathematical subject. Candidates are informed that all 

 the foregoing subjects of the examination are equally obligatory upon them. 



At the end of each academical year, the pupils of the school are subjected to severe 

 examinations in analytical geometry, mechanics, physics, chemistry, descriptive geo- 

 metry, the description and effect of machines, architecture, and several of the higher 

 branches of algebra and mathematics. 



Drawing and French composition are included among the subjects of study, and in 

 the second year, the German language receives a portion of the attention of the stu- 

 dents. A professorship of English was established in the school in 1830, at the 

 same time with the German professorship, and both these important languages were 

 taught in the school until the autumn of 1840. 



The annual payment, or "pension," for education in the Polytechnic Schoolis 

 only 1000 francs, or 401.; and there are also twenty-four bursarships, of 1000 francs 

 each per annum, of which twelve are placed at the disposal of the minister of war, 

 eight belong to the minister of the interior, and four to the minister of the marine, 

 for the students. No pupil is, however, allowed to receive either a bursarship, or a 

 half-bursarship, unless his name has been included in the first two-thirds of the ad- 

 mission list, and unless he has previously addressed a request for this emolument 

 at the time of inscribing his name. 



A strict system of military discipline is maintained in the school ; duelling is for- 

 bidden, under pain of expulsion to both parties, if a challenge is accepted ; games of 

 chance are illegal, as well as smoking ; and no books, printed papers, or drawings 

 are allowed to be introduced, without special leave. Unconditional obedience to 

 every command of the superior officers of the school, is a fundamental rule of the in- 

 stitution ; the pupils are ordered on all occasions to salute their officers ; they are re- 

 quired always to appear in their uniform, both in and out of school, and they are 

 not allowed to hold or form any society, or secret deliberation, or to print anything 

 in anyperiodical publication ; andtheymust noteven be presentat any ceremony of any 

 body or association, without the special permission of the commandant of the school. 



Any pupil who remains absent from the school for three days, without communi- 

 cating the cause to the commandant, ceases thereby to belong to the school. Two 

 days only are allowed in each week on which the pupils may go out into the town ; 

 on Sunday, from the termination of the military parade, at a quarter past nine in the 

 morning, until ten at night ; and on Wednesday, from half-past two in the afternoon, 

 until half-past eight p.m. in summer, and nine in winter. On these two days, the 

 parents and guardians of the pupils, and persons furnished with permissions from 

 them, are allowed to see the pupils in the parlour of the school, from three p.m. to 

 a quarter before five p.m. 



The pupils draw by lot for the seats which they occupy in the lecture-rooms, on 

 first entering the school, and they always retain the same seats. 



Exact notes are kept of their behaviour as well as of their proficiency, and marks 

 of credit are granted to them accordingly. 



A large staff of officers, examiners, and professors is maintained in the school, among 

 whom are the well known names of Bourdon and Gay-Lussac : a certain number of 

 extra masters are also privileged to give lessons in fencing, dancing, and music, and 

 the school society is supplied with a physician, a surgeon, assistant surgeons, and 

 numerous subordinate officers. 



All the officers, including the commandant of the school, receive the full pay belong- 

 ing to their rank, as well as one-third in addition to their pay, and the whole of the 

 salaries are paid to the officers and others out of the funds of the school, which are 

 included in the budget of the minister of war. 

 1841. H 



