A TRAVELLER AT BERLIN. 123 



As the youths are of various ages and of various capa- 

 cities, they are diftributed into clafTes, where each re- 

 ceives the information adapted to his talents. For 

 each fcience a particular hall is allotted : in that where 

 fortification is taught, there is a complete and very in- 

 geniously contrived model of a fortrefs upon the plan 

 of Vauban, which coil four hundred dollars. — No 

 pupil is admitted under thirteen years of age ; if pa- 

 rents are deflrous of fending their children from home 

 before this period, they are fhewn inferior military 

 fchools, of which there are feveral in different parts of 

 the country. All perfons of from feventeen or eighteen 

 years, are refufed admiftion ; they muft then, by pri- 

 vate inftrudlion, be fitted for receiving what is taught 

 in the upper claffes. Such, however, as are once en- 

 tered, are entirely maintained, free of all expences; 

 and remain on the eftablifhment fo long as till they can 

 be placed in the army. A lift is fent monthly to the 

 king of the behaviour and capacities of the young per- 

 fons ; and as one or other of them appears to him by 

 this lift to be qualified for it, he puts him into fome 

 regiment. When parents are inclined to keep the dif- 

 pofal of their children in their own hands, they pay a 

 trifling penlion of 1 20 dollars, for lodging, cloathing, 

 ;.nd board ; and then they are at liberty to take their 

 fons from the inftitution whenfoever they pleafe ; for 

 the young perfons who are there at free coft, remain 

 at the king's difpofal. However, the former are no 

 better attended or ferved than thefe ; they muft all 

 comply with the rules of the houfe ; and the fon of the 

 wealthier!: man in the country, is in no wife diftinguilhed 

 from the fon of the pooreft nobleman. Entrance is al- 

 lowed 



