110 
were obliged to make a great circuit To avoid this inconve¬ 
nience, a canal was cut through the island, through which the 
team-boat now passes with ease and rapidity. This place affords 
a very fine view of the lofty Catskill Mountains. 
About eleven o’clock at night we arrived at West Point, on 
the right side of the Hudson, and landed at a wharf furnished 
with a sentry-box. An artillerist, who stood sentinel, examined 
us. I afterwards discovered that this rule was made on account 
of the visits which the cadets receive. We were obliged to ascend 
a somewhat steep road in order to reach the house, which is pre¬ 
pared for the reception of strangers. A small but very clean room 
was prepared for us. The building belongs to the government, 
and is designed for the mess-room of the officers and cadets. The 
purveyor for this table is bound by contract with government to 
keep several chambers with beds in order, for the reception of 
the relations of the cadets, and thiA a kind of inn arose. 
The morning after our arrival we paid an early visit to lieute¬ 
nant-colonel Thayer, superintendent of the military school, and 
were received in a very friendly manner. He has presided over 
this school eight years. It was founded in 1802 , during the pre¬ 
sidency of Jefferson. Colonel Thayer has entirely remodelled 
this institution. During h>is travels in Europe he visited the 
French military schools, and has endeavoured to make this re¬ 
semble the polytechnic school. But he will find it difficult to 
equal this once celebrated school, as with the best will in the 
world he cannot find in this country such excellent professors as 
were assembled in that institution. The cadets, whose number 
may amount to two hundred and fifty, but at the last examination 
consisted of two hundred and twenty-one, are divided into four 
classes for the purposes of instruction. They are received between 
the ages of fourteen and twenty, undergo an examination before 
they enter, and must then pass a probationary term of half a year, 
during which time the mathematics are chiefly studied. After 
six months the young men are examined on the instruction which 
they have received, and those only who pass this ordeal continue 
in the school; the others are dismissed. 
Instruction is communicated gratuitously to the cadets, each of 
whom receives monthly eight dollars from government as wages. 
A public examination of the cadets takes place every year at the 
end of June, by a commission, appointed by the secretary of war. 
This commission consists of staff-officers from the army and navy, 
members of congress, governors of states, learned men, and other 
distinguished citizens. After this examination, the best among 
those who have finished their course are appointed as officers in 
the army; the very best may choose the corps in which they wish 
