2799. ] Account of the Public Schools in the French Republic. 1X5 
ment of matter, is divided into three 
principal branches—ftereotomy, civil 
works, and military architecture. Ste- 
Yreotomy has for its object the laws and 
methods of defcriptive geometry applied 
to the cutting ot ftones, to carpenters’ 
work, to the fhadows of bodies, to per- 
{peétive, to levelling, and to fimple and 
complex machines. Civil works com- 
prehend the conftruction and repair of 
roads, bridges, canals, ports, the work- 
ing of mines, architecture, and the plan- 
ning of the public fives. Military archi- 
tecture extends to the difpofition of forti- 
fied pofts and towns, of lines on the 
frontiers, and to their attack and defence. 
The art of drawing, which is the fecond 
part of the graphic developement of mat- 
ter, is employed in the imitation of pro- 
minences, in defigning from nature, and 
in cultivating the principles of tafte by 
the ftudy of works on compoiition. 
z. Phyfics extend to all the produc- 
tions of nature, and the moft effential of 
thofe produced by chymiftry. General 
phyfics develope the principal properties 
of bodies, and the mechanic arts de- 
pendent thereon; and embrace the know- 
dedge of the ftructure, ftrength, and mo- 
tion of all animals, together with the ufe 
to which they may be applied in me- 
chanics.—Particular phyfics, or chymiftry 
in all its branches, has for its object 
brute matter (together with its applica- 
tion to the different arts, efpecially thofe 
which bear relation to the public works), 
the falts and organifed bodies found in 
the three kingdoms of nature. 
The inftruétion in all thefe branches 
of knowledge is the refult of the infor- 
Mation given bythe teachers, and of the 
private labours of the ftudents. All to- 
gether it occupies three years.. 
Firft year—ftereometry—genera! _prin- 
ciples of analyfis, applied to geometry— 
firft principles of ftatics—ftereotomy— 
general courfe of phyfics—firft principles 
of chymiftry, applied to falts—art of 
drawing. 
Second year—civil works—analyfis of 
mechanics applied to folid bodies and 
fluids — architeé&ture — zoétechnics * — 
principles of the purification of the air— 
the fecond object of chymiftry, relating 
to animal and vegetable organifation—art 
of drawing. 
Third year—military architecture— 
application of analyfes—calculation of the 
effect of machines— fortification — fea- 

* The application of animals to mechani- 
&al purpofes. 
ports and their buildings—examination 
of the moft important works on the me- 
chanic arts and chymiftry—third object 
of chymiftry, relating to mimeral pro- 
ductions-art of drawing. x 
After the firft triennial courfe, the fu- 
ture pupils are to be feparated into three 
divifions, each of which will fuccefhively 
advance to the courfe of the following 
year. The period when the pupils are 
to quit the {chool, the mode in which 
their places are to be filled by others, and 
the gradation of their inftruction, are re- 
gulated bya fpecial ordinance. For the 
convenience of their private exercifes, the 
pupils are again fubdivided into three 
companies, who, under the infpection of 
a preceptor, alternately work in the chy- 
mical laboratories. 
The management of this inftitution is 
conducted by the director, preceptors, ad- 
minitrators, heads of companies, artifts 
and workmen of the laboratories, and other 
perfons intrufted with its interior eco- 
nomy. ‘The conftitution prefcribes a par- 
ticular rule for the employment of each. 
The council of the intitution confifts 
of the direStor, the preceptors, their af- 
fiftants, the adminiftrators, and a fecre- 
tary. Chis council regulates the inftruc- 
tion, the time, the choice of labours, the 
preparation of inftruments and models, 
and digefts plans for carrying the inftitu- 
tion to pertection. It directs its inter- 
nal police in the firlt infiance, allots the 
annual expenditure, and prefents a ftate- 
ment of it to the minifter of the home de- 
partment. The executive directory no- 
minates the director: the council nomi- 
nates the adminiftratcrs, on prefentation 
by the members to whom the vacant places 
are fubordinate. [he days for the meet- 
ing of the council, and the form of its 
deliberations, are alfo prefcribed in the 
plan. 
The inftitution publithes every month 
its Polytechnic Journal, in which it gives 
an account of the progrefs of the inftruc- 
tion, and of the labours of the precep- 
tors, pupils, and other perfons employed. 
The materials for this publication are 
collected by the fecretary. 
At the expiration of the year, the di- 
rector renders tothe minitfter of the home de- 
pasument an account of the expenditure, and 
gives in an eftimate of the neceflary tunds 
for the enfuing year. At the fame time he 
delivers to him a {ketch of the ftate and 
labours of the inftitution. 
Such are the foundations on which refts 
this grand and excellent eftablifhment, 
‘Te number of the pupils has been Axed 
at 
~ s 
Estee a 
