to reach the
house which is prepared for the reception of strangers. 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 the government to keep several chambers with beds in order for the
reception of the relations of the cadets.

The morning after their arrival, the gentlemen paid an early visit to
lieutenant-colonel Thayer, superintendent of the military school, and
were received in a very friendly manner. He had presided over this
school several years. Colonel Thayer has entirely remodelled this
institution, and very much improved it.

The cadets, whose number may amount to two hundred and fifty, are
divided into four classes for the purposes of instruction. They are
received between the ages of fourteen and twenty, and must undergo an
examination before they enter.

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 cadets live in two large massive buildings, three stories high, and
are divided into four companies. The institution possesses four
principal buildings. The two largest serve as barracks for the cadets,
a third contains the mess-room, and the fourth the church. A large level
space, consisting of several acres, lies in front of the buildings,
forming a peninsula, and commanding the navigation of the Hudson, above
which it is elevated one hundred and eighty-eight feet. Towards the
river it is surrounded by steep rocks, so that it is difficult to
ascend, unless by the usual way.

The party now ascended the rocky mountain on which are to be seen the
ruins of Fort Putnam. The way led through a handsome forest of oak,
beech, chestnut and walnut trees. The fort occupying the summit of the
mountain, was erected in an indented form, of strong granite, and is
altogether inaccessible on the side next the enemy. It had but a single
entrance, with very strong casemates. It was built on private property
during the revolution; the owner of