schools is entirely different from ours. The qualifications for admission to the West Point Academy are merely reading, writing, and arithmetic. The students of St. Cyr and the Polytechnic enter those schools with an amount of knowledge and acquirement, the equivalent of which is scarcely attained at the end of the first year at West Point.

The study of mathematics at West Point is carried to about the same extent as at the Polytechnic; and the same remark may be applied to the study of mechanics and physics. In military literature, military history, and military geography and statistics, which constitute nearly half the course at St. Cyr, West Point does not equal St. Cyr; in the study of military art, in physics, fortifications, and artillery, it much exceeds it.

In field and permanent fortifications, construction, machinery, artillery, and the military art, the course at West Point is less extended than at Metz. In astronomy, the course is at least equal to that of the School of the Staff; while in field fortification, military art and administration, it is considerably less. In geodesy and topography but very little, except the drawing of the latter, is taught; but the instruction is sufficient for the wants of an officer of any corps, although topographical drawing in the field is but little practised; and the application of drawing in fortification is not so extensive as at Metz.

At West Point there is much less practical application in the field, of field fortification, siege-works, batteries, and surveying, than at Metz or the School of the Staff. It can scarcely be said there is any in geodesy, topography, and reconnoissance.

In tactics, manoeuvres, riding, and infantry, cavalry, and artillery exercises, the cadets at West Point are certainly not less proficient than the students of St. Cyr, the School of the Staff, and the School of Metz. Two foreign languages are taught at West Point; one in the French schools. Instruction in the English language, ethics, and law, extends over two years at West Point. French literature forms part of the course in the two years at the Polytechnic, and military literature part of the course in the first year at St. Cyr; but there is no literary course at either Metz or the School of the Staff.

In many respects the United States Military Academy resembles the Polytechnic School. It receives alike the sons of the rich and poor, the sons of the distinguished and of the unknown. Its standard of scientific instruction is as high. It has the same powerful stimulus to exertion in the high reward it offers to successful effort, and in the penalty which it exacts for neglect or incompetency. It has exercised a powerful influence upon the public schools and colleges of the country; has introduced among them new branches of study in mathematics; and has raised the character of their scientific teaching.

MILITARY EDUCATION IN ENGLAND.

COMMISSIONS in the British Infantry and Cavalry are obtained by purchase, except in the case of the few graduates from the military academy at Sandhurst.

Commissions in the Artillery and Engineers are obtained by graduation at the military academy at Woolwich.

"An education entitling a student to a commission in the infantry or cavalry is given at Sandhurst. Pupils are received at that college between the ages of thirteen and fifteen; they enter on the nomination of the governor; their instruction lasts either for two or four years, according as they are proficient in study or not; and, at the end of this period, if found qualified, they receive a commission without purchase. The usual number of cadets appears to be one hundred and eighty, for whom there are sixteen professors.

"We may add to this list of English military schools, the East India Company's Military College, at Addiscombe, which gives a professional education of two years to pupils of all arms in common, that the admittance is by nomination, and a pass entrance examination, not by competition; and that, on leaving the school, the pupils are chosen by the authorities of the Company for the different services, according to their place in the final examination. The general order of choice is one for the engineers, two for the artillery, three for the infantry.

"It should be added, that both Sandhurst and Woolwich are practically self-supporting; a fact by no means contemplated on the foundation of either, and which has been the result of a gradual withdrawal of parliamentary grants, combined with a large accession of what may be termed highly paying pupils, i. e., the sons of civilians."

THE ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY AT WOOLWICH.

The subjects of examination for admission have not always remained the same, but have been changed from time to time. Those required at the beginning of 1855 were: English, mathematics, Latin, French, German, geography, history, drawing, and printing with the

pen.

The entrance examinations were conducted by the professors and masters belonging to the academy.

At the expiration of one year after the admission into the academy, the cadets were reported upon by a board of officers; and such of them as had not passed satisfactory periodical examinations in mathematics and fortification in the class-rooms, were examined before this board by the professors of mathematics and fortification. This examination was called the probationary examination. The board were required to state their opinion, whether the progress and conduct of each cadet brought before them had been such as to entitle him to remain at the institution, or to assign the cause or grounds on which they recommended any cadet to be removed.

"The regulations limited the duration of the residence for the course of theoretical study to four years, at the close of which, those cadets who were found unqualified for commissions were required to leave the academy; but such cadets as qualified themselves at an earlier period have been permitted to obtain their commissions when they had done so.

"The public examinations of the cadets proposed to be advanced to the practical class, or to be promoted from the practical class to commissions in the artillery and engineers, generally take place at the same time, before a board of superior officers."

There is some reason to believe that the results of the education at the Royal Military Academy have hitherto somewhat failed of that success which might have been hoped for, both as regards artillery and engineer officers.

The causes of the want of success in the teaching of the Academy are stated to have been: the juvenile age of admission; the admission of cadets that did not possess the qualifications required by regulations, the regulations having been disregarded to meet the views. of influential complainants; the want of proper severity in the probationary examinations; the irregularity of the duration of the stay at Woolwich, some remaining two, others four years, to complete the same course of study; and, lastly, permitting cadets who were expelled from the academy for misconduct to return.