of the sum total: the greater part of whom remained on deck. I also returned upon deck, the better to breathe the fresh air, (the day being exceedingly warm) as well as to enjoy the prospect, the boat being now under way. I happened to take a seat by a charming young lady, a Miss C. of Boston: she had a book open in her hand, which appeared to be nothing more than a brief description of the Western part of the state of New-York, to which she was bound on a party of pleasure, together with her father, mother, a female cousin, and a large party of gentlemen and ladies. They were upon an excursion to the Falls of Niagara, the springs, and whereever choice or fancy might lead them. The whole party were from Boston, and proved to be people of the first respectability. This, she told me, was her inducement to purchase the book, which I found her reading. Reading, however, amidst such a crowd, was out of the question, and we turned our attention to the surrounding objects.

This was an interesting voyage to me: the more so, as it was the first time I ever was at sea; being told we were to pass through the sound, and that we were to be completely out of sight of land. In the mean time, the river began to widen rapidly, till at length we could scarcely see the shore, while, in the course of the evening, we had a fine view of Newport, the Forts, and Newport harbour, which is said to be the best in the United States. Newport is a post-town of some magnitude: it is situated on our left while passing down the river. It is the capital of Rhode-Island. It stands 30 miles from Providence, on Providence river. The harbour is strongly defended, which answers likewise for the defence of Providence. Newport makes a fine show when seen from the water, and is said to be a place of much fashion and style, though not equal to Providence in population and commerce,

Whilst I was wholly engrossed in viewing the great expanse of water, which now surrounded us, the fast receding shore, and the numerous vessels, by which we seemed to fly, sitting at the stern, with my back towards the company, which had inseusibly withdrawn from around

me, a gentleman, neatly dressed in black, of an interesting mien, came and seated himself upon the edge of the boat, immediately in front of me, and appeared to regard me with more than common attention. Thinking he was a citizen of the country, I addressed a few general remarks to him, adding, that being from the Western states, every thing in this part of the country was to me an object of curiosity, particularly the ocean, which was now in sight. He replied, that he also was from the west, that he lived on Red River, in Louisiana, though he had formerly lived in Salem. Say what you will about philanthropy, a citizen of the world, and all that, every heart of any warmth will expand towards those of their own country: the moment I heard he belonged to the states I was from, I felt a paramount partiality for this interesting stranger. His pleasing manners and en lightened conversation soon discovered him to be a gentleman of no ordinary pretensions, and from mutual feeling, we became attached to each other during the voyage.

We had conversed but a short time, before another gentleman stepped forward from the crowd and saluted me by name! Surprised to find myself known where I thought I was a total stranger, I returned the salute, and apologized for my want of recollection: "My name is Flint," he replied; "I had the pleasure of seeing you at Salem." It was the Rev. Flint, of Salem, to whom I am proud to acknowledge the deepest obligation! It gave me unspeakable pleasure once more to meet a man of his worth, with whom I had thought I was parted for ever! But this was not all, my friend of Louisiana was a cousin of his, also a clergyman, and of the same name! These gentlemen are both men of high classical at tainments, and rank equally high, as writers and divincs. The Louisianan, in delicate health, was on his way to the Saratoga Springs, accompanied by his friend and mine. Night coming on, deprived me of seeing much of the ocean, though we felt its effect, the most

* We of the western country universally call all that part of the Union west of the Alleghany, west; and those states on the east, Atlantic, ar castern states, without farther distinction.

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of us, being very sick; and after laughing at my companions, I slunk into my birth, sick enough, but kept it to myself, lest they might return the first. Next morning we were close under Long Island on our left, having the state of Connecticut on our right. We kept nearly a west course, having Long Island in view the distance of an hundred miles. This Island belongs to New-York; is 140 miles long, and only 10 wide. We landed about sun-down at the foot of Fulton-street, in New-York; and agreeably to the custom of steam-boat passengers, separated without ceremony, and (though not on my part,) without regret.

West Point.-Not having it in my power to take West Point in my regular tour, and being told that it was the most interesting spot of all the places I had visited, I took a trip there after my return to N. York. West Point is celebrated as the seat of the United States Military Academy, situated on Hudson river, 60 miles above New-York; it is also celebrated in history for the treachery of Arnold. General Putnam, mentioned in these sketches, may be called the father of West Point.When Fort Montgomery was captured by the enemy, in 1777, it was resolved to erect another fortification on Hudson river. Gen. Washington left it wholly to the judgment of Gen. P. to fix on the spot, who decided on West Point, and (as his biographer remarks)" it is no vulgar praise to say, that to him belongs the glory of this rock of our salvation," termed (by the British) the Gibraltar of America. West Point was stampt by nature as a rallying point for American liberty! It is a question whether that place on earth exists, where sublimity, beauty and utility, are so happily blended, as at West Point. An extensive green, of several acres, level to a nicety, washed in front by one of the noblest rivers in the world; behind it rises suddenly up one of the wildest craggy mountains, crowned with a huge castle, commanding a view of thirty miles in extent! This formidable fortification is called Fort Putnam; it stands upon a plane of rocks, out of which it is built, and, for size, might itself be taken for a mountain. The foot of the

18

mountain, is skirted with flower gardens of unutterable beauty, in front of which, in a single row, stand the houses of the academic staff, with a wide street running in front, between them and the public green., Not a house stands on the green, but those appropriated to the cadets, where they diet, lodge and parade, beyond the limits of which they are not allowed to pass without special leave. The barracks of the military post stand on the margin of the green, at the bank of the Hudson. No one has liberty to settle at the point, but those gentlemen who compose the staff, so that no grog-shops are kept there. It is the only place, I venture to say, in the Union, where there are half a dozen houses, that one of them is not a grog-shop. The mountain is called the highlands, and is the commencement of the Blue Ridge. The whole place has a martial air.

The military academy at this place, is under the direction and instruction of a superintendant, a professor of natural philosophy, and two assistants-a professor of engineering, and an assistant-a professor of mathematics, and four assistants-a professor of ethics and belleslettres, who is also chaplain to the academy-a profcssor of chemistry and mineralogy, and one assistant-an instructor of tactics, who is also commandant of cadets, and has two assistants; a teacher of the French lan guage, with one assistant; a professor of drawing, an instructor of artillery, a quartermaster, a paymaster, an adjutant, a physician and surgeon, a store-keeper, and a sword-master. These are wholly under the control of the secretary of war, whose duty it is to visit the academy once a year,, and to him all returns and estimates appertaining to the institution are to be made, through the superintendant. Uuder him, the commandant of the U. S. corps of engineers is inspector of the academy. It is also subject to a Board of Visitors, consisting of not less than five gentlemen, of distinguished military science, in common with science in general. These constitute a board of annual visitors, whose duty it is to ex amine the progress of the cadets, the state of police and discipline, inspect the whole establishment, and report the same to the secretary of war.

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The number of cadets now at West Point (Oct. 1825) is 221. These are divided into four classes, annually, agreeably to their merit, corresponding with their course of study, which comprises four years. That is to say, all cadets employed in the first year's course, constitute the 4th, or lowest class; those of the second year, the 3d class; those of the third year, the 2d class; and those of the fourth and last year, constitute the 1st class.They are examined every 4th of July.

The course of literature is as follows:-First year, French language, and mathematics begun. Second year, French language continued, mathematics completed, and drawing begun. Third year, drawing completed, mechanicks, experimental philosophy, astronomy, and the first course of chemistry and mineralogy. Fourth year, geography, history, moral science, engineering, and the science of war, chemistry and mineralogy, completed.

The practice of military instruction is collateral with the literary course, as follows:-First year, school of the soldier, guard, and police duties of privates. Second year, school of the company, and the duties of corporals. Third year, school of the battalion and the duties of sergeants; also the exercise and manœuvres of artillery pieces. Fourth year, evolutions of the line, duties of orderly sergeants and commissioned officers, including those of the battalion staff, and of officers of the day; also the remainder of the instruction in artillery, and the sword exercise. The cadets have an encampment annually, from the 1st of July till the 21st of August; this is called field exercise, and the instruction is exclusively military.

The literary course of instruction extends to the pronouncing and translating the French language, and translating English into French. Drawing embraces the human figure-landscape with the pencil, shading, and finishing in India ink-topography, &c. Geography is extended to the knowledge of the grand divisions of the earth, with the boundaries, productions, commerce, manufactures, naval and military strength, &c. &c. of the dif ferent countries on the globe. History comprises universal history, and the political history of the United