Alida Part 51

This place affords a very fine view of the lofty Catskill mountains.

They left the city of Hudson in the afternoon, and arrived at West Point at eleven o'clock at night, on the right side of the Hudson, and landed at a wharf furnished with a sentry-box. An artillerist stood sentinel.

They were obliged to ascend a somewhat steep road in order 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.

[_Travels_:

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 prepared 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 thus a kind of inn arose.]

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 inst.i.tution, and very much improved it.

[_Travels_:

The morning after our arrival we paid an early visit to lieutenant-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 presidency of Jefferson. Colonel Thayer has entirely remodelled this inst.i.tution. During his travels in Europe he visited the French military schools, and has endeavoured to make this resemble 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 a.s.sembled in that inst.i.tution.]

[[Sylva.n.u.s Thayer (1785-1872) was Superintendent of West Point from 1817 to 1833.]]

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

[_Travels_:

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 cla.s.ses for the purposes of instruction. They are received between the ages of fourteen and twenty, undergo an examination before they enter....]

Instruction is communicated gratuitously to the cadets, each of whom receives monthly eight dollars from government as wages.

[_Travels_:

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.

[_Travels_:

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 ma.s.sive buildings, three stories high, and are divided into four companies. The inst.i.tution possesses four princ.i.p.al buildings. The two largest serve as barracks for the cadets, a third contains the mess-room, and the fourth the church. A large level s.p.a.ce, 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.

[_Travels_:

.... The cadets are divided in four companies, and live in two large ma.s.sive buildings, three stories high....

The inst.i.tution possesses four princ.i.p.al buildings. The two largest serve as barracks for the cadets, a third contains the messroom and inn, and the fourth the church, chemical laboratory, library, and the hall for drawing, in which are some of the best drawings of the cadets....

A large level s.p.a.ce, 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 with steep rocks, so that it would be 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 the ground claimed it, and government were obliged to restore it. The government afterwards acquired the ground on which West Point stands, as well as the adjoining heights.

[_Travels_:

Notwithstanding my injured side, I ascended the rocky mountain on which the ruins of Fort Putnam lie. My way led through a handsome forest of oak, beech, chesnut, and walnut trees. The fort occupied 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, and two small powder-magazines. It was built during the revolution on private property; the owner of the ground claimed it, and government were obliged to restore it to him, after which he destroyed the fort. The government afterwards acquired the ground on which West Point stands, as well as the adjoining heights....]

A very fine view one may have from Fort Putnam of the plains of West Point and of the Hudson river. The view to the north is particularly handsome, in which direction Newburgh, lying on the river, is seen in the back ground.

[_Travels_:

A very fine view is enjoyed from Fort Putnam of the plain of West Point, and of the Hudson, which here calls to mind the high banks of the Rhine. The view to the north is particularly handsome, in which direction Newburgh, lying on the river, is seen in the back ground.

We saw nothing of the Catskill mountains.

A band of music, paid by the government, belongs exclusively to the cadets, and is said to afford the best military music in the United States.

[_Travels_:

.... A band of music, paid by the government, belongs exclusively to them, and is said to afford the best military music in the United States. Every one has his taste....]

[[This pa.s.sage is out of sequence. In _Travels_ it appears about midway between the paragraphs beginning "A large level s.p.a.ce..."

and "Notwithstanding my injured side..."]]

The party generally regretted leaving this agreeable place, where they had been highly gratified during their short stay. They took pa.s.sage on board the steamboat Const.i.tution, bound to New-York, sixty miles distant.

[_Travels_:

I was very sorry that we were obliged on the third day after our arrival to leave this agreeable place, which had so extremely pleased me; but I was obliged to go to New York at last!...]

[_Travels_ (Baltimore chapter):

We went on board the steam-boat Const.i.tution.]

They were now again on their way to one of the most flourishing cities in the United States, which attracts a great part of the commerce of the American nation. They came into the vicinity about sunset, and at eight o'clock in the evening they landed in New-York. Leaving their friends in the city, Albert and his sister took pa.s.sage in a stage coach next morning, and journeyed in a short time as far as the village of ----, and from thence proceeded on to the residence of their father.

[_Travels_:

.... After sundown we came into the vicinity of New York, the largest city in the United States, which attracts nearly the whole commerce of the country, and now already numbers one hundred and seventy thousand inhabitants. We landed about eight o'clock in the evening....]

[[_Travels in North America_ ends here.]]

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Ah! now again all my sensations move to see a parent, and I sigh once more to meet the kind caresses of a father--and weeks seem ages in this separation.

The feelings of Alida were those of boundless joy to meet again her parents, after an absence from them which appeared long to her.

[The Merchant's Daughter: