A few days afterwards Mr. Ruggles offered to accompany me in a visit I wished to make to the National Military College of West Point.  I gladly accepted his proffered kindness, and in due time we were rattling away over the granite-bottomed railroad, along the banks of the Hudson.  Close to the station we found a small ferry-boat, ready to take us across to the southern bank.  On landing at West Point, “my pipe was immediately put out” by a summary order from a sentry on the wharf.  Dropping a tear of sorrow through a parting whiff, and hurling the precious stump into the still waters of the little bay, I followed my cicerone up the hill, and soon found myself in the presence of one of the professors, through whose assistance we were enabled thoroughly to lionize every department.  As many of my military friends who have visited West Point have spoken to me in terms of the highest admiration of the institution, I propose entering more into detail than I otherwise might have thought requisite; and I trust that, as military education is engaging a great deal of public interest, the following observations may be found worthy of attention.

The candidates for admission are nominated by the members of Congress, one for each congressional district, in addition to which the President of the United States has the nomination of forty from the Republic at large.[AV] The requisites for admission are—­the passing a very easy examination, being a bachelor between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one, and having no physical defect.  The pay of each cadet is about five pounds a month, of which his board takes two pounds, and 8s. 6d. is laid aside monthly, whereby to form a fund to assist him in the expenses of equipment upon leaving.  The balance provides for his dress and other expenses, and a treasurer is appointed to superintend and keep the accounts.  The routine of duty prescribed is the following:—­Rise at 5 A.M. in summer, and 5-1/2 in winter; double up bed and mattress, &c., and study till 7; then fall in and go to breakfast; at 7-1/2, guard-mounting—­twenty-four cadets are on guard every day; at 8, study; at 1 o’clock, break up, fall in, and go to dinner, which they rise from at the word of command, and are then free till 2.  From 2 P.M. to 4, study; at 4, drill for one hour and a half, after which they are free till sunset; at sunset, parade in front of the barracks, and delinquents’ names called over; then follows supper, after which the cadets are free till 8, at which time there is a call to quarters, and every cadet is required to retire to his own room and study till 9-1/2, when the tattoo is beat; at 10, there is a roll of the drum, at sound whereof every light must be out and every student in bed.