Not only was this true of West Point, but the same allegation is true as to all matters of patronage throughout the United States.  During the three or four last presidencies, and I believe back to the time of Jackson, there has been an organized system of dishonesty in the management of all beneficial places under the control of the government.  I doubt whether any despotic court of Europe has been so corrupt in the distribution of places—­that is, in the selection of public officers—­as has been the assemblage of statesmen at Washington.  And this is the evil which the country is now expiating with its blood and treasure.  It has allowed its knaves to stand in the high places; and now it finds that knavish works have brought about evil results.  But of this I shall be constrained to say something further hereafter.

We went into all the schools of the college, and made ourselves fully aware that the amount of learning imparted was far above our comprehension.  It always occurs to me, in looking through the new schools of the present day, that I ought to be thankful to persons who know so much for condescending to speak to me at all in plain English.  I said a word to the gentleman who was with me about horses, seeing a lot of lads going to their riding lesson.  But he was down upon me, and crushed me instantly beneath the weight of my own ignorance.  He walked me up to the image of a horse, which he took to pieces, bit by bit, taking off skin, muscle, flesh, nerves, and bones, till the animal was a heap of atoms, and assured me that the anatomy of the horse throughout was one of the necessary studies of the place.  We afterward went to see the riding.  The horses themselves were poor enough.  This was accounted for by the fact that such of them as had been found fit for military service had been taken for the use of the army.

There is a gallery in the college in which are hung sketches and pictures by former students.  I was greatly struck with the merit of many of these.  There were some copies from well-known works of art of very high excellence, when the age is taken into account of those by whom they were done.  I don’t know how far the art of drawing, as taught generally, and with no special tendency to military instruction, may be necessary for military training; but if it be necessary I should imagine that more is done in that direction at West Point than at Sandhurst.  I found, however, that much of that in the gallery, which was good, had been done by lads who had not obtained their degree, and who had shown an aptitude for drawing, but had not shown any aptitude for other pursuits necessary to their intended career.