to arrange your classes in such a manner as will leave | opportunity for those who arrive to be attached to classes suited to the stage of their progress in their studies. Having thus expressed to you some general views, I leave you to prepare and lay before this department, for its approbation, a plan for the organization of the Naval School at Fort Severn, Annapolis. I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, Com. FRANKLIN BUCHANAN, U. S. Navy. be free from all infirmities which would disquality him from performing the active and arduous duties of a sea life. He must be able to read and write well, and be familiar with geography and arithmetic. "When an acting midshipman receives his appointment, he is to be attached to the Naval School, subject to the exigencies of the service. Those whose conduct and proficiency meet with the approbation of the superintendent and academic board will be retained in the service and sent to sea. After performing sea duty for six months, and receiving a favorable report for their conduct during that time, they will be entitled to warrants bearing the date of their acting appointments. It will at once be seen that the task thus con"A midshipman, after serving three years at sea as fided to Commander Buchanan was one demand-now required, will report at the Naval School to pursue ing considerable skill and ability in order to mas- his course of studies preparatory to his final examinater it, and to so arrange the classes that there should be no clashing of interests, no losing sight of the main object of the new system-to afford to each individual the assistance necessary to enable him to pass his examination for promotion. tion." The school was formally opened on the 10th of October, 1845, and, as recommended in the plan adopted, the following departments were organized, viz.: Gunnery and Steam, Mathematics and Navigation, Natural and Experi In reply to the foregoing Commander Bu- mental Philosophy, Chemistry, History and chanan wrote: English Studies, French and Spanish. At the WASHINGTON, August 14, 1845. head of each was an officer of the navy or a SIR,-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of professor, with such assistants as were deemed your communication of the 7th instant, and I respect- necessary. From this comparatively small befully present for your consideration the inclosed plan, which is kept strictly, so far as my knowledge extends, ginning has grown the institution as it at preswithin the means now at the disposal of the departent exists, and of which the country and the ment. As the navy increases, and the country becomes alive to the advantages of a more extended education to those who are intrusted with the maintenance of its Navy Department may well be proud. The acting midshipmen appointed under the new regulations constituted the junior class, and remained at the school until their services were required at sea, and at the expiration of their cruise they returned for their final exam honor abroad, and who are so frequently called upon to perform intricate diplomatic services, an enlarged system will doubtless be provided for. For the midshipmen now in the service, I recommend that the present probation of five years be adhered to, and the pro-ination. The senior class was composed of midposed division of that period is based upon this view. All of which is respectfully submitted by Your obedient servant, shipmen who had performed the required sen service, and were preparing for the final ordeal. Under this system the midshipmen of the date of 1840 were graduated in June, 1846; and each successive class graduated in the following years until 1851. In 1850 the title "Naval School" was changed to "Naval Academy," and in the following year the present course of four years was adopted, a modified course being fixed for THIRD OLASS-SECOND YEAR. Seamanship, Gunnery, Geometry, Trigonometry, Mensuration, Descriptive Geometry, Mechanical Drawing, Practical Exercises in Steam Enginery, History, Rhetoric, French, Drawing. SECOND CLASS-THIRD YEAR. Seamanship, Ordnance and Naval Gunnery, Naval Light Artillery, Steam Enginery, Astronomy and Navigation, Analytical Geometry and Calculus, Mechanics, French, Spanish. FIRST CLASS-FOURTH YEAR. Seamanship, Squadron Tactics, Gunnery, Chemistry, Practical Exercises in Steam Enginery, Navigation, Law, Constitution of the United States, Articles of Astronomy, Marine Surveying, Physics, International War, French. those pupils who had been appointed previously to this year; those of 1851 graduated in 1855. There have been quite a number of classes in the various departments of instruction, and at present they are as follows, viz.: Seamanship (including Seamanship, Gunnery, Naval and Infantry Tactics, etc.), Mathematics, Steam Enginery, Astronomy and Navigation, Physics, Ethics, French, Spanish, Drawing, Defense and Gymnastics. The officer next in rank to the superintendent (styled Commandant of Midshipmen) is the head of the Seamanship Department, with an officer junior to him in charge of the different branches. Officers of the navy, of various grades and corps, are assigned to duty as heads of the remaining deUnder the laws of Congress there is allowpartments, and as assistant instructors. The ed one midshipman at the Academy for each course of studies is divided as follows, each Congressional District, one for each Territory, study occupying as much time as can possibly and one for the District of Columbia. The be given to it. There are three recitations President appoints from the District, and also each day (except Saturday and Sunday), and has ten appointments at large annually, from one drill of some description. the sons of officers of the army or navy. The nomination of all other candidates is made by the Secretary of the Navy on the recommendation of a member or delegate from actual resi FOURTH CLASS-FIRST YEAR. Arithmetic, Algebra, English Grammar, Geography, History, Composition, Drawing, French (begun). dents of his district or Territory. A vacancy from each district is caused once in four years by graduation, besides others caused by dismissals and by inability to finish the academic course. Candidates must now be between fourteen and eighteen years of age, and must present certificates of good character from persons of good repute, especially ministers of the Gospel, principals of high schools, etc. They must pass a medical examination as strict as that required to be passed by a recruit; and they must also pass before the Academic Board a satisfactory examination in reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, geography, and English grammar. On passing both these ordeals, the candidate obtains his appointment as midshipman, receives his traveling expenses from his home to Annapolis, and is required to sign articles binding him to serve in the navy for eight years (including his time at the Academy), unless sooner discharged. He must immediately procure his uniform and outfit, which must be paid for in advance, and he must also deposit $100 for the purchase of text-books. He is now placed on board one of the ships attached to the Academy until the commencement of the academic year, when the new class removes to the "Junior Buildings." Up to 1861 the grounds had been enlarged by purchase, and by the building of a sea-wall, and filling up to it from the original shoreline. Of the buildings originally transferred by the War Department there remain (besides the Fort) only those of "Superintendent's Row," and none of this row in its original shape. The wooden structures originally occupied by the midshipmen were gradually replaced by the quarters now known as the "Junior Buildings," the last of these having been completed In this year were also completed the "Seamanship Building," originally designed for a mess hall and library, and also the gas and steam works. The "Gymnasium," built in 1853. In the fall of 1859 the quarters on shore were found insufficient for the accommodation of the students, and the sloop of war Plymouth was used by the fourth class as quarters. As this vessel was also used as a practice ship during the summer, it was thought advisable to station a permanent vessel at the school, and the frigate Constitution, "Old Ironsides," was sent there in 1860, and the fourth class of that year quartered on board her. In the spring of 1861, at the commencement of the war, nearly all the students from the seceding States resigned, and the Academy was temporarily disorganized. Studies were suspended, and every preparation made to resist the attack which had been threatened. The safety of the place was assured by the arrival of the Massachusetts troops under General Butler, followed soon after by the Seventh New York. The frigate was towed over the bar, the midshipmen embarked upon her, and the vessel was sent to New York, where she remained for some time, the school meanwhile being turned over to the War Department and used as a hospital. After some waiting the Navy Department was again indebted to the good offices of the War Department for the offer of Fort Adams, at Newport, Rhode Island, as a suitable place at which to re-establish the school. The ship was sent to Newport, the officers and professors, with the records and the library, with its various curiosities, coming by steamer from Annapolis. The need of officers was so great that all the midshipmen, except the fourth class, were detached from the school and sent at once into active service without finishing their academic course. It was found that the fort itself was too damp to be used as quarters, so the ship was moored close to the wharf and used for that purpose. Studies, drills, and exercises went on as usual, and on Saturdays the ship was thrown open to visitors. Crowds of people came off to enjoy the music and dancing, not less than to see a ship so renowned in the history of our country. In the fall it became necessary to make some arrangements for the accommodation of the new class, and the Atlantic House, a large and commodious hotel building, was hired, and the senior (then third) class was removed to it. The superintendent's and other offices were also in this building, and the school ship was taken into the inner harbor, moored alongside the wharf on Goat Island, and used for the new class. Provision having been made by Congress for a large increase in the number of students, the existing accommodations were again found inadequate, and the frigate Santee was added as quarters. The sloops Macedonian, Marion, and John Adams were also used as practice ships for exercising great guns, spars, sails, etc. A small steamer ran every half hour from the city to the ships, so that the organization of the institution was kept up, though the component parts were so far asunder. This arrangement continued until 1865, great efforts having been made meanwhile to cause the permanent location of the school to be made near Newport. Liberal offers of land, etc., were made, but all to no avail; and in that year, by authority and direction of Congress, it was returned to its home, the necessary transfers having been made by the War and Navy Departments. Vice-Admiral Porter was ordered to the superintendency, and-taught by the experience of the war just finished-he induced the government to make a great many improvements in and about the grounds and buildings. The grounds have been greatly improved by planting trees and shrubs, laying out new walks, erecting fountains, etc. There have also been built some new officers' quarters, the Steam |