[Extract of a letter from the Secretary of War to the Honourable Samuel Sewall, Chairman of the Committee of Defence &c dated War Department, 22^d June 1798 "S^d The Act providing for raising and organizing a Corps of Artillerists and Engineers, and the Act to provide an additional Revenue of the same, both enjoin the procurement of the public expence, of all necessary Books, Instruments, and Apparatus for the benefit of the said respective Regiments. "The Secretary without designing to arrogate from the amount of the Officers appointed to the Corps established by the Acts cited, feels it his duty to suggest, that other, and supplementary means of education, in the Books and Instruments to be furnished, appears to be absolutely indispensable to enable them to acquire a due degree of knowledge in the objects of their Corps. It is certain that the best Faculties, and inclinations for the Arts and Sciences cannot be cultivated and applied to useful purposes, when proper encouragement and facilities have been denied or neglected. "The Art of Fortification is connected with so many other Arts of the most extent, and its operations dependent on, and affected by, circumstances so infinitely varied, that it is impossible any man can be rendered master, if it by experience alone. Besides the knowledge requisite by experience often the result of our own faults, and acquired by a heavy, and sometimes, in this and situations expence to the public. "It is extremely to be wished that more attention had been paid to this subject, and that past recommendation has found a favourable way to the use of Congress. "If the present moment does not admit of carrying into effect all that is desirable, and might, under different circumstances be done, to create a body of qualified and scientific Engineers, it may, notwithstanding, be advisable to advance toward this point by such measures as are compatible with our present situation. "The knowledge of certain Arts and Sciences is absolutely necessary to the Artillerist and Engineer, such are Arithmetic, Geometry, Mechanics, Hydraulics, and Surveying. "Without a knowledge of Arithmetic, an Officer cannot calculate the expence incurred, or to be incurred on any work, or any subject whatever. "Without that of Geometry, he cannot form a just plan or sheet, regulate the design of a fortification, with its lines and angles, trace it upon the ground it is to occupy, nor estimate and measure the solidity and surfaces of its several parts. "Without that of Mechanics, he will not be able to appreciate the proportion of the Machines used in war, the dimensions of Carriages for Artillery, nor to augment or diminish the force of the several kinds of Machines, when it may be necessary. "Without that of Surveying he will not have it in his power, to give, present and perfect Works, nor to exhibit the Topography of the environs of a work, or any part of a frontier. "Without that of Hydraulics, he will not be qualified to conduct water from one place to another, or to restrain and elevate it where there may be a necessity in Sieges or other Military operations, for so doing. "It is therefore submitted whether provision ought not to be made for the employment of three or four Teachers of this enumerated Sciences, to be attached generally, to the two Corps of Artillerists and Engineers, and obligated to give instructions and lessons, at such times, places, and under such Regulations as the President may direct. "The employment of Teachers would give the intended effect to the provision of the laws, for the apprehension of two Cadets to each Company. It is now supposed that these Cadets would form a Nursery, from which, qualified Officers might be drawn to fill vacancies &c but if it must occur, that without proper Masters to teach them the Sciences, necessary to the Engineer and Artillerist, this Nursery can produce no valuable plants. "It is also submitted, whether it ought not to be proper, to improve the pay of Officers to some Dollars per Month, with two Rations. — This would need their emulation, give them a consideration above Servants, and enable them to appear in a more comfortable Stile. "It is with infinite regret the Secretary is obliged to mention, that the Ordnance of our Country is by no means in a situation to command respect. That part of it was collected during a Season of difficulty and incapacity, from different Countries, and consequently the pieces are, many of them, essentially different, and those of the same Calibr differ in length, weight and calibre. The variance in these particulars occasions much trouble and inconvenience, in providing appropriate ammunition, Stores, apparatus and carriages besides subjecting the Military Service to injurious delays, and the fatal consequences which might result from ammunition and implements being supplied, which in time of need will be found not adapted to the piece. As there is no established Standard, it has also happened from a defect of knowledge in our Foundors, or some other cause, that most of the Cannon that have been cast within or on account of the United States, are defective in very essential points, and as late as [undecipherable] in those cast at the same furnace and of the same blast, with those procured from abroad. "It is important that some arrangement should be immediately adopted, calculated to give efficacy to a proper system, and correct these evils. It is not enough that the President determines upon the Size, weight, dimensions, and calibres of the different kinds of Cannon who it is made, or imported into the United States, for their own useful use. An Inspector of Artillery can be appointed, to see that all regulations appertaining to the Ordnance Department, be executed and obeyed with exactness. "We cannot presume that Furnaces, however carefully made and conducted, or even a national foundery, will produce Cannon conformable to a given specific Standard for each Class, as long as the United States are without an Officer of skill to inspect and receive, or reject them. "I cannot conceive any appointment more necessary to our Military undertakings and National Store than an [underline: Inspector of Artillery], and I must flatter myself that the Committee will feel as I do upon this occasion. "They will not, I am persuaded, imagine that it can be possible for a Secretary of War, to discharge the duties of his appointment, and at the same time, to visit Founderies, examine all kinds of Ordnance, discover the dimensions of their Carriages and Implements, order the proper moulds for casting Shot, Shell &c review and decide upon the qualities of many different productions, and point out the means of remedying existing defects, and generally perform all the other duties attached to the Office of Inspector of Artillery. The Secretary indulges the hope that the Committee will recommend, and the Wisdom of Congress think proper, to create in the Department of War, the Office of Inspector of Artillery, with a salary adequate to its nature and importance, and calculated to obtain a person qualified to fill it. On this important head he takes the pain to mention, that other Countries over the testimony of their Annexed to the establishment of such an Office, and that in England particularly, and at a late day, the appointment of a scientific and experienced Inspector, has given a perfection to their Ordnance never before known."—