Williams, Jonathan (1750-1815), Papers, 1786-1814. 

This box of manuscripts at USMA contains one folder labeled "Statement of the examination of the Cadets of Engineers and Artillery in arithmetic, algebra and geometry, 1806." This folder contains a four page manuscript whose contents have been transcribed below; comments by VFR are in double square brackets. It has been difficult to preserve the exact punctuation, capitalization, and  layout of the text, but an attempt has been made.

[[ The following has been added in very light pencil: ]]  Enclosed in letter, Oct 17, 1806 to [[ illegible --- could be "Sect of War". ]]

Statement of the Examination of the Cadets of Engineers & Artillery in Arithmetic, Algebra & Geometry.

NB. The column entitled merit describes capacity & more perfect knowledge of what has been acquired the collumn [[ sic ]] entitled advancement shews a greater extent of acquirement. The numbers express degrees, being the first & the last or lowest.

[[  Alexander J. Williams is a son of Superintendent Jonathan Williams, who is grand-nephew of Benjamin Franklin and spent years with him in France. The Admissions Card on Henry J. Williams indicates that he was admitted from the state of Pennsylvania on 15 May 1805. The Cullum register lists him as x1809 and that seems reasonable. The Admissions Card also remarks that he "Resigned Feb 28, 1812." This agrees with what is in the Admissions book. The text below indicates that the two Williams's are brothers and I have verified this elsewhere. ]]

The above examination took place in presence of the Subscribers who concurred in the above designation of rellative  [[ sic ]]  merit.

Jon. Williams
Lt Col Comd of Engineers

Wm. Barron
Maj. Engrs

Remarks on the foregoing Statement.

Under the head Arithmetic and Algebra are included the higher powers of Arithmetic such as involution, evolution, fractions & logarithms both Arithmetically & Algebraically. Under the head of Geometry is included Trigonometry heights distances & different kinds of mensuration.

Cadets Greenwood [[ Ethan Allen Greenwood, x1810, admitted 1806 ]] and Buck [[ Daniel Arzo Buck, USMA 1808, Cullum # 31, arrived July 9, 1806 ]] were not examined having but lately joined.

[[ There are four vertical lines between the columns of the table and these extend to the bottom of the page; the text is written across those lines. The 3 double bracketed columns have been added by VFR. ]]

[[ Page 2. ]]

Statement of the examination of the Cadets of Artillery who stand on the list of candidates for promotion in the Regiment of Artillery in Arithmetic, Algebra & Geometry ---

   [[  * ]]   [[After a bracket and across these columns is written:]]   These gentlemen request to be exempted from examinations is mentioned in the remarks. 

The above examination took place in presence of the Subscribers who concurred in the above designation of relative merit.

Jon. Williams Lt Col Comdt of Engineers

Wm Barron Maj Engrs

Remarks

Cadets Proveanx & Wyndham have been much engaged in extra duties, the former as Ajutant the other as assistant Military Agent. They therefore requested a suspension of their examinations till they have had time to review their algebra. [[ This last word is unclear because it runs into the gutter. ]]

Statement of the examination of 4 Cadets of Engineers who stand on the list for promotion in the Corps -- in Algebra and Geometry. [[ These four cadets graduated October 30, 1806, so this exam took place no later than that date. I do not know why Charles Gratiot, Cu # 16, who graduated the same day, is not on this list. Note that "Partridge" lacks an "r" in the second column. Both Partridges entered from Vermont, but I have not established a relationship. Should contact the archives at Norwich. Alden Partridge became a mathematics professor at USMA. ]]

The whole examination took place in the Lib. of the Military Academy in presence of the Subscribers who concurred &c &c.

Jon. Williams Lt Col Comdt of Engineers

Wm Barron Maj Engrs

Remarks on the next page --

[[ The four vertical lines of the table extend to the bottom of the page; the text is written across those lines. The same vertical lines are used for both tables on this page. ]]

[[ Page 3 ]]

Remarks

These Cadets were not examined in Arithmetic, as it was known to be unnecessary, & their answers in Algebra proved their proficiency in it --. Under the head of Geometry is included the practice as well as the theory, & they have frequently used the instruments in Surveying & Levelling, &c &c.

The Cadets of Engineers were Separately examined by the Lt. Col. Comot [[ ??? ]] in the elements of Fortification and answered the Interrogatives so uniformly that it was unnecessary to make a particular scale of merit. It is impossible to have more than an elementary knowledge by the mere study of books, but these Cadets except Wm Partridge have seen the progress of the works of Fort Jay having each resided there about two months ---

General Remarks

The examinations were divided into 3 Classes to distinguish the candidates for promotion in the Corps of Engineers & Artillerists from those who are not Candidates & from each other --

The whole were also examined in the art of drawing in which it appeared that S. Babcock produced the best performance in the Class of those who are not Candidates --

In the Class of candidates for Engineers E. D. Wood and P. Willard appeared to divide the right of preeminence between them. 

The examination for the French Language are passed over as there have not been equal opportunities. Valle, Lucas & Willard are native French & the two Williamses have the advantage of habitual conversation in that Language which is principally spoken by their Parents. A rigid comparison therefore would not have been fair, besides while Students are engaged in the rudiments of a language it is not unreasonable to suppose that they may be better instructed than they are able to express in a public examination. Several of the Gentlemen produced very good translations of these Wm Patridge produced the best --

[[ Page 4 ]

It is but a matter of Justice to State that Alden Patridge & Wm Patridge are the best Mathematicians in the Academy, & that to their Mathematical knowledge they have added that of Astronomy in a considerable degree. They are well acquainted with the use of the instruments & have frequently taken Altitudes, Azimuths, & Distances of the heavenly bodies, they have also made lunar observations and are able to calculate longitude by the eclipses of the Satelites [[ sic ]] of Jupiter --- ---

Peter P. J. Shean

transcripsit Ano Domini   [[ sic ]]

1806

[[ end ]]

Transcribed by V. Frederick Rickey, November 2000, from the original in the USMA Archives. Proofread against the original 00-11-21. 
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