27. ACADEMY (The Military), Enlargement.—
The scale on which the Military
Academy at West Point was originally established,
is become too limited to furnish the
number of well-instructed subjects in the
different branches of artillery and engineering
which the public service calls for. The want
of such characters is already sensibly felt,
and will be increased with the enlargement
of our plans of military preparation. The
chief engineer having been instructed to consider
the subject, and to propose an augmentation
which might render the establishment
commensurate with the present circumstances
of our country, has made the report I now
transmit for the consideration of Congress.
Special Message.
Washington ed. viii, 101.
(March. 1808)