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 to young men. Theſe inſtitutions, called Ecoles Royales Militaries, were to the number of thirteen, and eſtabliſhed in different provinces of the kingdom; that of Paris ſerved as a centre to the whole and was the object to which the young men, admitted by the King, directed their views. It was held up as a recompence to thoſe who moſt diſtinguiſted themſelves by their progreſs in the different studies. For that purpoſe, a Roval Inſpector, commonly a General Officer, accompanied by two Members of the Academy, made every year a revew of the ſchools. The examination was made, in his preſence, with the moſt ſcrupulous exactneſs; and thoſe of the pupils who, to their proficiency in ſtudy, received the the teſtimony of the Regents in favours of their character, were admitted to the Military School of Paris.

From their entrance into the ſchool at an early age, the mind and bodies of the pupils were kept in conſtant employment; and their inſtruction continued for 7 or 8 years; duriring which time, the moſt unremitting care was equally beſowed on all. The moſt able matters in every branch gave up all their time to direct the ſtudies of the youth, and inſpire them with ſentiments of virtue. The ſtudy of ancient and modern languages, of hiſtory, of geography, of mathematics, and the various branches of military ſcience formed the baſis of their education. And in theſe