I admit that they have learnt something.

They enter the College without competition or preliminary examination, sometimes without orthography or arithmetic.

The first inspection made by our Generals discovers future lieutenants who cannot do a sum in division, a French class without either a master or pupils, and an historical class in which, after seven months of teaching, the professor is still theologically expounding the creation of the world.

It must indeed be a powerful spirit of emulation which can induce these young men to make themselves capable of keeping up a conversation with French officers.

You are astonished that they allow the discipline of their men to become somewhat relaxed.